The Watson Twins have a fine new album, Talking to You, Talking to Me, which was released this week. They are touring in support of that record and tonight they land in the area at The Bell House over at 7th Street and 2nd Avenue. Now I’ve Heard Everything has the details on the show.
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists have a new album coming out next month, and one track, Even Heroes Have to Die has been pre-released by Ted’s record label, Matador Records. Get your copy of the song (yes, it is legal) over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
A lot of New Yorkers have their own recession story to tell, whether it’s from the past year, the past decade or the accumulation of a lifetime.During this year’s Memoir-a-thon, you will get to listen to the personal reflections and insights on how some writers have managed to survive, preserve their sanity and even have fun during hard times.
Brooklyn Reading Works presents the 4th annual Memoirathon on February 11 at 8 PM at the Old Stone House. Third Street & Fifth Avenue. $5 suggested donation includes wine and snacks.
Curator Branka Ruzak had this to say about this year’s theme:
“You’ll be amazed to discover just how resilient and resourceful people can be, while still managing to find humor, cause for reflection and even gratitude, in some of life’s most challenging situations. Whether you found the past year “the year you’d like to forget” or “the year of positive thinking”, you will be inspired and entertained by tonight’s lineup of writers who talk about infinitely new ways of being.”
SPECIAL TREAT: Artist Lori Nelson will bring her 100 Recession Stories plaques to tonight’s event. Read more about them here.
Here is a list of this year’s memoirists:
MARCO ACEVEDO
NELL BOESCHENSTEIN
JANET RAIFFA
NAVA RENEK
BETSY ROBINSON
BRENT SHEARER
DEBORAH SIEGEL
Guest Curator and Host:
BRANKA RUZAK A writer, producer and editor in commercial and corporate advertising, her own personal tales of recession began in the spring of 2001, when she was downsized and forced to go free-lance. This past year, she was most often found working at recession gigs that provided her with limited income, but an unlimited source of inspiration and writing material. She is working on a collection of essays about family, identity, culture and travel. Her essay “Hungry Heart” appears in the anthology Dirt: The Quirks, Habits, and Passions of Keeping House, edited by Mindy Lewis (Seal Press, 2009.)
Don’t miss a wonderful Valentine’s gift to yourself:
Alexander Junction, the brainchild of Jane Tomkiewicz, offers private and group lessons for those who want to achieve balance, coordination and ease.
In her sessions, Tomkiewicz presents a new model for Posture, what she calls the The Support /Movement/Mind Continuum.
Learn why neuroscientists love the Alexander Technique and how this amazing self-care practice can help you address musculo-skeletal pain, posture concerns, or musical/theatrical/athletic performance issues!
On Saturday Feb.13 at the Park Slope Feldenkrais Center 374 5th Ave betw. 5th & 6th Sts, Tomkiewiez is offering free introductory classes.
1:30pm FREE Introductory Class
3:30pm FREE Special Workshop for Parents and Caregivers: >Manage >the physical challenges of caring for children: She will you avoid “mommy injuries” while lifting, carrying, feeding, rocking, baby and equipment and young children
“Not much snow,” I said to Hepcat yesterday morning when I first woke up. The night before it sounded like the blizzard of the century was expected. The school chancellor had already decided to close city schools, and newscasters were having a field day with the BIG story.
Looking out the window, I did see teeny, tiny specks of snow coming down everywhere. There was snow on the streets, the sidewalks, the parked cars but not much. It wasn’t like, um, a blizzard.
Maybe the forecasters were wrong, I thought. How embarrassing.
Still, it was a snow day and who’s going to complain about that? Everyone got to sleep late. It was like a weekend day in the middle of the week.
I contemplated cancelling my session at the gym with Claire. “Kids home. Can’t come. ” I considered texting her. But I thought better of it. I didn’t really feel like being cooped up indoors and I was sorely in need of an endorphin boost.
When I got outside, rainy, annoying snow wet pelted my face. As I walked down 7th Avenue, the wind sent snow pellets in my direction and by the time I got to Crunch I was soaking wet, cold, and thoroughly convinced that this was a snow storm to be reckoned with.
My workout with Claire was exhilarating. We watched through the big Crunch window on Flatbush Avenue as the storm gathered speed. It felt cozy and fun to be indoors and my energy level was high as Claire led me through a rigorous exercise regime. Phew.
Walking home, I stopped at the Food Coop, which wasn’t busy at all. Members were outside shoveling snow; inside there were more workers than shoppers. I gathered up some storm provisions—frozen pizza, ravioli, tortelinni, butter, bagels, asparagus, strawberries, aged Gouda cheese (only the bare necessities)—quickly and spent barely any time waiting for a cashier. In and out of the Coop in 15 minutes. That’s a novelty.
Only on a snow day.
At 2:55 PM, I passed an empty PS 321 on Seventh Avenue and 2nd Street. The snow was coming down with great force and there was much in the way of accumulation. City officials were most definitely right to cancel school as pick-up and commuting would have been very difficult.
Good call on the part of the Mayor and the DOE.
On Third Street, the kids were out throwing snowballs, running into snow banks, having fun in the snow. The apartment was empty. OSFO was at a friend’s house after getting a bloody nose from being pelted with a snowball (by a friend) in the backyard at PS 321. She was, according to she, “fine.”
Hepcat was out in Coney Island to follow up on last year’s photographs of Coney Island in the snow.
Then I remembered therapy and thought nothing of jumping back out into the snow for a little psychological clarification. My walk up to 11th Street was peaceful as much of Fifth Avenue was shoveled and clear.
Hepcat came back from his Coney Island expedition wet and excited. “Nathan’s was open,” he told me. “But the only people on the boardwalk were tourists and photographers.” The new photographs were vastly different from last years. Barren, white moonscapes, the Wonder Wheel and the Parachute Jump are barely visible in the snowy haze. He took a great many shots in a short period of time because he was afraid that his camera would stop working. There was so much snow in the lens he couldn’t really take pictures after a while.
I looked over his shoulder as he perused the pictures on his computer. I was happy to be indoors observing pictures of the silver grey ocean on snowy day.
It was 7PM and I was already in my pajamas. Cozy, warm and inside for the duration.
Hugh Crawford (No Words Daily Pix) went out to Coney Island yesterday with his camera and OTBKB readers will be treated to the incredible shots he found out there.
According to the Brooklyn Paper, the owner of a local Park Slope kitchen renovation shop is being sued by eight very unhappy customers who paid him money and didn’t get what they paid for. Here’s an excerpt from the BP article:
Is he a con artist or just a contractor caught in a down economy?
At least eight irate customers think Brian Ackerman, owner of Brooklyn Kitchens and Baths in Park Slope, is a rip-off artist — a Bernie Madoff of home repair who runs a Ponzi scheme that dupes clients into paying up front and in cash for work that does not get done.
The eight victims say they’re owed around $60,000 for incomplete or shoddy renovations — and they’re pursuing a legal case.
“We’re considering a multi-pronged attack through criminal actions, the Better Business Bureau and the Department of Consumer Affairs, while also reaching out to more people who have had same issue,” said lawyer Audrey Roth. “We’ll show this is his regular way of doing business.”
Ackerman does not deny that he hasn’t completed work on some clients’ houses, but insists he was not trying to screw anyone over — he’s just going through tough times.
According to the Brooklyn Paper, a group of merchants are proposing that Seventh Avenue between Flatbush and Prospect Avenue become a BID or “Business Improvement District.” Some building owners may find that hard to swallow as they would be asked to pay a tax in order to supplement existing city services like sanitation and policing.
“Through the BID, we would be able to do familiar services like street cleaning, security, decorative lighting and more,” said Bob Kalb, the owner of the Park Slope Copy Center, told the Brooklyn Paper. He is in favor of the BID bid. “But we’d also be able to do other, more-expensive things like a Web site, blogs, advertising and sponsorship of special events — things that promote local business.”
Kalb told the Brooklyn Paper that Seventh Avenue six landlords and 10 to 15 merchants are already on board and in favor of the BID.
Artist Lori Nelson and her Recession Stories plaques will be at the Memoirathon tonight: February 11 at 8 PM at the Old Stone House (Fifth Avenue and Third Street).
Here is Nelson describing her work:
“Since I am from a long line of Mormon crafters, I decided to illustrate each significant moment of the first year of the Recession on a highly lacquered, tiny, carved pine plaque. With around 24 points of importance, this group of souvenirs became something I hadn’t anticipated. Individually, each plaque was pretty and precious. Hung together, these plaques took on the aspect of a jumbled mass-grave.
“I have now changed what I am memorializing on the pine plaques. I gather one- or two-line stories from friends, Craigslist, and Facebook describing what people as individuals are feeling and seeing during these new Hard Times. In the tradition of Studs Terkel, I feel compelled to document this important time in history so that people can understand how it is and maybe learn. The numbers are interesting and I will continue to create plaques for the important data of the Recession, but I have switched the focus of my project to the humans. One Hundred Little Recession Stories is at about 40 stories now and seems to show no signs of letting up.
Yeah, I know. It’s snowing and cold. But still, tonight is the second week of The Milton Residency (sounds like the title of a novel) over at The Living Room. This time Milton and the band will perform their second album, the eponymously titled Milton starting at 9pm. Full details over at Now I’ve Heard Everything.
Due to anticipated inclement weather conditions, all New York City public schools will be closed tomorrow, February 10, 2010. All after-school activities, PSAL events, and all other events taking place in school buildings will also be canceled. While travel conditions to school in the morning may not be difficult, the weather is expected to worsen as the day progresses, complicating dismissal. We are making this decision today to give parents as much time as possible to make alternative plans for tomorrow.
Visit this page to get information on some important event cancellations. Get the latest information about NYC public schools, subscribe to our weekly and monthly newsletter, featured updates, and NotifyNYC alerts.
Special karma for you if you show up tonight and DON’T let the snow stop you:
At Tribeca Cinema TONIGHT: Tuesday, February 9th from 7 PM until 10:30 PM Friends of Ciné Institute (FOCI), a group of NY-based crew members, producers and filmmakers working together to support and rebuild Ciné Institute, are having a benefit to raise money for an important trip to Haiti.
The Ciné Institute provides Haitian youth with film education and edutainment, technical training, and media related micro enterprise opportunities. We integrate educational film screenings into classrooms of public schools, train aspiring filmmakers in all aspects of production, and develop and produce films of all kinds in partnership with our students and graduates. The Institute also promotes excellence in Haitian cinema domestically and abroad and holds weekly entertainment screenings of films from around the world at its theater.
A lot of New Yorkers have their own recession story to tell, whether it’s from the past year, the past decade or the accumulation of a lifetime.During this year’s Memoir-a-thon, you will get to listen to the personal reflections and insights on how some writers have managed to survive, preserve their sanity and even have fun during hard times.
Brooklyn Reading Works presents the 4th annual Memoirathon on February 11 at 8 PM at the Old Stone House. Third Street & Fifth Avenue. $5 suggested donation includes wine and snacks.
Curator Branka Ruzak had this to say about this year’s theme:
“You’ll be amazed to discover just how resilient and resourceful people can be, while still managing to find humor, cause for reflection and even gratitude, in some of life’s most challenging situations. Whether you found the past year “the year you’d like to forget” or “the year of positive thinking”, you will be inspired and entertained by tonight’s lineup of writers who talk about infinitely new ways of being.”
Here is a list of this year’s memoirists:
MARCO ACEVEDO
NELL BOESCHENSTEIN
JANET RAIFFA
NAVA RENEK
BETSY ROBINSON
DEBORAH SIEGEL
Guest Curator and Host:
BRANKA RUZAK A writer, producer and editor in commercial and corporate advertising, her own personal tales of recession began in the spring of 2001, when she was downsized and forced to go free-lance. This past year, she was most often found working at recession gigs that provided her with limited income, but an unlimited source of inspiration and writing material. She is working on a collection of essays about family, identity, culture and travel. Her essay “Hungry Heart” appears in the anthology Dirt: The Quirks, Habits, and Passions of Keeping House, edited by Mindy Lewis (Seal Press, 2009.)
Due to anticipated inclement weather conditions, all New York City public schools will be closed tomorrow, February 10, 2010. All after-school activities, PSAL events, and all other events taking place in school buildings will also be cancelled. While travel conditions to school in the morning may not be difficult, the weather is expected to worsen as the day progresses, complicating dismissal. We are making this decision today to give parents as much time as possible to make alternative plans for tomorrow.
At Tribeca Cinema on Tuesday, February 9th from 7:30 until 10:30) Friends of Ciné Institute (FOCI), a group of NY-based crew members, producers and filmmakers working together to support and rebuild Ciné Institute, are having a benefit to raise money for an important trip to Haiti.
The Ciné Institute provides Haitian youth with film education and edutainment, technical training, and media related micro enterprise opportunities. We integrate educational film screenings into classrooms of public schools, train aspiring filmmakers in all aspects of production, and develop and produce films of all kinds in partnership with our students and graduates. The Institute also promotes excellence in Haitian cinema domestically and abroad and holds weekly entertainment screenings of films from around the world at its theater.
Based in Jacmel, on Haiti’s southern coast, Ciné Institute began as a film festival. Held for three years, Festival Film Jakmèl showed hundreds of international films free of charge to tens of thousands of Haitians.Their coalition includes Jonathan Demme, Annika Grove, Lindsay Jaeger, Nora Killoran, Charlie Libin, Betsy Reid, Alec Sash, Emily Sklar, Nina Shiffman, and Tracy Anderson and Katy Finch of Brooklyn Workforce Innovations.
Since January 13th, Friends of Cine Institute has worked in partnership with numerous New York film vendors and crews to arrange a shipment of donated equipment to Jacmel. Their shipping container of donated generators, lights and film equipment-along with a collection of much-needed basic medical supplies and personal items – recently left Brooklyn and is expected to arrive in Haiti later this month.
Now they need your help to get a team to Jacmel
A volunteer team of NY crew members from Locals 600 and 52 will travel to Haiti to offload and set up the equipment from the container in a coordinated effort with Ciné Institute and other relief organizations in the city of Jacmel.
As probably everyone now knows, the new owners of the house that belonged to Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany on Prospect Park West are two Google gillionaires.
And would you believe: Alison, one of the writers at Fucked in Park Slope actually wrote a letter to Mrs. Google. Of course I’m pretty sure that this little correspondence is total fiction. But I thought it was fun fiction anyway. I thought it was fiction but in fact it’s 100% real. This morning I heard from Allison, who happens to be a friend. I didn’t realize it was THAT Allison. She wrote to OTBKB: “as dog is my witness, this correspondence was completely 100% word-for-word factual and actual. will nobody take my investigative reporting seriously, Louise.”
To which I reply: “Yes, Allison, I believe you.”
Here’s the first note. Go to FIPS to read more:
Hi Mrs. Google,
Sorry to bug you but rumor has it you are the mystery owner of 17 PPW and the residents of Park Slope (well, me anyway) are anxious to live vicariously through your adventures in home renovation on PPW.
Is there ANY way you might give us the scoop on what’s actually going on inside?
I just blogged about it the other day and thought I might actually try to officially investigate as well as satisfy my own architectural curiosity.
You’ll earn major brownie points with your neighbors. Thanks in advance!!
This Friday and Saturday, February 12 and 13, the Brooklyn Historical Society at 128 Pierrepont Street (corner of Clinton) will host the annual “Red Show” Affordable Valentine’s Day Crafts Fair.
See the museum; pick up handmade jewelry, clothing, pottery, soaps, sweets and other treats for your Valentine at the fair; and check out the Red Velvet Cake Taste-Off. Starting at noon on Friday, Brooklyn Beep Marty Markowitz and BHS President Deborah Schwartz will determine who makes the Borough’s best version of this Valentine classic.
Free cake for the audience if you get there early.
The Fair will be open during the Museum’s normal hours: Friday, 12:00 noon to 5:30 pm; and Saturday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. NY Creates in association with the Brooklyn Historical Society will hold a Valentine’s Day Weekend Crafts Fair at BHS.
Heart of Brooklyn wrote in with these Special Valentine’s events that will be taking place at the leading cultural institutions located near Grand Army Plaza in central Brooklyn through Sunday, February 14:
“Take the whole family to Prospect Park’s Wollman Rink for their Valentine’s Day Special. A treat for all ages, love is in the air and Wollman Rink, Brooklyn’s only outdoor skating rink, is cutting its admission prices in half! Sunday, February 14, 10am-1pm; skate rental charge not included.
“Hop on The HOB Connection old-fashioned trolley for a free guided tour between Heart of Brooklyn’s cultural partners and through Prospect Park. Learn some history about the area and enjoy free candy on board! Free between 10am-3pm February 14; visit Heart of Brooklyn’s website for routes and times.
“Animal enthusiasts can warm up at Prospect Park Zoo this Valentines Day with an “Animal Dating and Mating” program. Make valentines treats for Brooklyn’s furriest couples, discuss reproductive strategies on a zoo tour, and learn why size really does matter! Games, a live animal demo and tasty treats included. 2-3:30pm, February 14; advance registration required at ppzeducation@wcs.org or (718) 399-7339 x326. $10 non-members, $8 members; ages 18 and over. For loving families, be sure to visit a troop of Geoffroy’s tamarins, a favorite of Brooklyn families who can certainly relate monkey behaviors to their own.
Slowly, but surely, I’m becoming a bonafide foodie. It’s pretty unbelievable considering less than a year ago, my idea of preparing dinner was ordering in pizza.
I can’t pinpoint the moment of transformation, but I now care about where my food comes from and my eyes no longer glaze over when someone describes what they cooked for dinner last night. I don’t have the credentials to be a foodie, but I’ve got the interest. In other words, I still can’t properly identify radicchio and I have no idea what to do with one, but I’m curious and I’m learning.
Brooklyn is clearly the right place at the right time for a newbie foodie like me. In addition to the exciting “New Brooklyn Cuisine” being served at restaurants such as Applewood and al di la, there is also a loosely formed community of home cooks in Brooklyn.
I always thought of foodies as snobbish, but the food folks I’m getting to know are more than happy to share their knowledge and their love of cooking and eating.
I’m inspired by Brooklynites like writer Cathy Erway, who chronicles her attempt to not eat out in New York in her aptly named blog Not Eating Out in New York (noteatingoutinny.com) (as well as the soon-to-be-released book “The Art of Eating In: How I Learned to Stop Spending and Love the Stove.”
Erway occasionally teaches classes at The Brooklyn Kitchen, the Williamsburg-based kitchen supply store. Now that the G stops at 7th Avenue, I’ve got no excuse not to make the trip to Brooklyn Kitchen’s sibling The Meat Hook, where you can buy fresh made sausages daily.
Gowanus music venue The Bell House has also become an official meeting (and competing) place for the new Brooklyn food community. It makes sense then that Erway will be holding her book publication there on February 18th. In addition to reading from her new book, Erway will preside over a “Bruschetta Takedown.” I can’t wait to experience that firsthand.
Bring out the welcome wagon and stock it with plenty of caviar and martinis for Fabulous in Park Slope. And don’t forget to wear a fur: Fabulous in Park Slope is run by the woman who wrote into Park Slope Parents a few weeks back with this infamous missive.
I recently moved here from Santa Monica California. I grew up in Rochester, so I am no stranger to the east coast. But I was in SoCal for ten years. Saying it’s a big adjustment is an understatement. But this is something that I noticed today.
Why I don’t think I belong here in Park Slope…
I think fur is fabulous (please don’t yell at me this isn’t about PETA). And I believe that being fabulous is FUN.
I could really just say that and be done with this whole essay on why the hell I stick out like a sore thumb here in this Brooklyn town. But since I have nothing else to do but wait for the season premier of Big Love, I’ll go on…
I have a sick 18 month old and a husband that would be happy just sitting on the couch watching youtube.com all Sunday. I had to get out of the house. And this wasn’t easy, because reason number two I don’t belong here is that it’s 25 degrees. Umm, that’s just not okay for me. Which is why I thought that putting on my mother’s J. Mendel Mink Coat with my over the knee Prada boots was SO necessary for my walk.
Apparently, I’m the only one in Park Slope who wants to stay warm…and fabulous at the same time. I got some pretty interesting looks on my outing, and it’s about time. To be honest, I was happy that they were taking notice that there is something else out there than long black The North Face down coats and mittens made in Nepal. I don’t understand, you are missing out on all the fun it is to be Fabulous! I miss seeing other people all dolled up, contemplating what the new “it” bag is, and seeing the most incredible new Loubitons on the girl across the street.
I know what you’ll say…go into Manhattan. Thing is, I have a baby and it’s difficult to make the trek with him. And to be honest, I’m not sure that I’d find what I’m looking there either, because it’s too damn cold! It’s too cold to wear the newest spring collection pieces before spring (because they are coming out NOW!). It’s too cold to wear my new Stella McCartney Navy bubble rain coat, or my sexy new Alexander Wang cowl neck tank.
So, like the rest of the group, I’ll be wearing my JCrew turtleneck sweater, jeans and uggs. I’ll sit at the playground with all the other kids who are cold and have running noses. And I’ll stand there while the moms with the hipster combat boots, and knit caps don’t talk to me.
But I’ll know that I’m still fun and fabulous…I’ll be wearing the inappropriate fur.
Fabulous and I have a few things in common: We’re both live in Park Slope; we’re both bloggers; and we both love HBO’s Big Love! So I’m psyched to start reading Fabulous’ new Park Slope blog. So welcome to the neighborhood, Fabulous. And good luck with your blog! We’re so happy you’re here.
Roadify, a local start-up, has officially launched its second SMS-based application: BAM (BusesAroundMe). With BAM, you can now access the MTA’s bus schedule via text message without leaving the comfort of your own couch or favorite cafe.
With BAM, you can update the set-scheduled times for fellow riders waiting further down the bus line by sending in a “GIVE” and noting the buses current location. BAM then time-stamps that location and generates a more accurate ETA for other users who request it by texting in a “GET”.
To find out how to GIVE and GET, check out the BusesAroundMe section of www.Roadify.com or text “BAM” to 95495.
Think of it: if one user sent a GIVE that showed the bus was running 5 minutes late and it reached 50 bus riders further along the route, that one user saved over 4 hours of total waiting time. Through PAM (ParkingAroundMe), Roadify’s first service, hundreds of community members in Park Slope are helping each other find parking spaces.
So Which Bus Lines Should be BAMMED?
BAM currently works on the B67, with more lines coming soon. The next line to receive 100 votes will be put up next. Currently in the lead is the B62 with 37, followed closely by the B63 with 34.
VOTE:
Vote for your route by emailing info@roadify.com or Tweeting @Roadify.
The talk on Seventh Avenue in Park Slope is about getting into high school.
On Thursday and Friday 8th graders, who applied to the “specialized” public high schools found out whether they got in. As you can imagine, it’s an incredibly stressful day for kids and parents. I believe the letters are distributed at school, which means there’s lots of happy yelping (I got into Laguardia for drama) and just as many sad looks of rejection (I didn’t get into Stuyvesant).
Lots of tears. Lots of disappointment. And sure, lots of hip hip hooray.
Only in New York is getting into pre-school, elementary, middle and then high school like getting into college. Some places you just go to the school in your neighborhood or town.
But that would be way too easy for a city like New York.
Sure there are neighborhood elementary school but after that you’ve got to apply for school. Imagine that. 5th graders actually have to try out, take tests, audition, interview for…6th grade.
I’ve been through the middle school application process twice and the high school process once. So my sympathy is with parents who are going through the hell that it is.
One OTBKB reader wrote in yesterday to say:
I guess this is just my current obsession, but I was surprised to see that you had nothing on the fact that the DOE just sent out the very first round of high school admissions this past week (on Thursday.) It was actually the pre-round, sort of.
The kids who got into the specialized schools heard which specialized school (or schools) they got into, as well as which regular school they got into as well. Those who took the test or went to the Laguardia audition, but did not get a place in a specialized school just got a letter telling them that they would have to wait with everyone else to find out where they were going.
The next round is March 24. (After that, if a kid doesn’t get in, they have to enter the final round! Oy vey!)
We were lucky. Our daughter DID get a place in a specialized school, but then she also got a spot in her top ranked “regular” school, making the decision hard. So we are once again in decision mode.
I really thought that would be over once we heard, but it seems we still have a choice to make! (This WILL end, some day!)
Anyway, this is a gruelling process, which is probably why I’m obsessed by it! I guess I just expected to see something on your blog about it. Anyway, there it is.
I wrote right back with this simple response:
I feel your pain and I’ll be going through it next year when my daughter is in 8th grade. Best of luck.
