There's a new group in town who are working towards getting the Fort Greene Park tennis courts renovated. They're also focused on providing active recreation for public health. We'll speak to them in depth in the next week or so, but in the meantime they're having a fundraiser tonight at General Greene:
I'm digging their logo.
Hey everyone, it’s Team LWT back with another installment of Lunchtime With Tillie. Sorry we missed you last week: Yours truly was a little slack on getting Baby T out of the house to eat. (Don’t worry; we had food in the house for her!) But since we didn’t get out and about, we decided to make up for that with a trip that brought multiple food places together under one roof, the Brooklyn Flea at 1 Hanson Place. I’ve been trying to arrange a trip there for the family for weeks now, but I usually do some freelance work on Saturdays a million miles away in Westchester County and by the time I have to start my trip by plane, train and automobile to get to the job, Tillie’s just waking up from her nap. But I was off this past Saturday, and my flea market mission was not to be denied!
So as soon as T woke up from her midmorning nap, I loaded her up in her stroller to go there, where Tillie’s mom was waiting for us. Tillie’s mom had been out all morning looking at wedding dresses (she’s getting married to a really awesome dude, I hear) and beat us to the place. We talked on my way there and she volunteered to hop in the line where they were serving pupusas. Since I had been saying for months—since the outdoor Flea days—that I wanted to try a pupusa, this was greatly appreciated.
After finally arriving there, we were all set to head downstairs, but there was a slight snag. As I mentioned a few sentences ago, I threw Tillie in the stroller to take her to the Flea. We have an Ergo carrier, but I had only worn it once at that point and I had NO idea how to put it on by myself in backpack mode: Parents out there, I’m sure you understand. Anyway, back to the snag; there was no elevator to get down to the food. No worries as I just carried her down, but it was a lot of stairs to deal with and sometimes it could be said I might have a wee bit of a lazy side.
We got down there and quickly found Tillie’s mom standing in line. Tillie was kind of lethargic on our way down to the Flea, but perked up some when she saw mommy! I un-strollered her and off she went into TM’s waiting arms, joining her to get the much-awaited pupusas.
But …
There were so many other options around and the pupusas didn’t look like all they were cracked up to be, so I decided to make the rounds. I know, so close, yet so far away. Right next to the Red Hook vendors was The Good Fork stand, which had pork and vegetable dumplings as well as gumbo. I thought dumplings would make a good food choice for Tillie, even though she had pupusas in her immediate future. But I figured why not just let her have a taste of everything; I’ll get some dumplings, too. And since I was on this Brooklyn Flea-food-melange kick …
Why not get a grilled cheese sandwich at Milk Truck? Tillie has a grilled cheese sandwich almost every morning, but not like these, with the aged gruyere and crispy bread. If she likes my little cheddar sandwiches I make for her on my Foreman Grill, she’ll love these! So I went over to place the order for a grilled cheese classic, and since it takes a few minutes for those to be prepared, I sauntered back to Good Fork and got some pork dumplings. As soon as they were done, I made my way back to Milk Truck just in time to pick up that cheesy goodness for the fam. I went out to join T and TM, who were sitting on the floor next to Sigmund’s Pretzel Stand. Tillie’s mom had the pupusas, I had the grilled cheese sandwich and dumplings, and Tillie?
She had other plans.
Remember when I said she was kind of lethargic on the way down? Well, she snapped back to her usual playful personality and really had no interest in eating. She wanted to spend most of her time wandering a few feet away from us then coming back. I think she was entertained by seeing all the people in one place, and she also had fun dancing to the music playing.
In between her dancing and running, she did grab a bite of dumpling and pupusa, but had nothing to do with the grilled cheese. I guess my sandwiches are her favorite after all! But, if I’m to be honest about it, Milk Truck has me beat hands-down.
After Tillie’s mom and I finished eating, we packed up the leftover pupusas for Tillie (which proved to be a good move as she ate them while we were walking around later on). We got her back in the stroller then made our way out of the basement, back to street level and headed out—all of us satisfied with the trip.
If you haven’t been to the Flea yet, which I would be shocked about, then you should go soon, for sure. I think there’s something to eat for everyone at good prices. I would say, though, if you’re bringing the kid, take the carrier because it can get pretty tight there. I know we’ll be back soon, this time with Tillie ready to eat because we still have to try the Connecticut lobster roll and fish tacos and spinach pie and Asia Dogs and …
When The Threading Place first opened, I admittedly made fun of the spelling errors on their sign. I did go in a few times, but found the employees to be high pressure and not-so-friendly. (One employee loudly told a woman getting her brows done that she REALLY needed her lip done, too. Even if it was true, no woman wants to hear that yelled out loud in front of strangers!) A neighbor of mine told me they changed owners awhile back, so I decided to stop in to check them out again. I was pleased to see there were a few people waiting and I got an amazing brow shaping- the best I've had in awhile.
If you haven't stopped in since 2007 (like me), you might want to check them out again.
The Threading Place 262 Vanderbilt Ave corner of DeKalb 718-622-0883
Recently, a friend of mine told me about a fundraiser she was working on to benefit the Willie May Rock Camp for Girls, a non-profit music program based in Fort Greene. "Rock Camp? In Fort Greene?" I thought. I chatted with Executive Director Karla Schickele about what they offer and about the upcoming benefit. 1. What exactly is the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls? Officially, it's a non-profit music and mentoring program that empowers girls and women through music education and activities that foster self-respect, leadership skills, creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Unofficially, it's the funnest summer day camp in New York City... and a brand-new arts education center in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill.
2. Who is the camp open to? What age groups? The camp is open to girls age 8 to 18. No musical experience necessary, and tuition is sliding scale.
3. How did the camp end up in Fort Greene? We were looking for a year-round home where we could have our office, store our music gear, and most importantly, have a practice space so we could make music during the year. Two of us on staff have toddlers who go to The Coop School, so we heard the school was looking for tenants in their new building on Irving Place, and the space turned out to be perfect.
4. How many programs are offered? In addition to the summer camp, we do Music Club, which is a weekly after school program for girls here in Fort Greene/Clinton Hill, a D.J. program at the Urban Assembly School of Music and Art, plus we offer lessons and practice space for youth bands.
5. What about grown-ups? Anything for grown up girls? Glad you asked! We do Ladies Rock Camp for adult women every summer, which is a long-weekend version of the summer camp -- instrument classes, band practice, and a big concert at the end. Wicked fun. And all the money goes to the scholarship fund of the summer camp, so it's a feel-good experience all around. We also do a weekly Ladies Jam drop-in session at our space that's open to all women! 6. Tell us about your upcoming fundraiser. Our annual ROCK N' ROLL AUCTION is next Tuesday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. at The Knitting Factory. The hilarious Murray Hill will emcee and serve as auctioneer, Kaki King will perform, Erin McKeown will write a love song on the spot for the highest bidder, and camper bands Saffire and The Awkward Turtles will play. We have amazing items to auction off, including local stuff like party space at Still Hip, kid stuff like Big Apple Circus tickets, and grown-up stuff like a beer party for 40 at the Brooklyn Brewery. We're also doing an ebay auction of hot items like a mic signed by Tori Amos and a guitar signed by Sheryl Crow. For more information, http://williemaerockcamp.org/auction.html 7. How long have you lived in the neighborhood? What brought you here? I've lived in Brooklyn since I was 3, but I moved to Fort Greene in 2005, five minutes after I met my partner Kate. Now we have two kids and we're still in the same one-bedroom. The neighborhood is powerful like that! 8. If you could change one thing about the neighborhood, what would it be and why? Now that we have a bookstore? Hmmm....a Westbeth-style living place for artists and (ahem) non-profit leaders, to make it possible for us to remain in the community.
9. What's your favorite local hangout? Bittersweet! and Outpost!
10. If you were a flavor of ice cream, what would you be and why? Well, I don't know, but my son Emmet and I were playing ice cream stand at playgroup at the Lafayette Church yesterday, and he offered me an imaginary cone with what really sounded like "Sticker Shock Chocolate." So that's my new favorite flavor.
***
Who wants to do grown up Rock Camp with me?!
Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls 87 Irving Place Brooklyn NY 11238 (347) 599-0716 www.williemaerockcamp.org ROCK N' ROLL AUCTION Tuesday, Feb. 9 The Knitting Factory with Murray Hill and Kaki King 361 Metropolitan Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11211
Noticed those green decals on the sidewalks in Fort Greene? The DOT and BAM are behind the project, aimed at helping people find their way to our local cultural institutions. I think they look pretty neat. Plus, I still get confused going to the Harvey theater. If only they could direct me to the best subway entrance for each line. It gets so confusing down there, with the Q, N, B, D at different platforms.
January's Artwork at Tillie's:
January 4 – February 6, 2010
Reception
Friday 1/8/10, 7 – 9 p.m.
Brooklyn-based artist David Macaluso achieved international recognition last year with his portraits of Barack Obama painted with used motor oil, a medium he’s been using since 2005. He regards this technique, one of many at his disposal, as a means of recycling while also serving as a metaphorical undercurrent in his work. The portraits prompted ExxonMobil to become a client. In October 2009 the "Barack Obama: Made in Motor Oil" portraits were published in a hardcover edition called Hope: A Collection of Obama Posters and Prints.
The artist states: “I regard my work as part of a vast and enigmatic evolutionary continuum, a verse in a powerful play. Each work I create, and the body of my work as a whole, seems guided by some overarching vision which is hard for me to define and is often fragmentary. My work rarely seems to fit neatly into any distinct category, but is more like an urge, one that is simultaneously constructive and deconstructive, pushing toward a deeper awareness.”
David Macaluso has studied at Hunter College, the New School, and Parsons School of Design. He has shown his work at the Athens Institute of Contemporary Art in Athens, Georgia; at the Deborah Martin Gallery in Los Angeles; and at Artists Space, the Paula Barr Gallery, and Art Gotham in Manhattan. He was featured in the Saatchi Gallery online and is a member of the Brooklyn Arts Council.
A customer of Fulton Street's dress shop, Michael Shane Bridal, is in need of a bone marrow match, and this Saturday the shop will hold an event for people willing to register for the bone marrow registry. Hopefully this young lady will find a donor locally. Apparently you don't even need to give a blood sample to determine if you are a match - just a swab with a q-tip on the inside of your cheek.
There’s only so much turkey one family can eat …
Good thing there’s Lunchtime With Tillie to break us away from it!
Hey again, everyone, it’s Van and Tillie, wishing you a belated Happy Thanksgiving. And we have a special return guest with us: She lives in Clinton Hill, thinks I need to eat more vegetables and loves Tillie more than anything. Give up? All right, I’ll tell: It’s Tillie’s mom! This time, the three of us went to 67 Burger on Lafayette and Fulton.
You’re all probably thinking, “Geez, Van eats more hamburgers than Wimpy.” (A little Popeye reference for you!) And it’s true, I do eat my fair share. But I want it to be on the record that I was not the guiding force behind us going there — it was all Tillie’s mom!
She wasn’t possessed by the spirit of the Hamburglar or anything: It was a practical decision. We had a big trip to the Prospect Park Zoo planned and we wanted to get something quick to eat on our way to the Q train. Plus, I had mentioned to Tillie’s mom before how a parenting blog in the neighborhood, Mommy for the Win, had made notice of a kids’ menu there, so we were in.
I was actually in only half-heartedly. This may sound blasphemous to some, but I’m not the biggest 67 Burger fan. I don’t know if my expectations are too high — like I want a place that specializes in burgers to make the best possible one imaginable — or what, but the food’s never really worked out for me. And I’ve tried it a few times, too.
Anyway, we got in and took a look at the menu. We were set with Tillie’s order, as recommended by Mommy FTW: a grilled cheese sandwich with sweet potato fries. And if you’ve read any LWT where I’m eating a burger, you know I went the bacon cheeseburger route. Tillie’s mom ordered a Cajun burger, with its mix of spices, and we got an order of seasoned curly fries to split.
The place was plenty spacious enough, but it’s good we got there when we did because it quickly filled up. We took our seats and a high chair was brought out for us. The first thing to arrive to the table was the seasoned curly fries, and we gave some to our fries-and-ketchup-loving baby, who was quite pleased with that. TM and I munched on the fries with Tillie, and here’s one of my first complaints about the food: When I hear “seasoned,” I’m thinking there’s going to be some kind of spicy dusting on the fries, like cayenne pepper or something. The only thing “seasoned” about them was that they were extra-salty. I guess salt’s a seasoning, but still, there’s other ones out there that can go on fries!
Tillie’s food came out right after that, and it was kind of cute to see her little sandwich and side combo on her own plate! Tillie’s mom cut it up and gave her a piece, but she didn’t seem that into it. It was really only when mom added the magic ingredient, ketchup, to the mix that she got into it. Personally, it wasn’t something I’d eat, but I guess with babies, you’ll see some weird combos coming along — as long as they eat it, it’s all good!
My burger and Tillie’s mom’s arrived simultaneously, and like Tillie’s grilled cheese sandwich, there was a LOT of cheese on mine, some of which I had to cut off. I didn’t mind, but when I bit into the burger, I was a little disappointed. It was the same thing that I’ve always encountered: kind of dry, a little salty (particularly the bacon), some weird aftertaste. I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t eat it, because I did. It just wasn’t that pleasurable burger-eating experience that I can find at so many other places around the neighborhood.
Tillie’s mom liked hers, though. She ordered it medium rare and said that usually when you order it elsewhere like that, it comes out medium. In between bites of her burger, she kept the Tillie food train running by continually adorning her fries and grilled cheese with ketchup. Tillie didn’t down all of the sandwich and fries, but enough to stuff her belly for some good old-fashioned animal viewing at the zoo! We packed her leftovers in a to-go box (I know: a leftover grilled cheese sandwich? That’s on Tillie’s mom, too!) and headed on our way.
So, as I stated earlier, I’m not the biggest fan of the food there. But would I go back? Yes, believe it or not, I would. The kids menu comes with plenty of options on it, and the staff there was super-friendly and helpful. I don’t think our bill for the three of us was that bad at $32, which also included sodas (with free refills!) for Tillie’s mom and me.
Maybe next time I’ll get the turkey burger. As long as it’s not around Thanksgiving again!
Greetings neighborhood, this is your captain Van writing, and on behalf of my co-pilot Tillie, we’d like to welcome you to LWT Airlines! Next stop, South African restaurant Madiba, on Dekalb between Carlton and Adelphi.
As you can probably tell, I’ve had Tillie in that plane on my mind for quite some time! On a nice day last week, we finally made it happen. And it worked well for me because I was on a personal redemption mission with Madiba.
In all my years in the ‘hood, I’d only eaten there once and it wasn’t the greatest of experiences – and that’s no one’s fault but my own. When I went before, I was a complete African restaurant neophyte, and instead of asking my dining companions or the waiter for recommendations, I decided to try to figure things out myself and thus, not be penalized any “cool points.” I ordered some type of beans and “slap chips,” or twice-fried french fries, thinking it would be a tasty combination. It wasn’t, and I hadn’t eaten there since. Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, it was a nice day out, a perfect one , actually, for sitting outside. And by the time we made it out there, we had our choice of where to set up camp, which it becomes in a way when you’re unloading snacks and toys.
While I was doing this, the waiter came back with T’s high chair and menus for the both of us. And Tillie’s menu – besides the simple fact of it being a menu, which is usually exciting for her – also doubled as a coloring sheet. Tillie’s really gotten into coloring: as much as a 13-month-old can, I guess. I was torn between ordering her the chicken “madibits” and fries or the veggie plate. I know, it shouldn’t be that tough a decision, but don’t worry: The veggies won out! For me, though …
I felt myself flashing back to Madiba ’05. I wanted to try something outside the norm, and finally decided on the meat pie with mashed potatoes. I felt good about my choice, but the waiter came back and told me they were out of the pies. I went to my backup option, the Yebo burger and chips. That’s exotic, right? (I know, not really!)
As we were waiting for the food, Tillie was enjoying her coloring and her cheddar bunny crackers. Actually, she was enjoying the crackers at an exceptionally fast pace. So I asked the waiter if we could get her vegetables as soon as possible before we were left with just the essence of cheddar bunnies in her little container. We were down to her last four or five, and then the veggies came out: a plate of carrots, broccoli, green beans and mushrooms, all served nice and hot and tender. I took a little bite to see what we were working with and speaking for her (since she can’t really hop on my computer and type it out herself), they were really good. She enjoyed all of them, especially the broccoli and carrots.
Then my food came out and the burger was about as big as Tillie! It was topped with mushrooms, caramelized onions and baby greens. There was also a little bit of sauce on it, which I wasn’t too thrilled about after asking the waiter if there was going to be any on it and he said no. But I gave it a try and it was fine. I cut the burger in half, took a bite and was instantly satisfied. There were pieces of onions in it, which only enhanced the flavor. There was also an order of slap chips that came with the burger, and they were perfect. I guess it’s the twice-frying process, but they maintain a crispiness, while being soft in the center, if that makes sense!
These slap chips were so good, I figured I’d give some to my fry-loving lil’ buddy. She liked them, but when I dipped them in the ketchup for her, that took the fries to a whole new level! A level so high, in fact, that the veggies she was eating so well were quickly forgotten. When will I learn: Don’t give her fries until she’s filled up on vegetables!
I tried to pass her a carrot, but you could see the slap chips and ketchup dancing in her eyes. So, I thought, “Hey, this baby carrot is kind of fry-shaped: I’ll dip it in ketchup and see how that goes.” I was able to get her to finish off her carrots, at least, by doing that. Tillie didn’t fall for it when I tried that with the broccoli, though! I helped her finish off MY fries and that was that.
I got the check, which wasn’t bad at 17 bucks, I felt, because we both ate pretty heartily. The accommodations were perfect for us and the waiter was very nice. Plus, I got to exorcise any Madiba demons I might have had!
And then, there’s the airplane outside of the restaurant! Before we left, I plopped Tillie in, but unfortunately, I didn’t have any change on me. I shook her around a little in it and she seemed to have fun doing that. That’s another reason to return, for a really good ride.
So, on behalf of my co-pilot Tillie, we’d like to thank you for choosing LWT Airlines! See you next week!
It's pretty obvious that Roman's is just doing a soft opening, but that didn't stop the husband and I from hustling right over last weekend to check it out. I'm calling this post a "preview" as opposed to a "review," since it's really just first impressions.
First of all, it was awfully strange to get a table immediately on a Saturday night in this small and formerly bustling space. Obviously there's no signage up yet, but I'm used to sitting on the window ledge drinking margaritas for awhile.
A few small interior changes have been made - the wall behind the bar has been been completely redesigned and restocked, new light fixtures have been added and a decorative wall was erected between the dining room and kitchen.
The menu, for now, is pretty bare bones. It's small plates, and it needs explanation / guidance from the wait staff.
It's a small-plates setup, which often ends up in a trial-and-error ordering experiment. (How many plates do we need? Are we going to be stuffed or left hungry?). We started with the "heirloom radish," which consisted of a chopped radish and a few other radish-like roots, salted and served with creme fraiche. It was light and fresh, though a few bites were oversalted and others were not salted enough.
For second courses, we split the sauerkraut soup and the panette. Both were delicious. The soup was well-favored without being sour, and included a delicious bite of some sort of meat (pork?) and an egg. The panette, small penne pasta, was served with a delicious sauce and toasted pine nuts.
Our third course was a stuffed meatball. Delicious, but small.
For dessert we went with the dark chocolate, assuming it would be some sort of torte. But in actuality, it was a pile of dark chocolate with some almonds. For $6. I looked at Will and said, "This is good chocolate, but it's... a pile of chocolate."
I'm really interested to see how Roman's develops. I was unable to get a good grasp of the vibe they were going for. Partly, it seemed to be trying to mimic the trendy 1920s thing that's been pervading popular culture these past few years. But the cuisine suggests otherwise. The bill was fairly pricey for the quantity, but I'm game to go back once they have a regular, full menu (and they are already taking credit cards).
If you're wondering about the name, it's clearly a reference to Rome, Italy. Not only is the food described by the waitstaff as being Italian-influenced, but the outside of the menus feature an illustration of two infants being suckled by a wolf. My renaissance-literature-professor husband informed me that it was a depiction of Romulus and Remus. (Romulus was, according to Roman mythology, the first King of Rome).
I, like many of our readers, will be making T-giving dinner this year and it's time to get on that grocery shopping! Greene Grape Provisions will be having a Thanksgiving tasting event tomorrow (in Manhattan) and Friday (locally) to show off their dinner sides, plus wines to serve with dinner. Below is info from the shop: We'll hold their annual pre-Thanksgiving wine and food tasting this Friday at the Brooklyn wine store from 5-8pm. People can try six American wines we recommend to go with Thanksgiving, pick up a six pack at 10% off and taste the wines with sides from Provisions. We'll have green beans almondine, stuffing, mashed potatoes and candied yams... all FREE. The Brooklyn wine store is at 765 Fulton Street between South Portland and South Oxford. More information here: http://bk.ly/Y7 . We are taking orders for sides and turkeys up until 9 am Monday morning. People can pre-order all natural, organic, heritage and wild turkeys plus pies and cheese plates here.
We're also offering free delivery Thanksgiving week of the six-pack of wines . . . wine is heavy - you don't want to be lugging a 10 lb bird and bottles of vino. . .
Personally, I'll be ordering a bird there - supporting a local business and knowing I'll receive excellent quality! Happy cooking :)
This just in from a reader about an alleged shooting in Fort Greene: There was a shooting in front of Provisions (Fulton & S. Portland) about an hour ago. Ralph said a bunch of teenagers have been mugging people in the neighborhood. And apparently this time their "victim" pulled out a gun and shot them. No idea how accurate this is (other than there is a swarm of cops out there).
The old Bonita space on DeKalb (nr Vanderbilt) has a hand-made sign on the door that says "Roman's" and "OPEN." The door also boasts a stop work order.
Inside, the place hasn't changed much. The bar area has been fully stocked, and a decorative wall has been added in the back.
So, are they operational? Are they in fact open from 5-11? Or did that pesky stop work order stall things?
It's time once again to dress your dog up in costume and bring him or her to Fort Greene Park for the annual Great PUPkin Contest. I'll be judging again this year (and it's a relief to not have to think of something to top last year's winner- a working dog fountain!). Bring your A Game.
The 11th Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest will be held on Saturday, October 31 (rain date November 1) at noon in Fort Greene Park. Held by Fort Greene PUPS, the contest usually has between 60-80 dogs in costumes parading in front of judges for prizes donated by local merchants.
To find out more about the history of the event, I recently chatted with my neighbor Kath Hansen, the founder of PUPS, who has been organizing this annual contest for over a decade as a way to get neighborhood dog owners together. Why does PUPS organize the PUPkin every year? Because I can't wait to see what crazy costumes people will come up with for their dogs. Plus I've been lucky enough to have two dogs in a row who are pretty easy to costume. Is the PUPkin part of the Fort Greene Park Conservancy's Halloween Festival? We started the Pupkin in 1999, and Ruth Goldstein, who was head of the Conservancy back then, thought it was a fun idea. So she expanded on it and the Conservancy has been doing their Halloween Festival since 2000. Their event is larger and geared more toward children, with face painting and games and such. Since they usually have a horse-drawn hayride, we try to keep the dog event separate since dogs can get freaked out by horses. How much does it cost to enter a dog in the competition? What do you do with the donations raised at the event? It costs $5 per dog for entry. We use the money to cover the costs of running the event, and to keep the park's poop bag dispensers filled. Each plastic bag costs about five cents. We go through about 200 per week, and that's not even enough. We also occasionally buy trash cans for the park.
What do you tell people who say their dog won't wear a costume? Be sneaky about it. Attach something to their collar or harness and they won't even know they're wearing a costume. Actually, that's how some of the most creative costumes are made.
And how about people who think it's ridiculous to dress up dogs for Halloween?
Well, American Idol is ridiculous and people seem to love that! As long as it's doing no harm to the dog, it's hilarious to see them dressed up. You can tell some of the dogs are really into the attention.
When did this event start, and why? How many dogs showed up the first year? In 1999. I did it because I had started up Fort Greene PUPS and was trying to think of ways to get more members. I knew of a few people who said they'd dress their dogs in costumes if I put together some sort of judging panel. It was about twenty dogs in costumes. It's sad, but nearly all those dogs are gone now.
What has been your favorite costume to date? The elaborate ones with working parts are always impressive, but I tend to prefer the ones that are simple yet creative. Like the person who dressed their dog in all the things it had destroyed that year. I remember him being festooned in pantyhose, shoes, and pizza boxes. Also, people still remember the Big Bird costume I did for my dog Cameron years ago. I've been told there's a picture of him in this costume hanging at the Applebee's on Flatbush!
Any suggestions for those serious about winning a prize? Store bought costumes never win a prize, unless you're Rosie Perez. I think the judges were starstruck by her, but her dog was in a store bought costume. Things like pumpkins, devils, bats, and angels are cute but there are generally multiple entrants in these sorts of costumes. Costumes that suit the dog's personality or appearance always impress the judges.
The event has moved farther into the park this year, correct? Yes, we're doing this on the stairs at the bottom of the monument, near the crypt. We've gotten complaints that it's too hard to see the contest because it's been all on one level on grass. With the stairs, I hope it will be sort of like stadium seating and everyone can have a view.
What about this year's prizes? The local merchants have been super generous this year. Go on our site to see a list of them all. I am jealous of whoever wins. We will award first, second, and third prizes, and three honorable mentions.
How will participants know for sure if the event is being moved to Nov 1 due to rain? Will you put something on the PUPS site? Yes, and I'll also send an email to the PUPS list if we have to move it. But I hope we don't because that's also Marathon day.
(Note: check out the interview we did with Kath back in 2006!)
Fall Gardening. Brownstone Brooklyn Garden District hosts a Bulb Give Away and Dig. Share. Dig. (Recession gardening)
BULB GIVE AWAY
Saturday October 24th – 9 – 2
Look for the BBGD table adjacent to the Artisan Market and the Farmer’s Market at the Dekalb Avenue/Washington Park entrance to Fort Greene Park.
Come take a bag of free early spring blooming bulbs. The selection includes muscari, crocus, hybrid emperor tulips and species tulips in butter yellow, deep blue, cream and crisp white. These bulbs may be planted anytime before the first frost.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLANT THEM IN PLACES WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN ENJOY SPRING’S FIRST FLOWERING – IN TREE PITS, WINDOW BOXES, FRONT GARDENS & COMMUNITY GARDENS.
DIG. SHARE. DIG. (Recession Gardening)
Saturday October 24th 12 – 2
Look for BBGD at the monument in Fort Greene Park
Do you have plants in your garden that need to be divided? Do you have plants that have spread and does it pain you to “throw them out ?” Come share what needs to be dug up! In the Spring BBGD hosted a Dig. Share. Dig. and local gardeners offered their roses, hostas, ground covers, bearded iris & tiger lilies. This fall we promise to have coral bells, ajuga, gooseneck and tall red cannas. Add to the list. Bring something. Take something.
Free Habana Halloween Kid's Party!
October 31st from 12- 6pm
Bring your little monsters and ghouls down for our free Habana Halloween party. Candy, games, crafts, prizes and more!
Monster Bash Dance Contest with DJ Juice E: 4- 6pm
Costume Contest @ 5pm
Tillie's has an awesome photo show lined up for October! The Face of Tillie’s 2009 Portrait of a Brooklyn Café Photographs by Bill Kontzias October 12th – November 14th 2009 A Clinton Hill resident for over thirty years, Bill Kontzias has photographed princesses and presidents as well as celebrities ranging from Truman Capote to Rita Hayworth. Last fall he turned his camera to the denizens of Tillie’s in a delightful group portrait that was acclaimed all over the area, promoted on the Brooklyn Academy of Music site, and lauded at a meeting of the Society for Clinton Hill. Now he continues and enhances his project with a new series of portraits, shot not just in and around Tillie’s but also in other locations where the “regulars” work, live and play, including nearby Fort Greeene Park as well as Greenpoint and Coney Island. He states: “All of my subjects are special to me. As the project has gathered momentum, people have been so generous in sharing themselves: They meet me more than halfway. It’s my goal to capture the inner light of these ‘uncommon people,’ to frame that Tillie’s café spirit with my camera. To me the portraits, in sum, become a wonderful non-linear narrative about this time and place.” The full series can be seen online at www.billkphotography.com under the “Tillie’s Project” heading. Bill Kontzias is Adjunct Associate Professor in the Communications Design Department at Pratt Institute. Reception: Wednesday October 14th, 7 – 9 p.m. For more information on any of the above contact Patricia Mulcahy at 718 783-6140 or mail@tilliesofbrooklyn.com. For directions, see “Getting Here” on the site.
Tillie’s of Brooklyn 248 Dekalb Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205 718 783-6140 www.tilliesofbrooklyn.com
We’ve done Thai, Mexican, Indian and Italian. But how about something simple, like a good ol’ hot dog and fries?
Hey everyone, it’s V and T here with the latest in Lunchtime With Tillie-ness. This time, I decided to take it down on new tastes for the little one sample and took her to the neighborhood’s new gastro-pub, Brooklyn Public House on Dekalb Avenue
It’s not that I don’t want her to try new things, it’s just this time around, the idea of eating a Public Dog just took over! It’s a hot dog wrapped in Applewood smoked bacon and slathered with cheese. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds. I did give Tillie something to try, though, and it almost backfired on me, but more on that later!
After a trip to the playground in Fort Greene Park, we headed on over to the Public House. Upon entering, the waitress/bartender directed us to the roomy dining area since I had the stroller with me. I asked for a high chair and they didn’t have any, so it looked like Tillie would be going retro and eating in the stroller like she did as a younger youngster.
I got a menu, but since I knew what I was going to eat, it didn’t really do me much good. However, the lunchtime drinks special did pique my curiosity, especially after seeing that the Checker Cab ale was among the discounted options.
Here’s the Van Sias guide to Public House happiness (and this is for the grown-ups): Order the Public Dog and a Checker Cab or two, and you, my friend, will be thanking me at the end!
Anyway, so after a mini-debate within myself, I decided to top off my frank and fries with a beer. But the Checker Cab was out of the rotation of the beers on tap, replaced by something else not available among the discounted options! Arrgh! But I guess that’s a good thing because I don’t want to go down a slippery path and see “Lunchtime With Tillie” become “Lunchtime With Tillie at the Public House and Dad Eating His Daily Hot Dog and Drinking Beer”! So I just went with water instead.
While I was waiting for my food, I took Tillie’s out: some butternut squash soup Tillie’s mom made up. I managed to get her a few bites in, then mine appeared just like that. (There wasn’t much of a lunch crowd, which I guess contributed to the speed of service.) There it was in front of me: the bacon-wrapped hot dog with cheese melted over it and a basket of overflowing fries! I thought to myself, “You know, I can’t just indulge my selfish lunch cravings: I have to let Tillie try something. I know, I’ll let her try a French fry.” And that is where the backfire comes in!
I gave her a fry and she really enjoyed it, which was fine. But when I tried to give her another bite of the squash, she pushed my hand away! Was she just going to want fries? That’s not a good lunch for her to have! I tried again, and she replied with the hand push. Yikes! What was I to do? I couldn’t call Tillie’s mom for help. Do I call my mom? No, Van, you’ve been a dad for nearly a year now, you can handle this!
Then I came up with this plan: I’d dip the fry in the squash soup, which was thick enough to stick to it, and let her eat the next fry like that. After some success, I took it a step further: I’d put the soup on the fry, then pull it out of her mouth before she could chomp down, basically using the fry as a spoon. And it worked! I even got her back to eating the soup from the regular spoon again.
My meal was a little hectic, but my delicious hot dog and fries promptly got eaten. I’m glad I held off on getting the hot dog topped with turkey chili because that might’ve been a little too much (but probably would have tasted excellent)!
After all the soup and big kids food was devoured, I fed Tillie some grapes for dessert. I got the bill, which was only $9.25, not including the tip (or that Checker Cab), paid it and we were off.
We’ll be back, and I’d recommend others to go, too. The no-high-chair thing wasn’t a big obstacle to overcome, the lunch menu was reasonably priced and the waitress was really friendly. She was even cheering me on in my squash soup-fries battle, which I won in the end: a big victory for dads everywhere!
The 11th Annual Great Pupkin Dog Costume Contest will be held by Fort Greene PUPS once again in Fort Greene Park. Last year's winner was a dog dressed up as the Fort Greene Park dog fountain (and the fountain actually squirted water!) See a gallery of photos past years' contests here. The event will take place on Saturday, October 31 (Halloween), with registration at 11:30 and judging starting at noon sharp. Lesterhead will once again be on the judging panel so bring your game, people! This year, PUPS is moving the location of the contest to the stairs below the monument (at the crypt level). They are hoping people will have better sightlines viewing the contest from the stairs. The rain date will be November 1, same time, same location. Get those dog costumes ready!
A reader writes:
Featuring House, Funk, Soul, & Club Classics by DJ Legend, DJ Greg, DJ Ron, Phantom P, and Donny
DATES & LOCATIONS ( 2pm - 9pm ) w/ our GUEST DJs
Aug 29, 2009 -- feat. Guest DJ Markus Rice (at Von King Park)
Sept 05, 2009 -- feat. Guest DJ Jovonn (at Von King Park)
Sept 12, 2009 -- feat. Guest DJ Cloud 9 (at Von King Park)
Sept 19, 2009 -- feat Guest DJ Lil Ray (at Von King Park)
Sept 20, 2009 -- feat. Guest DJ Ray Vazquez (at Fort Greene Park) 2pm - 8pm
Sept 27, 2009 -- Plus another round ... (at Fort Greene Park) 2pm - 8pm
October 10, 2009 -- Summer2009's CLOSEOUT JAM (at Von King Park)
Visit our website for more info such as recommended related events, updates, possible schedule changes, additions etc. http://amu5icseries.blogspot.com/
Clinton Hill Blog published from 2006 - 2010. Please enjoy these archives - a love letter to the neighborhood.
