We’ll be watching the debate at ArtObama, the art auction tonight on Atlantic Avenue. According to Will Y Park Slope Patch, you can also watch it at: Pacific Standard, Dram Shop and Beauty Bar.

Newark, New Jersey’s Mayor Corey Booker “killed it” at Baracklyn, Monday night’s Obama fundraiser at the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg. Over 600 people attended the event, which featured Park Slope’s own Senator Chuck Schumer, White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Food Network Host Ted Allen at the podium. Singer/songwriter Steve Earle was also on hand to sing a few songs.

The audience representing Obama’s base of support in Brooklyn (dubbed Baracklyn during the 2008 election) responded enthusiastically to Booker’s smart, funny and very spontaneous speaking style, which combined strong reasons to re-elect the president plus great asides about Brooklyn.

“Manhattan is nice,” Booker said at one point. “But Brooklyn is sexy.” As you can imagine, the crowd loved that one.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick who was something of a rock star at the Democratic National Convention this year, mentioned that his wife  is from Bed Stuy, which got an enthusiastic reaction from the crowd.

The event raised $300,000. Tickets prices began at $250 and went up to $2,500 and beyond if you were so inclined. As incentive to the higher contributors, there was a VIP area near the bowling alley plus bowling privileges and the chance to hobnob with the politicians. I’m guessing there were free drinks in that area.

Those on the lower end of the pay scale were restricted to the Bowl’s large performance space and bar area. A cash bar kept the drinks flowing and Steve Earle delivered an affecting set singing a song about Woody Guthrie and an especially beautiful song about New York City, written by Earle who moved here only seven years ago. It’s called City of Immigrants.

City of black
City of white
City of light
Livin’ in a city of immigrants
City of sweat
City of tears
City of prayers
Livin’ in a city of immigrants
City of stone
City of steel
City of wheels
Livin’ in a city of immigrants
City of bone
City of skin
City of pain
City of immigrants
All of us are immigrants

Timeout’s Nina Chaudhury asked her fave Brooklyn bloggers for their fave local spots. Happy to say, she included me in this round-up of recommendations on food, shops, and points of interest in these parts.

I’m in good company with Brooklyn Bugle, Effed in Park Slope, Free Williamsburg, Brokelyn and many more. Take a look at my picks. Of course, now that’s it’s published I keep thinking of places I should have mentioned.

I picked The Gate for its Sunday night screenings of Breaking Bad reruns and its outdoor patio great for dogs, children, and drinking adults.

Superstar Jay-Z opened the Barclay’s Center last night as protestors demonstrated outside. A big night for Hip Hop fans, the tabloids devoted pages to the star-studded event, a veritable who’s who of the New York entertainment and sports world .

The rust colored waffle iron was filled with cheering fans as Brooklyn-born Jay-Z, the Daily News reports, told them: “Tonight is a celebration of the borough where I’m from. Welcome to my house.”

The new billion-dollar home of the Brooklyn Nets seats 18,200 people and has caused no small amount of controversy and consternation in the neighborhoods surrounding the arena.

Park Slope and Prospect Heights locals are worried about traffic, parking and crowds on Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, already car-packed arteries. Many are still enraged by the way the project came about with its complete disregard for community input. Rife with sweetheart deals and political wrangling, the project created much in the way of bad karma and rancor for Forest City Ratner and the politicians who supported him.

Anger, joy, apprehension, anticipation, excitement, and pulsing anxiety. Clearly, the opening of the Barclay’s Center is creating a schizoid mix of emotions. Ironically, the Barclay’s Center has the potential for uniting Brooklyn’s diverse communities. At the same time it represents urban development at its worst.

A big night for the Hip Hop world, last night was also a big night for Brooklyn progressives who have contested the project for eight years.

Last week Forest City Ratner announced that they would break ground on the first of many planned residential towers. The project, the biggest ever in Brooklyn and heavily subsidized by public funds, has disappointed many for the lack of jobs it has actually created and the spurned promise of affordable housing.

Timed for the opening weekend of the Barclay’s Center, tonight from 6-8PM there is an opening reception for Atlantic Yards: Deconstructed at the Soapbox Gallery (636 Dean Street) in Prospect Heights.

This show of work by photographer Tracy Collins chronicles the rapidly changing urban landscape in and around the footprint of the Atlantic Yards since the project was announced in 2003.

Collins has been “on the ground”  with his still and video camera documenting the impact of the development over the past nine years. He posted these photos almost daily for years on his blog,  Not Another F*cking Blog! He spoke at the Brooklyn Blogfest in 2009; he is a wonderful photographer and a very interesting artist.

Culture, the frozen yogurt shop on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, recently asked Spencer Ritenour, one of the photographer behind Park Slope Lens to display prints of his photography in their store.

On Friday, October 5th at 7:00-9:00 P.M. they will host an opening reception for his show, “Brooklyn Moments,” 14 black and white photographs of everyone’s favorite borough.

In case you’d like to take a bit of it home, the prints will be for sale. The photographer is, of course, happy to do custom sizes and sets if you so desire (sritenou at gmail dot com).

Come for the artwork. Come for some bubbly. Come for the world class yogurt treats. See you there!

L Magazine just came out with a power ranking 13 neighborhoods in Brooklyn. Ft. Greene got the top slot because, they say: “Fort Greene just about has it all: two subway lines (though, granted, not the best); the large and leafy Fort Greene Park; the BAM Cultural District, Greenlight bookstore, and institutions like MoCADA.”

But second place is not too shabby:

It’s easy to make fun of Park Slope—its yuppies, its strollers, its PC liberalism—but it’s just as easy to adore it: the access to Prospect Park, one of the loveliest urban oases in the world; the copious bars and restaurants on Fifth and Seventh avenues; the access to the D, R, F, N, Q, 2, 3, 4 and 5 lines (depending where in the ‘hood you are; bus service is pretty strong throughout, too). With the opening of the Barclays Center, there’ll be both a new concert venue for A-listers like Leonard Cohen (and perhaps an excess of besotted hoops fans trying to find parking). Then there are the lovely brownstones, particularly on the north and east ends. But who could afford to live in one of them?

What I really like is the photo slide show by Harlan Erskine of Park Slope at night, really cool pictures of the lamp lit windows of brownstones and limestones. Kind of voyeuristic. Is your window there?

Are you registered to vote? Are you sure? Are all your friends and family registered voters?

Voting registration deadlines are coming up fast, and in New York people can now register online—electronically, with nothing to print out—by clicking here. It’s never been easier to register. I mean, you can do it online!!!

http://www.dmv.ny.gov/mydmv/motv-pop.htm

You might think everyone you know is already registered, but now is the time to double-check and pass this email along. Asking a friend or family member is one of the most effective ways to get someone to register to vote. It’s our responsibility to reach out and make sure all progressives are registered voters who get to the polls on Election Day.

If you know anyone in New York who is not a registered voter, who has moved recently, or if you’re not sure whether someone is a registered voter, forward this email and ask your friends and family to register here:

http://www.dmv.ny.gov/mydmv/motv-pop.htm

In 2008, 6 million people didn’t vote because they missed a deadline or didn’t know how to register.1 This election is going to come down to how many progressives turn out, and it all starts with registering in time.

On Monday, October 1 at 7PM Brooklynites show their support for the Prez at a big, fun fundraising party called BARACKLYN!, an evening for Brooklynites and like-minded friends coming together to support President Obama’s campaign for re-election.

The star-studded lineup includes Senior Advisor to the President Valerie Jarrett, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. The incomparable Steve Earle will perform a set and Ted Allen (of Chopped! fame) will be the emcee.

Steve Earle I LOVE.

The event will be at the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg (called “one of the most incredible places on earth” by Rolling Stone). Tickets are available at https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/o2012-October1BrooklynEvent.

I think Chelsea Clinton hearts Brooklyn. Last week she took her folks out to dinner at Roberta’s in Bushwick and tomorrow she’s gonna be at Grand Army Plaza.

That’s right. Chelsea Clinton, NBC News Special Correspondent and daughter of Hillary and Bill, will be reading stories to young children at a special story-time reading event at the Brooklyn Public Library. She will read a selection of children’s books and lead interactive games and activities.

WHAT: Storytime Reading with Chelsea Clinton

WHEN: Thursday, September 27 at 11:15AM

WHERE: Brooklyn Central Library

On October 3rd from 7-9:30PM, ArtObama, an auction for  exceptional works by more than 100 American artists who support the re-election of President Barack Obama, will take place at 382 Atlantic Avenue, the site of the now-defunct Metaphor Gallery.

Auction proceeds will benefit the Obama Victory Fund 2012  as well as ActBlue. Space is limited, and pre-registration for collectors is strongly recommended.

When: October 3, 7 to 9:30 pm (bidding from 7:00 to 8:30 pm) Where: 382 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn,  NY 11217 Entrance fee: $45 at pre-registration or the door. Can’t be there? Proxy bids accepted through Oct 2nd, 8 pm. To make a proxy bid call 718-781-0354 or email kmaier(at)sprynet(dot)com.

Here we are. Just days away from the “grand” opening of the Barclay’s Arena, a project that  divided Brooklyn and was opposed by many for its misuse of Eminent Domain, its corrupt sweetheart deals made by developers and politicians, and its rampant disregard of community input.

Neighborhood groups fought tooth and nail to modify and redirect the size and scope of the project.

Chief among the community groups that opposed the arena was Develop Don’t Destroy, a broad-based community coalition that opposed Forest City Ratner’s proposed 8 million square foot “Atlantic Yards” development for the arena and 16 high-rises in Prospect Heights and Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The $4 billion project would use at least $1.6 billion in public money and would abuse the state’s power of eminent domain (taking private property from one owner to give to a private entity for a private use, instead of a public use).

Now that the arena is a reality, tensions still flare. At the same time, kids and adults all over Brooklyn are excited about a Brooklyn basketball team. Others are pumped for the line-up of talent slated for the stage including Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Barbra Streisand, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Patti Smith and The Rolling Stones.

Will the arena  continue to divide Brooklyn? Will those who opposed it ever reconcile themselves to its existence and even attend a basketball game or concert? Sure, the arena will cause vexing traffic, parking and crowd control issues but can there ever be some kind of silver lining?

Indeed, that remains to be seen.

Battle for Brooklyn, a documentary film, is the true story behind the eight-year fight over the Atlantic Yards project. It will be screened for free at the ball field at Dean Street Playground just one half block from the arena on Friday, September 27th.

“Our film closely explores the contentious community fight to stop the Atlantic Yards project, and the promises made by the developer and his supporters in New York State and City government. The community’s efforts to have a meaningful say in its future, in the face of top down development and crony capitalism, is a universal story being played out all across the US,” says director Mike Galinsky.

Tonight it will be shown at the Society for Ethical Culture at 7PM:

Wednesday, September 26th, 7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30)

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture

53 Prospect Park West (at 2nd Street)

This screening is part Brooklyn Reconstructed, an on-going  series of screenings organized by Filmwax at The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture.

–The Vanishing City (Jen Senkio & Fiore DeRosa), October 24th

–Made in Brooklyn (Isabel Hill), November 18th

–Gut Renovation (Su Friedrich), December 12th

–Last Summer at Coney Island (JL Aronson), January 23rd

1. Sweet Melissa’s is where I go to meet my sister for a quiet (or not so quiet depending on what we’re discussing) Saturday morning chat and coffee. She always has the oatmeal and I usually have the fruit and yogurt. Or a scone. My niece usually has some insanely delicious pastry thing. The staff is really friendly and accommodating.

2. Grand Canyon. Yup. I know that place gets a lot of pounding. But I think it’s a good, basic coffee shop when you’re in the mood for eggs over easy with rye toast, no potatoes and a small orange juice. And coffee. Coffee shop coffee.

3. Connectiut Muffin always satisfies. Especially in the summer with an iced hazelnut coffee light with one Splenda. The bialy with butter is always good, as are the muffins and the almond croissants. And you can’t beat the people watching and eavesdropping.

4. Donuts or Seventh Avenue Donuts Diner—and lord knows it’s not just donuts. Isn’t Donut’s everyone’s favorite authentic coffee shop. No frills, lots of thrills. I like their french crullers.

5. The best egg and cheese sandwich in the Slope? La Bagel Delight, of course. And the bagels with many toppings to choose from? You can’t miss.

This morning is the official ribbon cutting and press tour of the Barclay’s Center, that big rusty waffle iron of an arena that was built on Atlantic Avenue on the site of the former Atlantic Yards.

Prior to that event, at 8:15 am (at 669 Atlantic Avenue) members of a consortium of Brooklyn community organizations that opposed the arena from the start will display giant bobbleheads of Mayor Bloomberg, Governor Cuomo, Borough President Markowitz, Bruce Ratner, Mikhail Prokhorov, and Senator Schumer.

In effect, these community groups including Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, Families United for Racial and Economic Equality, Brown Community Development Corporation, BrooklynSpeaks, Fifth Avenue Committee, are creating an alternate ribbon cutting ceremony and press conference.

At the alt-ribbon cutting the bobbleheads will describe the much lamented and troubled history of the Barclays Center and Atlantic Yards project.

Of course it’s too late to try to prevent the arena which is built and ready to open. But it is pertinent to vocally protest the many unfulfilled promises, among them affordable housing and local jobs.On September 10th, the city’s Independent Budget Office released a report saying delays and increased public subsidies for the NBA arena, would cost the city $39.5 million more in spending over its first 30 years than it would generate in tax revenues.

The alternative ribbon cutters will explain how the arena is not affordable housing and the promised jobs are phantoms.

The arena is costing $300 million in taxpayer dollars, and nearly $1.6 billion in special breaks, government favors and below market public land sales!.

Shockingly but not surprisingly, not a single one of the promised 2,250 taxpayer subsidized, “affordable” housing units is under construction, and of the 10,000 “permanent” jobs promised, the developer has announced only 105 full time jobs and 1,900 low paid jobs (non-living wage).

Judy Baum or Ask Judy at Insideschools.org is the advice lady. She’s the go-to gal. She’s the one you write to when your child is having New York City public school problems.

Like today, someone wrote in about their daughter, who just started as a freshman at a specialized high school. The headline reads: My 9th Grader Hates Her School.

Here’s what happened. The girl came home the first day convinced that she will never like this school or be comfortable with the fit .

“She is interested in transferring to a smaller school that fosters creative and analytic thinking, community, and independence. My question is: How and when can a parent “know” that her child and the child’s school are not well-matched? How would you advise proceeding?” the mom writes.

For advice as to what to do in a situation like this, go to Ask Judy at Inside Schools. 

Later this fall, the Freelancers Union is joining the ranks of Shake Shack, Brooklyn Industries, and Century 21 by opening a brand new, state-of-the-art medical center right above Fulton Mall at 408 Jay Street.

I happen to be a member of the Freelancers Union so my interest is on high-alert.

According to an email I received today, this 6,000 square foot space will be clean and modern—it’ll also be FREE for Freelancers Union members who opt-in through Freelancers Insurance Company, with a 450 square foot yoga studio, and Wi-Fi enabled waiting area with IPads for freelancers’ convenience.

Free? Now my interest really is on high-alert! As a member of Freelancers Insurance Company, this sounds like it could be amazing. I am so interested to see what develops.

One Story, the sister publication of the brand new  One Teen Story, knows how to give a great party. More than once I have attended their annual debutante ball/fundraiser.

Well, the launch of the new One Teen Story, a new magazine that features one story every issue for teens is no exception. Tonight, One Teen Story is throwing a “Homecoming party” at Littlefield in Brooklyn.

There they will be celebrating their new magazine with a 21+ homecoming dance featuring drinks, a DJ, and a homecoming court including some of today’s top young adult authors: Matt de la Pena, Adele Griffin, Emmy Laybourne, Rebecca Stead, Martin Wilson, and Gayle Forman, author of One Teen Story’s inaugural issue, “The Deadline.”

So who will be the King and Queen of the ball. All ticket buyers will be entered into a royalty drawing, as will anyone who supports One Teen Story by shopping at the school store, buying a cookie at the bake sale, having a photo taken, or donating a small amount. Doors open at 8:00PM.

The King and Queen will be crowned at 10:00.

This event is a Bookend Event of The Brooklyn Book Festival. Tickets for the dance are a $25 donation and are on sale now online at Littlefield’s website. Get your tickets now, before they sell out!

The Brooklyn Book Festival is coming to downtown Brooklyn on Sunday, September 23rd. In addition to a marketplace of publishers and booksellers, there are something like 140 panels to choose from.

I picked the following 20 that I think sound interesting. Listed by location. I put three stars next to the ones I think sound really HOT.

MAIN STAGE: Borough Hall Plaza

***1.2:00 P.M. Let’s Talk About Sex: Grappling with Gender in the 21st Century. Is biology destiny? What does it mean today to be a man, a woman, or to feel somewhere in between? Naomi Wolf (Vagina: A New Biography), Carlos Andres Gomez (Man Up: Cracking the Code of Modern Manhood) and Kate Bornstein (A Queer and Pleasant Danger) consider the role of sex and gender in culture today, how it makes us, and how we react to the trappings of gender put upon us by society at large. Moderated by Hanna Rosin (The End of Men).

 ST FRANCIS AUDITORIUM: 180 Remsen Street

2.  2:00 P.M. Secrets Secrets Are Some Fun. How does a writer decide what to keep from the characters, narrator, or audience? Elizabeth Crane (We Only Know So Much), John Burnham Schwartz (Northwest Corner) and Kurt Andersen (True Believers) discuss how they tell secrets, but they won’t tell them all! Moderated by Ben Greenman (What He’s Poised to Do).

***3.  5:00 P.M. Enduring Unlikable Women.  Elissa Schappell (Blue Print for Building Better Girls), Gilbert Hernandez(Love and Rockets) and Dana Spiotta (Stone Arabia) write difficult, complex female characters. Join these authors in a reading and discussion that looks at the bad boy and the unlikable woman in literature and how they are reviled or celebrated by their audience and creators. Moderated byMeredith Walters, Brooklyn Public Library.

 BROOKLYN HISTORICAL SOCIETY: 128 Pierrepont Street

4. 11:00 A.M. A Conversation about Conscience. Why do some people make painful and challenging decisions of conscience—and why do so many others often choose not to? Fifty years after Hannah Arendt examined the dynamics of conformity in her seminal account of the Eichmann trial, this panel will explore the flipside of the banality of evil, mapping out what impels ordinary people to defy the sway of authority and convention. Featuring E.O. Wilson(The Social Conquest of Earth), Eyal Press (Beautiful Souls) and Louisa Thomas (Conscience: Two Soldiers, Two Pacifists, One Family: A Test of Will and Faith in World War I).  Moderated by Ted Hamm.

 BROOKLYN LAW SCHOOL

5.  3:00 P.M. Fright Write. Instead of heart throb vampires and werewolves, J.R. Angelella(Zombie), Victor LaValle (The Devil in Silver), and Chase Novak (Breed) bring you heart pounding unconventional horror stories. Join us as the three discuss their thrilling new novels! Moderated by Sarah Weinman.

***6.  5:00 P.M. Inventions of Adolescence.  Novelists Kurt Andersen (True Believers), Danielle Evans (Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self) and Karen Thompson Walker (The Age of Miracles) read from their work and discuss the experiences of youth. Moderated by Kevin Holohan.

  Continue reading OTBKB’s Top 20 Panel Picks for the Brooklyn Book Festival →

Today is Election Day and City Council Member Brad Lander has already heard from several constituents who have had difficulty voting.

For many people in our district, polling places have changed since the last election. Before you go to vote, confirm your voting location here.

At that same site, you should also download a sample ballot to see what races you can vote for. Because this is a primary and not a general election, in some parts of the district, there are no races to vote on. But if you do live in an area with a contested primary, do get out and vote.

Polls are open today until 9 PM. If you have any problems today, you can contact the Board of Elections at 866-VOTE-NYC or Brad Lander’s office: 718-499-1090 (Lander’s closes at 6:00 PM).

Today there will be lots of pomp and ceremony as the Park Slope Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library reopens. Closed since 2009, the newly renovated library should be a sight to  behold. New lighting, new seating, new technology including iPad check-outs and computers for kids.

Check it out for yourself. It’s a new day for the Park Slope  branch of the BPL.

At noon today, Brooklyn Public Library President and CEO Linda E. Johnson, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assembly Member James Brennan, City Councilmember Brad Lander, Commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction David Burney, Park Slope residents and local students will be at the library for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

And at 6:30 p.m., Pete Hamill, who grew up in these parts (and probably studied and checked books out of that library) will be on hand to read some of his work.

The Brooklyn-born author, former columnist and editor for The New York Post and New York Daily News and renowned author is something of a hero around here.