Tired of working at home? Need a place where you can really concentrate?

Share an office with OTBKB. It's a lovely room painted a soft green; a great place to work, to focus and really get things done!

The office is in the basement of the Montauk Club, where there's a cluster of rooms for small businesses. The rent includes use of a small kitchen, bathrooms, and a shared conference room. It is located on 8th Avenue and Lincoln Place right around the corner from the Grand Army Plaza 2/3 train.

Very convenient.

I've been here for 6 years and I love it. Email me if you are interested. The price is reasonable. You will have the office to yourself at night and on the weekends.

Perfect for a writer, a graphic designer, or someone in business for themselves. Also possible if you want to use it after-school for tutoring.

Let me know: louise_crawford(at)yahoo(dot)com

Brooklyn Reading Works
presents Cupid's Arrow: Writers on Love curated by Marian Fontana.
Another one of the great themed readings at Brooklyn Reading Works
curated by interesting writers.

Marian  Fontana,
author of The Widow's Walk; A Memoir of 9/11 and the upcoming,  The Middle of the Bed, has gathered together some
wonderful writers, including  Elissa Schappell
author of Use Me and the upcoming Blueprints for Better Girls;
Novelist, poet and editor of Teachers and Writer Magazine, Susan Karwoska; and Poets Ellen Ferguson and Ira Goldstein
and memoirist, Mila Drumke. Marian will be reading an excerpt from her
upcoming book.

As Marian writes: Join us two nights before Valentines as six talented authors tackle the profound, challenging and even funny topic of love.

"Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." — Shakespeare

It should, as always, be a great night. These
themed group readings are fascinating as you see the subject matter
shift, the approach, and the language shift from author to author.

Alison, the owner of Paper Love, the
new card and stationery shop on Lincoln Place, is thinking of selling
letter press Valentine's cards at the show. She happens to be a fiction
writer and was very excited to be part of this event.

The Where and When:

February 12th at 8 p.m.
Brooklyn Reading Works at the Old Stone House
Fifth Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets (in Washington Park)
A $5 suggested donation includes light refreshments and wine.
There will probably be candy hearts and chocolates.

As I said last week I am paying attention to the City Council race for Bill de Blasio's seat. Nine months until the primary, it's interesting to hear that this crowded race is already being called a two-man race by the Brooklyn Paper, when most citizens are barely aware of the candidates at all.

So what gives? Well, according to the BP, it's all about the money –who's got it and how much. Alright. So who are the two candidates with the most money?

Brad Lander, director of the Pratt Center for Community Development, has, according to recently released campaign finance documents, raised $105,548.

Josh Skaller, president of Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats for the past two years, and an executive member of Democracy for New York City, has raised $75,788. 

But what about the other candidates?  Hammerman just rolled out his campaign last week and hasn't turned in  his campaign finance forms yet.

And what about the others who have thrown their hats in to fill Bill de Blasio's big shoes. Hats and shoes this is getting weird. Let me start again: who's running and how much money have they raised?

–Bob Zuckerman — executive director of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy — has raised: $43,098.

–John Heyer — community liaison for Borough President Markowitz — has raised — $18,080.

— Gary Reilly, lawyer and subway advocate  — has raised — $14,865.

–Craig Hammerman, district manager of Community Board 6, has not yet filed campaign finance documents.

–Steve DiBrenza has just announced. 

It's time for the citizens of this district to start paying attention before the media tells us who's winning when we barely know who's who. It's a crowded race and a respectable list of candidates for deBlasio's seat. But it's up to each citizen to do the homework, meet the candidate, learn about the candidates and even contribute money if they are are so moved.

Don't let this race happen without your input. Even nine months ahead of the primary.

Catch Simone Dinnerstein's ONLY New York recital of the season at The Metropolitan
Museum in the Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium.

Get your tickets early!  Simone's last two concerts at The Metropolitan Museum (in 2006 and 2007) were sold out. Tickets: $45 available by calling 212-570-3949 or online at www.metmuseum.org/tickets

www.thirteen.org/sundayarts

It's never too early to think about what your kids are doing this summer.

Now's the time to sign up for Piper Theatre Workshop at the Old Stone House for students entering 3rd through 10th grades.

This July at OSH & MS 51
Theater, Art & Film!
Performances Outdoors in Washington Park/JJ Byrne Playground
Call OSH for more information, (718) 768-3195

Here's a note from Michael Winks, one of the 2008 Park Slope 100, about the upcoming ethanol coop meeting:

This will be an ongoing column from Barry Weinbrom, an environmental educator, interested in helping others become aware of the
importance of promoting conservation and sustainability in their
everyday lives:

I thought  OTBKB
would be a great way  for Brooklyn to splash into the The Yes We Can
Save Water Research Project and start saving water one drop at a time.

Please
email me at baw441(at)aol(dot)com to get the data sheets and instructions for Yes We Can Save WATER and start making a difference in our world today.