Yearly Archives: 2010
CB6 Committee Approves Berkeley Carroll Expansion
The Brooklyn Paper reports that the Berkeley Carroll School, a private school in Park Slope, got initial approval from a community board panel to go ahead with a controversial new building and a rooftop play area.
By an 11-4 vote on Monday night, the Landmarks and Land-Use Committee of Community Board 6 approved the one-story building at the Berkeley Carroll School, which is on Lincoln Place between Seventh and Eighth avenues. The Brooklyn Paper writes:
The vote came after several contentious meetings between the school and locals last year. School officials and some opponents kept talking, eventually settling on a compromise on the new building, which will include a 4,000-square-foot rooftop recreation area for middle school students.
Skippy McFadden of The Bell House in NY Times
In the City Section blog of the New York Times, check out responses from Jack “Skippy” McFadden, the head talent buyer at Union Hall and the Bell House in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
This week he is responding to readers’ questions about New York City clubs and the music scene in the last 15 years, his career promoting and booking bands and others.
Call for Nominations of Unsung Social Justice and Human Rights Leaders
Start the new year by helping the Petra Foundation identify individuals who are making distinctive contributions to the rights and dignity of others in America by submitting a nomination and by reaching out to friends and colleagues who may know such unsung leaders.
Today Petra Fellows, now 83 in number, are working in 29 states, often at risk, always at sacrifice and without the safety net of personal privilege or institutional support. Through their leadership they are enabling their constituents to change the policies that constrict their lives and they are forging alliances throughout the country to replicate their successes.
The foundation grants fellows a modest financial award, publicizes their innovative models and sustains its commitment to them, welcoming fellows to a national network of activists and advocates who are working across the lines of age, ethnicity, class and issue to build the base of civic participation for lasting change.
Please note that nominations should be submitted without the knowledge of the nominee, by those who know the nominees and their work.
The awards guidelines and short nomination questionnaire can be easily downloaded at
http://www.petrafoundation.org/nominate.html
This year’s deadline is February 15, 2010.
Tonight: Adult Education at Union Hall
Tonight: Adult Ed, the useless information lecture series, will tackle the topic “Stage and Screen” with lectures from Patrick Borelli, Andrea Rosen, Elliott Kalan, and Jason Grote. Hosted, as always, by Charles Star.
ADULT EDUCATION PRESENTS: “Stage and Screen”
Tuesday, January 5, 2009 – 8 pm (doors at 7:30)
Union Hall in Park Slope
702 Union St. @ 5th Ave
$5 cover
http://adult- ed.net
PATRICK BORELLI, “Holy Headshot!”
Borelli walks us through the oddest headshots and acting resumes from his recent book, Holy Headshot!: A Celebration of America’s Undiscovered Talent.
ANDREA ROSEN, “Conquering the Commercial Audition”
Old Navy and mascara are a commercial actress’s best friends. Ad veteran Rosen explains.
ELLIOTT KALAN, “How to Identify the Great Stout Men of Hollywood”
Can’t tell your Edward Arnold from your Eugene Palette? You Lionel Barrymore from your Wallace Beery? Kalan is here to help.
JASON GROTE
“The Acousmatic Theater”
How to move from writing largely irrelevant plays to producing more or less equally irrelevant radio plays in one ill-conceived, poorly executed move.
All hosted by CHARLES STAR.
BIOS
PATRICK BORELLI is a comedian and writer living in Park Slope. He is the co-author, with Douglas Gorenstein, of Holy Headshot: A Celebration of America’s Undiscovered Talent (http://www.holyhead shot.com).
ANDREA ROSEN is a comic, actor, and writer who has appeared in Michael and Michael Have Issues, Flight of the Conchords, Rescue Me, Stella, The Ten, Wainy Days, The Pleasure of Your Company, and The Whitest Kids You Know. She is a regular commentator on VH1, she performs in NYC and at colleges, and she does lots of commercials. She is a proud member of the Variety Shac (http://varietyshac. com), a monthly show at UCB NY.
ELLIOTT KALAN is a writer for The Daily Show and the host of Closely Watched Films (http://bit.ly/ fJk7l), a monthly film series at 92YTribeca.
JASON GROTE is a playwright and the screenwriter of What We Got: DJ Spooky’s Quest For The Commons. He was the co-host of WFMU’s Acousmatic Theater Hour for one year.
CHARLES STAR is a lawyer sans portfolio and a stand-up comedian sans recognition who lives in Brooklyn with his excellent wife, his awesome cat, and a budding baby genius. He’s on the web at http://www.charless tar.com.
The Current Weather in Park Slope
Today’s weather from the Feldman family weather tower in the center of Park Slope.
OTBKB Music: Now I’ve Heard Everything
As Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn moves into its spiffy new digs, OTBKB Music is taking the first business day of the new year to make some changes too.
I’ve started my own music blog, aptly titled Now I’ve Heard Everything. It’s a continuation of what I’ve published here in 2009, but instead of just posting three days a week, I’ve have something for you six or seven days a week. In addition, I’ll be posting some pieces to explain the technology you need to know to find music on the Internet, where there is a surprising variety of legitimate downloads.
Now, I’m not going to leave you without your Monday, Wednesday and Friday fix of OTBKB Music. I’ll be posting an article summary with the link to it each of those days. And to show how it will work, here’s the summary for today:
Sasha Dobson has released Burn, the first excellent album of 2010. Changes in Sasha’s music and in her life sent Sasha in a different direction this time. Read more at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
–Eliot Wagner
Brooklyn Frugal Family: 10 Frugal Commandments
Love that Wendy Ponte. Check out the latest installment of Brooklyn Frugal Family Examiner.
Thou shalt not rack up credit card debt. High interest rates are the sure pathway to a life of financial slavery. Thou shalt not covet thy…
Keep Reading »
Keep Reading »
Jan 21: Tin House Reading at Brooklyn Reading Works
Brooklyn Reading Works presents a Tin House Reading curated by Tin House editor-in-chief Rob Spillman.
You won’t want to miss this cool BRW event.
Tin House is an American literary magazine and book publisher based in Portland, Oregon and New York City that has a reputation for turning up “what’s still righteous and nervy in American writing.”
For this special Brooklyn Reading Works reading, Spillman is bringing together Brenda Shaughnessy, Matthea Harvey and Elissa Schappell. They will be reading their own work plus one poem each by Heather Hartley, the Paris editor of Tin House.
Thursday, January 21, at 8 PM.
The Old Stone House. Third Street and Fifth avenue. Suggested donation of $5 includes refreshments. Tin House magazines and books will be offered for sale.
Jan 9: Wedding Crashers at the Bell House
Talk about buy local. Brooklyn Based is throwing a wedding fair at the Bell House this Saturday and it sounds like a must-attend event for the Bridezilla in your life.
In one spot brides to be can meet the exceptional designers, caterers, photographers, bands and DJs who make Brooklyn a wedding capital of sorts.
This might be a good moment to mention that jewelry designer Rebecca Shepherd (one of the designers at Urban Alchemist) is rolling out a floral design company called Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design. Her flowers (like her jewelry) are GORGEOUS. FYI: her jewelry makes great bridesmaid gifts.
Brooklyn Based has handpicked 30+ original, Brooklyn-centric vendors to help you plan your wedding locally, or take a piece of Brooklyn with you wherever you tie the knot. Top caterers including Naturally Delicious, The Cleaver Company, Red Table Catering, AVEnts and Frankies Spuntino will be passing delicious hors d’oeuvres. One Girl Cookies and Nine Cakes will display and serve confections and cake. Brooklyn Brewery will be pouring its Belgian-style ales, Local 1 and 2. Wedding bands Michael Arenella & his Dreamland Orchestra, The Lascivious Biddies and The Engagements will perform along with DJ Small Change, popshop! DJs and DJ Lady J.
Other wedding vendors on the guest list include floral designers Root Stock and Quade, Rebecca Shepherd Floral Design and Denise Fasanello, jewelry designer Blanca Monrós Gómez, Bario-Neal Jewelry, Sesame Letterpress, Lion in the Sun custom invitations, calligrapher Paperfinger, Mélangerie Inc. custom paperie and gifts, Shootbooth photobooth, Hello Super 8 and Seth David Cohen videographers and photographers Daniel Krieger, Radhika Chalasani and 3 Photographers, Jesse Hendrich, M.Div., Small World Terrariums, Heights Chateau Fine Wines & Spirits, Added Value Farm, Real Honeymoons and Gap Adventures.
Saturday, January 9, 10:30 AM until 5 PM. The Bell House 149 Seventh Street
What’s That Banner Below the Masthead?
That’s an ad for the Brooklyn and Queens Conservatory of Music, which has signed on as a sponsor of OTBKB.
In addition to my old button ads on the right hand side of the blog, there is now space for horizontal and vertical banner ads. If you are interested in advertising on OTBKB let me know.
What Are Those Tabs Below The Masthead?
Those are the new categories of OTBKB. Every post will fit into one of these categories. This should make it easier for you to search for content on my blog and find something that interests you.
This won’t change your daily or weekly OTBKB reading habits. It’s just where these posts will be archived.
Civics and Urban Life: This category will include posts about neighborhood news, politics, transportation, education, development, street life, slice of urban life, geography, urban planning and all that fun stuff. It’s also where you’ll find Greetings From Scott Turner.
Arts and Culture: This is where you’ll find OTBKB Film by Pops Corn, OTBKB Music by Eliot Wagner, poetry by Verse Responder Leon Freilich and all posts about art, local museums and galleries, music, theater, local cultural venues and film. This will also be the location for photographers Tom Martinez and Efrain Gonzalez.
Food & Drink: This is where you”ll find all things related to food and drink.
Shop Local: This is where you’ll find all things related to local shopping.
Smartmom: This category will be a catchall for all parenting posts and of course where you’ll find my weekly Smartmom column.
No Words Daily Pix: This is where you’ll find Hugh Crawford’s fabulous photos.
Does this make sense? Am I leaving something out?
Where’s My Blogroll?
Ahhhh. Good question.
That beloved — and necessary — convention of blogs seems to be missing from this iteration of my new site.
But don’t worry: that all-important list of blogs I recommend will soon be restored to the left or right column of the blog very soon.
Local Shops: How Was Holiday Business?
According to the Brooklyn Paper, “it was a lousy year for mom and pop.” Writes the Brooklyn Paper:
A spot check of a dozen retailers from Williamsburg to Bay Ridge revealed that business is so bad that they’re struggling just to match their horror show numbers from 2008.
But I want to know the local details: how did shops on Seventh Avenue and Fifth Avenue really do this year. What sold, what didn’t and what was the general mood of the shoppers?
I’m going to be calling around to some local spots like the Community Bookstore, Hog Mountain, Diane Kane, Zuzu’s Petals, Cog and Pearl, Eric’s Shoestore and more to check the pulse of local retailers.
My fear is that if sales were as bad as some are saying, we’re going to see more closures on Seventh and Fifth Avenues. Let’s hope not.
That would be so depressing.
Brunch at Watty & Meg in Cobble Hill
We met friends for brunch on Saturday at Watty & Meg in Cobble Hill. We were supposed to go to Quercy next door but at 11:30 they weren’t ready for customers so we tried what our friends called “the new place on the corner.”
Watty & Meg is an old style bar/restaurant that has a very warm vibe thanks to nice lighting, oak church pews (repurposed from a Harlem church), black boards and bookstore shelving.
We sat in the back and enjoyed better than average brnch fare. I had the Scrambled eggs with Spanish chorizo and Romesco for $9, which was delicious. Others at the table tried the somewhat exotic BBQ duck hash with Long Island duck, fingerling potatoes, Sunnyside duck egg and sliced cured duck for $15 and Huevos Rancheros for $10, which the waiter said was the dish that men always order.
It’s a super comfortable place to sit and talk. You can hear yourself think and with coffee refills, you could sit there for hours except…
…after we finished our entrees and refused dessert, the waiter asked us to leave because he said there was a reservation for 8 people. We’d only been there for about an hour and the restaurant wasn’t really that crowded. He was pretty nice about it and suggested that we sit at the bar. We paid up and left.
That was the only sour note of an otherwise excellent brunch.
Watty & Meg 248 Court Street between Kane and Baltic
Bill de Blasio Starts His New Job Today
Today Park Slope’s Bill de Blasio, formerly City Council representative in the 39th district, starts a new job as Public Advocate for the City of New York.
Good luck, Bill.
On his first day in office, de Blasio will hold a press conference with elected officials and local organizations to announce new changes to the structure and purview of the Public Advocate’s office.
At today’s press conference set for noon, de Blasio will be joined by first year Councilmembers Julissa Ferreras, Steve Levin, Jumaane Williams, Fernando Cabrera, Margaret Chin, Jimmy Van Bramer, and Daniel Dromm along with several city organizers and grassroots organizations.
Hey, what about Brad Lander, the man who is taking over Bill’s seat?
de Blasio has already been floated as a potential mayoral candidate in four years. But let’s not put the cart before the horse. It’s only the first day of a new job for this ambitious politician and he seems to be off to a running start.
Today the New York Times calls de Blasio’s plans a significant rethinking of the role of the public advocate, a job that has been ignored and belittled by Mayor Bloomberg.
“This is what government is supposed to do — channel energy and activism and achieve results for our constituents,” de Blasio told the NY Times.
“This is a city that not long ago seemed ungovernable, so a very top-down style of government has taken shape, epitomized by the current administration,” Mr. de Blasio said. “But you have to engage the grass roots, and my office will be the leading edge of that.”
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn Has Moved
Guess what? OTBKB has moved. The address is: onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com or otbkb.com. Can't wait for you to see the new place. Come on over.
Welcome to the Shakedown Cruise
Today we are rolling out the redesign of Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn. The next few days may be a little bumpy. Please be patient as we iron out the kinks.
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
OTBKB Film by Pops Corn: It’s Complicated
OTBKB film critic Pops Corn begins the new year with a review of the Meryl Street/Alec Baldwin "comedy" It's Complicated. Read Pops' best of the decade and best of 2009 columns. His unusual lists provide great suggestions for your Netflix queue.
The storyline of a woman who falls back into an affair with her re-married ex-husband should provide plenty of comedic fodder. The middle-aged love affair should have been refreshingly adult and the love triangle cast of Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin is irresistible. But It’s Complicated, the new movie from writer-director Nancy Meyers, is rarely funny, often childish and consistently sour with nearly every character being unlikeable. On the surface, there’s really nothing to like. So if you, like me, ignore the comments of critics and friends and decide to see it yourself, here’s a guidebook of subtext to ward against brain rot or thinking of your shopping list.
1. Characters You Can’t Like – Meyers’ chief concern seems to be to show her characters flaws and neuroses. This may seem like a bold choice to make a picture about unlikeable people, but truthfully it seems that Meyers just went overboard in demonstrating the flaws and neuroses of the film’s inhabitants. Based on the wall-to-wall music seemingly programmed by a Clear Channel robot, it’s obvious that the film is simultaneously trying to pander to its audience, so why is every character worse than the next?
2. Women Don’t Know Their Own Bodies –One comedic conversation in which a gaggle of middle-aged women demonstrate their lack of female anatomy knowledge may send feminists and post-feminists running from the theater.
3. Millenials Can’t Grow Up – The adult-age children of the Baldwin and Streep characters are unable to comprehend adult emotions (hey, it’s complicated). Only John Krasinski, as the beau of one of the daughters possesses the emotional depth to comprehend the situation, clearly indicating that either divorce is impossibly hard on kids or that they were raised in a home where emotions are not to be explored. In one disturbing scene the kids are so freaked at their parents’ relationship complexity that all three of them sleep in the same bed.
George Will: A Blight Grows in Brooklyn
Nationally-syndicated columnist George Will takes aim at the absurd
"blight" designation used to justify eminent domain abuse in Prospect
Heights.
British forces routed George Washington's novice army in the Battle
of Brooklyn, which was fought in fields and woods where today the
battle of Prospect Heights is being fought. Americans' liberty is again
under assault, but this time by overbearing American governments.
of Brooklyn, which was fought in fields and woods where today the
battle of Prospect Heights is being fought. Americans' liberty is again
under assault, but this time by overbearing American governments.
The
fight involves an especially egregious example of today's eminent
domain racket. The issue is a form of government theft that the Supreme
Court encouraged with its worst decision of the last decade — one that
probably will be radically revised in this one.
The Atlantic
Yards site, where 10 subway lines and one railway line converge, is the
center of the bustling Prospect Heights neighborhood of mostly small
businesses and middle-class residences. Its energy and gentrification
are reasons why 22 acres of this area — the World Trade Center site is
only 16 acres — are coveted by Bruce Ratner, a politically connected
developer collaborating with the avaricious city and state governments.
No Land Grab has an excerpt and a link to the actual column.
Today at 5PM: Amahl and The Night Visitors at St. Augustine’s
A production of Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menottii
will be performed today, January 3rd at 5 PM , at St. Augustine's Roman
Catholic Church in Park Slope (116 Sixth Avenue). Suggested donation:
$20, $10 for students.
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
Sunday at 5 PM: Amahl and the Night Visitors at St. Augustine’s
A production of Amahl and the Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Menottii will be performed tomorrow, January 3rd, at St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church in Park Slope (116 Sixth Avenue). Suggested donation: $20, $10 for students.
No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford
The List: What To Do on New Year’s Day
1. Bowery Poetry Club: Word and Performance Extravaganza, more than 150
poets and performers are scheduled to take the stage from 2 p.m. to
midnight in what is always a day for New York to show off. There will
also be a collection for Books Through Bars, who donate paperback books
to prisoners, and for Urban
Pathways, who provide food and other services for the homeless. Bring paperback books and canned food.
2. Poetry Project at St. Marks Church 36th Annual Poetry Marathon starts at 2 PM.
3. Brief Encounter, acclaimed multi-media piece based on David Lean's film at St. Ann's Warehouse in DUMBO at 8 PM.
4. The Last Days of the Myrtle Avenue El, photos from 1969 at the Transit Museum.
5. At Barbes the Quavers coax a luminous sound out of decayed samplers, walkmans, vibraphone,
low-tech loopers, tape-echo violin and homespun harmonies. Like a
space-age Carter Family, they weave grainy electronics around songs
sturdy enough to stand up even if the power goes out. 8 PM
6. Who Shot Rock & Roll exhibition of rock photography at the Brooklyn Museum
7. 2009 in Review at the Bell House with Pub Trivia, Dick's Sudden Death Game Show and The
Family Feud. That's right a regular game show triathlon. Teams will be
made up of 3-5 players. Combined scores of all three challenges will
decide the winning team at 6:30 PM.
The Current Weather in Park Slope
Brought to you by the Feldman Family from their local weather tower.
OTBKB Music Video: Steve Wynn and The Miracle 3 – Death Valley Rain
We'll start this new decade with a glace back at the old one. Here's a song from the Best of The Decade album Here Come the Miracles performed by Steve Wynn and The Miracle 3.
–Eliot Wagner