I am compiling a list…

It’s that time of year again. Time to compile the Park Slope 100. What is the Park Slope 100?

Good question. Here’s how I’ve defined it in the past:

“100 stories, 100 ways of looking at the world, 100 inspiring people, places and things. The list is in alphabetical order. There are no repeats from last year. There are always serious omissions.”

The 100 is culled from suggestions and nominations from visitors like you. Send me names of people YOU think should be on the Park Slope 100.

So what does it take to be considered?

You need to have done something interesting, strange, noteworthy, crazy, fun or original. You don’t have to be famous. No, not at all. And in some way you need to give outward or connect with the neighborhood or the world with generosity or flair.

I’ve already got about 10. Send me yours (louise_crawford(at)yahoo(dot)com. I usually roll out the list in early December so I better get cracking.

Today at 1PM, the MetroTech Business Improvement District (BID) announces the initial deployment of the Downtown Brooklyn Wayfinding Sign System.

The  first two signs of a seventy-eight (78) sign system will be unveiled in front of 209 Joralemon Street and off the Northwest corner of Adams Street (Brooklyn Bridge Boulevard) and Joralemon Street.

This pedestrian friendly system consisting of 45 kiosks containing maps and locations of key destinations in Downtown Brooklyn, together with 33 directional signs, will be installed over the next few months, in a large area of Downtown Brooklyn from Fort Greene to DUMBO.

The signs identify twelve “neighborhoods” in Downtown Brooklyn and contain info about  local destinations, directions, historic and cultural anecdotes and subway locations.

The design and content was reviewed and contributed to by many of the neighborhood associations and institutions located in Downtown Brooklyn and approvals were granted by Community Board #2, the Department of Transportation, the Landmarks Commission and the Public Design Commission.

The signs were designed by Two Twelve Associates and fabrication and installation will be done by Design Communications LTD.

Please stop playing rocks: Gerritsen Beach

Best sandwiches in Sheepshead Bay: Sheepshead Bites

Pigeons: NY Shitty

Why do people bully?: Bushwick BK

Now you see it, now you don’t: Pardon Me for Asking

Having sex in Prospect Park: Effed in Park Slope

Lucas Fine Foods closes: Here’s Park Slope

New public K-8 proposed: Ditmas Park Blog

Don’t leave District 13, stay and help: The Local (Ft. Greene)

Taste of Hawthorne shut down: Hawthorne Street

In search of the Chancellor-to-be: City Room

Mayor’s case for Klein could hurt Black: NY Times

What’s different today from Jane Jacobs’ time: Atlantic Yards Report

State Senator Adams denies testimony on corrupt Aqueduct plan: Brooklyn Paper

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There’s anger all over the city about Bloomberg’s proposed appointment of Cathleen P. Black as Chancellor of the NY City Schools. A publishing executive, she knows nothing about education and herself was educated in private schools as was her children.

On Monday morning, November 15th from 10AM until 11AM there’s a press conference and rally for a new education chancellor who knows education and AGAINST the secret and rushed “corporate model” appointment by Mayor Bloomberg.

“We want the New York State Board of Regents to deny nominee Cathleen Black the waiver of education credentials that she needs to formally fill the position of Chancellor,” write Chris Owens,  newly elected District Leader in the 52nd district.

“The state of New York City’s education system equires that an educator be at the helm. New York City has talented and experienced people who can do the job … and better than Chancellor Klein did. (The fact that thousands of parents have their children on waiting lists for charter schools after eight years of Klein’s work is NOT a vote of confidence in his legacy!) I will serve as the MC for the Press Conference and I am inviting parent representatives, in particular, to come and speak out. All others are welcome as well. Please keep your remarks short and, preferably, bring some printed copies for the press.”

Yesterday’s fire on Fifth Avenue and 17th Street ravaged a supermarket, homes and gutted the Open Source Gallery. The gallery sent pictures today with the caption: Open Source will live again.

The fire began in the Park Slope Associated Supermarket on Friday afternoon. Firefighters battled the flames for more than three hours. There were no casualties though some individuals were taken to a nearby emergency room.

Open Source Gallery is a South Slope store-front, project space located at 255 17th street. They describe themselves “a nexus-point between long-time residents and recent transplants, a place for art in the midst of daily life. Open Source Gallery features monthly arts programming, gallery shows, happenings, dinners, and events.”

Since opening its doors in 2008 they have presented the work of dozens of artists and organized community participatory events, including “Thrift Shop”, which transformed the Open Source project space into a bazaar during the summer, and then “Soup Kitchen”, which invited a different artist to cook a one-pot meal for the public each night last December.

It’s a cool space and they deserve our support after this terrible fire.

An OTBKB reader wrote in to report a fire on Fifth Avenue and 17th Street earlier today.

I don’t know if you’re aware of this but there is a TERRIBLE fire on 5th Avenue and 17th Street.  Total destruction but, so I’ve heard…fingers crossed…nobody hurt.

It seems to have started in the grocery at noon and they still don’t have it under control. Many people lost their homes, the art gallery on the corner was destroyed. My daughter (who lives up there) just stopped by and she smelled like smoke. They can’t stay in their home tonight because it’s filled with smoke and fumes.

The Brooklyn Paper has more details. Here’s an excerpt:

A raging fire ripped through a Park Slope Associated Supermarket on Friday afternoon, closing off Fifth Avenue between 17th and 18th streets in all directions for several hours.

Firefighters were called to the fire at 12:15 pm. Three hours later, they were still battling the conflagration, which consumed most of the supermarket and was eating its way through the upper floors of the three-story corner building, according to an FDNY spokesman.

Last weekend, the Park Slope Civic Council hosted “Moving Forward on Fourth,” a walkabout to discuss the future of Fourth Avenue. Rebecca Welch’s interview with Josh Levy, Civic Council Trustee and lead organizer of the event, is on All About Fifth. Here’s an excerpt:

AF: I imagine that there is a wish list for 4th Avenue and there is a “reality” list. Setting the wish list aside for the moment, what can residents expect in the next year or two in terms of change along the Avenue?

JL: My read is that given the current state of affairs in the commercial real estate and development lending universe, I fear that no major or substantive building or development will be taking place in the next year or two—lending terms are far too prohibitive. Needed but draconian government budget cuts aren’t helping either. For the near term, we will have to make do with scaled-down (but fully cash-funded) projects less grand in scope and smaller, incremental improvements that we can implement (as a community) at little cost. The initiative to convert the 4th Street cul-de-sac west of 5th Avenue into a pedestrian mall/piazza is a good example.

It’s Friday and the weekend beckons.  Here’s the best and most interesting stuff I could find. Now it’s up to you to get out there and do something. Click on read more to see it all…

Continue reading OTBKB Weekend List: Nov 12-14 →

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