One of my favorite things to do on Seventh Avenue is look in the front window at the Community Bookstore. Here’s the view today.

Continue reading The Front Window at Community Books →

The little Loom shop squeezed between Haggen Daz and big Loom on Seventh Avenue is undergoing a major reinvention but it’s still going to be Loom.

It used to carry clothing for skinny young women — tight jeans, t-shirts, sweaters, dresses. Really nice stuff. The woman who owns Loom has unerring taste in everything, including casual clothing and handbags.

So what’s the new little Loom gonna be. Any guesses?

Quite a few people have sent me this open letter from Alice Walker to Barack Obama:

Nov. 5, 2008

Dear Brother Obama,

You
have no idea, really, of how profound this moment is for us. Us being
the black people of the Southern United States. You think you know,
because you are thoughtful, and you have studied our history. But
seeing you deliver the torch so many others before you carried, year
after year, decade after decade, century after century, only to be
struck down before igniting the flame of justice and of law, is almost
more than the heart can bear. And yet, this observation is not intended
to burden you, for you are of a different time, and, indeed, because of
all the relay runners before you, North America is a different place.
It is really only to say: Well done. We knew, through all the
generations, that you were with us, in us, the best of the spirit of
Africa and of the Americas. Knowing this, that you would actually
appear, someday, was part of our strength. Seeing you take your
rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina and character, is
a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about.

I
would advise you to remember that you did not create the disaster that
the world is experiencing, and you alone are not responsible for
bringing the world back to balance. A primary responsibility that you
do have, however, is to cultivate happiness in your own life. To make a
schedule that permits sufficient time of rest and play with your
gorgeous wife and lovely daughters. And so on. One gathers that your
family is large. We are used to seeing men in the White House soon
become juiceless and as white-haired as the building; we notice their
wives and children looking strained and stressed. They soon have smiles
so lacking in joy that they remi nd us of scissors. This is no way to
lead. Nor does your family deserve this fate. One way of thinking about
all this is: It is so bad now that there is no excuse not to relax.
From your happy, relaxed state, you can model real success, which is
all that so many people in the world really want. They may buy endless
cars and houses and furs and gobble up all the attention and space they
can manage, or barely manage, but this is because it is not yet clear
to them that success is truly an inside job. That it is within the
reach of almost everyone.

I would further advise you not to take
on other people’s enemies. Most damage that others do to us is out of
fear, humiliation and pain. Those feelings occur in all of us, not just
in those of us who profess a certain religious or racial devotion. We
must learn actually not to have enemies, but only confused adversaries
who are ourselves in disguise. It is understood by all that you are
commander in chief of the United States and are sworn to protect our
beloved country; this we understand, completely. However, as my mother
used to say, quoting a Bible with which I often fought, "hate the sin,
but love the sinner." There must be no more crushing of whole
communities, no more torture, no more dehumanizing as a means of ruling
a people’s spirit. This has already happened to people of color, poor
people, women, children. We see where this leads, where it has led.

A
good model of how to "work with the enemy" internally is presented by
the Dalai Lama, in his endless caretaking of his soul as he confronts
the Chinese government that invaded Tibet. Because, finally, it is the
soul that must be preserved, if one is to remain a credible leader. All
else might be lost; but when the soul dies, the connection to earth, to
peoples, to animals, to rivers, to mountain ranges, purple and
majestic, also dies. And your smile, with which we watch you do
gracious battle with unjust characterizations, distortions and lies, is
that expression of healthy self-worth, spirit and so ul, that, kept
happy and free and relaxed, can find an answering smile in all of us,
lighting our way, and brightening the world.

We are the ones we have been waiting for.

In Peace and Joy,
Alice Walker

A dad laments the difficult and anxiety ridden journey of public high school admissions in NYC. It’s by Brooklyn Beat at Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn. Here’s an excerpt:

Just a moment of acknowledgement, and sympathy, to other Brooklyn parents who, like we do, have kids in that transitional year from 8th grade to high school in the New York City public schools. Auditions, interviews, high school admission exams, the ordering of the high school choices, the open houses, the high school admission workshops over the summer in Manhattan, the mobbed school visits at some of the specialized and screened high schools, getting up extra early and getting to work extra late due to the morning visits to schools, and then having to leave work early to attend the evening visits to schools and open houses, sometimes on the same day.

Well, I feel your pain. Even though we have been through this twice before with our older kids, it seems to become more complex and fraught with tension each time as the high school admission rules changed. And, while private school was never really an option for us, now the economy appears to have driven even more families into the application and admissions mix. Some of the open houses have been literally jammed to the rafters.

An OTBKB reader wrote in with some {news news} from the Brooklyn Indie Market (BIM) and the {NewNew} Etsy Team. Both groups are faves of this blog. So here goes:

    On November 16, 2008 from 11am-7pm, the Brooklyn Indie Market (www.brooklynindiemarket.com) will team up with The {NewNew} Etsy Street Team (http://www.TheNewNewNY.com) to present a one-day shopping event. The emerging designer outlet in Carroll Gardens is hoping to expand on its mission to connect local designers with local consumers by teaming up with The {NewNew}; a group of New York based independent artists and designers of handmade goods.

    The Brooklyn Indie Market is located under the red and white striped tent on Smith and Union Street , Carroll Gardens , Brooklyn .  Buyers will be able to shop through 20 booths for one-of-a-kind items, all handmade by the hippest DIYers located in the metro NYC area. You’ll find smashing jewelry, paper goods, hand-screened clothing and accessories, unique artwork and items for the home, yummy soaps and body butters, and much, much more.

    This collaboration between the BIM and the {NewNew} also offers the chance to meet the artists and crafters who made the stunning wares for sale.  Visitors to the red and white striped tent that day will also have the opportunity to win a gift bag filled with handmade goodies donated by sellers at the event.
    —
    Best,
    Danielle L. Green
    Member of The {NewNew} Etsy Team

    http://www.thenewnew.blogspot.com/

    http://www.myspace.com/thenewnewny

    http://www.flickr.com/groups/newnew/

    http://www.TheNewNew.etsy.com

It’s time to start thinking about summer camp whether it’s day camp or (dream oh dream) sleepaway camp.

That’s why Brooklyn Family Magazine is sponsoring a Camp Fair at the Berkeley Carroll School this Saturday from 12-3. Walk around the fair and find the right camp for your kid. Good deal.

The Where and When

Sunday November 9 from 12-3 p.m.
Berkeley Carroll School
762 President Street between 6th and 7th Avenues

Remember this? It’s by comic singer/songwriter Allan Sherman. It was my mantra the summer of 1969 at the now defunct Camp Oleana.

Hello Muddah
Hello Fadduh
Here I am at Camp Granada
Camp is very entertaining
And they say we’ll have some fun if it stops raining.

Here from the New York Times’ Dining Out/Off the Menu Section on Wednesday.

CABANA BAR Beachside Latin America, in the
glass (mojitos) and on the plate (arepas and empanadas), is celebrated
at this lounge with a thatched bar. It opened last week: 648 President Street (Fifth Avenue), Park Slope, Brooklyn, (718) 399-2161.

A lone red-tailed hawk soars above the tree-tops; a flock of seagulls below (Prospect Park).

Photo: Tom Martinez

And Park Slope’s Patrick Gaspard is right in there. Of course. He was the Political Director of the campaign and now he’s the associate personnel director. Thanks to Brooklyn Beat of Deep in the Heart of Brooklyn for sending this:
 

Chicago
– For the past several months, a board of advisors has been informally
planning for a possible presidential transition. Among the many
projects undertaken by the transition board have been detailed analyses
of previous transition efforts, policy statements made during the
campaign, and the workings of federal government agencies, and priority
positions that must be filled by the incoming administration.

With
Barack Obama and Joe Biden’s election, this planning process will be
now be formally organized as the Obama-Biden Transition Project, a
501(c)(4) organization to ensure a smooth transition from one
administration to the next. The work of this entity will be overseen by
three co-chairs: John Podesta, Valerie Jarrett, and Pete Rouse.

The
co-chairs will be assisted by an advisory board comprised of
individuals with significant private and public sector experience:
Carol Browner, William Daley, Christopher Edley, Michael Froman, Julius
Genachowski, Donald Gips, Governor Janet Napolitano, Federico Peña,
Susan Rice, Sonal Shah, Mark Gitenstein, and Ted Kaufman. Gitenstein
and Kaufman will serve as co-chairs of Vice President-elect Biden’s
transition team.

Supervising the day-to-day activities of the transition will be:

Transition Senior Staff:

Chris Lu – Executive Director
Dan Pfeiffer – Communications Director
Stephanie Cutter – Chief Spokesperson
Cassandra Butts – General Counsel
Jim Messina – Personnel Director
Patrick Gaspard – Associate Personnel Director
Christine Varney – Personnel Counsel
Melody Barnes – Co-Director of Agency Review
Lisa Brown – Co-Director of Agency Review
Phil Schiliro – Director of Congressional Relations
Michael Strautmanis – Director of Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs
Katy Kale – Director of Operations
Brad Kiley – Director of Operations

Seems that there’s yet another new early motherhood resource
in town. Baby Bites Brooklyn, an offshoot of Manhattan Baby Bites,
opened in late September, and is offering Brooklyn mothers of 0-3 year
olds, as well as moms-to-be loads of social and educational events
and seminars throughout Brownstone Brooklyn.

Like Park Slope Parents, they want to help Brooklyn women transition into motherhood, by providing a social and
educational forum where moms can connect and learn from experts about
any and all topics relevant to early motherhood.

Headed by Chana Balk, a Brooklyn mother of two and former
corporate lawyer, Baby Bites Brooklyn presents loads to do for new moms to moms of 3-year-olds. Here’s the blurbage from their press release:

There are
luncheons in restaurants for new moms and their babies, where the moms
meet other new moms, hear an expert speak about a topic (such as sleep,
hiring a nanny, best parenting resources in Brooklyn) and take home fun
prizes. There are seminars for expectant moms, where the Brooklyn bumps
come together and learn about topics like breastfeeding, best products
for new moms, their choices in childbirth. Finally, there are special
events, which can be a sample class for parents and babies, or a
seminar on discipline or potty training.  Aimed at moms and dads, post
maternity leave, special events are typically offered on weekends or
evenings.

"The transition to new mommyhood, while amazing and
nothing short of miraculous, is also very overwhelming, and can be a
scary and isolating experience," said Balk. "Motherhood is the most
amazing thing I have done with my life and it is also the most
challenging part of my life. Being a new mother in particular was so
much more overwhelming that I ever anticipated. My hope is that Baby
Bites Broooklyn can be a great resource for Brooklyn moms, where they
can learn, find support and make lasting friendships. I’m thrilled to
be providing such a service."

Baby Bites Brooklyn currently
hosts events in Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill and Carroll
Gardens. Chana plans to expand into other neighborhoods in 2009,
including Williamsburg, Bay Ridge, DUMBO and Fort Greene.

For more information, check out babybitesbrooklyn.com,
or to join the mailing list so that you hear about events coming up for
you and your little one(s), send an email with your baby’€™s birth
date, or due date, to chana@babybitesbrooklyn.com.

This email made me feel that these times are like the John F. Kennedy years when people were moved to go to Washington and make change happen.

I really don’t know the answer to this Sunset Park woman’s question. But I love that she asked me. Now I ask you:

Would you happen to know where I can send a resume to work alongside President Elect Obama in the White House?

I would like the Chicago information so that his
office would get it as soon as possible. Is there an e-mail?

The party started at 8 p.m. Friends grabbed comfy seats around the TV set in the family room of a friend’s brownstone. While eating Chinese food and drinking wine, we channel surfed from Comedy Central to PBS, CNN, even Fox.

And then back to John Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

When Pennsylvania and Ohio were declared for Obama, we broke out the champagne. Nerves turned to elation.

There was yelping on the street at 11 p.m. and then heard John Stewart announce that Barack Obama was our President elect.

Somehow it seemed appropriate that we heard it from John Stewart (as he and SNL were such a big part of this year’s election journey).

Some went outside to see the reaction on the street (or were they just smoking?).

Tears flowed. Hugs and kisses. Cell phones rang as friends and relatives exchanged the news, the excitement, the sense of history being made.

One friend called his son who was asleep at home.

"it’s a historic moment. I think he should see this," this friend said pointing to the TV.

More champagne flowed. We watched McCain’s gracious concession speech, though some fun was made of him and Sarah Palin.

Palin was cheered for being the great political faux pas that she was. One friend did a pitch perfect imitation of her.

And then we waited for Obama to speak in Chicago.

"He’s on," the hostess shrieked calling every one back to the TV.

And what a magic moment it was. From his first words…

Hello, Chicago.

If there is anyone out there who still
doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still
wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still
questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and
churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited
three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives,
because they believed that this time must be different, that their
voices could be that difference.

It’s the answer spoken by young
and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white,
Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not
disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never
been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and
blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

To his last:

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so
much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves — if our children
should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky
to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What
progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

This is our time, to put our
people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to
restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the
American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many,
we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with
cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can’t, we will
respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people:
Yes, we can.
hank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America

There was dancing in the streets of Park Slope last night. Well, not dancing exactly. But it was festive; better than New Year’s Eve.

Jubilation. Yelping. Cheering. Smiling and high fiving strangers.

It was elation on display. Happiness. Relief. Hope. History.

People yelled out their windows. Car horns honked.

In the PS 321 playground, there were fire crackers.   We thought we saw fireworks coming from Prospect Park.

Go to Brit in Brooklyn to see a short video of last night’s celebration.

Photos by Kitty LaRoux

In the Guardian: Obama’s election triumph on the front pages of the world’s newspapers and magazine.

Park Slope’s Patrick Gaspard, Political Director for Barack Obama’s campaign, spoke with Andrea Bernstein and John Hockenberry on WNYC’s The Takeaway:

"Technology and modernization of campaigns is a terribly important thing. But as an old fashioned field guy, at the end of the day we were able to be successful because millions of Americans got up and took the time to have intimate conversations with their neighbors. We had grassroots organic leaders who knocked on doors and used technology. At the end of the day it was traditional methods that won this election."

"

A few days after my husband firefighter Dave Fontana died on 9-11, there was a peace march in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Thousands of neighbors showed up for a candlelight vigil and we walked in sad silence to Dave’s Firehouse.

I remember the grief and shock I felt about losing Dave but I also remember this other feeling….
this profound sense that something bigger was happening, beyond this city, beyond this country, beyond my own personal loss.  It felt as if the fault lines of humanity were shifting and the whole world was uniting for the first time.

I had hope.

Then came the long reign of Bush where he not only squandered that historic moment,
but used 9-11 to go to war, alienate other countries,  induce fear and to get re-elected.

I lost hope.

My friends and family lost hope too. A  gloom descended upon everyone I knew. We shook our heads while the war lingered on, global warming got worse,  money was squandered and power abused.

Last night, I watched the election results with some good friends in Brooklyn, many of whom surrounded me with support after Dave died.

We popped champagne when the electoral count reached 207, but then worried that we
had celebrated too soon. Everyone was cautious. Careful. We had lost hope after all.

But then we heard celebratory screams outside as if it were New Years Eve.

People took to the streets banging pans, shouting "OBAMA" and screaming at the tops of their lungs.

There were fireworks and I high-fived strangers in the street and  I couldn’t stop crying.

A little later, I stopped by another friend in the neighborhood who wanted to exchange hugs.  Like so many of my friends, she had just returned from Pennsylvania where she had worked phones and knocked on doors.

Her husband had set up a giant screen to watch the election results.

Obama  stepped on stage to make his incredible, historic speech that I know our kids will be reading about in school some day.

His message was so powerful, I couldn’t help noting the difference between him and our current president.

Obama  was eloquent, powerful and humble, a symbol of so much to so many who had waited patiently to see this day.

Best of all, for the first time since the night of the vigil so many years ago, I felt hope return again.

OBAMA !!! OBAMA!!! OBAMA!!!

Marian Fontana has been a writer and performer for the past 20 years. Her articles have appeared in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Elle, Parenting, and Martha Stewart. Her most recent book, A Widow’s Walk: A Memoir of 9/11 was on the New York Times’ best selling memoir list and was chosen as one of the Top Ten Great Reads of 2005 by People Magazine and the Washington Post’s Book Raves of 2005.

Photograph of the election night party Marian attended by Tom Martinez.

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