Gowanus Lounge: Serving Brooklyn

Upcoming: Sunday Forum on Term Limits

October 18th, 2008 · Comments Off on Upcoming: Sunday Forum on Term Limits

Tomorrow is day when those who oppose the idea of repealing term limits in general or who specifically don’t want to see Michael Bloomberg become Putin on the Hudson or Marty Markowitz become Borough President for Life can have some time to hoot and holler. The forum takes place tomorrow, Sunday, October 19th, at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church from 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM, Council Members Tish James, Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum and Rep. Anthony Weiner will co-sponsor the public forum. All have self-interest in not seeing the instant repeal of term limits, but sometimes, not being 1,000 percent selfless does not make one wrong.

Comments Off on Upcoming: Sunday Forum on Term LimitsTags: Politics · Term Limits · Uncategorized

Red Hook Film Fest Post-Mortem: Checkin’ Out the Winners

October 18th, 2008 · Comments Off on Red Hook Film Fest Post-Mortem: Checkin’ Out the Winners

Our friend, GL Contributor and Red Hook Film Festival Director Nathan Kensinger emails with word about the 2008 Red Hook Film Festival, which appears to have turned out to be quite the success, with attendance exceeding everyone’s expectations. As sponsors of the fest, we’re thrilled to hear that. Nate writes about the fest and about a couple of utterly fascinating films that won awards. (Hint: get us the screeners on DVD, stat.) Here’s the official word:

The Red Hook International Film Festival went really well. We had a much bigger turnout then we ever expected, and the films got a great response. The judges decided to award Best Documentary to “Twilight Becomes Night” – directed by Virginie-Alvine Perrette – a film about the death of mom & pop stores in New York City, which brought several people in the audience to tears. Best Fiction Film went to Sam Fleischner’s “Cave Flower” – which was shot in a canoe on the Gowanus Canal, onboard the F-Train, in the Batcave on the canal’s edge, on a Park Slope stoop, and in the Red Hook Container Port…. the judges felt that both films were perfect for the festival. We also awarded “Spirit of Red Hook” Awards to 4 other films, including one about the Red Hook Community Farm and one about a Fort Greene beekeeper. The complete awards are up on our myspace page.Going to be even better in 2009.

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Brooklinks: Saturday Wrapup Edition

October 18th, 2008 · Comments Off on Brooklinks: Saturday Wrapup Edition

QM2 Passing The Statue Of Liberty.
[Photo courtesy of woodendesigner/fGL Flickr Pool]

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

Brooklyn Housing Prices Down 30,000 from Last Year [Daily News]
Race, Class, and Gentrification in Ditmas Park [Brownstoner]
Hook’s 160 Imlay Finally Gets OK After Five Years [Curbed]
Crane collapses in Bushwick [News 12 BK]
H&M coming to the Fulton Mall [Brooklyn Paper]
Fire ravages Bushwick building, leaves 30 people homeless [News 12 BK]
Coffee Shop in progress on Court street [A Brooklyn Life]
Big Issues hit “Little Pakistan” [Aljazeera]
–Compiled by Lauren Fairbanks

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GL Day Ender: Red Hook & Bushwick CUE Tours

October 17th, 2008 · Comments Off on GL Day Ender: Red Hook & Bushwick CUE Tours

Here’s one of our regular posts from the Center for the Urban Environment about the great tours they run:

Last Exit to Brooklyn: Red Hook. Saturday, October 18 – 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm – with Dan Wiley. Red Hook’s tough reputation has been depicted in literature, plays and movies. This isolated neighborhood of low-rise houses and public housing has seen successive waves of newcomers. Come join us as we explore Red Hook’s past and potential. Our walk includes a peek at the home port for NY Water Taxi, the Waterfront Museum & Showboat Barge, an urban farm, the new IKEA, the Container Port, and even soccer and an outdoor Central American food market. We’ll also see piers with artisans, fishing and a commanding view of the harbor and Lady Liberty. Take the F/G train to Smith-9th Street station. Meet at street level.

Or, how about Sunday in Bushwick?

Comments Off on GL Day Ender: Red Hook & Bushwick CUE ToursTags: CUE · CUE Tours · GL Day Ender · Uncategorized

Upcoming: Be Like a Kid for a Good Cause @ Greenwood Playground

October 17th, 2008 · Comments Off on Upcoming: Be Like a Kid for a Good Cause @ Greenwood Playground

Grab your kid, or find a friend’s kid to babysit, and head on down to Greenwood Playground this Saturday (10/18) for Autumn Chill. Starting at 11AM, be a kid again with live music by Dan Schorr and the Good Boys, a story time with Ms. Cindy (who doesn’t love a great story?!), Ribbons, Bells and Shaky Eggs… arts and crafts, paint a pumpkin… get yourself painted! (Why not? Huh?) The best part is there’s a raffle for various prizes donated by some great local businesses! So come on and play one last weekend before it gets too cold to want to be outside so much. If you can’t make it, but want to donate go here to get to their paypal account, especially if you take advantage of the playground.

Comments Off on Upcoming: Be Like a Kid for a Good Cause @ Greenwood PlaygroundTags: Windsor Terrace

Upcoming: GL Concert Calendar

October 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Concert Calendar Banner

And, now, a selective look at some music choices available to you this weekend:

Friday 10/17/08
The Bell House: Obamarama!!!: Party & Silent Auction to benefit Barack Obama. Featuring: Anti-Pop Consortium, Dirty On Purpose, Dragons of Zynth, Takka Takka, and more. Hosted by Eugene Mirman. 7:00pm, $25 donation (although if you feel like donating more, I imagine it is strongly encouraged)

Saturday 10/18/08
Music Hall of Williamsburg: The Spinto band, Frightened Rabbit (Indie) 9:00pm, $15

Sunday 10/19/08
Barbes: Stephane Wrembel presenta The Django Experiment (Gypsy Jazz) 9:00pm, $10

Southpaw: Stones Throw Records Presents: Roc C, IMAKEMADBEATS as The Transcontinental, OH NO the Disrupt, as well as many others. An excellent opportunity to check out some of the west coast’s finest in underground hip-hop, funk, R&B, and far out sounds. 8:00pm, $15
Dan Bennis

→ 1 CommentTags: GL Concert Calendar

PM IDT Energy Scam Update: They’re Back!!!

October 17th, 2008 · 22 Comments

Early today, we had the story of a scam being run by sub-contractors working for IDT Energy in Brooklyn that are switching people from Con Ed without their knowledge. Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights just emailed to say they are out working Greenwood Heights again this very minute:

If it could not be more IRONIC, an women in her 20’s in a black suit, glasses and blond hair just rang our bell wearing an IDT ENERGY LANYARD! Here’s the conversation:
Rep: “Hi, I work for Con Edison, I’d like to see a copy of your Con Ed bill, I think I can save you some money”
Me: “Miss, if you are not off my property in 10 seconds, i am calling the cops!”
Rep: “Whoa, what’s your problem, I’ll leave.”
Me: “My problem is that last rep from your company who came to my house fraudulently singed me up for IDT Energy against my will.”
Rep: “I don’t know anything about that, I’m new.” [she begins to enter my neighbors front gate]
Me: “Miss, if you do not get off this block immediately, I am calling the cops. Everyone in this neighborhood is aware of your scam. Don’t even bother.”
Rep: “You can’t tell me what to f*cking do!”
Me: “Again, if I see you in this neighborhood today or again, I am calling the cops. I suggest you let your employer know the scam is up.”
Rep: “Whatever mister… don’t tell me what to f*cking do.” [she quickly walks down the block]

Yeah, there’s more…

→ 22 CommentsTags: Greenwood Heights

Finding Patches of Green in Brooklyn: Go to Bed-Stuy

October 17th, 2008 · 2 Comments


[Photo courtesy of Jacksonville Carb…/Picassa]

New York Magazine has released its October issue Home Design: The Country in the City. In contrast to the economic worries that are plaguing the nation’s thoughts, Home Design takes a look at ‘the good life’ of verdant roof top Edens, idyllic spatial gardens and stylish modern dwellings. Oh, to dream the impossible dream. Nevertheless, in the concrete and iron landscape that is our fair city it is nice to notice the touches of green: “Whether we’re the gardeners or merely the grateful recipients, being around green makes us slow down a moment and think about something other than global Sturm und Drang.” So where can a regular Joe find a green space to call his own?

At a community garden, of course. Click here to find out where.

→ 2 CommentsTags: Bed-Stuy

In Conclusion, Strollers are Welcome (in the Slope)

October 17th, 2008 · Comments Off on In Conclusion, Strollers are Welcome (in the Slope)

Nowhere does it say no strollers
[Photo courtesy of June Carter Cash Peep/GL Flickr Pool]

This photo comes from Seventh Avenue in Park Slope courtesy of valued GL Flickr Pool contributor June Carter Cash Peep. She writes: “Nowhere does it say no strollers.” Yes, Ms. Carter Cash Peep, you are correct.

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Bklink: Save the Kitties, or Good Karma, Part II

October 17th, 2008 · Comments Off on Bklink: Save the Kitties, or Good Karma, Part II

link-asterisk.jpgThere’s a heartbreaking story about 64 kitties rounded up in a “city animal control sweep” in Bay Ridge that have ended up in two city shelters and could be killed if they aren’t adopted. City shelters are full and they’re killing cats to make space for potential new victims. “There is an emergency stray cat adoption event is set for this Saturday (October 18) from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at Happy Pets, 9818 Fourth Avenue, in partnership with In Our Hands Rescue, K9 Kastle. Happy Pets will have 15 foster cats up for adoption.” Do want to love a cat and save its life? Go!!!!–Brooklyn Eagle

Comments Off on Bklink: Save the Kitties, or Good Karma, Part IITags: Animals

Cobble Hill Bus Seating Gets (Temporarily) Comfy

October 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Forget the city’s new CEMUSA bus shelters and street furniture. GL Correspondent JP Pagan was waiting for the B71 in Cobble Hill and found that seating had gone way upscale. He writes, “It was a nice place to sit and wait for the B71. Sadly, as I write this, someone is carrying it away…” Easy come. Easy go. No word on whether the B71 showed on schedule.

→ 1 CommentTags: Cobble Hill · Uncategorized

No Meep Meep: Time Warner Cable/Internet Outage Near GAP

October 17th, 2008 · 4 Comments

From the Park Slope Parents email list comes word of an “outage” in Time Warner cable and internet service somewhere around Grand Army Plaza that’s gone on for weeks. Here it is:

Is anyone else near Grand Army Plaza having issues with Time Warner Cable Service? Our phone, internet and cable have been out most days for the past 3 weeks. They sent out a tech who said that it was an issue that is outside of our building. Every time they schedule an appointment to do whatever it is they need to do outside, there is supposedly a service interruption in the neighborhood which prevents them from fixing the problem. So… we have been without phone, internet and cable for most of the past 3 weeks. Anyone else having an issue? Any suggestions on how to get this resolved?

There are also reports of “excessive problems” in parts of Clinton Hill. Our suggestion is find a new provider, but, until Fios comes along that’s pretty hard. Uh…meep, meep.

→ 4 CommentsTags: Park Slope

Good Karma Time: Feral Kitties Need Help Today!

October 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

He’s Not Feral, He’s My Kittie. (Or could be!) Calling all cat lovers! A volunteer at Slope Street Cats sent us this Craigslist link to posting about seven cute kitties they caught that need good foster homes. Don’t be scared. Feral only means wild, not evil. So, as it is National Feral Cat Day, spread the love and foster a kitty. If you can’t take a cat, but want to do your part, how about a t-shirt? Check the CL post for more info. It says that if the kitties don’t find someone to foster them by today, they’ll have to be released back to the tough streets of Brooklyn. Help turn a cautious creature into a loving and adoptable pet. You can email lulumomma@gmail.com for more info.

→ 1 CommentTags: Animals

Brooklinks: Friday Old Burg Car Edition

October 17th, 2008 · Comments Off on Brooklinks: Friday Old Burg Car Edition


Oh, Word: There’s a Facebook Group for People Who Grew Up in the Slope [NYT]
Broooklyn Home Prices are Getting a Little Cheaper [NYDN]
The Prospect Hill Water Tower, Circa 1893 [Ephemeral NY]
Will the MTA Deliver on its Big Projects? Don’t Hold Your Breath. [2nd Ave Sagas]
Check Out the Waterfront by Domino this Sunday [WGPA]
Fancy Boar’s Head Deli on Court St. is Opening Soon [Lost City]
Fedders Friday Celebrates Sunset Park’s Many Wonders [NY Shitty]
Chronicling Gentrification in Ditmas Park [DP Blog]

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Bklink: A Charity Mustache?

October 17th, 2008 · Comments Off on Bklink: A Charity Mustache?

link-asterisk.jpg“I’ve never been down with facial hair combined with my husband Anson’s face. But that’s about to change citizens! Our neighbor Mitch casually asked Anson recently if he’d be interested in being part of Mustaches for Kids. The name sounds a little creepy but Mitch isn’t creepy so we kept on listening. Turns out he is involved with the New York City Chapter (based in Brooklyn) of a nationwide organization by the name of Mustaches for Kids….a volunteer-run organization founded way back in 1999 to celebrate the joys of Mustaches and charity. Its formula is a simple one: brave Growers sprout totally sweet Mustaches for four weeks during the holiday season. They subject themselves to public humiliation and private doubt, while raising money for children’s charities. It’s kind of like getting pledges to run a marathon, without exertion, cramping or dehydration. Call it a facial hair marathon.” There’s a lot more to it and we urge giving it a read.–Pistols & Popcorn

Comments Off on Bklink: A Charity Mustache?Tags: Shortlink

Energy Company Scammers Working South Brooklyn?

October 17th, 2008 · 15 Comments

Here’s a fairly scuzzy interesting story that came to us via Concerned Citizens of Greenwood Heights about a scam-like situation going on to get people to unwittingly transfer the electrical supplier from Con Edison to a company called IDT Energy. What’s at issue is what appears to be very slimy, if not unethical and possibly illegal ways of getting people to switch providers by sub-contracted sales people. It’s a long story but worth reading if only to avoid becoming a victim:

I wanted to alert our fellow community groups and neighbors of a scam perpetrated…by folks posing to work for/represent IDT Energy. Several weeks ago we had an early evening door-to-door visit form 3rd party reps from IDT Energy wanting to explain and “help us” save money on our Con Edison and National Grid bills by allowing IDT Energy to be the supplier. They explained that they were already technically the supplier and that by “going direct” we’d shave $20+ dollars off each of our bills each month. The slick presentation by the trio sounded good…too good to be true.

During the discussion, the main presenter asked to see a copy of our Con Ed bill to specifically point out (and circle, which he did) the charges that would disappear if IDT Energy was selected by us as the alternative provider. What we saw, but did not dawn on us until later, was that one of the “helpers” was copying down all of our Con Ed information. After seeing him do this, we inquired why they need our info? Since we “did not need to sign up today if we wished not to,” they had our info to mail us more information on IDT Energy. We concluded the conversation that we’d go to to IDT Energy’s website for more info, await something in the mail and make our own educated decision at a later date. We noticed the trio canvasing 23rd Street and I assume other blocks in the area…and I’m sure beyond.

And, then, we found out the ass hat had made us IDT customers…

→ 15 CommentsTags: Greenwood Heights · Uncategorized

New Affordable Housing Idea Debuts in Park Slope

October 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Okay, it’s a Sukkot tent, and we were having some fun with the headline, but the way things have been going, one does wonder if tent living is going to be the wave of the future. In any case, correspondent Max Casey, who’s got a nose for this kind of thing, writes:

Someone set up a sukkot tent on Garfield between 6th and 7th. There’s a sign on it inviting people to go on the lawn and look inside it, but that you have to keep it clean. Have no idea whether the people who set it up are eating meals inside it.

It’s totally untrue that it’s part of a new urban affordable housing plan that John McCain will unveil next week to try to sway wavering moderate-income city residents.

→ 1 CommentTags: Park Slope

Community Outrage Mounts About Slope’s Elite Berkeley Carroll School

October 17th, 2008 · 8 Comments

Let’s just say this has not been the best week or so for the Berkley Carroll School in Park Slope. Let’s, in fact, say that unless its administration, staff and the privileged families sending their children there are impervious to public relations nightmares, scorn and charges of hypocrisy and mistreatment of employees, that it’s been a week from a Steven King novel. First, there was the news that it was closing its Child Care Center. Then, came the horrendous and maddening story of the school’s efforts to evict a senior citizen from her rent-controlled apartment of 50 years so that it could expand its space. The school charges up to $29,000 a year in tuition so that some of Brooklyn’s wealthiest residents can send their chidlren to school there. There are a couple of emails full of outrage at the Park Slope institution making the rounds via the Park Slope Parent group. First, there is this one about the school’s “appalling” behavior regarding the closure of the Child Care Center:

My wife said it best: “Just imagine if any of us was subject to the following scenario: asked to come to the basement during our work day, told that our school was being closed, and that our job of 10+ years was terminated, and that our employer would “try to work something out for us,” that we had no severance, no employment, nothing, and then sent back to attend to our responsibilities.”

This is what the head of school and board of trustees have told the 18 staff members and two substitutes at the Child Care Center. The school has displaced 54 families, cashing their tuition checks knowing full well that they would not live up to their obligations to allow their two and three-year old kids to finish at the school.

This school has violated the most sacred commitment it could make to its students and faculty. A higher institution of learning has thrown their students and faculty out, without offering any of them anything concrete. And most of all it has violated its public trust…long after this set of students are gone, the school has not reached out to the community in an effort to transition the center to new leadership. I’m appalled.

Another email says what they’re doing is “shameful”

→ 8 CommentsTags: Park Slope · Uncategorized

Gary Mirabelle Photo Du Jour: Fall Night, Windsor Terrace

October 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment


[Photo courtesy of Gary Mirabelle/Mirabelle Studio]

Fall has come to the streets of Windsor Terrace, which are always captured beautifully by GL Contributing Photographer Gary Mirabelle.

→ 1 CommentTags: Photo du Jour · Windsor Terrace

Upcoming: It’s Red Hook Harvest Festival Time!

October 17th, 2008 · Comments Off on Upcoming: It’s Red Hook Harvest Festival Time!

It’s that time of year again, and this year they have garlic! Added Value is hosting the annual Red Hook Harvest Festival at the ever popular Red Hook Community Farm. Come on down this Saturday, October 18th for fresh produce, farm tours, pumpkin carving, face painting, cooking demos (we hope tasting samples too!), live music and poetry. Gates open at 10:30AM and there will be fun to be had until 5PM. So head on down for some fresh veggies and some fun. The farm is located on Columbia Street just off Beard St. It’s right across the street from a new landmark that’s impossible to miss: Ikea.
Vaduz Uvunt

(GL Note: We were there last year and loved it. It’s a truly wonderful event. For pics of last year’s festivities, click here.)

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Bklink: Obama Political Director is a Sloper

October 17th, 2008 · 1 Comment

link-asterisk.jpgIt turns out presidential nominee Barack Obama’s National Political Director is Park Slope’s own Patrick Gaspard. In fact, he’s a “PS 321 and MS 51 dad and a familiar face on Seventh Avenue.” Mr. Gaspard says that “This election offers a clear choice between John McCain’s agenda for continuing the failed policies of George W. Bush, and Barack Obama’s vision for change…I am proud to be a part of this campaign, and I look forward to working to bring people together across the country to elect Barack Obama.”–OTBKB

→ 1 CommentTags: Park Slope · Shortlink

In the Pool: Scary Burg Real Estate

October 17th, 2008 · Comments Off on In the Pool: Scary Burg Real Estate

N 6th real estate is scary
[Photo courtesy of mikkeme/GL Flickr Pool]

Oh, it’s definitely bad timing for a real estate firm, in this case one on N. 6 Street in Williamsburg, to be putting up scary Halloween stuff. But in their defense they do it every year. It’s acquired extra special meaning in 08, though.

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GL Day Ender: Ride a Bicycle Built for Two

October 16th, 2008 · Comments Off on GL Day Ender: Ride a Bicycle Built for Two

What with yellow leaves flying in the wind, school kids sporting new backpacks, and TV reporters developing sudden obsessions with Ohio, it’s hard to deny fall is here. Nights are cool and some rain is coming, but Sunday looks to be clear. You can’t bottle sunlight, so enjoy it while it lasts. One option: take your sweetie out for a spin in the park or all the way to Coney Island on a bicycle built for two. Bristen’s Eatery (on Franklin at St Johns) rents this spiffy yellow number for $10 an hour or $46 for the day. No promises that your Daisy Bell will give the answer you’re hoping for, but hey, faint heart never won fair lady.
Jean Kahler

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Bklink: Breaking Greenpoint Improvement Alert

October 16th, 2008 · Comments Off on Bklink: Breaking Greenpoint Improvement Alert

link-asterisk.jpgThis is not a lie. Greenpoint is getting a beer spa. What one might ask, is that? It’s a spa where one can get both a brewski and a massage. Yup. Per the dude working on the place, “Greenpoint has enough bars. We’re selling boutique beers. You’ll be able to knock back a beer and get a nice massage.” As long they’ve got Chimay Reserve, we’re down with it.–New York Shitty

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Fun Vid: Check Out This Weekend’s Panamanian Parade in Crown Heights

October 16th, 2008 · Comments Off on Fun Vid: Check Out This Weekend’s Panamanian Parade in Crown Heights

Here’s a little taste of the weekend’s Panamanian Parade in Crown Heights. Fun stuff.

Comments Off on Fun Vid: Check Out This Weekend’s Panamanian Parade in Crown HeightsTags: Crown Heights