Archive for ‘Design’

Boerum Hill Boutique Hosts Big Kids Sale

By Tobey, 24 August, 2011, 1 Comment

If you haven’t stopped by Juniper Galaxy, a small, discounted boutique on Bond St. between Atlantic Ave. and State St., you’re totally missing out. The store, which features up-and-coming US and European designers, promises significantly lower prices due to wholesale purchasing–and won’t disappoint with a well-chosen selection of clothing and accessories from brands like Acrobat, Frock by Tracey Reese, MaxMara and Stephanie B.
However, if you’re beginning to concentrate on the wee ones in your family for back-to-school shopping, there’s still a reason to come in and browse. A childrenswear designer showcase will be held in the garden from 5pm to 8pm for a special presale on Thursday, 25 August. Get there early to meet the designers, enjoy a glass of wine and get the best picks of the sale–which will last until 28 August and will include kid’s designers: Bobinette, Saurette and Ses Petites Mains.

DUMBO All-Day Family Festival

By Tobey, 8 August, 2011, 1 Comment

The dog days of summer are upon us, and if you’re one of the many staying in Brooklyn for the run-up to back-to-school, here’s a family event you won’t want to miss. The All-Day Family Festival at The Archways in DUMBO takes place on 20 August, 10am to 5pm, and includes a fab line-up of live music, family yoga, face painting, balloon twisting and arts and crafts. In the mood for some shopping? Check out the local vendors hawking their wares at the community market place. Here’s a current entertainment schedule, though you may want to check in here for updates as the day gets closer:
10am: Bonga! Afro-Haitian Drum and Songs – an all-ages interactive family performance
11am: The Itty Biddies
12:05pm: P for Puppets presents: “One, Two, Tres”
1pm: Rolie Polie Guacamole
2:05pm: Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band
3:10pm: Still Saffire
4:15pm: The Mini Max Players

Watchtower to Fund Brooklyn Bridge Park

By Tobey, 3 August, 2011, No Comment

Back in March, we ran a post about the funding for Brooklyn Bridge Park–and lack there of. The fight for building more housing in the well-used park has been on-going, with some factions hoping for none and some banking on more to pay for further construction and upkeep. Of course, like Congress bickering over the debt ceiling, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. This week, a deal was made that would promise fewer luxury condos inside the park’s outlines. According to the Brooklyn Paper,

State Sen. Daniel Squadron (D–Brooklyn Heights) and Assemblywoman Joan Millman (D–Carroll Gardens) accepted a slightly smaller luxury building on John Street in DUMBO in exchange for a Bloomberg Administration flip-flop to allow future tax revenues from the 30 properties owned by the tax-exempt Watchtower Bible and Tract Society to fund the park if those buildings are sold and return to the tax rolls.

If all those buildings are sold, then we won’t have any more condos at Pier 6 and they’ll have more revenue to move ahead with building up the other piers. But, those properties (on which the Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t currently pay taxes, by the way) don’t go on the market until 2014. Oh well, looks like it’s going to be a while before we see our floating pool . Maybe it won’t be so hot next summer. Not.

Buccaneers Take Over Red Hook Ikea Park

By Tobey, 26 July, 2011, No Comment

Pirates are coming to Ikea, and it’s not for the Swedish meatballs. This Saturday, 30 July, the Mobile Urban Nature Center & Micro-Maritime Museum will be taking over Ikea’s Erie Basin Park in Red Hook for its summer Treasure Cove Pirates Fest. Expect music, theater, maritime exhibits, pirate cannon fire, crafts and prizes for the best pirate costume. Festivities begin at 11am and run through 5pm. Let’s do a little “not so hot please” dance and hope for a few degrees less on that thermometer come weekend.

Bikes Get Home on Carroll Gardens Street

By Tobey, 22 July, 2011, No Comment

image of bike parking on Portland, OR via Brooklyn Paper

If you’ve ever tried to make a left hand turn onto Smith St. from Sackett St., you understand how nosing your car past the stop sign is about the only way to make sure you don’t get clipped by an overzealous car or truck. And if you ride a bike, you know how the nose of those cars can make this a dangerous corner to navigate. So, in its infinite wisdom, the city has decided to kill two birds with one stone. According to the Brooklyn Paper, eight U-shaped bike racks will replace a two-space no-standing zone, which will make visibility better for cars and riding safer for bikers. Of course, it does seem a stoplight would do the trick just as well, if not better (cause there won’t be as many bikes parked there in winter time, one suspects), but kudos for some ingenuity. Look for the racks to be built by end of summer.

City of Water Day Festival Hits Brooklyn

By Tobey, 15 July, 2011, No Comment

We’re surrounded by water in NYC. And though I still think the city has a ways to go before it utilizes the waterfront to its fullest (oh how we love ye Barcelona), it’s nice to see local government making an effort with this weekend’s City of Water Day Festival. Sponsored by the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, an alliance of more than 550 waterfront stakeholders, the family-friendly event takes place this Saturday 16 July, 10am to 4pm, at Governor’s Island and Brooklyn Bridge Park. Here’s a calendar of free events fyi:
On Pier 1
11:00am – 4:00pm: Free boating
Free kayaking with Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse. Children under 18 must have an adult present. No reservations necessary, first come first serve.
On Pier 5
11:00am: Kayak Demonstration
Members of QajaqUSA and Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse will demonstrate a variety of rolling techniques that were developed to recover from various situations that seal and walrus hunters encountered such as injured hands and arms, loss of a paddle and entanglement in harpoon lines.
On Pier 6
11:00am – 2:00pm: Water-themed art projects
Explore boats and water-themed arts and crafts project with Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Playground Associates.
12:00pm – 2:00pm: Try to catch a fish and watch a squid dissection
Make your own amazing casting machine from a recycled soda can (bring your own if possible) and use it to try and catch a fish. While your line is out, watch a big squid dissection and learn how it attacks prey and defends itself. Led by Master Angler Bill Fink and Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy staff.
11:00am – 5:00pm: Tug and Barge tours
Participate in dockside tours of the 1907 tugboat Pegasus and the Waterfront Museum’s 1914 Lehigh Valley Barge #79.
1:00pm, 2:30pm, 4:00pm: Jeff Newell’s New-Trad Quartet
Enjoy three river music sets performed live from the Waterfront Museum Barge.
Governor’s Island, mainly on the north side of the island in Nolan Park
Waterfront Activity Fair with a theatre program, fishing, watershed demonstrations and an art program.
Children’s Activities including a critter touch tank, Colonial Dutch Apple Pressing & Crafts opportunities, relays & games and a slide.
Guided Historic Boat Tours around the harbor
Tango Dancing
Kayak Rolling Demonstration
Waterfront Bike Riding
Bouncy Castles
Activities by the Harbor School
Harbor Education Task Force Meeting
Live Music and Numerous Options for food

Cobble Hill’s PS 29 Gets a Schoolyard Makeover

By Tobey, 11 July, 2011, No Comment

I know this may be old news for many of you, but since I was away last week, it was a nice surprise to see the PS 29 schoolyard looking so shiny and new. With a brand new coat of paint outlining a track and some neat-o games, it was hard to even remember the days of the harrowing playground fire in May (the equipment looked new as well although there’s still some work to do before kids can have a go). A shed was also being set up near the gardens, which looks like a nice touch for our tiny farmers-in-training.

Water Balloons on Steroids

By Tobey, 29 June, 2011, No Comment

KAOS Nemesis Wrist Launcher-for the children

Don’t know about you, but water balloons are an obsession in this household. If I want happy children, I’ve got to have a few in my pocket when we head anywhere with access to a sink or drinking fountain (ie: every single playground in Bococa). Sometimes, they even bring them home and put them in the fridge to “save for tomorrow.” Uh HUH.
But what if I told you I found a little gadget that makes water ballooning even more fun? Yes, I said MORE FUN. The KAOS Nemesis Wrist Launcher by Imperial Toy is just that. Made of lowly plastic, it kind of looks like a mini-jai alai stick, but can launch water balloons over 100 feet. And man, it’s got precision. Just a flick of the wrist and even the dog won’t be safe. You can pick it up at Target for $15 and it comes with 50 balloons to start with.

Bark Hot Dogs Takes to the Roof at Pier 6

By Tobey, 24 June, 2011, No Comment

In May, we reported on the opening of gourmet hot dog joint Bark Hot Dogs on Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Now, the Park Slope-based foodie haven is expanding to a rooftop terrace in the very same area. Not only can you enjoy wieners and burgers, including a cheddar brat and veggie dog, sides include potato chips, baked beans and home-made cole slaw. Also count on beverages like beer, wine, soda, cold-brewed iced coffee and iced tea–with a Finger Lakes Riesling and California Zinfandel from Gotham Project Wines and Sixpoint Bark Red Ale all on tap, as well as all four of Sixpoint’s newly released Tallboy Cans.
I’m thinking classic hot dog with cucumber relish and habanero hot sauce, a glass of Zinfandel and sunset over the skyline of lower Manhattan. Anyone?

UPDATE: This Sunday, 26 June, you’ll also be able to grab kosher falafel sandwiches and platters, fresh cut fries and delectable dipping sauces from Porto’s, also at Pier 6. Open Sundays and holidays through Labor Day. Also, Bark is only taking cash right now, so better stop at the ATM before you head over.

Huge DUMBO Stoop Sale

By Tobey, 17 June, 2011, No Comment

Looking for something to do this weekend? This super-sized stoop sale is not to be missed. Organized by the DUMBO Improvement District, the DUMBO Parents Organization and Half Pint Citizens, this community sale takes place this Saturday, 18 June, at The Archway under the Manhattan Bridge. With hipsters and YUPPIEs abound, this ain’t your momma’s second hand sale. DJ’s from the Halcyon will be spinning all day to keep you entertained and a dance party will begin at 2pm with DJ Kai. Runs from 11am to 4pm.