Recently, I realized my days of heading to the ballet, opera, symphony, etc. have dwindled significantly. Chalk it up to parenthood or laziness, but my cultural barometer has been hovering at about two percent. So it was with great happiness I noticed Vertical Player Repertory’s new opera, playing right here in Gowanus 8 to 16 July. The Cobble Hill-based company will perform Francesco Cavalli’s 17th century comedy La Calisto under the stars in the gritty courtyard of a 19th century factory building, home of the interdisciplinary gallery and reading room Proteus Gowanus (534 Union St. at Nevins St.).
Performances are scheduled for Friday 8 July, Sunday 10 July, Thursday 14 July, and Saturday 16 July, with rain dates on Saturday 9 July, Monday 11 July, Friday 15 July and Sunday 17 July. All shows are at 8pm and tickets are $30, available here, or by calling 800-838-3006. So you can get your culture on without hailing a cab.
BococaLand
Archive for June, 2011
Opera in Gowanus
Taking a Dip, Brooklyn Style
Cooling down isn’t easy in the city. So why not head to one of the NYC pools, now open for business from 11am to 7pm, (closed between 3 and 4 to clean). Our local options are the Sol Goldman Pool, Red Hook, Bay and Henry Streets and Double D Pool, Gowanus, Douglass and Nevins St. which almost closed due to lack of funding last summer.
The Red Hook option is a little cleaner and larger, but Double D has a kiddie pool for the little ones. And remember, if you want to wear a shirt in the water, it’s gotta be plain white. No colors allowed. Flip flops and hats are ok, but not much else. That means no flotation devices for children, and no balls or buckets or toys. And most importantly, bring a lock because you can’t take your wallet and you don’t want to leave it in the locker room. Trust me. For a more comprehensive Brooklyn overview of the public pools, check out this Brooklyn-Based tip sheet.
Water Balloons on Steroids
KAOS Nemesis Wrist Launcher-for the children
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.
Now That School Is Done: Summer Fun
A parent’s summer in South Brooklyn means a lot of hot playgrounds, sprinklers and finding some activities to keep the kids busy. So here are just a few things to check out as we head into July. More to come as we get it.
Pop into the New York Transit Museum Thursday afternoons this summer (7 July to 18 Aug) for a trip back in time with a performer on one of the museum’s vintage subway or elevated train cars. Each week a different costumed character brings transit history to life from 1:30 to 2pm.
Beginning 2 July, head to Prospect Park Saturdays at 1pm and 3pm to join one of Macy’s Fishing Clinics. The free program offers kids fishing instruction and an introduction to aquatic ecology, featuring recreational fishing, fishing safety, and fish-friendly techniques. To join in the fun, meet at the Audubon Center at the Boathouse (just inside the Lincoln Road/Ocean Ave. entrance to the Park). And not to worry, all fishing at Prospect Park is “catch and release” only. For more info, all (718) 287-3400, ext. 303.
The summer afternoon acting workshop at Young Actors Workshop will run from 5 to 15 July at Christ Church, Cobble Hill, corner of Clinton and Kane Sts. Variety is the key with a mixture of improv work, theater games, and rehearsal of a play to be determined. Recommended for ages 9 to 13, it goes from 3pm to 5pm and will cost $275.
And tipping their hats to the adults, Char No. 4 at 196 Smith St. is offering a Wed. night special with your choice of a fried oyster or fried shrimp po’boy dressed and served with a bag of Zapp’s and an Abita Resoration Pale Ale for $19 (Starting 6 July). Begins at 6pm and can be ordered at the bar or in the dining area.
Family Dental Practice Coming to Henry Street
new family dentist coming to Henry Street in Cobble Hill
Summer Arts at Pierrepont Playground
Looking for some educational programs for the kids? A Summer Arts Program will be conducted by the Micro Museum of Cobble Hill at Pierrepont Playground, beginning Tuesday, 5 July. The programs are funded by individual contributions to the Playground Committee, as well as generous annual contributions from the Brooklyn Heights Association, and best of all, it won’t cost a thing. From the mailing list: We will offer Science and Movement classes on Mondays from 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm and Creative Arts classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am – noon. These programs are recommended for children aged 4 and up. All classes are held at Pierrepont Playground. A parent or guardian must be present at all times.
Bark Hot Dogs Takes to the Roof at Pier 6
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.
Return of the Jedi-Screening at Carroll Park
Here’s yet another great way to watch a classic film in open air. Friends of Carroll Park are bringing us the last installment of the Star Wars saga this Friday night at 8pm, in front of the Robert Acito Park House. Whether it’s your umpteenth time watching Luke and his fa-thah duke it out or your kids are seeing it for the very first time, you can enjoy Return of the Jedi in all it’s Ewokian glory with a picnic and a few brewskies. There’s no charge, but donations to Friends of Carroll Park will be accepted.
New Preschool in Carroll Gardens
If you didn’t already know, the preschools in Bococa are bursting. Finding a space for your pre-kindergarten child for a few hours a week sometimes resembles applying to Harvard–with phone calls, referrals, loads of paperwork, essays and lots of begging. So it’s nice to see a new face in the crowd. Little Brooklyn Preschool is the brainchild of a PS 58 mom who’s decided to go back to work close to home. In fact, the school is on the bottom level of her brownstone. The school will open for business this fall and is now accepting applications on a first come, first serve basis (you don’t even have to send in a picture or financials!), with the submission date as the level of priority. You can choose from two, three or five mornings a week and find the tuition and application process here.
So what can expect from this home-y preschool? Here’s what they told Bococaland, “Little Brooklyn Play School, owned and operated by a local mother with a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education, is a new home-based playschool opening this fall in Carroll Gardens for 3 and 4 year olds. We offer a child driven, play based, exploratory curriculum where children will engage with high quality open ended materials to re-create their world and imagine new ones. The schedule for a typical day has a basic framework to provide the children with a stable routine, but it is flexible to adapt to the rhythms and natural energy of the children. We encourage children to explore materials and subjects over extended periods of time in multiple ways through play, experimentation, observation, discussion, construction, and art.”
To avoid over-crowding, a maximum of six children will be enrolled per session. Want to get in on the action? Open Houses are scheduled for this upcoming Friday, 24 June from 10am to noon and Monday, 27 June from 6pm to 8pm. To RSVP, please email kate@littlebrooklynplayschool.com or call 718-596-6955 (or just show up!). Private tours can also be arranged.
Columbia St. Italian: the Anti-Frankies Spuntino
Finally made it to Casa Di Campagna, the new rustic Italian restaurant on the corner of Kane and Columbia St. Here you’ll find abundant wood paneling and plastic flower arrangements, but pretense has been left to those other Italian guys on lower Court St. Welcome classic Italian food, handshakes at the door and 1970′s South Brooklyn accents. We sat at a large table in the back room on Father’s Day and I was never worried that my kids loud(ish) voices were bothering anyone. This service is casual and friendly–perfect for family dining. Plus, there was plenty of air conditioning–though a garden is also available for those who want to dine al fresco.
The menu is old-school, with apps like antipasto, baked clams, and salads featuring fresh mozzarella, beans and tuna. First courses includeg linguini & clams (red or white), bolognese, primavera and a rich porcini risotto. Mains are HUGE, so unless you want to be eating it for days of leftovers, think about splitting the veal or chicken Marsala, piccata, francese or parmigiana, shrimp fra diavolo or shrimp scampi. A kids menu is available, but we ordered a side of rice balls and split a main pasta for them–which I believe they enjoyed more than a plate of frozen chicken fingers with french fries. They also loved the free order of garlic bread sticks with dipping sauce we got with our bread before dinner.
Prices aren’t exactly low, but they fit in the neighborhood just fine. And a frothing pint of Peroni from tap was a nice start to the meal. So come by and say hello. Wear shorts, come early or late, and get ready for real deal Italian grub. Promise, you’ll never wait three hours for a table.
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