On Saturday September, 29: The Dance Studio is having a big Grand Opening Bash with a ribbon cutting ceremony, open house, politicians, a legendary musical group…

A legendary musical group? That’s right. The Persuasion are going to be there. The Persuasions? The acapella group, whose albums I listened to non-stop when I was in college? 

Yup.

That’s pretty cool and a great way to inaugurate the new space on Sackett Street.

Until June of 2007, The Dance Studio was located at 808 Union Street for umpteeen years. Then, the landlord raised their rent big time and would not renew their lease. A familiar story in these parts.

Now Kidville, a high-end children’s activity space (the fun place for little city people) is in the location that used to be the Slope’s favorite spot for dance and gymnastic classes for kids and adults.

Longtime owner Jennifer Kliegel searched for a new space closer to her Park Slope client-base but the prices nearby were "through the roof." Then she found the space on Sackett Street, which she spent the summer renovating. It is now a state-of-the-art, air conditioned, and much improved home for the Dance Studio.

Sometimes good things come from bad situations. This is a welcome change for the Dance Studio and a chance to bring even more Brooklynites into the fold.

New Location: 630 Sackett Street, 718-789-4419

12-1: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

1-3: Open House

A painter, a playwright, and a forensic anthropologist: Brooklyn wins big in this year’s Macarthur Foundation awards.

In addition to Park Slope’s Joan Snyder, playwright Lynn Nottage got the call (and $500,000) as did Mercedes Doretti, a Forensic Anthropologist, working in Brooklyn and Buenos Ares. Her work, according to the foundation,  "unearths evidence of crimes
against humanity and seeking justice on behalf of populations whose
immense losses have been omitted from the historical record."

Here’s what the foundation had to say about Lynn Nottage:

Lynn Nottage is an original voice in American theater, a playwright
whose entertaining and thought-provoking works address contemporary
issues with empathy and humor.  Her ambitious, expressive early works,
including Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Mud River Stone, and Por’Knockers,
reveal Nottage’s rich poetic imagination as she portrays periods of
American history from unexpected vantage points and crafts complex
characters of a kind that have garnered little notice among other
writers and historians.  Her more recent works, Intimate Apparel and Fabulation, are considered to be her most accomplished thus far and represent major artistic achievements.  Intimate Apparel,
a prize-winning drama, is the story of a young black seamstress in
early 20th-century New York, a woman working her way through the social
confines of her time – predicaments that continue to haunt us today.
Nottage’s imaginative exploration of history, her ability to find
resonance in unexpected moments in the past, and her sensitive
evocation of social concerns have made her a powerful voice in
theater.  She is a dramatist who will continue to provide us with
provocative plays in which her characters confront some of society’s
most complex issues.

I got this note from filmmaker Adam Zucker, an old friend of mine — from college days and days in the film business.

I’m excited because he’s made a documentary called GREENSBORO: CLOSER TO THE TRUTH playing on Thursday
October 18, at 6:30 pm at Lincoln Center in the Walter Reade Theater.

It’s part of the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Human RIght’s Watch Film Festival. Here’s Adam Zucker’s note to friends and colleagues.

For those who plan ahead, I wanted to
let you know that my new documentary GREENSBORO: CLOSER TO THE TRUTH
will be having its New York premiere next month. The film will be
screening at Lincoln Center in the Walter Reade Theater, Thursday
October 18, 6:30pm.

The screening is a production of the Film Society
of Lincoln Center and the Human Rights Watch Film Festival.
GREENSBORO’s 83 minutes long, and there’ll be a Q & A after the
screening. For more information about the film, check
out the website

Here’s your chance to go to the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch in Grand Army Plaza. We’ve been meaning to do it for years. I just go this press release from Eugene Patron of Prospect Park, who always keeps me posted on great events there.

Brooklyn, NY – Three of Prospect Park’s architectural treasures, the Litchfield Villa, Lefferts Historic House and the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch, are included in America’s largest architecture and design event: the Annual openhousenewyork Weekend (OHNY), October 6 & 7.  All OHNY programs at Prospect Park are free. For directions and information see both www.prospectpark.org and www.ohny.org.

The Litchfield Villa is a stunning example of mid-19th century romantic Italian architecture.  Designed by renowned architect A.J. Davis, the Villa was built in 1857 for prominent railroad pioneer and real estate developer Edwin Clark Litchfield.  Less than a decade later, the City of Brooklyn acquired the Villa for inclusion in newly constructed Prospect Park. Today the Villa houses borough headquarters for City of New York/Parks & Recreation, as well as the offices of the Prospect Park Alliance.  Current restorations of the Villa’s interior have been funded by a generous grant from a Litchfield descendent.

On Sunday, October 7, there will be two special guided tours of the Litchfield Villa lead by Ralph Carmosino, AIA of the Prospect Park Alliance, who has overseen the current restorations. These tours at 2pm and 3pm are limited to 20 people each, and are on a first-come basis.  Visitors not able to join these tours may view the lobby and second floor rotunda of the building from on Sunday, from 1 – 4 p.m.

One of the oldest structures featured in OHNY, the 1783 Lefferts Historic House will host three special tours showcasing areas of this Dutch-American farmhouse not ordinarily open to the public.  Times for these special tours are: 11 a.m. Saturday; and 10 & 11 a.m. Sunday.  Call (718) 789-2822 x10 for reservations.

The imposing Sailors and Sailors Memorial Arch at Grand Army Plaza was built to commemorate the victory of the Union forces in the Civil War. Guided by the Urban Park Rangers, visitors can climb to the top of the arch and take in 360-degree views of Prospect Park, Park Slope, and the Manhattan skyline.  Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (last tour at 3:30 p.m.).

This from the Daily News:

That’s because recently-appointed Brooklyn Public Library Executive
Director Dionne Mack-Harvin views libraries as community centers –
places where people are expected to talk to each other, not sit in
silence.

Mack-Harvin is so determined to end the shushing that librarians
from all 60 branches have been attending training sessions to get the
word out about her approach.

"We’ve moved away from what some consider the ‘shushing library’
model of the past, from being a sterile, educational place that’s
somewhat elitist," she said, "to being a community space where everyone
walking in the door can find a place for themselves."

Mack-Harvin’s no-shushing policy will be further backed up next
Sunday with the opening of a new auditorium at the Central Library.
With seats for 200, the auditorium will host performers from the Big
Apple Circus as its opener.

Weight Watcher’s meetings are the coolest. There is so much wisdom in a room of people who have struggled with weight their whole lives. There is also pain, anger, disappointment and hope. You wouldn’t be at a meeting if you didn’t have hope and motivation to improve your predicament.

The meetings are about so much more than numbers on a scale. They’re about the meaning of food in your life, self-esteem, goals, getting in shape physically and emotionally.

I am so inspired when I look around at the diverse group of people that show up at that meeting. All colors, shapes and sizes, the people speak their minds honestly and openly because they feel very safe and comfortable there.

Yesterday’s meeting was especially verbose. A lot of people spoke; a lot of interesting things were said. Here’s a sampling.

“I have begun to think of food as a very high interest credit card.”

“I don’t have to eat every meal like it is my last. It’s not like I’m on death row.”

“I don’t look in the mirror and say I’m a fat pig anymore.”

“I learned from a friend who is a food critic. You only tase the first three bites.”

To which the leader added: “The first bite is good. The second is decadent. The third is enough. You no longer need to eat the whole thing.”

Some people begged to differ. But it’s an interesting idea.

As for me, I’ve lost 13 pounds since June. Next week I hope to receive my 3rd 5-pound star. The meetings keep me motivated and give me something to aim for.

There are Weight Watcher meetings on Saturday and Sunday mornings at the Montauk Club (8th Avenue at the corner of Lincoln Place). Just show up. You can see what it’s all about. There are also meetings on Wednesdays at around 5 p.m. at the American Legion on 9th Street near Third Avenue in Park Slope.

Here is StreetFilms coverage of PARK(ing) Day, a day when people turned parking spaces into parks. You can read more about it on the Park(ing) Day website. I think the original day was organized in San Francisco but this year it was a national event.

More than 70% of most cities’ outdoor space is dedicated to the private vehicle while only a fraction of that land is allocated to open space for people. Around the nation, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel, and more pollution. It’s time to rethink the way streets are used!

A metered parking spot is an inexpensive short-term lease for a 10’x20′ plot of land. Imagine what you can do in a space usually dedicated to private vehicle storage. Parking Day began in a single metered parking spot in San Francisco and then spread around the world. People who want more open space, less traffic, and safer streets have joined together.

Clarence, from Streetfilms, got footage of the event in and around NYC. You can watch his 6-minute video on the Streetfilms site. Here’s what he had to say about yesterday’s happening.

This was a wonderful event, congrats to all the groups who participated. I wish I could have
gotten all the groups in, but gotta call it quits at some point and
get it up.

Anyway, enjoy. The film has just been published at www.streetfilms.org

Be sure to leave feedback on the site :)

Gowanus Lounge has the word on this but I’m going to put it up here because Gowanus In Unity Tutoring needs VOLUNTEERS.

This group provides individual tutoring at the Gowanus Community Center in the Gowanus Houses.

Read more about it at Gowanus Lounge. If you are interested, please give a call to Steve Shooman at 718-522-5746.

The Yard, formerly the site of Issue Project Room, is shaping up to be quite the site for community happenings. I just got word of this October event.

Here’s the press release about  Party for the People, an event on Saturday, October 6, 2007  1pm-9pm at The Yard located at 388-400 Carroll Street (between Bond & Nevins) in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn:

Brooklyn, NY – Party for the People, a celebration of community empowerment designed to build community awareness and engagement, will take place at The Yard in Gowanus on Saturday, October 6, 2007.  Free to the public, this Brooklyn-based event will feature workshops covering various modes of community participation as well as performances by socially active musicians and spoken-word artists.  Prominent activists and local community leaders will give presentations on different elements of social involvement.  Throughout the evening, a wide range of Brooklyn-based community service and activist organizations will maintain involvement opportunity displays. 

Party for the People employs a unique approach to community organizing which brings together social activists and service organizations from various geographic areas of Brooklyn, as well as different fields of social service, to celebrate in the name of community development and social progress.  Participants will include featured speaker New York City Councilman Charles Barron, performers such as M1 of Dead Prez, Stephanie McKay, Judah Tribe, Mental Notes, the Readnex Poetry Squad, Blitz the Ambassador, Vocab, American Hero, Safahri, and Head-Roc.  Organizations such as Brooklyn For Peace (formerly Brooklyn Parents for Peace), Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, the Red Tent Women’s Project, Brooklyn YWCA, Idealist.org, Innocence Stolen Innocent Still Foundation, Trees Not Trash, Center for Anti-Violence Education, the Audre Lorde Project, Groundwork* and others will be present to provide information about their programs.

This event offers the opportunity for newcomers to Brooklyn as well as long-time residents to become more socially informed and active in their communities.  Workshops will provide information about current local issues and initiatives.  The showcase of speakers and performers will serve to inspire and empower people to become involved.  The exhibiting local organizations will give people direct access to ongoing programs in Brooklyn. 

Party for the People is produced by a collective of grassroots activists and organizers working together toward the common goal of triggering community awareness and deepening people’s connections with and contributions to one another.  The organizers of Party for the People believe that the revival of community values on a local scale sets the stage for greater societal progress.  Party for the People aims to create a space for the acknowledgement, development, and celebration of community participation.

To join forces with the Party for the People organizers, participate in the event, or simply obtain more information, contact:  Chief Organizer Stephanie Rooker at stephanie.rooker@gmail.com or 917-623-4388.

This may be old news, but one million cribs have been recalled from Graco and Simplicity. Since there are so many babies around here I thought it prudent to post this from MSNBC:

WASHINGTON – About 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs have been recalled after three children became entrapped and suffocated.

The
recall was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on
Friday, more than two years after a California lawyer says he alerted
the federal agency about a 9-month-old who died in a faulty crib.

Hepcat said it and it’s really true: "It’s like Times Square out there."

He was referring to Third Street between 6th and 7th Avenues at 3:40 a.m. in the morning on a Saturday night. It’s the non-stop noise of loud people walking east toward Seventh Avenue after the bars close.

What time does The Gate close?

Truthfully, I kinda like the noise. Especially if I’m up late writing or something. It’s lively. Sort of. Our bedrooms are in the back so it doesn’t wake up the kids. And we’re already up. It’s the sound of tired people having fun. They’re not doing anything wrong really other than talking loudly: bar conversations taken out on the street.

Sometimes there are fights or rowdiness. But not often.

How do other people feel about it?