The wind is really howling out there and there’s a tree down on Cortelyou Road. You can see more pictures at Ditmas Park Blog. There are almost certainly other trees down on this stormy, yucky night in other neighborhoods of Bklyn.

BLARNEYPALOOZA: On Thursday, March 18th at 8PM, Brooklyn Reading Works presents Blarneypalooza, a literary celebration of Irish writers, music and influence planned with Saint Patrick’s Day in mind. Donation: $5

Ann Beirne, Jill Eisenstadt, Barbara O’Dair, David Freiman, Greg Fuchs, Patrick Brian Smith, and Michele Madigan Somerville.will read/perform at the historic Old Stone House in Washington Park on Fifth Avenue and Third Street in Park Slope.

POETS FOR HAITI: On Monday, March 22 at 8PM at the Old Stone House, Louise Crawford and Michele Madigan Somerville present POETS FOR HAITI, an entertaining and inspiring benefit designed to raise funds for relief efforts in Haiti.

Poets/performers Sharon Mesmer, Joanna Sit, Wanda Phipps, Roy Nathanson, Bill Evans, Ellen Ferguson, Christopher Stackhouse and more will performa  the Old Stone House in Washington Park in Park Slope (Fifth Avenue and Third Street). Donation $10. for Doctors Without Borders.

FILM

–Alice in Wonderland, The Ghost Writer, Shutter Island at BAM.

–Also at BAM It’s Montgomery Clift, Honey festival of the actor’s films.

MUSIC.

–Saturday at 8:30 at the Jewish Music Cafe: Kol Dodi and the 7 ft. bassist, Jootsy Szaba

ART

–Mary Ting, Excerpts from the Dysfunctional Forest at Kentler International in Red Hook through March 28th

–Battlefields, the first New York solo exhibition by Nebojsa Seric-Shoba. Taken over a 10 year period (from 1999 to 2009), the featured photographic works, documentations of actual battlefields, call into question the autonomy of “place:” the disparity that exists between historical events and the geographic locations in which they occur. Dumbo Arts Center through April 25th

THEATER

Saturday and Sunday at the Old Stone House: The Crucible directed by Claire Beckman. Brave New World Repertory Theatre presents an exciting, site specific adaptation of the Arthur Miller classic. $18. Reservations necessary. Order tickets and reserve on-line at www.bravenewworldrep.org or call 718-768-3195. I just found out that the run is sold out but maybe there’s a waiting list.

David Yassky, the former City Councilman for the 33rd District (which includes parts of Park Slope, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Williamsburg and Greenpoint), has been nominated by Mayor Bloomberg to head the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission .

I’d been hearing rumors for weeks and the mayor announced Yasskys nomination on his weekly radio show. Does anyone listen to that show? Just curious.

After his failed run for city comptroller in November I was wondering what Yassky was going to do next. So here’s the answer. The nomination is subject to approval by the City Council.

Here’s what Bloomberg had to say in statement reprinted in the NY Times:

“David is the right guy for the job. He led the way in the Council in introducing fuel-efficient taxis to the City, part of our PlaNYC agenda, and as former Chairman of the Small Business Committee, he’s familiar with the issues and concerns of running a small business and many taxi drivers are in fact small business owners.”

I interviewed Peter Hedges about his new novel, The Heights a few weeks ago. We had a interesting and far reaching conversation and I can’t wait for you all to see.

His first novel “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” was made into an acclaimed film that introduced Johnny Depp to the world. Hedges also directed the beautiful, Pieces of April with Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson.

My interview will be up and running on Monday. Stay tuned.

Peter Hedges scores with his new book, The Heights, about Tim and Kate Welch, parents who live in the upscale neighborhood on Tim’s salary as a teacher at the fictional “Montague Academy.”

When his wife gets a good job in Manhattan Tim is able to quit his teaching job become a stay at home dad and finish his dissertation.

The trouble starts when Anna Brody, a mysterious, alluring and fabulously rich mother buys the biggest house in the nabe and the Welches are forced to grapple  with issues of friendship, fidelity, parenting, money, envy and the ties that bind.

In this breezy, intelligent third novel by Hedges, who also wrote the book and film, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, the author uses humor, smarts, good plotting and excellent observations of the Brooklyn Heights life to tell his human tale. He creates believable characters that are interesting, quirky and complex.

Most importantly, he sketches an insiders view of the upper crust world of Brooklyn Heights complete with references to the 100-year-old Brooklyn Heights Association, familiar locattions, cafes with (sometimes but not always) fictional names, and people you can truly imagine at the Promenade Playground.

One of my favorite scenes comes after Anna’s daughter is injured in a playground accident:

“Earlier that night Sophie Brody-Ashworth tripped over/slipped off/fell headfirst from the top of the circular slide at Pierrepont Playground. Her mother, Anna, saw the whole thing happen/dind’t see a thing, wasn’t even at the playground. Sophie’s injury was just a scarpe/a deep cut/a nasty gash that exposed her skull bone…

Hedges is a pro when it comes to telling good stories. In addition to writing Gilbert Grape, he directed Pieces of April (a film I loved), Dan in Love and About a Boy.

It great to have a talent like this writing about the neighborhood life in Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn Arts Council (BAC), in partnership with the MetroTech BID, seeks proposals from Brooklyn-based artists and collectives for artwork to be installed on construction fences on 3 sites in downtown Brooklyn.

Proposed works should have strong visual impact and should be accessible and appropriate for the general public.  Artists are encouraged to create installations that fit within the context of the site and create a visual identity for the area. Applicants may apply for more than one site and are required to complete separate applications for each site.  Three artists/collectives will be chosen, one artist/group for each site.

Chosen artists/collective will receive a $1,000 fee for honorarium.  Each site includes a supply budget not to exceed $2,700.  For more details and to apply visit http://www.brooklynartscouncil.org/documents/1413.

Deadline: April 5, 2010 by 5 pm

39th district City Councilman Brad Lander is joining with Lambda Independent Democrats and other elected officials (including the Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, and Borough President Marty Markowitz), Carroll Gardens community leaders and neighbors for a vigil scheduled for Monday night at the site of a hate crime attack. Here’s the note from Lander.

As I reported yesterday, a despicable incident occurred in our neighborhood last Monday night. A young man was walking home from a bar in Carroll Gardens when he was attacked by five individuals who hurled anti-gay slurs at him while beating him severely.  Fortunately, the victim of the attack has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, but we want to make sure that we show our support for him and make clear to everyone that there is no room for hate or violence of any kind in our community, or anywhere in New York City .

On Monday night, I will join Lambda Independent Democrats, other elected officials (including the Speaker Christine Quinn, Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, and Borough President Marty Markowitz), Carroll Gardens community leaders and neighbors for a vigil at the site of the attack. We need to make clear that we are all appalled and sickened by the attack and that we live in an inclusive and welcoming community that will stand up together for all its residents.

I hope you will join me in showing your support for the victim, your outrage over this incident, and your commitment to a community that is united against hate.

What:              Community vigil against hate

When:             Monday, March 15^th at 8:30pm

Where:            Luquer Street , between Clinton and Hamilton

Here’s an excerpt from the Brooklyn Paper’s story:

The city has approved a Park Slope private school’s expansion plan, a controversial scheme that vexes some residents who fear that the new building will undermine the neighborhood’s historic character.

On Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted 8-0 in favor of the Berkeley Carroll School’s one-story annex and rooftop playground at the rear of its campus on Lincoln Place between Seventh and Eighth avenues.

The addition is four feet taller — and occupies a larger footprint — than an existing portion of the school that will be razed.

The project was approved because it “does not involve the removal of historic fabric, and the addition is not visible from a public thoroughfare,” said Landmarks spokeswoman Lisi de Bourbon…

…Some residents of St. Johns Place, whose backyards abut the Berkeley Carroll School, vow to fight on.

“The community will not stand by and allow … a project so antagonistic to the neighbors,” said John Muir.

Take note of two special events at the Old Stone House on March 18th and March 22nd.

BLARNEYPALOOZA: On Thursday, March 18th at 8PM, Brooklyn Reading Works presents Blarneypalooza, a literary celebration of Irish writers, music and influence planned with Saint Patrick’s Day in mind. Donation: $5

Ann Beirne, Jill Eisenstadt, Barbara O’Dair, David Freiman, Greg Fuchs, Patrick Brian Smith, and Michele Madigan Somerville.will read/perform at the historic Old Stone House in Washington Park on Fifth Avenue and Third Street in Park Slope.

POETS FOR HAITI: On Monday, March 22 at 8PM at the Old Stone House, Louise Crawford and Michele Madigan Somerville present POETS FOR HAITI, an entertaining and inspiring event designed to raise funds for relief efforts in Haiti.

Poets/performers Sharon Mesmer, Joanna Sit, Wanda Phipps, Roy Nathanson, Bill Evans, Ellen Ferguson, Christopher Stackhouse and more will performa  the Old Stone House in Washington Park in Park Slope (Fifth Avenue and Third Street). Donation $10. for Doctors Without Borders.

Kim Maier, Executive Director of the Old Stone House, was selected as one of 31 Extraordinary Women honored yesterday by Kings County District Attorney Charles J. Hynes as he announced the recipients of his fourth annual Extraordinary Women’s event.

“These exceptional women serve as role models because of their selflessness, dedication and compassion”, Hynes told the crowd. “It is an honor for me to recognize these women for their outstanding work, which benefits the people of Brooklyn.”

To each of the 31 women, Hynes bestowed the title of Special Ambassador to their communities.   “The women come from neighborhoods all throughout Brooklyn.  The honorees all have one thing in common,” said District Attorney Hynes.  “They make Brooklyn a better place to live.”

The 31 Extraordinary Women are: Oraia Reid (Boerum Hill), Paula Shirk (Brooklyn Heights), Christine Moore Vassallo (Boerum Hill), Wai Po Tsang (Sheepshead Bay), Aqila Norris (Bedford Stuyvesant), Laurie Windsor (Bath Beach), Chaya Lipschutz (Borough Park), Suzelle Charles Augustin (Old Mill Basin), Sherif Fraser (East Flatbush), Linda Sarsour (Bay Ridge), Mary D. Allen (East New York), Kathleen Snow (Marine Park), Kimberly Maier (Park Slope), Jodie Reznik (Flatbush), Jeanne B. Lambert (Flatbush),  Megan Kerrigan (Mapleton), E. Colleen Golden (Bay Ridge), Victoria Aviles (Boerum Hill), Elisabeth Stock (Park Slope), Patricia Reddock (East Flatbush), Dale Mc Reynolds (Sheepshead Bay), Candice Anderson (Park Slope), Renee Flowers (Gowanus), Ismay Griffith (Canarsie), Amy Cohen (Carroll Gardens), Bazay Roohi (Coney Island), Margarette D. Tropnas (East  Flatbush), Nancy Carbone (Red Hook), Margaret Cusack (Boerum Hill), Deb Howard (Fort Greene), and Laurel O. Fraser (East Flatbush).

On Sunday, March 14, 2010 Daylight Saving Time goes into effect. Reset your clocks one hour ahead. The time change goes into effect at 2:00 AM.

Brought to you by the Feldman Family from their local weather tower.

Yesterday after more than seven years of protest and delays, Bruce Ratner and supporters of the Atlantic Yards project broke ground on the Barclays Center, a home for the New Jersey Nets.

Many of Ratner’s political supporters were there: Paterson, Bloomberg and Markowitz are pictured with shovels. Even Jay-Z (who owns a small part of the Nets) held a shovel.

More than 100 protesters from Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn were also on hand.

The Barclay’s Center is just the first part of Ratner’s proposed 16 tower development, that is opposed by many in Brooklyn.

The arena is set to open in 2012, which sounds awfully soon. It seats 19,000 basketball fans.

OTBKB is a proud sponsor of the upcoming Lyceum Spring Food and Craft Market 2010, which will take place the weekend of May 1 and 2 at the Brooklyn Lyceum on Fourth Avenue at President Street.

The market, covering two floors at the Lyceum, will highlight an impressive array of artisanal goods, including clothing, clocks, home goods, art, gifts, jams, chocolates, cheeses, craft beer and more. There will also be workshops and demos:  learn to bind a book or grab a basic lesson in chocolate making for instance.

So what does artisanal mean exactly? Handcrafted, small batch, human scale, personalized, and unbranded are a few other phrases that help to describe the kinds of things you’ll find at the market.

Over the next 7 weeks I’ll be highlighting some of the artists, whose work you’ll find at the fair. For starters:

You know I love Warpe Designs. I already have one of her beautiful lamps sitting on my writing desk at home. The holes in the lampshade (and all of her work) are individually handpunched to create the embossed effect and openings. Each pattern is unique and “painted with pins” to create this special effect.

My other pick for this week: Can’t Afford ‘Em Clocks. I thought these would make great gifts for the comic book/pop culture fanatic in your life. The artist says: “This is a an old 7″ record that I turned into an awesome wall clock. This clock is decoupaged with scenes from an old, 1990’s Spideman comic. This is a one of a kind piece of wall art that will also tell you the time. The clock has a couple of coats of mod-podge so it will be fine if it gets water or something of that sort on it.” He  can also custom make a clock with your preference of comic, or something else. 

At BAM on Friday, Mar 12 at 2, 4:30, 7, 9:30pm, A Place in the Sun (1951) directed by George Stevens with Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor, Shelley Winters

George Stevens takes on Theodore Dreiser’s monumental opus An American Tragedy in this adaptation featuring Clift in one of his defining roles: an ambitious social climber caught between his pregnant, working class girlfriend (Winters) and a wealthy socialite (Taylor). Each in their prime, Clift and Taylor’s chemistry and beauty are captured in Stevens’ electrifying, erotically-charged close-ups.

This screening is part of a That’s Montgomery Clift, Honey a film festival at BAM, which includes From Here to Eternity, I Confess and more

Our City Councilman in the 39th District, Brad Lander, responds to a recent hate crime in Carroll Gardens:

It’s a cliché, but one worth repeating: one of the best things about our communities in Brooklyn is their diversity. We have people of all races and religions, gay and straight, from an extraordinary array of nationalities.  I love going from a meeting with the Bengali community in Kensington, to an LGBTQ event in Park Slope, to coffee with members of the Italian community in CarrollGardens – sometimes all in the same night!

Unfortunately however, sometimes that diversity is attacked or threatened — and then it’s time for our community to stand up together.  This is one of those times.

Bias Attack in CarrollGardens

I am sorry to report about one such incident that occurred last Monday night. A young man was walking home from a bar in CarrollGardens when he was attacked by five individuals who hurled anti-gay slurs at him while beating him severely.  Fortunately, the victim of the attack has been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, but incidents like this one remind us that there are still people who would seek to divide us from one another and spread hate through our streets.

There is no room for hate or violence of any kind in our community, or anywhere in New York City. As you would expect in our community, the outrage over this incident and support for the victim has been overwhelming – from members of Lambda Independent Democrats, from elected officials, and from neighbors.

On Tuesday night, I released a joint statement with the Speaker of the New York City Council, Christine Quinn, making clear that we were appalled and sickened by the attack, that there is no room for hate or violence, and that we live in an inclusive and welcoming community that will stand up together for all its residents (the full statement is available here).

In the coming days the LGBT community and allies will be taking action to show our support for the victim and call attention to this despicable act. If you would like to receive information about next steps, please email me at info@bradlander.com. In the meantime, I know all our thoughts go out to this young man and his family.

I hear the sound of a helicopter circling outside, due north of my dining room. I am guessing it’s a news copter covering the groundbreaking ceremony over at the Atlantic Yards not all that far from my Third Street apartment.

Yup, today’s the day. After years, yes years, of protest, lawsuits and outrage, today is the official groundbreaking ceremony for Forest City Ratner’s Nets arena at the Atlantic Yards.

It should be quite a scene: Governor David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and rapper Jay-Z, who is a part-owner of the Nets, are all on hand for the ceremony, which marks the next phase in construction of the 18,000-seat Barclays Center.

“As we break ground on the new Barclays Center, we break open new opportunities for a new generation of New Yorkers,” NY’s embattled governor told the crowd.

According to him, the construction of the Barclay Stadium will create 16,000 union construction jobs and 5,500 permanent jobs.

We shall see.

Next year, there are plans to build three residential buildings, a day care facility, senior center and health care facilities will be built.

If the economic downturn doesn’t stall those plans.

Last week, Developer Bruce Ratner of Forest City Ratner got approval from the State Supreme Court to use eminent domain to move the project forward.

Ah yes, Eminent Domain. Just look at New London, CT. to see what the abuse of eminent domain can mean to a city. That city used Eminent Domain as a way to knock down buildings to build a Pfizer factory. Well, Pfizer is now leaving and New London is left with vacant acres, where the factory was never built.

Read this excerpt from a November 12, 2009 article in the New York Times:

From the edge of the Thames River in New London, Conn., Michael Cristofaro surveyed the empty acres where his parents’ neighborhood had stood, before it became the crux of an epic battle over eminent domain

Michael Cristofaro in the field in New London, Conn., where his parents lived. The city seized the land for a private “urban village” that was never built. Pfizer’s complex is in the background.

City Councilman Robert M. Pero said, “I’m sure that there are people that are waiting out there to say, ‘I told you so.’”

“Look what they did,” Mr. Cristofaro said on Thursday. “They stole our home for economic development. It was all for Pfizer, and now they get up and walk away.”

At today’s ceremony, opponents of Ratner’s plan from Develop Don’t Destroy, wore masks of the governor, mayor and Marty Markowitz, president, as they gathered near the site.