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October 31, 2009
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
October 30, 2009
Not many Words Daily Pix: Photographs by Hugh Crawford
Blondie at the Brooklyn Museum Who Shot Rock and Roll ? opening last
night.
The answer: well just about
everyone.
Blondie by the way gave an outstanding performance, even overcoming the
almost-as-bad-as-Winterland acoustics of the Brooklyn Museum.
October 30, 2009
OTBKB Music: Twofer (or Threefer) Tonight
There's a great twofer, or maybe it's a threefer, tonight over at The Rockwood Music Hall. Up at 10pm for a two hour set will be James
Maddock. James is playing with a full band in support of his new
album, Sunrise on Avenue C, which has been getting some airplay over
at WFUV, WXPN and Sirius XM. And Leslie Mendelson (who released her
own album, Swan Feathers, earlier this year) will be singing along with
James. If the past is any indication, Leslie will likely sing a song
or two on her own. It's a great evening of upbeat, sometimes even
anthemic, rock and adult pop.
James Maddock, The Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street (F Train to
Second Avenue, take the First Avenue exit), 10pm-Midnight
Stick around after James and catch Emily Zuzik with her band. Emily
sees this as the first show of Halloween and is promising "costumes,
candy and chaos." You'll get to hear a great mix of Emily's original
blues, pop,
and rock with some of the most insightful lyrics around. Ms. Z has
been on a bit of a musical sabbatical lately, so come welcome her back.
Emily Zuzik, The Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street (F Train to
Second Avenue, take the First Avenue exit), Midnight
–Eliot Wagner
October 30, 2009
The Current Weather in Park Slope: Warm Weather for Halloween, Chance of Rain
Brought to you by the Feldman Family from their local weather tower.
October 30, 2009
Catherine Bohne Wins Civic Council’s 2009 Lovgren Award!
I enjoyed this article in the Park Slope Civic Council newsletter (and website) about Catherine Bohne, the recent winner of the Park Slope Civic Council’s 2009 Lovgren Award. It's called: "You can't put down a neighborhood that has a Catherine Bohne" and it is written by Erza Goldstein.
"Officially, Catherine Bohne was named winner of the Park Slope Civic Council’s 2009 Lovgren Award for her work on behalf of our neighborhood’s independently owned shops and restaurants. Bohne has been instrumental in bringing the Park Slope Chamber of Commerce back to life, in launching the Buy-in-Brooklyn campaign and in uniting the once-distant merchants of 5th and 7th Avenues in common cause. She has also become one of New York City’s better-known advocates of…
Read more..
Read more..
October 30, 2009
Blast from the Past: Halloween 2005
This was written in October 2005.Teen Spirit was 14, OSFO was 8. Smartmom was…
Photo by Adrian Kinloch, Brit in Brooklyn
Halloween morning, the kids popped out of bed early, ready for their
breakfast candy. "Stop stealing from the trick or treat bowl. That's
for later," Hepcat bellowed. Even Teen Spirit, who is historically
difficult to rouse in the morning, was up and ready for high school in
record time, his pockets stuffed with Hershey's kisses.
The Oh
So Feisty One packed her cowgirl chaps in her pink backpack. "Just in
case my teacher lets us put on our costumes." This was unlikely because
her school prohibits any recognition of Halloween in sensitivity to the
children whose religious beliefs prevent them from participating.
Smartmom
tried to get some money work done on Monday but by 2 p.m, she
surrendered to the reality that Monday afternoon and evening were for
one thing and one thing only: Halloween.
First crisis of the day: the case of the missing cowboy hat: OSFO searched the apartment
high and low. Smartmom finally unearthed it underneath Teen Spirit’s
bed.
Second crisis: Teen Spirit needed a shirt for his impromptu
pirate costume. "You can wear this black shirt of Dad's." Smartmom told
him. "No he can't," Hepcat screamed from the living room. "That's my
special black shirt."
"it's alright, mom," Teen Spirit told Smartmom ever-attentive to Hepcat’s moods.
They
did manage to find a billowy white shirt in the closet. Teen Spirit
strapped on his belt, plastic sword, and the pirate hat he'd purchased
at Rite Aid, ready to join a band of roving teenage pirates who were
waiting downstairs.
Aargh.
Trick or Treating on Seventh
Avenue, OSFO was, characteristically, driven to procure as much candy
as she could possibly fit into her shopping bag. They were joined by
Ducky, who was dressed in a zip-up bunny costume with little paw gloves and a
cloth carrot.
Her first Halloween ever – god knows what Ducky
was thinking. Big brown eyes open wide, she inhaled the crazy costumed
scene from her stroller.
The group went back to Groovy Aunt’s
for some apartment-building style trick or treating. Volume is what it's about. "Let's see," OSFO calculated. "They've got six floors
and eight apartments on each floor…”
OSFO hasn't learned her multiplication tables yet, but still, that's a lot of candy.
Third Crisis: OSFO developed Halloween fatigue mixed with an acute case of "not being the center of attention."
That
darn baby in that darn bunny suit: Ducky was sucking all the attention
out of the room with a straw. OSFO ripped off her cowgirl chaps and
flung her Payless cowgirl boots across the living room and staged a a
world-class snitsky. Arms tightly crossed, she faced a wall and snarled. The only remedy: a large dose of alone time.
Rejuvenated
by a few minutes of quiet and three mini Twix bars, OSFO was ready for
a little trick or treating and the Halloween parade. "The houses with
the Jack-O-lanterns are the ones with the candy," she said with the
assuredness of a seasoned navigator. Racing up and down the brownstone
stoops, she rang on door bells and filled her bag with more candy.
Crisis
number four: By the time they got to the parade, it was over. The
streets were filled with teenagers. Teen Spirit was spotted in front of
Starbucks with a can of shaving cream – horror of horrors. Strange to
say, with all her worries about sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, Smartmom
never once imagined he'd be a shaving cream trickster.
Live and learn. Hepcat trailed Teen Spirit and the teenage pirates to Barnes and Noble and insisted that he be home by nine.
Before
bedtime, OSFO weighed her Halloween treat bag on the bathroom scale:
"I've got five pounds of candy. Don't anybody touch it," she screamed
and then proceeded to stash it in her secret hide-a-way.
Halloween
Crisis number five: The day after Halloween, Teen Spirit couldn't keep
his eyes open during English class. He fell asleep on his desk.
Smartmom hopes he didn't snore. Now that would be very distracting.
How was your Halloween?
October 30, 2009
BQE at The Bell House on Nov 7: Transcending the Mundane with Sufjan
October 30, 2009
Daylight Savings Time Ends on Sunday: An Extra Hour of Sleep
When you go to sleep on Saturday night set your clock back because Daily Savings Time ends on Sunday morning. And while you're at it change your smoke alarm batteries.
Ever wonder about the history of Daylight Savings Time:
"Although standard time in time
zones was instituted in the U.S. and Canada by the railroads in
1883, it was not established in U.S. law until the Act of March 19,
1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act. The act also established
daylight saving time, a contentious idea then. Daylight saving time was
repealed in 1919, but standard time in time zones remained in law.
Daylight time became a local matter. It was re-established nationally
early in World War II, and was continuously observed from 9 February
1942 to 30 September 1945. After the war its use varied among states
and localities. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided standardization
in the dates of beginning and end of daylight time in the U.S. but
allowed for local exemptions from its observance. The act provided that
daylight time begin on the last Sunday in April and end on the last
Sunday in October, with the changeover to occur at 2 a.m. local time.
"During the "energy crisis" years, Congress enacted earlier
starting dates for daylight time. In 1974, daylight time began on
6 January and in 1975 it began on 23 February. After those two
years the starting date reverted back to the last Sunday in April.
In 1986, a law was passed that shifted the starting date
of daylight time to the first Sunday in April, beginning in 1987.
The ending date of daylight time was not subject to such
changes, and remained the last Sunday in October. The
Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed both the starting and ending dates.
Beginning in 2007, daylight time starts on
the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November."
For a very readable account of the history of standard and daylight
time in the U.S., see
Ian R. Bartky and Elizabeth Harrison: "Standard
and Daylight-saving Time", Scientific American, May 1979 (Vol. 240,
No. 5), pp. 46-53.
October 30, 2009
Momasphere: Motherhood Is The New MBA on Nov 5
Another Momasphere event:
Author Shari Storm for a reading and signing her book Motherhood Is the New MBA. (Book release: September 29th). Includes a discussion and Q&A, plus giveaways, wine and food!
“Regardless of whether you are a mom, just starting out, or
established in the workforce, the ideas presented in this book offer a
fresh perspective and new ways of thinking about the applications of
your everyday life experiences.” – Victoria Colligan, founder and CEO
of Ladies Who Launch and co-author of Ladies Who Launch: Embracing Entrepreneurship & Creativity as a Lifestyle
Date: Thurs, November 5th, 2009
Time: 7-9 pm
Place: Park Slope Eye, 682 Union Street (bet. 4th and 5th ave.) – Brooklyn, NY 11215
Price: Tickets are $10 online & $15 at the door
Space is limited so you must RSVP by purchasing tickets online. Sponsored by Park Slope Eye & Hybrid Mom. A portion of the proceeds of the event go to Children of the City.
Food & beverages will be served. Great raffle prizes will be
given away and every attendee will receive a free goodie bag that
includes, Hybrid Mom Magazine, a big Momlogic canvas tote and and delicious all natural Q.Bel chocolate candy bar!
October 30, 2009
Brooklyn Frugal Examiner: Getting a Cheap Haircut
More tips from BFFE:
October 30, 2009
Weekend List: Boo, Peter Sarsgaard, NYC Marathon, Galway Kinnell
HALLOWEEN:
–Haunted Walk in Prospect Park at Lookout HIll & the Nethermead from 12 –3 PM. Rain or shine. Suggested donation, $1.The
beloved Halloween Haunted Walk is back and scarier than ever! Lurking
high on Lookout Hill are zombies, wolf men, headless horsemen, good and
bad witches, and other creepy characters. Visitors brave enough to
experience this harrowing hike should head to Lookout Hill. The
Halloween Haunted Walk is suitable for young children accompanied by
parents/guardians or older siblings.
–Boo at the Zoo at the Zoo for a frighteningly good time with the animals.
–Howloween Pups On Parade. A special event to benefit Washington Park. Prizes for best dog costumes! Registration: $10 per dog; 12-12:30 pm. Parade at 12:45 PM.
–Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Parade. Start: 6:30 PM at 7th Ave/14th Street. Finish: JJ Byrne Playground/Washington Park
–Phantom of the Opera showing in the sanctuary of the Fort Greene landmark Lafayette Avenue
Presbyterian Church, on a 14-foot wide screen with live Organ
accompaniment by J. David Williams on the 1910 “Austin Organ”. 7 PM.
–Freaky Cats at BAMcinematek. See OTBKB Movies by Pops Corn.
RUNNING: The marathon starts in Staten Island at 9AM on Sunday. Watch from Fourth Avenue.
MOVIES:
–An Education with Peter Sarrgaard and Alfred Molina at BAM.
–Michael Jackson's This Is It at the Pavilion.
—-Freaky Cats at BAMcinematek. See OTBKB Movies by Pops Corn.
FAMILY THEATER: The Legend of Ichabod Crane adapted from the Washington Irving story and performed by Dan Kitrosser.Brooklyn Lyceum. 227 Fourth Ave. at President Street. (718) 857-4816
TALK: On Sunday, Nov. 1: Children of Imprisoned Parents speak at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture (PPW at 1st Street) High school students Davian and Kai Reynolds speak about growing up with an imprisoned mother. 11 PM.
POETRY: On Sunday Nov 1 at 7 PM. Galway Kinnell at the Brooklyn Lyceum.
COMEDY: On Sunday, Nov 1 at 7:30 PM. ith Eugene Mirman at Union Hall.
October 30, 2009
Brooklyn Paper Inside NY Post Today
Yeah. You can read Smartmom inside the NY Post today. Here's the spiel from the Brooklyn Paper:
Starting this Friday in selected areas of Brooklyn, copies of The Post will include The Brooklyn Paper — giving Post readers a chance to get our lively, award-winning local coverage along with their regular fix of New York’s best news, gossip, sports, business and entertainment coverage.
“This is what we call a classic win-win,” said Celia Weintrob, publisher of The Brooklyn Paper. “Post readers already enjoy the best newspaper in the city — but now they’ll be getting the best local paper in Brooklyn, too.”
It’s all free with your 50-cent New York Post — only in Brooklyn.
October 30, 2009
Two Champion Trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Two trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden have been entered on the New York State Big Tree Register. You're probably wondering what this Register is:
The New York State Big Tree Register is maintained by the Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) as an effort to recognize trees of
record size and promote an interest in their care and preservation. The
Big Tree Register is now available in scientific name order (PDF, 44 KB) and common name order
(PDF, 44 KB). The Big Tree Register lists only native and naturalized
species and does not include hybrid species. The authority for
determining eligible species is American Forests.
Environmental Conservation (DEC) as an effort to recognize trees of
record size and promote an interest in their care and preservation. The
Big Tree Register is now available in scientific name order (PDF, 44 KB) and common name order
(PDF, 44 KB). The Big Tree Register lists only native and naturalized
species and does not include hybrid species. The authority for
determining eligible species is American Forests.
Two trees in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden — a 97-year-old Kansas hawthorn and a Carolina holly — have become official members of the state’s Big Tree Register, which keeps track of the largest (as opposed to the oldest) trees of their species on record, as defined by a formula that includes the height, circumference and foliage of the tree.
October 30, 2009
Simply Gorgeous: The Art of Joseph Mariano on Pardon Me For Asking
Recently Katia Kelly visited Gowanus artist Joseph Mariano. Head on over to her blog, Pardon Me For Asking, to read her profile and see more of his work. It is simply gorgeous.
"When Gowanus area resident Joseph Mariano retired in 1996, he knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life painting. Standing in his sun drenched studio, he showed me his many works. There were portraits and landscapes, some of Jamaica Bay, some of different scenes along the Gowanus Canal, one of his favorite subjects.
"Very often, Joseph takes a canoe out onto the water and paints the bridges at Carroll Street and 3rd Street. He likes to explore the canal's many inlets, places well hidden from others. Often, he encounters egrets and Night Herons. There used to be horseshoe crabs, too, but he has not seen those in the past five years."
October 30, 2009
New Ideas at Public Hearing on Carroll Garens Rezoning
A press release from CORD, a group in Carroll Gardens dedicated to historic preservation and contextual development, about Monday's hearing with the Zoning and Franchises Committee of the City Council.
On Monday, October 26th, the Zoning and Franchises Committee convened
at City Hall to hear testimony and vote upon the long awaited rezoning
of Carroll Gardens.
at City Hall to hear testimony and vote upon the long awaited rezoning
of Carroll Gardens.
The preservation motivated proposal, specifically designed to maintain
neighborhood character, called for a contextual rezoning of Carroll
Gardens and the Columbia Waterfront area.
As at each of the public hearings held during this months long
ULURP process, overall approval of the plan was expressed by residents
through testimony given in front of the committee. And also, as at each
of the public hearings, along with the overall approval expressed,
there was also an expression of disappointment and concern that some of
the contextual rezoning, which we had all hoped would be, in effect, a downzoning, actually turned out to be an upzoning, on certain streets.
Although we were unsuccessful in getting the plan modified during
the ULURP, two wonderful things happened…..the first was the united
neighborhood that spoke up in a single voice; the second, an idea grew
that could provide a solution, not immediately, but something that
could definitely be worked on and that held great promise for our
neighborhood and maybe even for other, similar neighborhoods in the
borough.
City Planning has explained many times that zoning is not perfect
and that they must use the tools available to them to get the best fit
possible for all of the many communities throughout the city.
The
new idea…..let's give City Planning some new tools for their"
toolbox". Let's get some urban planners, architects, perhaps a
developer or two and concerned residents involved in coming up with a
brownstone district friendly category….one that allows for moderate
expansion but does not threaten the destruction of the streetscape or
alter the character/integrity of the building or its neighbors. Perhaps
even include a design review component whereby making the character of
a brownstone type community part of its zoning regulations
So, it was with this ambitious idea in mind, that members of
CORD, CGNA and other residents addressed Councilman Tony Avella's
committee and we are happy to report that the idea was very well
received.
The Zoning and Franchises Committee voted in favor of the rezoning
proposal. The proposal has since gone to the City Council where it was
quickly adopted on October 28, 2009.
Councilman Avella expressed great interest in the plan to form a
new zoning category.CORD has already begun to mobilize. We already have
a commitment from two respected urban planners to work with us as well
as architects and concerned residents. We will be reaching out to City
Planning for much needed help.
