February 28th, 2012 1:16 pm
The family behind Levys’ Unique New York, whose cars you may see bopping around the neighborhood, whose blog you may read, or whose tours you may have been on, were featured in a Post story yesterday, explaining what it’s like to run a family business.
Between leading more than 600 tours last year, eldest brother Matt said they’re a pretty spirited bunch, which makes working together interesting. “We work really well together — when we’re not yelling at each other,” he told the Post. “My dad and I are both pretty recalcitrant when it comes to backing down from an idea.”
To take one of the family’s tours, check out
their site for what they do in each borough.
- Mary
Tags: Levys' Unique New York
See All: Neighbor Profiles
February 28th, 2012 11:32 am
How should cars, bikes, and pedestrians use the road in Prospect Park so that it’s safe for everyone? Head to the meeting tonight to hear the Road Sharing Taskforce proposal, and be surrounded by a lot of agitated people and a ton of press.
Public Meeting: Sharing the Park Drives
Tuesday, February 28, 6pm
Picnic House in Prospect Park
For more information, contact Prospect Park at 718-965-8951 or info@prospectpark.org.
- Mary
Tags: Prospect Park
See All: Transportation
February 28th, 2012 10:01 am
The Castello Plan Wine & Beer Festival continues with an Italian Wine Tasting on Wednesday, February 29, 8pm:
We are doing 4 wines with small plate pairings for $35. Our guest pourer will be Elena from Vias Imports and she will be able to answer any question you have about Italian wines!!!
And the upcoming tastings:
3/7 – Grandma’s Sherry
3/14 – Ronald Reagan’s Wines
3/21 – Organic & Biodynamic Wines
3/28 – Belgian Craft Beers
4/4 – Burgundy
4/11 – Wines of the Revolution
Call 718-856-8888 for reservations.
- Mary
Tags: The Castello Plan, wine
See All: Food & Drink
February 28th, 2012 9:14 am
It’s the last Tuesday of the month, which means th basement variety show Tiny Dangerous Fun! is at Sycamore at 8pm. The night’s MCs–John Leo (Handshake Uppercut, Peg-ass-us) and Andy Sapora (Flying Karamasov Bros)–will lead a wild bunch of performers, who include:
• Magic: Torkova, torkova.com
• Music: The BJ’s, beccabernard.com, jenniferharder.com
• Clown: Song & Dance Man (pictured left), billydeebedlam.blogspot.com
• Burlesque: Lily Stitches, facebook.com/lilystitches
• A Wonder Minute: Tanya Solomon, youtube.com/drflummox
• Clown Striptease and Monologue: Stephen Bracco, stephenbracco.com
For more information on how you can be considered for a slot, see the performer sign-up form.
Tiny Dangerour Fun!
Tuesday, February 28
And the last Tuesday of each month
Sycamore, 1118 Cortelyou Rd
$10 at the door
- Mary
Tags: Tiny Dangerous Fun
See All: Art & Music
February 27th, 2012 3:41 pm
Chalk a correct guess up for letmesaysomething, who rightly identified the location of this week’s mystery photo: a fence on Argyle Road at Albemarle.
- Mary
Tags: Ditmas Detective
See All: Images
February 27th, 2012 12:30 pm
Rumors have been swirling for some time that Qathra’s Yasser “Max” Habib would be taking over the lease of the former Whisk space on Newkirk Avenue, and as of last week, it’s finally a done deal. He signed the lease and already has big plans for the new space, which he’s named Milk and Honey Cafe.
They’re already in there working on the space, and when I stopped in yesterday Max told me he’s aiming to open in a couple of months. He hopes to have a full kitchen in the basement, menu items that will appeal to kids, and the same great coffee that you’ve come to expect from his Cortelyou Road space (which will remain open–and which will soon have a revamped back patio).
If you’ve got experience in web design, he’s looking for someone to help with the new cafe’s website–stop by Qathra or email qathracafe@yahoo.com.
The loss of Josh Rubin and the cafe he created is still incredibly difficult for the entire community, but having something new in that space, from someone who’s already created something great in the neighborhood, is an uplifting note after all the tragedy. We look forward to seeing what Max has in store, and will keep you posted about the progress and an opening date.
- Mary
Tags: Josh Rubin, Milk and Honey Cafe, Qathra, Whisk
See All: Food & Drink
February 27th, 2012 10:56 am
Community Board 14’s Fifth Annual Youth Conference is coming to the Brooklyn College Student Center on May 2 from 4-7pm. Here’s what it’s all about:
All teenagers, aged 12-19, are invited to attend this great event to find out about jobs, internships, educational and volunteer opportunities, as well as additional services offered to young people in our community by various government agencies, non-profit organizations and local businesses. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever! Many new and expanded youth opportunities will be offered.
The goal of the Youth Conference is to provide valuable resources for our young community members. This event will better acquaint them with our local public servants and community service opportunities for the summer and beyond.
The CB14 Youth Services Committee is holding a planning meeting tonight, Monday, February 27 at 7pm in the District Office at 810 East 16th Street. If you’ve got ideas or want to get involved, this is a great opportunity to stop by and help out.
For more information, contact info@cb14brooklyn.com or 718-859-6357.
- Mary
Tags: Community Board 14, Youth Conference
See All: Community Event
February 27th, 2012 9:16 am
The WFMU radio show Airborne Event is hosted by neighbor Dan Bodah on Monday nights from from 9pm to midnight. The New Jersey-based, listener-supported, non-commercial radio station is in the middle of its 2012 pledge marathon, and Dan invites you to listen to his show tonight (and every week) and pledge if you can:
I’ll be celebrating the 10th fun-raising marathon I’ve done at totally independent, listener sponsored freeform radio station WFMU. Folks can donate by calling 800-989-9368 or online here, and we have tons of prizes we are giving away. For $75 or more, donors will get a CD collection I put together with super rare tracks from the WFMU cassette tape library called “Break the Tabs & Check Dolby B.” They’ll also be in the running for a grand prize pack featuring an Ion Cassette-to-MP3 converter and a couple of tapes. Just a dollar a day (a $365 pledge) earns you the right to force me to humiliate myself by singing any pop song of your choosing live on air, whether I know it or not. Plus mountains of swag.
Ditmas Park is an ongoing inspiration to Airborne Event–neighborhood guests have included saxophonist Jeff Hudgins’ band the Frightingales and composer & ethnomusicologist Thomas Ross Miller. Cuddle Magic, who played Sycamore & Ditmas Acoustic last year, will play live on the show on March 26th, and plans for possible remote broadcasts from Castello Plan’s Monday night live music series have been under discussion. Plus my CD premium for the 2008 WFMU marathon was “Gems from Cortelyou,” full of recordings picked up at local yard sales and featuring the thrift shop next to Cinco de Mayo on the cover.
WFMU broadcasts on 91.1 FM and online, and again, a tax-deductible pledge can be made online here.
- Mary
Tags: Dan Bodah, WFMU
See All: Art & Music
February 26th, 2012 10:58 am
On Dorchester Road.
- Mary
Tags: photo of the day, plant life
See All: Images
February 25th, 2012 7:28 pm
Neighbor Andy Novick just launched a new audio blog, and the first entry is a recording of Crooks and Perverts playing at The Castello Plan this past Wednesday. To help celebrate The Castello Plan’s second anniversary tonight, the band will be back to play some more–you’re welcome to stop by to join in the party, but if you can’t make it, Andy will have a tape delay of the performance up on his site. He notes the site is optimized to look best on an iPhone.
- Mary
Tags: Crooks and Perverts, The Castello Plan
See All: Art & Music
February 25th, 2012 4:05 pm
What’s your angle on this week’s mystery photo? Got an idea about where you’ve seen this in the neighborhood? Take a guess in the comments, and I’ll reveal the answer later.
- Mary
Tags: Ditmas Detective
See All: Images
February 25th, 2012 10:09 am
Cortelyou Greenmarket Manager Samantha Blatteis sends an update on tomorrow’s market:
Cortelyou Greenmarket is open this Sunday, rain or shine! Come grab your week’s worth of groceries, and come early for the best selection. Silver Thread Wine will also be at market for your local wine needs.
Stop by the Info Tent to taste an easy cooking demonstration, grab some recipes, check in as a Winter Warrior, and to use your EBT, Debit or Credit Cards. Remember to avoid ticketing and towing by not parking on Cortelyou or Rugby Roads. For more information, please visit grownyc.org/cortelyougreenmarket or like us on Facebook. See you Sunday, rain, snow, or shine, on Cortelyou between Argyle and Rugby Roads!
- Mary
Tags: Cortelyou Greenmarket
See All: CSA & Farmer's Market
February 24th, 2012 9:39 pm
The Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, whose members include several neighbors, will be whisking the audience off to ‘Paris in the Twenties’ with a program, conducted by Artistic Director Nicholas Armstrong, that will include “Parade” by Erik Satie, “Pacific 123” by Honegger, Les Biches by Poulenc and Suite from “The Firebird” (1919) by Stravinsky.
There’s promise of sirens, bottle-o-phone (!) and cracking pistol shots, so it should be a fun performance. A reception to meet the musicians will follow the concert with free refreshments.
Paris in the Twenties, Symphonic Music
Sunday, February 26, 3pm
Church of St. Ann and the Holy Trinity
157 Montague Street, Brooklyn Heights
Suggested $15 donation; children free.
- Mary
Tags: Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra
See All: Art & Music
February 24th, 2012 6:59 pm
Ox Cart is open on Saturday and Sunday at 11am with a brunch specials in addition to their regular lunch menu. Want a preview of the specials menu? Click here to see the full list!
- Mary
Tags: Brunch, Ox Cart Tavern
See All: Food & Drink
February 24th, 2012 3:54 pm
The third annual Best Wings in Brooklyn Competition is going down at Greenpoint’s Red Star Bar tomorrow, Saturday, February 25, with doors opening at 2pm.
Our own 773 Lounge is competing, and you can go and taste their wings (and all the rest) for free.
But like anything that’s free in this town, it’s going to draw a crowd–last year’s event had nearly 2,000 visitors–so they advise you to get their early.
You can vote on your favorite for the People’s Choice Award, and there’s a Judges’ Award as well, both handed out at 7pm by Borough President Marty Markowitz. Go get ‘em, 773!
- Mary
Tags: 773 Lounge, Best Wings in Brooklyn
See All: Food & Drink
February 24th, 2012 1:29 pm
For the final installment of this month’s ArtSpace series, please welcome back photographer Ilya Nikhamin. Be sure to click on each photo to view it larger and see the incredible textures.
Task for the week: Draw inspiration from a neighborhood material.
Artist: Ilya Nikhamin
How does living in Ditmas Park feed/inspire/affect your work?
In the wee hours of the morning, Ditmas Park is a quiet neighborhood and it stays quiet for most of the day. Not every street, and not every window, but the quiet is pervasive. I like that we’re not in the bustle of some neighborhoods and not in the doze of others. I always say to my friends, we are in Resi-ville. It’s residential but with a lot going on. Something about this balance is very appealing and comforting.
Tell us about the material you chose–where you saw it, what drew you to it, etc.
The material is Cement and Steel. Two materials. We are of this stuff and surrounded by this stuff. It’s everywhere and never noticed. But it’s incredibly varied and encompassing. I’ve also included a photo of the bark of a tree–something that neither cement nor steel can replicate.
About Ilya
Ilya Nikhamin is a photographer. Better Than The Noise is his blog. During the week you can find Ilya at Roy’s Sheepshead Cycle; Village Voice called him “Brooklyn’s best bike guru.”
If you need headshots/portraits, publicity or website photos, or event photos, please contact Ilya at hillclimber@gmail.com for rates and availability. Check out his Flickr page for past work.
More info on ArtSpace:
What is ArtSpace?
Past ArtSpace posts
To all the artists who have participated in all these ArtSpace series so far, thanks for sharing your creativity with the neighborhood. If you’re an artist who would like to participate in the future, email the following to ditmasparkblog@gmail.com:
Your name
Your email address, phone number, and website (if you have one)
Where you live (cross streets are fine)
What type of artist you are (painter, photographer, etc.)
- Mary
Tags: ArtSpace, Ilya Nikhamin
See All: Art & Music, Neighbor Profiles
February 24th, 2012 11:31 am
[Sponsored by Mary Kay Gallagher]
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 26
1 to 3pm
701 E 17th St
- Mary
Tags: houses, Open houses
See All: Real Estate
February 24th, 2012 11:01 am
[Sponsored by Brooklyn Hearth]
Listing 928
AREA: Ditmas Park
APPROX. SQFT: 1288
BEDROOMS: 2
BATHROOMS: 2
ASKING PRICE: $539,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 26
12 to 1:30pm
1818 Newkirk Ave, #6K
(between E. 18th & E. 19th)
Listing 905
AREA: Ditmas Park
APPROX. SQFT: 1250
BEDROOMS: 2
BATHROOMS: 2
ASKING PRICE: $519,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 26
12 to 1:30pm
1818 Newkirk Ave, #5B
(between E. 18th & E. 19th)
Listing 900
AREA: Ditmas Park
APPROX. SQFT: 1000
BEDROOMS: 2
BATHROOMS: 1
ASKING PRICE: $369,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 26
12 to 1:30pm
1818 Newkirk Avenue, #5-S
(between E. 18th & E. 19th)
Listing 933
AREA: Ditmas Park
BEDROOMS: 1+
BATHROOMS: 1
ASKING PRICE: $345,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 26
2 to 3:30pm
570 Westminster Road, #D5
(between Newkirk Ave & Ditmas Ave)
Listing 851
AREA: Ditmas Park
APPROX. SQFT: 825
BEDROOMS: 1
BATHROOMS: 1
ASKING PRICE: $275,000
OPEN HOUSE:
Sunday, February 26
2 to 3:30pm
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 26
2 to 3:30pm
221 E. 18th Street, #1-A
(between Albemarle & Beverly)
- Mary
Tags: apartments, Co-ops, Open houses
See All: Real Estate
February 24th, 2012 9:51 am
No shuttle buses this weekend! According to the MTA, starting late tonight and continuing through 5am Monday, the Q won’t run between Dekalb and 57th St/7th Ave. Service on the Q will run between Stillwell and Whitehall, where you can transfer to an N/R train.
Then starting on Monday, Fastrack construction is coming to the B/D/F/M line in Manhattan between 57th St and West 4th. Every weeknight through Friday, B service will end earlier. These are the times, believe in them as you wish, or just be sure you’re on the B train heading home before 9:30pm.
The last Brighton Beach-bound train departs:
145 St: 9:45pm
59 St 10:00pm
W 4 St 10:10pm
DeKalb Av 10:22pm
The last 145 St-bound train departs:
Brighton Beach 9:21pm
DeKalb Av 9:43pm
W 4 St 9:55pm
59 St 10:04pm
- Mary
Tags: B train, MTA, Q train, service changes
See All: Transportation
February 23rd, 2012 4:46 pm
The headline says it all. The footage in question, via Jest, starts at 1:52.
- Mary
Tags: neighborhood on film, The Castello Plan
See All: Food & Drink
February 23rd, 2012 2:08 pm
You’ve seen his take on porches, debris, corners, and another artist’s work, and today we welcome this ArtSpace favorite back for another fantastic turn!
Task for the week: Draw inspiration from a neighborhood material.
Artist: William Bredbeck
How does living in Ditmas Park feed/inspire/affect your work?
We live right across from the Parade Ground and love the proximity to the park and energy of active people running around. In 10 minutes I can walk over and sit by the lake and reflect. Out of everywhere I have lived in this big city over the last 22 years, our neighborhood feels more like a real neighborhood than anywhere else. People smile and say “Hi” to me when I pass them on the street. Also, as Emma noted, it’s a great place to raise a wee family.
Tell us about the material you chose–where you saw it, what drew you to it, etc.
When I was a kid we used to drive up to the Rideau Lakes region of Canada, and on the way we drove through a small town that I think was Lowville, NY. I couldn’t wait to get to that town because all the fire hydrants were painted like different crazy characters. It was like the town was infested with leprechauns! I doubt that NYC would ever consent to such an idea, but I thought it would be cool if our neighborhood had a similar infestation. Eugene, OR and Cleveland, OH, among many others, have had fire hydrant art programs.
About William
William works at a video game company. He enjoys making art and music and being the best daddy, husband, and neighbor he can be. If he could be anywhere. he would be jumping in a lake right now.
You can contact him concerning lake jumping opportunities at wbredbeck@gmail.com.
More info on ArtSpace:
What is ArtSpace?
Past ArtSpace posts
ArtSpace #29: Ilya Nikhamin tomorrow.
- Mary
Tags: ArtSpace, William Bredbeck
See All: Art & Music, Neighbor Profiles
February 23rd, 2012 1:12 pm
Though the city and neighbors have plenty of doubts, Verizon says it’s going to take down this plexiglass pole on East 18th near Glenwood. Installed last summer without the permission of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, this is the pole that started a firestorm of complaints, and ultimately got Verizon to commit to not install any in front of houses in landmarked neighborhoods.
Now a Verizon spokesman tells the Brooklyn Daily: “If landmarks has an issue with the fiberglass poles, we’ll put in the pedestal,” referring to the low, metal box that’s an alternative to the poles. The city hasn’t received the paperwork about that yet, however, so we’ll see what happens.
- Mary
Tags: Midwood Park, utilities, Verizon
See All: News
February 23rd, 2012 11:57 am
Pianist Jason Yeager, accompanied by vocalist Tammy Scheffer, plays The Castello Plan on Monday.
Tonight 2/23
* Last day to see the Uncover Church Avenue art show at the Flatbush Library.
* Enjoy a cocktail and make a necklace at Craft Night at Sycamore, 7:30pm.
* Hear the quality tunes of Crooks & Perverts at The Castello Plan, 9pm.
Friday 2/24
* Friday night mixed doubles league at the Prospect Park Tennis Center, 8pm.
* The Sweet Potatoes play 773 Lounge at 9:30pm.
* Rumblefoot hosts a Surf Dance Party at Sycamore, 10pm.
* FINAL WEEKEND: Shuttle buses replace the Q train between Prospect Park and Atlantic Ave again this weekend, starting at midnight. No shuttle buses, but you’ll have to transfer to/from an N/R train at Whitehall Street.
Saturday 2/25
* Sustainable Flatbush composting open hours, 11am-1pm.
* Brooklyn College Women’s Basketball is in the finals at CCNY, 3:00pm.
* Learn the art of the rum cocktail at Sycamore’s Cocktail Course #2, 5pm.
* Kill Henry Sugar and Mamie Minch play Sycamore, 9pm.
* Josh Sanders & Friends are at 773 Lounge at 10pm.
* Toast The Castello Plan’s second anniversary, 10pm.
Sunday 2/26
* Have your electronics etched by the Police Department on Avenue K, 12pm.
* Celebrate Dominican Independence at Latin Fever Dance Studio, 5pm.
* The weekly jazz series Underground Works is downstairs at Sycamore, 8pm.
Monday 2/27
* The new residency program Monday Night Ramble is at Sycamore at 8pm.
* Pianist Jason Yeager and vocalist Tammy Scheffer are at The Castello Plan, 9pm.
If you have a neighborhood event happening over the weekend that you’d like to see listed, send us an email by Wednesday afternoon.
- Mary
Tags: Events
See All: Art & Music, Community Event
February 23rd, 2012 9:58 am
Learn to dance the Bachata at Latin Fever Dance Studio this Sunday, February 26. The workshop celebrating Dominican independence starts at 5pm, and the after-party begins immediately after at 6:30pm.
- Mary
Tags: Latin Fever Dance Studio
See All: Community Event, Health & Fitness
February 22nd, 2012 6:35 pm
Today for ArtSpace we have one of our most prolific participants, a talented writer who has looked for a position as a porchsitter, explored poetry with roots in sixth century Arabic verse, and seen a subway ride through the eyes of a first-timer. Thanks for bringing us another, Kasia!
Task for the week: Draw inspiration from a neighborhood material.
Artist: Kasia Nikhamina
Vignette for a Sunday
Inside St. Rose of Lima, bread and wine turn into body and blood. Meanwhile, down the block, in the garden on the corner, an avocado pit, once firm and impervious, falls apart at the slightest touch. It has mellowed in the heat of the bin; it comes out richer.
The collection in the garden gives lie to the notion that these are austere times. Believers come bearing the remnants of their meals – carrot peels, egg shells, apple cores, potato skins, coffee grounds, and much much more. Combined with leaves and sawdust, this will become the blackest of golds.
We shovel in concert, turning the bins in which the scraps are gossiping. The air smells jubilant. “Rejoice! Rejoice!” toll the bells at St. Rose of Lima. “Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”
How does living in Ditmas Park feed/inspire/affect your work?
If I had to move to another neighborhood tomorrow, the saddest thing for me would be the loss of the Compost for Brooklyn garden.
Tell us about the material you chose–where you saw it, what drew you to it, etc.
I was inspired to write this piece by sifting finished compost during open hours at the garden one Sunday. I recognized the melody of the St. Rose of Lima bells as a hymn I sang as a child during Catholic Mass, and got thinking about Sunday rituals.
In the photo, the compost is heaped on a cutting board to underscore how things come full circle.
About Kasia
I write The Mayor’s Hotel, a creative prose blog, and plays. I am obsessed with birds and childrens’ books, among other things.
If you’d like to contact Kasia about her work, she can be reached at:
themayorshotel@gmail.com
www.themayorshotel.com
Bio photo by Ilya Nikhamin.
Compost photo conceived by Kasia Nikhamina; shot by Ilya Nikhamin.
More info on ArtSpace:
What is ArtSpace?
Past ArtSpace posts
ArtSpace #28: William Bredbeck tomorrow.
- Mary
Tags: ArtSpace, Kasia Nikhamina
See All: Art & Music, Neighbor Profiles
