I had to work late last night and after I ran some errands it was nearly 8pm. I really wanted to go to the public safety town hall meeting, but it wasn't in the cards. Did you go? Leave a comment, or email me your synopsis at clintonhillblog-at-gmail-dot-com.
I hosted a Brooklyn Blogger Meetup at Frank White in January, and it was lovely! They're offering a Holiday Event discount for booking early. This just in from them: receive 20% discount off space rental @ frank white for your holiday/special event if booked by october 20, 2008.
frank white is a perfect location for private/intimate special events up to 200 guests with indoor/outdoor space.
birthdays, baby/bridal showers, engagement party, bar/bat mitzvah, going away, private brunch/dinner, film screening, photo/video shoot, listening party, etc....
corporate events (reception, meetings, etc.) have included: reebok, ciroc, baccarat/brooklyn fashion week, audi, dream home, vp records, clinton hill blog, etc.
for availability/rate info:
frank white 718.622.0840936 atlantic avenue @ st. james brooklyn, ny 11238 --------------------
A great chance to get an update on the state of crime in the neighborhood and to speak with officers from the 88th precinct! Here's hoping the meeting will be civil and productive.
PACC is sponsoring an interesting event just south of us next week, focusing on the role a community can play in democracy and action. A very interesting topic for our time in history.
Pratt Area Community Council
hosts Gabriel Thompson, Author of Calling All Radicals:
How Grassroots Organizers Can Save Our Democracy.
The event will take place on Oct. 6th at 6 p.m. at the
Restaurant Flatbush Farm on 74th St. Marks Ave., in Brooklyn
The Pratt Area Community Council (PACC), one of the most active not-for-profits in Brooklyn, which prioritizes low and medium income housing issues, is hosting a book reading by author and former PACC community organizer, Gabriel Thompson. Mr. Thompson was the Director of Organizing at PACC from 2002 to 2004. Mr. Thompson will be reading excerpts from his book Calling All Radicals and signing copies afterwards.
“Calling All Radicals is a marvelous book, which is both instructive and inspiring. If taken to heart by the coming generation, it could have a profound effect on the history of this country.” - Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States.
"Vivid and engaging, full of concrete stories about what it means to build democracy from the ground up." - Paul Loeb, author of Soul of a Citizen and The Impossible Will Take a Little While
About PACC (Prattarea.org):
PACC is known for Housing Development and Property Management. Our Home Services program encourages homeownership through a wide range of products and services. PACC offers workshops, access to lenders, mortgage and down-payment grant packages, foreclosure prevention counseling, outreach and education about predatory lenders, financial education workshops and counseling for debt management and savings plans. PACC also mobilizes residents and develop community leaders to confront broader concerns like the lack of affordable housing, gentrification, and displacement. PACC is the central hub that links low income tenants in the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and Northwest Bedford Stuyvesant with community organizing skills, leadership development, and direct services. We organize and provide ongoing support to more than 30 tenant associations every year. PACC’s staff responded to more than 700 tenant inquiries just last year. Nearly 200 of those inquiries were evictions related to the displacement pressures that low-income tenants are experiencing throughout our neighborhoods. PACC takes a long-term approach to resolving tenant and community problems. Over the past year, PACC worked in 59 neighborhood buildings and with 625 tenants to form tenant associations and block associations and to build new community gardens.
About the Book:
Forty-seven million Americans without healthcare. Soaring economic inequality. Environmental racism. Slumlords and sweatshop owners. Every year, students leave high school and college eager to tackle the crises facing the United States. But how, exactly, does one go about building social justice movements and strengthening our democracy?
Calling All Radicals argues that we can reclaim our democracy in the old fashioned way through grassroots organizing. Beyond campaign sound bites and the occasional election, democracy is about focusing on the development of leaders, taking collective action, and building power among groups usually ignored and abused. In essence, organizers are democracy "scouts" who recruit formerly inactive, sometimes cynical people to play their part in our unfolding democratic experiment.
Using the organizing activities of the author as a backdrop, Calling All Radicals examines the practice, philosophy and history or organizing, with interviews from veteran activists and chronicles of successful campaigns like a group of inner-city teens who help push through a groundbreaking anti-lead poisoning law and immigrants who force hospitals to provide life-saving translation services.
With inspiring stories, resources to connect readers with employment and training opportunities, and real-world advice, Calling All Radicals is the perfect book for anyone interested in stepping into the world of organizing and activism. For more information, and to read an excerpt of the book, go to www.callingallradicals.org.
The event is free and light refreshments will be served. Please call 718-522-2613 ext. 28 to RSVP or send an email letter to Sujatha_Snyder@prattarea.org.
This looks amazing, and a great way to see many of Bed-Stuy's unique community gardens! Also a great excuse to ride your bike around the area.
This October, Crown Heights North Association, Inc. is hosting its 2nd Annual House Tour on Sat. Oct 4, 2008. Opening ceremonies will begin at 11:15 a.m. in front of St. Gregory’s R.C.C. School at 991 St. Johns Pl. between New York and Brooklyn Avenues. Self-guided tours will start at noon and end by 5 p.m. The tour is preceded by a free homebuyer’s workshop with info on mortgages, avoiding predatory loans, and financing, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Attendees will have a once yearly opportunity to enter and view some of Brooklyn’s finest residential and sacred architecture. Among the homes this year, we are featuring a Romanesque Revival mansion restored from ruin, a period perfect Renaissance Revival limestone, a thoroughly modern townhouse, as well as homes with enviably large, landscaped gardens. We are also highlighting our newly renovated Children’s Museum, designed by world class architect Rafael Vign*oly, three remarkable houses of worship, and our entire neighborhood of architecturally significant free standing houses, row houses, apartment buildings and churches that have been praised by the Landmarks Commission as some of the finest in New York City.
The recent designation of the Crown Heights North Historic District - Phase 1, has sparked enormous interest in Crown Heights North, not only for its history, but for its housing stock and business opportunities. As Brooklyn real estate values skyrocket, the beauty of this neighborhood, and its local attractions such as the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, the world famous West Indian Day Parade, as well as the close proximity of the Brooklyn Museum, Botanical Gardens, Prospect Park, and convenient public transportation, have attracted more and more people to the area.
Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the Tour.
The Crown Heights North Association, Inc. (CHNA) is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.
Sara and Meredith
-- Blue Bass Vintage Clothing 431 DeKalb Ave (enter on Classon) 347.750.8935
This First Friday will feature my photography! Mostly of the neighborhood, with a few more favorites thrown in. Hope you can make it!
RePOP is pleased to announce our next First Friday art exhibition featuring the photography of Robin Lester.
Robin is the critically acclaimed author of the Clinton Hill Blog and her work is an incredible expose of the neighborhood she documents.
"I'm continuously awed by the things I walk past daily -- their shapes, colors, varied meanings. My camera helps me freeze these places in time, allowing me to reflect on the brightness and beauty right in front of our faces in every day life. Most of the images in this collection are of things I've noticed in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, my home for the last four years. Others have been taken while traveling to new and exciting places. Every moment is an adventure if you're looking through the right lens."
RePop 68 Washington Ave. bt Flushing and Park
I heard about the potential plans to open a bookstore in the 'hood months ago. Now, a local advocacy group is working with BK Library Power Up winner Jennifer Stockton Bagnulo to make this happen here!
FORT GREENE INDIE BOOKSTORE INITIATIVE
Press Contact: Steve Sachs, fortgreeneshopping@gmail.com
Bookstore Entrepreneur Plans a Store in Fort Greene; Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative to host Bookstore Kickoff Event on September 16
Last year the Fort Greene Association's retail committee surveyed 380 locals about their shopping preferences. 75 percent of respondents (281) cited bookstores as a category in which they wanted more choices.
To meet this need, the Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative (FGIBI) embarked on a campaign to find an independent bookstore. After months of talking with Brooklyn-based bookstores, the group met Jessica Stockton Bagnulo, a Brooklyn entrepreneur who won the 2007 Brooklyn Public Library PowerUp! Competition for her business plan to open a bookstore in Fort Greene.
To raise community awareness and rally support for Jessica's independent bookstore, FGIBI is hosting an event in Fort Greene at the Cumberland Greene (237 Cumberland Ave) on September 16, 2008 from 7pm to 9pm. The event will feature local Brooklyn authors. Complimentary beer, wine and hors d'oeuvres from local businesses will also be served. RSVP required; email rsvp_fortgreeneindie@hotmail.com to be added to the guest list.
About the Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative
The Fort Green Indie Bookstore Initiative (FGIBI) is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that seeks to attract small business owners to Fort Greene to open a bookstore and other stores in response to the community's needs. The group also encourages current retailers to open new businesses locally and seeks to help local residents open their own businesses.
To contact the Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative, e-mail fortgreeneshopping@gmail.com.
About Jessica Stockton Bagnulo
Jessica has worked in New York City independent bookstores for the past eight years, and is currently the events and publicity coordinator at McNally Jackson Books in Manhattan. She is active in numerous book industry organizations and is often called upon to speak and write about independent bookselling. Her business plan for an independent bookstore in Brooklyn won the grand prize in the 2007 Brooklyn Public Library PowerUp! business plan competition in January 2008. She lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and blogs at www.abookstoreinbrooklyn.blogspot.com.
To contact Jessica Stockton Bagnulo, e-mail booknerdnyc@earthlink.net.
Whoops- one more post! Just received this email, and TA is a really great organization! My name is Oksana and I am a members of the Transportation Alternatives Brooklyn Committee. We have a ride this Saturday that starts close to Clinton Hill (in Fort Greene Park). If it’s not against your blog’s protocol, would you be able to put a word out on the Clinton Hill Blog about the Transportation Alternatives Brooklyn Committee bike ride?
Transportation Alternatives Brooklyn Committee Parks Ride When: Sunday, 8/17; 10.30am Where: Fort Greene Park, at Dekalb Ave and Cumberland Street
The Brooklyn Committee is hosting its first ride in a series of Brooklyn exploratory rides. We will start out in Fort Greene Park, and ride through some of Brooklyn's historic green spaces. We will make a quick lunch stop and end up at the Yard in Gowanus for after ride drinks. Come out to meet other committee members and find out what we do.
Thank you!
The new Brooklyn Urban Arts Market will take place every other Sunday (until Sept. 21) on Myrtle between Emerson and Hall. There'll be vendors, live music, DJs and seemingly cool people. If this is going to be anything like the Afro-Punk festival (the event is organized by Afro-Punk, BAM and MARP), it's going to be mad cool. MARP is also doing drawings to win a shopping spree on Myrtle!
Here are some related links with more info:
Yeah, it's a little late. But better late than never, and it's a gorgeous day outside! (My excuse for slacking? Friday was my 30th birthday.) DJs, food, demonstrations, fun up on Clinton Ave:
AFRO-PUNK BLOCK PARTY Sun, July 13, 12—8pm (Clinton Avenue between Myrtle and Willoughby)
The 4th Annual Afro Punk Festival parties its way to a close…on Clinton Avenue
Afro Punk, BAM and MARP have come together again to organize the 2nd annual Afro Punk Block Party, bringing the best underground local artists and artisans, tasty treats from local food favorites, and family-friendly activities directly to Fort Greene and Clinton Hill for an all-day, all-out neighborhood celebration! Not the usual street fair, there’s enough in store to entertain all day. Make sure you find time to check it out, this is definitely an event not to miss!
Here’s just a sample of what you can expect:
Live Music all day
Kudu, J*Davey, The Carps, The Caesarz , DJ Rich Medina, The Dustbin Brothers
Family-friendly fun
- DIY T-shirt screen printing is back by popular demand! The folks from Afro Punk will help kids make a statement by offering a quick screen-printing lesson. (All day)
- Local artist Derick Cross will also be on hand for free facepainting (1pm-6pm)
- Healthy Kids Van – NYC Public Advocate’s office is brining their mobile Community Healthcare Unit, complete with important information for parents and games for kids. Come spin their giant prize wheel and get free stuff like hats and waterbottles! (12pm – 3pm)
- Brooklyn Botanical Garden will be on site to teach us how to compost. Put those food scraps to good use and reduce your garbage footprint! (12pm-5pm)
- BikeNY is offering free bike safety classes for youth! More information and registration (not required) is available here. Please bring your own bike if you’d like to participate! (1pm-4pm)
Local Dish
Homemade sweet treats by The Bakery (their peach cobbler is one of our favorites!)
Tamboril puts a Nuevo Latino twist on Latin favorites
Restaurant New Orleans brings their delicious crab cakes and vegetarian red beans
DIY Fashion, Accessories and Artisan Merchandise
Buy direct from some of the hottest, edgiest DIY designers! We’ll have clothing and accessories for adults and kids alike. Or, beautify yourself with stuff from some of the neighborhood’s best all-natural product-makers, like Karen’s Body Beautiful.
For more info, visit www.afropunk.com and www.bam.org.
Just a reminder to all neighbors that the Tillie's community mural will be ready for contributions tomorrow! Come by and paint a dot on where you live!
Mural artist Ellie Balk has started her own blog documenting the process. Click to check it out.
A great opportunity to debate and discuss, right here in our neighborhood.
From Fort Greene PUPS: On Saturday, June 7, PUPS will hold its annual Spring/Summer Coffee and Membership Drive in Fort Greene Park during off leash hours (between 8AM-9AM). We'll have Gorilla coffee and pastries to help you wake up and get your weekend started. We need two volunteers to help sign up new members! With so many people and dogs moving into the area it's very important that we reach out to newcomers and keep our membership current.
Fort Greene PUPS and bringing your dog to the park for off leash hours are great ways to meet people in the neighborhood!! Plus, membership is FREE! Definitely stop by with your pup this coming weekend.
Did anyone go to the Tamboril event last night? I didn't have time to post, but they screened episodes of Sex and the City and offered fun, reduced-price drinks. Today, the Polish Bar of Brooklyn is offering a ton of fun in the shop:
Why is the movie so important to Clinton Hill? Because Steve and Miranda live here!!!
I feel like I've been living under a rock having not known about this. Over at Embora Studios (Fulton near Washington), the Brooklyn Indie House offers independent film makers a chance to show their short or long films and allows them a percentage of box office sales. In return, they must be available for post-screening Q&A. The MySpace site says they have 15 large screens and seating for up to 100! Currently showing is If You Succeed, a documentary following the trials and tribulations in marriage and business of the couple who once owned the wildly popular Liquors restaurant on DeKalb Ave in Fort Greene (now Kif) and Bodegas, a great neighborhood space formerly on Fulton and Clinton (now home to Autour du Monde). When the businesses closed, rumors swirled about the couple's financial difficulties and their crazed landlord on DeKalb.
I am psyched to hear about both the movie house AND this particular film. I went to Liquors for brunch on my very first outing in this area, and Bodegas opened up around the time I moved to Clinton Hill. Bodegas especially has a permanent place in my heart, as I often frequented it on snowy days when I was visiting the neighborhood waiting to close on my place more than four years ago. I'm glad someone took the time to preserve the story (which focuses on the process of opening Bodegas).
Here's a flier and more info on the showtimes:
May 23 at 8pm May 24 at 8pm May 30 at 8pm May 31 at 10pm June 6 at 10pm June 7 at 10pm
The film follows restaurateurs Christian Dennery and Dolores Lagdameo as they risk everything to expand from their original restaurant, Liquors on DeKalb Avenue, to a second bistro called Bodegas in a much bigger storefront at the corner of Clinton and Fulton. Throughout this intimate verite documentary, the main characters struggle with the question of what success really means, and what they're willing to do to attain it.
We're very excited to finally screen this version of the film - complete with new ending and an amazing original score by Greg Karnilaw - for a New York audience! Come and check out this film about a very local subject: the screening venue is only two blocks from the storefront where much of the film is set.
More info on BIH from the NYT here!
Hakeem Jeffries steps in to help out the G train. He seems to be pretty involved in area affairs, which is a good thing.
(Hi, all -- I'm in Portland, OR this week for a last-minute post grad vaca, but will be back soon! Apologies for posts going up at random times this week...) A new comedy event just kicked off at Jelani Lounge on Waverly Ave between Fulton and Atlantic:
Tasty cocktails and good laughs sounds like a good combo to me. Plus, we need to patronize our local businesses on and near Fulton more than ever! Will the construction ever be finished?!
Clinton Hill Blog published from 2006 - 2010. Please enjoy these archives - a love letter to the neighborhood.
