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.
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!).
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.
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.
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.
Excerpted from the New York Times’:
By Sewell Chan
Administrative charges have been filed against Robert M. Scarano Jr., an architect who built his career during Brooklyn’s construction boom, alleging that he made false or misleading statements on applications submitted to the Buildings Department in connection with two projects in Greenpoint, the authorities announced on Thursday.
The administrative charges — which could result in the suspension or revocation of Mr. Scarano’s ability to file documents with the Buildings Department — involve documents for two Brooklyn apartment houses that Mr. Scarano filed with the Buildings Department in 2000 and 2002. The city’s Buildings and Investigation Departments said in a joint statement:
Scarano is alleged to have improperly divided a zoning lot into two smaller lots for the two new buildings, 158 Freeman Street and 1037 Manhattan Avenue, resulting in the construction of two noncompliant buildings. With the two independent zoning lots, 158 Freeman Street could not have been legally built at all as a residential building and 1037 Manhattan Avenue as designed would have been smaller by approximately 2,000 square feet.
Both buildings are in Greenpoint, a neighborhood historically known for its large Polish immigrant community but now associated with the forces of gentrification.
In the wake of two fatal crane accidents this year that resulted in the ouster of the city’s buildings commissioner, the city has stepped up efforts to improve construction safety and to scrutinize every step of the building process.
“We will not tolerate anyone who knowingly attempts to mislead the Department with false documents,” said Robert D. LiMandri, acting commissioner of the Buildings Department. “Our Special Enforcement Team is identifying repeat offenders and building cases against them. Flouting building and zoning regulations undermines the quality of life for all New Yorkers, and we will continue to identify and hold accountable individuals who abuse the rules.”
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.
On June 12th, Brooklyn Reading Works presents the annual reading of the 808 Union Writers group at the Old Stone House on Thursday, June 12th at 8 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $5 to support Brooklyn Reading Works. There will also be wine and light refreshments.
The group used to meet at The Dance Studio at 808 Union Street—so that’s why we called ourselves 808 Union). But now that’s Kidsville so we don’t meet there anymore. Jokingly we call ourselves Writers and Drinkers because we usually go out afterward for drinks. Actually, Hepcat coined that phrase.
Now we meet in The Montauk Club so we are renaming the group Montauk Basement.
But we are an awesome group that’s been in existence for more than ten years. It’s usually a great reading, a diverse ride, a fun night. We did a dress rehearsal tonight and it’s going to be a great show.
Here’s the line-up:
Barbara Ensor, author of Cinderella, As If You Didn’t Already Know the Story and Thumbelina, Tiny Runaway Bride.
Wendy Ponte, PS…I Love You columnist for the Brooklyn Paper, author of Having a Baby…Naturally, and contributing editor for Mothering Magazine.
Rosemary Moore, an award-winning playwright, her play, The Pain of Pink Evenings,was included in Best American Short Plays of 2000-2001
Marian Fontana, author of A Widow’s Walk: A Memoir of 9/11 and the forthcoming The Middle of the Bed.
Jeffrey M. Jones, author of the plays, Crazy Plays, The Endless Adventures of M C Kat, and Tomorrowland.
Louise Crawford, who runs OTBKB, is the Smartmom columnist for the Brooklyn Paper and the author of The Last Sublet, a novel about a serial subletter.
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.
Here is the line up for next fall’s Next Wave Festival at BAM. You can view video previews for just about every one of these shows here.
A Quarreling Pair
Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company
Based on the play by Jane Bowles
Directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones
Sep 30—Oct 4
Sunken Red
Toneelhuis (BE) & ro theater (NL)
Directed by Guy Cassiers with Dirk Roofthooft
After the novel by Jeroen Brouwers
Oct 7—11
New Voices from Spain
Huecco (BAM Howard Gilman Opera House)
Rosalía (BAMcafé)
Oct 11
ETHEL’s TruckStop™: The Beginning
Directed by and created in collaboration with Annie Dorsen
Oct 14—18
Woyzeck
By Georg Büchner
Vesturport and The City Theatre
Directed by Gísli Örn Gardarsson
Oct 15—18
Awakenings
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Choreography by Stephen Page
Oct 21—25
Steve Reich Evening
Rosas
Choreography by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker
Music by Steve Reich and György Ligeti
Music performed live by Ictus
Oct 22—25
Darwin’s Meditation for The People of Lincoln
Conceived and composed by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR)
Oct 29—Nov 1
Meeting with Bodhisattva
U Theatre
Directed by Liu Ruo-Yu
Oct 29—Nov 1
Les sept planches de la ruse
(The Seven Boards of Skill)
Compagnie 111 and Scènes de la Terre
Conceived and directed by Aurélien Bory
Nov 5—8
Arjuna’s Dilemma
Music-Theatre Group
Music by Douglas J. Cuomo
Nov 5—8
Amjad
La La La Human Steps
Choreography by Édouard Lock
Nov 12—15
Continuous City
The Builders Association
Directed by Marianne Weems
Nov 18—22
Les écailles de la mémoire
(The scales of memory)
Compagnie Jant-Bi and Urban Bush Women
Choreography by Germaine Acogny and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar in collaboration with the dancers
Nov 19—22
Opening Night
By John Cassavetes
Toneelgroep Amsterdam and NTGent
Directed by Ivo van Hove
Dec 2—6
Red Hot + Rio 2
The Next Generation of Samba Soul
Dec 4 & 5
Lightning at our feet
Michael Gordon / Ridge Theater
Dec 9—13
Bamboo Blues
A piece by Pina Bausch
Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch
Dec 11—2
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.
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.
What do the following have in common?
??????
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.
I met the very enthusiastic Flatbush Pigeon during yesterday’s media tour at the Red Hook IKEA. Actually we met over by the buffet as I was selecting one of the many Swedish pastry offerings. She was at the Brooklyn Blogfest and it was nice to meet her and talk. Her blog covers art, culture, history, politics, current events of Brooklyn with a particular emphasis on documenting the early 3rd millennium resuscitation of Flatbush.
She’s been posting since April 2008 and has lots of great info on the blog including a great feature called Featured Brooklynite of the Week. So far she’s done: Mae West,, Francie Nolan (from a Tree Grows in Brooklyn) and filmmaker Ken Burns.
Here is her first post:
So, after being a faithful reader of several community blogs, I’ve decided to offer my own perspective about social, cultural and political life of Brooklyn in the early 3rd Millennium. Currently, I am particularly focused on the area in and around Flatbush since that is where I spend most of my time. Being that I try to keep myself up on happenings in Brooklyn, I thought I’d share them with my readers…should they ever arrive.
Caution: Anticipate periodic digressions.
Cheers,
Pigeon
Now this is an idea whose time has come. A coming together of Brooklyn PTA’s as a way to fund raise, share information, and support the schools. They’ve even got a website. They’re planning a great inaugural event that I may participate in.
This Friday a group of Brooklyn elementary school PTAs will come
together for a unique event to raise money together.In the face of budget cuts this year and planned cuts for next year,
PTAs of all sorts are being asked to do more fund raising to help
support their schools. In communities with a strong economic base,
this is not as difficult as it is for communities where families are
less affluent.A new organization, brooklynpta.org, was formed to raise money for all
of our children, no matter which school they attend.Our first event is this Friday’s 5K Run-Walk-Stroll-Toddle in Prospect
Park. Any Brooklyn elementary school is eligible to share in the race
proceeds by getting 20 runners/walkers to participate. Remember to
note which school you are running for when you register. Runners can
come from anywhere, not just your school.Get your sisters, brothers,
cousins, aunts, uncles, mothers, fathers and friends and come on out.To sign up or get more information, go to brooklynpta.org.
The registration fee is $15 with a $25 cap for families running
together. Raise additional money by getting sponsors!Registration begins at 6 p.m. and the run begins at 7 p.m. at the
Lincoln Road Pavilion.With all the crazy news from the DOE lately, this is a nice chance to
do something positive for our schools. Some of the schools involved so
far include PS 10, 107, 146, 29, 39, 139, 295 and 261 among others. We
also have support from the UFT and the Brooklyn Roadrunners Club. How
about you?Any questions? Feel free to ask me or go to brooklynpta.org.
Sincerely,
Sarah Cassidy (PS 146, BNS)
OBAMA’S V.P. SHORT LIST
A man of hope
Needs a man of spinach
So bear in mind
Dennis Kucinich
This is from the Metropolitan Opera press release about the really, really big opera show in Prospect Park on Friday June 20th.
Two of opera’s biggest stars, soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Roberto Alagna, will perform together in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park on June 20 at 8pm, together with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, in what is anticipated will be one of the Metropolitan Opera’s largest outdoor concerts in company history. Met Summer Concert: Live in Prospect Park has the potential of being attended by an audience of up to 150,000 people, who will be drawn from all five boroughs and the suburbs. The performance will be broadcast live on WQXR-FM (96.3 FM), and streamed live on the Met’s website, www.metopera.org.
“We are trying something new this summer, which we think will be especially appealing to all New Yorkers,” said Met General Manager Peter Gelb. “This is the first time in some years that leading Met stars will sing outdoors in a parks concert.”
The married star couple of Gheorghiu and Alagna will sing popular arias and duets by Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Massenet, and others, conducted by Ion Marin. Gheorghiu and Alagna will perform on a larger than normal stage in Prospect Park’s Long Meadow baseball fields, surrounded by six jumbo video screens that will be strategically placed throughout the area to maximize the viewing experience
.
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.
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
ENDGAME WISDOM
When Der Busher ups and goes,
No more pearls, alas:
“Unemployment is the curse
Of the jobless class.”
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.
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.
The recent tragic death of 3-year-old Kyle Smith by the hands of his legal guardian Nymeen Cheatham, and her boyfriend, Lemar Martin is sending shock waves through the city’s child welfare ranks once again. Brooklyn City workers were warned about possible child abuse in this case in the past and did nothing.
Last Friday little Kyle’s body was found covered with cuts, bruises and cigarette burns inside the Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment he shared with his legal guardian and her boyfriend.
At a press conference tomorrow, Councilmember de Blasio will join child advocates to introduce a resolution calling on the State Assembly to pass pending legislation that would allow child protective services to conduct criminal background checks on children’s guardians suspected of child abuse or neglect.
Child protective services workers are currently limited in their ability to access critical information that would allow them to fully evaluate the homes and living situations of children. In order for these workers to determine the health and safety of children in the system, they need every tool possible to ensure that children are not in imminent danger.
If these adults have a history of abusing or neglecting children, or of having children removed from their care, state and local agencies must be able to access this information so that they can make decisions in the best interest of the children involved.
Who: Councilmember de Blasio and Child Advocates
What: Councilmember de Blasio joins child advocates at a press conference to introduce a resolution calling on the State Assembly to pass legislation that would allow child protective services to conduct criminal background checks on children’s guardians suspected of child abuse or neglect
When: 10am – Thursday, June 12, 2008
Where: City Hall Steps
The recent tragic death of 3-year-old Kyle Smith by the hands of his legal guardian Nymeen Cheatham, and her boyfriend, Lemar Martin is sending shock waves through the city’s child welfare ranks once again. Brooklyn City workers were warned about possible child abuse in this case in the past and did nothing.
Last Friday little Kyle’s body was found covered with cuts, bruises and cigarette burns inside the Bedford-Stuyvesant apartment he shared with his legal guardian and her boyfriend.
At a press conference tomorrow, Councilmember de Blasio will join child advocates to introduce a resolution calling on the State Assembly to pass pending legislation that would allow child protective services to conduct criminal background checks on children’s guardians suspected of child abuse or neglect.
Child protective services workers are currently limited in their ability to access critical information that would allow them to fully evaluate the homes and living situations of children. In order for these workers to determine the health and safety of children in the system, they need every tool possible to ensure that children are not in imminent danger.
If these adults have a history of abusing or neglecting children, or of having children removed from their care, state and local agencies must be able to access this information so that they can make decisions in the best interest of the children involved.
Who: Councilmember de Blasio and Child Advocates
What: Councilmember de Blasio joins child advocates at a press conference to introduce a resolution calling on the State Assembly to pass legislation that would allow child protective services to conduct criminal background checks on children’s guardians suspected of child abuse or neglect
When: 10am – Thursday, June 12, 2008
Where: City Hall Steps
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..
The Daily News has a list of free summer activities in Brooklyn. For starters, there’s Issac Hayes this Thrusday at Celebrate Brooklyn. Check the article for lots more!
Also on Thursday, Isaac Hayes, the soul man who brought us “Theme From Shaft,” launches the Celebrate Brooklyn! summer series at the Prospect Park Bandshell. There’s a suggested donation of $3 at the gate for all performances, except special benefit concerts on July 9 and 15. Celebrate Brooklyn! continues through Aug. 9, ending with the Bill Withers Project. All performers are listed at www.briconline.org/celebrate/2008season.asp or call (718) 855-7882.
