THIS WEEKEND: OPENHOUSENEWYORK

Here it is: the full list of all the Brooklyn sites that are participating in this weekend’s openhousenewyork.   openhousenewyork celebrates New York City’s architecture and inspires civic pride through an annual program of public access to significant buildings and sites in all five boroughs.

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Check out the list below. The Gowanus Canal Canoe Tour is just one of the many events that will be of interest to readers of OTBKB. There’s also a Red Hook Harbor Canoe Tour, as well as a tour of the electric plant at Pratt Institute. With it’s steam
engines with gleaming brass levers, belted generators and exposed gears
dating back more than a century, this Industrial Age landmark a
focal point on Pratt’s campus. The Power Plant is the longest
maintained site in NYC for electrical production.

The Angels and Accordians event at the Green-Wood Cemetery also sounds like a must-do, and likewise the opportunity to climb to the roof of the Arch at Grand Army Plaza, or walk inside the Slope’s illustrious Montauk Club.


8 Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene

Sat:2pm-4pm

regular tours from 2pm-4pm, other times public access is limited to lobby, max 50 at a time

architect: Henry B. Herts and Hugh Tallant, 1908

services:
restrooms available, parking


One
of the finest examples of polychrome, terracotta architecture in the
U.S., a recent exterior restoration has reclaimed the original
building’s decorative cherub ornamentation and elaborate parapet and
cornice, composed of brilliant colors and set with 22 full-sized lions’
heads. Tours will explore the grand lobby and backstage.


subway: D, M, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Atlantic Ave./Pacific St.; C to Lafayette Ave./Fulton St.

bus: B25, B26, B41, B45, B52, B63, B67

other transportation: LIRR to Flatbush/Atlantic Avenue

www.BAM.org


map
9 Brooklyn Army Terminal
140 58th Street, Sunset Park

Sat:10:30am-3pm, last entry 1pm

Sun:10:30am-3pm, last entry 1pm

tours both days at 11am & 1pm; reserve in advance: 718.630.2421, max 30 at a time

architect: Cass Gilbert, 1918

services:
access for wheelchairs, restrooms available, parking


Formerly
an army terminal, this cavernous, city-owned facility is home to a
variety of manufacturing and industrial businesses. There are two main
buildings, several outbuildings and two piers, one of which provides
ferry service to Lower Manhattan. The BAT’s facade and interior atrium
are federally registered landmarks.


subway: N, R to 4th Avenue or 59th St.

bus: B9, B11

nycedc.com


map
10 Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn Heights

Sat:10am-4pm, last entry 3pm

tours at 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, max 24 at a time

architect: Gamaliel King, 1848

services:
access for wheelchairs, restrooms available, bookshop/gift shop


The
elegant Borough Hall opened in 1848 as Brooklyn’s City Hall. Capturing
the true essence of the Greek Revival style, the landmark features an
impressive front portico. Its 125-foot-tall iron cupola resembles a
pineapple, the symbol of hospitality, and is crowned by a gold-leafed
lady of justice. Borough Hall has four major public rooms where
hundreds of events, meetings and hearings are held each year.


subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, R, J, A, C, F to Borough Hall

bus: B25, B26, B37, B38, B41, B52

www.brooklyntourism.org


map
11 Brooklyn Historical Society
128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn Heights

Sat:12pm-5pm, last entry 4:30pm

Sun:12pm-5pm, last entry 4:30pm

Building
tour both days at 3pm; Sat at 2pm: tour of "Dodgers Do It: Celebrating
Brooklyn’s Big Win"; Sun at 2pm: tour of "Brooklyn Works: 400 Years of
Making a Living in Brooklyn"


architect: George B. Post, 1881

services:
access for wheelchairs, restrooms available


The
1881 brick-and-terracotta, Queen Anne-style landmark utilizes an
innovative truss system to suspend the weight of the top floors from
the roof. Highlights include stained-glass windows, Minton tile floors,
and carved wood accents. On Saturday at 2pm, tour exhibit "Brooklyn
Works: 400 Years of Making a Living in Brooklyn" and on Sunday at 2pm
tour exhibit "Dodgers Do It: Celebrating Brooklyn’s Big Win."


subway: R to Court St.; 2, 3, 4, 5 to Borough Hall; A, C, to High St., F to Jay St.

bus: B38, B52, B25, B26, B41, B65, B67

www.brooklynhistory.org


map
12 Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights

Sat:11:00am

Sun:11:30am

tours: Sat at 11am & Sun at 11:30am; reserve in advance: 718.501.6234, max 25 at a time

architect: McKim, Mead & White, 1897-1924, Polshek Partnership Architects, 2004

services:
access for wheelchairs, restrooms available, food/beverages, bookshop/gift shop, parking


An
historic Beaux Arts building with a new, glass-and-steel addition, the
Brooklyn Museum is the second-largest art museum in NYC and one of the
largest in the country. Tours will focus on the history of the building
with glimpses of its world-renowned permanent collections.


subway: 2, 3 to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum

bus: B41, B43, B45, B69, B71

www.brooklynmuseum.org


map
13 Brooklyn Navy Yard
63 Flushing Avenue, Cumberland Gate, Fort Greene

Sat:10am

2-hour bus tour Sat at 10am; reserve in advance: 718.907.5929, max 20 at a time

1801-present

This
former U.S. Navy Yard is now an industrial and commercial park
employing over 4,000 people. The two-hour bus tour will showcase the
entire yard, stopping at historically significant sites along the way.


subway: F to York St.; A to High St.; L to Bedford Ave.

bus: B61

www.brooklynnavyyard.com


map
14 Floyd Bennett Field
Ryan Visitor Center, Southeast Brooklyn

Sat:9am- 5pm, last entry 4:45pm

Sun:9am-5pm, last entry 4:45pm

tours both days at 10am & 1pm, max 30 at a time

architect: Hugh McLaughlin, 1931

services:
restrooms available, parking


Years
ago, crowds gathered along the runways to cheer pioneering aviators at
New York City’s first airport terminal. Tours provide the rare
opportunity to visit the historic control tower and underground access
tunnel leading to former runways.


subway: 2 to Flatbush Ave.

bus: Q35

other
transportation: car: Belt Parkway to Exit 11S; take Flatbush Ave. south
to the main entrance of Floyd Bennett Field, make a left to enter the
Field, follow signs to the Ryan Visitor Center (RVC)


www.nps.gov/gate


map
15 Gowanus Canal Canoe Tour
End of 2nd Street off Bond Street, Carroll Gardens

Sat:10am-2pm

Sun:10am-3pm

tours every hour on the hour,reserve in advance: 718.243.0849, max 8 at a time

From
tidal creek to urban industrial waterway, learn the history of the
Gowanus Canal as you paddle a canoe along a two-mile stretch. Look out
for wildlife such as blue crabs, fish and the black-crowned night
heron. Tours organized by the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club.


subway: F, G to Carroll Street

bus: B71, B37, B75, B77

www.gowanuscanal.org


map
16 The Green-Wood Cemetery
500 25th Street, Sunset Park

Sat:8am-7pm

tours at 12pm & 3pm, reserve in advance: 718.788.7850, max No Maximum at a time

architect: David Bates Douglass, 1838

services:
restrooms available, food/beverages, bookshop/gift shop, parking


Considered
by many to be the finest rural cemetery in America, the Green-Wood
Cemetery boasts 478 acres of rolling hills, ponds and sculpture. On
Saturday, the hills and woods come to life with the site-specific
performance/tour Angels and Accordions featuring dance, live music and
visual installations. Tours organized by the Green-Wood Historic Fund
in collaboration with Dance Theatre Etcetera, assisted by the Brooklyn
Arts Exchange and in cooperation with openhousenewyork. See
"architecturemoves" for details.


subway: R to 25th St.

www.green-wood.com


map
17 Lefferts Historic House Museum
Flatbush Avenue near Empire Boulevard, Prospect Park, Prospect Park

Sat:12pm-5pm, last entry 4:45pm

Sun:12pm-5pm, last entry 4:45pm

architect: unknown, circa 1783

services:
access for wheelchairs, parking


One
of a small number of farmhouses surviving from Brooklyn’s Dutch
settlement period. The house has a symmetrical Georgian floor plan and
Neoclassical decoration.


subway: Q, S to Prospect Park

bus: B16, B41, B43, B48

www.prospectpark.org; www.historichousetrust.org/museum.php?msmid=6


map
18 Mark Morris Dance Center
3 Lafayette Avenue, Fort Greene

Sat:10am-5pm, last entry 4:30pm

architect: Beyer Blinder Belle, 2001

services:
access for wheelchairs, restrooms available


This
new performance and studio facility is the first built in the U.S. for
a single-choreographer company. On Saturday, observe a dance class.


subway:
B,Q to Atlantic Ave.; 2, 3, 4, 5 to Nevins St. or Atlantic Ave.; G to
Fulton St.; C to Lafayette Ave.; N, R, D, M to Pacific St.


bus: B41, B67, B37, B45

www.mmdg.com


map
19 The Montauk Club
25 Eighth Avenue, Park Slope

Sun:1pm-5pm

architect: Francis H. Kimball, 1889

services:
restrooms available


Inspired
by a Gothic palace along Venice’s Grand Canal, the Club is often
referred to as the Crown Jewel of Park Slope. Step past the famous
frieze frames to enjoy the stained-glass windows and mahogany-paneled
interiors.


subway: 2, 3 to Grand Army Plaza, Q to 7th Ave.

bus: B41,  B69

www.montaukclub.com


map
20 Pieter Claesen Wyckoff House, Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum
5816 Clarendon Road, East Flatbush

Sat:tours at 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Sun:tours at 11am, 1pm & 3pm

historic crafts demonstrations throughout the weekend, max 30 at a time

architect: unknown, 1652-1820

services:
restrooms available, bookshop/gift shop


The
oldest house in New York typifies a middle-class farmstead of its day.
A "See It All" behind-the-scenes tour of the house examines 300 years
of agrarian life in Brooklyn and the evolution of the Dutch-American
timber-frame farmhouse.


subway: 2, 5 to Newkirk Ave., change to B8 bus; A, C to Utica Ave., change to B46 bus

bus: B7, B8, B46

www.wyckoffassociation.org


map
21 Pratt Institute Library
200 Willoughby Avenue, Clinton Hill

Sat: tours at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

architect: William Tubby (interiors by The Tiffany Firm, 1896), 1896

services:
restrooms available


Designed
by Tiffany & Co., this interior includes a grand marble stair and
decorative mosaic tilework. Light filters through glass-block floors
illuminating the unusual stacks.


subway: G to Clinton-Washington

bus: B38

www.pratt.edu


map
22 Pratt Institute:  Power Plant
200 Willoughby Avenue, Clinton Hill

Sat: tours at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

architect: William Windrim, 1887

services:
restrooms available


Steam
engines with gleaming brass levers, belted generators and exposed gears
dating back more than a century make this Industrial Age landmark a
focal point on Pratt’s campus. The Power Plant is the longest
maintained site in NYC for electrical production.


subway: G to Clinton-Washington

bus: B38

www.pratt.edu


map
23 Pratt Institute Caroline Ladd Pratt House
229 Clinton Avenue, Clinton Hill

Sat: tours at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm

architect: Babb, Cook & Willard, 1898

services:
restrooms available


One
of Brooklyn’s finest private homes, this Georgian Revival mansion is
now the official residence of the president of Pratt Institute.


subway: G to Clinton-Washington

bus: B38

www.pratt.edu


map
24 Red Hook Harbor Canoe Tour
End of Coffey Street at Valentino Pier, west of Van Brunt Street, Red Hook

Sat:10am-3pm

tours
every hour on the hour, highlighting maritime heritage and history of
the Red Hook neighborhood, visit www.gowanuscanal.org for more
information.


Canoe
from the Louis Valentino, Jr. Pier and enjoy views of Red Hook,
downtown Manhattan, and Liberty and Governors Island from a unique,
water-level vantage point. Tour organized by the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe
Club.


bus: B61, B77

http://www.waterfrontmuseum.org/dredgers/home.html


map
25 Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza
Flatbush Avenue and Eastern Parkway, Prospect Park, Park Slope/ Prospect Heights

Sat:10am-3pm

Sun:10am-3pm

regular tours, max 15 at a time

architect: John H. Duncan, 1892

New
York City’s grandest arch commemorates the Union forces of the Civil
War. Climb onto the roof for views of the surrounding park,
neighborhood and Manhattan skyline.


subway: 2, 3 to Grand Army Plaza; Q to 7th Ave.

bus: B41, B69, B71

www.nyc.gov/parks


map
144 Empire Stores
Empire – Fulton Ferry State Park, 26 New Dock Street at Water Street, DUMBO

Sat:talk at 2pm

opendialogue: Architect Jay Valgora, Walker Group, will give a talk in front of the stores, discussing his recent renovation.

architect: Jay Valgora

Linked
by seating and a paved pathway to Brooklyn Bridge Park, this new green
space beneath the Manhattan Bridge is part of a recent revival of
DUMBO’s waterfront, which in past centuries thrived on maritime
commerce.


subway: F to York St.

bus: B61
145 Old Stone House
336 3rd Street at 5th Avenue, JJ Byrne Park, Park Slope

Sat:11am-4pm, last entry 3:45pm

Sun:11am-4pm, last entry 3:45pm

join
National Park Service ranger Mike Callahan in a costumed enactment of
the British perspective on the Battle for New York both days between
11am & 3pm. , max 40 at a time


1699 (original), 1930’s (reconstruction)

services:
access for wheelchairs, restrooms available, food/beverages, bookshop/gift shop


Constructed
solidly of stone with high brick gables and a tile roof, the original
1699 house is a landmark in American military and sports history. Lost
to the construction of rowhouses during the mid 19th century, it has
been reconstructed from its original stones near the original site –
lawns that hosted the World Series in 1889 and 1890 as the home of the
Brooklyn Dodgers.


subway: R to Union St.; F to 4th Ave.

bus: B63

www.theoldstonehouse.org
146 PS 287 Bailey K. Ashford School Robin Hood Library
50 Navy Street, Navy Yard

Sat:10am-3pm

architect: Richard H. Lewis Architect

services:
restrooms available, parking


Remodeled
as part of the Robin Hood Library Initiative, this Brooklyn elementary
school library is designed to address low literacy skills and as a
catalyst for learning. The fun, modern library is carefully integrated
into the larger school agenda to icite students’ interest in broadening
their education. To date, 31 libraries are open and 25 more are slated
to open in fall of 2006, with priority given to low-performing schools
in poorer neighborhoods.


subway: A, F to Court Street/Borough Hall

bus: B57, B61, B69
154 Brooklyn Lyceum
227 4th Avenue, Park Slope/Gowanus

Sat:10am-8pm

Sun:10am-8pm

architect: Raymond F. Almirall, 1910

services:
restrooms available, food/beverages


When
it originally opened on January 1, 1910, the building served as a
public bath, housing a pool with a perimeter balcony for showers.
Transformed by Robert Moses, it was a gym from the 1930’s until the
1960’s. Subsequent uses included a theater, a temporary police precinct
and a construction warehouse before its current renovation as a theater
and restaurant.
Come view the opening of "Over the Rainbow," an exhibit by acclaimed
artist Marshall Arisman.


subway: R to Union St.

bus: B37, B63, B71

www.brooklynlyceum.com

Additional sites added:
       
144 Empire Stores
        145 Old Stone House
        146 PS 287 Bailey K. Ashford School Robin Hood Library
        154 Brooklyn Lyceum