Being in the city, we don’t get a particularly starry night sky to look at, but even with all the light pollution, you can’t miss Venus at the moment. The planet, one of the brightest we can see from Earth, can be spotted soon after sunset in the western part of the sky (the other bright spots in the photo above are just reflections). Besides being the most brilliant thing up there, you can tell it’s a planet because it doesn’t appear to twinkle as much as a star.

Coming up next month, we’ll have a chance to see both Venus and Jupiter at about the same spot where you can see Jupiter now. The two planets are in conjunction on Thursday, March 15, the best we’ve been able to see in years, and they will stay visible for about four hours after sunset.… Read the rest

Brunch starts at 11am on Saturday and Sunday, and here are this week’s specials:

Brunch cocktail specials: Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas are $4.50

Organic Eggs In a Hole, $11
2 organic eggs cooked in a bread basket and covered with cheddar cheese served with salad and Chipotle Aioli

Pineapple Stuffed French Toast, $11
served with whipped cream, butter and Vermont maple syrup

Eggs Benedict Classic, $13
2 poached eggs, Canadian bacon, English muffin, with hollandaise sauce, served with fries and salad

Breakfast Skillet, $13
2 organic eggs any style, with green peppers, scallion, tomatoes, mushrooms and ham, covered with melted pepper jack cheese (Hippie Skillet features tofu instead of ham)

Corn Beef Hash with 2 Organic Poached Eggs, $13
served with salad (eggs are poached unless otherwise requested)

2 Organic Eggs or Thick Cut Bacon or Fresh Breakfast Sausage, $4

Buttermilk Biscuits with Honey Butter and Raspberry Jam $4

Biscuits as above, plus Sausage Gravy $5

Then on Super Bowl Sunday, enjoy:

EVIL OX WINGS
Hotter

… Read the rest

Homemade spreads platter: Baba Ghanouj, olive tapanade, roasted red pepper spread and labane cheese; served with McClure’s pickles potato chips.

Cheese and Sausage platter: Vintage Gouda, Smoked Gouda, and sweet dry Sausage; served with nuts and crackers.

Beer special: Hopnotch IPA–buy 5 get the 6th for free.

All platters can be pre-ordered for larger groups before Saturday evening. Call or stop by for more info.

Market
1211 Cortelyou Rd
718-284-4446… Read the rest

The clock is running down on your Super Bowl party food options, so if you’re still looking for a place to buy a gigantic sandwich for your party, be sure to put an order in right away. Here are a couple of options nearby:

John’s Bakery
1322 Cortelyou Rd at Rugby, 718-287-6799
They can do a variety of sandwiches in a variety of sizes, but you have to order in advance. Call ahead or stop in, and they can help you pick a sandwich for your party.

Brancaccio’s Food Shop
3011 Fort Hamilton Pkwy, 718-435-1997
Get a four-foot version of any sandwich on the regular menu. Imagine four feet of roasted pork shoulder with Fontina cheese, ham, and pickles…now stop drooling, and call ahead.

You know of someplace else that’s offering a big hero/sub/sandwich/whatever? Let us know in the comments.… Read the rest

On Friday, February 10, from 8:45-10:30am, parents of prospective students are welcome to visit PS 139 for a school open house.

In case you’re unsure of the school your child is zoned for, you can search by your address at the Department of Education’s website. Remember there’s also a forum in Manhattan on Tuesday to help parents navigate the application process. And when in doubt, just ask the school! The Parent Coordinator for PS 139 is Maria Caridi, and she can be reached at 718-282-5254 or MCaridi3@schools.nyc.gov.

PS 139 Open House
Friday, February 10, 8:45-10:30am
330 Rugby Road… Read the rest

They’re looking for people who sell original art and crafts (no mass merchandise)–past vendors have included folks from our area, like Marina’s Knittery and Hungry Cat Cafe Jewelry. The vendor fee is just $80, and proceeds go to help fund the arts program at the school. Applications are due Thursday, April 5.

If you’d just like to shop, save the date for the fair: Saturday, May 5, 10am-6pm.… Read the rest

LISTING: 0606
NEIGHBORHOOD: Midwood Park
ASKING PRICE: $1,320,000
BEDROOMS: 6
BATHROOMS: 2
HOUSE SIZE: 32′ x 39′
LOT SIZE: 50′ x 100′
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 5
1 to 2:30pm
701 E 17th St

LISTING: 0599
NEIGHBORHOOD: Midwood Park
ASKING PRICE: $890,000
BEDROOMS: 7
BATHROOMS: 2 full, 2 half
HOUSE SIZE: 32′ x 37′
LOT SIZE: 50′ x 100′
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 5
1 to 2:30pm
712 E 18th St

[Sponsored by Brooklyn Hearth]

Listing 910
AREA: Ditmas Park West
APPROX. SQFT: 3250
BEDROOMS: 6
BATHROOMS: 3.5 + WC in basement
ASKING PRICE: $1,050,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 5
12 to 1:30pm
497 Marlborough Road
(between Dorchester & Ditmas)… Read the rest

Listing 930
AREA: Ditmas Park
APPROX. SQFT: 1008
BEDROOMS: 2
BATHROOMS: 1.5
ASKING PRICE: $429,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 5
12 to 1:30pm
68 Stratford Road, #11
(Church Avenue & Caton Avenue)

Listing 929
AREA: Ditmas Park
APPROX. SQFT: 1250
BEDROOMS: 2
BATHROOMS: 2
ASKING PRICE: $399,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 5
12 to 1:30pm
221 E. 18th Street, 4J
(between Albemarle & Beverly)

Listing 921
AREA: Ditmas Park
APPROX. SQFT: 950
BEDROOMS: 2
BATHROOMS: 1
ASKING PRICE: $375,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 5
12 to 1:30pm
1825 Foster Avenue, #2B
(between E. 18th & E. 19th Streets)

Listing 933
AREA: Ditmas Park
BEDROOMS: 1+
BATHROOMS: 1
ASKING PRICE: $345,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 5
2 to 3:30pm
570 Westminster Road, #D5
(between Newkirk Ave & Ditmas Ave)

Listing 851
AREA: Ditmas Park
APPROX. SQFT: 900
BEDROOMS: 1
BATHROOMS: 1
ASKING PRICE: $275,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 5
12 to 1:30pm
221 E. 18th Street, Apt. 4K
(between Beverly and Albemarle)

Listing 927
AREA: Ditmas Park
APPROX. SQFT: 600
BEDROOMS: studio
BATHROOMS: 1
ASKING PRICE: $199,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 5
12 to 1:30pm
221 E. 18th Street, #1-A
(between Albemarle & Beverly)… Read the rest

Known as Mawlid or Milād an-Nabī, it is a day for Muslims to focus on the life of the Prophet–his teachings are central to the celebrations. The day is observed during third month of the Islamic calendar, and the actual date varies.… Read the rest

She started out couch surfing in Brooklyn, but musician Sharon Van Etten tells the New York Times that she’s finally settled in Ditmas Park, and she shows them around in a nice profile:

One freezing Sunday, she gave me a tour of the neighborhood. She pointed out the liquor store with the ridiculous clerk and the flower shop that serves alcohol. We passed a guy huddled outside a bodega, drinking a 40-ounce beer in the early afternoon. He looked like somebody you’d want to leave in peace. He gave Van Etten a hesitant look of recognition. Van Etten stopped and threw out her arms. “Hey, man!” she said brightly, recognizing him as a landlord from a few sublets ago. “How ya doin’?”

They’ve also got a great video of her and Heather Woods Broderick performing, surrounded by the flowers in Sycamore’s front room.

Sharon’s new album, Tramp–which was produced by neighbor Aaron Dessner of The National–comes out on Tuesday, February 7, and she’ll be on tour through spring, with three performances in NYC later this month.… Read the rest