I’ve been a member of the Dodge YMCA for about three years and am admittedly dependent on its Childwatch service. A babysitting program which allows you to drop your kids off for $5 an hour and work out, swim, play basketball–or even take a break in the sauna or steamroom–it’s been a lifesaver for me as I’ve tried my darndest to lose that baby weight and stay in shape. But as winter wraps its chilly fingers around the neighborhood and I try to find things for my kids to do inside, I have begged the Y to extend the Childwatch hours into the afternoon (right now, it’s open 9-2pm, Mon-Sat for kids six months to five years old).
So here’s my plea: if you’d like to have at least one day of afternoon Childwatch hours this winter, let them know. When I asked about it, I was told by the manager that she would need at least six people to drop a note in the comments box up by membership services on the second floor in order to make it happen. It would also allow anyone who has multiple children to take at least one of them to a swimming or sports class.
So do a mom a solid and let’s get some afternoon hours fired up. I have some holiday weight to take off!
BococaLand
Archive for ‘Neighborhood News’
Plea To Dodge YMCA Parents
Red Hook Winery Wines at Brooklyn Wine Exchange
Want something different for your holiday table this year? Head over to the Brooklyn Wine Exchange on Court Street and pick up a few bottles of Red Hook Winery’s first vintage. According to The Brooklyn Paper, owner Mark Snyder wants to keep operations small for this tiny winery that could, but it sounds like a great opportunity to support a business we want to stay afloat in the hood. The red, white and rose bottles can also be found at Henry’s End in Brooklyn Heights.
Brooklyn Dog Runners
Love your pooch but can’t be home to exercise him every day? A new small business called Brooklyn Dog Runners could be your salvation. Made up of two young women who love to run (and can’t find jobs in this horrific economic climate), Runners is based in Williamsburg, but will pick up your dog(s) in the Bococa neighborhood and run with them for 30 or 45 minute periods. According to co-owner Mandy McGowen, she and her partner Julie Totino will also go out to Park Slope for this service as well as the Greenpoint area.
The ladies share a love of both pets and long-distance running. Hence, a business they hope will help dogs get their yayas out as well as promote physical activity. Mandy worked for two years running dogs on the Upper East Side, so she knows from pampered pups.
Want to give them a try? Regular runs are from 10am- 4pm, 30 minutes for $30, 45 minutes for $40. Off Hour and Holiday Runs will cost you $37 for 30 minutes, $47 for 45 minutes. Discounts for monthly contracts are available and you’ll also get a break for multiple dogs. Check it out at http://brooklyndogrunners.com/site/Welcome.html or give them a yell at 949-439-6990.
Big Picture: Brooklyn Bridge Park Comes to Life
A huge piece on the park was published Friday in the Daily News. In addition to mentioning the opening of Section 1A at Fulton Street next month, it gives a fabulously in-depth view of what we can expect–including how the designers worked with sound engineers to reduce the noise from the BQE (though I guess the pollution is here to stay). It also describes the playground that will open at Atlantic Ave. Check out the whole story here.
Beads and Wine
No doubt, beads are fun. But add some booze and you’ve got a real party. Take it from Brooklyn Bead Box at 244 Smith Street, which will be hosting a holiday part on Thursday, 17 December from 5 to 9pm. Not only can you make some home-made jewelry or wine shanks, but you can also sip some vino AND get 20 percent off everything.
Brooklyn Faces “Transit Apocalypse”
…or that’s what the lovable muckrakers at the Brooklyn Paper are calling it. After all the blah-blah-blah from Markowitz and others, the article goes into the specifics. The Z train will cease to exist, as will a bunch of bus routes. Student? No more half-price for you! And then this: “Reduced frequency of service along the A, D, F, G, N, Q, J, and M trains.” So it’s a big subway snot sandwich, and all of Brooklyn is going to have to take a bite.
Wait a minute, did they say “reduced frequency” for the G? That would be, what, a reduction from “seldom” to “almost never”?
What’s in Store
The old Blockbuster Video space at 288 Court St. will soon be home to a new Union Market — “Opening December 2009″ says the Union Market website. Cobble Hill Blog notes signs of life and wonders whether the store just might debut before New Year’s Eve after all.
We’re wondering where Union Market will fit in the already crowded Bococa grocery matrix. Let us know what you think in the Bococaland Forums.
Papel New York: Pretty Paper Rules
Stopped in new boutique Papel New York last night, at 225 Court Street, to buy a birthday card for a friend and was duly surprised at how daw-gone adorable this store is. Lots of beautifully printed cards, wrapping paper and little gifts make it one of those places you could hang out and browse for hours (though for $4 a card, this ain’t CVS). And according to the very nice lady at the counter, personalized invites and other paper products will soon be available in the back room. Stay tuned for more info and don’t miss the special cards and paper for the holidays.
Carolers Hit Bococa
I’m not sure when I last had carol singers at my door. Maybe childhood? But here in Bococa, holiday mania is at its peak and happy, singing folks will be roaming the neighborhood in packs bringing good cheer. Joyful crooners will be at 155 Dean Street on 20 December at 7pm, at The Elliot Room at 124 Henry Street on 17 December at 6:30 and up and down Montague Street on 16 December at 12:15pm and again at 5:30pm. Check here for more information.
Here Comes the F Express. There Goes the F Express
It is our train, and we love to hate it. The F will take you some pretty cool places — the Lower East Side, West 4th Street, Coney Island — but damn it is slow. It’s crowded. It makes too many stops. How sick are we of hearing about the zippy Q from our Park Slope friends? Fine, your train is better than ours. But what if… what if the F went express?
Don’t get excited. An express F train, possibly coming in 2013, would be express in that it would go straight from Jay St. to 4th Avenue, skipping the Bergen, Carroll and Smith-9th Street stations. As a consolation prize, inbound trains caught at those three stations would be less crowded. As far as we can tell, plans for the express don’t involve skipping any stops in Manhattan, which is what makes that confounded Q so fleet.
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