Tag Archives: dogs

Civics and Urban Life

August 26 at 7PM: A Literary Event for Dogs and Humans

Dogs everywhere are taking the day off from work to celebrate a day created in 2004 by animal and lifestyle expert, Colleen Paige, to show deep appreciation for dogs and their endearing patience, unquestioning loyalty, capacity for love, and the way they enhance our lives in miraculous ways. We may not be taking the day off, but we’re certainly celebrating!

Join the residents of Brooklyn Heights, and their dogs, as they gather at Brooklyn Heights Veterinary Hospital to honor the millions of rescue dogs who deserve to be celebrated. The event is co-sponsored by Brooklyn Heights Veterinary Hospital, Brooklyn Dog Walk, and Mrs. Sizzle.

Local author Liz Weber will be there reading from her debut memoir, Memory Card Full, a story about her amazing dog, Rufus, and how his life and death changed her life.

Dr. Heather Thomson will also be in the house to talk about her newly established veterinary practice and the services offered. Bring your dog, or your neighbor’s dog and have a glass of wine and some snacks. (There will be treats for the dogs, too, of course.) National Dog Day – it’s all about the dogs and the people who love them.

Memoirist Liz Weber understands dog love first hand. Her life began to unravel when her oddly proportioned but adorable dog, Rufus, died of old age. She was forced to let go of the one constant in her life and move forward. MEMORY CARD FULL is a memoir of her life as a bartender, model, and aspiring writer in Manhattan before and after Rufus. Without him, she is alone and broken-hearted and her life spirals downward while her friends and family struggle to understand what she is going through. Her memoir charts her course through grief and ends at her realization that there were important things in life that Rufus’ love had caused her to avoid. Embracing her power and strength, she is finally able to accept that letting go of him is the best way to go on and find love for herself and others.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Liz Weber is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared online at Narratively, and Apartment Therapy. She is a regular contributor for lifestyle websites, including Citypath and Bored and Thirsty and has doled out dating advice to the urban female set on the popular website The Fat White Guy. Her short story about working in a male strip club for women was featured in the 2009 Staten Island Arts Festival.

ABOUT BROOKLYN HEIGHTS VETERINARY HOSPITAL: Dr. Heather Thomson opened Brooklyn Heights Veterinary Hospital in December 2013 at the corner of Cranberry and Hicks St. This historic white building with the well known bright red door was the site of a former veterinary hospital. Dr. Thomson and her associate Dr. Beth Balsam have worked together for many years and are both very experienced in small animal practice. Dr. Thomson has a special interest in wellness, dermatology, surgery and dentistry. They have both worked at a number of Manhattan and Brooklyn practices and have successfully treated thousands of patients.

ABOUT THE PAINTING: The portrait of Bruno was painted by master pet portrait artist Nancy Soyer. 

LOCATION: Brooklyn Heights Veterinary Hospital, 59 Hicks Street Brooklyn, NY 11201

TIME: 7PM

CONTACT: louisecrawford@gmail.com,  (718) 288-4290

arts and culture

Mrs. Sizzle: Brand New Art and Dog Blog

First things first: She used to live on Park Slope’s Third Street. So that’s a lot of cred right there.

Last week Suzanne Donaldson launched Mrs. Sizzle, what she’s calling a dog and art blog, a site for dog lovers who admire art and photography. With her unerring eye, Donaldson and her team will bring you gorgeous art, leashes and pet accessories, tips on training, and most importantly: a resource for dog rescue. In fact, any photos that Donaldson shoots for the blog will be with rescue dogs in the hopes of finding them homes. Quickly.

Donaldson is eminently qualified to run a super-duper blog. She’s been a photo editor for more than 20 years and is a woman of great taste and style. She’s worked at Glamour, Interview Magazine, Robert Mapplethorpe Studio, various Condé Nast magazines, and as the director of Luhring Augustine Gallery in New York City.

Whoa.

Needless to say she is obsessed with dogs (has three of her own) and photography so starting a dog photography and art blog was, like, a no brainer. Yay for photo lovers, yay for dog lovers everywhere and yay for me, a new blog to have on my bookmark tab.

Check out Mrs. Sizzle for posts about Cindy Sherman and her parrots, William Wegman and his iconic Weimaraners, and a cool seventies shot of a car and a dog by the brilliant William Eggelston. Most fun of all, you can send snaps of your pets to her Snap Paws section. You just might see your shot posted on Mrs. Sizzle.

Congrats to Suzanne for this exciting venture or should I say adventure.

Photo by Ines and Vinoodh, who post their dog Leo’s pic every day at @INEZVINOODH.  Find it on Mrs. Sizzle