This is one of my favorite Park Slope events: the Brooklyn Pride Festival starts at 9am on Prospect Park West from 9th to 15th Streets.

Tonight: the parade begins at Bartel-Pritchard Circle, goes down 15th Street and goes north down 7th Avenue through Park Slope.

See the great floats, the fun bands, the costumes, the politicians. Everyone comes out for this event. See pix from last year at Flatbush Gardener.

Always love a note from Catherine Bohne, owner of the Community Bookstore and the Vice President of the Park Slope Chamber of Commerce. Of course, the Community Bookstore is going a little bit overboard in their celebration of the Fair. They got a tent and everything.

Catherine here, writing with two hats on (picture it as an Ottoman sort of thing, hat-wise, I mean, not so much like a hassock). The less concrete hat is as the Vice President of Park Slope’s Chamber of Commerce (yes, boys and girls, in a stunning twist of fate, the Bookstore has gone, in one small year (thanks to you), from being an almost dead duck, to a thriving representative of local commerce, with me as VeePee at the semi-helm!) Ahem (a-helm!).

As VeePee, I’m asking you to come down and check out the Seventh Heaven Street Fair this weekend. The hither-to semi-defunct Park Slope Chamber of Commerce has woken up, been reinvigorated, and immediately began twisting local merchants’ arms, and asking them to take part (Trust us! It Will be Great!), so that Local Businesses are turning out in unprecedented numbers. It’s a start, to turning the annual Street Fair back to being a Local Celebration. Something like 80 local merchants are going to be strutting their stuff en plein air on that day, and I’d urge you to visit them, in addition to the (of course delectable) ubiquitous sausage and sock merchants.

Most of the good restaurants (where you sometimes can’t get a reservation) will be dishing it up, and out. There’s a Crafter’s Alley at the South End of the Slope, with over 30 local artisans selling their stuff (we never did that before!). Between 3rd and 4th is Do-Gooder’s Alley, with all the local Civic Organizations turning out, in addition to representatives from other important concerns (if nothing else – VOTER REGISTRATION! ) If you want to come and do your thing – Please DO! Wandering Minstrels and Spontaneous Dog Parades are welcome, and positively, downright encouraged. Let’s make it an Avenue-Long Block Party! And as for the Bookstore, what are we doing? (Here comes the concrete hat, which is almost certainly better than concrete shoes!!!)

Ah yes . . . . well . . . . See, once we decided to take part, we went a little overboard . . . . Anyhow, we’ve got this Tent. And given that, we’re going to take the indoors out. We’ll have this tent of more-than-oriental- splendor (that’s a Kipling reference, for those of you who are feeling sleepy), and we’re going to fill it with oriental carpets, sofas, a burbling fountain, peacock feathers, confetti cannons, a star turn by Mrs. De Ropp (our Hamster, and can you name the literary reference?) and . . . . Children’s books. We’ve gotten in boxes and boxes of wonderful books by local authors, and have half a dozen of them, the authors and illustrators themselves ((including but-not-limited- to : David Ezra Stein, Melanie Hope Greenberg, Marilyn Singer, Robert Weinstock and Nina Crews!, and maybe more, who knows?) turning up to sign stock read aloud, or, who knows, just fire off the cannon. Personally, I envisage vats of Sangria, too.

Please come by, and bounce your Little Genius off our cushions. Stand by, at full attention, for the hourly firing of the ceremonial big (confetti) gun. And wallow in the pleasure of all the fun of childhood, of pictures, and games and dreams. Or, if all this is too much for you, you can always grab a peacock feather, and head to the garden, where there are almost certain to be fellow shiverers, sopping up the jam juice, and telling stories, keeping out of the way.

In any case, we urge and invite you to join us. The neighborhood’ s venturing out of doors! Anything (cripey!) might happen!

Here’s a great list from Park Slope Parents.

KIDVERSE; LOST DOG

Dad says he took me to a game
Of baseball at age four
But all I can remember is
The frank that plopped to the floor.

I’ve since attended many games,
A few that can’t be topped.
My strongest baseball memory?
The hot dog that I dropped.

Thankfully, Makeba’s fellow South African and renowned vocalist Sibongile Khumalo has agreed to step in and has traveled to the U.S. specifically to perform at Celebrate Brooklyn!

Sadly, a fall sustained by Miriam Makeba late last week has forced the cancellation of her U.S. dates. Although it makes her deeply sorry to disappoint her loyal fans, Ms. Makeba’s doctors are not allowing her to travel!

A multi-talented vocalist, Sibongile Khumalo, performs traditional South African and European sounds, to jazzy melodies, she glides from world to world with specifically South African flavours.

8 p.m. tonight at Celebrate Brooklyn

As reported in the Brooklyn Paper, Starbucks has introduced a brand new non-caffeinated drink: The Brooklyn

Manhattan has its eponymous bourbon and vermouth. And Brooklyn now has its … ice milk and caramel syrup?

Apparently, a Starbucks vanilla bean frappuccino — with a caramel swirl! — will be our borough’s star in the culinary firmament.

Created by a Starbucks district manager after noticing high school girls customizing the traditional vanilla bean frappuccino, “The Brooklyn” consists of nothing more than the ubiquitous chain’s existing drink, enhanced with a bit more sugar.

A Starbucks on Court Street broke the “news” this week by putting out an A-frame sign heralding, “The new all time favorite drink…the Brooklyn.”

Oh, and did we mention that it’s 40 more cents ($4.90 for a venti!) — and 20 more calories (620, but who’s counting?) — than the standard frappuccino.

The whole thing may feel like a scam — or a way for Starbucks bean counters to stave off the vanilla bean frappuccino blues — but hours after the sign was deployed outside that Court Street Starbucks, customers were genuinely abuzz (and there’s no caffeine in a “Brooklyn,” either!).

My friend, Dr. Gina Barreca, talks about trying on swimsuits at TJ Maxx on this YouTube video. It’s HILARIOUS!

In this clip, she was delivering a keynote at the National Speaker Association in 2007 and redefining what it means to be a feminist. Needless to say, she is available for speaking engagements.

Dr. Gina is a professor of English and feminist theory at the University of Connecticut. Her books include They Used to Call Me Snow White, but I Drifted; Perfect Husbands and Other Fairy Tales; Babes in Boyland; and, with Gene Weingarten of The Washington Post, I’m With Stupid.

She’s written or edited other books on vice, Victorians and sex, American humor, the erotics of instruction, The Sopranos, women’s humor, and Italian-American literature. She blogs about teaching, sex, humor, money, publishing, ambition, books, marriage, envy (professional and personal), politics (professional and personal), aging, and cartoons here.

I briefly met Brad Lander, candidate for Bill De Blasio’s city council seat, yesterday in front of PS 321 (his kids go to PS 107). He told me that he was going to participate in the Brooklyn PTA Fun Run on Friday night in Prospect Park.

Lander seemed a little bit embarrassed to talk about his campaign for an election that is more than a year away. “There’s a really important election first,” he said (I may be paraphrasing there). That was endearing. But the City Council race is definitely heating up and the field is filling up for De Blasio and Yassky’s spots.

Lander strikes me as a smart and low-key guy who obviously cares an awful lot about affordable housing, public schools, and Brooklyn communities. He can’t be that low key if he’s a politician. And he’s got an impressive resume: He’s got two master’s degrees – one in City and Regional Planning from Pratt and a second in Social Anthropology from the University College London. He also holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago.

In his current capacity as Director of the Pratt Center for Community Development, Brad works to preserve and strengthen neighborhood quality of life, promote sustainability, and create opportunity in low-income areas.

Under his leadership, the Center’s successes include winning community-sensitive zoning in Bedford Stuyvesant, preserving affordable housing for public housing residents on Staten Island, convening a new grassroots coalition dedicated to transit improvements in low-income neighborhoods, and helping to create new parks as part of a greenway along the Bronx River.

Before Pratt, he was the director of the Fifth Avenue Committee. All and all, an impressive resume for the job.

Hey, Brad how was the fun run?

Brooklyn PTA is a new group with a website.

As budget cuts of $450 million loom, teams from the PS10, PS29, PS39, PS 107, PS 139, Brooklyn New School (PS 146), and PS 295 will join forces to run, raise funds jointly for their schools, and challenge the Bloomberg Administration’s proposed cuts. Funds raised from the run will be shared equally among participating schools, with 50% of the total split equally amongst all the schools that participate, and 50% divided up based on the size of the schools.

The Brooklyn Cultural Circuit is giving out a free treasure map as a fun way explore some of those places you’ve probably been meaning to see. This project was developed to improve awareness of, and participation in, activities at participating institutions, as well as to promote collaborations between those institutions

The treasures found on the new “Treasure Map,” are:

The Coney Island History Project – 1000 Surf Ave., 718-265-2100

The Coney Island History Project’s treasure is a 100-year-old Ride Ticket emblazoned with The Funny Face logo of George C. Tilyou’s Steeplechase Park (1897-1964). The world famous amusement park was billed as “Coney Island’s Only Funny Place, where 25,000 people laugh at one time.” Now rare and highly collectible, the “George C. Tilyou Combination Badge” was the original pay-one-price ticket. It let visitors enjoy all of Steeplechase’s attractions including the signature horse race ride for just 25 cents. Among the treasures you’ll find at the Coney Island History Project’s exhibition center is an authentic horse from the Steeplechase ride, which gave the park its name.

The Waterfront Museum -290 Conover St., Pier 44, 718-624-4719

The Waterfront Museum’s treasure is the Cash Lockbox from the Driftwood Floating Theatre. “Drifty” as she was affectionately called was a showboat built from an Erie Lackawanna railroad barge in Hoboken in 1954 and operated in New York waters till 1991.

The Transit Museum –
Corner of Boerum and Schermerhorn in Brooklyn Heights,
718-694-1600
The Transit Museum’s treasure is a handhold. Handholds date back to the days of horse-drawn vehicles and have existed in various forms in modes of public transportation ever since. First leather straps were used in train cars but were later replaced by metal (by baked porcelain enamel over metal and then later by stainless steel) as they were more durable and more sanitary. The handhold in their collection was used in subway cars that were in service from the 1950s to the 1980s. You can see several of these cars in the Museum. The reproductions of hand straps in the Museum’s older train cars are made of canvas. The original leather hand straps have not survived over time.

Micro Museum – 123 Smith Street, (718) 797-3116
The Micro Museum’s treasure item is a small hand mirror because MM® reflects modern American artists as they live and work everyday.

The Doll and Toy Museum of NYC -Displays at the Brooklyn Heights and Bay Ridge Public Libraries, 718-243-0820

The Doll and Toy Museum of NYC has touring exhibits and a growing world class toy collection. The Museum has the best collection of toys in Brooklyn. The Museum’s treasure is an old doll that would have been brought over from Germany in the late 1800’s. This porcelain dolls traveled thousands of miles to make it to its new home.

Green-Wood Cemetery – 500 25th St., 718-768-7300

Green-Wood Cemetery’s treasures are a very large Civil War marker and a hand written letter from Frank Morgan (The Wizard from the Wizard of Oz) with corresponding picture. Green-Wood also has its own “treasure map” with over two hundred of the Cemetery’s notable’s (of which Morgan is one) marked/numbered throughout.

Weeksville Heritage Center – 1698 Bergen St. (between Buffalo and Rochester), 718-756-5250
Weeksville Heritage Center’s treasure is a beautiful framed postcard image of their historic houses. The center also presented Thaumatropes. A Thaumatrope is a motion toy that people used in the early 19th century.

Old Stone House –
J.J. Byrne Park, 3rd St. and 5th Ave., 718-768-3195
The Old Stone House knows that history is underfoot everywhere in Brooklyn — even in your own backyard. Their treasure is a 3 lb. cannonball, most likely launched by the British during the Battle of Brooklyn on August 27, 1776, that was recently found in a Brooklyn backyard.

The Brooklyn Cultural Circuit consists of the Coney Island History Project, Doll and Toy Museum of NYC, Green-Wood Cemetery, Micro Museum, New York Transit Museum, Old Stone House, Waterfront Museum and Showboat Barge, and Weeksville Heritage Center. The Brooklyn Cultural Circuit is sponsored in part by
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz,
the Brooklyn Tourism & Visitors Center, Seedco, Con Edison, and
the Independence Community Foundation.

My visit to IKEA sits uncomfortably in my stomach. It didn’t feel right even though I enjoyed the delicious buffet and the gorgeous city views.

They’re boasting about their opening celebration and all the freebies. Giving out 35 free sofas. Big Deal. The idea that people are going to wait on line for two days bothers me.

They’re doing other stuff too (listed below).

But what about the 17,000 visitors they’re expecting. How many of them are going to take public transportation and water taxis when it’s big items like sofas, wall units, and kitchen appliances that they’re buying???

Yes, IKEA has delivery. But still.

Their first weekend could be hellish; the narrow streets of Red Hook clogged with traffic. Everyone is waiting to see what that’s like. Quiet Red Hook transformed into a traffic nightmare.

Here’s the list of opening day activities and freebies:

— Sofa-get about it! – The first 35 adults (18 and over) in line at the IKEA Brooklyn grand opening on June 18, 2008 will receive a free EKTORP three-seat sofa.

— Take a Seat (And We Mean Take It!) – The next 100 adults (18 and over) in line at the IKEA Brooklyn grand opening on June 18, 2008 will receive a free POANG armchair.

— Pick a Card, Any Card – The first 2,500 people to visit IKEA Brooklyn on June 18, 2008 will receive a random prize envelope with IKEA Gift Cards ranging from $10 to $250, or vouchers for a free cinnamon bun, hotdog or frozen yogurt.

— You Say It’s Your Birthday – Visitors who bring proof to IKEA Brooklyn on June 18 that it is their birthday will receive a $10 gift card.

— For the (Truly) Young at Heart – The first 100 children (under 18) in line at IKEA Brooklyn’s grand opening on June 18, 2008 will receive a free FAMNIG heart-shaped cushion.

— Enter to Win When Entering our Home – From June 18 through June 22, 2008, visitors to IKEA Brooklyn may enter a drawing to win one of ten $1,000 IKEA Gift Cards. IKEA will match the prizes (a total of $10,000) by donating to Red Hook’s Conover House, a supportive housing program that provides a stable, nurturing environment for families in need.

— Play Big and Eat Big (If You’re Little!) – Entertainment for kids such as balloon artists and face-painting will take place at IKEA Brooklyn from June 18 through June 22. Kids also can enjoy a macaroni-and-cheese meal with a fountain drink for 99 cents.

— It’s Easy Being Green – On Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20, the first 1,000 visitors each day will receive a three-inch tropical plant, representing IKEA roots planted in Brooklyn.

Councilmember Bill de Blasio released the following statement regarding the charges against architect Robert Scarano.

“It is about time that Robert Scarano is held accountable for his illegal and dangerous actions. Scarano is the worst example of an architect who continues to build in this city despite his long history of violating zoning and building codes and practicing unsafe construction.

“Almost one year ago to date, I joined community activists calling on the State Education Department to revoke Scarano’s license because of his shoddy track record. Once again, I am calling on the State to revoke Scarano’s license. What more do we need to know about his record of lies to determine that he should not be permitted to operate in our city?

“It is critical that developers and architects around the city know that they cannot operate above the law. Nobody gets a pass on unlawful activities, especially those that endanger the lives of our citizens. Scarano’s constant law breaking and falsification of documents and statements is inexcusable.”

Councilmember de Blasio repeatedly called for Scarano to be taken off the project at 360 Smith Street. On February 11th, developer Billy Stein announced that he removed Scarano from the project and replaced him with Armand Quadrini of KSK architects due to intense pressure from the community.

What do the following have in common?

My Imaginary Boyfriend

Perch Design

Ork Posters

Poopsie

The Fair School

The Dyslexic Press

The Small Object

??????

They will all be at Brooklyn’s 4th Annual RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR!! This year’s event will be held June 14 + 15 from 11am – 7pm at the McCarren Park Pool!

Check out the Vendor List to get a sneak peak at who will be participating in this year’s event. Over 200 artists will be showing off their wares!

PLUS – Popshop DJ Squad will be playing tunes throughout the weekend, and tasty treats will be provided by: Lefty’s Silver Cart, The Treats Truck, Wheeler’s Frozen Desserts, Fizzy Lizzy, 1 Bite 7 Days and Mr. Softy.

My first sighting of the new Brooklyn Ikea and I think: Omigod! A giant blue and yellow space station has landed on the banks of Red Hook.

How do you spell disconnect?

A trio of IKEA flags fly proudly outside; perhaps this is a friendly ship. On opening day, I am told, an American flag, a Swedish flag and a NYC flag will fly next to those.

Once inside, we sit on black and white striped armchairs and get ready for lift off. As we fly off to the Swedish cafeteria, the scale of the neighborhood disappears and giant windows frame a gorgeous view of the harbour and the Manhattan skyline (reminders of the land we are leaving behind).

For the duration of our stay, we exist in a bizarre/familiar corporate brand-station replete with Swedish design, names, food, even Swedish books.

Media representatives are treated to a delicious lunch of more than five kinds of herring, meatballs, smoked salmon and various salads and desserts.

We drink the Kool Aid.

Then the speechifying begins with talk of this being the 35th US IKEA mother-ship. And it’s a big one: 365,000 square feet with 500 employees—though they won’t specify how many of them are from Red Hook. There’s a 70,000 SF green roof, a lovely esplanade by the water, and transportation alternatives that include a water taxi, shuttle buses from F train stations at Fourth Avenue and 9th Street and Smith and 9th Street, as well as Court Street.

As expected the Brooklyn IKEA is ultra child-friendly with play areas, strollers, baby changing stations, bibs and bottle warmers in the cafeteria.

Much “hoopla” is planned for the opening, including activities that begin on June 18th at 6am and conclude with a ceremonial sawing of a log, a Swedish custom.

They’re giving away 35 Poang couches on June 18th. I literally cringe at the idea that they expect people to line up starting Monday June 16th for the June 18th opening. Two days in the parking lot?

Why don’t they just give a couch to every resident of Red Hook?

Apparently, they’ve donated $100,000 to Red Hook’s Conover House but talk of more funds going to Unicef, Save the Children and the American Forest Fund makes me wonder why they aren’t doing more for the immediate neighborhood.

Small groups tour the showrooms with employees in yellow shirts and black pants. The friendly woman who takes us around lives in the Bronx. She says that the benefits at IKEA are incredible. “There’s a very healthy work/family balance. It’s the kind of place where they force you to take a day off,” she tells me.

Part-time employees who work 20 hours or more are eligible for full benefits. There are still some part-time positions available I hear her say.

Bereft of customers, the shiny, new store is a modern furniture wonderland. Indeed, the gigantic view-filled windows are probably the store’s most notable feature—and poignant reminders of the home planet.

Room after room of couches, chairs, tables, book shelves, kitchen cabinets, showrooms and more, you feel very far away from the streets of Red Hook. I check to see if the prop books used on the bookshelves are by Brooklyn authors or at least Swedish translations of them.

But no Whitman, Lethem, Auster or even Betty Smith. It’s Swedish literature and the occasional translation of Dickens or Jack London.

Fatigue sets in after two hours in the store taking in the blending blur of cheap dressers, bookcases and beds you’ve seen on many a curb on big garbage night (after much use and abuse). I entertain fantasies of an IKEA kitchen, a closet organization unit, a coffee press, a Noguchi style lantern, cozy armchairs and couches…

I’ve. Got. To. Have. It.

Once the brand-ship lands, we are given our much anticipated Ikea swag: a yellow box of 12 Ikea PS Varmeljushallare Design votive candles and candles holders by Ehlen Johansson, a platter of cinnamon buns, and a small sized blue plastic Ikea shopping bag. Slowly, we re-enter the familiar and historic streets of Red Hook— across from the ballfield that has become the neighborhood’s cherished organic farm, Added Value.

We stagger over to Rocky Sullivans on Van Dyke Street and wait for the elusive B77 bus that will take us back to Park Slope. The IKEA flags are just barely visible as we wait.

Turning on Ninth Street, I wonder, was that a dream or did we really take a voyage on the blue and yellow brand-ship, IKEA?

Why, of course we did. I’ve got the candles and the cinnamon buns to prove it.

Photo from Seth W’s photostream

For those of you/us uncomfortable with the name of a certain blog (Blognigger), BN addresses this concern in today’s post:

If you are truly free of the shackles of political correctness, you
should be able to recognize that the context in which you say
"Blognigger" is more powerful than the perception of those individuals
who lack the logical basis for parsing this term as you’ve intended it.

For
this reason, you should feel absolutely comfortable in going up to
these acquaintances and quite simply asking, "Do you read blognigger?"

For those who are still uncomfortable, BN has created an alternative URL:

IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT that you would prefer to go a less-honest route,
I’d like to present my gift to all of you for all the honesty and
intelligence you’ve all contributed thus far along in the ride… I
certainly had Black Hagrid on the brain when I registered and
configured:

http://www.TheBlogThatMustNotBeNamed.com

Give
it a try – It’s a whitesafe link to blognigger.com that should allow
you to bring up our dear blog in civ-lized conversation:

Excuse me sir, do you happen
to read The Blog That Must Not Be Named?
Hey! Talkin to you, nigger!

Hope this helps!
Yours in spreading love and joy,
Blognigger.

Continue reading The Blog That Must Not Be Named →

As of this morning, NONE of the special education children in the city have heard where they are going to middle school. This includes kids who have IEPs and need to be in Collaborative Team Teaching (CTT) classrooms (a combination special education/general education classroom with two teachers—it used to be called inclusion).

Parents of these kids have heard nothing and it really is an outrage. Why should these kids be made to feel like they come last?

The district gets to choose which CTT classrooms these kids get put into. This is extremely disconcerting to parents who certainly have a preference as to which school their children go to.

At PS 321, the general education appeals were brought to OSEPO by the guidance counselor yesterday.

We filed an appeal and hope that the district does right by us. The guidance counselor said that she found OSFO’s name on the data base at OSEPO but she was attached to no school. She told me that if we get into the wrong school, we’ll just have to appeal again.

Or do the mom march.

David Bukszpan, the busy publicist over at WNYC, writes to say that WNYC is moving out of its longtime headquarters in the Municipal Building on 1 Centre Street for greener pastures on the West Side at 160 Varick Street.

So they’re having a stoop sale. They’ve been in that building for 84 years: that means they’ve got a lot of stoop to sell.

The likes of Brian Lehrer, Leonard Lopate, Soterios Johnson, John Schaefer, Jad Abumrad, Adaora Udoji, Danny Stiles, Steve Post, Beth Fertig, Richard Hake, Amy Eddings, David Garland and Sara Fishko.

The event will take place in the public plaza on the south side of the Municipal Building in Lower Manhattan (1 Centre Street at Chambers Street, next to the Brooklyn Bridge and across from City Hall).

You can get memorabilia from Park Slope’s two WNYC stars, Political Director Andrea Bernstein—Hillary and Obama press passes signed by her; and John Schaefer—with a signed copy of his book, New Sounds or a DVD set, from Syd Barrett to African world-music).

For some of us the WNYC/Morning Edition mugs signed by Soterios Johnson is the hot item.

Among the items expected to be sold at the stoop sale include. All proceeds go to Radio Rookies.

Brian Lehrer’s game-worn, signed Independents jersey
Vintage WNYC baseball cap, signed by Brian Lehrer (ca. 2002)
Studio 360 with Kurt Andersen watches and martini glasses
Copies of the Spy Magazine anthology, Spy: The Funny Years, autographed by Kurt Andersen
WNYC jackets, CDs, iPod cases, mugs, hats, mouse pads, paperweights, magnets
A Leonard Lopate Show mug, designed by New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, signed by Leonard Lopate
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obabma press passes, signed by WNYC Political Director Andrea Bernstein
A hand-painted one-of-a-kind LP cover by the Klezmatics (Wonder Wheel Album)
Stuffed microbe toys from Radio Lab and a Rubber Ducky signed by Jad Abumrad
WNYC City Tote signed by Jad Abumrad
Brooke Gladstone’s Neil Tillotson bobbing-head doll
Sara Fishko’s glazed vase and computer speakers
Autographed copies of Jonathan Schwartz’s memoir, All in Good Time
1998 New York City Marathon Press Pass signed by Soterios Johnson
A selection of vinyl from David Garland’s secret stash—including Dizzy Gillespie’s “Groovin’ High” signed by Garland

WHO: WNYC personalities Brian Lehrer, Leonard Lopate, Soterios Johnson, John Schaefer, Jad Abumrad, Adaora Udoji, Danny Stiles, Beth Fertig, Richard Hake, Amy Eddings and Sara Fishko

WHAT: Stoop sale of books, CDs, posters and other collectibles and mementos from the station’s history, in preparation for historic move from Municipal Building after 84 years

WHERE: Public plaza at Municipal Building, 1 Centre Street

WHEN: Thursday June 12, 11 am – 2 pm. Talent available 11am- 12 noon.

Peter Loffredo of Full Permission Living, sent this appreciation of the Brooklyn Free School:

“Full Permission Living,” which is the name I gave to my approach to therapy when I was teaching prospective therapists a few years ago in my own 3-year training program. “FPL,” as I wrote on this blog’s home page, “is based on the understanding that human beings are, by first nature, sane, loving, cooperative, creative, humorous, intelligent, productive and naturally self-regulating.”

I have had the wonderful experience this week of observing how a school for children can convey the message of Full Permission Living, and I have witnessed the expected, but still extraordinary results. My stepson, “B,” spent this week at the BROOKLYN FREE SCHOOL, as part of an orientation process, having just been accepted for admission to BFS for next September. He had been on the waiting list for the school for over a year. It has been a long year.

Having been in traditional private and public schools for the last five years, B has had to endure the spirit-crushing demands and attitudes of supposed educators who believe that the way to teach a child is to get him to sit still all day, absorb facts, take tests, hand in laborious homework assignments, and perform tasks that don’t even make sense to the child, let alone inspire creativity. And all that with the self-esteem bashing pressure to measure-up to arbitrary standards to prove one’s worthiness to be considered successful in the world. Oh, yeah, and if you can’t measure up, we’ll urge your parents to give you drugs. [No joke – a couple of years ago, a so-called “learning specialist,” recommended as a tutor for B by the Berkley Carroll school, suggested we consider drugs for our son, who was in SECOND GRADE at the time, and had a tendency to daydream a bit. (Horror! Horror!) Seeing our consternation, said learning specialist told us an encouraging anecdote about another child B’s age who was put on drugs: “She lost a little bit of her spark (from the medication), but she got a lot done!” We fired him.]

Anyway, sad to say, we had gotten used to the way B would come home from traditional school every day, all hunched over and downtrodden, needy and tired, with the seeming weight of the world on his shoulders. Getting him out of bed in the morning on school days was an arduous challenge, to say the least, and any chance at missing school was a celebration. Homework time was torture. As someone once said, asking a kid to do homework every night is like asking adults to do their taxes every night.

BUT… after just one day at the Free School – ONE DAY! – B was like a different kid. Not only was he relaxed, smiling and bright-eyed after his day (at SCHOOL!!), he was standing taller! That was the truly remarkable thing. His father said he looked “pumped!” And I got it – he felt respected. He’d spent a day with adults who respected him as who he was, adults who cared about what HE was interested in learning about, instead of adults who tried to force information down his throat and conveyed his inadequacy if he didn’t spit it back properly in a timely fashion.

Now, after a week at the Free School, miracle of all miracles, given a chance to take today off from school or go in, B chose to go. He wanted to go to school

So BAM is showing Sex and the City and the new Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: I thought they were the local edgy cinema. Aren’t those films, like, big blockbusters? What are they doing at BAM. WE can go to the Pavilion to see them.

They do have Reprise:

The freewheeling passion of youth and the unpredictable perils of fate are both the subject and breathtaking form of Joachim Trier’s lean and kinetic journey through friendship, love, madness, and creativity: Reprise. Trier viscerally captures the way life takes off at rocket-speed in the beginning of adulthood—and the what-ifs and why-nots that both drive and haunt us as the unbridled hopes of youth come to a screeching halt. The fast-moving story kicks off just as Phillip (Anders Danielsen Lie) and Erik (Espen Klouman Høiner) stand at the mailbox, two cocky, grinning rebels full of 20 year-old verve and dreams, their whole lives hanging in the balance at this singular moment. Each is about to ship off his first novel to publishers, each is hoping to become a wildly influential “cult author,” each has visions of a new life, of non-stop intensity, brilliance, romance, and night-clubbing.

They are also showing: Celine and Julie Go Boating by Jacques Rivette June 13 – 19th. That’s pretty avant garde and it’s part of their Director’s Fortnight at 40 series.

This from New York 1:

New York grown tomatoes were deemed safe to eat Tuesday.

The State Department of Agriculture says local tomatoes are not linked to the salmonella outbreak.

The FDA says uncooked red plum, red Roma, and round red tomatoes grown in other states may still be unsafe to eat. But cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, tomatoes sold attached to the vine and homegrown tomatoes are okay.

Before going out and buying tomatoes, the FDA suggests checking out its list of states and countries not linked to the outbreak. A list is available online at www.CDC.gov.

Photo by Lindsay Beyerstein

Barney Greengrass, the legendary Sturgeon King, is 100 today and they will be selling food at 1908 prices for those who stop in and eat at their Amsterdam Avenue shop.

That means: 60 cents for herring and 75 cents for chopped liver.

Barney Greengrass is one of the great NY Places. It may be a tad crowded today but if you’re in the neighborhood have some lox and bagel. I grew up a few blocks from there and we used to go all the time. The place hasn’t changed a bit since 1908 and I am not exaggerating. On any day, it’s a blast from the past with 2008 prices. I can still see the guys in their white coats cutting the smoked salmon. Below is more info. If you have a Barney Greengrass tory they want to hear it (sounds like they’re compiling an archive).

As a celebration and a thank you to our loyal customers, on Wednesday, June 11th, 2008, Barney Greengrass will be rolling back our menu prices to those of 1908. Please note: ***The restaurant will be open from 8:30AM-4:00PM. ***Sorry, no reservations, no substitutions (any items not on special menu will be sold at 2008 prices!) ***We will take CASH or a CHECK ONLY! ***This special celebration is only available on this day, 06/11/08 and is only available for eat-in customers. Thank you for helping us celebrate 100 years of excellence.

Over the past 100 years, we have made a lot of memories. Do have any favorite Greengrass stories? Please share any of your experiences, events or anecdotes that Barney Greengrass has been a part of. We’d love to add some of your memories to our archives. Email to 100years@barneygreengrass.com. Thank you for being a part of our history and our future…

Some things shouldn’t change; like our obsessive dedication to hand chosen fish specialties and our nearly 100 year old Greengrass character. But some things should; like making those traditions available on line! When you’re not in New York (or if you’re just a typically busy New Yorker) you can now turn to our website to experience “The Sturgeon King’s” commitment to Epicurean excellence. But, if you’re near our store we expect you to stop in and soak up some of the Greengrass tradition!

Store Location and Hours
541 Amsterdam Avenue at 86th Street
New York, NY 10024
Tuesdays through Sunday 8am to 6pm.
Restaurant opens at 8:30am.
During Holidays, Please check for store hours.Barney Greengrass, the legendary Sturgeon King, is 100 today and they will be selling food at 1908 prices for those who stop into their Amsterdam Avenue shop.

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I’ve been hearing a lot about Jenny Scheinman over the last few years. A regular at Barbes, the cozy and eclectic music club and bar on 9th Street off of Sixth Avenue in park Slope, she always garners raves from the press and fans for her improvised violin playing. Now she’s come out with an album of folk and blues. I heard something about it on WNYC this morning. And something in the Times’ too. She’s definitely having her media moment:

One evening last month, the violinist Jenny Scheinman settled in for her customary early set at Barbès, the cozy Park Slope bar that has long been her second home. Though she has been heralded over the last five years as a venturesome improviser, her first number was a vocal feature, “I Was Young When I Left Home,” one of many traditional songs associated with the young Bob Dylan. Ms. Scheinman, cradling her violin in the crook of an elbow, sang in a clear, agreeable tone, with a hint of nasal twang.

She wasn’t dabbling in this air of rusticity. The song appears on her self-titled new album, along with tunes by Jimmy Reed and Mississippi John Hurt and a handful of originals. Released by Koch Records two weeks ago, the album presents Ms. Scheinman as a folk singer. She took the same stance at Barbès, as she will again on Wednesday night at Joe’s Pub, with a band that includes the album’s producer and guitarist, Tony Scherr.

nice photo by Sara Krulwich in the NY Times

Look what’s coming to JJ Byrne Park this summer.

Piper Theater at the Old Stone House/JJ Byrne Park is presenting a Coney Island themed version of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream. Here’s what director John McEneny has in mind for this production:

Shakespeare’s greatest comedy set in the world of 19th century Coney Island. Lost lovers, wild eyed fairies, and a motley crew of actors collide with Dreamland, Luna Park, Steeplechase, circus freaks, showgirls, mermaids, jugglers, fun/terror! All performances at the historic Old Stone House at J.J. Byrne Park in Park Slope, NY.

Performance dates: July 10-12 and July 17-19 in JJ Byrne Park. Fifth Avenue and Third Street in Park Slope.

If you area contractor (of all types and size) interested in getting Leed certification, a nationally recognized certification by the US Green Building Council then this event is for you.

LEED points are the most accepted rating of the energy-efficiency and healthy product component of construction work on projects when contractors are certified.

There is going to be a one-day program at Kingsborough Community College on June 21, followed by an open book certification exam on the 26th.

This is only the second time that something like this has been offered in NYC, although it has been in place and is growing quickly throughout the US .

Kris Reed, Director of the Initiative for a Competitive Brooklyn Brooklyn Economic Development writes:

It matters tremendously to New York, and especially Brooklyn. New construction is slowing, but repair, maintenance and renovation will continue throughout the economic downturn.

We need to have contractors who understand green building practices when they work on our low-rise, high density housing and commercial stock, with its aging infrastructure and irreplaceable architecture.

Because this training is new to New York City , we need to get the word out. Can you help?

Yes, of course I will help.

Calling everyone interested in green contracting. This one-day workshop is limited to 40 people and is on June 21 at Kingsborough Community College from 8 am until 5 pm.

For more information go here.

Brit in Brooklyn took this great picture during the rainstorm on Sunday night. Go to Brit in Brooklyn to see it big.

McBrooklyn reports that Ikea’s promoting the opening of their first store in NYC (to open in Red Hook on June 18th) with these fun Ikea Pop-up room settings all over town. There will be one at the Brooklyn Public Library on Friday, June 13th (Grand Army Plaza branch). Here’s the PR:

Pop-up Room Settings – Deutsch worked with TH Outdoor to create four 20’ x 20’ pop-up room settings – or living room-sized boxes with complete interiors furnished with IKEA furniture such as sofas, tables and chair, and accessories such as lamps, rugs and prints. Inside, the public can experience IKEA products. Leading up to IKEA Brooklyn’s June 18 grand opening, these life-sized rooms can be found at Union Square in Manhattan (June 12) and in Brooklyn at Borough Hall plaza (June 9), the Brooklyn Public Library (June 13) and Cadman Plaza (June 15).

Monday morning I went into PS 321’s guidance counselor’s office to see if she’d heard anything about the fact that my daughter was on no list whatsover; she doesn’t exist as far as the Education Department is concerned.

She said she had 45 messages on her phone machine about various matters and didn’t have time to check. She also thanked me for my patience. In all fairness it was only 8:45 in the morning and her office was full of 5th grade parents with problems related to middle school. She’d barely had her coffee.

Still, that’s when I decided to take action. To Take Matters Into My Own Hands—or Feet. So what if it was 95 degrees in the shade yesterday: I marched to two of the schools on my daughter’s list to find out what was going on.

First I went to the middles school not far from my house on Fifth Avenue and 5th Street. My son went there a few years back so I knew exactly WHO to see and WHERE she sits. She told me that my daughter should put that school down on an appeal form and she would see what she could do. No promises.

Next, I walked to the other middle school located on 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. A mom on a mission, sweat dripped down my face. I was bright red when I arrived in the lobby; the school guard asked me to sign in.

“Do you have an appointment?” she said nicely.

“I’m here to speak with the principal,” I said seriously.

She pointed me toward the assistant principal who listened to my story and went to find the principal. Finally she brought me down to the school’s auditorium where the principal, a real hands-on, sweetheart of a guy, seemed to already know bits and pieces of my story.

“Here’s what we think happened…”

This mensche went on to offer a viable theory of why my daughter was completely left off of all lists (You’d need to be a Talmudic scholar of the Education Department to understand). He said that I should put his school on the appeal form and he’d make every effort to hold a spot for her despite the fact that he’s got a full list for next year and a long waiting list. We shook hands.

Next, I marched 22 blocks down to PS 321 and marched up to my daughter’s classroom, which was empty; they were in science, which is in separate building. I marched downstairs, crossed the playground to the mini-school, found her…

“Which school do you want to go to,” I said huffing and puffing.

“Do I have to decide right now?” she said. “We’re talking about dissecting a cow’s eyeball.”

“I’ll find out,” I said.

Next I marched back into the guidance counselor’s office and asked how much time we had before she filed the appeals.

“I’m bringing them over tomorrow afternoon…”

So we did have some time. OSFO made her decision this morning and as far as I’m concerned that’s where she’s going this fall.

We shall see.

I don’t know anything about the merger between Polytechnic University and NYU so I welcome responses to this article, which was submitted by Joel S. Hirschhorn, who graduated from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1961, where he was Student Council President; he was formerly a full professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a senior official at the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment and the National Governors Association. Polytechnic University, the second oldest engineering school in the county, is located in MetroTech.

The Sellout of Polytechnic University by Joel S. Hirschhorn

The academic world is not without its corporate takeover madness. Unless the New York Board of Regents steps in this month to put the brakes on the so-called merger of New York University and Polytechnic University , something quite nefarious will happen.

To call the transaction a merger was and remains a boldfaced lie. With its 50,000 students compared to about 3,000 for Poly, and annual revenues twenty times larger, the giant NYU wants to acquire Poly. In particular, with its considerable expansion plans, it wants the prime downtown Brooklyn real estate owned by Poly. Like so many other Poly alumni I have been appalled by the shenanigans of the administrators of both institutions. After 154 years of independence and considerable contributions to city, state and nation, Poly is about to be gobbled up by the Goliath NYU.

To begin with, in 1972 the state passed a law requiring NYU, then having a fiscal crisis, to merge its School of Engineering and Science into Poly. Back in 1973 NYU’s President Hester acknowledged that an agreement with the New York State Commissioner of Education required that “ New York University would not be authorized to offer engineering instruction at Washington Square or elsewhere.” Indeed, several subsequent attempts in 1976, 1977 and 1981 to acquire an engineering college were rebuffed by the state Education Department because of the 1973 agreement. Now comes yet another attempt by NYU and it is up to the state to stop the deal.

Considerable propaganda has been disseminated by the management of both institutions, making it sound as if Poly is getting a good deal. It is not. But the telltale sign that something is amiss is that very few people have been told the many details of the transaction. We now have a report by the New York Senate Committee on Higher Education: “Proposed Affiliation: Polytechnic University and New York University .” In several contested areas this report found evidence that backs opponents to the “merger.”

It cites testimony from several Poly trustees that backs the contention that the board majority decided early on in favor of the merger and attempted “to marginalize the participation of those individuals who opposed the affiliation.” The report said this behavior “is not consistent with the duty of loyalty that a board owes to an institution.” It raises important questions, such as whether there are appropriate procedures to make sure the interests of all appropriate parties are considered and when various constituencies should be made aware of negotiations.

The report concluded that “it is impossible to ascertain the true value of this institution’s real property at this time.” This is a central issue, because opponents to the transaction believe that Poly is not getting a good financial deal. Further, the report found that the Board’s “failure to obtain an updated appraisal, regardless of the cost involved, is inconsistent with the duty of care that the Board owed to Polytech.” Moreover, it found that the facts substantiate “the Alumni Associations position that the Board was attempting to portray Polytech as being in financial straits in order to garner support for the affiliation with NYU.” That’s why there is little credibility to what the Poly board has agreed to.

Now it is up to the Regents to use all this information and analysis to objectively and fairly evaluate not the “merger” but the acquisition. Like so many others, I fear that unless the Regents stop this deal Poly will lose its identity and academic independence. It is being sold out by incompetent managers that failed to continue the success Poly had enjoyed for over 100 years. NYU needs Poly more than Poly needs NYU, and NYU would end up making money, not paying handsomely for or investing in Poly.

California Taqueria, the always dependable burrito place on Seventh Avenue near Berkeley, has re-designed the right storefront of the restaurant and christened it Le Taq.

Like their other branch, Rachel’s, on Fifth Avenue, they put in an attractive bar, which will serve something like 100 varieties of tequila; there are tables in the back with a new menu and table service.

The bar looks very nice; I haven’t seen the new menu but I hear that it’s different from the right storefront, which is still a cafeteria-style restaurant with take-out and delivery.

Owner Marty Modina (who was on the Park Slope 100 last year) is the guy who drives that vintage red pick up truck you see around Park Slope. He’s been running California Taqueria and Rachels for years now. Le Taq is a slightly upscale version of what he’s been doing all along.

Curious to see how it is. Anyone been there yet?

As you probably know by now, my daughter is one of eight children at PS 321 who is not on the middle school admissions master list. We still don’t know if this means she doesn’t exist as far as the DOE is concerned or if she did get in somewhere.

I’m tired of the long looks, the sad faces, the “what are you going to do?” variety of questions. I hate being the poster child for the situation everyone is just glad they’re not in.

We’ve been calling one of the schools she wants to got to since last Wednesday. I called and the guidance counselor from PS 321 has called.

I have heard her numerous times leave messages on message machines and with secretaries. Nobody calls back. I just put in a call today to the principal. I hope he gets back to me. At this particular school, he’s the only one with the list.

This is getting very frustrating. My daughter seems fine; she’s more patient than I am. She doesn’t know what a tangled bureaucracy the Education Department is. I have assured her that things will work out just fine.

I guess she believes me.

Now I think I should just go to the schools and corner the principals or the guidance counselors.

Where is my daughter going to middle school?