Archive for ‘Neighborhood News’

Charter School Coming To Cobble Hill: Yea or Nay?

By Tobey, 1 November, 2011, 1 Comment

image via Daily News

I’ve been reading about this for quite a while but wanted to see how it progressed before I reported anything on it. Eva Moskowitz, Success Charter Network CEO, is planning on bringing one of her infamous charter schools to Cobble Hill, and parents aren’t sure what to think. Using meetings and many, many, flyers to educate the community, the Success Academy Cobble Hill is on course to open in 2012, according to the website, along with schools in Bed-Stuy and Williamsburg. Here’s what the official press release says, “Both Success Academy Cobble Hill and Success Academy Williamsburg will begin with a kindergarten and first grade comprised of roughly 190 children and grow by one grade each year until the schools serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade…More than 1,500 residents in District 15 where Success Academy Cobble Hill will be located signed a petition requesting that a Success Academy come to the neighborhood.”
Having not attended any of the meetings so far, I don’t have first hand experience on the thoughts and feelings of neighborhood parents, but according to GothamSchools, protestors are coming out of the woodwork.

“Moskowitz is holding an informational session tomorrow [that was 29 Oct] to detail her plans for a new charter school that is likely to open in the affluent Cobble Hill neighborhood next year. Most of tomorrow’s protesters are parents from the neighborhood, who say they are planning to attend the meeting to tell Moskowitz that the Success Charter Network is not wanted there.Opposition is also starting to rise from another group: School leaders in the Baltic Street building where the city has proposed to house the new school. The principals say they are nervous that the charter school’s presence could derail their attempts to improve their schools.”

However, according to the Daily News, here’s why Moskowitz believes this neighborhood is perfect for one of her controversial schools.

“You’ve got a lot of schools here that aren’t working for a lot of families,” Moskowitz told the group last Wednesday night. “We see our schools as identifying talent and nurturing that talent.” Moskowitz said she became interested in putting a charter school in the Brownstone neighborhood because friends told her good neighborhood public schools are overcrowded. City Education Department officials plan to place the charter school in building on Baltic St. “So I go to neighborhoods where there is need and where there is space,” she told the group at Kash’s home. “And there’s a fair amount of space in multiple buildings in this neighborhood.”

What do you think? Would you welcome a Charter in the hood? If not, what puts you off? Would love to hear your comments and thoughts.

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)

Hello Atlantic Antic

By Tobey, 28 September, 2011, No Comment

It’s that time again. Put on your comfy shoes, tie your children to your waist and head on out to the Atlantic Antic, the quintessential BoCoCa fall event. A little late this year, the Antic will take place this Sunday, 2 October on (yes) Atlantic Ave from Hicks to 4th Ave. Billed as the largest street fair in NYC, it is comprised of local and national vendors intertwined with restaurants and boutiques, as well as music stages and cultural performances. Kid-friendly activities include pony rides, face-painting, storytelling, bouncy castles and tours of vintage buses at the Transit Museum. Come hungry for local delicacies and lots of beer–the fair runs from noon to 6pm come rain or shine. Here’s a schedule of events in case you want to do some planning. See you there (or at least pass you in the crowd).

Columbia Street Fair Set for Saturday

By Tobey, 8 September, 2011, No Comment

Though we were totally bummed to see the short-lived 5 Burro Cafe already closed down at 127 Columbia St., we do love the waterfront area. And now that it’s a gateway to Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6, it’s even more popular. Interested in exploring the area a little more? Take time this Saturday, 10 September, to visit the Columbia Street Waterfront Fall Festival to be held from 11am to 6 pm. The Carroll Gardens Association is sponsoring the annual event, which stretches from the intersections of DeGraw to Union on Columbia St. and from the intersections of Columbia to Hicks on Union St., and will include a visit from the North Shore Animal League Adoption Trailer, live music, rides, games, and shopping.

View from Around Bococa

By Tobey, 29 August, 2011, No Comment

Tree down on Aitken and Clinton

Here’s a few pictures from around the hood. Doesn’t look too bad, and the kids were loving all the branches on the ground in Cobble Hill Park! Again, feel free to send in anything you’d like to share.

Image via Business Insider: BBP gets a little overflow yesterday

145 Hicks St. gets an 80-year old elm right in the kisser. Image via Scott Alexander on Facebook

As reader Adrian wrote when he sent in this pic: I guess it's like Rahm Emanuel said:"You never want a serious crisis to go to waste." Right?

Another tree down on Warren St. and Henry St.

Cobble Hill Park this morning

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.

Fondue Joint to Open in Carroll Gardens

By Tobey, 1 August, 2011, No Comment

It may be the middle of summer, but come cooler weather, you’ll inevitably be ready to move from cold beer and mojitos to well-mixed cocktails and comfort food. To help you prepare for this seasonal change, the second location of Gallic-leaning East Village cocktail and fondue den Bourgeois Pig is preparing for an October grand opening. According to Grub Street, the former red-velvet clad Calpurnia Wine Bar (287 Court at First Place) will be transformed into a Euro-style lounge focusing on bitters. Expect 40 seats inside, 20 seats outside, and a “daily-changing menu with rotating offerings that might include a lobster bisque or a dark-chocolate-bacon-beer fondue.” Of course, until then (and after), you can still get your fondue fix at JakeWalk (282 Smith St.), like the gooey 5 yr. cheddar & cave-aged Swiss with apples,
salami & bread for two, just $16.

Pier 6 Bark Hot Dogs Now Open Thursdays Through Summer

By Tobey, 28 July, 2011, No Comment

Last week I thought I’d stop in at the Bark Hot Dog rooftop deck at Pier 6 for some grub after Slide Mountain (and maybe a cheeky beer). Then I realized it’s only open on weekends. Wah, wah, waaaaaah. But today, an email came in from the Bark crew alerting me to new Thursday evening hours (starting tonight)–though only through the summer. Here’s an updated menu in case you want a preview. And remember, wine on tap people!

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.