Archive for September, 2010

Fisher-Price Recalls

By Tobey, 30 September, 2010, No Comment

Just heard that Fisher-Price is recalling over 10 million tricycles, toys and high chairs over safety concerns. Obviously, this news is especially distressing for anyone with an infant or toddler. According to Channel 7 News ,

The Consumer Product Safety Commission says two of the products being recalled involve injuries.In the recall of about 7 million Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes toddler tricycles, the agency is aware of 10 reports of children being hurt. Fisher-Price is also recalling more than 1 million Healthy Care, Easy Clean and Close to Me High Chairs. Officials have received 14 reports of problems with the high chairs, with seven children requiring stitches. Also being recalled by Fisher-Price are more than 2.9 million toys of various types with components that, if loose, present a choking hazard.

Seems the tricycle and high-chair recall both stem from parts that stick out, putting children at rick of a puncture wound. You can get more info from the company here, including a detailed list of products.

Pork It Up on Governor’s Island

By Tobey, 30 September, 2010, 1 Comment

Love the “other” white meat? Then sail on over to Pig Island this Saturday, 2 October, to enjoy everything that [used to] snort at this decidedly non-kosher event. This pork-lover’s paradise promises to be a culinary festival featuring local food, NY State wines, Six Point Craft Ales, and live music at our favorite new destination–Governor’s Island. Here’s how the website sites it: Twenty chefs from some of New York City’s finest venues along with an impressive cast of food experts and personalities are expected to dazzle the crowd with their “whole hog know-how”. All participants will work with locally sourced ingredients, including whole pigs purchased directly from farms, such as Violet Hill Farm and The Piggery. The talent includes Sara Jenkins of Porchetta, Jacques Gautier from Palo Santo, “Chopped” champion Michael Jenkins from Butter Restaurant, along with other barbecue masters such as Hoppin’ John Taylor of Low Country cooking fame and Sam Barbieri with the award-winning Fuhgeddaboutit BBQ Team. You can buy tickets here, and we suggest you do because they won’t be sold the day of the event. Once there, you’ll hang in Colonel’s Row, enjoying unlimited, walk-around tasting from chefs and farmers, BBQ sides, beers from Sixpoint Craft Ales (including the seasonal Pumpkin Saison), NY State wine, and live bluegrass music. Think smoked pork, low country and competition style barbecue, porchetta sandwiches, Vietnamese pork soup, Brunswick stew, and maple bacon sticky buns.

Some Like It (Really) Hot

By Tobey, 30 September, 2010, No Comment

I love a good hot pepper. This summer, I even got a bushel from the farmer’s market at Borough Hall, de-seeded them, stuffed them with cheese, wrapped them in bacon and threw them on the grill. I may or may not have been the only one eating them, but it was well worth it. So totally psyched to see the Chile Pepper Fiesta coming to Brooklyn Botanical Gardens this Saturday, 2 October. In addition to sampling spicy cooking from top NYC chefs–including sauces, pickles, and other red-hot specialties–you’ll be privy to the Chile Chocolate Takedown, tasting goodies from local chocolatiers and casting your vote for the best. Music will also be on hand, with performances from seven bands from chile-loving nations around the world like Indian bhangra and brass, a Haitian dance fête, and Brooklyn’s own ukulele gals. The festivities will go from noon-6pm and the schedule is here for your perusal.

Great Idea: Costume Exchange

By Tobey, 30 September, 2010, 1 Comment

Yup, it’s that time again. Halloween. Or, as we like to call it, a marketer’s wet dream. Some parents may be handy with a needle and thread, but most of us have to buy a costume every year. And that means loads of crumpled up, barely used Luke Skywalkers, Disney princesses and Buzz Lightyears lying around. So I’m loving the idea of the Costume Exchange being held 1 October at the the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum (and subsequently, every day until 12 October) from 1- 4pm. Parents can drop off their child’s costume from last year at the museum and receive a ticket which allows them to receive a different costume at the costume exchange on 17 October from 12 – 3:30p.m. Obviously, they will only accept costumes that are clean and in good condition, but seems like a friendly, green and inexpensive way to get through this Halloween. The address is 5816 Clarendon Road and the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday in case you want to stop by for a day of fun and history.

Drinking Early Has It’s Privileges

By Tobey, 28 September, 2010, No Comment

What, you say you’re ready for a drink? Well, if you get to Char No. 4, the stellar whiskey bar and restaurant at 196 Smith St, between 5 and 7pm, Monday-Friday, you’ll be rewarded with featured bourbons at half price. Not a huge fan of the brown spirit? Don’t worry, there will be specials on beer, cocktails and wine by the glass as well. With over 150 American whiskeys and a menu of American fare with a Southern influence, this might be the reason you’ve been looking for to pop in and order up a shot in the earlier hours of the evening. Now if they only offered babysitting…

What’s With the Air Traffic?

By Tobey, 28 September, 2010, 1 Comment

Am I crazy, or have there been low-flying planes breezing over Bococa all afternoon? I’ve heard there’s another tornado watch today as well (though it hasn’t rained for hours). Maybe they’re rerouting air traffic because of the weather? Or, well, maybe I am just hearing things. Let us know if you know something we don’t!

Adopted Brooklynite Jason Schwartzman’s Ridiculous NYer App Ad

By Josh, 28 September, 2010, No Comment

“Adopted Brooklynite” is a little strong — I’d be glad to claim him, but he lives in LA and even had the gall to set this video advertisement there (complete with 323 area code in phone number). Still, Bored to Death is about my favorite show and this clip is great. He drinks Scotch in the morning too? Celebrities — they really are just like us.

A Highbrow, Brooklyny Kinda Beer-n-Trivia Night

By Josh, 28 September, 2010, No Comment

Happening tonight at 6:30: Brooklyn Historical Society’s first-ever Trivia Convivial:

BHS’ first pub-style trivia event featuring prizes,beer and, of course, competitive team trivia! Come test your wits with themed rounds such as “Brooklyn History”, “Current Events” and “New York Authors.” BHS Trivia Night questions will be written by trivia kings Stuart Post and Chris Kelley, hosts of the infamous “Tuesday Night Trivia” at the Grisly Pear. If trivia’s not your thing, then just come by to cheer on the game and enjoy a Brooklyn Brewery beer in one of the most stunning interiors in Brooklyn.

Reservations are recommended — you can make yours here. Brooklyn Historical Society is located at 128 Pierrepont St at Clinton.

The NEW Brooklyn Cookbook is Here

By Tobey, 28 September, 2010, No Comment

I don’t think anyone who lives here has to want for restaurants. These days, when we have the babysitter, we don’t even think of heading to Manhattan for dinner unless we’re meeting friends. We’re happy to walk to one of the many fabulous eateries that have opened in the Bococa hood in the past few years. And if we do get in a cab, we might just as easily go to Red Hook, Williamsburg, Park Slope, Prospect Heights or even Bed-Sty (friends took us to outrageously yummy pizza/pasta joint, Saraghina recently to sit in the magical garden and drink wine from a carafe). So it”s no surprise to see a cookbook come out of this burgeoning foodie scene. According to The Brooklyn Paper, Brendan and Melissa Vaughan have collaborated on the “New Brooklyn Cookbook,” with a collection of recipes from 31 of the borough’s best restaurants. Out on Oct. 5., “‘There’s an eclectic mix of different styles and types of food,’said Melissa. ‘That’s what we were out to represent.’”

In addition to the recipes, which are accompanied by Michael Harlan Turkell’s good-enough-to-eat photographs, the cookbook highlights other Brooklyn trailblazers — cheesemakers, picklers, chocolatiers and rooftop farmers who also make the food scene tick. “We wanted to provide a representative sampling of the kinds of artisanal food producers making interesting products in the borough,” said Brendan. “They’re really as much a part of it as far as the restaurants go — it’s what makes Brooklyn unique as a food destination.”

Come help celebrate at “The New Brooklyn Cookbook” book party at powerHouse Arena [37 Main St. at Water Street in DUMBO, (718) 666-3049], 4 Oct. from 7-9 pm. For info, visit www.powerhousearena.com.

Another Electronic Recycling Event

By Tobey, 27 September, 2010, 1 Comment

Back in April, the Cobble Hill Association threw a successful electronics recycling event at PS 29. I know I happily hauled a trunk-full of old, useless technology over to the schoolyard and felt relieved to see it go to a good, green place. Now Brooklyn Bridge Park, in association with the Lower East Side Ecology Center, will hold its first, free electronic waste recycling event on Saturday 2 October, from 10am to 4pm.

The event is rain or shine and will take place on Pier 1, at Furman Street between Old Fulton & Doughty Streets. Residents and small businesses (under 50 employees) are invited to bring their unwanted electronics, and the following items will be accepted: working and non-working computers (laptops, desktops, servers), monitors, printers, keyboards, mice, cables, TV’s, audio-visual electronic devices, and cell phones.