brooklyn hearth

‘News’

Neo Integrity

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

March 12-30, you can see our neighborhood folks taking part in this exhibition at MoCCA:

Neointegrity: Comics Edition is an exhibition curated by artist Keith Mayerson that includes over 210 cartoonists, illustrators, animators, and fine artists who work with the spirit and power of iconographic languages. With creators young and old, historic, currently famous, and soon- to-be-famous, the exhibition is also about the community and legacy of iconographic art and its ability to productively influence the world.
Originally conceived as a utopic attempt to begin an art movement, the first installment of the NeoIntegrity show was held in the summer of 2007 at Derek Eller Gallery in New York City. That show incorporated over 180 fine artists, with some cartoonists and illustrators mixed in to breach questions of high and low, rarified and pluralistic. NeoIntegrity: Comics Edition takes the proposal a step further, showing the relatability of creators harnessing the iconographic vehicle to express themselves and to tell stories for a culture to understand itself in order for it to become a better place.

Here are the locals (and please flag if we’ve missed someone): Tom Hart, Leela Corman, Gary Panter, Marguerite Dabaie

- Liena

1 Comment

Posted in News |

Landmarking Delays

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Looks like Ditmas Park West and Beverly Square West will have to wait for parts of Park Slope to be landmarked first, the Daily News reports:

The LPC [Landmarks Preservation Commission] quietly revealed in a January letter to a preservationist group that it would delay granting landmark status for the tree-lined, semisuburban blocks of Beverly Square West and Ditmas Park West.

Instead, the LPC will press ahead with enlarging historic districts – which preserve neighborhood architecture – in Park Slope and near the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

That sounded like a brownstone bias to Borough President Marty Markowitz, who blasted the LPC in a letter sent last week.

Full story here.

- Liena

8 Comments

Posted in News |

photo of the day.

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010



Traffic Control, Church Ave, originally uploaded by flatbushnelson.

- nelson

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Verizon FIOS coming to 616 E18th

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

616 E18th Street, a co-op, reports:

Verizon Fios Installation Has Begun
Verizon Fios installed some conduit from a man-hole at Foster and East 18th under the street and our sidewalk to the south side of our building. While this is the first step to have fiber-optic cable directly into our building, we anticipate three more months of work before this project is complete.
- Liena

6 Comments

Posted in News |

Support PS139 Chess Ninjas

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

From PS139:

The PS 139 Chess Ninjas will take on all challengers this Saturday, March 13 at Barnes & Noble on 7th Ave from 11 am to 1 pm and from 2 to 4 pm. Come by to support the team. You can also watch the PS 139 Chess Team in action.

Most importantly any purchase you make at Barnes and Noble on Saturday could help the team raise funds for Nationals in Atlanta. Volunteers will be manning the entrance to Barnes and Noble and handing out fliers. If you purchase anything please mention the PS 139 Chess Ninjas!

The team will be going to National in Atlanta, Georgia in May!

- Liena

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Local News Coverage

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

- Liena

2 Comments

Posted in News |

Holy Innocents Plans

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Holy Innocents, the beautiful Roman Catholic church on Beverley between E17th and E18th has plans for converting the large lot they own diagonally across the street on E17th (their “glorified parking lot” mid-block between Beverley and Cortelyou) into a community center, reports Courier Life:

Judith Tolbert, an organizer for Brooklyn Congregations United (BCU), and Cresci are reaching out to Flatbush residents, local politicians and community business for contributions to make this vision happen.

“We could just put a steel building there for $100,000, but that wouldn’t do much good,” he said.

Instead, Cresci has contacted Custogeorge, Tooman and Allen to create a preliminary design for the center.

“I’m trying to convince residents it won’t be an eye sore,” he said.

Dan Allen, of the firm, is already working with Cresci to restore Holy Innocents, a nationally registered historic place. Cresci estimates that the project will cost $3 million to $4 million “to do it right.” However, Allen’s firm estimates that the total cost will come to over $9 million

The proposed community center will be a modern-style two-story building with class rooms on the second floor, an auditorium on the second and a kitchen in the basement. The space could offer activities for the elderly, after-school programs for kids and an expanded operation of their existing soup kitchen, said Joseph Grannum, Brooklyn Congregations United’s representative for Holy Innocents. The kitchen currently serves around 80 families, but could feed 100 with the additional space, he said.

Full story here.

Screen shot 2010-03-09 at 11.05.05 AM

- Liena

5 Comments

Posted in News |

Argyle Hall

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

argyle hall415 Argyle (co-op) may be one of the most desirable buildings in the neighborhood, but Argyle Hall, the rental across the street, is not bad either. Their apartments have generous floor plans, and the rents are quite reasonable. The building shares a swimming pool with The Westminster, directly behind it, and has 24-hour doormen.

They do seem to think that this is Kensington and that the best shopping is to be had on Coney Island Avenue, but who cares – its two blocks from the subway, and 4 to the Prospect park.

Anyone care to share what it’s like living there? (400 Argyle, between Cortelyou and Dorchester. )

- Liena

18 Comments

Posted in News |

photo of the day.

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010



chimney, ditmas park, brooklyn, originally uploaded by flatbushnelson.

- nelson

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Cool Car

Monday, March 8th, 2010

carttvLast week on Beverley:  a classic car shot with an antique twin lens reflex camera by Andrew Novick.

- Liena

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Protesting E22nd Street Landlord

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Helen Klein writes up the protest last week outside the home of the neglectful landlord of 596 E22nd Street.

- Liena

2 Comments

Posted in News |

Flatbush on Facebook

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Some folks will no doubt like this Facebook Group, dedicated to remembering growing up in Flatbush in the 70s and 80s. It extends way beyond our area – some fascinating reading – enjoy!

- Liena

1 Comment

Posted in News |

Best Hummus

Monday, March 8th, 2010

NY Magazine lists Mimi’s Hummus as Best Hummus in NYC:

The great Israeli hummus boom of the last five years or so has opened New York’s eyes to the richly decadent potential of what was once viewed as hippie-commune health food. We’ve had great, creamy, oil-dappled versions at Hummus Place, Taïm, Hoomoos Asli, and the late Hadom, but we’ll still happily trek out to central Brooklyn for a bowl of Mimi Kitani’s luscious chickpea purée, served up in five distinctive versions, all accompanied by hot, fluffy pitas that disappear too fast. For its exquisite balance of delicate seasoning and sheer heft, the meat rendition is our favorite, garnished with cinnamon-spiced ground beef and a smattering of pine nuts.

- Liena

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Congratulations PS217!

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Odyssey of the Mind

Students from Mr. Portnoy’s class at PS 217 at the Odyssey of the Mind competition on Saturday. They came in second in their regional division. Congratulations! (HT: Naomi Cohn)

- Liena

6 Comments

Posted in News |

Sign up for the Ditmas Park CSA

Monday, March 8th, 2010

The spring is in the air, and it’s time to sign up for the Ditmas Park CSA! Here is what the core group sent over:

Membership in the Ditmas Park CSA is now open for applications.

About Our Farm and Farmer:
Amantai Farm is run by Jorge Carmona, a Colombian immigrant (now a citizen) who works about 20 acres of land in eastern Pennsylvania. He has been selling at the Cortelyou Rd. Farmers’ Market through the Greenmarket Program for the past 5 years.  He grows a diverse vegetable crop, raises bees and has some laying hens. While he is not certified organic, he does not spray anything on his crops. This is better than many certified organic farms because they tend to spray organic pesticides and fertilizers and also because many of them are much larger scale and futher away, thus a lot of fossil fuel burning is involved in getting their product to our tables.

How Does the Ditmas Park CSA Work?
Members of the Ditmas Park CSA purchase a full or half share of produce, which they pick up at the determined pickup location once a week.  The season is 20 weeks long and begins in mid to late June. Members receive a weekly box of their share of produce, a full share amounting to about enough produce to get fresh veggies into the diets of a family of four for the week. For a smaller family, it would mean vegetable-based meals for the week.  Details about the share options are below.

(more…)

- Liena

5 Comments

Posted in News |

Monster Carrots

Monday, March 8th, 2010

A neighbor finds these at the Cortelyou Greenmarket yesterday.

- Liena

6 Comments

Posted in News |

photo of the day.

Monday, March 8th, 2010



pigeons, Argyle Road, Brooklyn, originally uploaded by flatbushnelson.

- nelson

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Oscars at 773

Sunday, March 7th, 2010

Cablevision customers — that is, almost everybody in this part of Brooklyn — can’t see the Oscars tonight because of a dispute between the cable and ABC7, which is airing the show.

But the Oscars will be on at 773 Lounge, on Coney Island Avenue just south of Cortelyou.

They have DirecTV, says the bartender, “because we’re classy like that.”

Alternately, Cablevision says they’re making their pay-per-view movie selection free as a kind of consolation prize, so you staying home is an option.

If you know of any other local spots showing the ceremony, let us know.

UPDATE: ABC just came back on, a little before 9:00 p.m.

- Ben

11 Comments

Posted in News |

photo of the day.

Saturday, March 6th, 2010



botanica, originally uploaded by flatbushnelson.

- nelson

1 Comment

Posted in News |

We Have Arrived

Friday, March 5th, 2010

We’ve noticed that Brownstoner has been paying quite a bit of attention to DP, but this really does it. A neighbor emails:

Now I now we have really crossed over into being a fashionable neighborhood.  The Met food near the subway is now selling sushi and have put in a little olive bar!   Check it out.  Strange times..

- Liena

17 Comments

Posted in News |

Creative Women’s Networking Salon

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Just a reminder for tonight’s creative women’s networking salon 7:00pm – 9:30pm at Kris Waldherr Art and Words studio-gallery (1501 Newkirk Avenue, entrance on Marlborough Road). See you there.

- Liena

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Neighbors

Friday, March 5th, 2010

A neighbor gets some love from the Times.

- Liena

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Let’s Improve the Neighborhood!

Friday, March 5th, 2010

Spring 2010 NYBN flyerFrom Nathan Cole at the Citizen’s Committee:

Have a great idea for a community improvement project? Apply for a New Yorkers for Better Neighborhoods Award! Citizens Committee for New York City awards grants of $500 to $3,000 to volunteer-led groups to work on projects that bring neighbors together and that have a positive impact on the community.

In addition to small grants, we offer one-on-one project planning assistance, skills-building workshops, and a resource center with access to computer stations, conference space and an equipment loan library.

Our next grant deadline is March 14. For a grant application and for more info, call/email Arif Ullah or Saleen Shah at 212.989.0909/grants@citizensnyc.org

- Liena

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Fabulous Neighbors

Friday, March 5th, 2010

There are some fabulous neighbors living over in Kensington – WNYC likes Angie Pontani, a burlesque performer by night, a master crafter by day.

- Liena

LEAVE A COMMENT

Posted in News |

Hoping for a Break

Friday, March 5th, 2010

The Daily News reports this morning on the case of Kristine Kupka, who disappeared from her Ditmas Park house 12 years ago:

Investigators hope they are tantalizingly close to solving the decade-long disappearance of a pregnant Baruch College student – but two days of searching a Queens basement has yielded nothing.

Kristine Kupka, 28, vanished in October 1998, but her body has never been found. While suspicion has long centered on the married professor whose child she was carrying, he has not been charged.

- Liena

1 Comment

Posted in News |