Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Not many Words Daily Pix: Photographs by Hugh Crawford

Blondie at the Brooklyn Museum Who Shot Rock and Roll ? opening last night.

The answer: well just about everyone.
 



 

Blondie by the way gave an outstanding performance, even overcoming the
almost-as-bad-as-Winterland acoustics of the Brooklyn Museum.

OTBKB Music: Twofer (or Threefer) Tonight

There's a great twofer, or maybe it's a threefer, tonight over at The Rockwood Music Hall.  Up at 10pm for a two hour set will be James Maddock.  James is playing with a full band in support of his new album, Sunrise on Avenue C,   which has been getting some airplay over at WFUV, WXPN and Sirius XM.  And Leslie Mendelson (who released her own album, Swan Feathers, earlier this year) will be singing along with James.  If the past is any indication, Leslie will likely sing a song or two on her own.  It's a great evening of upbeat, sometimes even anthemic, rock and adult pop.

James Maddock, The Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street (F Train to Second Avenue, take the First Avenue exit), 10pm-Midnight

Stick around after James and catch Emily Zuzik with her band.  Emily sees this as the first show of Halloween and is promising "costumes, candy and chaos."  You'll get to hear a great mix of Emily's original blues, pop, and rock with some of the most insightful lyrics around.  Ms. Z has been on a bit of a musical sabbatical lately, so come welcome her back.

Emily Zuzik, The Rockwood Music Hall, 196 Allen Street (F Train to Second Avenue, take the First Avenue exit), Midnight

 --Eliot Wagner

The Current Weather in Park Slope: Warm Weather for Halloween, Chance of Rain

Brought to you by the Feldman Family from their local weather tower.

Catherine Bohne Wins Civic Council's 2009 Lovgren Award!

I enjoyed this article in the Park Slope Civic Council newsletter (and website) about Catherine Bohne, the recent winner of the Park Slope Civic Council’s 2009 Lovgren Award. It's called:  "You can't put down a neighborhood that has a Catherine Bohne" and it is written by Erza Goldstein.

"Officially, Catherine Bohne was named winner of the Park Slope Civic Council’s 2009 Lovgren Award for her work on behalf of our neighborhood’s independently owned shops and restaurants. Bohne has been instrumental in bringing the Park Slope Chamber of Commerce back to life, in launching the Buy-in-Brooklyn campaign and in uniting the once-distant merchants of 5th and 7th Avenues in common cause. She has also become one of New York City’s better-known advocates of...
Read more..

Blast from the Past: Halloween 2005

This was written in October 2005.Teen Spirit was 14, OSFO was 8. Smartmom was...

Photo by Adrian Kinloch, Brit in Brooklyn

Halloween morning, the kids popped out of bed early, ready for their breakfast candy. "Stop stealing from the trick or treat bowl. That's for later," Hepcat bellowed. Even Teen Spirit, who is historically difficult to rouse in the morning, was up and ready for high school in record time, his pockets stuffed with Hershey's kisses.

The Oh So Feisty One packed her cowgirl chaps in her pink backpack. "Just in case my teacher lets us put on our costumes." This was unlikely because her school prohibits any recognition of Halloween in sensitivity to the children whose religious beliefs prevent them from participating.

Smartmom tried to get some money work done on Monday but by 2 p.m, she surrendered to the reality that Monday afternoon and evening were for one thing and one thing only: Halloween.

First crisis of the day: the case of the missing cowboy hat: OSFO searched the apartment high and low. Smartmom finally unearthed it underneath Teen Spirit’s bed.

Second crisis: Teen Spirit needed a shirt for his impromptu pirate costume. "You can wear this black shirt of Dad's." Smartmom told him. "No he can't," Hepcat screamed from the living room. "That's my special black shirt."

"it's alright, mom," Teen Spirit told Smartmom ever-attentive to Hepcat’s moods.

They did manage to find a billowy white shirt in the closet. Teen Spirit strapped on his belt, plastic sword, and the pirate hat he'd purchased at Rite Aid, ready to join a band of roving teenage pirates who were waiting downstairs.

Aargh.

Trick or Treating on Seventh Avenue, OSFO was, characteristically, driven to procure as much candy as she could possibly fit into her shopping bag. They were joined by Ducky, who was dressed in a zip-up bunny costume with little paw gloves and a cloth carrot.

Her first Halloween ever - god knows what Ducky was thinking. Big brown eyes open wide, she inhaled the crazy costumed scene from her stroller.

The group went back to Groovy Aunt’s for some apartment-building style trick or treating. Volume is what it's about. "Let's see," OSFO calculated. "They've got six floors and eight apartments on each floor…”

OSFO hasn't learned her multiplication tables yet, but still, that's a lot of candy.

Third Crisis: OSFO developed Halloween fatigue mixed with an acute case of "not being the center of attention."

That darn baby in that darn bunny suit: Ducky was sucking all the attention out of the room with a straw. OSFO ripped off her cowgirl chaps and flung her Payless cowgirl boots across the living room and staged a a world-class snitsky. Arms tightly crossed, she faced a wall and snarled. The only remedy: a large dose of alone time.

Rejuvenated by a few minutes of quiet and three mini Twix bars, OSFO was ready for a little trick or treating and the Halloween parade. "The houses with the Jack-O-lanterns are the ones with the candy," she said with the assuredness of a seasoned navigator. Racing up and down the brownstone stoops, she rang on door bells and filled her bag with more candy.

Crisis number four: By the time they got to the parade, it was over. The streets were filled with teenagers. Teen Spirit was spotted in front of Starbucks with a can of shaving cream - horror of horrors. Strange to say, with all her worries about sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, Smartmom never once imagined he'd be a shaving cream trickster.

Live and learn. Hepcat trailed Teen Spirit and the teenage pirates to Barnes and Noble and insisted that he be home by nine.

Before bedtime, OSFO weighed her Halloween treat bag on the bathroom scale: "I've got five pounds of candy. Don't anybody touch it," she screamed and then proceeded to stash it in her secret hide-a-way.

Halloween Crisis number five: The day after Halloween, Teen Spirit couldn't keep his eyes open during English class. He fell asleep on his desk. Smartmom hopes he didn't snore. Now that would be very distracting.

How was your Halloween?

BQE at The Bell House on Nov 7: Transcending the Mundane with Sufjan

Daylight Savings Time Ends on Sunday: An Extra Hour of Sleep

When you go to sleep on Saturday night set your clock back because Daily Savings Time ends on Sunday morning. And while you're at it change your smoke alarm batteries.

Ever wonder about the history of Daylight Savings Time:

"Although standard time in time zones was instituted in the U.S. and Canada by the railroads in 1883, it was not established in U.S. law until the Act of March 19, 1918, sometimes called the Standard Time Act. The act also established daylight saving time, a contentious idea then. Daylight saving time was repealed in 1919, but standard time in time zones remained in law. Daylight time became a local matter. It was re-established nationally early in World War II, and was continuously observed from 9 February 1942 to 30 September 1945. After the war its use varied among states and localities. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided standardization in the dates of beginning and end of daylight time in the U.S. but allowed for local exemptions from its observance. The act provided that daylight time begin on the last Sunday in April and end on the last Sunday in October, with the changeover to occur at 2 a.m. local time.

"During the "energy crisis" years, Congress enacted earlier starting dates for daylight time. In 1974, daylight time began on 6 January and in 1975 it began on 23 February. After those two years the starting date reverted back to the last Sunday in April. In 1986, a law was passed that shifted the starting date of daylight time to the first Sunday in April, beginning in 1987. The ending date of daylight time was not subject to such changes, and remained the last Sunday in October. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed both the starting and ending dates. Beginning in 2007, daylight time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November."

For a very readable account of the history of standard and daylight time in the U.S., see

Ian R. Bartky and Elizabeth Harrison: "Standard and Daylight-saving Time", Scientific American, May 1979 (Vol. 240, No. 5), pp. 46-53.

Momasphere: Motherhood Is The New MBA on Nov 5

 Another Momasphere event:

Author Shari Storm for a reading and signing her book Motherhood Is the New MBA. (Book release: September 29th). Includes a discussion and Q&A,  plus giveaways, wine and food!

“Regardless of whether you are a mom, just starting out, or established in the workforce, the ideas presented in this book offer a fresh perspective and new ways of thinking about the applications of your everyday life experiences.” - Victoria Colligan, founder and CEO of Ladies Who Launch and co-author of Ladies Who Launch: Embracing Entrepreneurship & Creativity as a Lifestyle

Date:  Thurs, November 5th, 2009
Time:  7-9 pm
Place:  Park Slope Eye, 682 Union Street (bet. 4th and 5th ave.) - Brooklyn, NY 11215
Price:  Tickets are $10 online & $15 at the door

 Space is limited so you must RSVP by purchasing tickets online. Sponsored by Park Slope Eye & Hybrid Mom. A portion of the proceeds of the event go to Children of the City.

Food & beverages will be served. Great raffle prizes will be given away and every attendee will receive a free goodie bag that includes, Hybrid Mom Magazine, a big Momlogic canvas tote and and delicious all natural Q.Bel chocolate candy bar!

Brooklyn Frugal Examiner: Getting a Cheap Haircut

More tips from BFFE:

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Getting your hair cut, colored, straightened and who-knows-what-else can cost a bundle. If you're trying to cut costs, it might feel like you have...
Keep Reading »

Weekend List: Boo, Peter Sarsgaard, NYC Marathon, Galway Kinnell

HALLOWEEN:

--Haunted Walk in Prospect Park at Lookout HIll & the Nethermead from 12 –3 PM. Rain or shine.  Suggested donation, $1.The beloved Halloween Haunted Walk is back and scarier than ever! Lurking high on Lookout Hill are zombies, wolf men, headless horsemen, good and bad witches, and other creepy characters. Visitors brave enough to experience this harrowing hike should head to Lookout Hill. The Halloween Haunted Walk is suitable for young children accompanied by parents/guardians or older siblings.

--Boo at the Zoo at the Zoo for a frighteningly good time with the animals.

--Howloween Pups On Parade. A special event to benefit Washington Park. Prizes for best dog costumes! Registration: $10 per dog; 12-12:30 pm. Parade at 12:45 PM.

--Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Parade. Start: 6:30 PM at 7th Ave/14th Street. Finish: JJ Byrne Playground/Washington Park

--Phantom of the Opera showing in the sanctuary of the Fort Greene landmark Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, on a 14-foot wide screen with live Organ accompaniment by J. David Williams on the 1910 “Austin Organ”. 7 PM. 

--Freaky Cats at BAMcinematek. See OTBKB Movies by Pops Corn.

RUNNING: The marathon starts in Staten Island at 9AM on Sunday. Watch from Fourth Avenue.

MOVIES:

--An Education with Peter Sarrgaard and Alfred Molina at BAM.

--Michael Jackson's This Is It at the Pavilion.

----Freaky Cats at BAMcinematek. See OTBKB Movies by Pops Corn.

FAMILY THEATER: The Legend of Ichabod Crane adapted from the Washington Irving story and performed by Dan Kitrosser.Brooklyn Lyceum. 227 Fourth Ave. at President Street. (718) 857-4816

TALK: On Sunday, Nov. 1: Children of Imprisoned Parents speak at the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture (PPW at 1st Street) High school students Davian and Kai Reynolds speak about growing up with an imprisoned mother. 11 PM. 

POETRY: On Sunday Nov 1 at 7 PM. Galway Kinnell at the Brooklyn Lyceum.

COMEDY: On Sunday, Nov 1 at 7:30 PM. ith Eugene Mirman at Union Hall.

Brooklyn Paper Inside NY Post Today

Yeah. You can read Smartmom inside the NY Post today. Here's the spiel from the Brooklyn Paper:

 Starting this Friday in selected areas of Brooklyn, copies of The Post will include The Brooklyn Paper — giving Post readers a chance to get our lively, award-winning local coverage along with their regular fix of New York’s best news, gossip, sports, business and entertainment coverage.

“This is what we call a classic win-win,” said Celia Weintrob, publisher of The Brooklyn Paper. “Post readers already enjoy the best newspaper in the city — but now they’ll be getting the best local paper in Brooklyn, too.” It’s all free with your 50-cent New York Post — only in Brooklyn.

Two Champion Trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Two trees at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden have been entered on the New York State Big Tree Register. You're probably wondering what this Register is:

The New York State Big Tree Register is maintained by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) as an effort to recognize trees of record size and promote an interest in their care and preservation. The Big Tree Register is now available in scientific name order (PDF, 44 KB) and common name order (PDF, 44 KB). The Big Tree Register lists only native and naturalized species and does not include hybrid species. The authority for determining eligible species is American Forests.

The NY Times reports:

Two trees in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden — a 97-year-old Kansas hawthorn and a Carolina holly — have become official members of the state’s Big Tree Register, which keeps track of the largest (as opposed to the oldest) trees of their species on record, as defined by a formula that includes the height, circumference and foliage of the tree.

Simply Gorgeous: The Art of Joseph Mariano on Pardon Me For Asking

Recently Katia Kelly visited Gowanus artist Joseph Mariano. Head on over to her blog, Pardon Me For Asking, to read her profile and see more of his work. It is simply gorgeous.

 "When Gowanus area resident Joseph Mariano retired in 1996, he knew that he wanted to spend the rest of his life painting. Standing in his sun drenched studio, he showed me his many works. There were portraits and landscapes, some of Jamaica Bay, some of different scenes along the Gowanus Canal, one of his favorite subjects.

"Very often, Joseph takes a canoe out onto the water and paints the bridges at Carroll Street and 3rd Street. He likes to explore the canal's many inlets, places well hidden from others. Often, he encounters egrets and Night Herons. There used to be horseshoe crabs, too, but he has not seen those in the past five years."

New Ideas at Public Hearing on Carroll Garens Rezoning

A press release from CORD, a group in Carroll Gardens dedicated to historic preservation and contextual development, about Monday's hearing with the Zoning and Franchises Committee of the City Council.

On Monday, October 26th, the Zoning and Franchises Committee convened at City Hall to hear testimony and vote upon the long awaited rezoning of Carroll Gardens.

The preservation motivated proposal, specifically designed to maintain neighborhood character, called for a contextual rezoning of Carroll Gardens and the Columbia Waterfront area.

As at each of the public hearings held during this months long ULURP process, overall approval of the plan was expressed by residents through testimony given in front of the committee. And also, as at each of the public hearings, along with the overall approval expressed, there was also an expression of disappointment and concern that some of the contextual rezoning, which we had all hoped would be, in effect, a downzoning, actually turned out to be an upzoning, on certain streets.

Although we were unsuccessful in getting the plan modified during the ULURP, two wonderful things happened.....the first was the united neighborhood that spoke up in a single voice; the second, an idea grew that could provide a solution, not immediately, but something that could definitely be worked on and that held great promise for our neighborhood and maybe even for other, similar neighborhoods in the borough.

City Planning has explained many times that zoning is not perfect and that they must use the tools available to them to get the best fit possible for all of the many communities throughout the city.

The new idea.....let's give City Planning some new tools for their" toolbox". Let's get some urban planners, architects, perhaps a developer or two and concerned residents involved in coming up with a brownstone district friendly category....one that allows for moderate expansion but does not threaten the destruction of the streetscape or alter the character/integrity of the building or its neighbors. Perhaps even include a design review component whereby making the character of a brownstone type community part of its zoning regulations

So, it was with this ambitious idea in mind, that members of CORD, CGNA and other residents addressed Councilman Tony Avella's committee and we are happy to report that the idea was very well received.

The Zoning and Franchises Committee voted in favor of the rezoning proposal. The proposal has since gone to the City Council where it was quickly adopted on October 28, 2009.

Councilman Avella expressed great interest in the plan to form a new zoning category.CORD has already begun to mobilize. We already have a commitment from two respected urban planners to work with us as well as architects and concerned residents. We will be reaching out to City Planning for much needed help.

Leon Freilich, Verse Responder: Subway Upgrade

Subway Upgrade

Each day I take the F train
From Park Slope to the City;
The slow, jammed cars all make 
A picture far from pretty.

The floors are heaped with gum,
The stickiness preserved,
And etches cloud the windows.
The "F" is wholly deserved.

I think I'll move to Bed-Stuy
For the sake of transit aid; 
It's serviced by the A train--
Who'd ask for a better grade?

Tonight: Hawaiian Melodies & Roots Music at Barbes

The Moonlighters. Gorgeous vocal harmonies interwoven with guitar and ukulele, the Moonlighters are as comfortable with classic Hawaiian melodies as they are innovative with their original songwriting. With Bliss Blood - vocals and ukulele ; Cindy Ball - vocals and guitar, Peter Maness - bass; and Mark Deffenbaugh - steel guitar at 10 PM.

Earlier in the evening at Barbe: Bethany & Rufus Roots Quartet. Drawing from the roots music traditions of America, Niger, and Haiti; Bethany & Rufus with Yacouba Moumouni and Bonga Jean-Baptiste come together to create an unexpected tapestry, weaving the desert winds of Africa with Vodou traditions of the new world and the folk music of America. With Bethany Yarrow - vocals; Rufus Cappadocia - cello; "Bonga" Jean-Baptiste - percussion and Yacouba "Denke Denke" - flute and vocals.

Barbes. 376 Ninth Street near 6th Avenue in Park Slope.

Applications for New Brooklyn Poet Laureate Due Nov 24

Who should be the next poet laureate? There is no shortage of poets in Brooklyn but who has the talent, the personality, the energy and the expansiveness required for the job?

Are you a poet who likes community outreach? Would you like to promote poetry and literacy in the borough?

If you think you're the poet for the job get your application over to the Borough President's Office. Applications due on 11/24. A committee will evaluate applicants and make recommendations to the Borough President, who plans to announce the new Brooklyn bard in January

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is seeking the next Brooklyn poet laureate and has appointed a five-member Brooklyn Poet Laureate Recommendation Committee to evaluate candidates for the volunteer position. The Committee will recommend a pool of three finalists to the borough president, from which he will choose one to be the bard of the borough.
 
Candidates for the poet laureate position must be a Brooklyn resident with recognition as a poet, and demonstrate a commitment to using the position for community outreach and projects that promote poetry and/or literacy in our diverse borough of Brooklyn .
 
“We know that with all our borough’s beauty, character—and characters, Brooklyn writers and poets never lack inspiration,” said BP Markowitz. “We have so many terrific writers, but the way I see it, our new poet laureate should follow the expansive example of Ken Siegelman, our previous poet laureate now of blessed memory, by not only being a fine poet, but an enthusiastic ambassador of poetry and literacy here in Brooklyn. This person should have the time and the temperament to reach out, share their work with diverse communities and spread the word about the joys and benefits of reading widely and writing well.”
 
Members of the committee are: Julie Agoos, coordinator of the MFA Program in Poetry at Brooklyn College, where she is Tow Professor of English; Robert N. Casper, programs director for the Poetry Society of America; Linda Susan Jackson, poet and associate professor of English at Medgar Evers College; Dionne Mack-Harvin, executive director, Brooklyn Public Library; and Anthony Vigorito, poet and retired teacher who assisted former poet laureate Ken Siegelman with Brooklyn Poetry Outreach, a program established by Siegelman.
 
Ken Siegelman, the late Brooklyn poet laureate, was appointed by the borough president in 2002 and served until his death this year. In addition to establishing Brooklyn Poetry Outreach, he held workshops at Phoenix House and encouraged young people to write.
 
To be considered for the position, candidates should submit 5–10 pages of their work, a maximum two-page bio or résumé and a cover letter that describes their vision of engaging Brooklyn ’s various communities in poetry. The deadline for submissions is November 24 at 5:00 p.m. Information can be e-mailed to ekoch@brooklynbp.nyc.gov, faxed to 718-802-3452, or mailed to Poet Laureate Recommendation Committee, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201.
 
Committee Members and Bios
 
Julie Agoos is the author of Above the Land, selected by James Merrill for the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award (YUP, 1997), Calendar Year (The Sheep Meadow Press, 1996) and Property (Copper Canyon/Ausable Press, 2008). She has been a resident fellow at The Frost Place, in Franconia , NH , and received the Brooklyn College/CUNY Creative Achievement Award in 2006. Agoos currently coordinates the MFA Program in Poetry at Brooklyn College , where she is Tow Professor of English.
 
Robert N. Casper is the programs director for the Poetry Society of America. He is also the founder and publisher of the literary magazine jubilat and the co-founder of the jubilat/Jones Reading Series in Amherst , MA , and serves on the board of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses.
 
Linda Susan Jackson’s first book of poetry, What Yellow Sounds Like (Tia Chucha, 2007), was a finalist for the Paterson Poetry Prize (2009) and the National Poetry Series Competition (2006). She is also the author of two chap books, Vitelline Blues (2002) and A History of Beauty (2001), both published by Black-eyed Susan Publishing. She has received fellowships from The New York Foundation for the Arts, Frost Place , Soul Mountain Writers Retreat, Calabash and Cave Canem. Her work has appeared in anthologies and journals, including Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South, Gathering Ground, Crab Orchard Review, Rivendell, Brilliant Corners: A Journal of Jazz & Literature and Heliotrope, and was featured on From the Fishouse audio archive. Jackson is an associate professor of English at Medgar Evers College/CUNY in Brooklyn .
 
Dionne Mack-Harvin oversees Brooklyn Public Library’s 58 neighborhood libraries, Business Library and Central Library at Grand Army Plaza . Prior to her appointment in March 2007, she served as the library’s interim executive director and chief of staff. She received a B.A. in History and African & African-American Studies from the State University of New York College at Brockport; an M.A. in Africana Studies at the University at Albany, State University of New York; and an M.L.S. at the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy. Dionne is a 2008 recipient of the Brooklyn Reading Council’s Friend of Literacy Award and a 2008 honoree of Crain’s New York Business 40 Under 40 leaders in the business world.
 
Anthony Vigorito is a retired New York City school teacher who was mentored by Ken Siegelman. Vigorito worked with Ken for the past eight years writing, reading and supporting poets as part of Brooklyn Poetry Outreach. Vigorito also worked at Kingsborough Community College under a Puffin grant, at Phoenix House with recovering men and women, with Marion Palm at her venue “Poets Under Glass” in Brooklyn Heights and with Evie Ivy at her venue “Poetry With The Muse” in Boro Park . Currently, he is working with the Yellowhook Poets based in Bay Ridge at St. John’s (Church of the Generals).

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Nov: The Dogs of Brooklyn & More at Ozzie's

In November 2009 selections from The Dogs of Brooklyn will be on display at Ozzie's Park Slope (7th Ave & Lincoln Place)!

The Dogs of Brooklyn is Susie DeFord's fresh poetic narrative about her colorful life as a dogwalker accompanied by vibrant photos of Brooklyn and the dogs by Dennis Riley.

The Dogs of Brooklyn is the poetic equivalent to many other bestselling dog-oriented books like
Marley and Me, Mark Doty’s Dog Years, and Unleashed: Poems by Writer’s Dogs.

On Friday, November 6, 2009 at 7 PM there will be an opening reception/ reading at Ozzie’s Park Slope (7th Ave & Lincoln Place) where Susie DeFord, Melissa Febos, and Vijay Seshadri will be reading
poems and stories about Brooklyn and its "wildlife."

Today on Brooklyn Ink: The Waterless House in Bed-Stuy

Here are some of the stories that are up on the Ink today, Thursday, October 29. 

-- In our 'Featured' section, there is a story by Derrick Taylor entitled, "The Waterless House" -- "An apartment building in Bed-Stuy went without running water for two months this summer. To make the situation worst, their landlord died and there was no one to take over the building. Residents at this building had to go above and beyond just to receive the necessities of life."

-- In our new section, 'Here is Brooklyn,' Sarah Portlock reports from Prospect Heights -- "Deloris Gillespie wants one minute to talk, just one minute. But it’s 9 pm on the dot and it’s time to end the two-hour community meeting, and she has already had her turn to speak."

Log onto The Brooklyn Ink (www.thebrooklynink.com) today to explore these stories and others. Make sure to follow breaking news throughout the day by keeping track of our "Daily Roundup" of the most important developments in Brooklyn, listed on the home page. 

. 

Leon Freilich, Verse Responder: Fall Guy

Fall Guy

In summer my neighbor's apple tree

Gives shade for him to sup,

And then in autumn the tree treats me--

To a hill of leaves to pick up.

Nov 1: Poet Galway Kinnell at Brooklyn Lyceum

I really gotta check my Facebook page more often. I just saw THIS!

The Brooklyn Lyceum continues First Sundays: a Monthly Writers Series with Pulitzer prize-winning poet Galway Kinnell. THIS SUNDAY, NOV. 1, 7PM $10. 

A casual and cozy evening hosted and curated by hournalist and poet, Susan Hartman. Pulitzer Prize winning author Galway Kinnell will read, answer questions, sign publications, and mingle in the lounge. The Lyceum is partnering with local Brooklyn bookseller Book Court, who will be supplying Galway's books this evening for sale and signing.

Galway Kinnell is making a rare appearance in Brooklyn. Among the numerous honors he has received for his poetry are the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award for his Selected Poems (1980), as well as a MacArthur Fellowship. He has published translations of works by Francois Villon, Rainer Maria Rilke, and others, and served as a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. Through his readings, and his classes at Sarah Lawrence, Columbia University, N.Y.U., and other universities, he has influenced generations of young writers. This evening at the Lyceum, Galway will be reading new and selected works.

Coming to First Sundays on December 6: Vivian Cherry, a street photographer known for her work on the Lower East Side in the 1950s, and others TBD.

Neighborhood Concert Series: SOLD OUT FOR TONIGHT!

Tonight at PS 321: Simone Dinnerstein Presents The Neighborhood Concert Series. The series, directed by Simone Dinnerstein, world renowned pianist, mother of PS 321 3rd grader, daughter of former 321 teacher, wife of 321 5th grade teacher, and a former 321 student herself!), is an evening concert series featuring musicians Simone has admired and collaborated with during her career.

The concerts are open to the public and are designed with a family audience in mind. (Concerts are not recommended for children under age six.)

CLIVE GREENSMITH, cello
JEAN SCHNEIDER, piano
Thursday, Oct. 29 at 7pm
Music by Schumann, Janáček & Franck

Location: PS 321’s Auditorium. 180 7th Avenue, Brooklyn
Ticket sales benefit programs sponsored by PS 321’s PTA
TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT!
Not recommended for children under age 6

Nov 15: Historic Worship and New Amsterdam Dinner at Old First

Celebrate Dutch Days at Old First Dutch Reformed Church in Park Slope. On November 15, there's a historic worship service followed by a New Amsterdam dinner. See details to the left.

Old First Church is a great place to celebrate 5 Dutch Days, a five day cultural event which takes place in New York City every November, which celebrates the continuous influence of Dutch arts and culture in New York City and brings together arts and cultural organizations from across the city.  Programs include walking tours, lectures, concerts, contemporary art offerings.

Talk about history: The First Reformed Church of Brooklyn dates back to 1654 with the arrival of Domine Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, who served the people of Breukelen, Flatbush,and Flatlands. Worship was conducted under the trees, then in a barn. In 1666, the first church edifice was built in the town of Breukelen in the middle of a highway,now known as Fulton Street.

This building was replaced 100 years later and included a burial ground on land which is now occupied by Macy's. The growth of the church by 1805 necesssitated large facilities, and a building was erected on Joralemon Street. Within 30 years, this building was outgrown. It was razed and rebuilt on the same site in 1835. It remained in that location until 1886, when a chapel was completed at Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street.

This chapel was expected to accommodate the congregation for some years to come, but the rapid growth of the neighborhood was reflected in increasing membership for Old First, and plans to complete the sanctuary were pushed forward. The church, at Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street, as it stands today, was dedicated on September 27, 1891.

Testimony by Joe Nardiello To City Council Zoning Committee

This is the testimony written by Joe Nardiello, Republican candidate for City Council in the 39th district,  delivered by Josephine Carita at City Hall on Monday Oct. 26th, regarding zoning height restrictions across Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens.

NYC CITY COUNCIL – Zoning Committee

Dear Chairman Tony Avella and distinguished Councilpersons:

Good morning, my name is Josephine Carita presenting zoning testimony on behalf of Joe Nardiello -- who is a candidate for City Council seeking to represent the very communities of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens of which we speak today.  Joe Nardiello asked me to firstly relay his compliments to Councilman Avella for a truly inspiring candidacy…and to convey Joe’s warm commendation to the many Councilpersons who likewise handled the pressures of campaigning, and the unique way we all must balance our family time, along with the demands of the process.

The subject matter of zoning before this honorable committee has been long-debated and anticipated in my home areas of Brooklyn, which is called “Brownstone Brooklyn”.  But, for perspective – this neighborhood’s architecture is as diverse as the people who transverse its streets at any given moment.

As you may know, while it does have a certain character of low-lined limestone, brownstone and brick row houses, and tree-lined streetscapes that have been depicted in movies…

…our areas also have a surprising number of larger apartment buildings interspersed that were built generations ago from Union to Pacific St., and from Degraw to Columbia St. These buildings were designed by size and appearance to blend into the streetscapes. In fact, I (Josephine Carita) live on Sackett St. in a building constructed in 1898 and one of 8 apartments. There’s a duplicate, ‘sister’ building beside it – and there’s another even wider structure that runs the length of Clinton St. around the block to Union. Each has been here for ages – has housed generations of low and moderate income families -- and each structure is no higher than 4 stories from the sidewalk.

I mention this fact, because there seems to have been a time when developers & builders – were either thoughtful enough, or restricted previously to not to push boundaries ever higher and distort the character of the community. But that was then, and this is now…

Our local realtors take FULL advantage of the demand for homes and rental apartments – setting skyrocketed pricing… and modern builders have tried to exploit that demand, at every turn. Today, we do absolutely need to apply and enforce stronger restraints for modern builders. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to expect builders to design for the character of these areas – like our older, but larger buildings had done in the past...

Like unruly children, today’s developers need harder rules – and stronger guidelines.

Now, developers usually challenge limits and tempt local Community Boards to oppose monster-sized plans that have made phrases like “air rights” and “sidewalk encroachment” phrases that can be heard as easily at Board meetings, as they could be heard among neighbors simply greeting each other. Larger developments take advantage of space and their property ownership rather than try to blend in. For example, a larger development on Carroll St. off Hoyt St. was stopped due to non-compliance for going 40-feet over its agreed upon restriction – and now, 3 years after its violations were detected, sits unfinished and in the same state it was, nearly as if in a spiteful response to the community itself.

It is imperative to vote for the height restrictions – to keep today’s developers from causing the problems we have seen, and trying to build UP.  The historic character and beauty of Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, overall has got to be protected.

While larger buildings can house more people, and certainly provide more by way of tax income when bought/sold to our City… there’s also the additional aspect of how smaller buildings add to the movement and human interactivity on the street.

Halloween’s “Trick or Treating” which will happen this coming weekend…provides an illustration of the difference larger buildings can have. Children don’t visit larger apartment buildings on their hunt for candy, unless they know someone there in particular. They simply walk by these monoliths. There’s a detachment sometimes, with residents. In smaller buildings, you see & notice the people living there, even in a visual sense as you happen to walk by…2, 3, 4x a day. ..Eventually, you know them.

Smaller buildings are more inviting, and there’s more of a feeling of involvement with what’s going on outside of them. In larger buildings, usually you’re either ‘inside’ or ‘outside’ of them – and generally, there’s not that aspect of Brooklyn architecture that invites neighbors to stop, pause and talk with each other…meaning: “the stoop”. We can lose the character of the community and neighbors have less of a chance to interact, and this is the meaning of what it means to live in our areas. This is why people come here, and stay here – in the first place.

Please side with new zoning and height limits – which were brought to your attention today through hard work of community leaders that worked to push their elected officials and nudge this forward for quite some time. Reward their efforts!

Builders can and will adjust to our new height and zoning regulations – changes and ceilings which are endorsed today wholeheartedly by myself Josephine Carita, Celia Maniero Cacace who is here with me today, and by Joe Nardiello who has been concerned with this particular issue for yours and has voiced his strong belief for new legislation, stricter guidelines.... greater emphasis, process' speed and funding of Community Boards.... and significantly-stronger fines & penalties for non-compliance throughout his campaign.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

________

Copies of testimony hand-delivered to:

Committee Chairperson
Tony Avella

Committee Members
Chairperson:  Tony Avella
Simcha Felder
Eric N. Gioia
Robert Jackson
Melinda R. Katz
Joel Rivera
Larry B. Seabrook
Helen Sears
Albert Vann

Truth and Rocket Science: Brazilian Rock and Roll

Read Part 3 of the Brazil series on Truth and Rocket Science. It's pretty brilliant and enlightening stuff written by John Guidry.

Brazil is a country of inspired appropriation.  Its peoples, cultures, sounds, and visions grind against each other.  They rise up and smash together like tectonic plates.  In the collision of Brazil and Brasília, the city of candangos gave the country Renato Russo.

No “torso of steel,” no “[w]inged elbows and eyeholes,” but like Zweig and Plath a literary mind and poet, Russo’s voice became his generation’s.  In his epic song, “Faroeste Caboclo,” Russo tells the story of a poor kid’s migration to Brasília across 159 lines of free verse, punk sensibilities, and an affecting melody that calls to mind the traditional country music of Brazil’s Northeast.  Faroeste is what they call a “Western movie” in Brazil, and caboclo refers to the Brazilian mestiço everyman, a mixture of races and cultures, poor, seeking his or her fortune in some faraway place.  Faroeste Caboclo is Walt Whitman, rogue-Gary Cooper and Joe Strummer together in Niemeyer’s white palace.

Nov 16: Songwriters Exchange at Union Hall

Please join the Brooklyn Songwriters Exchange for their November show: Monday, November 16 at Union Hall.

The show features great local songwriter and alt-country champion Matt Keating with his band, as well as Misra recording artist and ambient/mazzy-star oriented songwriter Emily Rodgers from Pittsburgh and host Rebecca Pronsky will open the evening with her trio. As always, the Songwriters Exchange is free. You can also pick up the BSX CD (see left).

Monday, November 16

@ UNION HALL

702 Union St

Park Slope, Brooklyn

7:30 doors, 8pm show

FREE

About November's Artists:

EMILY RODGERS

http://myspace.com/emilyrodgers

"Instantly beautiful, troubled and hypnotic." - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

MATT KEATING 

http://myspace.com/mattkeating

"Beautiful and honest songs of substance and melancholy" - Time Out London

REBECCA PRONSKY (host)

http://myspace.com/rebeccapronsky

"Her writing is literate, passionate, and wry." - Time Out NY

Efrain Gonzalez: Halloween on Third Street

OTBKB Music: Mary Lamont at Hill Country Tonight

The first American country band to tour China was not one of the usual suspects; it was the Mary Lamont Band.  You might not have heard of them, but this Suffolk County-based band has been playing around Long Island for years and lately they have begun to play in New York City as well.  Tonight they hit Hill Country in Chelsea for three sets of country, Americana and rock.

Although a New Yorker for years, Mary herself originally hails from rural Ontario, once again supporting the idea that Canadians do the best American music (see also Neil Young and Kathleen Edwards).  Mary has also quite a diverse background as her day jobs have included modeling and working for the Alice Cooper management team.

Jim Marchese, the lead guitarist, has strong country and rock chops.  He's also an accomplished photographer, and was tour photographer for Bruce Springsteen's The River tour in Europe.

Mary Lamont, Hill Country, 30 W 26th St (F Train to 23rd Street, walk three blocks to 26th Street, turn right and go 1/2 block), 9pm-midnight

 --Eliot Wagner

OTBKB Movies: Freaky Cats at BAM

 OTBKB is thrilled to present  a semi-infrequent series of pieces to be contributed about film and written by Pops Corn. He writes: "Thanks for allowing me on your screen.  I promise not to always cover weird horror.  It's seasonal."

BAM gets real loose consistently every year at Halloween.  A few years back, they shocked me by busting out the truly (and unjustly) unloved Halloween III: Season of the Witch. 

Screening a much maligned sequel in a typical arthouse setting wasn't enough - they dedicated a day to it. I'm a bit obsessed with this film in part because of the song that plays frequently in a commercial throughout the film.  So, God--scratch that,Satan, as per the holiday--bless them for that wonderful Halloween a few years back that was enjoyed by me and about 7 other people. 

BAM strikes again this Halloween with the miniature dual film series beautifully titled Freaky Cats. 

 

It's honorable enough to show Sleepwalkers for a day, a true B-movie Stephen King adaptation with character actress Alice Krige at her most unhinged (and incestuous).  

But the don't-miss item appears to be a 1977 Japanese film called House (Hausu).  I have yet to see this one, but I was introduced to the mind-blowing trailer  If the trailer is at all indicative of the movie, it is certain to be a masterpiece of the bizarre.  One day only - October 31st.

--Pops Corn

Everybody's Talking About: The Vanderbilt

You've heard about Saul Restaurant in Boerum Hill,  one of the really good restaurants on Smith Street? Well, now Saul Bolton has a new restaurant on Vanderbilt Avenue called The Vanderbilt.

A friend mentioned it to me yesterday and I see there's an article about Bolton's new place in the Brooklyn Paper:

Bolton, famous for the pioneering Smith Street white tablecloth place that bears his first name, makes all his sausages in house. But that’s not what transforms his merguez from a pathetic case of ex-sex into a full-on, hot-blooded shower scene with America’s next top model.

Sure, the ingredients are first rate, but Bolton’s merguez is not just great lamb ground up and stuffed into a casing. To help his links retain their moisture, the maestro adds a bit of milk powder into the mix. No, it doesn’t influence the flavor, but the crystals keep the juices where they’re supposed to be: inside the casing, not at the bottom of the grill.

Yes, there are other standout items on Bolton’s menu at The Vanderbilt — including roasted Brussels sprouts with sirachia and sesame seeds; a bright fennel salad that you could literally eat all day; and a fritter of pigs feet (and head) that could cure Hemingway’s hangover — but this merguez is easily the best merguez we’ve ever had.

The Vanderbilt [570 Vanderbilt Ave. at Bergen Street in Prospect Heights, (718) 623-0571].

Rosemarie Hester, Learning Specialist: Helping Your Children Enhance Vocabulary

Here is Rosemarie Hester back again with helpful learning tips.

Studying definitions for words represents one way of attempting to learn new vocabulary, but are there ways to help a child incorporate new words into speech, writing and comprehension?

 If a child has a list of words to learn, one strategy is to group them by categories.  Some words may relate to feelings, others to description or behavior.  If words can be grouped, study one group at a time. 

After having a child note the meaning of each word, it often helps to write a story using the new words, so that a student can visualize characters and a situation.  For example: “The children were disheartened when they lost their first game and felt reluctant to try again.  But their coach insisted, even though their next opponents seemed very intimidating.  In fact, they defeated the other team and were ecstatic!
 

Writing the story out several times and having the child fill in the blanks is a useful tool.  It also helps for the child to use alternative words—“hesitant” for “reluctant” and “overjoyed” for “ecstatic.”

Afterward, a child can take the story apart by listing the words and writing his/her own definition or synonym next to it.  If a vocabulary test including a long list is approaching, working on one group of words a day and reviewing the next day is best--and helps a student remember the words after the memory of the test itself is long gone.

Today on Brooklyn Ink: Karaoke Night in Red Hook & More

Here are some of the stories that are up on the Ink today, Tuesday, October 28.  The Ink is the Brooklyn blog of the Columbia Journalism school.

-- In our 'Featured' section, there is a story by Miranda Lin entitled, "Everyone Knows Your Song" -- "During the daytime, this 1950s-styled diner happily plays the role of quaint family restaurant, but as the night sets in, the lights are dimmed and the music raised. Welcome to Karaoke Night in Red Hook."

-- In our new section, 'Here is Brooklyn,' Terry Baynes reports from Court Street for a piece called "Courtyard Gospel" -- "A Brooklyn woman brings music and cheer to benches outside the New York Supreme Court building on Court Street."

-- And, Christopher Alessi follows up on a murder that took place in Brownsville on Monday afternoon in a story called "Brownsville Holds A Vigil, And A Community Searches for Answers" -- "Dozens of Brownsville residents gathered together in front of Metropolitan Diploma Plus High School last night to pay tribute to Malachi Cotton, the 16-year-old student who was gunned down in front of the school the day before."

Log onto The Brooklyn Ink (www.thebrooklynink.com) today to explore these stories and others. Make sure to follow breaking news throughout the day by keeping track of our "Daily Roundup" of the most important developments in Brooklyn, listed on the home page.

Howloween: Pups on Parade and More

A 
A dog costumer parade with prizes. Oh Boy!

Registration: 12-12:30 pm;

PupParade: 12:45 pm

The fun is sponsored by the Friends of Washington Park Support the Dog Run & Park Plantings!   

And here are some other Park Slope Civic Council Halloween Events:

Halloween Costume Contest:  4 pm to 5:30 pm - 7th Ave. bet. 4th & 5th Streets

And of course:

Children's Halloween Parade: 6:30 pm - 9 pm
New route this year: Start: 7th Avenue & 14th Street @ 6:30 pm 

New: The parade will turn left on 3rd Street & 7th Ave, ending at JJ Byrne Playground/Washington Park Don't forget - NYC Marathon, Sunday, Nov. 1!

Babble Presents: Swine Flu & Children

Babble.com presents Swine Flu & Children: The comprehensive guide for parents who want to know the real, no-nonsense scoop on:

• How to prevent swine flu
• What are swine flu symptoms?
• When should you take your kid to the hospital?
  
• Is the vaccine really safe?
• Is the vaccine effective?
• Should you vaccinate?
• What to do if your child gets swine flu
• H1N1 by the numbers
• Are parents' fears valid?
• Why children are more at risk
• Why children with underlying medical conditions are even more at risk

.
Plus: Expert medical tips from ABC senior medical editor Dr. Richard Besser.

Check it out here: http://www.babble.com/swine-flu-h1n1-vaccine/

Young Writers Night at Brooklyn Reading Works

Young Writers Night
Curated by Jill Eisenstadt
Thursday, November 19 at 7 PM
A night of original fiction, poetry and music from teenagers (ages 13-18) across the city, featuring:

Fiction and poetry: Hannah Frishberg, Maria Robbins Somerville and Ben Waldman and surprise guests!

Songwriters: Lily Konigsberg, Heather Boo, Lucio Westmoreland, Henry Crawford

Surprise Guests!
At the Old Stone House
Fifth Avenue and Third Street in Park Slope
at 7 PM (note early starting time!)
$5 suggested donation includes refreshments
brooklynreadingworks.org
theoldstonehouse.org

Hip Slope Mama in Huffington Post

Melissa Lopata of Hip Slope Mama and Momasphere was interviewed on The Huffington Post for an article called "Super Mom: Melissa Lopata"!

The article is about work/life balance, being a mom-terpreneur (with Momasphere) and life as a mom in Park Slope.

It just came out today. Check it out here: http://bit.ly/2XExr8

Cheer for Team Fox at the Marathon on Fourth Avenue

If you're interested in cheering for a cause at the marathon read this:

I don't know if this is something that you would be interested in posting on Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, but I thought I would send it along. I know a lot of people come out to cheer for the Marathon, but I found last year I had a particularly good time when I came out to cheer on runners who were part of Team Fox.  Runners with Team Fox are raising funds for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. They have 220 runners this year, and with so many runners I decided to organize a cheering section for them along 4th Avenue.  Local coffee shop Root Hill Cafe has been nice enough to let us use their corner, so we are going to be stationed there with noise makers and banners and such.  Brooklyn Parkinson Group, a non-profit based out of the Mark Morris Dance Center, will be joining us and providing information about their free programs for Parkinson's patients and their caregivers.  It's a good place to cheer, just after mile 7, and the cafe has hot drinks and snacks as well as a bathroom for those who don't live nearby.

 

I've attached a jpeg of a flyer for the event (let me know if you prefer another format).  There are over 60 charities participating this year, so I really just want to encourage people to get out and cheer, regardless of who they are cheering for.  It's just a lot of fun looking for the team names on the shirts and then making a whole bunch of noise.

 

Lastly, if you haven't heard there is going to be some live music along the route, so it might interest people to check it out:

http://www.ingnycmarathon.org/entrantinfo/course_entertainment.htm

 

Thanks for your time, and have a great Halloween and Marathon Day!

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Today on Brooklyn Ink

Brooklyn Ink, is a Brooklyn blog produced by students at the Columbia University School of Journalism.

Here are some of the stories that are up on the Ink today: 

-- In our 'Featured' section, there is a story by Daniel Roberts entitled, "Clashes Persist on 86th St. in Bensonhurst" -- "A clash has arisen between merchants and pedestrians on Bensonhurst's overcrowded 86th Street. In an effort to improve the situation, city officials offered a merchant education seminar. But the sidewalk turf war might continue."

-- In our new sections, 'Here is Brooklyn,' Alessia Pirolo reports from the Brooklyn Bridge for a piece called "The Perfect Shot" -- "At the end of one of the last beautiful days of the season, a couple enjoys the sunset on the Brooklyn Bridge."

Log onto The Brooklyn Ink (www.thebrooklynink.com) today to explore these stories and others. Make sure to follow breaking news throughout the day by keeping track of our "Daily Roundup" of the most important developments in Brooklyn, listed on the home page. 

We look forward to hearing from you. 

-- The Brooklyn Ink Team

Sidewalk Biking in the City of Light

OTBKB Verse Responder Leon Freilich got this email from Rick Tulka, a former Park Sloper, who now lives in Paris, about city bike riding and "the men—it's always men; never women, never boys— who ride their bikes on sidewalks." This was obviously in response to Freilich's poem Where There Are Spoke, There's Ire

Do you have bike police in NYC?

Here in Paris there are groups of three police who ride bikes. A lot of them are on the look-out for bikers who are violating the biking laws and give tickets on the spot.

Our friend was going up to a red light on a corner. He wasn't going to go through the red light, but stop at the corner, but in doing so he went through the red light. The police caught him and gave him a ticket. 90 euros. His partner  told him to fight it. He did.

They raised it to 300 euros!!!!!!!!

I think something like that would help in NY if people on bikes are idiots!

And Chandru Murthi of Seeing Green responds:

"it's always men" Rot...I've seen many women (usually with helmet and spandex) and most kids ride on sidewalks...btw, kids under 16 are legally *allowed* to so ride in NYC. As a regular, if slow and plodding rider, there are times I deem it safer to take the sidewalk for a short while, and, yes, I go against traffic and only pause for red lights too. It's expedient, it's usually safer (cars coming at you are more likely to slow) and, like jaywalking (another NYC sport) it's benign if done right. That said, I hold no truck for the speeding and entitled cyclists who yell at you and terrorize pedestrians. Nor for cars that speed, come too close to me and honk at me. It's a two-edged sword: safety vs. letter of the law. If we all respected the other modes, there'd be no problem. And if more people cycled, benignly, it would become safer for all.

 

Bloomberg and Thompson Debate Tonight; Brian Lehrer & Andrea Bernstein Live Chat It

OTBKB faves Andrea Bernstein and Brian Lehrer (pictured above)  will live chat tonight's mayoral debate starting at 6:45. Go to WNYC.org for more details.

Mike Bloomberg and the Democrat William Thompson Jr. go head to head tonight in the final mayoral debate before next week's general election (that's November 3rd).

What about Rev. Billy?

Last time the Green Party candidate was in the audience and was responsible for some verbal drama before getting kicked out.

The first debate between Bloomberg and Thompson was a tit for tat match. This one should be even nastier.

The mayor has outspent Thompson, about $85 million to $6 million. Whoa.

The debate airs on WABC TV, 1010 WINS radio at 7 PM. At 8 PM it will be aired again on WNYC.org radio.

Pardon Me For Asking: Monday F Train Fiasco

Were you late for work on Monday due to F train delays? Pardon Me For Asking has the story and the pix you can show your boss. Proof that it truly WAS a fiasco.

A Mugging and a Burglary on Park Slope Parents

One member of Park Slope Parents posted this:

I was mugged this afternoon in Prospect Park while taking a stroll 
through the park with my 3 year old son. A young man threatened me 
that he had a gun and stole my iphone. Even though I was wondering 
whether or not he had it, I obviously didn't want to take any 
chances. What really shook me is that this all happened with my 
little boy with me, and in broad daylight.

Another member posted this:

Just an FYI that someone broke into our tenants apartment in our brownstone located at 14th St and 4th Ave. They mainly took electronics. I heard of random break-ins this summer through unlocked windows, but here they somehow managed to get through our front door and then cut a perferct square through the drywall in the hallway to unlock the door to the apartment. It appears that they used bedsheets to carry the items out so as to look like laundry. Not sure really when it happened as tenant was gone all weekend, but hunch it that it happened Friday during the day. Please spread the word and be careful.

Members Only: Blondie to Perform at BMA Opening of "Who Shot Rock & Roll"

Members of the Brooklyn Museum, beginning at the Individual ($55) level, are invited to attend an an exclusive preview and performance by Blondie to celebrate the opening of Who Shot Rock & Roll: A Photographic History, 1955 to the Present on Thursday, October 29th.

An exhibition viewing will take place from 1 to 5 p.m., followed by a reception from 6 to 10 p.m. The reception will feature the Blondie performance, a book signing with guest curator Gail Buckland, and photographer Josh Cheuse as DJ.

Wow.

About the photography show: approximately 175 works by 105 photographers will be on view.

The show includes iconic images like William "Red" Robertson's erotic 1955 photo of a pelvis-thrusting Elvis Presley which appeared on his first album; The Clash's London Calling album cover by Pennie Smith depicting Paul Simonon smashing his Fender bass guitar; the contact sheet of Bob Gruen's portrait of John Lennon in a sleeveless New York City T-shirt; Don Hunstein's photograph of Bob Dylan walking with his girlfriend Suze Rotolo down a snowy Greenwich Village street; David LaChapelle's image of Lil Kim as a bikini-clad cop; and Anton Corbijn's shoot of U2 for their Joshua Tree album. The exhibition will also feature photographs by Diane Arbus, Annie Leibovitz, Woodstock photographer Barry Feinstein, Jim Marshall, Ryan McGinley, Linda McCartney, Mark Seliger, and Albert Watson. 

Sounds like fun.

Brooklyn Frugal Family: On the Cheap on Halloween

Wendy Ponte, the Brooklyn Frugal Family Examiner has compiled most of the Brooklyn Halloween events you need to know about. Most of her picks are inexpensive and/or free. That's why they call her the Brooklyn Frugal Family Examiner.

So here it is, the complete list of free (and cheap) Halloween events in Brooklyn for 2009. Check back frequently for new additions: Ongoing events: The...
Keep Reading »

Nov 7 & 8: Flatbush Artists Studio Tour

The Flatbush Artists Studio Tour is on November 7 & 8 from 11AM until 4PM. The opening on Thursday, Nov. 5, 7-10 PM at the Newkirk Medical Center (1414 Newkirk Avenue (Q train to Newkirk Ave.). 

Go to http://www.flatbushartists.org for more details, tour map and directions.

Swine Flu Vaccinations in 125 Small Public Elementary Schools

From the NY Times:

School nurses will begin giving free vaccinations on Wednesday at 125 small public elementary schools, all with fewer than 400 students, said the commissioner, Dr. Thomas A. Farley.  “We have 40,000 doses set aside for the first wave of schools, which we feel should be adequate,” Dr. Farley said.

He said nurses would probably vaccinate 15 to 25 children a day until the supply was exhausted. The order in which schools will receive the vaccine can be found on the city’s flu Web site.

Wed: Mixed Genres & Mixed Drinks With Electric Literature No. 2

What is Electric Literature?

It's a new lit magazine spearheaded by editors Andy Hunger and Scott Lindenbaum (of Community Bookstore fame).

In Electric Literature's Autumn 2009 anthology, Colson Whitehead charts the rise to fame of a truth-telling comedian. Stephen O’Connor transports the reader to a cabin in the woods, where a young woman attempting to finish her dissertation in solitude becomes increasingly convinced she’s not alone. Pasha Malla follows a young writer as he explores how tragedy influences art—and how life falls short of it. Marisa Silver tells the tale of three sisters who perceive the truth about their parents through the eyes of some unexpected visitors, and Lydia Davis’ solitary narrator acutely details the behavior of three cows who live in a pasture just across the road. They're sick and tired of hearing that literary fiction is doomed.

These visionary guys are throwing a launch party for Electric Literature No. 2 on Wednesday October 28th. The party begins at 7 PM with free martinis (until 8 PM) and a movie.

A night of mixed genres, mixed drinks, and mixed messages to celebrate the release of Electric Literature No. 2 featuring...

9:30 PM- NEW OPTIMISM featuring Miho Hatori, former vocalist of Cibo Matto, aka “Noodle” of Gorrilaz, Collaborator of Handsome Boy Modelling School, John Zorn, Blackalicious and The 6ths.

8:30 PM- Authors: MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for The Hours, and author of A Home At the End of the World, and Specimen Days

and JIM SHEPARD, author of six novels, including Project X, and three story collections, including Love and Hydrogen and Like You'd Understand, Anyway, which was nominated for the National Book Award and won The Story Prize.

7:30 PM- The films of MARTHA COLBURN with live musical accompaniment by MUDANG ROUGE