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Civics and Urban Life

Missing Woman

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Her name is Marion McCleneghan and she’s been “missing” since Februray 6th. Fliers have gone up on lamp posts all over Park Slope and her relatives and police are frantically trying to track her down.

How does someone disappear?

Was she murdered? ? Abducted? Amnesia? Did she do herself in?  These are the questions that come up again in again in conversations around the Slope.

People go missing every day of the week in a big city like New York. But in Park Slope it’s a rare occurrence so people are, of course, taking heartfelt notice.

Who can ignore those lamp post pictures of the beautiful woman with her dog?

Rumors, information, a jumble of both abound: She was at a party the night she disappeared in the South Slope (on 14th Street to be exact). She was drinking. She was fighting with her boyfriend. She told someone: “You won’t be seeing me anymore.” Her journals and computer are missing…

Rumors. Hearsay. The curiosity thickens as the days pass. With magical thinking, optimism I surmise: maybe she decided to change her life, to move somewhere new, to start over, to reinvent herself.

Hasn’t everyone had that fantasy more than once?

In darker moments I see her on the Staten Island Ferry taking the leap unable to go on in this life, the pain and desperation too much to bear.

In darkness I see her as the victim of an unspeakable crime…

Then there are the things I can’t even imagine.

Her name is Marion McCleneghan. People go missing every day of the week but not in the Slope.

Where oh where can you be?

If  anyone has seen or has information about Marion please contact the 78th Detective Squad at 718-636-6483, Case #109, Complaint #445, Detective Gibbons assigned.

Food and Drink

Have You Heard of the Crossroads Cafe?

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Todd, my brother-in-law in San Francisco, called today and asked: “Have you guys ever heard of the Crossroads Cafe?”

Sheepishly, I had to admit that, no, I’d never heard of it.

So we googled it and now know that the Crossroads Cafe is located next to the Ft. Hamilton F Train Station.

Seems that Todd knows the brother of one of the owners of the cafe. He is a customer at  On the Go Expresso, Todd’s coffee cart business in San Francisco that is permanently parked in the courtyard of an building near the Embarcadero. On the Go Expresso has been called “the Cheers of coffee stands” by one Yelper and generally gets excellent reviews.

Small world.

Known for their fresh high quality products baked daily and good, speedy service, owners Yasmin Gur and Suzanne Meehann have two locations. The “flagship” store is in the Kensington neighborhood and a smaller branch called Crossroads to Go is near Borough Hall.

So, if you’re in San Francisco, say hello to Todd at On the Go Expresso. Tell him you heard about him on OTBKB.

arts and culture

Leon Freilich, Verse Responder: Wannabe Gramp

WANNABE GRAMP

Grandchildren there are none,

Something his adult kids shun,

Seemingly too self-content.

What to do?  He’s gonna rent!

Two-year-old boy just learning to talk,

Four-year-old girl who’s drawing with chalk–

Any age is fine with him,

Bonus if such grandkids have vim.

O grandchild-renting company,

What’s the weekend & holiday fee?

arts and culture

The Weekend List: Scorcese, Africa, Egypt

FILM

Feb 19-24: The Africa Diaspora film Festival at BAM

Shutter Island and The Last Station also at BAM

MUSIC

Feb 20 at 8:30 PM: Jewish Music Cafe Ayreh Kunstler Band, The Aboriginals, Aural Law

Also Feb 29 at 8PM: Andy Statman, Klezmer genuis at Barbes

Feb 21 at 5PM at the Bell House: Several local record collectors (including Billy Miller of Norton Records and Michael McMahon of Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co., more to be named later) have agreed to share the sounds contained within their favorite 78s at this event, which will be hosted by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus (The Wang Dang Doodle, Subway Soul Club).

ART

Art and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt at the Brooklyn Museum of Art

Sesame Street: A Celebration of 40 Years on the Street at the Brooklyn Public Library (Central Branch) through Feb. 21


Civics and Urban Life

School Gardens Cultivate Failure?

I just got this interesting email Cindy Hwang at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in reaction to an article in this month’s Atlantic:

In this month’s Atlantic, Caitlin Flanagan condemns school gardens as “cultivating failure” with the claim that learning to grow crops doesn’t teach kids how to pass tests – the only path to success and health according to Caitlin.

She writes in opposition to the local food movement made popular by Alice Waters.  Her piece here: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/201001/school-yard-garden/4

Jeez, is nothing sacred?

The Children’s Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been doing a pretty good job of raising crops of vegetables and good kids for 96 years… it’s the world very first children’s garden and the prototype for all the others around the world, operating uninterruptedly since 1914 – almost as long as the Brooklyn Botanic Garden itself, now celebrating its centennial year.

So, relax Ms. Flanagan.  Below are some pix of New York kids who’ve gardened at the Brooklyn Botanic – some who’ve even learned a little math and science along the way.

Best,

Cindy Hwang for Brookyn Botanic Garden

Civics and Urban Life

Bklyn Bloggage: arts & culture

A spontaneous approach to painting and printmaking: Art in Brooklyn

Wide shot of Long Meadow: Joe’s NYC

New  looks for Kosciuszko Bridge: City Room

Christina Hendricks says “Haters, lay off my body”: Women & Hollywood

More dusting: A Brooklyn Bachelor

E/F – The glass of knowledge: Truth & Rocket Science

Book plates for your little reader: A Child Grows in Brooklyn

What Canadians Like: Bumper Shine

The Unnamed by Joshua Ferris: The Written Nerd

The Heights in prints: Bklyn Hits Blog

arts and culture

OTBKB Music: Steve Wynn at The Lakeside Lounge Tonight

Steve Wynn and the Miracle 3 are the best rock n roll band that I know (and I know a fair number of them).  They’ll be playing a set at The Lakeside Lounge tonight as part of Steve’s 50th birthday celebration.  That should be enough encouragement to get you down to Avenue B and 10th Street, but if you still need more convincing, how about this: in addition to his current band, Steve has been a part of The Dream Syndicate, Danny & Dusty, Gutterball and is also currently part of The Baseball Project.  He’s also coming off what is probably the ten most musically prolific years of his life as I noted when he became Now I’ve Heard Everything’s Artist of the Decade.

Full details and directions to The Lakeside Lounge at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

— Eliot Wagner

Civics and Urban Life

Ever Wonder What Happened to Whole Foods?

Remember when Whole Foods was going to build on Third Street and Third Avenue in the Park Slope/Gowanus area. ? Well, a whole lot has changed since then, including possible Superfund status for the Gowanus Canal.

But aren’t you still curious how Whole Foods views the situation and what they plan to do in the future with that site?

Answers may be forthcoming.

The public is welcome to attend the Feb 22 6:30 PM meeting of Community Board 6’s Public Safety/Environmental Protection/Permits/Licenses Committee, which will feature representatives for Whole Foods on the resumption of environmental remediation activities at 210-230 3rd Street and 370-384 3rd Avenue (southeast corner 3rd Street/3rd Avenue).

Other items on the agenda: Presentation and consideration of a letter of support for an application for a Gowanus Watershed Initiative grant that proposes various Combined Sewer Overflow reduction measures for the Gowanus Canal.

PS 32 Auditorium
317 Hoyt Street
(between Union & President Sts)
Brooklyn NY 11231
6:30 PM

Civics and Urban Life

Park Slope Woman Missing

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The Brooklyn Paper reports that there is a woman missing in Park Slope.

Her name is Marion McCleneghan and she disappeared after leaving a party at 14th Street and Seventh Avenue on February 6th and hasn’t been heard from since.

Weird.

Family and friends say this is totally out of character.

An NYPD detective told the Brooklyn Paper that McCleneghan’s case is a priority. She’s described as 5-foot-10, 150 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.

arts and culture

Kristen’s Goode Weekend Picks

Kristen Goode is the woman behind about.com Brooklyn and these are two of her picks for stuff to do this weekend. Lots more at her site.

“Designing an Enduring Legacy” Architecture Symposium
The Pratt Institute presents architects David Adjaye, Peter Cook, and alumnus Rodney Leon as they share experiences on various design projects that relate to the African American heritage. Free.
Thursday, 5pm to 8pm at the Higgins Hall Auditorium (Pratt Institute), 61 St. James Place

33rd Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament
New York Times Crossword Editor Will Shortz hosts this weekend-long event for wordsmiths and crossword fiends.
Friday through Sunday at the Brooklyn Marriott, 333 Adams Street

Civics and Urban Life

Matter Closing

I knew that it was inevitable that there would be store closures after the holiday season. In a bad economy, the holidays are often the last gasp of revenue before a long hard winter.

Still, I am sorry to see Matter close. Matter, which features classic and adventurous contemporary design items for home, has a location in Manhattan, which will remain open.

All About Fifth had the letter to Matter’s customers that is on the window of the shop. FYI: their entire Brooklyn inventory is now on sale for 15 – 90% off.

Dear Friends of Matter,

After six years here we have decided to close up shop in Park Slope to focus more of our energy on developing the Matter Made collection. Our Manhattan location will remain open and there are future plans for an expansion to include many of the great products you’ve come to love from our store.

Our entire Brooklyn inventory is now on sale for 15 – 90% off. Check back often as discounts will increase leading up to our closing at the end of March.

There are no words to express the deep gratitude we have for your loyalty and patronage over the years.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in Manhattan.

Matter

arts and culture

Best in Show: Pix of Westiminster Show Dogs

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that there  there are a lot of dog lovers in Park Slope so I thought this might be of interest to OTBKB readers.

The 2010 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show just finished up at Madison Square Garden. Breeds of all shapes and sizes were in town for the competition and many were see roaming the streets of NYC.

But only ONE dog was named champion!

A  Scottish Terrier by the name of Sadie took home the “Best in Show” championship cup. Click here to check out all of the finalists:
http://msg.com/photos/westminster-2010-best-in-show/slide/1/

Also, be sure to check out the show dogs hitting the streets of NYC:  http://blogs.msg.com/themonitor/2010/02/15/westminster-

Civics and Urban Life

Speed “Dating” for the Unemployed

Work it Brooklyn is a networking event on February 24th from 7 – 10 PM, at the Arsenal (170 North 4th Street between Driggs and Roebling  in Williamsburg).

What exactly is Work it Brooklyn?

The aim is to connect inspired creatives working independently within the creative fields. Graphic designers, dancers, musicians, tech gurus, painters, and others are welcomed in this evening of productive debauchery.

How does it work?

WIB is devised as a forum to connect folks working from home without the benefit of a network support system, opening up the opportunity to meet and forge partnerships, fine and create work, instigate healthy competition, and encourage the exchange of ideas and potential collaborations, all the while having a whole lot of fun.

The evening will be held in two parts. The Arsenal will be divided into six field-related stations, providing a hub for folks to gather within and outside their primary concentration. At the center of the space there will be Speed Networking.

Sounds a bit like musical chairs.

Exactly. Think musical chairs meets speed dating, where attendees get to meet and speak through this spunky and time sensitive activity. We will also be raffling off tickets for a chance to win prizes provided by our proud sponsors, local businesses and organizations that believe that WIB rocks as much as we do.

There will also be a projection screen with a presentation of any attendants who wish to submit a page with a portfolio sample and contacts. That way if someone likes what they see in what you do on this screen, they can contact you once the evening is over, or serendipitously meet during the event and start what could be a beautiful collaboration between creative minds. Download the instruction details on submitting templates for the presentation, due Feb 19th Any questions, you can contact the organizers at workitbrooklyn@gmail.com

So, do you have to register?

Yup. This is a free event and pre-registration via eventbrite is required. Registration closes Feb 19th or whenever they reach 100 attendees. workitbrooklyn.eventbrite.com

arts and culture

Scrabble for Cheaters Benefit for 826NYC

826NYC AKA the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company, the cool store and free drop-in tutoring program for students from 8-18 on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, is sponsoring its third annual Scrabble for Cheaters, a tournament of verbal smarts and fraudulence, on March 6th, at 826NYC.

This year, Paul Rudd, John Oliver, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Peter Dinklage, and others (perhaps YOU!) will be there to challenge our reigning champions, the wily Morgan Clendaniel & Gideon Friedman of The Fightin’ Caziques.

There are a very limited number of spots available. So sign up soon!

Civics and Urban Life

More Fun at Coney This Summer?

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From the Brooklyn Paper:

“The first phase of Mayor Bloomberg’s overhaul of Coney Island into a major amusement park took shape on Tuesday, with Hizzoner unveiling 19 new rides that he said will be in full-swing by Memorial Day in what is being called “Luna Park.”

“The ride operator, Central Amusement International, also announced it will open the “Scream Zone” in 2011, another amusement area that will feature two roller coasters, a human slingshot, and a go-kart track.

“Coney is coming back, big time,” Bloomberg said at Tuesday’s announcement at the New York Aquarium. “It will be more fun than ever.””

arts and culture

The Annual & Awesome United Methodist Book Sale

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It only happens once a year: That’s right, it’s the annual — and awesome — book sale at Park Slope’s United Methodist Church this weekend,  where you will find thousands of terrific books in every imaginable category.

You can’t beat the prices: Same low prices as last year: pocket-sized paperbacks for 50 cents, trade & quality paperbacks for $1.50, hardcovers for $2.00.  Buy ten, get one free!

It’s Park Slopee so there’s gotta be something for the kids, right? You betcha. Check out the Children’s Room where you’ll find books for all ages as well as videos, games, puzzles & more Also: DVDs — $4 CDs — $3 Videos — $1 Records — 50 cents

Does the early bird get the worm? Not necessarily: To avoid the Saturday morning “early crowd”, organizers suggest that you consider coming later in the day.  They’ll be puttingbooks out all day long — so in this instance, the early bird does not necessarily get the worm!

And what about all those books I’ve been desperate to get rid of? They’ll be accepting donations on Thursday evening (7pm to 10pm) and Friday (10am to 9pm).

For details: visit their website at www.parkslopeumc.org. The church is on 6th Avenue at 8th Street in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  Directions & more information at www.parkslopeumc.org.

Give me that info one more time:

Saturday, Feb. 20 8:30am – 4:30pm Sunday, Feb. 21 (afternoon only) 12:30pm – 4:30pm See you at the sale!  If possible, please bring your own bags. And remember, cash only!

Food and Drink

First Impressions of Mack’s Bar & Grill

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A friend and I went out for drinks last night and I said, “Let’s try Mack’s, the new Snooky’s.”

This friend, a former Park Sloper, was game. She’d  dined at Snooky’s umpteen times and attended more than a few parties in the upstairs party room.

Together we’d also tried Elementi, the upscale Italian eatery that went in after Snooky’s closed. We liked the wine selection there, the food, and the atmosphere at the bar.

Snooky’s was kind of a legend in Park Slope’s mind. A longtime sports bar, it represented Park Slope pre-gentrification. A meat and potatoes sports bar with a devoted group of regulars, it was unpretentious, inexpensive and full of characters. When Snooky’s closed there was much bitterness and consternation among its denizens.

Last night when my friend and I walked into Mack’s, on Seventh Avenue between Garfield and Carroll Streets, at around 10:30, there was a small crowd at the bar. The music was so loud I asked the bartender to turn it down. And when I asked about the wines, the bartender said: Cabernet, Merlot or Shiraz.

The Cabernet comes in a small Woodbridge bottle.

You get the picture. If you want Multipulciano (i.e. a broader wine selection) go to the wine bar on the corner of Garfield and Seventh Avenue.

Mack’s is about burgers, drinks, beer, basic wine choices and a friendly, easy, inexpensive place to  hang. We sat on stools at the tall tables near the bar. We were glad for the  multiple television screens placed throughout the  room as we were able to catch some of the Olympic men’s ice skating

Small groups of men and women walked in while we were there. I think the kitchen was  still serving food but no-one was eating. The staff is super friendly.

It was a drinking and talking Tuesday night and Mack’s was the place to be.

About the decor: the front room is very plain. Painted mustard yellow, there are two comfortable looking booths in the front and some high tables near the bar. Seems like it’s waiting for the mark of time and customers to define and weather it.

arts and culture

OTBKB Music: Tonight Milton Plays Grand Hotel at The Living Room

The album cover of Milton‘s album Grand Hotel is a nice study in deco but it neither shows Milton, the Milton Band nor gives any hint at the music inside.  What is inside is mid tempo rock and Americana and it is what will be played by Milton tonight, Wednesday, February 17th at 9pm, the third night of The sixth annual Milton residency at The Living Room.  I have to add that this band has links to Park Slope, with Milton having lived here for part of 2009, and lead guitarist Martin Kearton still living here.

Further details on tonight’s show are over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.

–Eliot Wagner

Civics and Urban Life

Bklyn Bloggage: neighborhoods

Sad news at Broken Angel: The Local

Beware Belt Parkway projects: Sheepshead Bites

Businesses putting grafitti artists to good use: Sheepshead Bites

Roommate Belt: Kensington Prospect

The history of 3 of Bklyn’s entertainment districts: Kinetic Carnival

The future of Fourth Avneue: Brooklyn Bugle

How to make a nice Kosher pickle: Brooklyn Hts. Blog

The phantom toll booth: Bed-Stuy Blog

The Great Williamsburg Fugfest: NY Shitty

Family dog is back home: Fucked in Park Slope

Greenpoint poet loses cafe table: Brooklyn Ink

Food and Drink

Undomesticated Brooklyn: My First-Ever Dinner party!

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By Paula Bernstein

It’s been a couple of weeks since I decided to host my first-ever dinner-party and already, I’m behind schedule.

All I have managed to do so far is set a date — Saturday, March 6. I don’t have a guest list and I certainly haven’t gotten around to planning a menu.

Granted, I have been soliciting advice about the menu from none other than Martha Stewart, author Giulia Melucci, and Porchetta chef Sara Jenkins. Not to mention my friends and family. It seems everyone has an opinion about what I should serve, but I still can’t decide.

The truth is that I can always come up with something to serve — even if I take Martha Stewart’s advice and order in. But the one thing I can’t do without is guests.

Aside from Giulia Melucci and her new beau, nobody has agreed to come.

Then again, I haven’t formally invited anyone. I made the mistake of e-mailing the date to a few folks asking if they might theoretically be available for the night of the 6th.

The response was lukewarm at best. People seemed downright disinterested. I thought friends would be vying for a spot at the table, not fabricating excuses.

“I’m a freelancer, so it’s hard to commit,” said my friend Ken.

“I’ve got co-op duty that night,” said Dori.

“Who is going to babysit?” asked Kathryn.

And now another friend just rescheduled her Chinese New Year’s party for the same night, so it’s inevitable that I’ll lose some potential guests to that.

“I feel dissed,” I told my husband Avo last night.

Continue reading Undomesticated Brooklyn: My First-Ever Dinner party! →

Civics and Urban Life

Brooklyn Frugal Family: Composting, Tofu and More

Composting is the epitome of frugal! First of all, it makes use of something that would have normally been thrown away–your leftovers, food scraps…
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden offers a variety of classes for both adults and children, but most people don’t know about some of the free and low-cost…
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Tofu is a great inexpensive source of protein, but it can be a challenge to find flavorful ways of cooking it. Mark Bittman’s book How to…
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Civics and Urban Life

Brooklyn Based: More Mardi Gras in Brooklyn

Brooklyn Based, of course, has all the hipster, cool Mardi Gras stuff in Brooklyn listed on today’s e-newsletter. But here’s an excerpt:

We’ve always thought that celebrating Mardi Gras in Brooklyn seemed sacrilegious in some way–even more so than Bastille Day or Chinese New Year’s. Like, if you’re going to do it, do it right and go to New Orleans. This year though, there are so many festivities taking place (even in the snow!) we’ve changed our tune to a Cajun rhythm. You know, it makes a certain amount of sense that a rowdy, slightly mystical, food-filled holiday should find a northern home in Brooklyn.

The biggest, newest Fat Tuesday party this year is the L Magazine’s parade and show. The sure-to-be-over-the-top affair kicks off at the southern end of Driggs and North 12th at 7pm and will go down Driggs, up Bedford and end up at the Brooklyn Bowl. Burlesque performers Angie Pontani, Helen Pontani, Darlinda Just Darlinda, Akynos, The Maine Attraction and Lil Miss Lixx are confirmed for the parade and bicycles, costumes and gorgeous oddities of all varieties are encouraged to join.