Over in Brooklyn

Best New International Bookstore in Brooklyn

2012-01-30T16:01:00.000-05:00

Brooklyn continues to expand and the latest addition to the mix is IDLEWILD. IDLEWILD Brooklyn is part international bookstore & part language course. If you have been to their location on 19th street in Manhattan than you know that this is the spot for international literature.

They offerFrench, Spanish and Italian courses that last 10 weeks. They all focus on speaking and comprehension. People can register for courses online or in person (http://www.idlewildbooks.com/2009/07/brooklyn/).

Next door to the language courses they have the bookstore which holds 5,000 titles in all three language with everything from the classic Tintin to popular contemporary titles, chick lit and lesser-known authors. You will still find, however, some books in English and dual language books for learners of all ages.

IdleWild Brooklyn

249 Warren Street (x Court)

Cobble Hill, Brooklyn

Follow them on Facebook!

Best Midnight Brunch in Town

2012-01-10T16:35:00.001-05:00

Over In Brooklyn's friend Emily Cavalier is hosting her latest Midnight Brunch on Jan 21st and we are not sure if there are any tickets left, but you can try here: http://mb4.eventbrite.com. If you are not familiar with Midnight Brunch they feature curated menus and cooking by Emily herself and the talents of guest contributors in the cocktail, culinary and arts communities. The event begins with a cocktail hour at 11 p.m., followed by an ethnic-inspired meal showcasing the cuisine of one or several countries at a time. This is a not to miss event!

Best Song About Brooklyn - Woodkid "Brooklyn"

2011-12-09T21:12:00.001-05:00

7 Reasons why Prospect Heights is the Best Neighborhood in Brooklyn

2011-12-08T14:52:00.001-05:00

1. Vanderbilt Avenue Food - This street is on fire! From the newly opened Chuko Restaurant , to the soon to open Sam Mason Empire Mayonnaise Shop, and anchorpoints Vanderbilt Restaurant and Milk bar, this street is now a top destination for foodies 7 days a week.
2. Access to Culture - Prospect Park, Brooklyn Museum, Botanical Gardens, Prospect Park Zoo and Carousel, BAM, Barclay’s Center, to name a few! You name it Prospect Heights has it.
3. Relative Affordability - compared to neighborhoods like Fort Greene, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens, Prospect Heights offers a range of homes options and a lot less clutter.
4. The Sidewalks are huge! Vanderbilt street is like a four lane highway for people, you don’t have to battle baby strollers like you do on Court or Smith Streets.
5. The Light! - You have wider streets and open spaces that give the neighborhood an unforgettable feeling at dawn and dusk that is unparalleled in the area.
6. The People! - The people in Prospect Heights are just cool. They are not trendy or hipsters or boring, but a perfect mix of cultures, countries and styles, all blending together around the beauty, the history, and the future of the neighborhood.
7. Growth - Everywhere you look in Prospect Heights you see things growing, trees, businesses are popping up, established businesses are updating their image, institutions like Mitchell's and Tom’s Restaurant are expanding and Washington Avenue is ripe with action and opportunity.

Best New Brooklyn Restaurant

2011-11-01T12:28:00.004-04:00

The best new restaurant in Brooklyn, is Chuko in Prospect Heights.

On the corner of Dean and Vanderbilt Chuko is a vibrant, delicious and exceptional addition to this booming neighborhood. The staff is super friendly and passionate and the overall vibe feels relaxed yet beaming with energy. The food. The food. The food - That is why you come here after all. The menu is simple, yet sophisticated, flavorful, yet refined, progressive, yet familiar, feels expensive, yet economical. Overall, Chuko is a spot not to miss and you will be coming back again and again. How else will you learn about the blackboard specials?

Photo By: Paulo Salud Photography

Swoon Atlantic Yards

2011-07-29T13:11:00.001-04:00

Taken at Over in Brooklyn

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Amelie Chabannes Fragments Galerie Hussenot Paris

2011-06-26T21:47:00.001-04:00

<br />AMELIE CHABANNES - FRAGMENTS Galerie Hussenot <i>by French_In_America</i>

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

The Majesty - genesis p orridge

2011-06-23T21:18:00.001-04:00

Taken at BAM Cafe

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Best Place to See an Interview With Moby TODAY!

2011-05-12T11:13:00.000-04:00

Evan Bernard

and the behind the scenes video with interview with Evan Bernard.

Event Details
Where: Brooklyn Museum, 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Date: May 12, 2011
Time: 7:00pm
John Schaefer, host of WNYC's Soundcheck and New Sounds, interviews the techno musician Moby about his new album and book of photography. Tickets, which include Museum admission, are $10 ($6 for members and cultural colleagues). Seating is limited; advance purchase recommended.

Best Wine Event, Edible Brooklyn Uncorked at BAM

2011-05-12T10:58:00.000-04:00

In case you missed the Best Local Wine and Food Event of the year!

Lest we let the entire New York Metro region forget that a world-class wine country is barely two hours from its front door, we will be hosting our annual, massive sipping soiree called Brooklyn Uncorked at the beautiful BAM building in downtown Brooklyn. With help from the Long Island Wine Council, naturally.Our original event always features the best of New York State wines, plus pairings from some of New York City’s best chefs and foodmakers. Here’s what’s in store for your taste buds.
Among the wineries who will be pouring are: Baiting Hollow Farm Vineyard, Bedell Cellars, Bouke Wines, Brooklyn Oenology, Brooklyn Wine Co., Channing Daughters, Croteaux Vineyards, Gramercy Vineyards, Grapes of Roth , Jamesport Vineyards, Long Island Merlot Alliance, Macari Vineyards and Winery, Martha Clara Vineyards, Mattebella Vineyards, Old Field, Osprey’s Dominion, Palmer Vineyards, Raphael, Roanoke Vineyards, Scarola Vineyards, Sherwood House, Shinn Estate, Sparkling Pointe, Suhru Wines , Waters Crest and Wolffer Estate. Brooklyn Uncorked was originally conceived as a way to bring Long Island wine country to the Big Apple. And it was a natural collaboration for Edible East End (with its wine community) and Edible Brooklyn and Edible Manhattan (with their communities of eaters and drinkers). So, we squeeze as many wineries into the room as we can–it’s a selection you won’t find anywhere else–and pair what they pour with a star-studded cast of New York City restaurants and food makers. The result is that the room is a little bit like a stroll (on foot) through a magical place where you can taste dozens of Long Island wines, from cool-climate merlots, to steely sauvignon blancs, from fruity chardonnays to varietal roses. And between sips, you get to nosh on food from the likes of: applewood, Buttermilk Channel, Cleaver Co. & The Green Table, Dressler & Dumont, Gramercy Tavern, Les Trois Petit Cochons, McEnroe Farms, Palo Santo, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Rose Water, Savoy, The Good Fork, The Vanderbilt, Vandaag.

Amelie Chabannes – Fragments Galerie Hussenot, Paris April 28th to June 6th 2011

2011-05-11T14:47:00.001-04:00

New York City Based French Artist Amelie Chabannes takes her latest exhibition to Paris.

“FRAGMENTS”
From the 28th Of April to the 6th of June 2011

Opening thursday the 28th of April 2011
5 pm

Galerie Hussenot
5 bis, rue des Haudriettes
75003 PARIS
T : +33(0)1 4887 6081 – info@galeriehussenot.com – www.galeriehussenot.com

Amélie Chabannes / Fragments
Texte de Julie Boukobza
La première exposition personnelle d’Amélie Chabannes à la galerie Hussenot à Paris est constituée d’une somme de « Fragments ». Dans « l’Archéologie du Savoir », Michel Foucault évoque « ce qui transforme les documents en monuments ». Chabannes empreinte les façons de l’archéologue, cherche et devient l’objet de sa quête. Elle évoque les grottes de Chauvet, comme Paul Thek en son temps les catacombes de Palerme. Sculpture après sculpture, strate après strate, elle enfouit, dégage, excave et replonge les matériaux, animaux, traces et vestiges. L’identité, plus que la quête de l’autre, est le prétexte utilisé par l’artiste pour expérimenter et forger une pratique protéiforme. Entre sa fascination pour le Lagerstatte, lieu de conservation des fossiles, et son obsession pour le couple que formait le peintre Kokoschka et Alma Mahler, femme à hommes du XIXème siècle, Amélie Chabannes réalise des oeuvres à sa mesure. La biométrie est transformée en arme pour préserver l’identité de l’artiste à travers ses sculptures, dessins et installations. Les amours tempêtueuses de Kokoschka et Alma font l’objet de dessins au calque ou les corps se mélangent, où l’artiste s’immisce dans ce pas de deux, quand la fusion prend le pas sur le sentiment amoureux. Les visages en plâtre décomposés rappellent les travestissements multiples et autres brouillages de pistes de Leigh Bowery, contenus dans un carré de plexiglas. L’artiste décrit ces boîtes comme des « espaces mentaux ». Même espace dans lesquels évolue une autre forme, le clitoris, l’organe féminin par excellence, libéré de ses fonctions. Au creux d’une sculpture on découvre parfois des apparitions de Betty Page ou Linda Lovelace, des visages de femmes archétypales des années 50 à 70. La notion d’identité sexuelle ne cesse en effet de rattraper l’artiste et de questionner l’aliénation qu’elle représente pour les femmes. La méduse, forme libre, nageuse et sexuée, fait aussi partie de ce bestiaire empêché, présence impossible à définir, tout aussi animale que végétale. Des chapelets dégoulinent de plâtre sur le carcan de l’identité religieuse. Amélie Chabannes vit à New York, ville en passe de devenir un vaste terrain de fouille, avec l’influence de Urs Fischer, Matthew Day Jackson, David Altmedj comme fiers étendards d’un retour à l’ordre antique. Identité sociale, sexuelle, religieuse, ou le « get over yourself » répété par Thek à maintes reprises dans ses carnets. A Chabannes de sacrifier le lustre et la porcelaine familiale pour en finir avec les conventions sociales liées à un milieu figé. Un index en cire pointe l’une de ces sculptures stratifiées, la main de l’architecte semblant avoir remplacée celle de l’artiste l’espace d’un instant, afin de constater l’œuvre déjà accomplie.

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

New York Times: Living in Prospect Heights Brooklyn

2011-04-22T18:13:00.005-04:00

Recent Article in New York Times showcases what's its like to live in one of Brooklyn's hot new neighborhoods. Prospect Heights is the spot for anyone looking to live the best that Brooklyn has to offer. The food, the mix of cultures, the bars, Prospect Park, Brooklyn Museum, Vanderbilt Street, Washington Ave, the soon to be Barclay's Arena, Botanical Gardens and most important the beautiful trees and sky!

Kimchi Taco Truck Chooses Prospect Heights for First Restaurant

2011-03-13T11:10:00.001-04:00

Iconic Korean-Mexican mobile tuck is moving in between Washington Avenue between St. Johns and Sterling places for their first non-mobile location.
For more info

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

The Redemption of General Butt Naked wins Excellence in Cinematography at Sundance

2011-01-31T15:36:00.002-05:00

Congratulations goes to our good Brooklyn friends over at Part2
Pictures for winning excellence in Cinematography award at the
Sundance Film Festival for The Redemption of General Butt Naked.

THE REDEMPTION OF GENERAL BUTT NAKED tells the story of Joshua Milton
Blahyi - aka General Butt Naked - a brutal warlord who has reinvented
himself as a Christian evangelist. Dubbed "General Butt Naked" for
fighting with nothing more than an AK-47 and a pair of leather shoes,
Blahyi believed he possessed supernatural powers that made him
impervious to bullets. The General and his army of child soldiers are
said to have killed thousands during Liberia's horrific 14-year civil
war.
Following a dramatic conversion to Christianity, the General abruptly
laid down his weapons in 1996, leaving the war at the height of his
power.
Today, the General has renounced his violent past and reinvented
himself as evangelist Joshua Milton Blahyi. In a riveting documentary
portrait that unfolds over the course of five years, the film follows
Joshua's unrelenting crusade to redeem his past. We witness a man on a
quest for his soul: facing those he once terrorized, preaching where
he once murdered, and trying to rebuild the shattered lives of those
he commanded during the war.

http://www.generalbuttnakedmovie.com/

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Dean Street - Prospect Heights - Brooklyn

2011-01-31T11:17:00.004-05:00

Dean Street, Prospect Heights Brooklyn is quickly becoming the hot new spot in this generous and explosive Borough. We all know what is going on on Dean and Flatbush, but up towards Vanderbilt and Underhill is a flurry of activity. In particular the opening of Dean Street Restaurant. Some of you may have heard by now that the former Spotted Pig head chef Nate Smith has opened a new restaurant and bar called Dean Street, along with owners John Longo and WXOU Radio Bar's Rob Gelardi. The space is in the old “Tavern on Dean” location, and was completely renovated and looks beautiful. Relaxed atmosphere - it will be a cafe in the morning with his wife Sophie's fresh baked goods and will open for at night for dinner (late night options) and bar service. This neighborhood is on fire and the proximity to the park, Brooklyn museum, Vanderbilt Street and downtown make it a perfect place to be and grow.

(Photo: Danny Kim)

Read Nate Interview in New York Magazine

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

French Immersion Program Popping Up in South Slope

2010-11-10T12:27:00.001-05:00

Friend of the blog, Jean-Cosme Delaloye is quoted in this post from the South Brooklyn Post Blog about the new French Immersion Program for PS 133.

Here is an excerpt from the post, to read the full article go here.

An open house will be held at the school on Nov. 19 at 9 a.m. for interested parents.

PS 133’s program will be modeled after the French immersion program at PS 58, which has grown since it launched in 2007.

The new program will launch thanks to a remarkable effort by PS 133’s principal and a group of local parents, lead by French journalist Jean-Cosme Delaloye and parent Brooke Toomey.

The push to start a second French immersion program in the South Brooklyn area started in June. Parents were worried that it would be impossible to get into the French program at PS 58 from out-of-zone, because the program has grown so popular, said Delaloye, the father of a preschooler at PS 133. Rumor has it that PS 58 gets inquiries from parents in France and other French speaking countries about the program, and real estate agents have said that many French families will only consider apartments within the PS 58 zone.

“A lot of parents were getting anxious,” said Delaloye. “The demand for the program is extreme.”

So Delaloye, who lives on 4th Ave., decided to take matters into his own hands.

“When Danielle (Jean-Cosme’s wife) and I got the letter that Léon would start pre-K at 133, we started researching that school. We realized that Ms. Foster-Mann (the principal) and her team had turned this school around in the past three years, but somehow the word was not getting out in the community.”

A newly refurbished building is under construction for PS 133, at 4th Ave. and Baltic Streets, and is slated for completion in September 2012.

“I told the principal about the French program and she loved the idea,” Delaloye said.

The program began in a test basis in September with a French after-school program for preschoolers. Some 15 kids enrolled in the program, half French and half not.

“We launched the after school in September with an innovative model: French parents basically financed the after-school for non-native children from the school to help them learn French. The program is a big success,” Delaloye said.

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Brooklyn for your taste buds

2010-07-22T11:45:00.001-04:00

In today's Metro Newspaper there was an article about eating out in Brooklyn. I wanted to share it with you all, because I think that the two recommendations of The Vanderbilt and James Restaurant in Prospect Heights are great and if you want a more detailed account of Prospect Heights restaurants go here.

What places would you recommend for visitors to the Brooklyn Museum or Prospect Park?
I would send someone to The Vanderbilt (570 Vanderbilt Ave.) or James Restaurant (605 Carlton Ave.) in Prospect Heights. They’re great places to go after a day at the museum to have a glass of wine or a cocktail and some really well-prepared food. Both are close enough to the museums and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens that if you really wanted to make a day of it, you could end your day the

Also, Check out the book on Amazon!

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Best Place for Underground Movies Outdoors

2010-06-30T12:03:00.001-04:00

From the good folks over at Rooftop Films

This weekend at Rooftop we have two great short film programs at the historic Old American Can Factory. Built as a canning factory in 1886 on the Gowanus Canal, it was redeveloped in 2003 as an industrial haven for a curated community of more than 200 people working in the creative industries, including us!

On Friday, we’ll be screening “Industriance,” a striking program of short films where self-constructing buildings battle for fidelity, makers of mold-o-form plastic deer muddle their love, and Werner Herzog plays a discarded plastic bag desperately seeking the meaning of existence. On Saturday, we’re presenting a collection of films from the Umami Festival, whose goal is to use art to increase awareness of the power food has to influence and shape both diners and cooks.

Friday, July 2nd - INDUSTRIANCE
Since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, philosophers have railed against dehumanization, as machines replaced people in the workplace and technology came to dominate our daily lives. Giant factories churned out poisonous products while chewing up and spitting out replaceable workers. Urban landscapes became increasingly alienating as automobiles and skyscrapers secluded and dwarfed individuals. But who would've thought that we'd move so quickly to a post-industrial world dominated by virtual products and cyber-realities? A world with no use for the physical objects of the recent past, and no place for the makers and consumers of formerly quaint and useful materials. We now live in age where we must sentimentalize our trash in order to save ourselves from annihilation by way of abstraction. Amidst the changing landscape in industry, architecture and manufacturing, this dynamic program of short films is about people (and objects) searching for meaning, connection and love.
http://www.rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/21-industriance

WHERE:
On the roof of The Old American Can Factory
232 3rd St at 3rd Ave. (Gowanus/Park Slope)
Brooklyn, NY 11215 F/G to Carroll St. or M/R to Union

WHEN:
8:00 Doors Open
8:30 Live Music by Bow Ribbons
9:00 Films Begin
11:30 Reception in Courtyard

Saturday, July 3rd
Umami is the fifth taste sensed by the human tongue (in addition to sweet, salty, bitter and sour). It’s a Japanese word meaning "savory" or "meaty" and applies to a sensation common in meats, cheese and other protein-rich foods or to "earthy" foods such as mushrooms and soy sauce. Umami's screening of international artist's short food films is pure umami: earthy sensations transcending the expected. Hotdogs become ritual objects, tortillas offer language lessons and gefilte fish is deconstructed. This showing is nothing like Food Network -- its sensibility expands into a fifth sense.

Umami: Food and Art Festival is a non-profit, biennale event created in 2008. The festival works in partnership with other organizations in New York City to foster collaborations between artists and food professionals. By approaching food through art, Umami frames it as stimulating and inspiring, a positive approach leading to innovative solutions to some of the national challenges we face today. Umami encourages art based in everyday life and materials, illustrating that art can be found anywhere and can be produced at any time with the simplest means. The festival's key objectives are to use food as a common thread to look at and integrate art into daily life and to broaden the horizon of food as an artistic medium.

http://www.rooftopfilms.com/2010/schedule/47-umami

WHERE:
On the roof of The Old American Can Factory
232 3rd St at 3rd Ave. (Gowanus/Park Slope) Brooklyn, NY 11215 F/G to Carroll St. or M/R to Union

WHEN:
8:00 Doors Open
8:30 Live Music by Railbird
9:00 Films Begin
11:30 Reception in Courtyard

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Best Flea Market in New York - Brooklyn Flea

2010-06-03T10:36:00.005-04:00

We love vintage here in Brooklyn! Especially when it is reasonably priced and not to junky. The Brooklyn Flea is a not to be missed experience. "One of the great urban experiences in New York." —The New York Times and One of the Best Antiques Shows in the U.S. —Country Living. The Brooklyn Flea happens in two locations every weekend: Saturdays in Fort Greene, which is 100% outdoors and features about 150 vendors; and Sundays at One Hanson in the landmark Williamsburgh Savings Bank, which features 100 vendors inside the bank on three floors, including food on the lower/vault level. Both markets are open 10am to 5pm, rain or shine, through November. You will find hundreds of top vendors of antique and repurposed furniture, vintage clothing, collectibles and antiques, as well as new jewelry, art and crafts by local artisans and designers, plus delicious fresh food.

Go! Go! Go! and bring cash.

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Brooklyn International Film Festival Starts This Friday - June 4

2010-06-02T10:05:00.002-04:00

Do you like to watch movies? Of course you do! This Friday make your way over to The Brooklyn Int'l Film Festival.

The competitive event will run from June 4-13 at indieScreen and Brooklyn Heights Cinema. The festival has received over 2,400 films from 92 countries and will present over 100 film premieres. 2010 film lineup.

OPENING NIGHT on FRIDAY June 4
7:30pm: Film Screening at Brooklyn Heights Cinema
10pm: Party at The powerHouse Arena
VIEW OPENING NIGHT EVENTS
FILM SCHEDULE
Saturdays & Sundays:
Brooklyn Heights Cinema: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 pm
indieScreen: 3:00, 5:30, 8:00, 10:30 pm
Monday through Friday:
Brooklyn Heights Cinema: 5:00, 7:00, 9:00 pm
indieScreen: 6:00, 8:00, 10:00 pm
VIEW SHOWTIMES

The Brooklyn Film Festival (BFF), is an International, competitive festival for and by independent film makers. BFF mission is to discover, expose, and promote independent film makers while drawing worldwide attention to Brooklyn.

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Best Place in Brooklyn to Watch a Film - Rooftop Films

2010-06-01T10:44:00.004-04:00

Rooftop Films makes it way to the roof of Brooklyn Technical High School (29 Fort Greene Pl., Fort Greene) this Thursday for a not to be missed New York Experience.

FULL FRAME (SHORT FILMS) (full schedule and details)
One of the world's leading documentary festivals presents short films from this year's edition, including Cambodian karaoke with a social message, Taiwanese mountain watchers, and the search for an elusive photograph of Jesus. Rooftop Films is proud to partner with The Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, two organizations that share a similar ethos and mission. This program includes stunning selections from the 2010 festival.

Rooftop Films is a New York based non-profit whose mission is to engage diverse communities by showing independent movies in outdoor locations, producing new films, coordinating youth media education, and renting equipment at low cost to artists.

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Brooklyn Art Project

2010-05-27T13:03:00.002-04:00

Interesting Collective of Artists - Brooklyn Art Project

Brooklyn Art Project is home to thousands of artists, art enthusiasts, and creative professionals from around the world. BAP was created as an experiment to see what would happen if we built a community of artists, designers and creatives to connect and collaborate in ways never before possible through social media.
BAP's fast growth and collaborative exhibitions with the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Burning Man to name a few, have proven the experiment extremely worthwhile and opened up a new channel for artists everywhere to have their work seen. One BAP member artist summed it up best saying "BAP made me brave".
Named one of HOW Magazine's top sites, BAP showcases 50,000+ artworks and hosts ongoing collaborative projects. Monthly Brooklyn-based exhibitions provide opportunities for emerging artists from around the world a chance to be featured in a Brooklyn art show.

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Andy Warhol: The Last Decade at The Brooklyn Museum

2010-05-26T10:36:00.003-04:00

Andy Warhol, “Self-Portrait,” 1986, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen
Photo: © 2010 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

Everyone should see this exhibition. You know this. So go and tell us what you think!

Andy Warhol: The Last Decade
June 18–September 12, 2010
The Brooklyn Museum

Andy Warhol: The Last Decade is the first U.S. museum survey to examine the late work of American artist Andy Warhol (1928–1987). Encompassing nearly fifty works, the exhibition reveals the artist’s vitality, energy, and renewed spirit of experimentation. During this time Warhol produced more works, in a considerable number of series and on a vastly larger scale, than at any other point in his forty-year career. It was a decade of great artistic development for him, during which a dramatic transformation of his style took place alongside the introduction of new techniques.

Warhol continued to expand upon his artistic and business ventures with commissioned portraits, print series, television productions, and fashion projects, but he also reengaged with painting. In the late 1970s, he developed a new interest in abstraction, first with his Oxidations and Shadows series and later with his Yarn, Rorschach, and Camouflage paintings. His return to the hand-painted image in the 1980s was inspired by collaborations with Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francesco Clemente, and Keith Haring. The exhibition concludes with Warhol’s variations on Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, one of the largest series of his career. Together, these works provide an important framework for understanding Warhol’s late career by looking at how he simultaneously incorporated the screened image and pursued a reinvention of painting.

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

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Celebrate Brooklyn - Simply the Best

2010-05-25T17:42:00.003-04:00

Here are a few of the names of past performers at Celebrate Brooklyn: Yo La Tengo, Philip Glass, The Blue Man Group, Eric Bogosian, Spalding Gray, They Might Be Giants, The Neville Brothers, Talib Kweli, Baaba Maal, and Maceo Parker.
This season a few notables - Norah Jones, Buena Vista Social Club, Kid Koala, OkayAfrica with The Roots, Talib Kweli, Sonic Youth, Rufus Wainwright and The Dead Weatherl.
This is one of Brooklyn's Best Events. You should at least see a few, if not a bunch!
Enjoy!
Full Schedule

Celebrate Brooklyn! is one of New York City's longest running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals. Launched in 1979 as a catalyst for a Brooklyn performing arts scene and to bring people back into Prospect Park after years of neglect, Celebrate Brooklyn! has been an anchor in the park's revitalization and has become one of the city's foremost summer cultural attractions. Over its history, Celebrate Brooklyn! has presented over 1,700 artists and ensembles reflective of the borough's diversity, ranging from internationally acclaimed performers to emerging, cutting-edge artists. All Celebrate Brooklyn! performances are free! The festival attracts upwards of 250,000 attendees from across New York City to the Prospect Park Bandshell each summer. Celebrate Brooklyn! has a well developed membership program with over 500 seasonal members. Benefits of membership include express entry, reserved seating, pre-concert receptions and more.

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Best Place to Watch a Movie - Under the Brooklyn Bridge

2010-05-25T17:20:00.002-04:00

It is that time a year again! Outdoor movies are the rage in Brooklyn and you don't want to miss them under the Brooklyn Bridge. Take a look at the schedule, vote for viewers choice and let us know what you think of the experience!

Syfy will present Brooklyn Bridge Park's 11th Anniversary Season of Movies With A View summer 2010, this year on the newly opened Pier 1! Movies With A View is one of the city's premiere outdoor film series with an eclectic lineup of films and breathtaking views of the NYC waterfront.
Syfy Presents BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK'S MOVIES WITH A VIEW
Thursday, July 8
Feature Film: Annie Hall
DJ: Ursula 1000
Thursday, July 15
Feature Film: Monsters vs. Aliens 3D
DJ: DJ Lupe Loop
Thursday, July 22
Feature Film: The Big Lebowski
DJ: Cosmo Baker
Thursday, July 29
Feature Film: Rear Window
DJ: DJ DRM
Thursday, August 5
Feature Film: Brokeback Mountain
DJ: Soulstatic
Thursday, August 12
Feature Film: Dreamgirls
DJ: DJ Conquerrah
Thursday, August 19
Feature Film: The Blues Brothers
DJ: Soulstatic
Thursday, August 26
Feature Film: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
DJ: DJ Emch
Thursday, September 2
Feature Film: Public Vote! Check back at brooklynbridgepark.org for details

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Best Outdoor Party - THE WEEKSVILLE GARDEN PARTY

2010-05-25T17:13:00.003-04:00

If you haven't had a chance to check out THE WEEKSVILLE GARDEN PARTY: A Food and Music Festival in Brooklyn, now is your chance! Every Saturday in July!

The Garden Party brings some of the best up-and-coming musicians, a selection of renowned NYC food vendors and our curated Small Medium Large film series to the historic site.

Celebrate Emancipation Day with a performance by Cody ChesnuTT kicks off the series on July 5.
Celebrate the day enslaved Africans were freed in New York with the return of celebrated rocker Cody ChesnuTT. (Though freed on July 4, 1827, because of threats of violence, African-Americans in New York City celebrated this important holiday outdoors on July 5th) This year’s celebration will include a discussion on Haiti @ 4pm, music by Cody ChesnuTT @ 6pm (in his FIRST NY performance in 4 Years!) and the film Secondhand (Pepe) screening @ 8pm. The vendors for this event are NY Dosa & Wafels and Dinges..

All events take place outdoors in one of NYC’s most unique venues – The Weeksville Garden.
Gates open @ 4pm, music begins @ 6pm and films begin @ 8pm or sundown. There is a $5 suggested donation for each show. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chair.

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Anthropometric Self-Portrait by Amelie Chabannes - ArtWeLove

2010-05-13T11:18:00.001-04:00

Dear ArtWeLove enthusiasts,

Those of you who know me are well aware of my enthusiasm for the French Touch phenomenon in visual arts. Yes, just like their musical counterparts, the new generation of French artists rocks. And Brooklyn-based Amelie Chabannes is one of them.

Amelie’s art primarily deals with the notion of identity and its many layers. Through her drawings, paintings, video, and sculptures, she explores both the physical and psychological aspects of self.

With a background that extends from fine art to architecture, she uses unique materials and unexpected metaphors to challenge our current views of identity.

As a long-time French expatriate who’s embraced her new self in The Big Apple, I relate to her themes and the very personal touch she brings to them.

When we saw her work at Stephan Stoyanov gallery in the Lower East Side, we particularly loved her use of anthropometry, as well as her very own childhood drawings in her self-portraits.

Upon chatting further during our studio visit, we discovered an artist deeply influenced by Jungian psychoanalysis.

How do we become who we are? How are outside circumstances and perceptions influencing our sense of identity? How are the various layers of memories affecting who we are? What can we discover in our dreams?

Take a look at Anthropometric Self-Portrait and notice the precision of the lines, the sharpness of the grid, the softness of the watercolor, and the raw quality of these almost automatic childhood drawings.

Yes, there’s more to Amelie’s art than meets the eye. You’ll need both sides of your brain to fully grasp the vastness of her identity.

Now, think about your own sense of identity. And think again.

Laurence Lafforgue
Founder, ARTWELOVE

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Jon Cronin » About

2010-05-11T23:01:00.001-04:00

This is my new site! http://joncronin.net/site - if you like it please RT!

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Freddy's Bar - Last Call for Prospect Heights Institution

2010-04-22T11:55:00.004-04:00

Freddy's Bar and Backroom will hold its last call at the end of this month (April 2010), as the Forester City Ratner Atlantic Yards project moves forward. This was a Prospect Heights institution for many and with its characters and regulars, has become a home-base for the fight against the project. Many had previously vowed to chain themselves to the bar, but have recently changed their tune to a more peaceful protest. The final standout for the project, head of Develop Don't Destroy Brooklyn, Daniel Goldstein has taken the money and ran, with a 3 million dollar payout for his 590,000 apartment. This is probably the final nail in the coffin for the protest and will make way for the building of the Barclay's Arena and the sale of the New Jersey Nets to the Russian billionare Mikhail Prokhorov. For many this is a relief to get this project moving, for others it is the end of the community fight for the preservation of neighborhood. "Change is hard" - Barack Obama

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Brooklyn Rules NY Magazine's Best Nabe List

2010-04-15T11:23:00.004-04:00

New York Magazine recently came out with their rankings of top 50 NYC neighborhoods and guess who dominated the top 10?
This is how the broke down their rankings:

Housing Cost: 25%, Transit: 13%, Shopping and Services: 9%, Safety: 8% Restaurants: 8%, Schools: 6% Diversity: 6%, Creative Capital: 6%, Housing Quality: 5%, Green Space: 5%, Health and Environment: 5%, Nightlife: 4%.

1. Park Slope
2. L.E.S.
3. Sunnyside, Queens
4. Cobble Hill & Boerum Hill
5. Greenpoint
6. Brooklyn Heights
7. Carroll Gardens & Gowanus
8. Murray Hill
9. Prospect Heights
10. East Village

The Bell House - Most Unique Music Venue in Brooklyn

2010-04-14T12:07:00.003-04:00

If you have been in South Brooklyn recently at night, and have used foursquare then you may have seen a trending topic almost every night for a place called "The Bell House". Hidden deep in Gowanus, this unique gem is a 1920's warehouse converted into a magnificent two-room music and events venue. 25-foot wooden arched ceilings, a 450-square foot stage, and unobstructed views from any part of the room. The Front(ier) Room serves a wide variety of local and independent drafts, top-shelf bourbons and an assortment of signature cocktails and is open 7 nights a week, from 5pm to 4am. The place has been around since 2008, but it still captures that underground feel and is a great place to spend an night out.

What do you think about the Bell House?

The Bell House
149 7th St
(between 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 643-6510

www.thebellhouseny.com

Best Restaurants in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

2010-04-13T15:00:00.005-04:00

Image from The Vanderbilt

Here is a list of the top ten best restaurants in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn. While there are many fabulous places to eat in this diverse and delicious neighborhood, there are a few that stand out from the rest. What do you think about this list? Do you agree? Let us know!

1. Frannys (Best Environmentally Responsible Restaurant)
2. Le Gamin Cafe (Best French/Crepe)
3. James (Best Neighborhood Feel)
4. The Vanderbilt (Best Hors D’oeuvres/Drinks)
5. Cornelius (Best Oysters)
6. Beast (Best Brunch and Jazz)
7. Chavellas (Best Authentic Mexican)
8. Tom's (Best Old School Diner)
9. Gen (Best Sushi)
10. Rawstar (Best Caribbean Food)

Prospect Heights - Best "New" Neighborhood in Brooklyn

2010-04-12T10:29:00.004-04:00

Neighborhood Spotlight: Prospect Heights

While we all know that Prospect Heights isn't a new neighborhood at all, but it is rapidly shifting and becoming a place where the professional creative class is mixing with the diverse neighborhood locals to form a vibrant community. If you compare it to other neighborhoods in Brooklyn, Prospect Heights is intimate and notable for its cultural diversity, tree-lined streets exemplified, perfect location. It has a mixture of older buildings under reconstruction, rows of classic 1890s brownstones, and newly built luxury condominiums.

Some Bullets Summarized from Wikipedia

The name "Prospect Heights" can be traced as far back as 1889 to a letter to the editor published in the Brooklyn Eagle
Largely an Italian, Jewish, and German neighborhood in the 1910s through the 1950s
Prospect Heights is currently well known for its mixed black and white culture.
Every year the West Indian Day Parade, the largest annual parade in New York City, follows Eastern Parkway, beginning in Crown Heights and ending at Grand Army Plaza in Prospect Heights.
A thriving commercial zone has emerged along Vanderbilt Avenue, which in just the last few years has been the location for new bars, restaurants and specialty shops.
Because of the area's density of Italianate and Neo-Grec rowhouses, much of the neighborhood has been designated as a New York City historic district.
It is the fifth largest historic district in New York City.
To its north lies Fort Greene, to the south, Prospect Park, to its west, Park Slope and to its east, Crown Heights.
Atlantic Yards Project including Barclays Arena will form the Northern border from Faltbush to Vanderbilt along Atlantic.

Some Prospect Heights Attractions

Prospect Park
Mount Prospect Park
Brooklyn Museum
Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn Public Library
Richard Meier designed condominium (Grand Army Plaza)
Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket
Heart of Brooklyn

All in all, Prospect heights is on it's way to becoming the true cultural and creative center on Brooklyn and is the best place to spend a day (or two, or three) discovering. Do you live in or around Prospect Heights, what is your favorite thing about it?

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Woodwork - Best New Soccer Bar in Brooklyn

2010-04-09T12:24:00.006-04:00

When you first meet Ross Greenberg you can't help noticing that he is a true local - friendly, talkative with a genuine Brooklyn demeanor. But if you chat with him while he prepares food for his soccer fanatic patrons, you begin to see that he has seen a lot of the world and knows what's what. He might tell you that he was an assistant to a famous French chef in the South of France or that he lived in Italy for a while working with chefs and then his place Woodwork all starts to make sense. Woodwork is not your ordinary Soccer bar. Ross descibes the bar as " a sexy soccer bar, serving foodie and footie fans alike". The menu is focused and delicious (try the waffles) - the beer, whiskeys and overall service is tight and friendly. The location Dean and Vanderbilt, in Prospect Heights, is truly the next new renaissance in Brooklyn and Ross's timing is perfect. There are many speculations about what they may build across the the street, in the South-Eastern tip of the Atlantic Yards project, but Ross (and many others) know that this neighborhood, in particular Vanderbilt Street is on it's way to the top. With it's proximity to Prospect Park, BAM, The Brooklyn Museum, Barclay's Arena, Botanical Gardens, Grand Army Plaza Farmers Market and Atlantic Center, Prospect Heights has become one of Brooklyn's exciting new neighborhoods. Woodwork will reap the benefits of this years WorldCup and he even has plans to hold street fairs dedicated to Soccer events on the Sunday's during the tournament. He says that Brooklyn is international and that Soccer is one of the greatest ways to truly bring other countries together, more than any other sport. The crowd in Woodwork represents this spirit, the spirit of Brooklyn - International and growing.
Here is a blurb from their website:

Located in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, Woodwork is the brainchild of Chef Ross Greenberg, who teamed up with Master Wood Carpenter and beer enthusiast Eric Bernstein, a Prospect Heights resident, to build a sexy soccer bar, serving foodie and footie fanatics alike.
Soccer or Futbol is played amongst every culture and in every neighborhood, but this beautiful game has always been a big part of New York City. Even Prospect Heights-raised sports caster Howard Cossell was quoted in 1977 as saying,
"Soccer will be the biggest big league of all."

Have you been to Woodwork? What do you think?

Tatiana - Brighton Beach Brooklyn, Best Place to Transported

2010-03-30T10:07:00.003-04:00

Many of us have passed by Tatiania when we walked down the boardwalk from Coney Island to Brighton Beach. Some of us have even stopped by to enjoy the stroganoff and salmon, on the boardwalk for a late afternoon lunch, but only a select few have ever made it to Tatiana for an evening of dancing, vodka, performance, people watching and food that never ends. A few weeks back, I finally had the opportunity to celebrate a birthday party, on a Friday night there and all I can say is that is was one of the best places I have ever been to. It was more than an event, it was an experience not to be missed for any lover of Brooklyn. Bring cash, friends and your appetite, but more importantly bring an open mind and enjoy!

Named after an Odessa beauty Tatiana, who is frequently seen making rounds in the exotic and grandiose restaurant. The Brighton Beach mystery of tradition unravels before your very eyes. I call it dinning with attitude. The scene that opens up is something out of a James Bond movie "From Russia with
Love". Its Sex in the City mixed in Sleepless on Brighton Beach. Vodka and Cognac pours like fountain Di Trevi in Rome.

Ladies hang on to your husbands and guys don't forget to shave, because there are plenty of people to impress. You do not need a red carpet invitation to see city's top fashion worn in style and such sex appeal that is even desired by many celebrities.

From the first glance you are transformed into a world of glamorous design, tasteful decorations,
overwhelming scenery and perfect lighting for those intimate moments. Tatiana's location is on of its
greatest attributes. The Restaurant sits on the Boardwalk with an exhilarating view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Barclays Center, Atlantic Yards and the New Jersey? Nets - Changing Brooklyn

2010-03-29T13:23:00.002-04:00

Cities change and change is hard. (I think we can all agree on that after going through the latest Health Care Debate). Some people want things to stay the same, other want change with as much people protection as possible, and others want change with the most possible monetary gain. So either you are for Atlantic Yards, against it or for it with real focus on what will happen to the people and the community. I have complied links to highlight all of the recent news in regards to Atlantic Yards and Barclays Arena and I hope you can all provide your comments in support or opposition.

Atlantic Yards breaks ground: Nets are the heartbreak kids - NJ.com
Complaint Box | They're Stealing My Sky - New York Times (blog)
Cursing Atlantic Yards - Huffington Post
Ground Broken on Atlantic Yards Project - New York Times
Nets' Likely Owner Faces America - New York Times
A Sad Day for Brooklyn: Atlantic Yards Groundbreaking - Huffington Post
Brooklyn shines at AY groundbreaking - YourNabe.com
Bruce Ratner defends decision to move New Jersey Nets deep into New York - NYDAILYNEWS

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Opening Reception: Vast | Amelie Chabannes Saturday Feb. 27, 7:00 PM

2010-02-23T12:05:00.003-05:00

stephan stoyanov gallery
29 orchard street new york ny 10002 212 343 4240

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

STEPHAN STOYANOV GALLERY is pleased to present, Vast, a solo exhibition by Amelie Chabannes.

EXHIBITION:
AMELIE CHABANNES | VAST

DATES: FEBRUARY 27TH - MARCH 31ST, 2010
Reception: Saturday, February 27th, 7-9pm
EVENT RSVP

* * *

Amelie Chabannes (Brooklyn Based Artist) continues her investigation into the monumental topic of identity. “Vast” follows her 2008 exhibition at Luxe Gallery entitled “My Portrait of Your Identity”. With the current title, the artist is front and center concerning the scope of her limitless topic. Vast conjures up endless vistas, the great sun lit expanse. Chabannes describes, “vast” as directly referring to Baudelaire, whose use of this word imparted the “immensity of the intimate”, which the artist molds and coaxes into the “intensity of the intimate being”. In this exhibition, as in 2008, Chabannes places herself in the hotspot of her inquiries, as well as, taking the view from the outside and often intermingling the two, allowing the viewer a glimpse at the vacillating, vague and often counterintuitive aspects of defining the individual.

Chabannes employs sculpture, drawing, video and installation in her entangled enterprise. All of these offerings have an outspoken tactility, pushing the viewer’s awareness of the works as physical objects and yet, all the while, whispering about our interior, delicately grinding away at our psychology. Referencing the grandeur of the landscape, she builds her pieces mimicking the earth’s processes: fossilization, stratification, glaciation, often using topography, maps and measures. These processes, in turn, quote the layered, multivalent complexities and tectonic shifts of the subconscious and yet simultaneously, oppose it. The wide-open world vs. tiny private thoughts, which we well know are not so tiny. The artist gets at fractured and disrupted identity with several installations and the drawings, “ Oskar, Alma And I #1 and #2”. Oskar Kokoschka was a major Austrian painter who forlornly constructed a doll of his ex-mistress, Alma, to combat his grief over her absence. Chabannes creates dolls, decayed and aged, embedded within a reconstituted emotional land mass, showing the history of a violent impact on the psyche as the revelatory rings inside a tree’s trunk. The artist’s face flickers in and out of the drawn portraits of Oskar and Alma, the interplay confessing her sympathies and own personal disruptions as if a geological remnant.

The artist hints at the complications that arise when rigid categories, inferring technical or bureaucratic systems, are forced upon ever-shifting entities, such as ourselves. In “Anthropometric Self Portrait”, a glass-encased head juts out from the wall. The unobstructed face is partitioned on its surface with official, yet officious looking circles and measurements. A similarly constructed sculpture, “Self Portrait Dream”, is ensconced in a spinous charcoal latticework, obscuring the entire top half of the head. Chabannes very physically posits our clear-eyed definitions against our mind’s eye, the inept category trying to surround the labyrinth. Chabannes subjects squirm and mutate underneath, yet in defiance of miniscule designations and inescapable histories, bristling at reduction. In the age of internet profiles and downloadable status, she seems to be tempting us to cherish our right not to fit in.

* * *

Stephan Stoyanov Gallery is located on the Lower East Side at 29 Orchard Street between Hester & Canal. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday 11am until 6pm, and Sundays Noon until 6pm.

For more information, call (212) 343 4240 or email: stephan@luxegallery.net

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Tom, the Concierge of Court Street, Brooklyn at it's Best @overinbrooklyn

2010-02-16T12:12:00.002-05:00

Tom was someone who I saw two, three sometimes four times a day. He was a genuine man, who was always willing to chat. When my wife was pregnant with our son, Tom would carry things for us and he always remembered the exact birthday of our son. He would see us months later and tell us that our son was 21 weeks now and he was always correct down to the day. Tom told me he was born in 1945, so I guess he must have been 64 when he died. He was a great part of this neighborhood and will be missed. The neighborhood is Brooklyn and Tom was the neighborhood, "Tom Was/Is Brooklyn". He was always "Doing All Right For a Monday Night" and when he disappeared a few month back, we had a feeling that something was off. The neighborhood changed, but his presence is still felt.

Every night you would find Tom:

--------------

Article from NYTimes

Panhandlers in this city are often ignored, stiffed, even reviled, but sometimes, if they hang around long enough and take the right approach, they can work themselves not only into the wallets, but also into the hearts of those they solicit.

Such was the case with Tom, the Concierge of Court Street.

Tom was the guy who held the door as you walked in and out of the Super Deli, outside of which he was a daily fixture, on Court Street between Baltic and Kane Streets in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. He was the guy who offered to carry your shopping bags, or simply offered a bit of conversation. Tips were welcomed but not required.

“Tom was genuinely friendly, even to people who never gave him money,” recalled Ursula Alexander, who lives nearby. “He was good-natured, one of those people in the city who have a big impact, even though we never get to know them.”

So when word spread on Court Street that Tom died last month, he was honored with a sidewalk memorial of posters, flowers and photographs. It was stomach cancer, somebody heard. How old was he? Somewhere around 50, it seemed. Supposedly he lived with his mother in nearby public housing projects: Wyckoff Gardens, was it? Or maybe Gowanus Houses. And what was his last name, again?

He was cheery, talkative, helpful and benign, many said, a secondary character in the daily narrative of this busy street. He would arrive in the afternoon, in time to catch riders streaming up out of the Warren Street exit of the Bergen Street subway station, returning from work in Manhattan.

Court Street memorial.

Tom was no wino, and he was not homeless. He appreciated gifts of food, and would load them into his backpack to bring home at night. When Tom stopped showing up, several months back, his many friends and benefactors on Court Street did not know where to look, or even have a last name to go with.

“I spoke to him every day but I never knew his last name,” said Robin Gurung, who works afternoons and evenings in the grocery store. “No one did. Everyone just knew him as Tom.”

Here is a photo of Robin @joncronin:

Tom would often take dollar bills and walk across the street to Ruben Liquors, to try for bigger winnings. He would buy scratch-off lottery cards, said the owners, Brenda and Rick Ruben.

“If Tom was a drinker, we’d know it,” said Rick Ruben. “He was just a happy-go-lucky guy.”

Ms. Alexander, paying for a bottle of Jack Daniels, looked over.

“Are you talking about Tom?” she asked. “At first I ignored him when he offered to carry my shopping bags, I didn’t know anything about him. But I saw he was good-natured and that’s worth a lot.”

Next to the deli on Court Street is Sam’s Restaurant, now in its 80th year under the same family ownership.

Louis Migliaccio, who took the place over recently from his father, Mario Migliaccio, 82, was doing his billing at one of the tables.

“Why is everyone making such a big deal about this guy?” he said, gesturing out the window toward the sidewalk memorial. “Fifty thousand people walk in here asking about Tom, no one buys nothing.”

The specialty at Sam’s is pizza made in a brick oven. The elder Mr. Migliaccio has been making them himself for nearly 60 years.

On the wall was a sign:

Today’s Menu, Two Choices:
Take It.
Leave It.

Louis Migliaccio talks tough, but he too had a soft spot for Tom. He’d chat with him, maybe give him a sandwich. But when it comes to coddling the poor, he takes after his old man.

“I liked Tom, but I never gave him a penny,” said Mario Migliaccio. “That’s not how you help someone. I came to this country when I was 22, with five dollars on credit. I washed dishes here 18 hours a day, for 20 bucks a week. It’s called working for your money.”

Tom’s death was confirmed recently by a woman who came in to the deli and through tears said she was Tom’s sister. Mr. Gurung offered condolences, and resisted asking for additional information. He had managed to preserve one memory, however: Tom, winking, photographed on his cellphone not too long ago.

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Best Place to Experience the West Indies in Brooklyn

2010-01-12T12:41:00.002-05:00

Mouth of the Border's, Emily Cavalier takes us on a "A Walk Through the West Indies, Via Crown Heights Restaurants" in two parts - (Part I & II). If you are like me and you like to really enjoy each neighborhood, in this enormous and flavorful borough, than get on your bike (or take the subway), put on your walking shoes and bring some cash.

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

An Uncertain Future - Return from #Afghanistan by David Shadrack Smith

2009-11-25T22:36:00.001-05:00

Executive Producer at part2pictures.com David Shadrack Smith on his recent trip to Afghanistan.

It was a trip we hesitated to make -- the reports from Afghanistan revealed a security situation worsening every day. Yet once there, with the great guidance of co-producer Rohit Gandhi and the experience of photographer Reza, we were treated to an amazing, up-close view of Afghanistan -- a view from and of the people of all walks of life. We stayed in the homes of farmers and had lunches with Generals. We spent time with Presidential candidate Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and also in refugee camps where people had come to flee the falling bombs. We saw rare and unique Sufi ceremonies and ran along with the National Army as they tried to train under US guidance.

Full Story

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Amélie Chabannes - French Creative Connection Video Interview

2009-10-12T19:13:00.001-04:00

Thibaut Estellon interviews Amelie Chabannes in her studio in Red Hook for The French Creative Connection Blog. Watch the Video (In French) and follow him on Twitter.

Excerpt:

Jeune artiste installée depuis quelques années à New York, Amélie Chabannes nous reçoit aujourd'hui dans son atelier de Red Hook, Brooklyn, pour le premier volet de cette série vidéo qui lui est consacrée.

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

BlueNefertiti’s Paris@Night: A French Cabaret - Galapagos Art Space - Brooklyn

2009-10-07T11:34:00.002-04:00

BlueNefertiti’s Paris@Night: A French Cabaret

Friday, October 23rd
Doors: 10pm/Show: 10:30pm
BUY TICKETS HERE!

RSVP on Facebook

BlueNefertiti's style is a direct reflection of her vast influences in music...the eloquence of Edith Piaf, Miriam Makeba, Abbey Lincoln, and Minnie Ripperton; the sophistication of Joao Gilberto; the vocal acrobatics of Bobby McFerrin; and the dynamic duality of Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald.

She began singing professionally with her older sister in France during the mid 1990's; later forming the internationally renowned singing duo Les Nubians. After 10 years in the business, a myriad of encounters, recordings and awards, she is now outwardly expressing her inner workings... a cabaret style performance project aptly named Paris@Night.

With her sensual stage presence she lures you into her world of experimental frequencies… Electronic, Dub, Soul, House, Hip Hop, and then… with the sparkle in her eye… she subtly invites you to sink into your seats and travel through time and space to the era of great Jazz Standards and French Realism.

The show is an unconventional mélange of ingenious originals and innovative renditions of Edith Piaf, Nina Simone, Josephine Baker, Miriam Makeba, Dave Brubeck... and at any given moment, an unexpected guest may grace the stage with an impromptu display of their unique talents.

Welcome to Paris@Night - BlueNefertiti's Ek'lectric Cabaret- where the Blues of past loves mingle with the Pink and Gold of life's joys… the intensity of an eternal glimpse… the memory of a sacred moment… and the urge of colourful souls calling out for LOVE…

SPECIAL GUESTS
Kenny Muhammad [The Human Orchestra]
&
AnOuCh hiGh sOul

VISUALS & SET DESIGN:
Amelie Chabannes
&
Antonia Dias Leite

PHOTOGRAPHY/ EXHIBIT:
Farid Abdi

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

September 2001

2009-09-11T11:56:00.001-04:00

This photo of me was taken by my brother the week before Sept. 11th. I had just moved to Brooklyn and the intensity of that day will be forever a core element of my being.

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Best of Brooklyn: Real estate deals, neighborhoods, quirks and more (Daily News)

2009-09-03T10:45:00.001-04:00

Below I have summarized a recent article from the Daily News about the Best Things about Brooklyn Real Estate. The article is obviously coming from the developers perspective and we can agree or disagree with the new face of changing Brooklyn development, but I though the article was an interesting take on the collaboration between the developers and the press. Do you agree with the article?

Brooklyn can be addicting. Once you get there, it keeps you. It’s got brownstones like no other place in the world, small parks, beach towns, rugged warehouse districts and Coney Island. It’s got an intellectual depth and a history that the other boroughs can’t touch. “The Lords of Flatbush,” Flatlands Ave., the Navy Yard, Sheepshead Bay and a downtown that may soon have the Brooklyn Nets.
Here’s a look at what’s what in this changing borough, which on its own would be the fourth-largest city in America.
1. Best New Design: Toren, downtown Brooklyn
“We wanted to build a tower like no other,” says Donald Capoccia, a partner in BFC Partners, the development team behind the building. It will also be LEED-certified, which is sometimes overlooked because of the building’s striking design.
2. Best value, new condo: Be@Schermerhorn & Absolute
“These are the best prices for new construction of this quality,” says developer Mario Procida of SDS Procida. “Nothing can even touch this in terms of what you get for what you pay for.” Go to www.beatschermerhorn.com. Honorable mention goes to the Absolute (pictured) in Clinton Hill.
3. Best-Value Neighborhood: Kensington
Called K-Town by some, Kensington combines an urban feel with row-house living. The chess players on Ocean Parkway give the neighborhood a feel distinct from its more upscale neighbors Midwood and Windsor Terrace. You get a lot for your real-estate dollar here.
The neighborhood also has its own watchdog. Two friends run www.kensingtonbrooklynblog.com to monitor growth and highlight such things as local authors, new restaurants and real-estate moves.
4. Best Home for LeBron James: Clinton Ave. near DeKalb If and when Atlantic Yards happens and the Nets bring LeBron James to Brooklyn, the superstar can walk to work from this turn-of-the century mini-castle on Clinton Ave. It’ll cost him only around $4 million
5. Most argumentative ’hood: Park SlopeWhile the old-timers still complain about newbies not keeping their stoops clean and double-parking, the newcomers have finally found their own thing to fight about — whether or not www.parkslopeparents.com should charge a $25 fee. It doesn’t matter what they’re arguing about, these people have too much time on their hands. With more development coming to Fourth Ave., we’re sure you’ll see a slew of protests soon from this neighborhood where residents like to take on causes and everyone thinks they’re smarter than the next person.
6. City’s best golfing: Dyker Heights
Overlooking the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the course is open all year round. Tiger Woods’ father taught himself to play on this course while he was stationed at the nearby Fort Hamilton Army base.
7. Coolest beach town: Gerritsen Beach
7A tiny community bordering Sheepshead Bay, this could be New York’s answer to cool California-type living.
8. Most forgotten: Brooklyn Heights
Amidst all the hoopla surrounding too-cool-for-school Williamsburg, soccer moms in Park Slope and over-development of downtown, Brooklyn Heights just keeps getting more charming. It’s not Brooklyn’s answer to the upper East Side. It’s better than that, with dogwood and cherry trees lining the streets and multicolored townhouses next to 17th-century stables converted into small homes. The most expensive neighborhood in the borough, it gets better with time.
9. Hottest building in hip ’HOOD: The Rialto in Williamsburg
Williamsburg may still be full of plaid pants and coffee shops where the regulars detest “Gossip Girl,” but there are pockets of very fine living. The Rialto, a conversion of a historic carriage house on N. Fifth St., is built for people who appreciate space no matter where it is.
10. Best retail space: One Hanson Place
11. Best park to live on: Monsignor McGolrick Park
It’s serene on this Grenpoint park watching older Polish gentleman in suits and berets walk their wives to grocery stores. This is as small-town as Brooklyn can get.
12. Best disappearing antiques area: Atlantic Ave.
13. Best rentals, NOT Craigslist: Kings & Queens Properties www.kingsqueensapts.com for all the listings.
14. Most Underrated ’hood: Prospect-Lefferts Gardens

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Celebrate Brooklyn - Tv On the Radio!

2009-09-03T10:22:00.002-04:00

One of the best places to watch a concert in Brooklyn is in Propect Park at the Bandshell. Great crowd, good music and lots of fun.

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Movies Under The Brooklyn Bridge - Best Place to Watch a Movie Outdoors

2009-08-27T11:11:00.001-04:00

This is your last weekend to catch Brooklyn Bridge Park's Movies with a view. The outdoor film series ends the summer with Edward Scissor Hands.

The films are chosen by an all-volunteer Film Committee and each feature is preceded by a short film. DJs from Brooklyn Radio kick off the evening, spinning tunes as the sun sets, while RICE sells delicious dinners onsite.

source

Posted from Jon Cronin's Stream Of Consciousness

Best Real Mexican Tacos

2009-08-03T10:37:00.003-04:00

The "real" Mexican Taco battles are heating up in Carroll Gardens. Two new players on the scene. Oaxaca (Smith) and Calexico (Union). Both have their strengths and advocates. I would say that Oaxaca wins on almost every front. The service from the owner Moe, who I knew from his days at Lobo and his team is top notch and you can tell that this place has passion for their product and the simple yet oddly tasteful decoration is much more authentic and fun. My only complaint with Oaxaca is that their chips are not up to snuff with the rest of their food, maybe that is the plan to get you to focus on the tacos? The corn while delicious is missing that grilled taste that you get at the masters of Cafe Habana. Both places are worth a visit and I still think that the Carne Asada taco at Buddys (Court) is still tremendous while you wait for your movie but now this place seems so out of touch with the authentic Mexican flavors coming to the area. We are still not in California but we are getting close.

Best New Brooklyn Book

2009-06-30T10:38:00.003-04:00

Our friend Piers Fawkes over at PSFK just put together a great book about Brooklyn. In a similar fashion to this blog, it takes you through some of the best places that this borough of ours has to offer. First 100 PSFK SNAPSHOT BROOKYLN books at half price: Enjoy! and Spread the Word!

Best Brooklyn Eaters, Sample food from 192 nations without leaving city

2009-03-29T23:37:00.002-04:00

Bloggers (from l.) James Power, Kara VanMalssen, and Dave Cianci

Below is a story taken from The New York Daily News, Enjoy!

Three Brooklyn friends are trying to eat their way around the world - without ever leaving the city.

The Kensington trio began a mission in August to sample in alphabetical order the culinary delights of all 192 countries in the United Nations.

"We can't go to every country in the world, but we can go to all those countries here," said Kara Van Malssen, 30, an archivist.

Van Malssen came up with the idea last summer while eating at a Ghanaian restaurant on Flatbush Ave. with her husband, Dave Cianci, 30, and their friend, James Power, 28.

They started in Hell's Kitchen with Afghanistan, knocking back lamb kebab and fried pumpkin turnovers called bolanee at the Ariana Afghan Kebab Restaurant on Ninth Ave.

Since then, the group's gastronomical grand tour has taken them from Arthur Ave. in the Bronx for Albanian fare to Astoria, Queens, for an Algerian feast.

Working their way through the alphabet, the food lovers didn't leave the neighborhood for one of the countries. They had sturgeon shish kebab - a taste of Azerbaijan - in Kensington.

They sampled Barbadian pudding and souse - boiled pig's head and pig intestines with sweet potato - in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

"That was probably the most adventurous thing I've put in my mouth in a very long time," said Power, an English as a second language teacher trainer. "It was the only thing I haven't been able to finish."

The Brooklynites launched a blog called Confined Nomad to document their culinary staycation. They've gotten through 17 countries. Most of the meals were at restaurants, but four were home-cooked when they couldn't find an eatery to match the country.

When they couldn't locate an Angolan restaurant in the city, they called the Angolan Mission to the UN and ended up getting invited to the secretary's church in Elizabeth, N.J. They chowed down on some Angolan homecooking - including chicken stew cooked in chicken blood.

"If all else fails, we end up cooking it at home," said Cianci, a law student.

They had to cook at home to check off Andorra, the Bahamas and Bahrain.

Right now, they're stuck on Belize, their 18th country. They haven't found a restaurant yet, but plan to contact a catering business that may be able to deliver them a taste of the Central American country.

Right now, the project is a labor of love. But the group said they are considering trying to turn it into a book.

"We wouldn't mind an expense account," Cianci said, chuckling.

Van Malssen said the trio expects the project to take years, but they are committed to finishing it.

"We're going to try," she said. "That's the goal. We haven't lost steam yet."

Benin, a West African country, is next. Zimbabwe is last.

Best Map of Brooklyn

2009-03-29T23:31:00.004-04:00

Best Brooklyn Blog - Gowanus Lounge - Robert Guskind 1958 - 2009: Founder Dies

2009-03-07T00:42:00.006-05:00

Robert Guskind 1958 - 2009: Founder of Gowanus Lounge Dies

It's extremely sad to read about the death of Robert Guskind. He was an early advocate of this blog and was one of the true advocates of Brooklyn. We will all miss him and I hope that his death will inspire us all to look deeper into the truth about the system we all are a part of. His passion for uncovering this truth will force us all to participate extra to achieve anything near his contribution.

updates: Huffington Post Curbed

Best New Brooklyn Cafe

2009-02-23T10:25:00.004-05:00

I apologize in advance to the Boerum Hill readers because I know that this post might make their favorite spot a little more crowded than usual. "Building on Bond" is a great -fairly new- addition to the shriveling restaurant scene in the Smith Street Area of Brooklyn. The fact that this tasteful and well priced cafe/eatery/bar is not near Smith Street gives it a neighborhood feeling that is synonymous with the best that Brooklyn has to offer, community!

I look forward to having brunch, dinner and drinks alone or with friends there and I trust you will too! Bravo!

Let us know what you think???

Do you have any other new spots that you think are top of the list?

photo by ultraclay!

Best Boardwalk - Coney Island

2009-02-19T13:43:00.008-05:00

The Coney Island Boardwalk is a great place to take a long walk in winter - or any season for that matter. The sea air mixed with the rich history of the area, makes this place very special. There are many different opinions about what to do with the redevelopment of the area and many want us to preserve the magical feeling we get when we are there, but I am sure that this magic will never go away only change with the times as Coney island has done so many times before.

What is the best thing you like about Coney Island?

Here are the most interesting Coney Island photos.

photo credit: luluinnyc.

List of All of the Street Names in Brooklyn

2009-02-09T14:30:00.000-05:00

Click for streets starting with the letter:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

via: Brooklyn.com

Best Cultural Partnership

2009-02-09T14:10:00.001-05:00

Heart of Brooklyn (HOB) is a partnership of the leading cultural institutions located near Grand Army Plaza in central Brooklyn: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, Prospect Park, and Prospect Park Zoo.

Heart of Brooklyn encourages tourism and learning by making its world-class collections and historic treasures more visible and accessible. As an integral part of Brooklyn’s renaissance, Heart of Brooklyn is committed to strengthening the future of its neighborhoods.

Best Brooklyn Based Play

2008-12-10T15:44:00.005-05:00

Last Saturday I had the pleasure and honor of seeing one of the best plays I have seen in quite some time. The play "Brooklyn At Eye Level" was an inspirational and eclectic mix of personalities surrounding The Atlantic Yards development project. For all of you who don't know what that is, it is essentially a Frank Gehry and Forrester City Ratner project that involves building a stadium for the Brooklyn Nets as well as develop the surrounding area with homes and businesses in Downtown Brooklyn. Needless to say there are a number of points of view about the project and everyone has a different opinion about what that means to the fabric of Brooklyn. This play attempts to provide a voice for many of the people involved, from the shop keeper to the borough president. The entire cast of Marsha Stephanie Blake, Billy Eugene Jones,
Greg McFadden, Melanie Nicholls-King, Joaquin Torres and
Colleen Werthmann was superb and each of the characters portrayed were actual characters interviewed for this project. Joaquin Torres was a highlight for me when ended the night with a song that brought the house down. If you get a chance to see the play when it comes to town again you will not be disappointed...... and you may actually learn something.

BROOKLYN AT EYE LEVEL is a theater project that explores large scale development and community change in Brooklyn, focusing on the proposed Atlantic Yards Project and its surrounding neighborhoods. This fall a company of actors and director Steve Cosson conducted interviews and immersed themselves in community life. The company spoke to representatives from all sides of the various issues in an effort to understand a wide diversity of perspectives.

BROOKLYN AT EYE LEVEL SITE

Hibino - Best Japanese Food in Brooklyn

2008-05-02T23:58:00.004-04:00

Fresh Made Tofu - Hibino Style, originally uploaded by HIBINO Brooklyn.

I write this review with reluctance. I fear that each time I write about a place that I truly like I am making it more difficult to get a seat at my favorite places. But, this is the world of the social Internet and it is important to spread the love around. That being said, i start by saying Japanese food. Not Sushi. In fact I didn't eat any sushi tonight at my new favorite restaurant. Hibino is a hidden neighborhood joint with the recipes transported direct from Kyoto. Each dish melts in your mouth and the service is sharp and relaxed at the same time. The kitchen moves in sync - but -at a very considered pace and the dishes come out one after another in a deliberate progression that makes each one stand out among the whole. The homemade tofu defies gravity and exceeds expectations - beyond belief. I didn't think I really liked tofu before. I guess I never had the real thing! They don't take reservations so get their early, put your name in and then get a drink at nearby Last Exit. Enjoy!

the brooklyn blogfest

2008-04-20T12:16:00.005-04:00

Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn is planning this years Brooklyn BlogFest. Check it out!

Find out why Brooklyn is the bloggiest place in the United States at the Third Annual Brooklyn Blogfest on May 8th at 8 pm at the Brooklyn Lyceum at 270 Fourth Avenue (at President Street) in Park Slope.
An event for bloggers and non-bloggers alike, the Blogfest brings together citizen journalists, place bloggers, photo bloggers, special interest bloggers, and the creative, quirky, and personal bloggers that make the Brooklyn Blogosphere such a fascinating place to be.

Speakers include: Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, Creative Times, Bed-Stuy Blog, Gowanus Lounge, New York Shitty, Flatbush Gardener, and Luna Park Gazette. Special features include a video by Blue Barn Pictures, a salute to Brooklyn’s photo bloggers and a special message from WNYC radio talk show host Brian Lehrer.

Best Brooklyn Boutique (s)

2008-04-18T16:21:00.008-04:00

New York Magazine just named Zoe in Dumbo as the Best Brooklyn Boutique. Do you agree? What about Noisette in Williamsburg? or the handful of shops on Court Street like AliKat nyc, or Smith Street - Watts, Bird, Dear Fieldbinder or GirlCat on Atlantic?

What Boutique do you shop in Brooklyn for stylish clothes?

Best Neighborhood Restaurant - Bar Tabac, Brooklyn

2008-04-17T16:57:00.004-04:00

Singin at Bar Tabac Brooklyn, originally uploaded by Jon Cronin.

Well according to this years 2008 Eat Out Awards from Time Out New York, Bar Tabac has been voted the best neighborhood restaurant in the city. Congratulations! This was one of the first places I really enjoyed in my neighborhood 7 years ago and it continues to be great. The food, the music, petanque and most important for the past few years the managment has been super nice and friendly! This is a not to miss spot on Smith Street.

Do you think it is the best neighborhood restaurant in the Brooklyn? If no than what is? I also really like Robin Du Bois (Garden) and Pit Stop (Brunch) .

Best Sushi in Brooklyn

2008-02-21T17:39:00.003-05:00

Flickr Loves Sushi. Mmm., originally uploaded by drp.

Who can resist the fresh, tasty, healthy (except tuna these days) taste of sushi! My wife and I love to explore the sushi restaurants in Brooklyn and I have put together a list of the top places.

Ki Sushi
Smith Street, Brooklyn
My Favorite! The Live Sea Scallop flown in from Toykyo is amazing. I alomost didn't want to tell you all b/c i don't want it eaten by the time I get there tonight.

Nouvelle
8716 3rd Ave , Brooklyn
Exotically decorated Bay Ridge restaurant serves sushi and Thai in a casual dining room, dim downstairs lounge and garden patio

Planet Thailand
133 N 7th St , Williamsburg Brooklyn
Good for birthdays

Iron Chef House
92 Clark St , Brooklyn

Taro Sushi NY
446 Dean St, Park Slope Brooklyn
#1 on Yelp

Blue Ribbon Sushi Brooklyn
278 Fifth Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Gen
659 Washington Avenue, Prospect Heights Brooklyn

Sapporo Haru Japanese Restaurant
622 Manhattan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Sushi D
207 Dekalb Ave, Fort Greene, Brooklyn

What's your favorite spot?

Number One Video tagged Brooklyn

2008-02-19T12:23:00.001-05:00

On YouTube the number one video tagged Brooklyn is Mario: Game Over.

Best of Brooklyn - Top Posts

2008-02-19T12:14:00.003-05:00

Views Aren't the Same Without You, originally uploaded by photomagister.

According to Google Analytics the top 5 posts on this site are:

Best Burgers In Brooklyn
Best Ice Cream In Brooklyn
Best Restaurants on Court Street
Best Restaurants on Smith Street
Best Things to Do with Kids in Brooklyn
Best Pizza in Brooklyn

The Photo above is the most interesting photo for Brooklyn on Flickr

Best Wine Stores In Brooklyn

2008-02-18T19:32:00.005-05:00

Married to a French woman changes your eating and drinking habits significantly. One of the best things is that the function of foods is no longer the main reason you eat. The social aspect of food and drink is more important than the fact that you are hungry and want to eat something. The expression "I'm Full" is considered vulgar because it implies that you eat and drink to fill up your belly and once you hit the F on the tank that was on E before you made it to the end. The act of buying wine is so important to the French that it can take up to thirty minutes to make a decision in the wine store (sometimes more). I find myself reading labels and trying to decide what I should get carefully because it is part of the fun but also it is important to understand what kinds of wine you are getting and why wine costs what it costs. There are a number of great wine stores in Brooklyn and I have put together a list of my favorites here for your enjoyment. Take your time a happy hunting!

Uva
Williamsburg
"Inexpensive, offbeat global selection." - NYT
Smith & Vine
Smith Street
Great deals under $10 - my local spot
Heights Chateau
Brooklyn Heights
21-year-old emporium rates as an institution."
Wine & Likker aka Lenells
Red Hook
Funky Place, Great Small Winery Selections and Bourbon Galore
Gnarly Vines
Fort Greene
Great African Wines! Artist Hangout
The Greene Grape
Fort Greene
Critics Pick NY Magazine
Slope Cellars
Park Slope
Check it out!
Big Nose Full Body
Park Slope
4 1/2 stars on Yelp!

I am sure everyone has their spot and I would love to hear from you!

What is the best thing about Brooklyn?

2008-02-02T12:56:00.003-05:00

This question has been asked to me many times and as we all know that is a loaded question with multiple answers. Some say the food, others say the people and even some say the trees! I thought about it over and over and it comes down to one thing for me. It comes down to the ability to live in a major metropolitan area and not have to raise you kids in an oppressive urban environment. I detest the suburbs and could not even fathom the thought of living there in a sheltered environment just for my kids. So in the end it is a mixture of all of these things. The trees provide the environment and the hint of nature that is non-existent across the river, the people provide strong unique connections and the best food for reasonable rates and so in the end you have a place that is full of real families from all kinds of places. It seems that Manhattan has turned into a place of the really rich and the really poor and is becoming more like the rest of the country than the democratic ideals of Brooklyn. I guess that’s what happens when you have two Republican mayors back to back. So you might ask, why are you telling us this? The real reason is that I am going to be a father in May and the thought of having my first child gets me thinking about many things. The first is my environment and the boro of Brooklyn. I have posted before about The Best Things to Do with Kids in Brooklyn and that post is one of the number one posts on this blog. It seems that everyone is looking for the best things for kids. There are families everywhere here. Brownstones and Brownstones full of families and so now that the baby is on the way it opens up a whole new universe. So from now on this blog will be bringing you the very best of Brooklyn and especially things for babies and children to do! I look forward to your participation in this discussion and enjoy!

Best Brooklyn Wrestlers

2008-02-01T16:58:00.001-05:00

PSFK brings us an amazing slide show taken by photographer Bryan Derballa.
It brings together the high school kids and wanna-be professional wrestlers from Brooklyn! Awesome!

For some deep reading try Roland Barthes essay on the age old sport

Best Ice Cream (or Frozen Treat) in Brooklyn!

2007-07-19T12:16:00.001-04:00

uploaded by Chad Schneider.

Ice cream has always had a special place in my heart. As a young boy I was completely engulfed in the homemade ice cream scene. My parents decided to open an ice cream store in Jamaica Plain, Boston. The name of the store was “The Cone-Servatory” and it was delicious. The store did well for a few years but due to “Reganomics” killing many small businesses in the 80’s the store didn’t make it and for many years I wasn’t a huge fan of ice cream. Well that was then and this is Brooklyn! There are more than enough ice cream reasons to enjoy a cone of pure, yogurt “trugoy”, gelato and cannonballs in this generous borough.

I can’t get them all so please tell us your favorite from the list or one that we may have missed!

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, Fulton Ferry Landing Pier (best view! best of citysearch)
Uncle Louie G 741 Union St – Great Italian Ices
Cream Kleins Ice, 3614 15th Av, Kensington
Ben & Jerry’s, 191 Atlantic Ave, Cobble Hill
L&B Spumoni Gardens; 2725 86th St (After a Slice!)
Tastytreet Ice Cream & Donuts, 509 Myrtle Ave
Cold Stone Creamery - 1877 86th St, Bath Beach
Blue Pig Brooklyn - 60 Henry Street, Brooklyn Heights
Oko - 152 5th Ave, Park SlopeDellorito's Grill and Creamery - 25 Jay Street, DUMBO
Jacques Torres Chocolate, 66 Water Street, DUMBO – Best Ice Cream Sandwich!
Ralph's Famous Italian Ices, 357 Graham Avenue, Williamsburg
Maggie Moos, 183 7th Ave Park Slope
Tasti D Lite, 193 Bedford Avenue (Tasteless but Waistless)
Dolly's Ices, Avenue U and 56th Street, Mill Basin
Anopoli Ice Cream Parlor and Family Restaurant, 6920 3rd Ave, Bay Ridge
Trois Pommes Patisserie, 260 Fifth Ave. (nr. Garfield Place) Park Slope
The Ice Cream Man! All over Brooklyn! (my fun favorite!)

Best Parks in Brooklyn!

2007-06-18T12:56:00.001-04:00

cityfountain, originally uploaded by alex itin.

I apologize for not posting for a little while but I was on vacation in France with my wife. I had some time to reflect on Brooklyn while I was traveling and some things became quite clear to me as I entered green space after green space inside of the city of Paris. Brooklyn is seriously lacking green space. Especially in my neighborhood of Cobble Hill, Carol Gardens and Boerum Hill. There is a mythological unquestioning meme that Brooklynites say to themselves and others and that is that Brooklyn is green. The trees, the trees, the trees. While this is a huge reason of what makes Brooklyn unique compared to Manhattan, there are simply not enough parks in our boro. Yes we have the Crown Jewel with Prospect Park as well as Fort Greene Park, Kaiser Park and Owl Heads Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, Coney Island Park and my new favorite is a new state park that I stumbled upon yesterday in Williamsburg right on the water at the end of North 8^th Street. – Awesome views! You can see a list of all the parks in Brooklyn here. I admit that the list is long but most of these spaces are tiny little parks on the corners of blocks and although they are vital to our community we need more larger parks in unexpected locations. In the spirit of heat and the human need for wind and water I put together a list of the top Parks in Brooklyn near water.

Here is my top ten list of Best Parks Near Water in Brooklyn.

Prospect Park (best for bikes, horses, privacy, boating and music)
Brooklyn Bridge Park (Stunning views!)
Dyker Beach Park
Williamsburg State Park (unsure of name)
Asser Levy Park (Aquarium, Boardwalk, Beach)
Kaiser Park (Gravesend)
Owl’s Head Park
Brooklyn Marine Park (Floyd Bennett Field, Golf)
Manhattan Beach Park
Dreir Offerman Park

What is your favorite park in Brooklyn?

Best Italian Heroes - Carluccio's Brooklyn

2007-05-30T10:23:00.001-04:00

hot heros, originally uploaded by bondidwhat.

I am not talking about Firemen or the SuperFriends - I am speaking about the kind you eat with lots of salt, pepper, oil and vinegar. The original, the tastiest, the super long Italian Hero. Brooklyn has lots of Italians and lots of heroes but none can stack up to Carluccio's in Bensonhurst!

Here is an excerpt from a great article.

Since I was a Brooklyn kid sitting on a shady stoop between games of stickball, I've held a special place in my heart - and gut - for a really good Italian hero. And, hands-down, Carluccio's Brooklyn Italian Heroes on 15th Ave. and 78th St. in Bensonhurst makes the best hero in Brooklyn.

Don't believe me? Zagat gave it a 23. Ronnie Carluccio has been on "Emeril Live" four times, where the half-mad chef tried to extract his hero secrets. People travel from all over Brooklyn, Staten Island, Jersey, Connecticut just to get heroes or catering from Carluccio's.

"Anybody can stuff cold cuts between bread," says Ronnie Carluccio. "But the secret to our heroes is the seasoning. And our own mozzarella, the imported prosciutto and the very best virgin olive oil, and the spices, and the Boccia bread and the best tomatoes and toppings. All our meats come from our own butcher shop. Top quality. Made with Brooklyn pride."

"A hero gotta be made with love," says Charlie. "The way we love the people each hero is named after."

Celebrate Brooklyn - TV On The Radio

2007-05-29T15:44:00.001-04:00

Tunde Adebimpe with accordion player, originally uploaded by brooklyn heathen.

Tunde Adebimpe and his accordion player from TV on the Radio play at last years Celebrate Brooklyn Festival under the Prospect Park Bandshell. This year the festival will include a multitude of international artists including:

Sierra Leone’ Refugee All Stars, Irish steppers, Mexican alt-rockers, and a high priest of voodoo drumming! From Brooklyn there’s powerhouse vocalist Joan Osborne, family music superstar Dan Zanes, rock heroes The Hold Steady Other iconic performers abound, from bluegrass granddaddy Ralph Stanley to choreographer Bill T. Jones, guitar god Richard Thompson to hip-hop trailblazer KRS-One. And the Neville Brothers, the heart and soul of New Orleans, kick it all off!

See you at the show! Did you go before? My favorite performance was Burning Spear 4 years ago!

Manu Chao in Prospect Park Brooklyn

2007-05-29T15:30:00.001-04:00

Manu49, originally uploaded by carmenelsa.

Manu Chao is coming to Prospect Park, Brooklyn on June 22 and 23rd for a benefit concert! If you are not familiar with Manu Chao you should check out his style.

Brooklyn BlogFest Links

2007-05-18T14:52:00.001-04:00

green sea of chairs, originally uploaded by SophieMuc.

Here is a partial-list of blogs from this years Brooklyn BlogFest. Some we know and some we have just discovered - I am sad to have missed this event as I was out of town on business. I will definitely make it there next year!

Dance Africa at BAM

2007-05-18T14:25:00.001-04:00

originally uploaded by Daniel A. Norman.

Starting this Sunday May 20 - 30th the "DanceAfrica" festival at BAM gets underway. This festival is going to be awesome and don't forget to get your tickets before you go because the event is going to be packed!

BAM celebrates 30 Years of DanceAfrica with a kaleidoscope of dance, music, film, and art. New this year: a showcase of spoken word, dance and music inspired by the spirit of Africa and an archival retrospective. Join us Memorial Day weekend to honor America’s largest festival of African and African-American culture and another joyous milestone: the 70th birthday of Artistic Director Baba Chuck Davis.

Brooklyn Book Festival, Sept 16th

2007-05-09T11:30:00.001-04:00

originally uploaded by nardell.

Brooklyn is an extremely literary city. I wonder if it is the fact that we get an extra 30 minutes both ways on the train to really think and read about the world. When I lived in Manhattan I barely had time to read a magazine article. Brooklyn is or was home to many famous writers and so last Friday, Marty Markowitz announced the lineup for the second annual Brooklyn Book Fair. It promises to be a blast and our very own Paul Auster will be honored at the Festival Gala on September 15th. Hope to see you there!

BOROUGH HALL — On Friday, May 4, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz announced publicly for the first time some of the renowned national and international authors who will participate in the second annual Brooklyn Book Festival, which will take place Sunday, Sept. 16, at Borough Hall. The distinguished authors who have confirmed so far are Chris Abani, Colin Channer, Staceyann Chin, Mike Farrell, Paula Fox, Amitav Ghosh, Myla Goldberg, Kimiko Hahn, A.M. Homes, Uzodinma Iweala, Phillip Lopate, Gloria Naylor, Mohammed Naseehu Ali, George Packer, Neal Pollack, Carl Hancock Rux, George Saunders, Robert Sullivan, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez, Ivan Valez Jr., Colson Whitehead, Mo Willems and Tia Williams.

Markowitz also announced for the first time that legendary Brooklyn author Paul Auster will be honored at the Festival Gala, an evening launch party on Saturday, Sept. 15.

“As a literary mecca, Brooklyn’s legacy is only growing,” said Markowitz. “I’m very excited that today’s Walt Whitmans and Hart Cranes and Betty Smiths and Paule Marshalls — who may have been born in Ghana or Guyana, in Jamaica or Jakarta, in Mexico or Minsk — are busy beaming their ‘Brooklyn attitude’ out to all corners of the globe.”
Markowitz joined members of the Borough President’s Literary Council, which organizes, produces, and promotes the Brooklyn Book Festival, as well as top authors, publishing-industry leaders, editors, and literary insiders.

Last year’s festival attracted more than 10,000 attendees to see top Brooklyn-based authors such as Jonathan Lethem and Jhumpa Lahiri, and visit more than 100 exhibitors and vendors.

The Best Bread in Brooklyn

2007-05-08T17:05:00.001-04:00

Royal Crown Bakery, Brooklyn, originally uploaded by 536.

The Gothamist writes a great post on the Best Bread in Brooklyn.

Along 65th Street near Fort Hamilton Parkway in Brooklyn are a number of culinary gems: The sidewalk-sprawling Three Guys Produce, billed as “The Original Poor Person’s Friend;” Asian markets with fresh shiso and lily bulbs, and also the legendary, cafeteria-style Rocco’s Calamari. With a fledgling greenmarket in nearby Leif Ericson Park, this Bay Ridge/Dyker Heights/Bensonhurst interzone has quietly become a destination for inexpensive, quality provisions.

The three Royal Crown Magnifico locations should also be at the top of the shopping list. South of 65th Street, at 6512 Fourteenth Avenue, is Royal Crown Paneantico, specializing in sfogliatelle, Sicilian sweets, and a full line of breads. North of 65th on Fourteenth Avenue next door to each other are Paneantico II and Royal Crown Magnifico Panini, a full service café with a hot and cold line, a few patio seats, and a workhorse espresso machine. There’s a standard selection of hot or sweet Capicollo, Mortadella, and Soppressatto paninis, with customizable add-ons like olive paste, marinated artichokes, and melted fontina. The Eggplant Parmigiana ($7.50) is especially good, with thick slices of the lightly batter fried vegetable, in sweet sauce with fresh mozzarella.

Royal Crown Magnifico
Panini
6314 Fourteenth Avenue
(718) 331-5402
Paneantico
6512 Fourteenth Avenue
(718) 234-1002
Brooklyn

Do you have any other favorites? My favorite bread is at Patois.

Top Brooklyn Film Festivals

2007-05-07T11:41:00.001-04:00

come get em, originally uploaded by lomokev

This past week-end I went to the Tribeca film festival and I was blown away by the film and concert of The Orchestra Di Piazza Vittorio.

An unlikely story of how two Romans created an orchestra comprised entirely of immigrants from all over the world living in one area of the Eternal City. When 30 different musicians playing 15 unrelated instruments finally take the stage, they provide a rousing call to arms for all who believe in the mini-miracles of neighborhood cultural initiatives.

This got me thinking about the fact that Brooklyn could do this better than any city because we have the most ethic groups of any American city. Brooklyn loves music and Brooklyn loves film! Here are a list of the some amazing film festivals in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Arts Council International Film and Video Festival - May 5 - 11^th
Sundance at BAM - May 31—June 10
Coney Island Film Festival – Sept. 28-30
Rooftop Films - June 2007
Brooklyn International Film Festival - June 1-10
D.U.M.B.O. Art under the bridge short film and video festival - October 17-19
Brooklyn Underground Film Festival - April 19 – 23

Did I miss any?

Top Brooklyn Street Festivals!

2007-05-04T12:36:00.001-04:00

good showing for an empty pool, originally uploaded by icopythat.

Brooklyn in the Spring and Summer is all about walking through the tree lined streets discovering hidden restaurants (like Petite Crevette) and then stumbling upon a street you may not have been down before only to discover that there is a massive street fair going on. This happens in Manhattan as well but the fairs there seem to always have the same rigid format and they rarely have any flavor. I have put together a list of the top street fairs here in this generous borough of Brooklyn so mark your calendars and sync up your PDA’s and I hope to see all of you out on the streets!

Norwegian-American Seventeenth of May Parade
Sunday, May 20th - Bay Ridge
1:30 P.M
It is the purpose of the Norwegian-American 17th of May Committee of Greater New York, Inc. to encourage and develop a deep appreciation of the ideals of independence and freedom that the 17th of May and Norway’s Constitution signifies by holding an annual celebratory parade in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, on the Sunday closest or otherwise most appropriate to the 17th of May

Atlantic Ave ArtWalk
June 9-10
Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk is a self-guided tour of open artist studios and area exhibitions, a range of public art projects, special events, and extensive local merchant participation. The tour provides a relaxed setting for dialogue, collecting, and for artists to discuss current bodies of work, while offering a glimpse into the creation process.

Brooklyn Pride Festival
Saturday, June 9th
Prospect Park West
11:00am-6:00pm

Celebrate Brooklyn!
Prospect Park Bandshell
Consistently chosen by the press as New York City's best summer performance festival, Celebrate Brooklyn is praised for its wide array of eclectic live performances and film screenings, spectacular venue, and highly diverse audience that cannot be found anywhere else. A program of BRIC/Brooklyn Information & Culture, Celebrate Brooklyn is one of New York City's longest-running, free, outdoor performing arts festivals, offering music, dance, film and spoken word at the Prospect Park Bandshell each summer.

Mermaid Parade June 23^rd - Saturday
Coney Island -You have to see this!

Annual Singapore Food Festival
Friday June 29th-Sunday, July 1st
The annual iconic food event of Singapore is back on 29 June to 31 July 2007 ! Like past years, let us take you on a gastronomic journey of Singapore's taste and cultural diversity. Showcasing the gourmet finesse of Singaporean cuisine from authentic hawker fare to modern ethnic food, the Singapore Food Festival is an event not to be missed.

International African Arts Festival
July 4-8^th - Commodore Barry Park
10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Today the festival is known as the International African Arts Festival and has an estimated annual audience of 75,000. It is still held in Brooklyn but is now in its third transition to a larger venue to accommodate growing audiences. That original line-up of local folk arts entertainment has also remained but has since been accompanied by artists such as The Mighty Sparrow, Fela Anikaputi, KRS-1 and Lauren Hill, Sun Ra, Fela Kuti, and Gil Scott-Heron.
Puerto Rican State Parade and Festival - July 8^t

The Village Voice Annual Siren Music Festival
Saturday, July 15th - Coney Island
The Village Voice independently produces the Siren Music Festival. Set against the backdrop of Coney Island, this free festival is an alternative-minded music event that showcases renowned and emerging bands on two outdoor stages.

Bastille Day on Smith Street
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Sign up early for Petanque it is the most fun you have ever had playing with balls!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Series
Wingate Field
New York City's most celebrated, FREE outdoor music festival celebrates its 24thspectacular season with some of the greatest names in show business.We invite you, your family and friends to join in the fun every Monday night at 7:30 p.m.

Seaside Summer Concert Series
Also, Thursday nights in July and August AsserLevy Park, Coney Island
Who could believe this concert series which began 28 years ago on Midwood Field would evolve into one of the greatest summertime traditions in Brooklyn. The Seaside Summer Concerts have become the most successful and largest entertainment series of its kind in Brooklyn and indeed, all of New York City. So for the best in family entertainment, Asser Levy Seaside Park is the place to be every Thursday night by the beautiful beach here in Brooklyn. Enjoy the shows!

Independence Day Parade
For more information(718) 680-9216

Giglio Festival
Williamsburg
”Facing a new world of uncertainty and adversity, Italian immigrants did what they could to provide stability into their family lives. They focused on the staples of life that most resembled their world back home. Staples such as Food, Culture, Religion and preserving Traditions would be the foundation from where they could build a new life upon. Enacting the Dance of the Giglio was a natural progression for the Italian immigrants of these neighborhoods to uphold. The first Giglio feast held in the U.S. took place in 1903.

West Indian Labor Day Parade
"Labor Day Carnival Parade" has grown over the years from thousands of participants and tourists to over 3.5 million people in attendance since the mid - 1990's.

Atlantic Antic
Sunday, September 27th (This is one of my favorites because of the sheer size of it. Last year I bought a great bike for $10 and the guy at the bike store offered me 300 buck for it! Ha!)

Top Brooklyn Meetups!

2007-05-02T17:43:00.001-04:00

Garden Pugs, originally uploaded by Finstr.

Whatever you interests are Brooklyn can provide the outlet. I have compiled a list of the top Brooklyn Area Meetups. For those who don’t know what Meetup.com is, you might want to check it out! It is a way for us to meet and form groups online but actually get out of the house and meet in the neighborhood!

NYC Fiction Writers: Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Musician Meetup Group
The Brooklyn Beekeeping Meetup Group
The Brooklyn Running Meetup Group
Brooklyn Action Poker Organization
The Brooklyn Dining Out Meetup Group
Heart of Brooklyn *BY DAY*: Arts & Cultural Activities
Go Brooklyn Meetup
BK FRIENDS: No Sleep Til Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Homeowners Meetup Group
The Brooklyn Restaurant Meetup Group
Brooklyn Web Entrepreneurs Meetup Group
Brooklyn is Better Than Manhattan Meetup
Brooklyns Youth Group Meetup
The Brooklyn Book Club Meetup Group
The Brooklyn Photography Meetup Group
The Arabic Brooklyn Cultural Center
Bulldogs of Brooklyn Social Club
Brooklyn Euchre Club
Lovers of Brooklyn Wine Events!
Speed Dating in Brooklyn!
Brooklyn Perennials
Brooklyn Social Events
The Brooklyn and Manhattan Hip Mama Meetup Group
Brooklyn Salsa On2
The Brooklyn Taster's Guild
~*The Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Walking Group*~
Brooklyn Woodworkers and Wannabe's
The Brooklyn / NYC Corgi Meetup Group
Heart of Brooklyn *AT NIGHT*: Arts & Cultural Activities

Best Burgers in Brooklyn!

2007-05-01T12:13:00.001-04:00

DuMont, originally uploaded by Slice.

May 1^st is the start of the most beautiful month of the year. The rain gives way to the flowers and the colors really push through the gray green hibernation of winter. Then the grills come out and the cows get sacrificed - all for our burger eating spring/summer rituals. Nothing compares to a fresh cheeseburger on the grill, a cold Corona with lime and seedless buns that absorb all of the juices. So spark up your grills and clean your backyards because daylight savings time is going to last even longer this year!

May is National Hamburger Month and in celebration of I have put together a list of the Best Burgers in Brooklyn.

Pit Stop (great with a game of Pentanque) (my Favorite!)
Schnack (Columbia Point)
Bonnies (Park Slope – Say hi to her for me!)
Salonike Diner (Smith Street - get the deluxe!)
Cafe Lafayette (Fort Greene)
Peter Luger’s (Williamsburg)
Chicory (Carroll Gardens – great place – cool owner!)
Relish (Williamsburg)
Gowanus Yacht Club (Carroll Gardens) (update - lost their grill!)
McDonald's (in your neighborhood)
Rhythm & Booze (Windsor Terrace)
Farm on Adderley (Ditmas Park)
Hope and Anchor (Red Hook)
67 Burger (Fort Greene)
Crave (Carroll Gardens)
Dumont (Williamsburg)
White Castle (Sunset Park – Don’t get thrown out!)
Bar Tabac (Smith Street)
Junior’s (Downtown Brooklyn)
WaterFront Ale House (Cobble Hill)
Ceol (Smith Street)

Did I miss any?

Sakura Matsuri Festival - Botanical Garden

2007-04-29T21:43:00.001-04:00

on Gallery, originally uploaded by Jon Cronin.

Today was the last day of the Sakura Matsuri. If you didn't get a chance to see the Japanese Festival of Light at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, you should put it on you calendar for next year. The garden was packed and the cherries were starting to bloom. It is probably better to see the cherries in full bloom next week-end -but- you will have missed the folk dances, samari swords and numerous other performances. I am glad to have made it this year and I look forward to you comments about the event? The tulips where amazing!

Top Rides at Astroland, Coney Island

2007-04-27T14:31:00.001-04:00

originally uploaded by dubsyuhs.

As many people already know Astroland Park in Coney Island, Brooklyn will close at the end of this year. Astroland originally was a 'space-age' theme park. Today it is a magically journey back to the past. Our memories of childhood fairs are fulfilled among unsafe rides that injure our necks, all in the name of fun. Astroland turned 45 this April Fools day and on November 28, 2006 was sold to Thor Equities for $1.5 billion. According to the article in Newsday, they will continue to operate the Cyclone, the famous wooden roller coaster. People in the neighborhood welcome the change, while people that visit the park each summer are saddened.
Coney Island Park will replace Astroland beginning 2011.

One of my favorite video sites Rocketboom shows us a beautiful tribute.

Here is a list of the Top Rides at Astroland. What is your favorite?

Best Brooklyn Jazz Spots

2007-04-20T11:09:00.001-04:00

sound, originally uploaded by jaysk.

I was having tea with my wife the other day at Marquet and she ran into a guy whom she had met before and introduced me to him. His name was Carl Thompson and he was an older dude who seemed relaxed and cool. I asked him if he lived in the neighborhood and he told me that “he was the neighborhood”. He then proceeded to tell me about his custom bass making business. He told me that he just finished making a Bass for Lou Reed and that he has be making customized basses since 1974 at the rate of about ten or so every year. His site says he makes the Stradivarius of the electric bass guitar. He has made instruments for such greats as Anthony Jackson, Stanley Clarke, Les Claypool, and the Allman Brothers bassist, as well as created the first electric 6-string bass and the first piccolo bass. All of his instruments are custom order and completely unique, there is no assembly line. He has even made a 10 million dollar bass.

When I mentioned to Carl aka “The Jazz Cat” that there was no great jazz spots in the neighborhood, he told me that I was mistaken and that the best spot for jazz was Sunday’s 7-10pm at Downtown Atlantic, where you can see Carl Thompson and Friends play each and every Sunday!

Here is a list of some Top Jazz Spots in Brooklyn. If you have any other special spots please let us know in the comments section below.

Barbes (Park Slope)
Zebulon (Williamsburg)
Bar Tabac (Boerum Hill)
B.A.M. (Downtown Brooklyn)
Freddy’s Backroom (Boerum Hill)
Koze Lounge (Park Slope)
Sista’s Place (Bed Stuy)
Tea Lounge (Cobble Hill)
The Jazz Spot (Bed-Stuy)
Liberty Heights Tap Room (Red Hook)
Puppets Jazz Bar (Park Slope)
Night Light Cafe & Jazz Club (Sheepshead Bay)
Soft Spot (Williamsburg)
Art Land (Williamsburg)
Sugarcane (Caribbean Jazz)

Best Whale Watching in Brooklyn – In the Gowanus Canal?

2007-04-18T12:16:00.001-04:00

gowanus, originally uploaded by f.trainer.

We thought that the Coney Island Aquarium was the top place to whale watch in Brooklyn - but we were wrong!

Yesterday there was a special visitor to the infamous Gowanus Canal. A juvenile minke whale was spotted off Pier 21 by John Quadrozzi. These whales are common along the Northeast coast but not often seen this far inland and probably weighs over 30,000 pounds. This isn’t the first time an unexpected visitor appeared in the canal, a few years back a young harp seal was named Gowanda was trapped in the canal and was rehabilitated by the Riverhead Foundation and later set free, but this whale appears to be in no immediate danger, except for a blast of polluted water.

The Gowanus Creek Canal is a canal in Brooklyn that borders the neighborhoods of Red Hook and South Brooklyn. There are five east-west bridge crossings over the canal. Once a leading national transportation hub, the canal's fate has mirrored the decline of shipping via water. A legacy of serious environmental problems has troubled the area from the time the canal was first built out of the local tidal wetlands and fresh water streams. In recent years, there has been a call once again for environmental cleanup. In addition, development pressures have brought speculation that the wetlands of the Gowanus should serve waterfront economic development needs which may not be compatible with environmental restoration.

There are numerous blogs that discuss the development of the area but the one that really stands out is The Gowanus Lounge. The area is home to many industrial businesses, artists and a growing residential base.

One of the best places to sit and enjoy the summer heat is the nearby Gowanus Yacht Club. This outdoor beer garden on Smith Street serves hot-dogs, hamburgers and good beer at great summer prices.

Best Brooklyn Bowling

2007-04-16T17:01:00.001-04:00

dAve nov 2006 305, originally uploaded by ultravioletray.

This past week-end I went to visit my brother in Boston and I was treated to some candlepin bowling at an amazing place called the Milky Way in Jamaica Plain. It got me thinking that the only time I have been bowling in New York was in Manhattan at Bowlmor Lanes and that is unacceptable as I am sure that there are some great places to bowl in Brooklyn. I put together a list of top places and I am going to visit each one to decide which the best is.

There are many forms of bowling, with the earliest dating back to ancient Egypt here are a few more.

Indoor Bocce at Floyd (Italian Lawn Bowling)
Outdoor Petanque on Smith Street and at Pit-Stop (French Bowling)

Where do you bowl?

Wild Brooklyn Parrots

2007-04-16T16:41:00.001-04:00

brooklyn parrots in love, originally uploaded by anniebee.

Recent poaching of Brooklyn Parrots has forced Brooklyn Parrot expert Steve Baldwin to take down his location maps from his blog. There are two large flocks flying around Brooklyn, one in Green-Wood Cemetery and the other in Brooklyn College. There are also a bunch of smaller flocks scattered throughout the borough. To read more about the poaching go here, otherwise you can see them as you enter the cemetery and be sure to bring your camera!

Breaking news…… Brooklyn's Wild Parrots Directly Related to Dinosaurs click here to read more.

Jackie Robinson 60th Aniversary

2007-04-16T16:19:00.001-04:00

Jackie Robinson, painting of 1948 Leaf card, originally uploaded by baseballart.

Jackie Robinson became the first player in fifty-seven years to break the Baseball color line.

Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson (January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) became the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era in 1947. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Robinson in 1962 and he was a member of six World Series teams. He earned six consecutive All-Star Game nominations and won several awards during his career. In 1947, Robinson won The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award and the first MLB Rookie of the Year Award Award. Two years later, he was awarded his first National League MVP Award. In addition to his accomplishments on the field, Jackie Robinson was also a forerunner of the Civil Rights Movement. He was a key figure in the establishment and growth of the Freedom Bank, an African-American owned and controlled entity, in the 1960s. He also wrote a syndicated newspaper column for a number of years, in which he was an outspoken supporter of Martin Luther King Jr. and, to a lesser degree, Malcolm X.

Top Fish Spots in Brooklyn

2007-04-12T13:09:00.001-04:00

uploaded by Eric Gozar.

In honor of the death of the Brooklyn Fish King, who died today at the age of 86. I have put together a list of the top fish spots in Brooklyn.

April 12, 2007 -- Rubin Caslow, the chairman of the largest producer and distributor of smoked fish in the country, has died. He was 86.
Caslow, whose Acme Smoked Fish Corp. in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, sells certified kosher smoked salmon, herring, whitefish and pickled lox, died Sunday at his home in Roslyn, L.I., his granddaughter, Emily Caslow, said yesterday.
Acme sells more than 7 million pounds of smoked fish around the country to such food-specialty emporiums as Zabar's, Balducci's, Barney Greengrass and Russ & Daughters, among others.

Brooklyn Fish Camp
Blue Ribbon Sushi Brooklyn
Bonita
Park Slope ChipShop
The Atlantic ChipShop
The Brooklyn Seafood, Steak, & Oyster House (Hey wait a minute! This is in Seattle – Yes I have been there and it is awesome!)
RIVIERA GRILL&SUSHI
Cube 63 Brooklyn (is Sushi considered a fish restaurant?)
Linberts Fish Chips
Mitchell Fish & Chips
Terras Fish & Chips
Island Fish & Meat Cuisine
S W Fish Fry Etc
Bouillabaisse 126
Nick's Lobster Fish Market,
Go Fish

Fish is difficult to categorize because everyone serves it but if you have a spot that can’t be beat let us know in the comments section below!

Social Responsibility Alert: We all need to eat less fish from the ocean and as a result my wife an I limit our fish intake to once a month.

Best Fish Market is Fish Tales and the new Fairway in Red Hook

Brooklyn Cyclones Baseball 2007

2007-04-12T12:33:00.001-04:00

Brooklyn - Coney Island: Keyspan Park - Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese statue, originally uploaded by wallyg.

The Brooklyn Cyclones are a minor league baseball team in the short season single "A" New York - Penn League, affiliated with the New York Mets. The Cyclones play at KeySpan Park just off the boardwalk on Coney Island on West 19 Street and Mermaid Ave.

On July 20, 2006, the Cyclones and the Oneonta Tigers took part in the longest game in the history of the New York-Penn League, a 26-inning marathon which the Cyclones lost, 6-1. The game took 6 hours and 40 minutes to complete. The Cyclones scored their lone run in the first inning; Oneonta tied the game in the fourth and then did not score again until they scored five runs in the top of the 26th.

Their season begins June 19^th and if you haven’t been to a game before it is one of the most interesting things to do on a hot summer day, watching the sunset over Coney Island and eating way to many hotdogs!

The Very First All-Star Game in 1858?

2007-04-12T12:16:00.001-04:00

originally uploaded by Frank Lynch.

As we begin the 2007 baseball season I thought it would be interesting to tell you a little history about the very first All-Star Game in 1858. "But wait... I thought The first Major League All-Star Game was played on July 6, 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago?" Read on!

"Every once in awhile there is a new and important find that becomes available to the collecting community and is exceptionally important to the development of the game of baseball. On June 23rd just such an item will come up for auction at the SCP Sotheby's live auction in New York City. The pieces are two hand scripted Official Scoring Reports that were used to score the match between the New York All Stars and the Brooklyn All Stars in 1858.
These Official Reports date from the second pivotal game of the very first All Star Game series held at the Fashion Race Course in Queens on August 17, 1858. The hand written Official Scorers Reports are enormously significant for two main reasons. First not only were the Fashion games the very first time ballplayers played in an All Star capacity but it was also the first series where patrons actually paid for the privilege of seeing a game of baseball. As such these gems represent the very awakening of the National Pastime as a business."
from: Baseball Almanac

On This Day in History: April 12 - Brooklyn Becomes a Village

2007-04-12T12:02:00.001-04:00

South Street Seaport, originally uploaded by inanutshell.

BROOKLYN — The State of New York Legislature passed an act of incorporation on April 12, 1816, giving Brooklyn its first charter. In this act the village boundaries were set forth: “Beginning at the public landing south of Pierrepont’s distillery, formerly the property of Philip Livingston, thence running along the public road leading from said landing to its intersection with Red Hook Lane, then along Red Hook Lane to where it intersects the Jamaica Turnpike, thence a north-west course to the Wallabout Millpond, thence through the center of the millpond to the East River, and thence down the East River to the point of beginning.”

At the time the farms of Clover Hill, or the Indian name “Ihpetonga,” meaning a long sandy bank, (the original names for Brooklyn Heights) were famed the country over for their fine fruits and vegetables, which always found a ready sale in Manhattan. There were waving fields of grain, orchards of apple, peach and plum trees, huge vegetable gardens and berry patches.

5 Boro Bike Tour

2007-04-02T18:00:00.001-04:00

Autumn Cycle, originally uploaded by moriza.

This week-end I put air in the tires of my bike and did my first official bike tour of the year. I drove around Brooklyn Heights, then down to Dumbo and then through Red Hook. I had a blast! The time has come to skip the taxis, buses and cars and bring out your bikes. There are many hazards driving a bike in this city but there is a day where bikes roam free. - The 5 Boro Bike Tour looks like a lot of fun of course comes through Brooklyn.

This year I am going to sign up!

Are you ready for the Tour? Stop by Grand Army Plaza (Brooklyn) for a free bike checkup with Five Borough Bicycle Club volunteer mechanics, and confer with NYC Department of Transportation experts about helmet safety.
Prospect Park Bike Clinic
Sat., April 14, 11:00-3:00

Cherry Blossom Festival - Sakura Matsuri

2007-03-30T15:05:00.001-04:00

little kids, originally uploaded by notchet.

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden's 26th annual cherry blossom festival, Sakura Matsuri, celebrates the arrival of Spring with an all-weekend Cherry Blossom Festival complete with a huge list of activities and events - April 28th and 29th.

See you there and don't forget your camera's!

Brief Summary from bbg.org

With over 200 trees in bloom, Brooklyn Botanic Garden's flowering cherries take center stage during this phenomenal weekend celebrating Japanese culture with over 60 events and performances. The Okinawan pop sounds of happyfunsmile, a J-pop concert by Tokyo sensation ZAN, hip-hop artist Akim Funk Buddha's "Urban Tea Ceremony," a taiko drum concert by the kids from the Genki Daiko team, and a presentation on the history of geisha by documentary filmmaker Miyuki Sohara are just some of the new performances lined up for the weekend.

Brooklyn Rules - The Movie - May 18th

2007-03-29T17:44:00.001-04:00

originally uploaded by gynoezeum.

From the Brooklyn Enthusiast blog we learn that Alec Baldwin (he used to be skinny) will star in a new film named "Brooklyn Rules". This photo was taken from Flickr and was chosen based on the fact that men with hairy chests -do- exist in Hollywood. My wife loves my hairy chest but hates Alec Baldwin.

Here is a brief synopsis of the film:

Written by three-time Emmy winner Terence Winter (The Sopranos), Brooklyn Rules is a powerful story of loyalty, friendship, and sacrifice. Set in Brooklyn circa 1985 against the backdrop of John Gotti's rise to power, the film revolves around three lifelong friends whose different ambitions threaten to shake their enduring bond.

Best Brooklyn Street Signs

2007-03-28T16:24:00.001-04:00

Originally uploaded by Jon Cronin.

Originally uploaded by photojennic

Originally uploaded by Triborough

Originally uploaded by Triborough

Best Restaurants on Court Street, Brooklyn

2007-03-28T14:50:00.001-04:00

making Suzanne's quesadilla, originally uploaded by pastoralia2002.

I live between Court and Smith Streets in Brooklyn. I am a little closer to Court - so - I spend more time there especially in the winter. We all know that there is a big difference between Court Street and Smith Street restaurants but for me Court Street is much more relaxed and the people make an effort to know your name (yes there are way more babies as well). I have put together a list of my favorite restaurants on Court Street ranked in order of top to bottom.

1. Sweet Melissa (Best Quiche and Tea)
2. Joya (Best Thai/Deal)
3. Cube 63 (Best Garden)
4. Osaka (Best Modern Japanese)
5. Miriam (Get the Crispy Dough at Brunch)
6. Sam’s Restaurant (Best place to feel like you will get whacked)
7. Lobo (Best Huevos Rancheros)
8. Quercy (Best French on Court)
9. Layla Jones (Best Pizza on Court)
10. South American Summer Food Tents (at the end of Court during the Summer Football Matches – Best Empanada’s, Taco’s and Corn)

Best Restaurants on Smith Street, Brooklyn

2007-03-28T12:44:00.001-04:00

BABY LAMP CHOPS2, originally uploaded by smoothdude.

Brooklyn isn’t just about pizza! After living on Smith Street for over 7 years I have decided to make a list of the top 10 restaurants ranked in order from top to bottom. Keep in mind that there are many more great restaurants in the neighborhood but these are the ten that I spend my money in regularly.

1. The Grocery (Get the Tasting Menu)
2. Saul (Star in Michelin Guide)
3. Patois (Best Steak – Price Fixe)
4. Chestnut (Great Brunch)
5. Bar Tabac (Best Late Nite)
6. Panino'teca (Best Place to Eat at the Bar)
7. Robin des Bois (Best Atmosphere and Garden)
8. Zaytoons (Best Healthy Meal)
9. Hanco’s (Best Lunch)
10.Pacifico (Best Mexican)

For a complete list of restaurants go here.

A Brooklyn Life - Music Blogs

2007-03-28T11:45:00.001-04:00

Spiral Clocktower - Escher Droste, originally uploaded by Sam Rohn - Location Scout.

There are hundreds of amazing blogs out there that can give you a unique glimpse into the richness of Brooklyn.

Here are a list of top blogs from A Brooklyn Life that focus on music.

Best of New York - Neighborhood Pizzeria

2007-03-15T17:36:00.000-04:00

Photo by Julien Jourdes
The pizza battle continues! This time New York Magazine writes that the Best Neighborhood Pizzeria in New York goes to Brooklyn's Own - Lucali

Read the whole article here

Lucali
575 Henry St., Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn; 718-858-4086

Top Things to Do with Kids in Brooklyn

2007-03-11T19:32:00.001-04:00

originally uploaded by XJustin IntensityX.

There are so many things to do in Brooklyn with kids. Everywhere you look families are having fun together. I linked up some key spots with GoCityKids and filtered out their results so you can have them all in one place. As always this blog is a dialogue and I would love your input.

KeySpan Park Stadium
Abe Stark Skating Rink
Coney Island Circus Sideshow & Museum
Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park
Astroland - Coney Island
New York Aquarium
Prospect Park Nestlings
Sewing Club
826NYC
Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX)
Brooklyn Lyceum
The Center for Anti-Violence Education
El Pequeno Artista
New York Methodist Hospital
Prospect Park Bandshell
Prospect Park YMCA
Puppetworks
Brooklyn Family Theatre
East New York Farms
Kate Wollman Center and Rink
Prospect Park
Prospect Park Zoo
Brooklyn Museum
Embora Wellness and Movement Studio
Let's Dance Brooklyn!
Better Brooklyn Community Center
Kids Cook!
Shaolin Temple Overseas Brooklyn Branch
Bargemusic
Empire-Fulton Ferry State / Brooklyn Bridge Park
Pierrepont Park and Playground
Brooklyn Heights Library
Brooklyn Historical Society
Micro Museum
NY Transit Museum
Triple Z Music Recording Workshops

Do you know of any places I am leaving off this list?

Brooklyn's Children's Museum Opens March 24th

2007-03-11T19:06:00.001-04:00

kaleidoscope-1, originally uploaded by HeartofBrooklyn.

The Brooklyn Children's Museum is a general purpose museum in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Founded in 1899, it was the first museum in the world to cater specifically to children. Its success has sparked the creation of 300 children's museums around the world. With award-winning, hands-on exhibits and innovative use of its collections, the Museum engages children from pre-school to high school in learning adventures.

The museum was undergoing renovation for quite some time and it is to come back at twice its previous size in Spring 2008. The new design includes more than 15,000 square feet for exhibition space, doubling the area available for the Museum's award-winning science and cultural exhibits. At home in Brooklyn or traveling to other children's museums around the United States and Canada, the Museum's signature interactive exhibitions have received widespread recognition and acclaim.

Offical Site

Over in Brooklyn

Best New International Bookstore in Brooklyn

Best Midnight Brunch in Town

Best Song About Brooklyn - Woodkid "Brooklyn"

7 Reasons why Prospect Heights is the Best Neighborhood in Brooklyn

Best New Brooklyn Restaurant

Swoon Atlantic Yards

Amelie Chabannes Fragments Galerie Hussenot Paris

The Majesty - genesis p orridge

Best Place to See an Interview With Moby TODAY!

Best Wine Event, Edible Brooklyn Uncorked at BAM

Amelie Chabannes – Fragments Galerie Hussenot, Paris April 28th to June 6th 2011

New York Times: Living in Prospect Heights Brooklyn

Kimchi Taco Truck Chooses Prospect Heights for First Restaurant

The Redemption of General Butt Naked wins Excellence in Cinematography at Sundance

Dean Street - Prospect Heights - Brooklyn

French Immersion Program Popping Up in South Slope

Brooklyn for your taste buds

Best Place for Underground Movies Outdoors

Best Flea Market in New York - Brooklyn Flea

Brooklyn International Film Festival Starts This Friday - June 4

Best Place in Brooklyn to Watch a Film - Rooftop Films

Brooklyn Art Project

Andy Warhol: The Last Decade at The Brooklyn Museum

Celebrate Brooklyn - Simply the Best

Best Place to Watch a Movie - Under the Brooklyn Bridge

Best Outdoor Party - THE WEEKSVILLE GARDEN PARTY

Anthropometric Self-Portrait by Amelie Chabannes - ArtWeLove

Jon Cronin » About

Freddy's Bar - Last Call for Prospect Heights Institution

Brooklyn Rules NY Magazine's Best Nabe List

The Bell House - Most Unique Music Venue in Brooklyn

Best Restaurants in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Prospect Heights - Best "New" Neighborhood in Brooklyn

Woodwork - Best New Soccer Bar in Brooklyn

Tatiana - Brighton Beach Brooklyn, Best Place to Transported

Barclays Center, Atlantic Yards and the New Jersey? Nets - Changing Brooklyn

Complaint Box | They're Stealing My Sky - New York Times (blog)

Cursing Atlantic Yards - Huffington Post

Ground Broken on Atlantic Yards Project - New York Times

Nets' Likely Owner Faces America - New York Times

A Sad Day for Brooklyn: Atlantic Yards Groundbreaking - Huffington Post

Brooklyn shines at AY groundbreaking - YourNabe.com

Opening Reception: Vast | Amelie Chabannes Saturday Feb. 27, 7:00 PM

Tom, the Concierge of Court Street, Brooklyn at it's Best @overinbrooklyn

Best Place to Experience the West Indies in Brooklyn

An Uncertain Future - Return from #Afghanistan by David Shadrack Smith

Amélie Chabannes - French Creative Connection Video Interview

BlueNefertiti’s Paris@Night: A French Cabaret - Galapagos Art Space - Brooklyn

September 2001

Best of Brooklyn: Real estate deals, neighborhoods, quirks and more (Daily News)

Celebrate Brooklyn - Tv On the Radio!

Movies Under The Brooklyn Bridge - Best Place to Watch a Movie Outdoors

Best Real Mexican Tacos

Best New Brooklyn Book

Best Brooklyn Eaters, Sample food from 192 nations without leaving city

Best Map of Brooklyn

Best Brooklyn Blog - Gowanus Lounge - Robert Guskind 1958 - 2009: Founder Dies

Best New Brooklyn Cafe

Best Boardwalk - Coney Island

List of All of the Street Names in Brooklyn

Best Cultural Partnership

Best Brooklyn Based Play

Hibino - Best Japanese Food in Brooklyn

the brooklyn blogfest

Best Brooklyn Boutique (s)

Best Neighborhood Restaurant - Bar Tabac, Brooklyn

Best Sushi in Brooklyn

Blue Ribbon Sushi Brooklyn278 Fifth Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Gen659 Washington Avenue, Prospect Heights Brooklyn

Sapporo Haru Japanese Restaurant 622 Manhattan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Number One Video tagged Brooklyn

Best of Brooklyn - Top Posts

Best Wine Stores In Brooklyn

What is the best thing about Brooklyn?

Best Brooklyn Wrestlers

Best Ice Cream (or Frozen Treat) in Brooklyn!

Best Parks in Brooklyn!

Best Italian Heroes - Carluccio's Brooklyn

Celebrate Brooklyn - TV On The Radio

Blue Ribbon Sushi Brooklyn
278 Fifth Ave, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Gen
659 Washington Avenue, Prospect Heights Brooklyn

Sapporo Haru Japanese Restaurant
622 Manhattan Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn