MOVIES AL FRESCO: This summer, The Old Stone House will present BROOKLYN FILM WORKS an outdoor film festival on 6 Tuesday nights in June and July. Stay tuned for details.

In the meantime, BAMcinematek presents two weeks of Brooklyn-themed films to honor the
borough’s bygone eras. Today, the festival screens "It Happened in
Brooklyn," a tribute to the Brooklyn Dodgers that was filmed during the
1941 World Series at Ebbets Field. An introduction by Brooklyn
historian John Manbeck precedes the first screening. Tonight, 6:50 and
9:15 p.m., Brooklyn Academy of Music Rose Cinemas, Peter Jay Sharp
Building, 30 Lafayette Ave., between Ashland Place and St. Felix
Street, 718-777-3456, $10 general, $7 students 25 and under, seniors,
children, and members. For a full schedule, go to www.bam.org.

Seems that Orange Blossom, that cool kid’s clothing store on Lincoln Place, a block I walk on every day, has new owners. The old owners were super nice people. I know that the off-Avenue location can be a bit of a challenge but I thought they were doing pretty well over there.

UPDATE: The old owners moved back to Austin, Texas and sold the business to business associates/friends. The new owners are designers of soft dolls and stuffed animals.

Diaper Diva and I loved going in — and buying stuff there. I’ve purchased quite a few recent new baby and birthday gifts there. We really enjoyed one of the sales people, who sang Russian lullabys to Ducky. Hope she’ll still be working at the shop. UPDATE: The woman who sings in Russian will still be working at the shop.

I didn’t have a clue that they were selling the shop. Although I did notice that they were closed for a few days "for spring cleaning."  Truth is, I’ve been so busy I didn’t even notice until recently that Kirstin at Slope Sports was very, very pregnant. Yesterday the shop was closed, anbd I wondered if she’d had the baby (baby due on April 16th). UPDATE: She did not. I saw her today and she is still pregnant.

So the changeover at Orange Blossom has been very discreet. I noticed a few changes through the window – a white picket fence around the counter. But I haven’t gone in. I went in. The new owners are very nice. A reader of OTBKB already stopped in the shop. Diaper Diva, not surprisingly, managed to find something to buy for Ducky. A cute pair of pink cargo pants and a t-shirt.

Dave Helm and  his wife, Courtney have taken over the reigns and would like to invite the readers of OTBKB to the big ol Grand Re-Opening event on Saturday April 29 11AM – 7PM and Sunday April 30th 12PM – 6PM.

It would be so cool if they had special prizes for the readers of OTBKB. Tell them you saw this on OTBKB and maybe they’ll give you an Orange Milano or something.

Come help us celebrate the Grand Re-Opening of one of Park Slope’s favorite kids clothing super shops!  Dave and Courtney Helm are the proud new owners of this gem of a shop and they are having a party to celebrate it.  All the old brands and some of the new – Tea Collection, Small Paul, Mr. Tiny, Queen Bee, Hats by Goorin, Paulina Quintana, Glug Baby, Yu-Be, Baby Bean, Bla Bla and Orange Blossom (private label) just to name a few.  Special discounts, door crasher prizes, freebies, special activities and a guest performance – Music for Aardvarks songs performed by MusicForBrooklyn.com.  PLEASE JOIN US!!!!!

ORANGE BLOSSOM
180 Lincoln Place
Brooklyn, NY 111217
877-GO-OBKIDS

 

                     

 

 

Speaking of kid’s clothing stores, there’s another new one, Area. New for Seventh Avenue, that is. They already have three shops. There’s Area Yoga and Baby on Smith Street, Area Yoga and Baby on Fifth Avenue near Flatbush (across from Lulu’s), and Area Emporium and Spa also on Smith Street.

This Area is in the space vacated by Regina Bakery. Interesting to see what that space looks like down to the bones. Without the counter and the wall that separated a small backroom, the store looks quite spacious. Brick walls. Painted over tin ceiling. Area didn’t even change the brown tile floor (they probably will).

A simple renovation done in good taste goes a long way. The merchandise – kid’s clothing, furniture, strollers, bikes – is colorful, well designed and good looking – makes for a cool looking place.

The owner of Area is obviously an ambitious Brooklyn entrepreneur. She’s got her brand — children’s items, yoga clothing for moms, spa services for moms — and she’s going in all over Baby Brooklyn. It remains to be seen whether they make as positive a connection with this  neighborhood as Loli’s and Orange Blossom have.

Area has an upscale, designer-baby vibe. Truth is, most of the stores carry the same lines of clothing.  Area has furniture and strollers…and this whole Yoga and Spa thing going.

They each differentiate themselves in their own way.  Wonder if Park Slope can support this many kid’s clothing and furniture stores.

On Seventh Avenue
Peek-a-Boo Kids: Between 6th and 7th Streets. Huge shoe selection. European dressy, cute cottons for babies.
Firefly: Between Fourth and Fifth Street. Off-price Euro designer clothing.
Loli’s: Between Garfield and First Street. Paul Frank items, very wearable, cool clothes.
Area: Between Union and President. Strollers, Furniture, hipster clothing. Unusual t-shirts.
Peek-A-Boo Kids: Between Union and Berkeley. Huge shoe selection.
Orange Blossom: on Lincoln Place. Cool clothes, great gifts, dolls, fun stuff.

On Fifth Avenue
Romp: Near St. Johns. Good design, t-shirts, no other clothing. Great toys.
Area Baby and Yoga: Near St. Marks. Strollers, Furniture, hipster clothing, Yoga clothing for moms.
Lulu’s: Near St. Marks. Great toys and haircuts.

Callalillie is waxing nostalgic today. But as usual, her thoughts got me thinking. There is picture of her at nine with her best friend, who she is still friends with. I am still friends with my best friend from when I was ten. I wonder if OSFO, who is now nine, will be friends with her current best friends for the rest of her life. Hope so. (left: OSFO with Beauty Girl).

It’s a nice feeling to know that you are a piece of someone’s
continuous history. It is even more touching to realize that, at some
point, our nine year olds will most likely meet one another.
Furthermore, that concept seems almost tangible at this stage in our
lives. Perhaps one day we will stand in front of one of our houses or
apartments, line the two kids up in all of their awkward splendor, and
snap a picture like this. In some ways, it sends shivers up my spine.
An evil grin on one hand, extreme nostalgia on the other. – Callalillie

A singer saxophonist by the name of Shelia Cooper got in touch with OTBKB. She and painist Jon Dryden are gigging at Magnolia on April 14th. Sounds like fun idea for a Friday night.

Just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to post it on your blog
re the cultural goings-on in Park Slope that Magnolia on  486  6th ave
at 12th Street (369-4814) is having music again on Fridays 9.30 to
11.30 pm, no cover.

I’ll be there this friday 4/14 with pianist Jon Dryden, my fellow Park
Sloper, we’re doing a couple of sets of music we’re calling "Ballads,
Blues and Beyond."  I’m a jazz singer-saxophonist.

A Brooklyn Life took a trapeze class and she lived to tell the tale on her blog. Check this out: And read more at the blog:

Normally, precocious seven year olds don’t calm my nerves, but the
three impatiently waiting for my morning trapeze class to begin did
have a soothing effect. After all, if children half my size and with
only a quarter of my life experience could do it, then so could I, I
confidently thought to myself.

I was the first of our group to climb the ladder. I do not like
heights. I am not deathly afraid of heights, but I am afraid, and I do
not seek them out–I respect them. And so, I followed my rule of thumb
on the way up: Do not look down. Of course, one does have to look down
when standing with all 10 toes hanging off the platform, hands
outstretched on a metal bar, body tilted at a 65 degree angle over
empty space. An instructor grasps everyone’s belt as they  hold this
position and then commands "hep," which means "jump!"

Continue reading A TRAPEZE LIFE →

Hepcat and I spent a night at the opera. Beethoven’s Fidelio at the Met. But the REALLY EXCITING PART: my best Friend from high school, soprano Amy Burton, a frequent performer with the New York City opera, had a huge role as Marzelline (the prison warden’s daughter who is in love with Fideolio. But Fidelio is actually a woman named Leonore, the wife of Floristan, a prisoner slowly dying in soitary confinement in the deep depths of the prison). Poor Marzelline.

How to describe sitting in the fourth to last row of the orchestra (DD), dead center, watching a friend singing on stage at the MET. 

What a thrill. And she was fantastic. Truly, madly, deeply. Fantastic. I loved the opera, all the singers, the sets. EVERYTHING.

THANKS AMY FOR GIVING ME A NIGHT AT THE OPERA I WILL NEVER FORGET.

Note: the woman pictured IS NOT Amy Burton.

Neergard Pharmacy, the one on Seventh Avenue between La Bagel Delght and Citibank got rid of their wierd plexiglass gerbil cage, maze-like entrance. Thrilled.

I never understood why they had that thing. It was impossible with strollers. I hated it and am sure it kept a lot of people out of the store.

Well, they got smart and axed it. Now they have a normal entrance. Woo Hoo. The health system in this country is bad enough without the added difficulty of a pleixglass maze to get into a pharmacy.

Truth is, I don’t use their pharmacy services as I am a loyalist to Frank at Plama – the very nice white haired man. But I do do Neergard for other drug store items — they have interesting stuff in there.

Now without the plexi, I won’t have to think twice about going. Not that I have a stroller. I guess it was a psychological (and plexi) barrier that came between me and the store.

The Neergard on Fifth Avenue is open 24-hours, which can be a godsend in an emergency. That store is also plex-free. Thank goodness.

Turns out that Alicia Gorgenson, who played the original Becky on the show, "Roseanne" lives in Brooklyn. Got that bit of info from one of my fave Brooklyn blogs: Callalillie

Well, not only does she live in Brooklyn, Alicia has a blog and it’s good. I found this tribute she did to Shelley Winter:

Shelley Winters is one of the greatest, if not the greatest actress of her time. She passed away last Saturday morning at the age of 83.

Earlier in my life, I was lucky enough to work with Shelley when she played my great-grandmother on "Roseanne."  I vividly remember one particular moment when, while rehearsing on our kitchen set, she picked up a prop tomato, took a big bite out of it, and put it back in its bowl, seemingly unconscious. There was something so spontaneous and savage about that bite.

Since, Shelley has been a major influence in my work and life as an actress. And it is the great fortune of future actresses that her film performances remain.
In college, my best friend and roommate KT, the biggest Shelley-head I’ve ever met, and I would daydream about eras in Shelley’s life. "To be a fly on the wall when Shelley roomed with Marlyn Monroe!" we squealed, and wondered if they too had a piece of toast up in their living room.

While watching the Golden Globes last night and shaking my fist in disdain, I had the realization that somewhere, Shelley was also shaking her fist in disdain, and that perhaps, there were more of us out there…

Still, life will never be the same.

Spring is blooming on Third Street. Wisteria branches with bright yellow flowers are poking out from some of the black iron gates.

The neighbors are coming out from under their winter down jackets. In winter, we walk quickly to our buildings and never stop to say hello. And then spring arrives and everyone is chatty again. I saw my neighbor who rides a red Vespa walking her dog yesterday – all friendly again.

The limestone coop that transformed their front yard from cement and garbage pails to a very upscale, Smith and Hawken beauty, has flowering trees. Thanks to their teak benches, wooden garbage pail garage, stone urn, plantings, and skinny, droopy white-flowered trees (photo of those trees in late spring above), they’ve really added to the quality of sight on Third Street.

The wooden lawn chairs in the yard on the corner always look so human to me. (I tend to anthropomorphize objects). One is a man, the other is a woman. Sometimes they are sitting up talking, or watching passerbys.  Other days, they are down and I say to myself, "Now, they’re sleeping." Yesterday, they were down – sunbathing, I guess – taking in the spring weather.

In the brownstone with the faux brick exterior from the 1970’s, the passionate  gardener who lives there has purple bulbs and other spring-y flowers already. i can’t wait to see what she has in store for us this year.

No flower boxes yet. But the building across the street, where The Deserters (friends who moved to, gasp, Nyack) used to live has a huge stone planter with a pink magnolia that blooms once a year. And now it’s blooming.

Mrs. Deserter and two or three others in that building were very intense window-box gardeners. Intense might be too mild a word. This time of year, I’d usually see Mrs. Deserter tending to her tres chic metal window boxes. I’d call up to her Brooklyn-style and we’d have a quick conversation. The people they sold the apartment to kept the window boxes, but this year they’re GONE. Where did they go? Did they decided to scrap them?

Slowly, spring emerges on Third Street. 

Have you heard the news? Spot, OSFO’s Build a Bear dog and Kate, the Build a Bear bear of her classmate, are getting married. On Friday. In the backyard at PS 321.

But it’s not that simple. Spot was married to Annika, another Build a Bear bear. But Annika kept bossing Spot around. Finally, Spot told OSFO to tell Annika’s owner that he wanted a divorce.

Two days later they signed the divorce papers. It was a bitter divorce. Annika wanted to get back together with Spot, But Spot refused.

Last week, Spot got engaged to Kate, a Build a Bear bear that belongs to another classmate. Kate is a divorcee with a young baby bear named Bob, Jr. Spot will be his stepfather.

The wedding is set for Friday. Spot will wear a spiffy tuxedo that OSFO’s aunt, Diaper Diva, bought at the store. He looks very dapper in it. He even has a white rose on his lapel and a top hat.

Kate will be wearing a blue tea dress. OSFO, on behalf of Spot, bought Kate a bright red Gerber Daisy for the wedding, which is sitting in a glass of water on the dining room table. OSFO created a wedding braclet out of colored wire. Judge Emmie, OSFO’s best, best friend, will be marry the two lovers. "It’s going to be a bear/dog wedding. That’s their religion."

The animals and the girls had a rehearsal on Tuesday in the backyard. At the rehearsal,  Annika, Spot’s ex, kissed Spot and told him that she wants him back. Spot told her, "If you don’t stop we will have to go to court and see Judge Emmie."  Annika will be singing at the wedding, a rock star song, and will be dressed in her rock star outfit.

OSFO’s thinks Spot and Kate are a good match. "They are planning on having three more children in the future. Spot will be a very good stepfather to little Bob, Jr."

Mazel Tov to the bride and groom.

Hey, we know this guy. He showed us some apartments in 1991. Really nice guy. Gald to see this profile in The Real Deal by Alison Gregor.

When residential broker Jerry Minsky made Fort Greene his stomping ground two decades ago, he was well aware that he was confronting a bit of family history.

His parents, Nathan and Rose Minsky, both Holocaust survivors, were moved into the neighborhood’s housing projects in 1948 — and departed a year later.

"They were immigrants, like from ‘Sophie’s Choice,’ and they thought, ‘We’ve got to get out of here,’" said Minsky, an agent in the Fort Greene office of the Corcoran Group. "So, when I bought my house here in 1989, they were like, ‘Interesting choice of community.’"

Though he was born on the Lower East Side and grew up in the Brighton Beach area, Minsky didn’t let his parents’ uncertainty about his choice of neighborhoods derail his career in real estate.

After purchasing a 19th-century townhouse that was a former rectory for $350,000 (now worth almost six times that amount, he claims), Minsky went on to carve out a successful career as a broker and is today regarded as one of the major power players in Brooklyn residential real estate. Last year, Minsky and his assistant, Erin Brennan, moved more than $30 million worth of properties in the Fort Greene neighborhood.

"That means we had to do a lot of volume," Minsky said. "This is not a neighborhood where one deal is $10 million. We had over 100 transactions."

The pace of real estate deals in Fort Greene is not necessarily surprising given the high quality of properties in the historically middle-class African-American neighborhood, called the most preserved in Brooklyn. Statuesque five-story townhouses line many of its blocks; Fort Greene Park is undergoing a rejuvenation; and the neighborhood’s public transportation options could hardly be better.

But two decades ago, when Minsky bought into the neighborhood, Fort Greene, like some other parts of Brooklyn, was plagued with crime and drug problems. Still, Minsky saw an Old World charm to the community.

"I always had a real respect for history and a love of old architecture," he said. "Maybe this neighborhood evoked some fantasy about my European background, since I grew up in Mitchell-Lama apartment dwellings in the 1960s."

During his tenure as a teacher of disabled children in Williamsburg, Minsky attended a party held in 1984 at the Fort Greene apartment of a colleague — and it changed his life. At the same time, he was wooing his future wife, Aida, who is of Puerto Rican descent. The couple soon found an apartment in Fort Greene.

"I fell in love with a neighborhood," Minsky said. "I left teaching, and I became a broker, and that was it. I’ve been a top producer ever since."

This from New York 1 about the situation in Boro Park:

Quiet has returned but tensions remain high following a massive protest in Borough Park Tuesday night where the actions of the police, and the words of a high ranking NYPD official are being called into question.

Hundreds of Borough Park residents rushed the 66th precinct station house chanting "No justice, no peace" to protest what witnesses say was the rough treatment of a 75-year-old Hasidic business-owner by police.

Chief of Department Joseph Esposito now admits he made inappropriate comments during the chaos. He does not however admit to singling out Jews in his words as some city council members say he did.

Brooklyn City Councilor Simcha Felder accused the chief of saying, "get the F Jews out of here. Get the F Jews out of here. That is something that is inexcusable, intolerable," Felder says.

"This is not the Intifadah in Ramallah, in the Middle East, my God," says Assemblyman Dov Hikind. "There is no excuse for the behavior that took place in terms of the police department, where people were clubbed, where people were treated in a way that is inexcusable."

Two garbage fires were set during the melee, which stretched for several blocks and closed numerous streets. Police, however, were able to contain the crowd by 9:30 p.m. and no injuries were reported.

Police sources say the protest was sparked after officers approached 75-year-old Arthur Schick, who was talking on his cell phone while double-parked in front of his family-owned bakery on 16th Avenue at around 6:30 p.m.

When police attempted to handcuff Schick, two other Hasidic men tried to step in. A crowd then formed, and the scene quickly grew unruly.

Protesters threw garbage and hundreds of residents blocked the street around Shick’s Bakery.

Community witnesses say the melee started because police dragged Schick from his car, roughly put him into a police van, and twice slammed the door on his leg.

Witnesses say Schick is a respected businessman who may not have immediately complied with police because he is hard of hearing.

"We saw him being pushed by the police against the car, then they grabbed his hand and put him into an arm-lock and violently manhandled him," said Sariel Widawski. "This is a very busy day in Borough Park – we’re all preparing for the Passover holiday – and everybody was a witness to it. They started screaming at the police to leave the old man alone, but they kept on manhandling him and refused to stop."

One resident says those in the crowd felt like they had to do something.

"I don’t know if this is what should have been done, but the community has to respond in some way,” said area resident Israel Fleischer. “It might be better if we respond with people talking to the Police Department, but you can’t – especially with an old guy, 75 years old, you can’t have that."

Smartmom is now available on-line at the Brooklyn Papers web site. You can also read editor Gersh Kuntzman’s The Brookyn Angle. A great writer, Kuntzman’s got game when it comes to the great Brooklyn story. They’ve even archived both columns, which makes it so easy for those who don’t live in Brooklyn to read them. For those of you who want to be getting the Brooklyn Papers home-delivered — email circulation@brooklynpapers.com — and include your name and address.

Hepcat got a job, Harried Harriet is seeing a new man, Tall and Lanky’s house renovation was dragging on, and the war in Iraq entered its fourth year. Sounds like it was time for a “Mommy Dinner.”

Easier said than done.

“Mommy Dinners” are tricky to arrange, thanks to everyone’s byte-filled Palm Pilots. Organizing such a dinner depends on the tenacity and persistence of at least one member of the mommy dinner group.

For this one, Brainy Lawyer took on the task: “Let’s pick a few dates and see what works for most of us.”

“Wednesday works for me,” Smartmom replied. “I don’t mind missing ‘American Idol.’”

But that wasn’t going to work.

“That whole week is all bad for me,” e-mailed Tall and Lanky. “Because of the renovation, we are still camping out at the in-laws in Manhattan. Is it possible to do the following week?”

Brainy Lawyer proposed a date for the following week.

“Don’t mean to be a problem, but could we possibly meet on the next Wednesday,” wrote Tall and Lanky. “My husband is out and my sitters are not available.”

Groan.

Finally, a date was settled on. Harried Harriet even invited everyone over for drinks before dinner until she realized that she wasn’t even free that night. She sent out this apologetic missive by e-mail:

“You must kick me to the curb, throw me under the bus and meet without me. I had my dates wrong. Today was crazy so I guess I was in no shape to operate heavy machinery or make dinner dates with my dearest, oldest friends…”

Dearest and oldest friends. Smartmom paused and thought about how one phrase could describe her relationship to women she met just seven years ago at the Two Day Twos orientation meeting at Beth Elohim. The parents sat in a circle on small classroom chairs as Perky Pre-School Teacher told them: “Look around you. There is a very good chance that you are going to know one another for a long time,” she said.

At the time, Smartmom rolled her eyes. And even though some of her first impressions of these women were wrong and some were more or less right, Perky was absolutely on the money: these people would become great friends.

Once a “Mommy Dinner” date was set, a restaurant had to be selected. Restaurant reviews were considered. Zagats was consulted. Budgetary concerns were cited. Allergies, diets, likes and dislikes. Finally, after checking Go-Brooklyn.com (the definitive Brooklyn dining site), Little Dishes, the new brick-lined South Slope restaurant that serves “American style meze,” was selected.

Phew.

Smartmom doesn’t remember who originally came up with the idea for the “Mommy Dinners” but over the years they have evolved into a treasured night away from husbands and children. At the first dinner, the talk was mostly about kids, school, and teachers — lots of talk about kids, school, and teachers.

But over time, the moms became more intimate and shared stories about their lives and what was really on their minds. Eventually, they compared childhoods, couple’s counselors and colonoscopies (over pasta. Yum!).

In addition to being gabathons, the “Mommy Dinners” have also been a short history of the restaurant boom in Brooklyn. Pre-Y2K, there was barely anywhere to eat on Fifth Avenue — now it’s stuffed to the gills with restaurants.

Much has changed since that first “Mommy Dinner” in ways big and small. There have been disappointments and divorce, money woes, problems with the kids and the inevitable: trying to figure out what to do when mothering wasn’t enough anymore.

There have also been new careers, new homes, and new babies. September 11th happened the day before pre-school started, and the group shared that experience like it has everything else.

At Little Dishes last week, the first order of business was, of course, the drink order. “Red or white?” asked ABD (All But Dissertation), looking studiously at the wine list.

Next up: a discussion of Harried Harriet, who was not in attendance. “OK, has anyone met her new man?” someone asked. Harried Harriet separated from her husband more than four years ago, and works hard to support herself and her daughter. Now, she has met someone new.

“He’s great,” Smartmom assured the group. “He’s a really, really good guy.”

Then it was Smartmom’s turn, sharing her relief about Hepcat’s new job at the Edgy Startup.

After they placed their orders — lamb shank for ADB, who is also a part-time foodie, and hanger steak very rare for Brainy Lawyer — Tall and Lanky lamented the travails of her recent house renovation. ABD and Smartmom, both of whom suffer from acute house envy, elbowed each other discreetly and smirked.

Then Brainy Lawyer, a compulsive reader of the New York Times, steered the conversation toward the third anniversary of the Iraq War. “Can you believe it?” she said. “This has got to end.”

A discussion of Tall and Lanky’s stress-inducing, hyper-achievers’ book group (no Oprah’s book list for those girls) transitioned into a frank appraisal of the incoming rabbi at Garfield Temple.

Smartmoom jotted some notes on a piece of paper. “You are NOT going to put that in your COLUMN,” commanded ABD.

“Of course not,” Smartmom smiled.

At evening’s end, the four squeezed into an Eastern Car Service car. The women were tired, but reluctant to end the evening.

“We should do this again in about a month,” Brainy Lawyer said. “But I’m not going to plan it this time,” she said with unconcealed resentment.

No one wanted to take on that job. Just yet.

But as sure as PS 321 needs more classroom space, Smartmom and her pals are going to need another “Mommy Dinner” soon.

How bad can one week get? Try me.

Monday: A water main breaks and the earth opens up, an SUV falls in. Teen Spirit misses a day at school because there is no R-Train service.

Tuesday: Vultures

Wednesday: OSFO has a sleepover date (not really a bad thing except…see Friday).

Thursday: Teen Spirit gets mugged: his iPod is stolen.

Friday: OSFO’s best friend has head lice (the one who slept over on Wednesday night). Need I say more?

This weekend, Prospect Park begins its 2006 season with lots of activities — and it sounds like Saturday is going to be a perfect day weather-wise.

Tomorrow is also the day when Park Slope feels like a small town. Opening day of the local little league season means Seventh Avenue is flooded with a huge parade of kids in their baseball finest — and families — on their way to the park to hear the politicians salute baseball in Brooklyn.

OPENING DAY: Prospect Park
begins its season for 2006: Prospect Park Little League Parade at 10
am, beginning at Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street; Spring Wash Day at
Lefferts Historic House, where kids are invited to use washtubs and
washboards, from 1 pm to 4 pm, at Children’s Corner, intersection of
Flatbush and Ocean avenues and Empire Boulevard; Volunteers help spruce
up park, 10 am to 2 pm, meeting near Tennis House in Prospect Park.
(718) 965-8960. Also, Carousel opens, $1.50 per ride, noon to 5 pm, at
Children’s Corner. www.prospectpark.org. Free.

A whole bunch of movies worth seeing in Brooklyn this weekend. Top of the list: Steve Buscemi’s Lonesome Jim at BAM. But they’ve also got "Thank You For Not Smoking" AND "Dave Chappelle’s House Party. At Pavillion, V for Vendetta and Inside Man, which Hepcat and Teen Spirt liked a lot.

Lonesome Jim
Friday    2:15  4:40  6:50  9:00
Saturday    2:15  4:40  6:50  9:00
Sunday    2:15  4:40  6:50  9:00
Monday    4:40  6:50  9:00
Tuesday    4:40  6:50  9:00
Wednesday    4:40  6:50  9:00
Thursday    4:40  6:50  9:00

Thank You for Smoking   (R) 
Friday    2:00  4:30  7:00  9:30
Saturday    2:00  4:30  7:00  9:30
Sunday    2:00  4:30  7:00  9:30
Monday    4:30  7:00  9:30
Tuesday    4:30  7:00  9:30
Wednesday    4:30  7:00  9:30
Thursday    4:30  7:00  9:30

Dave Chappelle’s Block Party  (R) 
Friday    2:30  4:50  7:10  9:40
Saturday    2:30  4:50  7:10  9:40
Sunday    2:30  4:50  7:10  9:40
Monday    4:50  7:10  9:40
Tuesday    4:50  7:10  9:40
Wednesday    4:50  7:10  9:40
Thursday    4:50  7:10  9:40

At the Pavillion:

Jodie Foster in a Spike Lee Joint

Inside Man   (R) 
Saturday    1:00  4:00  7:20  10:05
Sunday    1:00  4:00  7:20  10:05
Monday    1:00  4:00  7:20  10:05
Tuesday    1:00  4:00  7:20  10:05
Wednesday    1:00  4:00  7:20  10:05
Thursday    1:00  4:00  7:20  10:05

Smells like the Stroller Manifesto all over again. Kids and Bars. It seems to arouse a lot of controversy. Over at Daily Heights, they’re having it out about whether kids are taking over Soda Bar, a bar in Prospect Heights.

Why would anyone want to bring your kids to a
bar? wouldn’t the social time be better spent at the park, museum, zoo,
etc. maybe something that is fun for the kid and not just the parents.
bars are dark, kinda dingy with lots of weird strangers who are
drinking. If I were a kid again a bar is the last place I would want to
be. I know you don’t want to give up your social life, but it’s not just about you anymore.

From New York 1 about the release of transcripts and recordings of WTC 911 calls on 9/11.

Nearly five years after the World Trade Center attacks, some families have received transcripts and recordings of 911 calls their loved ones made from the doomed towers, a day before the audio recordings are released to the public Friday morning.

Due to the sensitive nature of the tapes and to protect the privacy of the families, only censored versions of the tapes will be released to the public. Only operators and dispatchers will be heard, with the callers’ voices muted out.

The recordings are the result of the three-year-long lawsuit involving a group of nine families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001.

They argue the tapes are an integral part of piecing together what happened on the day of the attacks.

The New York Times requested the names of the callers be audible on the public tapes in those cases where the dispatcher said the name aloud. A judge ruled in favor of the Times on Wednesday, but the city is appealing that decision.

I walked past the site of the old Zuzu’s Petals on Seventh Avenue between Union and Berkeley Place and saw what I think is a new laminated sign (okay it’s been there for six months – I didn’t notice).

There have been signs on that storefront ever since a fire forced Zuzu’s out of their longtime location. Here’s the latest missive from those lovely Zuzu ladies. On top of the note there was a movie still from "It’s a Wonderful Life."

While I was jotting down the words, one of my neighbors, a reader of OTBKB, walked by. We read the note together and she told me about a rose she bought at Zuzu’s that lasted two weeks. TWO WEEKS. I told her about the two dozen roses I got at Key Food that were THORNY and lasted ONE DAY. ONE. Moral of this story: Get your roses at Zuzu’s.

This is the scene from "It’s a Wonderful Life" when George Bailey fixes his daughter’s Zuzu’s damaged fose and tucks the broken petal in her pocket.

Since August 26th 2004, the day of the fire that cost us our home of 33 years, we have focused all our energy on rebuilding and restoring our showp, our business, our lives with the help of so many loving friends.

The morning after the fire, we posted a note here which asked what we learned. There have been many lessons. But these are perhaps the most important:

Life is what happens when you’re making other plans.

The love you take is equal to the love you make.

There is much to be said for the kindness of strangers and the loyalty of old friends.

We count ourselves lucky for being part of the Park Slope community. Because of that, Zuzu’s Petals blooms again. Perhpas better than ever.

Yesterday a letter came home in the Oh So Fiesty One’s (OSFO) backpack from PS 321’s principal, Liz Phillips. In it, she informed the parents that the New York City Department of Education has developed a new HIV/AIDS curriculum for grades k-12. The curriculum is designed to raise awareness about ways to stay healthy and to help develop empathy for people who are ill. OSFO is already a little nervous about these health classes the teachers are talking about. "What am I going to learn in health class," she asked me yesterday. Today, she asked me if the boys and girls were going to be separated when they talk about it. I told her that I didn’t know.

At PS 321, there will be age appropriate lessons that help children children learn about staying  safe, making good choices and being healthy. In the upper grades, HIV/AIDS will be talked about more explicitly. Children will learn in science how the immune system works and will have classroom based lessons on how to resist negative peer pressure.

They will be teaching these lessons as part of the health education and science curriculum in late April and early May. They will also be sending home a blue pamphlet for parents from the Department of Education on HIV/AIDS education.

The schools are holding meetings for parents about the new curriculum. There’s one at PS 321 on April 4, at 8:40 a.m. in the Auditorium to discuss the rationale for the curriculum and the kinds of lessons they will be teaching each grade.

Boy, do I know Shopsin’s. And New York Magazine says that West Village restaurant moving to  Carroll Gardens after 24 years in the Village. That’s what I call Big Brooklyn News. (Picture by nycnosh.)

Not suprisingly, the owner refused to be interviewed for the New York Magazine story and told the reporter: "Why don’t you make something fucking up. That’s what you’re going to do anyway."  I think that’s Kenny Shopsin’s  motto when it came to reporters.

That place is so idiosyncratic and famous there’s even documentary about it called "I Like Killing Flies."

Back in the 1980’s I worked in an  office on Morton Street. At first I didn’t know what to make of this restaurant on the corner of Morton and Bedford that was frequently closed and looked like a vintage luncheonette or grocery store.

But it wasn’t a luncheonette at all. First of all, if you tried to get your morning coffee there they’d look at you funny — they were only open doing prep work for lunch. You could sit and have a cup if you want. "But we don’t bag it or anything,"  Mrs. Shopsin said.

The place was run by a strange, somewhat gregarious, rolypoly man named Kenny Shopsin, who usually wore a grease-stained t-shirt and a white apron (also dirty), and his wife. The menu was many pages long and it featured something like 900 items and about 100 soups. How, I wondered, could they have so many soups (and entrees) every day? It was a mystery. It really was a vast menu and the food was really interesting running the gamut from American comfort, breakfast, dinery-lunchy, to dinner entrees of their own invention.

One thing I remember vividly. Instead of caps on the ketchup bottles, there were plastic dinosaur figurines plugged into the bottles.

Another thing, Kenny didn’t like tourists much. So, if he saw a bunch of tourists approaching the restaurant he’d run over to the door and say, "Sorry, we’re closed." as he put the Closed sign up.

I know the place had a lot of regulars and celebs. People you’d recognize, people you wouldn’t. It was really an institution down there on Morton Street – one of the great streets in the West Village. They moved to Bedford and Carmine Street. I never went – I couldn’t wrap my head around the new, more modern location.

Wonder where they’re moving to in Carroll Gardens? Anyone know? A Brooklyn Life – yoo hoo.

Also here are Ruth Reichl and Eric Asimov on Shopsin’s:

The menu is encyclopedic, the soups are spectacular and the welcome is eccentric. It’s been a Village hangout for years, and the owners, who would just as soon it stayed that way, are wary of strangers. – Ruth Reichl (4/98)

You’re not likely to find a stranger restaurant in New York than Shopsin’s, housed in an old general store. Kenny Shopsin, the chef and owner with his wife, are as likely to yell at you as look at you, especially if they don’t like your attitude. The food is as quirky as the owners, with many of Shopsin’s own pancake and soup inventions. Sometimes they are good, sometimes not so good, but portions are always huge. – Eric Asimov (4/98)
-The New York Times

According to New York 1, 50,000 people are expected to make their way over
the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday as part of a nationwide rally over
proposed changes to the nation’s immigration policies.

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are weighing three proposals, including
one that would make illegal immigrants eligible for work. Another
proposal focuses on border security.

Already there are major differences of opinion as the debate rages
both inside the Senate and beyond. A version of the bill has been
passed by the House.

NOW THE DAILY NEWS HAS THE SHOPSIN’S STORY. IT’S AN ONLY IN NEW YORK KIND OF THING. WEST VILLAGE RESTAURANT MOVES TO BROOKLYN: BIG NEWS

Shopsin’s, the West Village diner made famous for its 900-item menu and odd rules, such as no more than four to a table, could be hauling its celeb-studded digs to Carroll Gardens.

"You’re right – I’m thinking about moving to Brooklyn," owner and chef Kenny Shopsin told the Daily News. "I don’t know what else to tell you."

Shopsin and his wife, Eve, are reportedly considering the move because of skyrocketing rent at their 34-seat Carmine St. digs, where they’ve been serving oddball entrees like the "sausage walnut potato volcano" since 2002.

But when asked about a West Village rent hike, Shopsin insisted his decision wasn’t based on money.

"My landlord is a fair and honest businessperson, and I have a good lease," said Shopsin, 63, who enforces a strict ban on cell phones. "That’s all. That’s it."

When pressed for his reason for considering a move to Brooklyn, Shopsin would only say: "Two of my five children live in Brooklyn and are happy there. When I visit them, I feel pretty good too."

For more than two decades, diners have poured into Shopsin’s as much for the spinach walnut pancakes as for notables like Lizzie Grubman, Drew Barrymore and her rocker boyfriend Fabrizio Moretti.

But if Shopsin decides to leave Manhattan, he won’t have to do it at the expense of his celebrity clientele. Besides Barrymore, who told New York magazine she would follow Shopsin, Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams have been spotted dining out near their Dean St. home.

"We’ve got plenty of them living around here," said South Brooklyn Local Development Corp. President Bette Stoltz of the notable names in the neighborhood. "Between the movie stars and the literati, we’re doing okay."

The move wouldn’t be Shopsin’s first. Four years ago, he moved to his current digs after a rent hike at his original spot around the corner on Morton St. But on Smith St., where fine dining is the norm, the soup-and-sandwich joint might not make the cut, one local predicted.

Shopsin’s "used to be a legend when it had this perfect little corner spot," sniffed Saul Bolton, owner of Smith St. eatery Saul. "It’s a grimy, moldy, musty place where they make food out of a can. I wouldn’t be interested in going there now. Even if it was my neighbor."

Right now, Shopsin’s only immediate connection to Brooklyn seemed to be a beef gumbo and poached egg combination on the menu named for writer Truman Capote, who lived in Brooklyn Heights.

Here’s a picture of Capathia Jenkins from Sunday night’s fundraiser at the Old Stone House. It makes me happy to look at it because it was such a great night of music. For those who missed it, they will return. We are hoping to present them again in 2007. So stay tuned.

On June 18th, Capathia and Louis Rosen will be performing at the Great Hall of Cooper. OTBKB will provide details as soon as she has them.

This incredible picture was taken by Tom Martinez, Pastor of All Souls Bethlehem Church in Kensington. He is also an avid photographer with a web site on digital railroad. I saw him taking pictures in the back of the room on Sunday night and I had a feeling they would be good. I was right.

I am grappling with the issues raised by the recent events on Third Street, I am…listening, reading and trying to take in what I am hearing from neighbors, friends and commenters on OTBKB.

I am hearing that neighbors on Third Street are joining together to aid the man accused of child molestation. He will NEED money for his defense – someone said $10,000. I am wondering if anyone is COLLECTING MONEY ON HIS BEHALF?

Ironically, the over-exposure of this situation could result in his getting the money for the lawyer he needs. Is there a defense fund for him. If not, there should be. He has no money and he needs help.

Everyone deserves good legal counsel.

Quite a few people I’ve spoken to say that the mother was wrong putting the man’s name on the infamous flyer. And I agree. Even putting her own name up there violated her daughter’s privacy. Now the local news will not reveal the name of the mother to protect the girl. But the man, his name is smeared all over the city.

Did the mother have a good reason to take matters into her own hands? He’d been arrested, faced a Grand Jury and is now awaiting trial. What more did she want? Couldn’t she just let the judicial system do what it needs to do?

It think it would have been possibe to spread the word without naming him. She could have written something like: There is an accused sex offender living on this block. He is awaiting trial. In the meantime, do everything you can to assure that your children are well supervised, safe and educated in what to do if such a situation arises.

But you don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind blows.

We all KNOW that there is danger in this city, this country, this world. That’s why we act prudently and cautiously. We protect our children every single day from danger. We oversee their activities, supervise them, stay in touch with them, and NEVER EVER introduce the to situations that might be dangerous. That is the pact we make when we have children. Bottom line: it is our responsibility every day to protect our children and teach them to be smart about imminent danger.

Danger lurks all around. But for the most part, we manage to avoid it by staying alert to the fact that the world is a complicated place and complicated things happen.

The Daily News paraphrased something I said about "stranger danger." Most kids are warned about  strangers when it is actually really nice, familiar people who harm them in this way (I am not suggesting that the man is guilty – I am speaking generally here).

Right from the beginning, I saw parents, understandably, go into "protective parent over-drive." How do I protect my kid, what do I say, how do I even explain what the sign said?

These are just some of the thought rumbling around in my brain. Someone asked me tonight if I think I made a mistake putting the story about finding the sign on my blog. It’s quite possible that I did make a mistake. That it was done without enough thought of what the ramifications might be.

I never imagined that he was someone so many people knew. Once I heard that he was a familiar face on the block, a well-liked person, "a good man," I knew things were going to get very complicated.

And god knows they have.

There was a relief around here when we learned that the R train was back in service and Teen Spirit’s high school was open. Good news all around. Although Teen Spirit was holding out for another day off.

The R train was back in service in time for the Tuesday morning rush
following a nasty water main break in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Monday.

Rushing water from the break forced the line to be shut down
between 95th and 36th Streets Monday. Mud and debris reached two feet
above the roadbed and covered approximately 300 feet of track.

Crews worked through the day and night to get service restored in time for the Tuesday morning rush.

Above ground, the news is not as good. Fourth Avenue between 72nd
and 77th Streets is still closed to street traffic thanks to a giant
sinkhole caused by the break that swallowed an SUV.

Water and gas service was turned off for a time while crews lifted the SUV, but was restored shortly afterwards.

The word is out. There was a story in this morning’s New York Daily News. And I’m quoted.

How did a blog entry about feeling uncertain and confused when I
read a note posted in the entryway of my building gradually turn into
the fiasco that this has become?

This morning I got calls from Channel 11, and one call from Fox 5: I wouldn’t talk to them. A reporter from CBS rang the intercom and another reporter from Channel 11 called to say that she was on the block. I groaned.

I told the CBS reporter that I didn’t want to be interviewed on camera. He said that was fine but to come down to talk -for background.

I made him wait and when I got downstairs, two cameras were rolling and the CBS reporter AND the Channel 11 reporter were thrusting their microphones in my face.

I thought you weren’t going to interview me.

They were really interested in ONLY ONE THING — where does HE live, where does SHE live. And I didn’t feel right telling them. I didn’t want to set the wolves on them.

The CBS reporter reminded me of Ted Baxter and boy did he want to get some info out of me. First he tried nice and suave, "So where does he live?" he said with a Baxteresque smile.

I told him that I knew but I didn’t want to say. Then Ted Baxter got a little testy: "Come on give me a clue," he said. Again I said no. Then he tried another tact. All sweet and nice again: "Where does SHE live?"

But I wouldn’t give him what he wanted.  "You read the note didn’t you," he said sounding angry again. "Did you forget the name?"

I think I purposely didn’t memorize the name. And for good reason. I certainly don’t think it’s my job to tell these reporters what they want to know. If they want to disrupt a few lives today for this story, they can do the footwork to find out the names and addresses.

Tomorrow they’ll be on to the next story. But they leave such chaos in their wake. And that’s the story that I will tell. Because when the dust settles again, Third Street will have to heal. There may be contention on the block. There have been issues before – within buildings, between neighbors. But we’ve survived them all with good will and openheartedness.

Yet we all have to live side by side in that New York City way. We’ll continue to shop at each other’s yard sales, attend bar-b-cues and building potlucks, watch the 4th of July fireworks from someone’s roof, chit chat on the sidewalk, hang out at the Mojo or the Coco Bar.

It’ll be interesting to see how Third Street gets through this. My sense is that community spirt, mutual repect and open heartedness will prevail.

If this becomes an object lesson rather than a witch hunt, everything will be okay.

But you never know.

The news from Duckyland. Diaper Diva bought Ducky a pair of ultra cool bikini underpants with a green camouflage pattern and pink lace.

"I heard from the babysitters in my building that the best way to toilet train a baby is to put them in underpants. They won’t want to mess them up."

As DD was paying the cashier at Lolli’s, she caught sight of the colorful Baby Bjorn potties on a high shelf. "Maybe I should get her a potty. They say it’s a good idea to have one around."

Before you can say poop, Diaper Diva is deciding what color potty she wants to buy. "Do you think I’m being crazy," she asked me. "Do ya?"

Everyone is in a rush to toilet train their babies. Changing diapers gets old pretty fast. You can’t blame DD for wanting to move things a long. A little more quickly.

When Diaper Diva got home, she nonchalantly left the bright yellow Bjorn potty in the bathroom. She claims that Ducky actually sat on it. Once. But it did make a great hat. She put it on her head, and did all kinds of tricks with it.

It’s not getting much use right now as a potty – but it’s a terrific toy. As for the stylish bikini panties – I’m not sure if she’s tried those on. Well, my best guess is yes — Ducky has probably tried them on. OSFO got a pair too. They are just so so cool.

Camouflage undies. What will they think of next?

This is a Teen Spirit story. He got to miss school because of this water main break. Woo hoo. We’re standing by to see if there’s school on Tuesday. Please. This from New York 1

The Transit Authority says a water main break that caused major
headaches for commuters along the R train in Brooklyn Monday may not be
repaired in time for the Tuesday morning commute.

Officials hoped to have full R service back up and running by 9
p.m. Monday, but the TA now says crews will work through the night to
fix the problem, with no guarantees service will be back by the morning
rush hour.

Meanwhile, gas and water service has been restored to the area near the water main break following outages.

Fourth Avenue is closed to traffic between 72nd and 79th Streets.