Starting today, it is illegal for large grocery stores in San Francisco
to use traditional plastic bags. Stores can use a special compostable
plastic bag or a brown paper bag made of 40% recycled paper. Shopper
are, of course, free to bring their own tote bags. A city ordinance
passed earlier this year becomes law today.

If San Francisco can do it, can’t Park Slope give it a try? What would it take to get plastic bags outlawed around here?

In SF, pharmacy chains will also have to comply in 6 months. The
policy will be the first enacted in the US. Oakland passed
a similar ban that goes into effect early in 2008.

Only retail businesses and smaller grocery stores will still be able
to hand out bags.

So what does the future hold for Coney Island?

Well, a big crowd showed up tonight for a "Community Information Session" on the proposed Coney Island zoning. The purpose of the meeting was to begin a community dialogue about the proposal.

But the public didn’t get to hear about the state-of-the-art amusement parks, rides, hotels, bowling alleys, restaurants, parks, and whatever else is planned for that historic part of Brooklyn.

That’s because the meeting about the  future of Coney Island at Coney Island Hospital was abruptly  cancelled due to the size of the crowd.

Were they expecting a small crowd? That doesn’t make sense. This is a very controversial matter, a very emotional matter, a very big deal in Brooklyn.

They organizers plan to reschedule the meeting in a larger venue sometime in the near future. I’m sure they can find someplace, that will hold 400-500 people interested in hearing about the plan, asking questions, and giving feedback.

For more information and pix go to Kinetic Carnival.

This pigeon thing is getting to be a lot of POOP. It’s one thing to have a passionate opinion. But it’s important to communicate it reasonably and with a modicum of civility.

I think the Pigeon Advocate is beginning to cross the line in terms of the way she is presenting her ideas. 

Less is more in my book. And endless attacks on those who disagree with you and/or portray you in a way not to your liking are pretty ridiculous.

This is about the pigeons and NOT the Pigeon Advocate or the term Pigeon Lover, or a newspaper editor or anything else.

Advice to the Pigeon Advocate:  stay serious and on point. Your rants are beginning to fly off in unrelated directions that help no one, most especialy the pigeons you purport to love or yourself.

Here’s an excerpt from Jake Mooney’s column:

I had always seen the place and wondered about it, whether there was
some distant family relationship. If there is, it is distant enough
that neither Kevin Mooney nor I know about it; he was born in County
Galway, in Ireland, whereas my grandfather’s family came to New York
from Scotland in the early part of the 20th century. It’s definitely an
Irish name, though, so it seems as my family’s Mooneys did some
bouncing from island to island long ago. So you never know -– I read
once that, mathematically speaking, we can all claim descent from Nefertiti and Confucius anyway.

Today is the third anniversary of the opening of Zuzu’s Petals new shop on Fifth Avenue. And for the occasion, Fonda, Zuzu’s owner has started a blog called,  Zuzu’s Petals, a delightful addition to the Brooklyn blogging community from that most Brooklyn of shops.

For those who don’t know, Zuzu’s Petal’s Seventh Avenue location burned down a few years ago. With a great deal of personal and professional resilience, combined with the love and support of their customers, the Zuzu’s team gathered together seed money and planted a new shop on Fifth Avenue.

What a difference a few years make. They’re thriving in their Fifth Avenue shop. They even have a blog, which brings alive the stories, people, plants, and pets of that Park Slope institution. Here Fonda writes about her first Thanksgiving at the new shop.

This morning i will take bear to the new shop on 5th
avenue. it is full of flowers for thanksgiving. i have a picture in my
mind of later today …families and friends gathered around their
tables, heads bowed together before the meal to say some sort of prayer
of thanks…and in the center my flowers once again there to grace the
moment.

the lesson?…. life can change drastically at any
moment, something can be terrible and wonderful at the same time. loss
and grief can make you strong, everyday is a lesson.

most of
all…what goes around comes around and something like that last line
from abby road….the love you take is equal to the love you make.

a prayer of thanks from all the zuzus for all of you who have become  part of our family.
and now…let’s eat!

fonda

I saw this post on Park Slope Parents from a woman who just got notice that she and her family are being evicted from their apartment. I wrote to the woman and asked if I could post her note here.  "Please do, any help will be appreciated," came her quick reply. Does anyone have any ideas about what this family can do?

I’ve been living in Kennsington in the same apartment for 3 years,
the same apartment where my husband has been at for 7 years, and we
just received an eviction notice from our landlords.

I need to find out what are our rights. 

We live on the top floor of a 2-family home, our landlord lives
downstairs. We don’t have a lease, it has been a month to month
agreement, and we have never skipped on the rent.  We have been
sharing satellite tv, internet, it has been a very good relationship
so far.

Last week, we had to leave the landlord a letter because of the
inconsistency of heat in the apartment.  I was very worried that my
6-month old son would get sick in what traditionally has been a
pretty cold environment in winter. 

I do not know if my landlords are being vindictive, but it came as a
surprise that 5 days after we told them we needed more heat, they
came to our apartment on Friday the 16th at night, and told us that
we have until January 15th to move out because they have some family
members moving in.

Can anyone help us?  It really hurts that they’re doing this right
before holidays season, and they know that we take a 2-week vacation
out of the country, which will make it hard for us to get a place.

Thank you in advance for anyone who can assist me.

This is from a woman who named herself after her pet dove.

Thank you to the organizations – Rincon Animals, Win Animal Rights, Pigeon People, League of Humane Voters, Rational Animal, NYCPRC (I hope I got everyone) and individuals who attended our meeting  this past Wednesday to show support of pigeons.

And thank you to the New York Times for their interest in the plight of pigeons, and for attending our meeting.

There should be a story in the New York Times tomorrow concerning
pigeons and Councilman Felder’s proposal [it was in Saturday’s paper].

We will hold a rally and press conference on the steps of City Hall on Friday, November 30 from 12 noon to 1 pm.

It is evident that New York City wants to rid itself of the few remaining pigeons that remain, because if Councilman Felder’s proposal becomes law, pigeon feeders will be paying a $1,000 fine — that along with permitting netters to do as they please without apprehension and punishment, introducing hawks into the city, and with Councilman Oddo’s proposal to add birth control to the flock in Staten Island, says it all.

The pigeon legislation has not yet been introduced to the Council. In other words, there’s no bill yet. The bill is
likely to be introduced at the next Council meeting on November 28. At that point, it will be given a bill number and assigned to a committee, probably the Health Committee – whose contact info follows.
You should know that the ASPCA’s endorsement of Felder’s proposal will prove to be a major obstacle to defeating the bill.

Let’s put an end to unfair pigeon discrimination in our city and everywhere.
Sincerely,
Anna Dove
NY Bird Club
http://www.manhattanbirdclub.com

The Community Bookstore sent word of a new monthly event, which began on Wednesday, November 14th @ 7:30 p.m. and it will continue on the second Wednesday of every month.

Whether beginner or experienced, we hope you’ll join us as we form a literary knitting circle on the second Wednesday of every month.

And really, it doesn’t have to be literary – but maybe it would be nice if it was? We’ll informally gather to knit, learn to knit, help others knit, talk about books and yarn, and maybe swap some yarn too (so bring any skeins you’re dying to get rid of!).

In general, a grand ol’ time. Bring yarn and needles for the project your working on, and if you come next week, you can help decide what our new group should be called. (oh…I don’t know..Literary Knitters? LitKnits? Community Knitters?

Something much more clever than any of these?) Refreshments will be on hand to quench anything that needs quenching.

Photographer Claire Houston sent this report and a photo from her Blackberry to me last night.

I was on my way to Rapunzel Rapunzel for a haircut, and walked right through the maddness of this fire scene.

There were at least 10 fire trucks and other vehicles there.  In the salon, i asked what had happened, and there seemed to be two conflicting stories: either some kids came by asking for money and doused the shop with gasoline and lit it and ran when they didn’t get any, OR some kids threw an explosive (as in a bomb) in the botanica shop and ran. 

My hairdresser said that a guy came by and said he saw three teenagers run down the street and they seemed to throw something and there was an explosion, but the shop owner apparently told the police a different story. 

One of the tenants in the building was a client of the hair salon, and she dropped off her cat in a carrier in the shop while she went back to her apartment to grab some things. 

She came back later and picked up her kitty and was staying at her aunt’s house in Sheepshead Bay. She also said her apartment wasn’t damaged, but her neighbor’s was because the FDNY had to break a hole in her wall, and break a window.

She can go back to her apartment tomorrow.

The Old Stone House has just added new features and content to its website, which now includes great deal of history that readers of OTBKB might find interesting.

The new site includes a great map that overlays a sophisticated digital elevation map that shows the original shore line, and colonial roads and Indian trails, as well as the key milestones of the Battle of Brooklyn.

Imagine quiet farms, forested hillsides (Park Slope), a wide tidal estuary (now squeezed into the Gowanus Canal), and foot-long oysters. Progress has come at a price.

Overall, there much more content on there and definitely worth a look!

For those who don’t know, the Old Stone House is a modern reconstruction of the Vechte-Cortelyou House, a 1699 Dutch stone farmhouse with important ties to American history. It is located in JJ Byrne Park (which has ties to Brooklyn Dodger’s history) on Fifth Avenue and Third Street.

Old Stone House is operated as a historic interpretive center dedicated to its crucial role in the American Revolution and in the evolving histories of Brooklyn, New York and the United States. It is also the site of Brooklyn Reading Works, a monthly reading series and many other local arts events. It also makes a great party space.

The Old Stone House serves as a dynamic community resource through its education programs and events. In addition to historical exhibits open to the public, the House is available by appointment for tours, classes and rentals.

Brooklyn Paper Editor-in-Chief” Gersh was on the scene to witness yet another exchange between the Pigeon Advocate and The Bird Seed Sweeper, who the PA accuses of slaughtering pigeons. Thiis is just getting weird. Here’s an excerpt from the Brooklyn Paper’s report. This is practically the same conversation the Pigeon Advocate reported having with The Bird Seed Sweeper a letter she sent to OTBKB on October 15.

The pigeon-lover (whose name I’m going to withhold for reasons that will soon become clear) met me at the corner carrying a baby pigeon, still bearing the tell-tale yellow hairs of his infancy.

She said she saved the orphaned bird after the weekend massacre. And she also claimed to know who slaughtered these defenseless birds.

“It’s that guy, right over there!” she said, pointing at him.

All I saw was a man sweeping debris in front of his house. But, wait a second, that’s not debris — it’s birdseed!

And the pigeon-lover is running over to him to start screaming. What is going on here? I’d been set up!

“Why are you sweeping up my birdseed?” the pigeon-lover screamed, demanding that I take the man’s picture. “You’re the one who poisoned those pigeons over the weekend! And the press is here!”

The man denied poisoning the pigeons, by the way, but he didn’t deny sweeping up all the birdseed that the pigeon-lover had left.

“Please don’t throw birdseed in front of my house,” he told her.

“My kid is allergic! My kid gets sick from those pigeons.”

“Then you should move to the country!” the pigeon-lover said, drawing very little sympathy from the man (and, frankly, from this child-raising urbanite, too).

“Besides, there are no documented cases of anyone getting sick from pigeons.”

“Can’t you just feed them in the park? This is my front stoop!” he fired back.

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Disclosure: Eleanor is a non-paying advertiser on OTBKB. I put the ad up because I like the idea of what she does.

THIS JUST IN (3:15 p.m. Thursday afternoon):

Gersh Kuntzman got right in the middle of the pigeon war on Eighth Avenue — and tells me to expect a “hot hot hot” column in this week’s Brooklyn Paper.

I am dying to know what’s going on. It will be online in a few hours.

I got this report and a picture from an OTBKB reader, who is a new resident of the Midwood area.

I am a new resident of the Midwood area (just moved in 4 months ago) and I just wanted you to get the following picture and story so that you could warn everybody of what is happening. 

As you can tell somebody decided to steal all 4 wheels of my car at some point on Monday night.  This happened at the corner of East 24th St. and Glenwood Road.  It is not a well lit area and according to neighbors this happened at some point before 12:30 a.m.  (I had left my car at 9:00 pm). 

Therefore this must have happened not that late that night but nobody seems to have seen anything. 

What is worse is that while I took these pictures and I was waiting for the police to file a report 3 other people went by telling me they have had either their windows smashed or their car stolen on that same corner!!!

Apparently everyone knows about the problem, yet things keep happening with an alarming frequency:  one of the persons that told me about his own story of smashed glass pointed at the "still fresh" pieces on the ground…"it happened a few days ago" he pointed out. 

Please feel free to post this picture and any or all the information I just posted.  I just want people and community to be aware of this and that way maybe make the police more aware of it too.

PS I thought this sort of thing only happened on movies from the 70’s…oh well…

Tuesday night, 50 local merchants filled the Community Bookstore to show their support for the BUY IN BKLYN (Shop Local Park Slope) initiative sponsored by the Park Slope Civic Council (PSCC), with the help of Catherine Bohne.

If a community helping its own was the message of the evening, the BUY IN BKLYN yellow umbrellas (see below) could not have been a better symbol. The PSCC paid  for the design and printing of 400 yellow umbrellas to put in local stores. You can
grab one if it’s raining. But bring it back. Scout’s honor.

If there were 50 merchants at the event, there were also 50 non-merchants, including politicians-a-plenty: State Senator Eric Adams, City Councilmember David Yassky, Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman, Representatives of Yvette Clarke and Borough President Marty Markowitz to name a few.

Representing the Brooklyn media was the Brooklyn Paper’s beloved Editor-in-Chief, Gersh Kuntzman and the Brooklyn Paper’s PS I Love You columnist, Wendy Ponte.

Ken Freeman, president of the PSCC,and other representatives from the PSCC, were there in force, as well as Eric McClure of Park Slope Neighbors.

Food and drink were graciously and generously donated by local merchants, including Shawn’s Liquors, Miracle Grill, and Isabelle (a local personal chef). It was all very, very tasty.

There was speechifying, of course. But all the speakers respected the 2-minute time limit, which meant that their message was communicated clearly, eloquently, and in a timely matter.

First up was Ken Freeman of the PSCC, who discussed the importance of local businesses as the foundation of real neighborhoods. Up next was Community Bookstore owner, Catherine Bohne, who described how the neighborhood lent a hand when it looked like her business might go under last year.

Councilmember David Yassky, a strong supporter of this initiative, congratulated the event’s organizers: "Something real, something genuine is going on here. For neighborhoods to be neighborhoods, we have to help and protect the local merchant. This is great first step.”

Yassky went on to discuss core issues like providing health care to small businesses. He told the local merchants: “People are working to help you and you are not alone in the struggle. We will work together to do everything we can to make sure that Park Slope stays Park Slope."

Assemblywoman Joan L Millman saluted the Community Bookstore and encouraged everyone to buy one book. “It’s a great gift, it doesn’t break. There are no batteries, it doesn’t flash and blink. It’s something a child and grandmother can have for the rest of their life. Not only buy a book but buy it right here!”

State Senator Eric Adams brought the point home. “How do we bring in revenue that Manhattan enjoys? How do we let it spill over into the Slope, into Prospect Heights?"

Alan Bronfman, the owner of Little Things and a member of the Park Slope Chamber of Commerce had this to say:

"The wall between neighborhood business and neighborhood residents is coming down. This is a historic idea, a historic occasion. This place is filled with politicians: that’s  extraordinary. This is not about not having national chains. It’s about making the most of what is here by a large group of people who live here.”

Bronfman’s speech added to the convivial atmosphere in the room. “I’ve been  here since 1969 and this is a room full of people I don’t know. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you."

Pigeon Advocate sent this post yesterday. She suggests we check out. Save the Pigeons, the London group who cares for
London birds.

Pigeons were brought here (probably not of their
liking) from Europe and do not (like most native birds) eat insects to
survive. How sad for them — we are an insect festival. These birds
were mostly brought here by pigeon fanciers and/or for sport (pigeon
racing) and in fact, pigeons have been used in war (one even got a
medal of honor – Pigeon Joe).

Since they are here — we brought them
and then abandoned them to the streets. They used to survive on hay
seed or wild grass seed — but not much of that nowadays. So what do we
do as a community? Allow them to continue to scavange garbage (they do)
and contract diseases (botulism is the most popular) live about one
year, procreate, t hen die? I

In their native environs, pigeons live up
to 15 years. In Brooklyn, they average 2. If they’re lucky. "They’re
here, they’re queer, get used to it?" They are here. Many people love
their enthusiasm for life, their ability to dance with joy at just the
offering of a bread crumb. Contray to your posts, pigeons help rid the
streets of bread crumbs and/or other edibles which helps reduce the
likelihood of rodents.

The problem comes when ignorant people leave
hardened bread (they cannot eat, their beaks are very soft) and/or
other horrible garbage in the street. They should issue licenses for
people to leave responsible seed.

The city is not comprised solely of
pigeon haters. Witness the nycaudubon.org’s very large membership as
well as the many (over half a dozen) pigeon rescue groups in our town.
Instead of thinking of ways to starve them to death and/or to leave
them tons o’ garbage, perhaps finding a consolidated and responsible
way to have them be a part of our community would make sense. Pigeon
safe islands; and/or other innovative architecture.

Wildlife
rehabilitators would love to work together on solutions. For those who
posted that the pigeon advocate (me) needs to get a life. This is my
life. Caring for the lowest of the low. I am in good company. Consult
your bible. Oh, no, now someone will post that I have delusions of
martyrdom. You just can’t win, now can you?

This from New York 1:

Brooklyn City Councilman Simcha Felder is pushing a bill to ban the
feeding of pigeons throughout the city and add more new garbage cans to
help keep food off the streets and away from the birds.

"Open garbage cans are like a restaurant for pigeons,” says Felder.
“If you don’t know where to go out to eat that night, I guess a couple
goes out to eat at a local garbage can."

Felder says he’s willing to ruffle a few feathers, appointing a
"pigeon czar" to control the city’s pigeon population. He is also
recommending other pigeon-controlling moves like giving the birds
artificial birth control and introducing pigeon-killing animals like
hawks.

New Yorker Malick Saho says he like to feed pigeons.

"They come to me like this,” says Saho, demonstrating how the
pigeons perch on his arm for feeding. “I love them like this. So then I
give them something!”

If Felder’s bill passes, however, Saho could be slapped with a fine
as high as $1,000 for feeding pigeons peanuts, bread, or anything else
in his pockets or lunch bag.

"I think New Yorkers tolerate a lot to be able to live here,” says Felder. “They don’t have to be stepped upon and pooped upon."

According to Felder, the average city pigeon is a prolific pooper,
dumping 25 pounds of droppings a year on city sidewalks, bridges, and
the unfortunate shoulder or head.

Felder says the droppings not only dirty up the streets, but pose a threat to public health.

While some New Yorkers say pigeons have taken over the city, others say the proposal is for the birds.

"I feel like they’re just rodents with wings,” says one New Yorker.

"I think they’re diseased, filthy and I try not to go near them,” adds another.

"They’re just trying to get by just like everyone else so why can’t they have a snack?" adds a third.

But it would appear the councilman has a bird of a feather in the mayor.

"While I love animals and I love birds, we do have a lot of pigeons
and they do tend to foul a lot of our areas and people would be better
off not feeding the pigeons,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Last month, Councilman James Oddo recommended birth control to help
cut down on the large number of pigeons at the Staten Island Ferry
Terminal.

This winter, Greenjeans is presenting a juried exhibition of small original quilts handmade by quilt-makers working in all styles and techniques.

From the experimental to the traditional, we want to offer a taste of what quiltmaking is today.

Tentatively titled “Sweet Dreams,” the exhibition will also feature new sculpture by Jane Kaufmann around the theme of beds.

The exhibition will be on view February 7 – March 20, 2008, with an opening reception on February 6.

Deadline for submissions is January 15, 2008.

For submission guidelines and full details, click here! And feel free to spread the word!

(Image: photo of quilting fabric sourced here.)

Here is the letter that the PA sent to Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council members:

The Honorable Michael Bloomberg, Council members:

First off – I should mention  one of the best books that have covered the subject of pigeons in many years, the NY Times best seller, “Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World’s Most Revered and Reviled Bird” by Andrew Blechman – You might find it informative and shattering to many of the disease and other myths promoted by the property owners who do not have an interest in finding solutions for pigeon droppings (cleaning them and/or putting simple deterrents).

http://andrewblechman.com/

More importantly, I am writing to let you know that a ban on feeding pigeons is in direct contradiction to what we as New York State licensed wildlife rehabilitators are taught.  We must provide a "soft release" for newly rehabilitated birds.  This means a reliable source of food for 3 to six weeks after the injured and/or sick bird has been rehabilitated and released.  There are at least half a dozen pigeon and city bird rescue groups in New York City .  We all volunteer our time, energy and resources to the rescue and rehabilitation of our city friends.  We do this for the same reason that vets labor over our sick or injured companion animals – because we care deeply for animals.

http://wildbirdfund.com/

Pigeons are domesticated birds brought to this country in the 1600s for pets, racing, and sport ("pigeon shoots" now illegal — simply lining birds up to kill them).  Many have either escaped or been abandoned to the streets.  They are, in many ways, like stray dogs and cats.  They have little or no ability to survive without human help.  They are herbivores (seed eaters) and as our city became more industrial — little or no wild seed is to be found.  Instead, many happily co existed with people "going to the park to feed the birds" and/or people who noticed they were hungry and threw them a crumb.

When pigeons have no other resource, they end up scavenging in bacteria infested garbage and falling ill.  Then rehabilitators (lucky us) get to nurse them back to health.

Pigeons are not migratory birds – they do not travel farther than a ten block radius from where they are born.  So, contrary to Councilman Felder’s flippant remark, “They can NOT just go to Jersey .”  They won’t.   What they will do is breed more quickly and live miserably, and die sooner.  Pigeons natural life span is 25 years.  Currently in NYC they live (if lucky) 2 years.

The bigger point here is that of human rights.  Who has proclaimed that "pigeon haters" have more political rights than "pigeon friendly" people?  The term "rats with wings" was coined by exterminator companies who benefited from increased sales.  See this link to Colin Jerolmack’s PHD doctorate which explores “the problematization of urban wildlife” and explains how cities changed from pigeon friendly to the current mounting hostility.  Suddenly city birds are “out of place.”  Who says they are out of place?  Why was that not the case only 50 or so years prior?  How and why has this changed so drastically and can’t we question whether this may be unjust?  Colin’s book will be coming out next year:  http://colinjerolmack.com/

Pigeons have nothing in common with disease carrying rodents and we can contract no diseases from them.  They carry none of the diseases associated with rats and, unlike rats, they are not meat eating.  Therefore, pigeons are never prone to “bite the baby in the unattended crib” — as we’ve all heard the horror stories from the slums over time.  So let’s stop the "rats with wings" mantra which supposedly closes the subject.

In fact, we as a culture, have a responsibility to care for these sweet and very exuberant birds — after having spent centuries breeding them for racing — keeping them in domestic situations where they became dependent on being cared for and/or alternately loving, then hating them.  There are many people who enjoy having some contact with nature (many of us don’t have the wealth for that second home out on Long Island ) and want to have an integrated urban scape that includes urban wildlife.

Witness Portland Audubon’s program, "Living With Urban Wildlife" and many of the other Audubon sponsored programs.  For people interested in actual facts on pigeons, Cornell University has a wonderful program, "Project Pigeon Watch" http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/urbanbirds/ubs_PIWMainEN.html
which has been a huge success with local children and college kids.

Human beings have historically demonstrated a need to be connected with nature and with animals.  It could be said that for some it is a critical part of their daily life.  It should not be a "no brainer" to deny some that satisfaction as if we have no rights in the face of industry or property owners (concerned over damages from pigeon waste).  Pigeons cannot survive without human intervention.  They resort to garbage and fall ill.  They don’t stop reproducing; they just live horrible and miserable lives.

For more information please see:http://nycprc.org/
and also

When pigeons are healthy their waste is not watery at all but more like clay pellets.  People who feed pigeons healthy food are actually helping to clean up the streets.  We have an interest in living with our urban wildlife; not banishing them from our cities and towns.

The world is fast becoming a place where extinction is happening at break neck pace, we are losing species that will never be recovered.  While we have a plethora of birds today, the carrier pigeon and the dodo bird are sobering examples of how milions of birds can become no birds at all.

Where do we start?  When do we think that maybe urban planning should be inclusive not only of our buildings, granite, concrete — but parks that enjoy and host squirrels, sparrows, starlings, pigeons — and/or creating better protected areas where these creatures can be safe within our city zones.  We are not all of one mind — witness the many organizations and volunteers who care for these critters.  Instead of punishing those who have been doing what the state should have long ago – namely manage and care for our diverse urban wildlife; we need to work together to find innovative solutions that reflect all New Yorkers, not just those who have property interests and/or hate pigeons.

See:
http://www.satyamag.com/aug05/clearfield.html

I would be happy to come to any meetings which might create a forum for those of us who spend all our time patching up the sick and injured city animals – a meeting which might talk about innovative and happy solutions to this issue rather than this menacing “ban.”  I work with wildlife experts, rehabilitators and animal advocates – all who have many brilliant plans and strategies for creating an urban landscape that can allow us to live with our urban wildlife rather than decimate what little there remains

Fans are writing in to say that Sufjan’s show at BAM was great and that Brooklyn Skeptic is just being a, well, a Brooklyn skeptic. Longtime Times’ rock critic, John Pareles, wrote about the show in the Times. But here’s what some readers had to say:

Sabrina writes: Oh, come on! "Blogland" appears to be just one bitter person’s
immature review… or were there others with legitimate critiques?

I thought it was a great show.

Der writes: What did Brooklyn Skeptic expect going to see Sufjan Stevens? If you
don’t know what you’re getting into before going to the concert, don’t
bitch afterwards that it wasn’t what you expected.

I was at the Friday night show. It was a wonderful. The NY Times has
a much more knowledgeable and even-handed review that you can read
here: http://tinyurl.com/22rfml

Congrats to Rudy Delson, author of Maynard and Jennica, for the qualified rave he received in the New York Times Book Review. Writer Thomas Beller, author of The Sleepover Artist and the editor of Open City Magazine, loved Rudy’s book. Sure he has some reservations here and there. But still. Woo hoo, Rudy. Look here and read the review:

By the end of the book I was wallowing in a state of pleasure but also
suspicion — suspicious because much of the novel is just so damn cute.
But looking through its pages again I found one tiny comic gem after
another, one pitch-perfect rendering of the modern moment after
another. Delson brings a Nicholson Baker-like
degree of precision to his descriptions; the book is always alive. I
felt the odd elation that occurs when you read fiction that not only
confirms your sense of the modern world but enlarges it, even if in a
slightly precious way, and makes you laugh. That was my experience of
“Maynard & Jennica.” But that’s just me.

This just in from the Pigeon Advocate. As you can imagine, she’s apoplectic.

A Czar to outlaw pigeon feeding?

In the
meantime, both the New York Sun and amNY report this morning on a proposal in the City
Council to outlaw feeding pigeons. The proposal comes from Councilman Simcha
Felder, (D-Brooklyn), who will announce a bill today to make it illegal to feed
pigeons. A "pigeon czar" will handle all the pigeon-related
complaints.

I got this email from an OTBKB reader.

I’ve been a long-time reader of your blog and a
never-poster! Finally I have a issue that needs the attention of OTBKB.

242 Flatbush Ave. (between
6th and Bergen) has recently been vacated and the previous owners left
a number of cats living on the roof. They are scared and hungry.
 
I have trapped and taken in one of the cats, but there is currently
another one on the roof. I am willing to trap it and take it to the
home of someone loving who wants to care for this cat. She seems sweet
and is a good groomer!
 

Relatedly, do you have any good ideas for where to post this
information to possibly get a good foster or adoptive cat parent? I’d
like this cat to be placed in a home this weekend.
 

Does anyone know who they are? A friend writes:

We have 3 Tickets to sell for the Fall Out Boy concert on Wednesday, Nov. 14
at Madison Square Garden at 7 PM.   

The ticket price was $154 for all three (including the absurd $9.75 service fee
for each).

If your kid or anyone you know might want them, please let me know. 

I’d be happy to negotiate the price.  I’m just hoping not to eat the entire cost and that someone who really would like to go to the concert gets to use them.

Email: louise_crawford(at)yahoo(dot com). 

Filmmaker Jonathan Noah Baumbach said he was happy for any excuse to come to Brooklyn as he stood in front of a packed audience at the BAM Rose Cinema for a sneak preview screening of his new film, Margot at the Wedding.

He was, however, unable to stick around for a Q&A afterwards because Paramount had double-booked him and he was expected somewhere else.

Boo.

Baumbach promised to return for a Q&A during the run of Margot at the Wedding BAM Rose Cinema.

Yay.

A handsome fellow of few, well chosen words Baumbach told the crowd that the film says it all and hoped that everyone would enjoy it.

Margot at the Wedding is the sister film to end all sister films. Nicole Kidman plays Margot, an unlikable, judgemental and moody writer (descibed as a “borderline personality” by OTBKB reader). Very Type-A, she’s highly competitive and in one tour-de-force scene climbs a tall tree just to prove she can.
Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Pauline, her more laid back and bohemian sister. Jack Black is hilarious in the role of Pauline’s sympathetic layabout fiancee.

Two young actors are incredible as the children of Margot and Pauline.

The film proves that family members make the best and the worst company; it is the anatomy of the fascinating and sometimes insidious ways siblings influence each other’s sense of identity.
Like the talky and psychological films of French director Eric Rohmer, Margot at the Wedding gathers its characters together for a country wedding and waits for things to implode. Implode they do.
Go see this film with any member of your family and go out for some conversation and wine afterward.
You’ll need it.

This just in from the Pigeon Advocate. In her own words:

For the past week (since Monday 11/5/07); there have been 10 to 20 run-over pigeons found in piles (I know that is a horrible image, especially for me) on the corner of 8th Avenue and 6th Street. 

You may recall this is the same block where the fellow yelled and screamed that his son is allergic to pigeons and so nobody on the block should put down any bird seed.  This same man – I had to file a harassment complaint (and did) was laughing this morning when I pointed to the piles of dead birds.

The 78th precinct (Community Affairs) have been contacted and are currently investigating this crime.  It is illegal (as well as highly inhumane) to purposely run down pigeons.  Even removing pigeons from any area requires a permit from the DEC.  Killing them outright is punishable under animal cruelty statutes as well as the more common crime of vandalism against New York City “property” (pigeons are property of the state).

The ASPCA humane law enforcement have been contacted as well.  If anyone sees or knows who is purposely doing this, please write down their license plate and report it to the 78th precinct – 718 636 6410 and/or call Officer Zais at the ASPCA – 212 876 7700, X 4450.

Between the Methodist Hospital “goons” (they come with their little sidewalk sweeper and try to mow down anyone who leaves bird seed on the sidewalk) and this maniac with his son, it is difficult to know who is purposely killing these birds.  I spoke to several concerned moms this morning who drop their daughters off at the Catholic school on the corner – they were horrified and have been talking about it as well.  They could not believe anyone would keep doing this.  The first morning (Monday) they thought it was an accident – but it was the same scene every single morning this week.

I should have taken pictures but I was too upset.  I  will try to take my camera with me from now own. I am putting up warning signs today on the block.

It’s the shop around the corner and I haven’t said a thing. An OTBKB reader even emailed me a snap shot of the For Rent sign in the window of Seventh Avenue Park Slope Books.  

I had the scoop and I screwed up.

That’s right. Seventh Avenue Park Slope Books, the used bookstore on Seventh Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets is closing. They are, however, combining with their Brooklyn Heights store, Heights Books, and continuing to sell online.

I love that shop (even if I never got it straight, which one was Seventh Avenue and which one was Park Slope Books. Thanks to Francis Morrone for writing in with the correction). I especially love their display of books in the window; it’s always changing and is arranged by theme.

I’ve bought a few books there. "World Poetry, An Anthology of Verse from Antiquity To Our Time," a 1,200 pager cost $45 new. I got it for 20 bucks. Not bad.

This announcement comes just three months after Park Slope Seventh Avenue Books announced that they were  closing. I was very proud of the fact that we had two, count ’em, two independent booksellers right around the corner.

No more. No more.

Writer Alison Lowenstein can relate. Her young daughter and son share a room and she’s got an article in Babble about it. An English professor at York College in Queens, New York, she’s the author of City Baby Brooklyn and is also working on a novel, which she read an excerpt from at last year’s Edgy Mother’s Day event presented by Brooklyn Reading Works. It was hilarious.

My kids aren’t only siblings, they’re roommates.

Our apartment is 1,153 square feet of living space. In my part of Brooklyn this is considered family-sized, but in suburban America it’s referred to as a shack. We have two bedrooms, and two children, a four-year-old girl and an eighteen-month-old boy who share a room. It’s very obvious which part of the room is Lucy’s and which is Max’s. There seems to be an unspoken divider in the center of the room. Lucy’s side has a dresser covered with Polly Pockets, a large collection of dolls and a floral comforter on a white princess bed. Max’s area is cluttered with Thomas Trains, random Fisher Price toys, a crib with blue sheets, and a large mural of a dinosaur.

What bothers me is that people always ask, “How long can you stay there with two kids of the opposite sex sharing the same room?”