Flatbush Frolic
September 3rd, 2010 12:58 pm
No Q/B on September weekends
September 3rd, 2010 12:57 pm
If you are expecting friends to join you for a stroll along Cortelyou during the 33rd Flatbush Frolic, be sure to treat them, as getting here will not be easy. The MTA is shutting down all subway access between Prospect Park and Stillwell Avenue, operating shuttle busses instead, CB14 informs:
This is to inform you that MTA NYC Transit will be operating shuttle buses along the Brighton B/Q subway line from Prospect Park to Stillwell Avenue during three upcoming weekends, due to the ongoing station rehabilition projects from Newkirk Avenue to Kings Highway along the line. Shuttle buses will service all stations between Prospect Park and Stillwell Avenue, and NYC Transit personnel will be available to assist our customers in utilizing the alternate service. Posters will be placed at each affected station in advance of each weekend, and updated information will be available on our website at www.mta.info
The weekends when shuttle buses will replace trains (from 12:01 a.m. Saturdays through 5:00 a.m. Mondays are:
September 11-13
September 25-27
October 2-4 (this is currently a backup weekend and will be needed only if all work is not completed during the first two weekends)
What to do with Kids
September 3rd, 2010 12:48 pm
In light of the cancellation of the Oak and the Iris singalongs and the closing of Vox Pop, which offered a few different activities for kids, plus cutbacks in the storytime schedule at the Cortelyou Road library, more than a few neighbors are asking what parents are doing for free/low-cost activities within walking distance of our neighborhood. With older siblings off to school in a few days, the little ones will be lonely. After school activities for the big kids?
Namaste Yoga on the corner of Church and CIA offers parent/baby yoga for infants and toddlers on Tuesday mornings, same time as Midwood Martial Arts hosts free play (Tuesdays 10:45am) for toddlers, more info here. There are also a number of mommy/nanny groups that organize play-dates around the neighborhood, mostly by age – if folks could share the contact info, I’d be grateful.
Please post in the comments section!
If you’re feeling generous
September 3rd, 2010 12:13 pm
This one is for foodies. A project by two of our neighbors – Adrian Theopulos (a French Culinary Institute grad) with a bit of help and lots of moral support by Matthew Ferry, (who’s also behind another awesomeness, the quilt project), World Supper Adventure is a collection (in progress) of recipes, stories, and advice from home cooks around the globe:
Basically, I’m finding families, or anyone really, to take me in, take me to the market, and teach me how to make their favorite meals. This project already exists as a successful blog (which you can visit @ www.worldsupperadventure.com) and, with funding, the research will continue for the next year and continue to be shared through this blog. At the end of this first year, I’m translating this work into a beautifully published hard-back book. This is a cook book I’ve looked for myself, but haven’t been able to find on any shelf, so I’ve decided to make it on my own.
You can read more about the project at worldsupperadventure.com, and if you’d like to help support the project get to it’s fundraising goals (with some really sweet rewards and prizes), please visit http://kck.st/9UXJio
Even if all you decide to do is check out the blog, do – it is awesome, if a bit hard to navigate, but Adrian’s tips on what to look for when shopping for fish, with images, are really nice.
A Deal for the High Holidays
September 3rd, 2010 10:50 am
And speaking of Rosh Hashannah, at the other end of the sectarian spectrum, the venerable local reform temple, Beth Emeth, has a great deal for first-time attendees: $18 per ticket.
The Thursday morning service next week begins at 10:00 a.m, with a children’s service at 12:45 p.m., followed by Tashlich services at Propect Park.
Free Seats at the Dorchester Temple
September 3rd, 2010 9:36 am
Folks from Congregation Prospect Park Ohel Yitzchok (1419 Dorchester Road at Marlborough Road) email that it is offering free seats for area residents:
An orthodox synagogue, where everyone is welcome, air conditioned with a comfortable womens’ balcony. This year we will also be providing Artscroll Rosh Hashona Machzorim to all.
The synagogue has morning services 365 days at year, weekdays at 6:30 AM.
An orthodox synagogue serving Victorian Flatbush for 40 years. Leib Kelman, Rabbi.
For info please leave a message at 718- 284-8032
photo of the day.
September 2nd, 2010 10:28 am
Seen, Clicked, Fixed
September 2nd, 2010 9:40 am
A neighbor reports remarkably good results from Community Board 14′s new tool for reporting problems, SeeClickFix, which we wrote about the other day:
I just want to report on the good experience I have had with the see click fix CB14 app that you posted a few weeks ago. After that big rain the other day I posted a complaint about the usual lake outside the Caton entrance to the Church Ave. stop the other day, and the next morning a crew was there fixing it. They wrote back to me that they were on it, along with other issues that I have reported. Its great!
Alert from 70th Precinct – Home Invasions
September 1st, 2010 6:38 pm
During last few weeks of August, there have been 2 home invasions and two attempted burglaries in the neighborhood, Detective Scotto tells us, which is very much out of the ordinary. In one home invasion (200 block of E19th street) an arrest has been made, in the other (200 block of Rugby Road) no arrests have been made.
The attempted burglaries took place last night (100 Westminster block) and the night before (Beverley Road between Stratford and Coney) – in all four cases, the perpetrators entered the house sometime between midnight and 3am, waking up the residents, who in the latter two cases scared the invaders away. In all four cases firearms were reported present, in the two home invasions residents were tied up.
This is unusual and disturbing, and the precinct is asking all homeowners to please consider making sure that they have motion sensitive lights and that they work, and strongly consider installing cameras and / or an alarm system. Even if all it does is wakes you up when someone is trying to pry a window open or open the door, you’ll have more time to respond. Please also consider calling the Crime Prevention Unit (718) 851-5504 to have them come out, take a look at your particular situation and make suggestions for what you can do to make your house less of a target for criminals. This service is also available to apartment buildings, and it is completely free.
Please remember to check that your doors are locked, and windows closed and locked before going to bed. And make sure none of your doors have hinges on the outside, as in one of the cases above the burglar took the hinges off the home’s back door and lifted the door off to get inside.
On another note – there were reports of shots being fired last Sunday night by the Parade Grounds – Detective Scotto tells us that casings were recovered, but no reports of injuries, so yes, shots were fired, but thankfully no one was hurt that they knew. I have also asked to let us know if they have made any arrests in the shootings we were reporting on earlier in the summer, so will update.
Free Hot Dogs
September 1st, 2010 3:28 pm
This weekend at Sycamore:
9/4 Stone Brewing Company BBQ (2-8p)
FREE HOT DOG with the purchase of a pint! $5 pints of craft beers and $3-$6 plates of food.
photo of the day.
September 1st, 2010 12:14 pm
CSA week 11
September 1st, 2010 11:08 am
Vox Pop Shareholders Weighing Options
August 31st, 2010 10:55 am
The Brooklyn Paper writes up the fall of Vox Pop, where some of the thoughtful comments posted on this blog now decorate the locked grate.
And Debi Ryan says they haven’t totally given up hope:
“The fate of Vox Pop has not yet been determined,” wrote Ryan in an e-mail to The Brooklyn Paper. “The Board and shareholders are currently looking at various options to make a final determination as to what is best.” Ryan did not respond to further questioning about the café.
Ryan has battled endless troubles at the iconic Cortelyou Road café, bookstore and jam space since taking the reigns from its anarchist founder Sander Hicks last year and transforming the space into a “for-profit collective” with shares owned by various community members.
…Ryan made strides toward getting the café back on financial track, but apparently not enough. state Taxation spokesman Gregg Semanick declined to comment due to privacy restrictions.
For now, the café is shuttered, and neighbors have their fingers crossed.
“It’s a very quirky and interesting and place — I always liked it because it’s so weird and unusual,” said Marion Weiner, an area resident. “I don’t even go there that often, but I would definitely be sad if it closed for good.”
Liena Zagare of Ditmas Park Blog thinks Vox Pop’s salvation is in a clean slate. “Vox Pop should go bankrupt, and start fresh — the mess that Sander Hicks left is just too much money,” said Zagare. “There is no place like it in the neighborhood, and the hole it leaves is huge. What they were offering was a really wonderful community center, and each community needs one. Hanging out at Connecticut Muffin is not quite the same.”
For his part, Hicks, ever the conspiracy theorist and publisher of many books and treatises contending, among other things, that the Bush Administration was involved in the 9-11 attacks, blamed government thugs, not his failure to pay his taxes, for the closure.
“The state and federal governments will not tolerate a business that stands up to the lies of the War on Terror,” he said.
Fixing the Kensington Post Office
August 31st, 2010 10:41 am
The Kensington Post Office is notorious for its terrible service and for simply losing mail, but some residents in Kensington are working to fix it, and have some advice if you run into trouble:
If you experience problems (no delivery on a particular day; lost packages; etc.), here are some options:
1. Call the local post office and speak to Mike Scalise. He gave me three numbers to use:
• 718-436-0164
• 718-436-1082
• 718-686-7293
2. Send an email to our neighbor Heather, who has set up a separate account to gather information regarding post office issues in 11218. Heather compiles the data and forwards it to the Brooklyn Postmaster’s office on a regular basis. She requests that when you write you are as detailed as possible, describing the issue, the date/time, and your delivery address. The email address is: kensingtonpohelp@aol.com
The people working on this have asked that their names not be printed, for fear of retaliation against their mail, which says a lot.
Griffin B&B
August 31st, 2010 10:13 am
Griffin Bed and Breakfast opened Memorial Day weekend, and is the latest, very cool addition to the Dekoven Court Bed & Breakfast Row.
It is absolutely the place for you and your guests, if what you want is a mid-century modern feel rather than the well-appointed period Victorian that’s available at other great local B&Bs the Rugby Gardens. It is the perfect place for travelers with children in need of a calm, modern place aimed at soothing the spirit as well as body. The owners, Buck and Jeannine Umrigar, have two children of their own, are well travelled, and know exactly what one needs – you’ll find the fridge stocked as per your request, you can come and go at leisure, and there are no awkward breakfasts in the common dining room or worrying about kids accidentally smashing a turn of the century vase.
Here is a glimpse of what the space looks like. It has two queen size beds in the two bedrooms, one of which also has a twin sleeping quarter. Crib is available if needed. There is a living area, kitchen, a fabulous shower, and in general – you get a well equipped suite of about 1,000 square feet all to yourself.
You enter the calm space through a separate entrance on the side of the house on the beautiful tree lined block, and have complete privacy from your hosts. Their contacts:
web: www.thegriffinbandb.com
email: thegriffinbandb@optonline.net
phone: (718)- 875- 7645
Rates: Single/double occupancy -$175 night +tax; Three /four persons- $275 night + tax; extra people upto max capacity of 6 $25 head. Special family rates depending on size of family and age of children, and for now a promotional rate of 7 nights for the price of 6. They have a fabulous website with more images and info here.
Guests are also welcome to enjoy the back yard, with its tire swing and deck for leisurely evenings resting from adventures in the city.
The place is tucked away, but really steps from the Q&B at Newkirk – exit on Foster, turn left on Rugby, and left on Decoven Court a few houses in, and you are right there.
Cortelyou Pilates Continues
August 31st, 2010 9:39 am
Loyal clients know already, and fellow pilates folk should too:
The end of summer shouldn’t mean the end of getting and staying fit. Keep summer momentum going with Cortelyou Pilates autumn special.
Starting September 1, single classes for walk-in students are $12—buy a ten class card and each class is only $10. For each ten class card you buy through September 5 we’ll give you one bonus class free!
Classes are held Mondays at 7PM and Tuesdays and Fridays at 6:30AM at the Latin Fever Dance Studio, 1609 Cortelyou Road, one block east of the Q train Cortelyou Road stop.
Visit our Facebook page for updates to class times, rates and other special offers. Please email any questions tocortelyoupilates@gmail.com.
photo of the day.
August 31st, 2010 9:29 am
A Thanks to our Sponsors
August 30th, 2010 2:14 pm
If you have enjoyed and benefited from this blog, please consider letting our sponsors know you appreciate their support of the Blog when you next stop by any of these fine businesses:
Take your friends and family to the Farm on Adderley for a fabulous dinner prepared by Chef Tom Kearney, followed by drinks and music at Sycamore. You’ll have a lovely night, listen to some really well curated music, and most likely meet a neighbor or two as well. Don’t forget that Farm is also open for breakfast (8-11) and lunch (11:30-3) on weekdays. Sycamore sells flowers Wednesday – Saturday 12-8, Sundays between 11-6 pm, and you can always request special arrangements.
Your friends will be so impressed, they’ll want to move here right away, and we trust you’ll let them know Brooklyn Hearth is basically across the street, and have the best selection of really nice apartments by far. If you don’t see what you are looking for, just ask – they have rentals, houses and commercial real estate too.
Too tired to cook? – call Brancaccio’s Food Shop and they will bring your diner to you. Joe Brancaccio always has something awesome, as long as you like Italian. Think – really good Italian. And it won’t break the bank, promise. You can also check out the store in person – 3011 Fort Hamilton Parkway (btw E2&E3) over in Kensington/Windsor Terrace.
Staring at empty, off-white walls? Have been doing that for a while? Call Mary Van Vliet of Olive Design. She can help you choose colors that will make your house home, knows who can make your curtains, and the very least you’ll walk away with a new lamp or two (Mary will also gladly repair your old lamps, for very reasonable rates).
There is amazing dog food and miscellaneous other related necessities at It’s A Dog’s World over on 539 Coney by Slocum, and if your overgrown pooch is misbehaving, they will take care of that too. Open Monday-Friday 1-7pm, Saturday and Sunday 1-5:30pm.
Planning to go away and need someone to look after your pets? Give subcutaneous injections to your cat? Take your dog for a run? Call Ann and Boni of Small World Petsitters – you can ask anyone around here, they come most highly recommended – 646 541 4263.
Having trouble reading the above? Maybe it is time for a visit with Dr Valme of Grace Eyecare, conveniently located on the north side of Cortelyou between E16th and E17th. Right now an eye exam, frame and lenses is only $99.00. And while there – do chat about your favorite brands, and shapes of glasses! They also accept just about all insurance plans. Store hours are 11:30-7pm Tuesday-Friday, 9-5 Saturdays.
New glasses in hand, head over to Ditmas Workspace, and start working on whatever it is you are having trouble getting finished at home. Located on Ditmas & E17th, it is a beautiful space, and many neighbors swear – a most productive one too. So whether you are researching, blogging, or working on a novel – join Ditmas Workspace and you’ll be in good company. Always open.
High Holidays are coming up, and Temple Beth Emeth reminds it welcomes all – over on Church and Marlborough.
Live over on the other side of Coney? You may want to add Kensington Prospect to your RSS reader.
Thank you all for reading and supporting your neighborhood blog!
Meet a Neighbor: Jennifer H. Fortin
August 30th, 2010 2:00 pm
I feel like the neighborhood has been flooded with new faces (Cole, Justin, Ben & Co concur) over the summer, and so we thought it might be fun to post very short introductory items about the folks in the neighborhood. So next time you see them you get that nagging feeling – I’ve seen you before, but where … well, here.
So here we go – please welcome Jennifer H. Fortin! Jennifer moved to Ditmas Park from Carroll Gardens on July 1st, writes poems and founded & edits an online poetry journal, LEVELER, with three friends.
Cafe Madeline Progress
August 30th, 2010 10:48 am
Work in progress at Cafe Madeline (to open next to Abacus Realtors between E16th & E17th), according to their Facebook page.
The Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor
August 30th, 2010 10:20 am
Ditmas Park, assuming that the right spot can be found, is inching towards getting an old fashioned ice cream parlor.
Private chef Lisa Eisen and Prairie Rose Free, both Ditmas Park residents, have been diligently working on a business plan for an old-fashioned ice cream parlor, with an updated twist; offering small batch, hand-made ice cream and grown-up cocktails and sundaes, all under one sweet roof. It will be called The Old Fashioned, they email.
About a month ago Prairie applied for the Make Your Mark Contest with their shared business idea – and won one of the three grand prizes! Prairie and Lisa were granted $5,000 in seed money to start their business and the opportunity to have a very memorable photo shoot with the legendary photographer, Annie Leibowitz. We’ll link to the image when it’s up.
In the meantime – bookmark their site – the logo and splash page for The Old Fashioned is up (designed by John Shannon, also a Ditmas Parker), and we promise to keep you up to date on their progress.
Unfortunate Picture of the Day
August 30th, 2010 10:03 am
A neighbor emails the picture above along with a note, saying the smoke has been coming consistently from 385 E16th Street. Anyone else noticed the smoke last week?
Updated: I posted the original complaint email and have decided since that it was ultimately unnecessary, the smoke speaks for itself. Whether it is incinerator (as the emailer presumed), or oil boiler causing the smoke to penetrate and pollute surrounding apartments is on some level irrelevant – I’m glad that folks in the building are looking into it, and it is upsetting that neighbors were exposed to this, and suffered because of it whether or not owners of the building were aware of the situation.
When I talked to Johnathan Judge of CB14 earlier in the day, he advised that everyone concerned should report to EPA and 311, and get the complaint numbers, so that is what I added. You can send the 311 complaint numbers to jjudge@cb14brooklyn.com and they will follow up on our behalf – just like they will follow up on overflowing garbage, and potholes.
