Archive for October, 2011

Yes, It’s Almost Halloween in BoCoCa

By Tobey, 27 October, 2011, No Comment

UPDATED INFO: Because of bad weather forecast for Saturday the 29th the Halloween Parade at Pierrepont Playground has been MOVED TO SUNDAY October 30th.
This weekend marks the lead-up to Halloween 2011 and there’s plenty to do in the BoCoCa hood. Between parties, parades, events and the day itself, you’re going to have to mark your calendars now to get it all in. Here’s the best round-up we could put together. Much if it comes from our friends at the Brooklyn Paper who do an amazing job of putting all this info in one place. The rest we pieced together from research, emails and shout-outs from gracious readers.

Great Pupkin Dog Costume Contest!
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No — it’s a dog dressed as a bird, or a plane, or Superman! Who cares what it is, as long as it’s a dog in a costume. Come get your fill at Fort Greene Pup’s annual Great Pupkin costume contest on Oct. 29, where owners and their four-legged friends will dress up for some trick-or-dog-treats. Registration starts at 11:30 am and judging begins at noon. A $5 donation fee is recommended, but not required. Great Pupkin Dog Costume Contest at Fort Greene Park (DeKalb and Myrtle avenues in Fort Greene) Oct. 29, at 11:30 am. Rain date on Oct. 30. Suggested donation, $5. For info, visit www.fortgreenepups.org

Halloween in Prospect Park!
Halloween events in Prospect Park begin with the Haunted Walk: from the entrance on Prospect Park Southwest and 16th streets to Lookout Hill, the park’s trail is terrorized by zombies, wolf men, witches, ghouls and goons. The haunted walk winds through the park and passes through the Haunted Carnival, where there will be plenty of Halloween-themed games, arts and crafts, and scary stories for children. Not spooky enough? Get acquainted with some very creepy crawlers at the Audubon Center — we’re talking worms, spiders and other critters of the night. And who could forget about the haunted barn, “Boo at the Zoo”? Prospect Park Halloween Haunted Walk and Carnival [Prospect Park Southwest and 16th Street entrance, (718) 965-8999], Oct. 29-30, 12 pm-3 pm. Free. For info, visit www.prospectpark.org; Boo at the Zoo at the Prospect Park Zoo [450 Flatbush Ave. between Empire Boulevard and Eastern Parkway, (718) 220-5100], Oct. 29-30, 10 am-5:30 pm. Adults $8, children (3-12) $5. For info, visit www.prospectparkzoo.com.

Ghouls and Gourds!
Take a break from freaking yourself out and stop by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which will be transformed into an only mildly terrifying landscape — there will be plenty of ghouls to go along with your gourds, and other dazzling fall flora. Come for the Cajun, Celtic and Tibetan musical performances, the Flamingo croquet, the flying flea circus and the monocle, mustache and beard booth; stay for the Halloween rumpus! Be sure to grab your own creepy coleus plant on your way out, and visit children’s book authors at the Book Barn! Ghouls and Gourds at Brooklyn Botanic Garden [1000 Washington Ave. at Eastern Parkway, (718) 623-7220]. Adults, $15. Oct. 29, noon-6 pm. For info, visit www.bbg.org

Welcome to the A-scarium!
Don’t miss out on this year’s A-scarium at Coney Island! There will be tykes in costumes, spooky shipwreck, aquatic-themed magic shows, scary storytelling, and an arts and crafts table where tots are encouraged to make their own masks — plus, a special Halloween 4-D feature, “The Curse of Skull Rock,” showing in the theater outside the aquarium entrance. The A-scarium at the New York Aquarium [Surf Avenue and W. Eighth Street, (718) 265-3474], Oct. 15–16, 22–23 and 29–30, 11 am-4:45 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults ($11 for children). For info, visit www.nyaquarium.com.

BAMboo!
Part of BAMfamily-Mon, Oct 31, 2011, 4—7pm
BAM’s 10th annual Halloween extravaganza brings out Brooklyn’s best trick-or-treaters for an afternoon of festivities featuring live music, roaming entertainers, a puppet show, games, and more! From candy giveaways to costume contests, kids of all ages can enjoy the free activities happening right in front of BAM.
In front of BAM Peter Jay Sharp Building, Lafayette Ave between Ashland Pl and St. Felix St, Free!

powerHouse Kids Halloween Party
Show off your costumes at The powerHouse Arena’s Kids Halloween Party, featuring spooky readings by Cambria Evans (Bone Soup) and Mike Rex (Runaway Mummy) along with some fun Halloween-themed activities. Sunday, October 30, 4–5 PM
The powerHouse Arena · 37 Main Street (corner of Water & Main St.) For more information, please call 718.666.3049 or rsvp: kids@powerHouseArena.com

Mister Halloween Night: A Space Odyssey
Inter-stellar outfits will be rewarded with an on-the-house drink. Think Carl Sagan, Futurama, Monkeys In Space Suits or any of multitude of ideas on the Mister Halloween Facebook page. The possibilities are as endless as the universe. Remember that the more group costumes on the spaceship, the farther and faster it’ll travel. Boarding is at 10pm. Get there soon after. It would be a shame to miss liftoff. Saturday, October 29 at Apollo 12-turn-13.
172 Classon Ave between Park and Myrtle. $15 before midnight with RSVP to mister@mistersaturdaynight.com, $20 otherwise, all astrally attired attendees get a free drink.

Cobble Hill Halloween Parade
Calling all ghouls, ghosts and goblins! The Cobble Hill Halloween Parade will be Monday October 31st at 4pm with music from Jah Pan Steel Drum Band.

Annual Halloween Parade at Pierrepont Playground
Bring your little ghouls and goblins to join in the fun and show off their best costumes! There will be balloons, face painters, a bake sale and a photographer! Saturday, October 29, 2011, in case of rain please check the website for updates (the rain date is Sunday the 30th).

Monster Mash at Brooklyn Children’s Museum
This year’s new programs include two drop in activity areas. Try a shadow puppet workshop, listen to spooky storytelling in our garden, and join the frightful fun in a terrorific scavenger hunt in the ghastly, ghoulie streets of World Brooklyn! And of course, as “darkness falls across the land”, the annual “Thriller” Dance Tribute will be in the Commons Theater. Saturday night is extra special, as we are extending the dance party until 8:30pm!
Friday October 28, 3-7:30
Tickets are available at the admission desk during museum hours. Advance tickets purchase is strongly recommended, tickets are limited.
Costumes for the entire family are strongly encouraged-no masks please.

Halloween bash at Miknic Lounge
Come part with the Miknic crew at the spooky Space // Out special Halloween party. Expect a costume contest with cash prize as well as DJ’s spinning house, disco, new wave
and Halloween favorites!
Saturday, October 29 at 8pm, 200 Columbia Street (between Degraw & Sackett)

Oprah Stops By Kiddie Korner for New OWN Show

By Tobey, 26 October, 2011, No Comment

So, I’m picking up my son at Kiddie Korner preschool (117 Remsen St.) this afternoon and lo and behold, who was hangin’ with the rabbi? Queen Oprah herself. Turns out, she’s in NYC to film her new TV series “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” premiering in January. In addition to sitting down with two Jewish families in Borough Park and Crown Heights for a look into the daily life of Chasidic Jews, the talk show maven came by Brooklyn Heights to have a look at the synagogue’s mikvah, a Jewish bath used mainly for ritual purity.

Buttermilk Channel Implements BYO Night

By Tobey, 24 October, 2011, 1 Comment

image via NY Times Diner's Journal

In the spirit of grand generosity, Buttermilk Channel, the American bistro at 524 Court St., will be offering a special bring your own night every Tuesday. The all-American wine list is always a pleasure, with some great lower-priced selections, but sometimes you just want what you want. And voila! We got this open letter today: Dear Friends, I had a dream the other night. I was sitting at a table at Buttermilk Channel, duck meatloaf in front of me, and I said “Let’s open up a bottle of that beautiful Crozes-Hermitage we just got in! What was the Domaine? Where did I put that wine. . . wait a minute! There are no Rhône wines at Buttermilk Channel! We only serve American wines here!” I woke up in a cold sweat and, over a comforting glass of Oregon Pinot Gris, thought to myself, “There are all kinds of wine that would go beautifully with our food. Why not give people the opportunity to drink any wine in the world with their dinner at Buttermilk Channel?” Thus was born:
Free Corkage Tuesdays at Buttermilk Channel
Starting tomorrow, bring in your own wine on Tuesday nights and we will serve it to you (in our finest stemware and with elegant flair) free of charge.
So dust off those bottles of first-growth Bordeaux; they’ve cluttered up your cellar for long enough! Bring them to us to enjoy with some rosy pink slices of Jamison Farm leg of lamb. That Grand Cru Chablis behind the milk in your fridge? It’s begging to be consumed alongside a bowl of steamed mussels with green chile or Caputo’s linguine with brussels sprouts. Your Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet ’90 is going to be magical with our hamburger. And Ryan’s foie gras and country ham terrine, paired with that Château d’Yquem ’67 you’ve got in your lettuce drawer, will blow your mind!
Of course, if you’re clean out of wine and looking for the perfect bottle to pair with our hanger steak, you can always pick up something awesome at Smith & Vine on your way over.
We look forward to seeing you and your wines on Tuesday nights!
Best wishes from all of us at Buttermilk Channel.

Dating in Bococa Just Got a Little Simpler

By Tobey, 23 October, 2011, No Comment

Let’s face it, Bococa has a lot of strollers. And kids. And families. But it’s also an awesomely cool place to live and many of you are singles looking for someone to hang with at the next Atlantic Antic. To help cupid place his arrows correctly, a new dating group called BoCoCa Dating is sponsoring a speed dating event for a select group of singles in their 30s and 40s. The event takes place 29 October, next Saturday night, from 6pm to 8pm at Verde Restaurant (216 Smith St.) and there will be a $30 entrance fee. Seats are limited so book your reservation now by emailing bococadating@gmail.com. A cash bar will also be available for that loosening up period you might (desperately) need.

Boerum Hill’s Rucola Offers Pumpkins and Harvest Festival

By Tobey, 21 October, 2011, No Comment

Boerum Hill locavore gem Rucola (190 Dean St.) is offering pumpkins and gourds from the North Fork of Long Island today and all weekend. All types of varieties will be available from $7 to $15 and you can come by anytime between 7am and 9pm to make your purchase.
Also note, the restaurant will be holding a Halloween party on Monday, 24 October from 2pm to 6pm. Costumes are encouraged and if you bring along a carved pumpkin, all the food is on the house. Offerings will also include Four & Twenty Blackbirds Pies, One Girl Cookies, Hot Toddies, Mulled Wine, Sixpoint beer and candied apples.

Halloween Weekend Festivities

By Tobey, 21 October, 2011, 1 Comment

Kids have it good. Halloween, one of the favorite holidays of the younger set, seems to begin earlier and earlier every year. But hey, the more they get out of their pricey costumes the better we feel (kudos to those who come up with awesome home-made ideas)–so I’m down with it. This weekend, the Brooklyn Eagle has done us a favor by rounding up the festivities in the hood. Whether it’s dressing up or arts and crafts, there’s something for everyone here.

Gravesend Inn Haunted House at City Tech, Voorhees Theatre, 186 Jay St. in Downtown Brooklyn. Oct. 20 – 22, Oct. 27 – 29, Oct. 31. Thursdays, 1 – 5 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 1 – 5 p.m. and 6 – 9 p.m. and Monday, October 31, 6 – 9 p.m. $6. Call (718) 260-5588 or http://gravesendinn.org

Harvest Festival and Halloween Costume Parade on Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park. Saturday, Oct. 22, 10:30-1 p.m. Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band at 10:30 a.m., and The Pop Ups at noon. Craft activities and more. Pier 6 dog run volunteers will host a fun activity for your pooch.

Pumpkin Patch Festival, 170 Joralemon St. Sunday, Oct. 23, all day. Visit Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights for a full day, all-out pumpkin patch with rides, games, two haunted houses and more.

Halloween Harvest in Old Brooklyn, Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, 5816 Clarendon Rd. Saturday, Oct. 22, noon – 4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 for children and seniors; members free. (718) 629-5400, www.wyckoffassociation.org/museum/events_programs.html. Tour the house and listen to its “former” inhabitants talk about the “family.” Enjoy freshly pressed cider, live music and more.

Egghead Halloween at Gowanus Print Lab, 54 Second Ave., Brooklyn. Saturday, Oct. 22, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The Gowanus Print Lab will host Egghead Halloween!, a no-mess, family-fun Halloween craft activity. $20. Call (718) 788.3930 to register.

Harvest Festival at Old Stone House, 336 Third St. in Park Slope. Sunday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition to pony rides, a petting zoo and other fall fun, kids and grown-ups can make banners, puppets or costume pieces related to this year’s BOO-klyn theme at Park Slope Parade. info@theoldstonehouse.org or (718) 768-3195.

Halloween at the New York Aquarium, Surf Avenue and West Eighth Street. Halloween-themed activities on weekends through Oct. 30 at the New York Aquarium, turning the aquarium into the “Ascarium.” A haunted Sea-fari Adventure, spooky storytelling, musical performances, magic shows and more. Call (718) 265-FISH or visit www.nyaquarium.com.

Union Market: Oh the Shame

By Tobey, 20 October, 2011, 5 Comments

You might want to think twice next time you buy Parmesan cheese from Court Street’s fancy Union Market. A reader sent this pic in yesterday, horrified after watching wheel after wheel of cheese come out of the van, only to be placed carelessly on the same ground his dog had just peed on. Stinky Brooklyn, here we come!

PS 29′s Fall Recycling Bonanza

By Tobey, 19 October, 2011, No Comment

People, it’s time to clean house. Get rid of all that old stuff you can’t fit into, don’t need or just never use at PS 29′s Fall Recycling Day, this Sunday, 23 October from 11am to 4pm. Here’s a quick list of junk, I mean things you can bring out. Good luck one and all.

Electronics will be collected by the Lower East Side Ecology Center.
Accepted items can be found here

Clothing Rummage Sale: bring kids’ and adults’ wearable clothing and shoes.
Please pre-sort by ages: 0-3, 4-7, 8-13, 14-18 and adult
Hats, belts, bags, handbags, matched shoes, curtains, linens, towels, pillows and stuffed animals will also be accepted

Wearable Collections will be picking up whatever we don’t sell, as well as any stained and ripped clothing ~ so bring it all, no matter the state!

Computer Hard Drive Shredding by eRecycleNY on-site (and then recycled) for a small fee.
For more information, visit here

Confidential Documents Shredding by Time Shred Services on-site (and then recycled) for $10/box.
A portion of the proceeds for shredding will go to the PS 29 PTA.

Composting Demos by the NYC Compost Project in Brooklyn throughout the day.
Backyard composters will also be for sale.

Boerum Hill Hosts Franco-American Arts Series

By Tobey, 19 October, 2011, No Comment

This weekend, The Invisible Dog, Boerum Hill’s exciting center for the arts (51 Bergen St.), will begin hosting the Walls and Bridges arts and ideas series. In it’s third iteration, this 10-day event is a “series of performances and critical explorations uniting French and American thinkers and performers from the social sciences, philosophy and live arts” as curated by the Villa Gillet, presented by France’s Conseil de la création artistique.
Saturday from noon to 11pm, come by for A Tale of Two Chefs, Gastronomic picnic. French Chef Mathieu Rostaing Tayard from Lyon’s Le 126 and American Chef Brian Leth, currently working at the Vinegar Hill House, will be putting together a a special, gourmet lunch box meal. Reservations are suggested here, though we’ve been having problems getting the right link. Check here for the full program.

Cobble Hill Welcomes Grand Opening of Mooburger

By Tobey, 17 October, 2011, 3 Comments

I admit, when I first saw the signage for the now open Mooburger (240 Court St.) back in January, I was skeptical. Organic burgers, snacks, drinks and more is what it was touting. I figured we’d get a small space with plastic tables selling outrageously over-priced burgers to families and the after-school crowd. But when I stopped in Friday night, I was fairly overwhelmed. The restaurant was packed, and the draw of seasonal wine and beers made clear it was open to everyone. The decor was wood and steel, the lighting low and the menu impressive for a burger joint.
We didn’t stop to eat because we’d just finished dinner, but were glad to see 15 different types of burgers on the menu, including The Hangover with bacon, cheddar and fried egg; and the Bah Mi with pickled daikon, carrot, onion, cilantro and lemon aioli. You are free to choose your meat (beef, chicken, bison, elk and lamb) and one of 12 sauces or take a sandwich as it comes (not sure if I’d substitute The Nova Scotia’s smoked salmon for bison when it comes with mustard creme fraiche and wilted spinach). Five hot dog entrees are also available, including an order of Pigs in a Blanket. Greens grace the menu as well if you’re trying to be good and sides like Zucchini Fries and Sweet Potato Fries healthily round out the usual French Fries and Onion Rings.
Shakes, juices and seasonal sodas will quench your thirst and don’t forget the booze–beer is on tap, and in bottles and cans, while red and white wines can by purchased by the glass or by the bottle. And yes, your organic meat fix isn’t going to be cheap. Burgers start at $8 and go to about $14 (that’s just the burger). Dogs are $8 and salads are $8 to $12. But I’m making a point to stop in for a Red Velvet shake, a Braat (burger with bratwurst, sauerkraut, pickled cabbage, mustard and pretzel bread) and some Fried Mac’n'Cheese as soon as I’ve spent ten consecutive days at the gym.