Herewith, we bring back our daily Brookyule holiday feature from last year of photos showing the festive nature (and sometimes irony) of the season in Brooklyn. We’ll be using the Tis the Season heading for more informational posts. If you have any Brooklyn holiday photos you’d like to contribute to the effort send them to thegowanuslounge (at) gmail (dot) com. If you have a holiday-related event or information let us know at the same email address. We’ll be happy to post it.

We saw this on Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg yesterday. If you can give Lula a loving home, all the info is below.

The official lighting of the greatly diminished Grand Army Plaza display (which is what is left of last year’s wonderful Prospect Park in Lights decorations) is happening tonight. The festivities start at 5:30 PM. Per the official release: “Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg invites you to celebrate the holiday season in Brooklyn and to turn on the lights! Festive live entertainment and hot chocolate will make the season bright. Rain or shine, the lights will go on. Please join us.” Well, at least, the remaining lights will go on.

We got an email yesterday about a fun sounding holiday event at an historic church in Red Hook. It’s a “Traditional Christmas Concert” on Sunday (12/9) at 3:00 PM at Visitation Church, which is located at Verona and Richards Street in Red Hook. The email says: “There will be lots of great traditional Christmas songs on a wonderful organ in this beautiful old church that was built to look like the hull of a ship. Should be magical!”

You don’t need us to tell you that the first (very light) snow of the season fell in Brooklyn over night and that it is snowing again as we are posting this. However, here are few photos from Prospect Park and vicinity early this morning.

The Park Slope Snowflake Celebration planning effort and publicity team are both in full gear. We got an email last night from Rebeccah Walsh, one of the organizers that said, “The Snowflake Celebration is A-Flurry!” and it had details about the status of the December 13 event in which Seventh Avenue merchants will be staying open until 10PM and offering sales, refreshments and other reasons to go shopping in the nabe. The email said in part:

We already have almost 100 merchants signed up, with more emailing in confirmation by the hour. Businesses are agreeing to stay open until 10pm on Thursday, December 13th and many are offering discounts, promotions or in-store refreshments. People are really getting into the spirit — the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music is doing 2 hours of concerts in front of their building, two groups of carolers are signed up to wander the avenues, and we’ve even tracked down some snow machines!!! Many restaurants and bars have tapped into the shop local feeling and signed on to do specials or complementary cocktails or desserts if clients show a receipt from another local merchant!! That’s the community spirit we are looking for!!

You can see yesterday’s full post here. Promotional materials from the Buy in Brooklyn Team are going out today. Did you see where they say “Snow Making Machines“?

It wasn’t easy deciding on this week’s Brooklyn Craigslist Missed Connection. We considered the one from dodgeball, because it was the first one we’ve seen concerning hitting someone in the head with a ball. We also thought about the one for the female on the subway with the Smiths tote bag, for obvious Morrissey reasons. Then, we came upon this one and knew that our CHOICE WAS MADE FOR US:

AT STURBUCKS IN PARKSLOP – m4w

I WAS WITH A FEMALE ( JUST A FRIEND ) WE WERE WAITING FOR OUR DRINKS AND YOU WAS WAITING ONLINE TO PUT YOUR ORDER , YOU LOOK AT ME A LOT , I DID TOO. IT WAS AROUND 2.30 PM TO 3PM ( I DON’T REMEMBER EXACTLY ) YOU’RE BLONDE , TALL WITH A BLONDE HAIR BUT LITTLE CURLY ,YOU WEAR A JEAN AND BLACK BOOT ( IT SEEM LIKE A BOOT ) YOU EVEN CAME NEXT TO ME TO FIX YOUR DRINK WHILE I WAS STIRING MY DRINK . THAN YOU GET IN THAT UPPER LEVEL LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO SIT. IF YOU DO REMEMBER ME , PLEASE CONTACT ME CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO YOU , I CAN’T FORGET YOU SINCE I SAW YOU.

We love a good “Park Slop” Missed Connection, particularly one that SCREAMS.

There are many holiday guides in the Brooklyn blog world this Christmas season. What we like best about them is that many offer up interesting gift-buying ideas and guidance about where one can buy locally. For instance, this latest one on Local Gifting Options.–Clinton Hill Blog

Yesterday, we posted about a some alternate side of the street parking ticket writing insanity in Park Slope, wherein (at least) an entire block of park cars was ticketed for following a practice that is pretty much followed by everyone. (Namely, double parking one’s car on the other side of the street during alternate side street cleaning times.) We didn’t know the street at the time, but it turns out the Great Ticket Writing Orgy of November ’07 took place on Eighth Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. $115 per hit. Ouch.

“Apart from a herd of auto repair shops and the occasional bodega, the thoroughfare was home to few businesses. Even if Fifth Avenue’s restaurant row had stretched all the way to the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, even if the Gowanus Canal had filled with gondolas, it would have been hard to imagine Fourth Avenue yielding to the pressures of gentrification.”–NYT

Some YouTube vids related to Greenpoint.

Brooklinks is a selection of Brooklyn-related information and images:

• Historic Bensonhurst Cemetery Needs Love [NYT]
• Dumbo Weekly Links [Dumbo NYC]
• Many Interesting Birds, etc. in Prospect Park [Brooklyn Bachelor]
• Real Estate “Steals” Available in Flatbush [NYT]
• More Excellent Bed-Stuy Subway Station Pics [Bed-Stuy Banana]
• Details on Decision Not to Demolish Underground Railroad House [NYDN]
• The Great Park Slope Umbrella Experiment Considered Further [NYT]
• Bay Ridge Victorian Lit Up [Bay Ridge Rover]
• Coney in Yellow and Gray [Park Slope Street Photography]
• Red Deli Goes Red Again [BK 11201]

Last night’s sunset as seen from East River State Park in Williamsburg.

“or make that ‘tries, as in gantries. They grow in Brooklyn and elsewhere ships get loaded, offloaded, and serviced. They exude sculptural magic.” Indeed, they do. Check out the pics.–Tugster

Once a week, we post some reader comments we’ve gotten during the previous week. Here is this week’s selection, with an emphasis on an issue that generated a bit of discussion:

Bklink: Do You Hear Boat Noises? “Most likely what you hear are the barges+tugs going up and down the Buttermilk Channel, which has heavy commercial traffic. These are warning signals for the most part, meant to avoid potential collisions under situations of restricted visibility and/or maneuverability as you would have in a Channel. Here’s how to decipher what goes on, so you can impress your friends as you sit at the Gowanus Yacht Club: if you hear one short blast it means one vessel is saying to another “wacth out, I am about to direct my course to port”. If you hear two short blasts, teh tug is saying “I’m going to starboard, hold you course”. But what you will hear more frequently is one prolonged balst, which means “watch out, I am operating under restricted visibility and/or maneuverability” (try and parallel dock while towing a 30,000 ton barge). Sometimes you’ll hear a powerful longish blast (4-5 secs or so)and that’s a ship leaving the dock, and you’ll hear that when the cruise ships leave the Red Hook Terminal. Dont you love us salty Carroll Gdnrs?” [Anonymous]

GL Analysis: In Ten Years, Will They Ask “How Did This Happen?”:

“Yes, ten years from now after a ‘terrorist’ blows up this NBA basketball arena we will only be able to say “If only we moved that entrance back 15 feet!” [Anonymous]

“That was the most ridiculous piece I’ve read. If you don’t want an arena say that. Urban environments mean that people gather densely. If we build everything so that it can’t be blown up by a truck New York will look like the Paramus Mall.” [Marc]

“This has to be the most craven use of terrorist hyperbole I’ve heard since the last time I watched a Bush news conference. If you object to the arena project, fine. But don’t wrap yourself in the flag and scream about terrorism. At best, you come across as a paranoid nut. At worst, you come across as the worst kind of deliberate fear-monger.” [Anonymous]

“‘wrap yourself in the flag?’ what on earth are you talking about. project critics, opponents, and supporters are asking the NYPD what impact their security and terrorism planning and precautions will have on the streets, street lanes and surroundings. That’s fearmongering and false patriortism?” [Anonymous]

“something is seriously wrong in Brooklyn when the lack of planning is called “fear mongering”….that seems like it was the attitude after the first World Trade Center attack as well…people wake up we are at war for Gosh sake…and we will be for years to come and to not plan for the safety of Brookynites when we have the chance with a NEW building is insane!!” [Anonymous]

Grand Street, Williamsburg

Here’s a vid posted on YouTube a couple of days ago of the Council of Brooklyn Neighborhoods press conference calling for an independent security analysis of the project.

[Photo courtesy of okalright/flickr]

Will SPLIT get its shit together? What is SPLIT, anyway? Well, whoever they are, they don’t give a, um, hoot about the illegal advertecture on the house at 72 Norman Avenue in Greenpoint.–New York Shitty

[Photo courtesy of fabian17/flickr]

This is what one calls an incredible sunset. You can see the full, short photoset by clicking here.

We enjoy the Carroll Gardens Democracy Wall at the Carroll Street subway station. It is part of the now well-known plaza at the Second Place exit that will be closed for construction of the controversial building at 360 Smith Street, which led to both the wall and the CORD neighborhood group. Dozens of message appear on the Democracy Wall at any give time, with the large murals usually being related to whatever issue is at hand in the neighborhood. The newest mural is aimed at City Council Member Bill de Blasio. The email that came with the photo said, in part, “It looks like an awful lot of people in Carroll Gardens are trying to ‘Wake up Bill!!’…They seem to be saying: Councilman, the clock is ticking on our beloved neighborhood (as we still know it) and you are STILL ASLEEP at the wheel…..!!” Some residents have lobbied the Council Member (and recently declared candidate for Borough President) to push for a moratorium on some development in advance of a neighborhood downzoning, which he supports. Us, we enjoy the wall regardless of specific content. Every neighborhood should have a busy spot where activists can put up murals, posters and fliers to communicate in a very grassroots way with their neighbors and elected officials about community issues.

We roll out our GL Holiday Gift Guide for the season with a focus on all the Brooklyn craft festivals today and tomorrow. This isn’t an exhaustive list, as there are many such events taking place around the borough. Just consider it a small tasting menu. The GL Holiday Gift Guide will be posted regularly between now and the holidays, and we’ll try to bring our own focus to the topic in addition to covering some familiar territory. We hope you enjoy it and, even better, find some useful things in one or more of the posts.

Here are some of the Saturday and Sunday craft festivals:

Today (12/1):
PS 39 is having a Winterful Craft Fair from 11AM-4PM at John Jay H.S., 7th ave and 5th St. There will be 50 vendors with “a wide range of crafts,” plus food and desserts from local spots and children’s arts and crafts all day. There’s a magic show from 11:30-12:15 and pics with Santa from 1-3PM.

The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture is having its Winter Festival on Prospect Park West in Park Slope from 10AM-4PM. They’re at 53 Prospect Park West and promise Fair Trade arts and crafts.

Brooklyn Friends School’s 28th Annual Holiday Craft Fair is taking
place from 10AM-5PM at 375 Pearl Street, which is near the Brooklyn Marriott. Look for ceramics, sweaters, scarves, musical instruments, jewelry and more. About 40 vendors are expected, plus there will be childcare and activities like a Moon Walk, face painting and performances.

Brooklyn Heights Montessori School Gift Fair 2007 is taking place from 10AM-4PM. The school is located at 185 Court Street and the selection will include jewelry, ceramics, children’s clothing and more.

The Brooklyn Artisan Holiday Gift Fair sponsored by the Fifth Avenue Committee will be going from 11AM-6PM. There will be gift items from local artists, music, sweets from Cousin John’s Bakery, Erica’s Rugelach & Baking Co., plus Hena Coffee and Two Boots. Also on hand will be Isabel Hill, the filmmaker behind the documentary “Brooklyn Matters.” Go to 621 DeGraw to find it.

The Clairware Holiday Craft Show will take place both today and tomorrow at 543 Union Avenue. It runs today from 10AM-6PM and tomorrow from 11AM-5PM.

Sunday (12/2):
The Hearts and Crafts Affair, “a network of young, bright and promising craft creators, will offer a selection of their latest work at Café Grumpy’s Greenpoint location (193 Meserole Avenue at Diamond Street) from noon to six pm.” Look for jewelry, paper goods, knit ware, confections, clothing, candles, journals, ceramics and drawings by 20 local independent artists and crafters.

The Brooklyn Historical Society is hosting the Fourth Annual New York Creates Holiday Crafts Festival. It runs from Noon-6PM, with additional days being December 6, 7, 8, 14, 15, 22 and 23. The Historical Society says, “Find something for everyone on your holiday gift list under one roof, including unique hand-made gifts by 25 juried Brooklyn and NYC craftartists. Every day will offer a new variety of wearable art, jewelry, accessories, and home gifts for women, children and men.” The Society is located at 128 Pierrepont Street at Clinton Street in Brooklyn Heights.

From the Park Slope Buy in Bklyn Campaign, which brought us those honor system yellow umbrellas, comes news of a Snowflake Celebration, a late night for Park Slope retailers on December 13. Rebeccah Welch, who is helping to organize the effort, told us that the entire effort has been put together by volunteers over the course of the last few weeks. In the meantime, the umbrella effort, about which GL had the first published report, continues getting coverage. Yesterday, Jake Mooney had an amusing item about it on the CityRoom site that had a lot of links to other honor system programs and his City Section story about it has already been posted. The Great Park Slope Umbrella Experiment is clearly one of those stories that touches many chords, particularly in its challenge to basic precepts that people will simply take umbrellas. (Although the experiment seems to be going well so far.) As a marketing tool, it has proven to be a big success both for the Civic Council and for the Buy in Bklyn effort. The poster for December 13 late shopping night is below.

In Park Slope, as in many other neighborhoods, double parking on side streets is an alternate side of the street parking day tradition. So much so that some neighborhood groups offer pre-printed notes one can display with one’s phone number in case the person blocked in needs to get out. On at least one unknown Park Slope street yesterday, the police went on a ticket blitz, per an email making the rounds via the Park Slope Parents group:

Today I did the usual double-park during the three-hour alternate side period. When I went out a half hour ago to move the car, I found a $115 ticket; the entire line of double-parked cars on the block seemed to have them.

We’re guessing there were many cases of elevated blood pressure on the streets where the traffic enforcement agents participated in the Double Parking Ticket Writing Orgy, although it would seem to indicate nothing more than the random nature of rule enforcement and the multiple agencies that can write tickets. We emailed the ticket victim to find out on which street those bright orange municipal gifts appeared and she hasn’t respond yet. If she does, we’ll update the post to note the location of the ticket blitz.

UPDATE: We now know that the Great Ticket Writing Blitz of the Last Day of November took place on Eighth Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, although the original ticket victim did not respond directly to our email.