Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Top Five Park Slope Holiday Shopping Picks for Today 12/22

Babeland: Sex toys for women; great gifts!

Diane Kane:  Clean, simple, modern locket. 18" Yellow gold chain with satin finished sterling silver locket. Holds two photographs.  Jimmy Jane vibrators, candles, and Spin the Bottle game for couples.

Bird: It can be a little pricey in here but it's a great gift source for the fashionista on your list. Featured women's collections (at all locations) include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Acne, A.P.C., Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant, Maison Martin Margiela Ligne 6, Rachel Comey, Stella McCartney, Thakoon, Tsumori Chisato, Yigal Azrouël, Zero + Maria Cornejo.

Tip Top Gifts: Commando sweaters in black, navy, and green with patches on the shoulders and elbows.  Biker T-shirts & accessories, Books & Videos, Camping, Chopper, Collectible Swords, Hunting, Knives, Martial Arts & Boxing Supplies, Military, Music, Paintball Equipment & Outerwear, Security Clothing & accessories, Slogan, Survival, Zippo lighters

Stitch Therapy: Knitting bags, Wool baby rattle knitting kit, felting kit.

Go here to see the entire 2009 OTBKB Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide

Court Rejects Atlantic Yards Lawsuit Against MTA

From the Brooklyn Paper:

A state court has once again rebuffed an effort to throw a wrench in Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards machine, rejecting a lawsuit that accused the MTA of improperly selling its Vanderbilt rail yard by not seeking new bids after reopening the original 2005 deal with the developer this summer.

The suit, filed by panoply of elected officials and opposition groups, claimed that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority broke a state law that was passed in the wake of Atlantic Yards to curb abuses by state authorities through stricter transparency and ethics guidelines.

The plaintiffs pointed to the fact that the MTA renegotiated the deal with Ratner this summer, getting just $20 million up front instead of the $100 million originally promised. At the time, the transit agency did not seek new bids for its eight-acre train yard at the heart of the proposed arena, housing and commercial development.

But state Supreme Court judges did not agree with project opponents, ruling last Wednesday that the renegotiated deal did not warrant restarting the bidding process.

“If every change were to be viewed as a new plan so as to trigger anew each mandated review process, no development plan could ever reach final approval — let alone ultimate completion,” the ruling read. “The MTA had a rational basis for continuing to use the 2005 appraisal rather than ordering a new one in 2009.”

Opponents of the project called the ruling a sham, especially in light of the MTA’s just announced “doomsday cuts” in service thatwould affect everyone who uses public transportation.

“The MTA has no shame,” said Daniel Goldstein, a spokesman for Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn, the main Atlantic Yards opposition group. “While giving a sweetheart deal to billionaire developers … its board gives a big lump of coal to school kids, disabled New Yorkers and all transit riders.”

Marty's Leaving Park Slope for Windsor Terrace (with fixed link)

Verse Responder Leon Freilich writes: 

Do you know that
Marty Markowitz is moving out of  Park Slope--
he & his wife have bought a $l.5 million
house in Windsor Terrace.  He says that
half-mil cash he set down comes from his
wife's inheritance.

The full story is in Crain's NY: http://www.nydailynews.com/real_estate/2009/12/17/2009-12-17_markowitz_ends_years_of_renting_with_purchase_of_145m_home_in_windsor_terrace_ma.html#ixzz0a991FsLu

Brooklyn Flea Fleeing DUMBO for Williamsburg Bank Building This Winter

Says Crains NY: 

The Brooklyn Flea is saying goodbye to Dumbo this winter and hello to Fort Greene.

The nearly two-year-old vendor marketplace will relocate to 1 Hanson Place, the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank, in the Fort Greene/Boerum Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. The move, which will more than triple the Flea's current square footage at 81 Front St., is scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 9.

This will be the second winter for the weekends-only Flea, which expects around 100 vendors—selling everything from apparel to stationary to chocolate—to participate in the coming months. The Flea will use about 10,000 square feet on the ground floor and 10,000 square feet in the basement of the 85-year-old bank, and original fixtures such as bank teller windows and overhanging lamps, will remain intact. Such details only add to the building's charm, said Eric Demby, who runs the marketplace with partner Jonathan Butler of Brooklyn's popular Brownstoner blog.

My Computer Isn't Working

So there won't be much posting today (unless I can use Hugh's computer). I'm taking my Macbook to Apple or Tech Serve. Seems that the fan isn't working and its been crashing frequently. 

The 2009 Park Slope 100

 

 Here it is: The 2009 Park Slope 100 (which also has its own mini blog here). This is the fourth annual list of 100 people, places and things that make Park Slope Park Slope. 100 Stories, 100 ways of looking at the world. 

This is a soft launch. In the next few hours I will be adding links and pictures (jeez this is a lot of work). There are no repeats from the last three years so if someone obvious is missing they've probably already made the list. If you think someone should be here, send me a tip for next year. This year I got SO MANY TIPS. Many of these were written by OTBKB readers who were kind enough to write blurbs about those they wanted to honor. Thanks to all!  Please send your typos, your fact checks, your comments. Heck, I know you will.

Adult Education because your useless information lecture series at Union Hall is pretty darn fun. Keep it up!

Nat Allman because you give so much of your time to the Park Slope Civic Council, the House Tour and Celebrate Brooklyn. You may be retired but you sure are busy. And true to your name, we hear that you’re quite a natty dresser.

 

Jonathan Ames because even though you live in Boerum Hill, your HBO show, “Bored to Death” is too damn funny and has too many great scenes of the neighborhood not to mention you or it.

 

Ansonia Chemist because you folks remember customer’s names and prescriptions and people say that you’re very compassionate!

 

Jennifer Jones Austin because you a legal advocate for children, wife and mother who has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). We know that your chances of survial are slim unless you undergo a bone marrow transplant within the next few months and we are doing everything in our power to find you a match in order to make that happen.

 

Babeland because you’ve got sleekly designed kinky sex toys for women and your workshops for women and men, who want to explore their sexuality are top notch. Your sex-positive “how to talk to your kids about sex” workshops for parents are a big contribution to the life of this community.

 

Bark because we love the dogs, the décor, the wireless, the easy-going atmosphere and especially the Bark Dog with sweet relish, mustard and onion and all the other fixins’ you’ve got, including Smuttynose Robust Porter beer.

 

Beer Table because you took an enormous chance when you moved to Brooklyn from Texas to build a tiny exotic beer bar in a city that drinks principally Brooklyn Lager and Budweiser. To think that you made such a thing work in this economy, too.

 

Jason Belz because many call you the unofficial “mayor of Park Slope” due to your unabashed commitment to the Slope's economy, history, beautification and vision for the future. Indeed, there are dozens of individuals who would not have the first-hand know-how of this incredible neighborhood had they not come in to contact with your savvy, well-versed enthusiasm.

 

Bergen Street because in the last two years a bunch of local businesses have turned this into a stylish and fun shopping mecca.

 

Bella Voce Singers because you women sure know how to sing!

 

BKLYN Larder because Franny’s wasn’t enough. You opened a shop across the street that celebrates artisan cheeses, prepared foods and specialty grocery items. Superb!

BKLYN Yard because over the past two summers you have become a favorite local destination with events like the Sundays Best series, AudraRox, Rooftop Films, and more. Resting on the banks of the Gowanus Canal, BKLYN Yard has grove of trees and boating docks.  beautiful independent venue where industrial meets bucolic

Blue Apron because many say that your existence is reason enough to live in Park Slope. You are specialists in yummy charcuterie and cheese, and a carefully curated selection of breads, chocolates, olive oils, vinegars and everything a foodie needs in the cupboard.

Dominique Bravo because you helped to save the Montessori Day School of Brooklyn several years ago by finding them new space when they had to leave the YWCA . Your help enabled 100 local families to continue to get high quality child care in the Park Slope area.  Now you're working with Park Slope Parents on the child care survey. You also sit on the board of PS 122 and Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn. Brava to Bravo!

Marine Lance Corporal Julian T. Brennan, age 25, was killed in Afghanisatn last spring. He grew up on 15th Street in Park Slope and was a remarkable person, a gifted actor, who felt a call to service at the funeral for his grandfather, a Marine who fought in WWII.  "The only way I think I can describe myself,” he wrote, “is as a guy who will go out of his way to make someone laugh, write a great song, find a reason to dance, and watch the sun rise every chance he gets." Consider a donation in Julian’s memory to the Central Asia Institute, at www.ikat.org.  CAI’s mission is to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in the remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Central Asia Institute

P.O. Box 7209

Bozeman, MT 59771  

In memo line, please write: Julian Brennan

 

Jane Brody because not only are you the Personal Health columnist for The New York Times but you recently wrote a necessary book called Jane Brody’s Guide to the Great Beyond A Practical Primer to Help You and Your Loved Ones Prepare Medically, Legally and Emotionally for the End of Life. The book has been called "an invaluable road map to putting your affairs in order—or helping your loved ones do the same. In it you seem to answer virtually every question one might have." Thanks!

Brooklyn Based and the women who run it:  Nicole Davis, Annaliese Griffin and Chrysanthes Tenentes because in your thrice weekly e-newsletter you write about all things Brooklyn and you gals really know your way around the block.

 

Brooklyn Food Coalition because 2009’s weekend event was a rousing (and well attended) success. You are a grassroots partnership of individuals and groups providing a voice for those who want to create a just and sustainable system for tasty, healthy, and affordable food.

 

Brooklyn Skillshare because you are an energetic group of students and teachers, who had something to teach and to learn from each other during a one-day event of learning, making, sharing and doing. Hope you do it again!

 

Candace Carponter because as Co-Chair of the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods and the Head of the Legal Team for Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn Brooklyn, you have lobbied endlessly to preserve the very qualities that define Brooklyn and make it a special place to live.  When you are not campaigning for your politician of choice, your are busy raising your daughter, running your own law firm and are the President of the Parent Association at the Berkeley Carroll School. Whoa.

 

Chris, the waiter at Grand Canyon because you have, like, a hundred ties, for as many holidays as you can find. You even asked a friend to help you  find a Jewish New Year's tie. Did you get one?

 

The City Council Candidates (33rd): Kudos and thanks for the memories to Ken Baer Doug Biviano, Ken Diamondstone, Issac Abraham, Jo Anne Simon and Evan Thies.

 

The City Council Candidates (39th): Kudos and thanks for the memories to John Heyer, David Pechefsky, Gary Reilly, Josh Skaller and Bob Zuckerman.

 

The City Council Incumbents: Congrats to the winners, Brad Lander, City Councilmember elect for the 39th District and Steve Levin, City Councilmember elect for the 33rd.

 

Congregation Beth Elohim because when a group of bigots from a Kansas Baptist Church (godhatesfags.com) picketed outside of your synagogue one Saturday morning before the start of Yom Kippur, Rabbi Andy Bachman held a service on the steps of the synagogue and blew a shofar while 200 congregants and Park Slope residents danced, sang, and laughed.

 

Martin Cottingham because you were the key guy in saving the Holy Name School in Windsor Terrace (which everybody used to call Park Slope) from closing--because it's your old grade school, and you still live in the parish. That. And one friend calls you a world-class Catholic mensch.

 

Shanti Crawford because your Fifth Avenue shop, Asha Veza, recruits a team of local seamstresses in Bosnia and India to create garments woven from hand-cut ribbons of repurposed silk saris and pieces of Indian dowry quilts. Indian silks, intricate embroidery, and delicate beadwork adorning the garments at this boutique would be reason enough to stop in, but you’ve added another major incentive: the proceeds from the designer collection funds the training of women who are victims of trafficking or poverty; these women are then employed in the production of the house label.

Susie DeFord because your book The Dogs of Brooklyn is a poetic narrative about your colorful life as a dogwalker accompanied by vibrant photos of Brooklyn and the dogs by Dennis Riley.

The Food Pantries of Park Slope because you’ve helped many people through a tough year. You are: The Helping Hands Food Pantry at St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church. CHIPS on Fourth Avenue. The Church of the Gethsemane on 8th Avenue and more to come.

 

Fucked in Park Slope because you truly are the best Park Slope blog. Seriously though: you bring humor, fun and irreverence to a subject totally worth making fun of.

 

Deborah Fisher and 21st Century Ploughshares because you decided that if you could get a bunch of people together to "throw seeds" in Bed-Stuy one spring morning you could bring wildflowers to the vacant lots, the tree pods and the streets of that neighborhood.

 

The Flaming Neon at Rachel’s Taqueria because it really adds spice to Fifth Avenue.

 

Fourth Avenue Pub because it's a great place to have a beer.

The Free Impressarios because you are a group of three friends, who have sprung into action not once but twice to bring modern dance and opera to Park Slope. In the words of Phyllis Wrynn, one of the FIs, “After last spring's superb opera event, Suor Angelica, the reaction was so wonderful that we thought we'd try it again.” And indeed they did. This year they presented SYREN Modern Dance’s production of “last of the leaves.” Both times they used the 1907 school auditorium of St. Francis Xavier on President Street, with its glorious stained glass ceiling, beautifully decorated walls and historic murals. Can’t wait to see what they do next.

Ken Freeman because when you became president of the Park Slope Civic Council you had Lydia Denworth’s big shoes to fill and you’ve filled them well working hard for the neighborhood that you love.

 

Ed Fusco because you’re a local attorney on Seventh Avenue, who has toiled for the Brooklyn Blades Hockey Club for years and you’re still in the sidelines. Now that's dedication!

 

Marcus Gonzales because as founder of the Salsa Salsa Dance Studio on 4th Ave between Bergen and Dean, you run a phenomenal studio, where amazing teachers teach salsa to all levels.

 

Dr. Philippa Gordon of Gordon Glaser Pediatrics because everyone agrees that you're a great doctor and this year you helped to cool the hysteria about H1Ni with your FAQs on Park Slope Parents. You are an information wellspring, who is great about sharing what you know!

 

Bernie Graham because, as one OTBKB reader puts it: “you are a serial good deed doer.” You’re a judge, you are on the board of the Park Slope Civic Council, you’re big and tall and statesmen-like and a great husband and father.  

John Guidry because your blog, Truth and Rocket Science, has intellectual velocity and creative eccentricity and it’s fun and interesting to read.

 

Hanco’s Vietnamese Sandwich Shop because your sandwiches rock especially the Classic with roasted ground pork, Vietnamese ham, pate, mayo, butter, cucumber, pickled carrots, daikon radish and cilantro on toasted french baguette. 

 

Iris in the radiation department at New York Methodist Hospital because you moved mountains to get my friend in and out of there on time every day for 8 weeks. Some days the wait was longer but you were warm and friendly and that goes a long way when you’re dealing with cancer.

 

James Hannaham because your first novel, God Says No, from McSweeney's Books is a funny must read. You teach at Pratt, used to work at the Park Slope Writers Space. 

 

Lyn Hill because it’s not easy being Vice President for Communication and External Affairs at New York Methodist Hospital but you do it with grace and energy.

 

Adrian Kinloch and Brit in Brooklyn because as a transplanted Londoner your big, bold photos bring much to the Brooklyn blog landscape.

 

Katia Kelly because you run the indispensible and fabulous Carroll Gardens blog, Pardon Me For Asking.

 

Scott Lindenbaum and Andy Hunter because you decided to publish Electric Literature an ambitious new lit mag. In your own words: “We're tired of hearing that literary fiction is doomed. Everywhere we look, people are reading—whether it be paper books, eBooks, blogs, tweets, or text messages. So, before we write the epitaph for the literary age, we thought, let’s try it this way first: select stories with a strong voice that capture our readers and lead them somewhere exciting, unexpected, and meaningful.” YES.

 

Irene LoRe because as owner of Aunt Suzie's, you were one of the pioneers of the new Fifth Avenue, who managed to retain some of the flavor of the old. And now you run the Fifth Avenue BID giving your time, intelligence, energy, and experience to the Park Slope community.

Lexy Lovell and Michael Uys because you infuse your passion and enthusiasm for life into compelling and thought-provoking documentary films. Riding The Rails and very recently, The Good Soldier, have provided rare glimpses into American culture and consciousness mixed with an artistry that makes the documentary format very accessible.  Talent and passion aside, you are great friends and neighbors and you help define and inspire the tone of the neighborhood. 

Marissa Palma-Muller: From OTBKB: “It was just a simple note on a yellow piece of paper on the door of Palma Pharmacy, on the corner of Garfield Place and Seventh Avenue. But that's how Park Slope learned of the loss of a trusted member of the community. Pharmacist Marisa Palma-Muller, age 48, died of a heart attack on Wednesday. Since then word has been trickling into my in-box with remembrances. One OTBKB reader wrote in to say: "She was the last of a disappearing breed: the neighborhood pharmacist who knew all her customers, had a nice word for everyone, tried to help customers baffled by insurance regulations..."

Martin of Café Regular because regulars at Regular seem to think you're one very cool, sarcastic and interesting barista. As one person said, “he’s fun to see first thing in the morning.”

 

Melanie at the Purity Restaurant for introducing coloring books to this diner and putting up the most awesome Halloween decorations in the Slope. You decorate a little bit every day that you’re working and by Halloween it's just magic - not over the top but magic. Like there's a treat in every booth. You do all the holidays but we know you like Halloween the best and it shows. It shows.

 

Frank McCourt because you were a great writer and a better teacher and you gave life and dignity to a lot of peoples' least favorite Irish city, Limerick.  (Frank did nothing, though, to stop the preponderance of "there once was a sailor from Nantucket" giggles).  You Gave a lot of life to that other Irish city, New York.  Your three books -- Angela's Ashes, 'Tis and Teacher Man -- was a triptych that didn't just talk to us, it talked with us.  Frank McCourt: you were a man who inspired kids one on one, enthralled pub patrons circled around him, and reached readers in 30 languages. (in memoriam by Scott Turner).

 

Momasphere because you create innovative programs and events that serve to empower, enrich and enlighten moms, while giving back to the community and that's very cool.

 

Mary Morris because you’re the grand dame of literary Park Slope and the acclaimed author of Revenge, Vanishing Animals, The Bus of Dreams, and The Lifeguard Stories

 

The New Turf Field in Washington Park. Nuff said.

 

Norma & Gunni because you are AMAZING dog walkers and where would the dog owners and dogs of Brooklyn be without the two of you. Arf.

 

Old First Dutch Reformed Church because when the ceiling at Congregation Beth Elohim fell in just days before Yom Kippur, you welcomed that congreation into your church for their high holy day. "What joy to celebrate the repentance of our sins from A to Z. That's a gift that Jews and Christians in unity can give our society, the good news of repentance, and just why that is good news," wrote Pastor Daniel Meeter on his blog Old First. 

Otto (and Annette Englander) because for that last nineteen years form meets function in your shop ith its elegant and stylish selection of fine lingerie, swimwear, clothing, accessories and Otto exclusives.

 

 “Park Slope Woman” because you broke up with your live-in boyfriend of six years and promptly (and luckily) found a place in Park Slope. When you got here you were “a total wreck of a human being who could barely get out of bed let alone make the trek to law school on the Upper West Side,” a friend writes. “But you found sanctuary in this amazing community and found yourself again. No only are you healing, but you’re learning WHO YOU ARE. If it takes a village to raise a child, it may also take a village to bring that child back to herself. Park Slope is such a special place and it's the people who make it great."

 

Faye Penn and the team at Brokelyn for the right blog at the right time and for teaching us to live big on small change.

 

Wendy Ponte because you write the Brooklyn Frugal Family Examiner and are showing us how to simplify and live with more frugality.

 

Tom Potter because you are co-founder and former CEO of The Brooklyn Brewery—one of the most successful artisan breweries in the United States and the largest beverage alcohol company producing in New York City. Nice work.

 

Rebecca Pronsky because in 2005 you founded the Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange, a monthly series with a mission to present great musical talent and foster community among local songwriters.

 

The Prospect Park Alliance because since 1987, the year you began to restore the Park after years of budget cuts and steady neglect of both its natural areas and usage, you have supplemented the Park’s basic operating budget with private funds and have initiated many capital projects and community programs. You’ve made the public understand why parks are so important in New York City, while gaining support from donors and volunteers for the restoration projects that have brought Prospect Park back to its glory (and beyond). Yay team!

Prospect Park West because this satiric novel by Amy Sohn really got the neighborhood reading and talking about itself. 

 

Red White and Bubbly because you folks seem to know what pairs well with hot dogs, grilled cheese and leftover ziti.

 

Reverend Billy and the Life After Shopping Gospel Choir because you believe that Consumerism is overwhelming our lives. Because you believe that our neighborhoods and "commons" places like stoops and parks and streets and libraries, are disappearing into the corporatized world of big boxes and chain stores. Because you are singing and preaching for local economies and real – not mediated through products – experience. Sing on. Amen. 

Rooftop Films because you make it possible to view movies al fresco. Your original programming and stunning outdoor venues makes Rooftop Films one of the best-attended film festivals in New York.

 

Powerhouse Books because you’re a world-renowned art book publisher and your "arena," a cool DUMBO gallery, boutique, book store, performance and events space welcomed the Brooklyn Blogfest and hundreds of others events last year.

 

Sophia Romero and Dan Schwartz because not only is Sophia the Shiksa from Manila and the author of the novel, Always Hiding, the couple are the uber-couple when it comes to fund-raising: he for Congregation Beth Elohim and she for Berkeley Carroll (as co-chair of the Auction Gala 2010, "Road to Morocco"). They call themselves "the bookends." Cute. And what a team!

 

Debi Ryan because you revitalized Vox Pop Coffee Shop with energy, spirit and loads of charisma. As of this writing, VP is closed again. But not for long if you have anything to say about it. Lead on.

 

Joe Rydell because you're a Park Slope dad, a psychotherapist in private practice, 
founder of the Berkeley Carroll documentary 
film series and part-time realtor. You and your partner, Berkeley Carroll teacher David Wood, are examples of what make Park Slope extraordinary. You worked to get more trees planted on 7th Avenue, as part of the Park Slope Civic Council. Look for the trees this Spring!

 

Dr. Mehryar Sadeghi because, according to one OTBKB reader, you’re a Park Slope ophthalmologist with a great bedside manner. You escaped Iran after the revolution, landed in Canada followed by medical school at Harvard and Washington Universities and now we’re happy to have you looking in our eyes.

 

Jeff Sandgrund because you have worked tirelessly for parks and green space in New York City- and most especially in Brooklyn where he served for several years as a community liaison for the Parks Department, then managed Fort Greene Park and is now the operations manager for the new Brooklyn Bridge Park. You are a born and bred Park Sloper who still lives here and still loves the 'hood.

 

Seven AM Morning Disc because most weekday mornings (and Sundays at 8:30 AM) a good number of you gather at the 9th Street ball fields for a rousing pickup game of Ultimate Frisbee. You've been doing this for a few years now and routinely get between 10-20 people out there each time. Wow. The game is spirited, competitive yet open to all skill levels. What an incredibly invigorating way to start the workday. Once the ground freezes over (around Dec 1), you migrate over to the turf fields at the Parade Grounds, but the fun continues all year long.  Like all responsible organizations, you even have a google group (morning disc at google groups).

 

Phyllis Salome because she lived in Brooklyn all her life, raised two daughters, Joan and Alice, on 4th Street in Park Slope and had four grandchildren. A graduate of the Cooper Union, she enjoyed painting and was very active at the PS Senior Citizens Center where she was board president for 4 years.  The family has requested that donations be made to the Park Slope Senior Center in her name, 463-A 7th street, Brooklyn, NY 11215.

 

Showpaper because you’re a big fold out listings newspaper of all ages music shows in the New York area, including Park Slope, that’s a must-read for local music fans. Well-designed, it always includes a fabulous illustration on the cover and is delivered around town by an enthusiastic gang of all ages volunteers. 

 

Melissa Silverstein because you are marketing consultant, writer and blogger, who specializes in women’s issues, with an emphasis on women and Hollywood.  Your blog Women & Hollywood has become a respected site for issues related to feminism and pop culture.  In 2008 it was named by More Magazine as one of the “blogs to watch,” and in 2009 it was named “Best Hollywood blog” by totalfilm.com.

 

Daniel Smith because you’re a local jazz, classical, and cross-over bassoonist who has been called "the Rampal of the Bassoon." 

 

Peter Solomita and Little Buddy Biscuit Company because, in the words of Eleanor Traubman at Creative Times, “He’s a baker, an entrepreneur, a disc jockey, a dad, a husband, and a teacher. He defies the stereotype I have of professional chefs as being ill-tempered. (Remember Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck?) Pete is passionate about everything he does, but that passion comes seasoned with lots of compassion: he keeps one eye on his business and another eye on the big picture of what’s happening in the rest of the world and how his work fits into that.”

 

Michael Sorgatz because your site  "Art in Brooklyn" promotes the work of local artists, and that’s a positive and generous thing to do (especially in these times). You are also a talented artist in your own right and a really great guy.

 

Martha Southgate because you are the author of three novels, most recently Third Girl from the Left, which won Best Novel of the Year award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. You also organized a great reading at Brooklyn Reading Works called Young  Gifted and Black (Men) in September presenting the wonderful James Hanaham, James Lavalle and Clifford Thompson

Spuyten Duyvil Books because you publish amazing books: fiction, non-fiction and poetry out of a Park Slope apartment.

 

Sufjan Stevens because you recognized the beauty of the BQE and it inspired you to make a film and write symphony about it. 

Cathryn Swan because you’re fighting the good fight with your blog Washington Square Park, the chronicles of a beloved park and a city government overcome by its own power. In your own words: "Washington Square Park blog began after I attended an exhibit on Jane Jacobs and her New York City activism presented by the Municipal Art Society in January. An eye-catching brochure was handed out entitled “The City is You.” The point of it was to lay out the steps of advocating for issues and causes in your neighborhood, believing that doing so is what keeps New York City vital: “Observe. Think. Assess. Learn. Assemble. Participate. Advocate.”"

And you've been doing that ever since. 

 

Joyce Szuflita and NYC School Help because you are an amazing resource when it comes to helping parents with public school admissions process—and that is one awesome good deed. As one satisfied customer wrote: "Joyce understanding of all school issues, is armed with all the current facts, and understands the inner workings of the Dept. of Ed. Her knowledge of the middle and high school choice process in YC likely saved us two months of research time. Joyce took a complex and often confusing process, and helped us make decisions that were right for us.  We feel lucky to have found her!"




Third Street News Stand and Deli because the owner and the guys in there are great and one OTBKB reader said, “It’s a second home for my kids."

 

Clifford Thompson because you wrote a terrific novel, Signifying Nothing, and published it yourself. Your advice to other sulf-publishers: “Believe in what you’re doing, because not everyone you tell about your self-published book will shower you with congratulations. You WILL sometimes get the pity-laced smile that makes you want to say, “Maybe you misheard me. I don’t have bone cancer, I’m publishing my BOOK.” But if you believe in what you’ve written, then you must also believe it’s worth putting out there, however you can do it.”

 

Scott Turner because you are one very funny man. But that's not all. You're a dedicated Develop Don't Destroy activist, who runs the pub quiz every Thursday at Rocky Sullivan's. You're a graphic designer and a writer, who pens OTBKB's weekly Greetings From Scott Turner column, which is way funny and smart AND you have a one-man-band called Rebelmart. We approve. 

Urban Alchemist Design Collective because you’re part store, part gallery and part artisan salon and you’ve got an eclectic mix of emerging designers as well as carefully selected vintage and modern home goods, accessories and furniture. You’re really a hive of creative energy and beauty.

 

Emily Vaughn because you work hard behind the scenes as a member of Buy in Brooklyn and you were this year's coordinator of the Snowflake Celebration, the night when local merchants throw open their doors to stay lope late and create a holiday atmosphere enabling the people of Park Slope to do their holiday shopping.

 

Bob Vitalo because as head of the Berkeley Carroll School one OTBKB reader said you’re known for your “calming and strengthening skills.”

 

Jack Walsh, executive producer of Celebrate Brooklyn because this Brooklyn institution offers something for every Brooklyn resident – young, old, parents, the childless, drama freaks, world music geeks, opera fans, dance nerds, indie hipsters -  and it is very family-friendly, too. Heck, there’s even a parking spot for bikes, (relatively) cheap beer, and great Brooklyn food. You are one Brooklyn treasure, Jack.

 

Steve Wiener, Joe Uzzo and the crew at The Video Forum because you are something akin to neighborhood treasures.  When you are not good-naturedly recommending films at the store, you are performing in their band, Mute City.  Your congenial natures and ease of conversation is surpassed only by your ability to make the boomers of the neighborhood forget about their lives for a moment to embark on a trip to Generation Y. Great guys.

 

Eliot Wagner because you’re a walking, talking DJ, who loves to turn others on to the music you love with your carefully curated monthly CDs that are a great plug for the musicians and a treasured treat for your community of friends and neighbors. And now you've got your own blog, Now I've Heard Everything. You’re a great fan out there night after night listening to music in the clubs of Brooklyn and the Lower East Side. You're also good at teaching Boomers how to use the newfangled stuff that’s replaced LPs and CDs. And lets not forget OTBKB Music, one heck of a great music column. Thanks. 

Willie's Dawgs because you serve plump, juicy and delicious hot dogs grilled any way you like, and give some of  the profits to dog shelters in and around Brooklyn and to the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation.

 

 

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Top Five Park Slope Holiday Shopping Picks for Today (12/21)

Asha Veza: Clothing and accessories made of iridescent Indian silks, intricate embroidery, and delicate beadwork make beautiful gifts and all the garments in the boutique are either sourced from emerging designers in Bosnia or India or handmade by disadvantaged women in India. The proceeds from the designer collection funds the training of women who are victims of trafficking or poverty.

Ajiri Tea: Ajiri means 'to employ' in Swahili.  The goal of this company is to create employment for women and pay school fees for orphans in western Kenya .  The tea is grown by small-scale farmers on 1-2 acres of land.  Sara and Ann hope to empower these women within their communities.  All profits will go back to this area of western Kenya to pay school fees for the many HIV/AIDS orphans. 

Aijiri Tea mades a beautiful gift: a stong, black tea that you prepare with milk, it comes in a lovely box and a tie that makes a great friendship bracelet and everything is hand-made.  It’s available at Blue Apron, the Park Slope Food Coop, Java Joe's, and Grab, and each box is about $12 – a really lovely stocking stuffer/ gift with a mug or a tea pot! 

Scaredy Kat: In the new location, the store is chock full of fun gifts. It's the go-to place for Xmas, stocking stuffers and more. They've also got the vintage toys you grew up with by Fisher-Price: Clock Music box, Bouncy Bee, Chatter Telephone; huge assortment of holiday cards.

Eidolan: Eidolon is a cooperative boutique owned and operated by three independent designers featuring locally hand-made clothing, accessories and gift items for women.

Zuzu's Petals:  Small oval shaped (and very feminine) quilted jewelry boxes, plates and platters that look like doilies, Italian urns, runners, samplers with funny/interesting sayings and MORE.

Go here to see the entire 2009 OTBKB Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide

Xmas and New Years Eve at Purple Yam on Cortelyou Road

  A lovely idea for the holidays.

Purple Yam, the new Filipino/pan Asian restaurant on Cortelyou Road will have a special celebration for Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) & New Year’s Eve.

They may be new to Brooklyn but Purple Yam used to be Cendrillon in SoHo.

Enjoy delicious food on Xmas eve. And on New Year's eve you will serenaded by a local jazz quartet. 

OTBKB Film by Pops Corn: The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, a movie that probably has only about 10 screenings left before it is pushed out by bigger year-end fare, has many flaws it cannot be denied, but it gets so many things right and is so rich with honesty that I’m quite surprised by the generally negative reviews. 

Robin Wright Penn nails the title role and doesn’t bring the Oscar-mongering histrionics demanded by the season. She’s subtle, nearly robotic at times, as a trophy wife who believes she may be losing her mind. 

The film has been criticized for covering a lot of the same ground of other films, in other words, stereotyping it as a “chick flick,” a term (predominantly male) critics immediately associate with a lower value assessment. 

But what I found so fascinating and solid about the movie is that it shows characters and scenarios that we may have been seen before, but that same equation unexpectedly produces different results.  What Pippa inherits from her mother (Maria Bello) can only be suppressed so long, particularly as she suppresses everything else in her life, just to serve her husband (Alan Arkin) as his prop.  Director Rebecca Miller makes some unfortunate narrative choices, but also counters a hallucinatory world that bring us into the mind of Pippa and a refusal to make anything (except the voice-over ending) too neat or easy.

In a year that seems to have sparked a lot of thought about women in film—the unique story of Precious, Kathryn Bigelow’s quest to be the first female Best Director, this weekend’s NY  Times alone offered at least three serious women-in-film pieces—The Private Lives of Pippa Lee is a strong work that should keep the dialogue going.

--Pops Corn

OTBKB Music: Tuesday Night Twofer

Tomorrow night (Tuesday the 22nd) there are two excellent shows available to you; one early and one late.  Of course, you can always choose to go to both.

Early: Charlie Faye.  Charlie and her excellent band, The Jerks, make music that's at the place where rock, alt country and blues all blend into each other.  Charlie's album, Wilson Street, made my Top 10 list for this year.  An Austin resident, Charlie's visits to NYC don't come often enough, and the next one isn't scheduled until July.  So this is the time to see Charlie up close and personal.

Charlie Faye, The Living Room, 154 Ludlow Street, (F Train to Second Avenue, use the First Avenue exit), 8pm

Late:  Sasha Dobson and her band.  Sasha started playing with guitarist Steve Elliot about a year ago and has moved from the jazz-folk-samba material she was playing to a more straight-ahead rock style.  With Steve's lead guitar moving towards Dire Straits territory, Sasha's new batch of songs are all terrific.  Since this is the release show for Sasha's new CD, you'll be able to take it all home with you.

Sasha Dobson, The Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street (F Train to Second Avenue, use the First Avenue exit), 11pm

 --Eliot Wagner

Current Weather in Park Slope

Here's today's weather from your local Park Slope weather tower.

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Desperately Needed: Blog Programmer To Help OTBKB With Makeover

Please email if you have knowledge of Wordpress. Thank. louise_crawford(at)yahoo(dot)com

Efrain Gonzalez: Snow on Leaf & Snow on Statue

Photos on Facebook: A Cautionary Tale

Smartmom had barely recovered from chaperoning the past weekend’s slumber party at the Marriott with five 12-year-old girls. She couldn’t sleep and she did what she often does when she can’t sleep: she checked her e-mail and noticed an e-mail from another mom who lives in the neighborhood.

“I want you to know that there are a series of photos on Facebook of the girls at a party in their underwear. The photos are very suggestive. I’d never want to interfere but I thought u should know,” she wrote.

Smartmom looked at the pictures that this mom had conveniently attached. They were of the Oh So Feisty One in the adorable polka-dotted and striped underwear they’d bought together just a few months before.

But the pose and her expression were, er, yeah, kinda provocative.

Truth be told, it looked like she was wearing a bathing suit and the girls were just having fun. But Facebook is a very public place and if those photos got into the wrong hands — like a child porn site — it would be pretty awful. It’s a good thing that Dumb Editor didn’t run the shot.

It all started because OSFO had borrowed Hepcat’s fancy schmancy new Canon camera during the Marriott sleepover. She took more than 300 pictures and then gave the camera back to Smartmom and Hepcat, who looked at all the pictures for intell about what was going on down the corridor in the hotel.

Of the 300 pictures, there were none of the girls in their underwear.

Smartmom concluded that the pictures in question must have been taken with one of the other girls’ cameras. Smartmom went on Facebook, but she couldn’t get to OSFO’s Facebook profile because OSFO unfriended her some time ago.

She figured out that one of the girls at the party had put up maybe 100 pictures and these were just part of that group. Since it was the middle of the night, there was nothing she could do.

The next morning, Smartmom woke OSFO up. “You have to get your friend to take those pictures down,” she told her.

“I know, I know. I’m texting her now,” OSFO said.

Clearly, OSFO was aware of the pictures and not happy about the situation either. Smartmom was amazed that she and OSFO were on the exact same page. But when OSFO left for school, her friend had still not returned her text. That meant that the pictures would still be up until after school.

Smartmom was stressing. At 3 pm, she e-mailed OSFO’s friend and left a gentle note not wanting to demonize her or point fingers.

“Please take down those pictures of OSFO,” Smartmom wrote. “Facebook is very public and I think OSFO would prefer that they not be up there for all to see. Thanks so much for taking care of this!”

OSFO’s friend, who is a bright, lovely girl wrote back soon after:

“OSFO told me today during school, and I told her that I would take them down. We took them as a joke in the hotel and when I was uploading my pictures I completely forgot about them. Really sorry,” the girl wrote.

Smartmom called OSFO on her cellphone and told her that she’d e-mailed her friend.

“Why did you e-mail my friend?” OSFO asked. Smartmom took a deep breath.

“It was important that she take those pictures down,” Smartmom said.

“Why is this so important to you?” OSFO asked.

Smartmom kept it short, but here is a combination of what Smartmom did and didn’t say.

Smartmom, like Cyndi Lauper, knows that “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” When she was 12, 13 and 14, Smartmom, her sister and a friend used to perform elaborate musical numbers in the living room wearing camisoles and slips. You should have seen the choreography of “Mein Herr” from “Cabaret” (“You have to understand the way I am, Mein Herr, a tiger’s not a tiger but a lamb, Mein Herr…”)

Now that was kinky.

But thank Buddha there were no cheap, portable video cameras or Facebook back in the 1970s.

When she was a junior in high school, Smartmom and an ensemble of her school friends performed “Don’t Tell Mama” also from “Cabaret” for the entire school wearing their sexiest black lingerie (“Mama doesn’t have an inkling that I’m working in a nightclub in a pair of lacy pants…”).

Yeesh.

So Smartmom gets what those photos were about. But it’s a different time and place now that our lives are enmeshed with the Internet.

While Facebook may aspire to be a place where people can interact safely with their friends and the people around them, nobody can guarantee that the site is entirely free of illegal, offensive, pornographic or otherwise inappropriate material.

Smartmom told OSFO that while the pictures were beautiful, there are bad people out there who will steal those pictures and put them on child pornography sites.

OSFO listened and seemed to understand. Mostly she seemed miffed that Smartmom had e-mailed her friend.

“I told you I was taking care of it,” she said.

And she was right. She had told her friend, and Smartmom didn’t need to meddle in that way.

But some meddling is good. The parent who called Smartmom in the first place did the right thing. There’s nothing wrong with reporting back to a parent if you observe any kind of inappropriate behavior at your house, on the streets, at school. Anywhere. In most cases, parents will want to know because they need all the help they can get.

Tom Martinez, Witness: Hitting the Slopes in Kensington

Top Five Holiday Shopping Picks for Today 12/20

Holiday Craft Market at Brooklyn Lyceum: Sunday December 20th 2009 11:00 AM. Free admission.

Makers Market at American Can Factory on 3rd Street near 3rd Avenue features a select group of artisans. Nice atmosphere, beautiful glassware, knitware, ceramics, soap, lamps (see left) and more.

Corduroy Kid: Owned by an Australian, CK is a children’s lifestyle boutique featuring a comprehensive collection of cool kids clothing (newborn to 7yrs), modern home furnishings, toys, unusual gift items and plenty of quirky, other fun stuff, including this rocket t-shirt pictured left.

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co: Strive To Be Boring and My Secret Identity black t-shirts. Secret Identity kits, Superhero Supplements from Aardvark Brothers Brand, Strong vacuum suction cups, mylar force fields...

Blue Apron (just east of 7th Avenue): Imported and domestic hams and other chacuterie.  The cheeses are artisanal, perfectly kept and presented, and none are cut until you're ready to buy (a righteous rarity and a practice only found among the best cheese mongers).  They work with very small producers to be able to offer flawless ricotta cheese, domestic prosciutto that rivals Parma's, and other products that are available almost nowhere else in New York.  Breads are from Amy's, Pain d'Avignon, Sullivan Street and Royal Crown.  Jacques Torres is a friend of the store and the best of his chocolates are sold here. 

Go here to see the entire 2009 OTBKB Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Top Five Park Slope Holiday Shopping Picks for Today 12/19

Bklyn Larder: Great gifts for your favorite foodie.

Lulu's Cuts & Toys: All the stocking stuffers you could hope for.

Cog and Pearl:   Decoupage paper weights and dishes by John Derian; "Things to Make & Do" a creative journal and "Revive" calendar both by Nikki McClure, "A Year of Mornings" (Princeton University Press) by Maria Alexandere Vetttes; and hand soap that looks like hands.

Scaredy Kat: In their new location, the store is chock full of fun gifts, stocking stuffers and more. They've got some of the vintage toys you grew up with by Fisher-Price: Clock Music box, Bouncy Bee, Chatter Telephone; a huge assortment of holiday cards.

Lion in the Sun: Moleskin notebooks in all sizes. Acme pens. Great place to find gifts for the writer in your life.

Go here to see the entire 2009 OTBKB Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

OTBKB Music: Top Ten Songs of 2009

Now that I've finished with the albums list, it's time for the Top 10 songs of 2009.  You'll see that three songs are from albums that didn't make the Top 10 list.  Like the albums list, this Top 10 is also presented in alphabetical order.

Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles - Me And Your Ghost
Neko Case - People Got a Lot of Nerve
Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career
The Damwells - Like It Is
Charlie Faye - She's Gonna Go
Israel Nash Gripka - Pray for Rain
Norah Jones - Young Blood
James Maddock - When The Sun's Out
Or, The Whale - Datura
Chuck Prophet - Hot Talk

 --Eliot Wagner

OTBKB 2009 Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide (Constantly Updated)

OTBKB's 2009 Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide has its  own mini-blog in the right hand corner of OTBKB's screen (where the ads are) or go here.

Find every store on Fifth Avenue (Flabtbush to 9th Street) and Seventh Avenue (Flatbush to 14th Street). 

The list is organized by street starting with all the stores on Fifth Avenue, including the Bergen Street shops and then Seventh.

Top Five Park Slope Holiday Shopping Picks for Today: 12/18

Music Matters: Get your gifts for those who don't download. They've got Tom Waits' new Glitter and Doom and lots more.

Big Nose Full Body: Great gifts for the oenophile on your list.

Mandala Tibetan Store: Jewelry, scarves, Buddhist statues, fluffy ear muffs.

Paper XOXO: Letter press everything, journals, calendars and all manner of paper goods.

Leaf and Bean: High quality coffee, tea, candy, homegoods for gift!

Leon Freilch, Verse Responder: Subway Fair

SUBWAY FAIR

The subway always beats driving,

And believe me I'm not crackers;

When any train breaks down,

You're not billed 400 smackers

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Vox Pop Closed, Again

So, what happened? Here's the story from Debi Ryan, who manages Vox Pop, the Cortelyou Road cafe, performance space and bookstore.

We were in the process of trying to address the issue of back taxes that was inherited by the new management when NYS Department of Taxation and Finance chose to seize the assets. We are currently negotiating with them to have the space reopened and I am confident we will be successful.

What is so frustrating is that Vox Pop is on its way to becoming the space we truly want it to be. We have consistent programming that includes music, spoken word, art events, independent film screenings, comedy and book readings. We have a children's story hour on Wednesday morning and Sing-a-longs on Monday afternoon and regular children's dinner concerts.

And, we do all of this for free, providing the community with the space to meet and study and work and organize and play.

We have also partnered with many of the not-for-profit organizations to support their fundraising efforts and have offered our space, our coffee, our music connections to assist in those efforts. We do food drives and gift drives to benefit the local shelters.

Now, we are once again faced with a problem that was not of our making, but one we assumed out of a sense of what is right as a responsible community space.

Since we have reopened we have been actively paying down much of that inherited debt. We chose to use our limited resources to pay the people who needed it most first -- like back pay for our employees who are all members of this community, monies owed to local vendors to help keep them in business, monies owed for back rent, old utilities bills -- while paying our current bills and meeting our obligations.

Since reopening, we have also been faced with one unexpected calamity after another; including a water main break that damaged the physical structure of the space as well as destroying equipment stored there, had to rewire the entire electrical system, address several major plumbing issues, and replaced much of the restaurant equipment. As anyone who has purchased an old house will tell you, no matter how much you think you’ve looked in every corner, from foundation to the roof, there are always problems you didn’t know about until you actually move in. Eventually, you get it all sorted and it becomes the beautiful home you want. But until then, it’s always a bit of a leap of faith.

Basically, we not only inherited debt, we spent a great deal of money just to get the place up to code. These were all things that I certainly did not anticipate when we chose to reopen Vox Pop as a community owned space. As I said then, I don't know what I don't know, but this space is too important to lose it now.

What makes Vox Pop so special? We are not just a coffee shop, we have become a true community space that supports itself with the sale of coffee.

You can help Vox Pop by becoming a member. For $40 you will recieve the newly published book, "Voices of Vox Pop", which tells the story of Vox Pop through a collection of stories, poems and art by the Vox Pop community, and a membership card that entitles you to free coffee refills for 6 months.

We appreciate all of the support that the community has shown us and continues to show us and welcome any fundraising ideas to help us over this hurdle.

I can be reached at debi@voxpopcafe.com

OTBKB 2009 Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide (Constantly Updated)

OTBKB's 2009 Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide has its  own mini-blog in the right hand corner of OTBKB's screen (where the ads are) or go here.

Revised: Sign Petition If You Oppose the Elimination of Student Metrocards

So the MTA discovers that it has a $400 million budget gap and more than  500,000 public school students who currently commute for free will have to pay half price next September and full price the year after that.

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer has posted an electronic
petition to sign if you want to protest MTA cuts to student subway and
bus passes. The MTA's vote yesterday (Wed., Dec. 16) passed these and
other measures, but protests are only beginning; perhaps we can help
change at least this particular decision. Singing the petition only
takes a minute!

http://www.petitiononline.com/mtacuts/petition.html

MTA Approves Massive Transit Cuts

From the Brooklyn Paper bad news for NYC subway and bus riders (i.e. everyone):

Brooklyn is facing a full-blown transit apocalypse — include massive bus service reductions and the elimination of an entire subway line — thanks to severe cuts approved by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board this morning.

The extreme measures, rubber-stamped by an MTA panel on Monday, then hailed in a 12-0 vote on Wednesday, stem from the transit agency’s claim that it has a $383-million deficit, despite the recent fare-hike up to $2.25 per ride.

As you might imagine, the borough’s power brokers went nuts.

“These ‘punitive’ measures fail to equitably spread the burden of funding public transit throughout the entire MTA region,” Borough President Markowitz said in a statement.

Critics of the Atlantic Yards project could not help but see a connection between Wednesday’s service cuts and the decision this summer to allow developer Bruce Ratner to pay only $20 million of his promised $100 million lump

Top Five Holiday Shopping Picks for Today 12/17

Urban Alchemist has the coolest lap top pouch based on the design of the classic Inter-Departmental Delivery envelope (pictured left). Loads of other goodies, including jewelry and vintage plastered Brooklyn milk bottles.

Brooklyn Mercantile has lovely candles and decoupage plates by Fringe. They will be getting in a lot of new merchandise this weekend, including vintage glass.

Diana Kane has Kai, a lovely gardenia fragrance; Jimmy Jane's Spin, a game for couples.

3R Living has drinking glasses made from Boylan Birch Beer bottles, as well as Rolling Rock, Stella and other beers.

Sweet Charity has homegoods, clothing, jewelry and paper goods. Part of the profits go to animal rescue charities.

OTBKB Film by Pops Corn: Up in the Air

It is a rare feat for a movie to truly define its time period by depicting the way people live today.  Jason Reitman tries to do so with Up In The Air, but only the strain shows.  Like Reitman’s adaptation of Thank You For Smoking, the film takes the approach of following a charming asshole to humanize contemporary societal ills.  I found the effect in Smoking to be completely tiresome. 

Up In The Air soars intermittently, due primarily to the star wattage of George Clooney, as a constantly-traveling hatchet man, who relishes and excels at his role of firing employees for executives who aren’t comfortable wielding the ax from within.  Clooney makes it easy to root for the villain, especially when his shallow lifestyle is called into question by a brilliant, but green, colleague (Anna Kendrick) assigned to shadow the master.  Along the way, he engages in a soul-less romance with fellow constant traveler Vera Farmigia.  The lessons to be learned are on the itinerary.  There are things the movie gets right like a Vegas convention and the perfectly character-appropriate text flirtation, but these moments, though wonderful, are insignificant.

The mismatched mentor-rookie story is a common contrivance, but I swear that Up In The Air takes numerous cues from Bull Durham.  Clooney is Costner, lovable yet a jerk, aging but smoldering, who teaches a future industry star the ropes.  Clooney’s meaningless goal of 10 million air miles is Costner’s minor league homer record.  The carefree sexual relationship with a contemporary (Farmigia is Sarandon) becomes our hero’s first stab at true love.  A scene in which the women explain their ideal husband even mirrors Costner’s “I believe in the soul” speech.

For all my problems with Up In The Air, I’ll admit that it doesn’t offer easy solutions.  Still, it’s hard to feel for the insertions of real downsized people (interviewed in the film and singing a song over the end credits), amidst a steady stream of product placement for big airlines, car rental companies, etc.  Perhaps it’s Reitman’s economic stimulus.  As the award season heats up, I guess I finally have a film to root against.  And while this week’s Golden Globes and I don’t agree on everything, at least I can concur that, based on the film’s Best Dramatic Film nomination, Air is not a comedy.  I, a laugher, did so only once.

--Pops Corn

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Ratner Sells $511 Million in Tax-Free Bonds

From today's Gothamist:

Developer Bruce Ratner's Atlantic Yards project "cleared a major hurdle," according to the Daily News, by selling $511 million in tax-free bonds for the arena's financing yesterday. Apparently the bonds were selling like hotcakes—the NY Times says they were sold out in two hours, "Indeed, the demand for the bonds from institutional investors far outstripped what was available and belied the project’s tortured history and court challenges."

Continue reading "Ratner Sells $511 Million In Atlantic Yards Bonds"

Top Five Holiday Shopping Picks for Today (12/16)

Flirt, has clothing, accessories, jewelry and more for those who are creative, individualistic, unpredictable, and up for anything! I love the $40 "gold" necklaces with hearts that say the funniest things: Really Fuckin' Cute, Stuff my Muff, Fuck Buddy, Wiling & Able, Balls to the Walls, Lucky Bitch, XOXO, Kiss Me Where I Pee, Wonder Buns, Taken, etc. Pick one for someone special in yr life.

Trois Pommes Patisserie, a lovely bakery owned by Emily Isaac, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute (1997) she has worked at some of New York City¹s finest restaurants including Arcadia, Aquavit, Picholine and Esca. In addition to pies, tarts, cookies, cupcakes and even hors d'œuvres for parties, Issac has reinvented junk pastry like Twinkies, which are almondy fabulous, Hostess Cup Cakes (called Mostess Cup Cakes) and Ring Dings (in red devil, chocolate or pumpkin).

Lululemon's shop on Bergen Street has high quality yoga inspired athletic apparel for women. They've got reversible yoga pants (black on one side, patterned on the other), shirts and jackets great for the active woman on your list. Somewhat pricey but very nice stuff.

Area Yoga and  Baby on Fifth Avenue at has a HUGE selection of funky, colorful, stylish kid's clothes including Kitano pajamas in many fun patterns.

Bergen Street Comics is a sleek very literary looking comics shop that is part of a new wave of contemporary comic book retailers. The owners are inspired by the brilliant comics being created today, and by other great retailers we’ve seen around the country.

OTBKB's 2009 Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide: Constantly Updated

OTBKB's 2009 Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide has its  own mini-blog on the upper right hand corner of OTBKB's screen (where the ads are) or go here.

OTBKB Music: Best of 2009, Part 2

The first part of my top ten album list for 2009 was published on Monday and is available here.  Now for the second half, still in alphabetical order:

Li'l Mo and the Monicats - On the Moon:  After a few years away from the music biz, Li'l Mo returns with a collection that runs from country to blues to rockabilly to 60s pop.  Most of the songs are originals but a cover of the Bill Hailey song Rocking Chair on the Moon gives the album its title.  Standouts include I Really Love (To Really Love You) and The Boy Who Loved the Blues.

James Maddock - Sunrise on Avenue C:  James stock in trade is the mid-tempo rocker, and he sings with an engaging gravelly voice with a rasp someplace between Steve Forbert and Rod Stewart.  James has been able to round up an all star band for this release, including Leslie Mendelson on piano.  Sunrise show off James' strength as a songwriter, including his ablity to mix humor into his songs without any of them becoming novelty numbers.  Highlights include the anthemic When the Sun's Out and Straight Lines, as well as Chance, Stars Align, Sunrise on Avenue C and Dumbed Down.

Leslie Mendelson - Swan Feathers: Adult pop, mostly piano based.  Leslie's lyrics are literate and as many people have noted, playfully sexy.  A couple of the songs on this album have been rearranged from the way Leslie had been doing them live to provide the opportunity for Leslie to step out from behind the piano and onto center stage, including the first single, Hit the Spot.

Or, The Whale - Or, The Whale:  This seven-piece band based in San Francisco takes their name from the subtitle of Moby Dick.  Their sound is alt country, rock and folk with great harmonies (from four vocalists, two male and two female) and their high energy live shows are something that you must see.  This album, the band's second, expands their sound a bit with some hints of The Grateful Dead and even a nod toward Fairport Convention.  Highlights include Datura, Never Coming Out and Shasta.

Amy Speace - The Killer in Me: This is a reflective album as the songs in this collection were written during the break up of Amy's marriage.  Instead of the mostly country sounds of her last collection, Songs for Bright Street, this material lends itself to a folk rock treatment for the most part.  And although Amy ruefully decides that "the only thing I've learned is I haven't learned a thing" she does kicks up her heels during a very spirited Would I Lie.

 --Eliot Wagner

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

MTA Deficit May Result in Huge Transit Cuts in Brooklyn

As reported in the Brooklyn Paper:

Brooklyn Brooklyn is facing a full-blown apocalypse from proposed Metropolitan Transportation Authority transit cuts that include massive bus service reductions and the elimination of an entire subway line.

The extreme measures proposed on Monday are the result of the shocking news that the MTA is facing a $383-million deficit, despite the recent fare-hike up to $2.25 per ride.

If you live in Brooklyn, you’ll feel the pain if the cuts go through. Here are some of the harshest measures being discussed:

• The elimination of weekday service on the B23, B25, B37, B39, B51 and B75 buses.

• The elimination of weekend service on the B7, B14, B31, B45, B48, B57, B64, B65, B67 and B77

• The complete elimination of the Z line, which would force the J to run local.

• The termination of the G Line at Court Square, meaning that any Brooklynites heading to Queens (for whatever reason) will have to transfer to go deeper into that distant borough.

• Reduced frequency of service along the A, D, F, G, N, Q, J, and M trains.

• The elimination of student discounts for schoolkids.

• Reductions in Access-A-Ride service, which assists disabled commuters.

Top Five Holiday Shopping Picks for Today

Sweet Charity for the sheer volume of cool items for just about everyone on your list: homegoods, accessories, jewelry, paper goods and MORE.The store donates to charity a small part of their profits.

Hog Mountain , a General Store for Men, for its interesting variety of guy stuff, including clothing, bags, books, tools and skincare products.

Otto for its great sense of design in clothing, hats, scarves, gloves, snow globes, jewelry and lingerie.

 Community Bookstore because books make such good gifts. "Storefront: The Disappearing Face of NY" is my pick for a nice coffee table photography book.

Urban Alchemist for its special somethings for those special someones was conceived as part store, part gallery and part artisan salon, Urban Alchemist has an eclectic mix of emerging designers as well as carefully selected vintage and modern home goods, accessories and furniture.

OTBKB's 2009 Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide: Constantly Updated

OTBKB's 2009 Park Slope Holiday Gift Guide has its  own mini-blog on the right hand corner of OTBKB's screen (where the ads are) or go here.

5th Avenue 5th Avenue 5th Avenue 5th Avenue 

☆BERGEN STREET between Flatbush and Fifth

Babeland: Sex toys for women; great gifts!

Bump Brooklyn: Fashionable pregnancy wear and more. 

Bergen Street Comics: Cool and sophisticated comics in a sleek atmosphere. I picked up Scott McCould's "Making Comics" and "Understanding Comic" for my son. 

Ride Brooklyn: Bikes, bikes, bikes and accessories.

Bark Hot Dogs: A great place to stop when you get hungry. Great beer, too.Try the bark dog and the backed beans. They also have ONION RINGS.

Pintchik Hardware:

Eponymy: "One-of-a-kind cleverly-curated boutique–part clothing store, part gallery, part antique shop."

Lululemon: Great work-out and yoga gear for women. In the shop, you can write down one of your life goals and they'll put it on their Christmas tree. 

Private Stock (The Gentlemen's Shop): A quote from the owner in OffManhattan: "Private Stock is a malt liquor. When I was a teenager that was the drink of choice. You just put it in a brown paper bag. There was nothing classy about it, and that was like our drink of choice. It wasn’t Cristal, or anything like that. And that is kind of my target market: the guy that was cool back then and is older now, but still wants to be cool. I don’t know if you’re a fan of Biggie Smalls…"

Brooklyn Larder: Amazing(!) cheese, olive oils, condiments, chocolates, spices, and way more for the gourmand on your list. Holiday gift boxes look GREAT, too.

☆FIFTH AVENUE Bergen to St. Marks

Lulu's Cuts & Toys: Great toys including Ugly Dolls in all sizes, shapes, and colors. Schilling vintage toys.

Lulu's for Baby: Right next door to Lulu's Cuts & Toys. Gifts, clothing, strollers and more.

☆FIFTH AVENUE St. Marks to Prospect Place

Buttercup's Paw-tisserie: Gifts for dogs and the people who love them.

Gorilla Coffee: Gorilla Gift Box comes with 3x1lb of your choice of coffee, slide top silk screen cover, gorilla logo wood burned on back.

Tabeel Aromatherapy Gift Shop and Hair Locking Center: In year's past, I liked the microwavable teddy bears for muscle soreness, arthritis, backaches, sprains and headaches, Glycerine soaps by the slice in various flavors and colors including grapefruit (pictured).

☆FIFTH AVENUE Prospect Place to Park Place

Flirt:  Great bags, pin-up girl mirror, Bombshell babe Tampon Holder, Albert and Picollo underwear, thongs and MORE.

Teddy: Fargo hats with real rabbit fur.

 The Chocolate Room: CHOCOLATES!

☆FIFTH AVENUE Douglas to Degraw

 

A. Cheng: Lovely clothing and accessories. Floral scarves in saturated orange, bags like the one pictured. 

☆FIFTH AVENUE Degraw to Sackett

Soula: Sanita Danish clogs, Converse low top sneakers in black and white or silver with sequins.

☆FIFTH AVENUE St. Johns to Lincoln

  Body Essentials: Dr. Hanuska products.

☆FIFTH AVENUE Lincoln to Berkeley

Brooklyn Frameworks: Vintage prints including images of old Brooklyn

 ☆FIFTH AVENUE  Sackett to President 

Cog and Pearl:   Decoupage paper weights and dishes by John Derian; Things to Make & Do and "Revive" calendar by Nikki McClure, "A Year of Mornings" (Princeton University Press) by Maria Alexandere Vetttes; and hand soap.

Hog Mountain (A General Store for Men) is chock full of "indestructible" and classic men's wear, including the perfect winter coat, jeans, ties, shirts, tools, etc. Great for gifts for the men on your list.

☆FIFTH AVENUE  Berkeley to  Union

Extraordinary: Key rings with small metal high heels, wing tips, ballet slippers, high tops.

☆FIFTH AVENUE Union to Carroll Streets.

Something Else: Fleece lined fur hats and fingerless mittens.

Bob & Judi's Coolectibles: Wide variety of laminated posters that are ready to hang: Mighty Mouse Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee film about Mohammad Ali by William Klein ($13). Locker baskets.

Goldy and Mac: Clothing and accessories for women.

☆FIFTH AVENUE President  to Garfield Streets.

Matter: Still life fruit bowl -- ceramic and wood, Rainbow of 13 colored sake or shot glasses, cork chair.

Scaredy Kat: In the new location, the store is chock full of fun gifts for Hanukah, Xmas, stocking stuffers and more: vintage toys you grew up with by Fisher-Price: Clock Music box, Bouncy Bee, Chatter Telephone ($15.), huge assortment of holiday cards ($9-17). 

 

Diana Kane: Clean, simple, modern locket. 18" Yellow gold chain with satin finished sterling silver locket. Holds two photographs. Locket measures 3/4" Handmade in New York. Jimmy Jane vibrators, candles, and Spin the Bottle game. 

Corduroy Kid: Owned by an Australian, CK is a children’s lifestyle boutique featuring a comprehensive collection of cool kids clothing (newborn to 7yrs), modern home furnishings, toys, unusual gift items and plenty of quirky, other fun stuff, including this rocket t-shirt pictured left.

Eidolan: Wool neck collar with pom pom knit by Black Rabbit, unisex belts with simple stitching made by Nadine NY, tunics and dresses in 1960's patterns by Amara Felice.

☆FIFTH AVENUE Garfield to 1st Streets.

3R Living: Cool round mirror framed by old 45's (you can order according to your musical tastes!); glassware made out of recycled Boylan birch beer, Boylan orange soda, Rolling Rock, Stella bottles; bike chain frames, Mighty Wallets, made of materials used in Express Mail envelopes, hand screen printed, plywood wall hooks and bottle openers.

Lucia: Love bird necklaces; nice sweaters, gloves and hats. 

La Rosa Dance Supply: Tights and ballet supplies for little girls and women.

☆FIFTH AVENUE 1st to 2nd Street


 Jonathan Blum: Paintings by Brooklyn's hometown artist.

☆FIFTH AVENUE Second to Third Streets
☆FIFTH AVENUE 3rd to 4th Streets

PYR Wine Shop:

Serene Rose

Razor

Brooklyn Mercantile: Give the gift of one of their intimate, on-site classes in sewing, crafts, quilting, and more. They also have bags, housewares, jewelry, one-of-a-kind art and more.

Stitch Therapy: Knitting bags, Wool baby rattle knitting kit, felting kit ($30).

☆FIFTH AVENUE 2nd to 3rd Street

Bird: It can be a little pricey in here but it's a great gift source for the fashionista on your list. Featured women's collections (at all locations) include 3.1 Phillip Lim, Acne, A.P.C., Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant, Maison Martin Margiela Ligne 6, Rachel Comey, Stella McCartney, Thakoon, Tsumori Chisato, Yigal Azrouël, Zero + Maria Cornejo. .

☆FIFTH AVENUE 4th to 5th Street

Under the Pig Antiques: You never know what you'll fine in here. Have FUN.

☆FIFTH AVENUE 5th to 6th Streets

Brooklyn Superhero Supply Co: Strive To Be Boring and My Secret Identity black t-shirts. Secret Identity kits, Superhero Supplements from Aardvark Brothers Brand, Strong vacuum suction cups, mylar force fields...

Zuzu's Petals:  Small oval shaped (and very feminine) quilted jewelry boxes, plates and platters that look like doilies, Italian urns, runners and MORE.

Urban Alchemist: Part store, part gallery and part artisan salon, Urban Alchemist has an eclectic mix of emerging designers as well as carefully selected vintage and modern home goods, accessories and furniture. I love the delicate necklaces and earrings by Rebeccah Shepherd, the plastered vintage milk bottles from Brooklyn milk companies of yore and more. Much more. The shop is just east of Fifth Avenue on 5th Street.

☆FIFTH AVENUE 7th to 8th Streets

Save on Fifth: What a selection of just about everything. Cheap, cheap, cheap.

FIFTH AVENUE 8th - 9th Streets

Galaxy Comics: 12 inch Yellow Submarine Beatles figurines. 

Record and Tape Center: Huge collection of used LPs and CDs.

Tip Top Gifts: Commando sweaters in black, navy, and green with patches on the shoulders and elbows ($38).

 7th Avenue 7th Avenue 7th Avenue 7th Avenue

☆SEVENTH AVENUE Lincoln to Berkeley

Paper XOXO Owner Alison has great taste in all things paper, including Manhattan Diaries, letter press cards, diaries, journals and more.

Mandala Tibetan Store: Fantastic furry ear muffs, scarves galore, Buddha figurines, bags, jewelry.

Slope Sports: Great gifts for winter runners: Mizuno BreathThermo running hat and gloves, $20 each, The Stick self-massager;  Life is good® long-sleeve t-shirts, CRAFT top or bottom base layer.

☆SEVENTH AVENUE Union to President

Blue Apron (just east of 7th Avenue): Imported and domestic hams and other chacuterie.  The cheeses are artisanal, perfectly kept and presented, and none are cut until you're ready to buy (a righteous rarity and a practice only found among the best cheese mongers).  They work with very small producers to be able to offer flawless ricotta cheese, domestic prosciutto that rivals Parma's, and other products that are available almost nowhere else in New York.  Breads are from Amy's, Pain d'Avignon, Sullivan Street and Royal Crown.  Jacques Torres is a friend of the store and the best of his chocolates are sold here.

Newstand: A lottery ticket.

Facets: Beautiful precious and semi-precious jewelry and earrings

Area: T-shirts and wooden toys, Ugly Dolls and more.

Aersoles: Shoes, great socks and stockings.

☆SEVENTH AVENUE President to Carroll

Loom: Great gifts, all price ranges, all age groups. 

Lisa Polansky: This store is crowded with women's clothing, shoes, clogs and more.

Kiwi: Beautiful hat and glove sets 

☆SEVENTH AVENUE Carroll to Garfield

Jack Rabbit: A pair of running shoes and tuition in the Beginner Running Clinic ($250).

D'Vine Taste: Dried Fruits. Halvah. Fancy olive oils. Proustian Madeleine cakes.

Community Bookstore: Book ideas: Lit by Mary Karr, Chronic City by Jonathan Lethem, Prospect Park West by Amy Sohn, A Gate at the Stairs by Lorrie Moore, Raymond Carver: A Writer's Life by Carol Sklenicka, Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann and Store Front (if they're out of it you can always order it).

Little Things: From trendy to classic toys: they've got it all. All wrapped up in purple tissue paper: what could be better?

Back to the Land: Dr. Hanuschka, Avalon, Kiss My Face, California Baby, and other skin and hair care products.

Possibilities On The Slope: Cards, balloons, gift items, fragrances and skincare products, etc. 

 ☆SEVENTH AVENUE Garfield to 1st

Artesana: Beautiful ornaments, candles holders, etc. 

 

The Clay Pot:  Hotcakes necklaces and earrings are my pick. See left. 

Treasure Chest:

The Chair Store:

Lolli: Cinderella Pajamas that come with a book.

Mr. Choi: Just like last year: Hot Sox in a wide variety of patterns including Hanukah menorahs, cappuchino, bandannas, and polka dots (3 for $15). 

MYR: Mallory carries a great selection of her own blend of make up, skin care products and barettes
☆SEVENTH AVENUE 2nd to 3rd Streets

Eric Shoes: Boots, boots, fabulous boots and bags.

Good Footing: Ice skates.

Tarzian West: 

☆SEVENTH AVENUE 3rd to 4th Streets

City Casuals: Clothing (Cut Loose, and other comfortable brands), shoes, scarves and pretty jewelry. Reasonable prices.

Living on Fifth: Going out of business SALE!

The Cocoa Bar: Nicely packaged chocolate treats.

Lion in the Sun: Moleskin notebooks in all sizes. Acme pens. Great place to find gifts for the writer in your life.

 

☆SEVENTH AVENUE 4th to 5th Streets

Lumiere: Pylones jewelry box, lady in skirt cheese grater, cake knife, massage device, jewelry box, hairbrushes, and other fun items. 

 ☆SEVENTH AVENUE 7th to 8th Streets

☆SEVENTH AVENUE 8th to 9th Streets

Brooklyn Industries: Great sweaters this year. Bags as always. Gloves, hats and of course super t-shirts.

☆SEVENTH AVENUE ABOVE 9th Street:

OTTO: Fantastic Echo gloves and scarves. Pricey but fabulous hats; three dot t-shirts, boiled wool handbags

4-Play BK: hippy-chic brands like Free People and Blue Platealong with urban essentials like Puma kicks, designer jeans and Paul Frank t-shirts and more.

Music Matters: New CD by Tom Waits: Glitter and Doom Live, guitar picks in bulk. 

Big Nose, Full Body: Wine gifts galore for the wine enthusiast on your list. 

Goldy & Mac: Sweaters, dresses, bags, accessories...

Sweet Charity: Fun, floral and tasteful homegoods, gift and clothing shop that is chock full of gift items!

Grab: Gourmet gifts for the foodie you love.

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

My Friend Henry Lowengard: Imaginary Sound Winners 2009

Hello Sound Listeners:

It's that time of year again. My friend Henry Lowengard has put together another list of Imaginary Sound Winners 2009:

http://www.wfmu.org/~jhhl/Best/

Says Henry:

"This is my 10th year of these lists - rather a lot when you think of it - and I'm happy to say some real world people are out there doing real projects in the same vein, such as those folks who hooked a big Victrola-style horn behind a plough in a field in Scandinavia.

"Happy imagined listening, and I hope to get to some of these sometime."

OTBKB Music: Best of 2009, Part One

OK, it's mid December.  That means it's time for my best of 2009 list.  Overall, 2009 had a tough act to follow because 2008 was an extraordinarily good year musically.  I do think that there was a bit of a fall off from last year, but there was still plenty of good new music around.  I've picked the 10 albums that I've enjoyed the most this year.  They will be presented today and Wednesday, half on each day, in alphabetical order.

Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles - The Stars Are Out: Sarah Borges has been around for a few years and usually categorized as alt country.  But The Stars Are Out demolishes that view of her.  It's mostly rock of varying kinds, mostly up tempo and all wonderful.  The songs are split between covers and SB originals.  A few SB&BS fans have complained that this album is overproduced, but if this is overproduction, bring it on.

The Damnwells - One Last Century: One Last Century is just plain wonderful.  You could call it rock power pop with wonderful songs and great vocals.  If you need a reference point, The Gin Blossoms aren't all that far away from this.  There is no reason not to own this album; it was released as a free download here. Yes, it's legal!

Charlie Faye - Wilson St: Originally from this area, Charlie moved to Austin a few years back and Wilson St. of the album title is where she ended up.  Austin is the place where rock, blues, country and folk all blend into each other and that's what happens on this album as well.  All songs are CF originals or co-writes and standouts include She's Gonna Go, Bottletops, Runaround and Simple Seduction.

Israel Nash Gripka - New York Town:  Too young to have been around during the classic rock era, Israel reaches back to what was good in the 70s as inspiration for this set.  And yes, it does seem he's channeling John Fogerty in the song Pray for Rain.

Norah Jones - The Fall: The past couple of years have been ones of change for Norah Jones.  So with all that going on in her life, its no wonder that her new album, The Fall, finds Norah's music in transition as well.  This record features an entirely different musical team and although it still recognizable as a Norah Jones record, it has electronic elements and is mixed to be edgier. Highlights include Young Blood, It's Gonna Be and Back to Manhattan.

To be continued...

 --Eliot Wagner

Child's Play: Acting Classes for PreK to 1st Graders

Child's Play NY is opening it's winter registration for acting classes for PreK to 1st grade. Children interpret characters, tell stories and connect with their intuitive ability to make-believe.

Into each class is woven a folktale or fairytale which the class re-interprets and which springboards improvisation.

Techniques of acting as well as specific voice and movement work are an integral part of the curriculum. Visual arts, mask, puppetry and costume augment the workshop and support imagination.

Child's Play offers young people the opportunity to explore and perform theater and in doing so builds confidence, compassion and creativity.

The 12-week session is held in Carroll Gardens at the Area Yoga studio on 320 Court Street from 3:25-4:25 on Tuesdays from January 6th to April 5th.

Child's Play is taught by Jocelyn Greene acting teacher at the Packer Collegiate Institute and the Berkeley Carroll School.

For more information and an application go to www.childsplayny.com

Christmas Cookies: Music Video From Park Slope's Scaredy Kat

Here is the 2009 addition to the holiday sounds of Scaredy Kat. Vocals by Nora Yockey & Leah Hays. Words by Nora Yockey. Music and production by Art Hays. Video by Damond Gallagher.

Captain Smartypants, A Seattle Men's Chorus, Sings Dreidel

An OTBKB reader sent this in. Captain Smartypants, a Seattle Men's Chorus Ensemble, makes the Yuletide fun in Home For the Holidays. Visit the Seattle Channel website for more great shows like this. www.seattlechannel.org  

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Smartmom Chaperones a Marriott Sleepover

Here from this week's Brooklyn Paper, it's Smartmom:

It was Luvbud’s 12th birthday and Luvbud’s Mom wanted to do something really special for her: a night at a hotel with four of her best friends.

So Luvbud Mom booked two rooms at the Brooklyn Marriott and told Luvbud to invite her BFFs.

But there was one problem: Luvbud’s Mom had to stay home to care for her mother, who isn’t well. She called Smartmom with the bad news.

“I can chaperone the girls,” Smartmom told her.

“Are you sure? ” she asked.

“No problem. I don’t mind spending a night in a hotel with five 12-year-old girls,” Smartmom said.

When the Oh So Feisty One got wind of the plan she was none too happy.

“Why can’t Luvbud’s mom do it. That would be SO much better,” OSFO told her.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Smartmom said. “But it’s me or no party.”

On Saturday, Smartmom and the girls walked to the subway in the rain. Smartmom made sure to stay about a block ahead of the girls because she knew that OSFO wouldn’t want her hovering too close.

In fact, OSFO doesn’t like Smartmom hovering too close most of the time.

The allergy kicked in right around her 12th birthday last March and it hasn’t let up at all. Sometimes she actually looks ill when Smartmom enters her room.

Back to Saturday: Smartmom checked into the hotel as the girl swooned at the sight of the hotel’s pretty lobby Christmas tree.

“I’m two doors down from you girls,” Smartmom told OSFO and her friends.

“And the pool is open 24 hours,” she added.

“Yay. We can go swimming at midnight,” one of the girls said.

When the girls entered their room, they squealed with delight and immediately started jumping on their beds. OSFO quickly ushered Smartmom out of the room and made it clear that Smartmom wasn’t welcome.

Smartmom did check in every half hour or so to see what they were up to. She told them they should go swimming, but they were too busy trying on each other’s clothes and putting on makeup in the bathroom.

Smartmom had lots to do in her private hotel room. She brought her laptop fully intending to write her column or read a book. Instead she found herself feeling very, very relaxed and sleepy on the ultra comfortable mattress with its soft, soft, cotton sheets.

Smartmom woke up to a hard knock on the door. It was OSFO and the girls dressed in their bikinis.

“The pool was closed,” OSFO told her, clearly annoyed. “It’s not open 24 hours like you said.”

“Really? That’s what the woman at the front desk told me — unless I misunderstood,” Smartmom said, sailing through a sea of unhappy faces. “My bad. But you can go swimming in the morning. The pool opens at 9 am,” she added, restoring the levity.

About an hour later, Smartmom knocked on their door to see if the girls were ready for dinner, but there was no answer. She banged some more. Still no answer. She did experience a moment of panic. Had they been asphyxiated by makeup or poisoned by nail polish remover?

She managed to stay calm and went downstairs to the Archives Restaurant to see if they were there.

Sure enough, the BFFs were eating dinner in the crowded restaurant. Looking like 12 going on 23, they were all beautifully dressed up in skirts or dresses and they were drinking …

“They’re virgin Strawberry Daiquiris,” one of the girls told Smartmom.

“We were having Shirley Temples, but then we ordered these,” another girl said.

Smartmom had to laugh. It occurred to her that this could be construed as pre-alcoholic behavior, but she flicked the thought out of her mind like an annoying mosquito. The girls were having fun.

As planned, Smartmom met Hepcat in the lobby for dinner. They sat and ate their dinner at the bar — far away from the girls. He had a Virgin Guinness while Smartmom had a Virgin Chardonnay. When the girls were finished with dinner, OSFO came over to Hepcat.

“Can I borrow your camera,” she asked, all sugar no spice.

“Ummm, it’s the new camera,” he said nervously. “Do you know how to use it?”

“Of course I do,” OSFO said, taking the camera.

After dinner, Smartmom and Hepcat watched “White Christmas” in the hotel room as he waited nervously for the return of his camera. Around midnight, Smartmom knocked on the door.

“Yes?” OSFO said through a small crack.

“Can I have the camera?” she said.

“One minute,” OSFO said, shutting the door.

OSFO returned a minute later with the camera. She handed it over.

“And don’t look at the pictures,” she said, shutting the door again.

“I think she should see the pictures,” Smartmom heard another friend say through the door.

“Omigod. They took 315 photographs,” Hepcat exclaimed checking his camera to make sure it was still in good working condition (which it was). “And they’re really good,” he added. “Did you know they ordered from room service?”

“They did?” Smartmom gasped.

Sure enough there was a photo of a waiter carrying a tray. There were three other trays visible in the picture. Luvbud’s Mom would not be happy.

“They sure made a mess of that room,” he said. “And they jumped on the bed.”

Indeed, the photographs were fantastic: a perfect lens into the crazy, fun, exuberant world of Luvbud’s 12th birthday party at the Marriott.

Smartmom may not have been a fly on the wall, but Hepcat’s camera was able to capture better than thousands of words what it was like on that magical night.

A birthday/slumber party at the Marriott: Expensive, trust me.

A night of fun with your BFFs (and OSFO’s mother, father and SLR camera): priceless.