My father, always a constant reader, was reading Middlemarch by George Eliot, in the weeks before he died. He took it with him to his recent chemo therapy sessions and even to the emergency room on August 25th.

A huge book collector, my father always had a good selection of books out from the public library in Brooklyn or Glen Falls (depending on where he was spending his time). Middlemarch was a library book, which he took out from the Cadman Plaza branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.

On Thursday I saw Middlemarch on the wine rack near the front door in his apartment and immediately knew that I wanted to take it back to the library. I even thought about reading it before returning it as a sort of homage to my dad.

I thought about that Raymond Carver story about the baker who is livid because a woman doesn’t pick up the birthday cake for her son, who is killed in a car accident. Unknowingly, the baker keeps calling the mother to come get it…

On Friday, I decided to drop the book off at the Park Slope branch of the Brooklyn Library. I told the woman at the desk that I was returning it for my father. She said that there was a $4 fine on the book and another $3 outstanding fine (maybe another book still out?). She didn’t ask me to pay—I guess because I said I was returning it for my dad.

I wanted to tell her that my father died on September 7th. But I didn’t. Initially, I thought I would tell them to stop his library card just the way I stopped his AARP supplemental insurance and other things, too. On the phone, people offer their condolences and then take care of business. But to do it in person, it seemed too hard.

Besides, it felt too final to stop his card; he’s had a library card his entire life and I want that library card to go on forever.

There will always be an open library card for my dad. Why not?

We are encouraging donations in my father’s name, Monte Ghertler, to his favorite library in Glen Falls, NY:

Crandall Public Library,
251 Glen Street, Glens Falls
New York 12801

Just heard about this interesting series at the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza. They’ve got quite a line-up of writers. And it’s in the new Stevan Dweck Center, which is a nice venue.

The series is “Cosmopolis: Immigrant Writers in New York,” which features WNYC host Leonard Lopate in conversation with three authors, including last year’s Pulitzer Prize winner in fiction, Junot Diaz.

The first event is October 4, with Dalia Sofer, author of The Septembers of Shiraz, which was hailed as a “powerfully affecting depiction of a prosperous Jewish family in Tehran shortly after the [Iranian] revolution” that “stands a chance of becoming a classic” by bestselling novelist Claire Messud writing in the New York Times Book Review.

Dalia Sofer, author of the debut novel The Septembers of Shiraz will appear on October 4, 2008 (Saturday) at 4pm
• Hailed as a “powerfully affecting depiction of a prosperous Jewish family in Tehran shortly after the [Iranian] revolution” that “stands a chance of becoming a classic” (New York Times Book Review), The Septembers of Shiraz was released in paperback by HarperPerennial earlier this year.

Junot Diaz, author of The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao will appear on November 1, 2008 (Saturday) at 4pm
• Winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, Diaz’s multigenerational Dominican-American family chronicle flashes “his geek credentials, his street wisdom and his literary learning with equal panache” (New York Times). Just released in paperback by Riverhead Books.

Lara Vapnyar, author of the Broccoli and Other Tales of Food and Love will appear on December 6, 2008 (Saturday) at 4pm:
• Having learned to speak English after emigrating to the U.S. from Moscow in 1994, Vapnyar has been called “a talented writer, possessed of an ample humor and insight and a humane sensibility” (New York Times Book Review). Her story collection was released in hardcover earlier this year by Pantheon Books.

Each event will take place at the Dr. S. Stevan Dweck Center for Contemporary Culture, located at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library, at Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn (#2 or #3 train to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum).

City Council Member, David Yassky, who is running for the job of NYC Comptroller, sent out this email about the current financial crisis:

Dear Friend-

The full impact of the Wall Street earthquake will not be known for some time, but it is already clear that New York’s leaders must begin planning now for a significantly weaker City economy.

The pain will be real. Mayor Bloomberg has already ordered City agencies—including police and schools— to implement $1.5 billion in cutbacks, and has signaled that he is likely to propose an increase in the property tax rate. These are prudent steps to address the short term crisis. The real challenge will be responding to the wholesale restructuring of the City’s core industry.

First, we must work to strengthen policies aimed at diversifying our economy. For example, I recently proposed an expansion of the City’s tax credit for film and TV production. The original credit, which I sponsored three years ago, has spurred a doubling of film production, creating some 6,000 new jobs. We must take advantage of similar growth opportunities in biotechnology and green manufacturing.

Second, we must intensify efforts to create a more efficient and entrepreneurial City government. Earlier this month, I called on the Department of Sanitation to sell advertising space on the City’s 25,000 trash cans. Today, the City adorns its trash cans with the names of local politicians (including me). Let’s use this space to generate revenue rather than political support. Now, we need a hundred more ideas to generate revenue and eliminate wasteful spending.

Finally, we must recognize that New York’s position at the center of the financial world is at risk. Merrill Lynch will soon be a North Carolina bank; the surviving parts of Lehman Brothers will be absorbed by a British firm; Bear Stearns has disappeared; and AIG has been taken over by Washington. To be sure, a new order will emerge, and the next generation of financial giants is likely to be found among the many smaller, nimble firms already operating here in New York. But our government must do its part by making sure the City remains a preeminent place to do business.

I have great confidence in the leadership of Mayor Bloomberg as we enter these uncharted waters, but I have no illusions about the difficulty of the choices we face. I spoke last night at a residents’ meeting in a large new apartment building in Downtown Brooklyn. When I explained the City’s financial situation, a young father said, “So we’ll be paying more taxes for less service?” I agreed, and he did not look happy. But as I was leaving, he stopped me to thank me for my work and asked, “What can we do to help?”

That’s the spirit.

It’s a very pretty shop. Elegant, sleek. Very Lexington Avenue, I’d say. In fact, the original Eric NYC may have been on Lexington Avenue.

One of the partners in that NYC shop has ventured out to brownstone Brooklyn alongside Barrio and across the street from the upcoming Kids Rx (both are venturers from Manhattan).

Visually, Eric will pull in all the shoe-obsessed of Park Slope. Stylish shelves lines the left and right walls and comfy ottoman-style seating is down the middle. Browns, beiges, whites, the space is minimalist, stylish and restful to the eye with a discriminating selection of shoes.

Yes, shoes for the Park Slope woman.

I wanted to ask Eric, the owner, what he thinks the Park Slope woman wants when it comes to shoes. From the looks of it he thinks: comfortable, low, brown. Yes, there is life beyond Keens, Birkenstocks and Crocs.

There are some fun, dressy shoes. And the ski book style boots in the back are really cool. I’ll be in there again today to check out the price points and to talk to Eric:

“So what is a Park Slope shoe?”

The new wine shop on Fifth Avenue has only been around for a few weeks but it already feels like the place we go for wine.

It’s so well located for those of us on Third Street who spend a lot of time on Fifth. There it is right next to The Gate, Brooklyn Mercantile, Serene Rose. Across the street from the Old Stone House, JJ Byrne Park. So near to ‘Snice, Bird, and Stone Park Cafe.

I can grab a bottle on my way home from my therapist — always a good time for a bottle of wine. Friends brought over two bottles of wine from there the other day.

We’re beginning to collect sleek, brown wine bags from there.

The shop is called Picada y Vino and it’s on Fifth Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets. They carry a wide variety of wines from a variety of countries. The prices range from $8.99 to about $80 for what the owner calls an incredible champagne. They said price isn’t the issue. If they love the wine they’ll carry it.

For me, I’m just glad they have plenty of “screw-off” bottle tops. No corks for me—no more corkscrews

Thursday, October 2, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, join the Brooklyn Historical Society for the launch of the Park Slope Neighborhood & Architectural History Guide, written by OTBKB fave and Park Sloper, Francis Morrone, which looks at the people, events, and architecture of Park Slope, past and present.

The guide covers Park Slope’s days as a horsecar suburb and the emergence of the "Gold Coast" of Brooklyn’s elite; the working-class history of the South Slope and the mid-20th-century demographic changes that brought new groups, including Italians and African-Americans, into the neighborhood. The guide pays special attention to Park Slope’s magnificent architecture.

Become a member at the launch and receive a first edition copy of this fascinating publication! Guides will also be available for purchase at the BHS gift shop and online at www.brooklynhistory.org for $10 for non-members and $8 for BHS members.

In a collection of urgent and intimate poems, D. Nurkse explores the biblical past and the terrifying politics of the present with which it resonates, the legacy of fathers and the flawed kingdoms they leave their sons.

A poet of unique force and sensitivity, Nurkse refuses to pass over the marginal characters and corners of the world, attuned to the scraps of beauty or insight they might offer up in the midst of moral darkness. In The Border Kingdom he has given us an exceptionally powerful collection of poems—unfailingly rich in imagery, undaunted in subject and spirit.

D. Nurkse is the author of eight previous books of poetry. He has received a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Whiting Writers’ Award, two National Endowment for the Arts fellowships, two grants from the New York Foundation for the Arts, a Tanne Foundation award, and two awards from Poetry magazine. He has also written widely on human rights. He teaches at Sarah Lawrence College and lives in Brooklyn.

The Where and When
Community Bookstore
Seventh Avenue between Carroll and Garfield
Tuesday September 30th at 7:30 p.m.

This Saturday September, 27th.

It’s the Takeover (not The Takeaway, the new WNYC morning news show) and it’s at BAM on Saturday night. What a cool, cool event. So Brooklyn. So fun sounding. Maybe too fun sounding.

It’s the second annual Takeover, an all-night open house at BAM. Here’s what to expect: music curated by Sufjan Stevens at the Opera House, from the likes of St. Vincent, Budos Band and the gospel diva Naomi Shelton; DJs; screenings of “She’s Gotta Have It”; “The Warriors”; “Perfect,” with John Travolta and Jamie Lee Curtis); a rec room with a Wii and Guitar Hero; video art installations; and loads of socializing.

That’s right: an all nighter at BAM. You Gotta Have It.

Only Angels Have Wings. The Big Sleep. Monkey Business. The Big Sky. Sargeant York. Need I say more?

Okay: Cary Grant. Lauren Bacall. Humphrey Bogart. Rita Hayworth. Jean Arthur. Ginger Rogers. Marilyn Monroe.

Go to BAMcinematek for the ‘tails.

Put it on your calendar. Support Obama at this Park Slope benefit for change. Buy some art in the process, have a great time.

Art Obama is the brainchild of a committee of smart, creative Park Slopers, who are mad as hell and can’t take what’s happening to this country anymore. So they got organized out of frustration and passion and put together this home-grown effort to raise money. Lucky thing they know a lot of New York artists, who were willing to get on board.

On October 3, there will be a silent auction of over 100 small works by American artists to support the election of Barack Obama and down-ticket Democrats.

Proceeds benefit the Obama Victory Fund. Donations also accepted for ActBlue , a clearinghouse supporting progressive House and Senate candidates nationwide. Space is limited, and pre-registration for this event is strongly recommended.

Friday, October 3, 2008
Silent Auction 7 to 10 pm (bidding 7-9). $25 at the door
62 Eighteenth Street, Brooklyn NY, 5th Floor

My Sidewalk Chalk is excited about the new schools in Sunset Park. Go to her Great blog for more information about all things school-related.

The parents in Sunset Park are awesome. I attended a town hall meeting last night in celebration of their 40 year effort (supported by hundreds of parent activists and community organizers, yes!) The auditorium was packed to capacity with standing room spilling out into the halls.

Sunset Park has schools! A brand spanking new state of the art, 1650 seat HS building is going up on 34th St. and 4th Ave. to open Sept. 09. The construction authority was there to give progress reports (not grades.) It is on schedule.

This school that has already chosen it’s Principal, Corrine Vinal (a longtime educator and experienced administrator). It will have three learning communities within the school: Performing and Visual Arts, Health and Human Services, Business and Entrepreneurship. The themes were chosen by the community, as was the currently unprecedented model of having one principal to oversee the school. It is not a screened program. They are focused on college prep and there is priority for Brooklyn students.

th graders, if you want to place this school on your list of 12, this is how you do it. It sounds weird, but it IS the procedure straight from the DOE. This school will not be listed in the directory. Don’t panic. Fill out your application. Don’t list Sunset Park HS yet. Hand in your registration on or before the appointed day in the fall. File a NEW FORM during the February 2009 application period for new schools. This form overrides the previous form. Rank Sunset Park High School along with your other schools in the order you want them. If you have questions about admission call OSEPO (212) 374-2363. If you have questions about the high school call the Sunset Park Task Force (718) 788-3500.

Barack Obama isn’t the only one wondering whether John McCain is going to debate tonight. Plenty of Park Slopers have debate parties planned. So what’s the story, John? Are you really too busy “helping out” in Washington to take out 90 minutes for a debate?

Come on, dude. Here’s the blurb from barackobama.com

Where are you watching the debate?

Barack is moving ahead with plans for Friday’s debate.

The election is less than 40 days away, and the American people deserve to hear directly from the candidates about how they intend to lead our country.

You’re invited to join a Debate Watch Party in your community and discuss the issues that are most important to you and your family, friends, and neighbors.

Find a Debate Watch Party in your area and RSVP today.

These parties will allow you to to get to know folks in your community, and continue building this campaign from the bottom up by reaching out to even more supporters using our Neighbor to Neighbor tool.

If you can’t attend a party, you can still use our Neighbor to Neighbor tool to reach out to swing voters in a crucial battleground state who need to hear from you

.

It’s a big deal when your kid learns to ride a two-wheeler. In fact, it’s a major rite of passage. Bike New York and City of
New York Parks and Recreation have lined up more than a dozen free Learn to
Ride–Kids classes in neighborhoods all over the city every weekend until
November, including two in Brooklyn .

Parents
can bring children to learn the magical balance-first method plus starting,
stopping, steering, and other biking necessities. So far this year, more than
1,000 kids and their parents learned this method, and the program received the
2007 Best of Parks Best Partnership Award.

This program is for children with their parents; recommended for ages 5 and
up. Bikes and helmets required. Pre-register at
http://www.bikenewyork.org/education/classes/learn_to_ride.html .

The When and the Where:

Saturday, September 27, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Owls Head
Park, Shore Parkway, Shore Road, Colonial Road, and 68th Street, Bay Ridge,
Brooklyn

Saturday, October 11, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.,
Linden Park ,
Linden Boulevard
and Stanley Avenue, Vermont
to Wyona Streets, New Lots, Brooklyn

Sponsored by Bike New York
is a non-profit organization that promotes and encourages bicycling and bicycle
safety through education, public events, and collaboration with community and
government organizations. Best known as producer of the nation’s largest
recreational cycling event, the Commerce Bank Five Boro Bike Tour, Bike
New York also organizes
smaller rides and runs a Bicycle Education Program offering free classes and
workshops for adults and children. For more information on Bike
New York ‘s rides and
programs, including registration details, visit www.BikeNewYork.org.

Last weekend was re-opening weekend for the Brooklyn Children’s Museum after its $48.5 million renovation with a striking and bold design by Rafael Vinoly. The museum is now double its old size and full of all new exhibits. 

Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Paper.

People are always wondering about the Knife Sharpener, the guy who drives around in a brown truck and rings a bell. Ding, ding, ding: time to sharpen your knife. By the time you realize he’s there, he’s already gone.

Alas, he’s never around when you need him. Does anyone know how to get in touch with him? Some Park Slope folks would sure appreciate it:

One local mom heard him on 10th Street around 4 p.m.. Unfortunately, she missed him because she didn’t think it a good
idea to run after him with a handful of knives. Yes.

She continues to cook with dull knives.

Another Park Slope mom saw him on Saturday, September 13th driving down 13th Street between 8th
Avenue and PPW. Apparently, she asked him when he would return and he said in another three months. She didn’t notice a name or a number on the truck, but is going to keep an eye out for him.

Does anyone know any other alternatives for dull knives?

My sister spotted it first. We were coming out of the fish shop on the corner of Third Street and Seventh Avenue.

“Look there are shoes in the window,” she shouted out noticing that there were boots in the window of the new shoe shop, Eric on Seventh Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets.

We crossed the street.

“I’m not buying anything. I don’t need anything,” she told herself.

When we got to the store we realized that the boots in the window were the only shoes on display in the shop, which is set to open on Thursday.

“Where are the shoes?” my sister asked the owner .

“Keep walking into the back,” the owner joked.

“What size do you wear? You wear an 8 and a half? ” another man said.

“No, I’m a size 7,” she said.

My sister told Eric that she’d been in his shop on the Upper East Side.

“I’ve even been in Eric, Jr., too.”

A friendly grey haired man, Eric seemed pleased to meet someone likely to be a good customer. The boots in the window looked like stylish and streamlined ski boots.

Walking toward 3rd Street, we noticed the black board A-frame in front of Barrio: $5 Margaritas. Priced to sell, my sister and I couldn’t resist.

“Do you have this special every day?” I asked.

“Every weekday,” the bartender said.

Did you hear: $5 Margaritas and Sangrias at Barrio most afternoons. Eric Shoes to open on Thursday.

Organizers of Art Obama have learned of another Obama benefit on the same weekend as their event. But no worries. They’re suggesting that you make a weekend of support for the Obama campaign. Here’s a note from David Konigsberg, one of the organizers of Art Obama.

One of the Art Obama artists, Karen Maston, an activist in the Williamsburg art world,
alerted me to another event, October 4, involving literary lions
reading for Obama.  She suggested making a weekend of it, combining
artObama on Friday night and Writers for Obama on Saturday.

Here’s the
pitch to her mailing list:

I am happy to be part of the creative community of NYC coming together
to raise money for Obama. Money is what’s needed to counter all the
sleazy Republican lies and get the Obama message out loud and clear in
the swing states. Bloomberg News had a scary story
last week about how McCain and the RNC now have TWICE as much money to
spend as Obama. With the news and polls a constant roller coaster and
the republican smear machine desperate and willing to say anything to
win, we have to keep our support strong

Here’s something positive we can do with our political anger and frustration:

Please join me at these two upcoming events, make a weekend of
supporting Obama, and make reservations–these are sparking lots of
interest and buzz, space is limited at both and they will sell out so don’t wait:

• Friday, October 3rd, 7 pm, Art Auction:

Art Obama
I am donating a painting along with 99 other excellent artists, support the cause and take home some art!

62 18th Street, Brooklyn

Silent auction bidding from 7-9 pm, $25 entrance, reservations recommended

Get more info, see the art, make a reservation, get directions at: www.artobama.org

Writers Speak Out
Salman Rushdie
Jhumpa Lahiri
Kiran Desai
Suketu Mehta
Manil Suri
Akhil Sharma       

Le Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10012
www.lepoissonrouge.com

Tickets:
$100 – General Admission
$250 – VIP Admission (reception begins at 5:00 pm, have a drink with Salman!) Ticket prices rise on Wednesday October 1st.

These tickets are going fast, buy now online and tell them I sent you! Even if you can’t come, make a donation here (just be sure to say zero tickets so you don’t take a seat from someone who wants to hear the reading).

Deep Joanna, our source inside the Brooklyn Trader Joe’s store, has more information about the opening on Friday:

Opening:

At this weekend’s opening of Trader Joe’s in the landmark bank building on Atlantic Avenue at Court Street, the first 100 people on line will get PRIZES. Crew members have been asked to line the entryway at opening on Friday to cheer the customers on. There will be tastings a-plenty—even in the aisles—during the opening.

A Caribbean band, which is costing the company about $3200, will perform at the opening. Marty Markovitz, the store manager and the regional manager will be speaking on Friday. Senator Chuck Schumer’s attendance is in question; he may be a bit busy this week with the mother of all bailouts.

Here are some facts about this private company that is now about to become a major player in the Brooklyn grocery scene:

–Trader Joe’s has grown from a 6 million to 10 billion dollar company.

–There are plans for a vast expansion within the NYC area alone, including a few more stores in rooklyn, even more in Queens, and even more all over Manhattan. Look out NYC, Trader Joe’s is-a-coming all over.

— This California company is debt free, everything inside the store walls is paid in full.

–No managers or upper management were hired from outside the company.

About the Brooklyn Store:

–Yes, the rent on Court Street is huge, more than Trader’s usual price point.

About Home Delivery:

–For the time being, there will NOT be home delivery at the Brooklyn store; it is not cost effective for Trader Joe’s to do it. However, this might change, the store will make a decision based on customer demand. That is what happened at the Manhattan store and they now have home delivery. Another reason not to do it: Because there are less or no preservatives in Trader Joe’s product, it is more likely for items to spoil before getting delivered home.

Brought to you from the Feldman Family from their local weather tower.

Peter Goodman in the Times’ today:

As economists puzzle over the proposed details of what may be the biggest financial bailout in American history, the initial skepticism that greeted its unveiling has only deepened

Some are horrified at the prospect of putting $700 billion in public money on the line. Others are outraged that Wall Street, home of the eight-figure salary, may get rescued from the consequences of its real estate bender, even as working families give up their houses to foreclosure.

Most economists accept that the nation’s financial crisis — the worst since the Great Depression — has reached such perilous proportions that an expensive intervention is required. But considerable disagreement centers on how to go about it. The Treasury’s proposal for a bailout, now being negotiated with Congress, is being challenged as fundamentally deficient.

“At first it was, ‘thank goodness the cavalry is coming,’ but what exactly is the cavalry going to do?” asked Douglas W. Elmendorf, a former Treasury and Federal Reserve Board economist, and now a fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. “What I worry about is that the Treasury has acted very quickly, without having the time to solicit enough opinions.”

The new Trader Joe’s coming to the landmark Independence Bank building at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Court Street will have most of the features familiar to Trader Joe’s shoppers.

But one important category will be missing.

According to a company spokesperson, this location won’t be selling alcohol. I’m guessing that has to do with New York State liquor regulations. In California, for instance, all supermarkets sell wine.

I know Trader Joe’s because of all my visits to the relatives in Northern California and we almost always buy wine there. In fact, my mother-in-law is a big fan of Two Buck Chuck, the really cheap wine they sell.

But cheap isn’t necessarily bad. Sometimes Two Buck is a really tasty wine. Sometimes it’s plain awful. Some of the slightly higher priced wines are more dependable.

But sorry folks. You won’t have that experience. Because the Brooklyn store will be sans wine.

Of the 25 recipients of the $500,000 “genius awards” to be announced on Tuesday by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, there is at least one resident of Brooklyn: Tara Donovan is a sculptor who transforms pencils, paper clips and Scotch tape into sculptures and room sized installations.

She joins a group of lucky artists and scientists, including a Nigerian fiction writer, an urban farmer who delivers healthy food to poor city dwellers; and an astronomer, a rural family physician, a plant geneticist, an infectious disease physician, a jazz musician and others, who will receive this coveted $500,000 that comes without warning and with no strings attached. Here’s a blurb from the MacArthur website:

“They include a neurobiologist, a saxophonist, a critical care physician, an urban farmer, an optical physicist, a sculptor, a geriatrician, a historian of medicine, and an inventor of musical instruments. All were selected for their creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions in the future. Each received a phone call from the MacArthur Foundation with news of $500,000 in no-strings-attached support over the next five years.

“The MacArthur Fellows Program celebrates extraordinarily creative individuals who inspire new heights in human achievement,” said MacArthur President Jonathan Fanton. “With their boldness, courage, and uncommon energy, this new group of Fellows, men and women of all ages in diverse fields, exemplifies the boundless nature of the human mind and spirit.””

The owner of Bar Sepia (234 Underwood Avenue) in Prospect Heights sent this note about a stolen photo. She’d like her cherished photo returned — no questions asked.

I am the owner of Bar Sepia, a small bar in Prospect Heights, and I’m reaching out for your help. For those of you who have enjoyed and shared our space , you can most likely recall the lovely black and white and color photos hanging the brick wall. Donated to us by the generous and talented photographer Danny Clinch, the amazing photographs of Bob Dylan, Beasty Boys, and Ben Harper, to name a few, have adorned our walls since we opened our doors in 2004.

Unfortunately, someone felt the need to steal the beloved black and white photo of the late John Lee Hooker and Beck. As the owner of Bar Sepia I have always welcomed all to enjoy our space. It is outrageous that someone felt the need and right to walk in and help themselves to such a precious gift to our establishment.

We have only had one photo stolen in the nearly 5 years of doing business and, fortunately, with the help of our community it was returned. Again, I ask for your help. Whoever has the photo, just return it, no charges will be pressed, and no questions will be asked.

Our pal, Deep Joanna, wrote with news from the first Trader Joe’s in Brooklyn, which is set to open on Friday September, 26th in the landmark Independence Bank building at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Court Street

Suffice it to say, Deep Joanna is relieved to report that it looks like the elevator should be completed by late Thursday the 25th, just in time for Friday’s opening. It’s been a real nail-biter as to whether it would be finished. This elevator brings products to and from the deep freezer in the basement or lower level of the store.

Our source reports that the brass doors on Atlantic Avenue—not the front doors—are said to have cost more than the elevator This high cost may have something to do with the landmark status of the building, she conjectures.

Because of its size, the Atlantic Avenue store will be the flagship store for the East Coast region. Much of the square footage is outside of the customer’s view: upstairs there are several office spaces and a huge area for crew member tastings.

Says Deep Joanna, the lower level is big enough to hold the Union Square store in, including two large conference rooms for training. There’s also an art department, which DJ says is about the size of a studio or 1BR apt.

According to Deep Joanna there is an old safe that the company still doesn’t know what to do with. She suggests that it be used for an indoor gym.

There will be about 18 registers to ring up orders from customers. Hey, that’s more than the Food Coop.

According to DJ, Union Square was the learning curve for New York City; mistakes were made with the layout and square footage allotted for both crew members and customers

For Friday’s opening, staff from other East Coast Trader Joe’s locations will be on hand to help out with the festivities.

I’m sure the Urban Outfitters just a few doors away is looking forward to the opening of this store which should bring many thousands to that street weekly.

Pix of the store pre-renovation courtesy of the Brooklyn Paper.

Brookynometry is one cool mom. Look what she did last Friday night. Go to the blog to see the pictures.

…This is part of my kitchen
occupational therapy series. All other weeknights have been for
homework lately, but Friday I reserve for flooding the senses.

He
never would have done this footwork had his little sister not happily
led the way. Once his feet were in the condiment booties, he got very
quiet. The reason for the fun here. But does fun really need a reason?

Gridlock alert. Gridlock alert.

Manhattan traffic should be horrendous this week due to the UN General Assembly – scheduled until Friday, October 3rd.

Expect delays and closures on surrounding streets. Take public transportation if you must go into the city.

 Tonight, September 22 at 6 p.m., opening night at the Metropolitan Opera will be on a screen at the BAM Rose Cinema.

Renée
Fleming stars in three of her most acclaimed roles for the Opening
Night Gala performance. Music Director James Levine and Marco Armiliato
conduct fully staged performances of the second act of Verdi’s La Traviata, the third act of Massenet’s Manon, and the final scene from Richard Strauss’ Capriccio. Tenor Ramón Vargas and baritones Thomas Hampson and Dwayne Croft join the soprano for this season-opener.

As reported on WNYC, doctors from Long Island College Hospital are trying to break free from the parent company that wants to close the maternity ward and sell off property.

Both sides are
appealing to the state Health Department to restructure the economically troubled hospital. Doctors say that maternity ward is
necessary even if it is causing the hospital to lose money.

Park Slope is mobilizing for Obama, whom we need NOW more than ever. Art Obama is the brainchild of
a committee of smart, creative Park Slopers, who are mad as hell and
can’t take what’s happening to this country anymore. So they got
organized out of frustration and passion and put together this
home-grown effort to raise money. Lucky thing they know a lot artists, who were willing to get on board.

The website has examples of nearly all the artists involved and I urge you to take a
look at some of the art and decide which pieces you want bid on. Every
penny goes to the campaign of the man who MUST be president.

On October 3, there will be a silent auction of over 100 small works
by American artists to support the election of Barack Obama and
down-ticket Democrats. 

Proceeds benefit the Obama Victory Fund.  Donations also accepted
for ActBlue , a clearinghouse supporting progressive House and Senate
candidates nationwide. Space is limited, and pre-registration for this
event is strongly recommended. 

Friday, October 3, 2008
Silent Auction 7 to 10 pm (bidding 7-9). $25 at the door
62 Eighteenth Street, Brooklyn NY, 5th Floor