CHB Presents: HAUNTED!

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Last October, I did a fun little Haunted House of the Day series.  It was a big hit, so I'm doing it again.  This time, though, I am going to start TODAY, October 1, and feature one haunted house per day (even on weekends) until Halloween.  This is because I love Halloween, and also because it will likely be harder next year to find 31 haunted houses in Clinton Hill, with the rate of change and renovations and whatnot. As a child, I loved all things haunted.  What makes a house haunted, you ask?

  • Padlock on door, keeping humans out
  • Cemented-over windows, keeping ghosts in
  • Broken windows
  • Unattended trash and mail
  • Graffiti
  • On occasion, bad design/decor

OK then, let's get started!  Bed-Stuy Blog will also be playing along, though not as frequently.

October Events in the Nabe

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It's never too early to plan ahead! Monday, Oct. 1, Fort Greene Park Conservancy Gala Wine Tasting This annual party will be held at the roof top gardens and penthouses of the Forte Condo project on Fulton/Ashland which provide stunning views of our park and communities. There will be 100 wonderful wines, food, wine experts, and friends of the park. The VIP session will start at 5:30 pm for a ticket price of $150, the general admission starts at 6:30 for $80 advance and $90 at the door. (All tickets are tax deductible.) Tickets are VERY limited, so purchase early. Contact Amy Bennett at amy@greenegrape.com. Tickets available at www.fortgreenepark.org.

Sunday, Oct. 14, noon, DDDB Annual Walkathon to support the Legal Fund. This exciting event is for the whole family and features entertainment, our favorite elected officials, community activists and others. We need coordinators, team leaders, behind the scenes volunteers, artists, technical experts and others to make this all happen. So, save the date. Plan to walk or sponsor a walker or team. Make a generous contribution. For more information, contact: DDDB.net or Scott Turner at scott@fansforfairplay.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , (718) 499-8729

Saturday, October 20, Daffodil Bulb Giveaway, 1:30 pm to 5 pm. Free daffodil bulbs will be distributed for planting in tree pits, sidewalk containers, front yards, community gardens or anywhere they can be enjoyed by the public at large. Bulbs are being provided by the Brownstone Brooklyn Garden District as part of the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill greening initiative. Planting is up to you. For more information contact natashaharsh@earthlink.net.

Saturday, October 20, Artisan Market, DeKalb Ave. near park entry. What the Fort Greene Greenmarket does for locally-grown food products, the Artisan Market does for local art and design. Open 9am to 6pm. For information contact natashaharsh@earthlink.net.

Saturday, Oct. 27, Fort Greene Park Conservancy Children’s Halloween Fest. Bring the kids in their costumes for a day of excitement. There are free pumpkins, costume parade at 2pm, hay ride, ponies, games, great sponsors, and the dog costume contest listed below. Everyone loves this day in the park. For more information contact: www.fortgreenepark.org. SCH is proud to be a sponsor of this wonderful event.

Saturday, Oct. 27, noon, PUPS Dog Costume Contest, Fort Greene Park. Bring your dogs in costume, many owners are also in coordinating costume attire, join the pageant and maybe you’ll win one of the fabulous prizes. Meet M.C. Christine in her lime green tuxedo. Hilarity is guaranteed for all. For more information contact: info@fortgreenepups.org.

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 5 pm. Society for Clinton Hill Children’s Halloween Walk. This event gets bigger and more exciting every year. Meet at the SCH Garden at DeKalb/Hall to pick up maps for the best locations for entertainment and treats. Parents must accompany children. FREE.

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 6-9 pm, 313 Clinton Avenue, Continuous Halloween Show. The show is put on by the Clinton Hill Players featuring Janna Hyten, DK Holland, Claudia Howard, Andrew Watts, Kelsey Hyten and other Clinton Hill stars. Show to be featured in Time Out NY. SCH is proud to be a sponsor. Janna is currently raising money for this year's set and show. Anyone who provides a $100 donation will receive a free ticket to the famous Halloween party at 313 Clinton Ave. (The show is very expensive to put on, and Janna has bankrolled it herself for many years.) Contact janna.hyten@gmail.com.

OKTOBERFEST in CH

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Yearning for some brats and beer? Check out the cool Oktoberfest party on Lexington, September 29. Building residents will be transforming their loft, studio space and rooftop into an authentic German beer tent. Sounds like a great way to enjoy autumn in the Hill, as well as some grilled sausage. Details: WHEN: Saturday, September 29, 4pm-2am WHERE: 55 Lexington Ave., Clinton Hill, Brooklyn WHO: You...you...maybe you...and definitely you WHY: ? WHAT: Great German beer, great German food, great German and non-German music

15 bucks gets you

* Unlimited beer and pretzels * Home cooked German supper (grilled sausage, sauerkraut, German potato salad, kuchen, hot mulled cider) * Live music all night long

100 tickets, available here!

Seder/Holy Thursday in a Box

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Should you decide at the last minute that you'd like to celebrate Seder or Holy Thursday, or can't find access to the proper ritual items, St. Joseph's College is offering this cool service: If you are not ready for Passover, go to St. Joseph's College at 245 Clinton Avenue on Monday, April 2 between 12:00-1:30p.m. You can purchase for $1 "Seder in a box." Included are all the ritual items and printed prayers for your own home Seder. The Seder in a Box is also applicable to the Christian Holy Thursday ritual.

Clinton Hill Valentine Plans

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From the MARP blog, V-Day specials from some of our favorite places: Yes, we all know it’s a Hallmark Holiday that’s just a tad bit on the consumerist side of things, but if you’re going to spend it, feel good by spending it close to home. Valentine's Day specials are available up and down the avenue, so bring your honey out to Myrtle Avenue to enjoy a very special, local Valentine’s Day. Shop, dine, and pamper at your favorite area businesses.

SHOP

Karen’s Body Beautiful, 436 Myrtle, (718) 797-4808 Beautiful Valentine’s Day gift baskets — available in all price ranges.

Kiini Ibura Jewelry, 388 Myrtle, (718) 858-5195 10% off of all red jewelry (includes corals and garnets) 10% off of all candles

RePOP 95% Recycled, 68 Washington, (718) 260-8032 10% discounts off of all jewelry and dresses in shop for Valentine's Day.

Frosted Moon Emporium, 154 Vanderbilt, (718) 858-3161 Frosted Moon has valentine cards, valentine-themed picture frames and gift ideas for under $40 (silk purses, satin travel slippers and scented candles in keep sake glass holders).

Sarafina Art & Gift Gallery, 411 Myrtle, (718) 522-1083 10-50% off a number of selected items: -15% off Caswell-Massey aromatherapy -20% off sterling silver and amber jewelry -10-50% off contemporary art -25% off hand painted fragrance lamps and tea light holders -25% off Votive candles (Flower collection) -Also, chocolate heart-shaped lollipops in for the season

Head Over Heels, 366 Myrtle, (718) 237-8880 20% clearance on all boots, now thru Valentine’s Day.

PAMPER

Polish Bar of Brooklyn, 470 Myrtle, (718) 622-5363 Chocolate Paraffin manicure service ($20) Also, PBB is offering special V-day gift sets, starting at $30: -pampering gift set ($30) -manicure/ pedicure set ($60) -luxe manicure/pedicure gift set ($80) All sets include: gift card enclosure; PBB mint candy foot polish; PBB hand and foot repair; luxe terry cloth PBB slippers.

PBB recommends the $60 or $80 sets. Also, there will be an in-store Valentine’s Day celebration. Details here

Body By Brooklyn, 275 Park, (718) 923-9400

Enjoy LIVE JAZZ in the Lounge Wednesday, February 14th, 6:00pm to 9:00pm

February 14th – 18th: Book a Couple’s Massage for you and your special someone and save $20

B3 Signature Chocolate Massage—10% off B3 Signature Chocolate Massage $175/ 90 minutes

Melt away stress, indulge your senses and warm your soul with a decadent chocolate massage. When absorbed through the skin, the natural antioxidants of pure cocoa help to flush out impurities, reduce cellulite, improve circulation and help stimulate cell regeneration. The aromas encourage serenity and mental wellness while the cocoa will soften, tone, nourish, moisturize and protect your delicate skin.

Book a chocolate massage now through February 15th and try a complimentary chocolate martini!

DINE

Luz, 177 Vanderbilt, (718) 246-4000 Special five course menu plus one drink $55.00 per person. RSVP recommended

Mojito Cuban Cuisine, 82 Washington, (718) 797-3100 Special prix fix dinner: $35/ per person; $30/ if you mention that you received e-mail from the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership. Choice of champagne or white sangria and including salmon croquette appetizers, and rice and beans. Sautéed chicken in white sauce topped w/a bacon mélange. Strawberry parfait. May choose selected appetizer, entrée and dessert substitutions. RSVP recommended

Chez Lola, 387 Myrtle, (718) 858-1484 Special prix fix dinner: $35/ per person Menu: harrisa fennel soup, grilled shrimp salad, endive and watercress salad; pan roasted blue snapper, wiener schnitzel, guitarra pasta, free range chicken; w/ Lola’s ‘Be My Valentine’ chocolate crème brulee are on this special lovers’ menu. RSVP recommended

Maggie Brown, 455 Myrtle, (718) 643-7001 Special prix fix dinner: $35/ per person (Special menu still in the works) RSVP recommended

Xmas Tree Reuse

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Still have your tree around at home? This weekend, you can drop it off at Ft. Greene Park, where it will be turned into mulch for the park. You can even bring your own bag to bring some mulch back home. I wish the park would offer to do a tree pickup, as it would be kind of a pain to drag the prickly tree for several blocks. There are SO many trees on the street now waiting for the trash pickup (though I do think the city mulches them anyway). Anyway, if you're interested in donating your tree to the park, here's the info I received from them:

MulchFest Drop off in Fort Greene Park is Saturday January 6 and Sunday January 7. Sunday January 7, 2007, 12 noon to 4 PM, a Chipper machine will be in the park making the mulch. PLEASE NOTE: All lights, ornaments, and decorations must be removed from the trees prior to drop-off. Participants will be able to take wood chips and/or mulch home from chipping site. Jeff Sandgrund, Park Manager will have staff in the park Saturday and Sunday to ensure that people are dropping off their trees in the right spot.

Ten reasons to participate in MulchFest: 1) recycling is good for the environment 2) contribute your tree and help maintain the park 3) keep your holiday decorations working for you and the community by mulching 4) get free mulch for your own garden (bring bags) 5) get to know more about the park and the FGPC 6) introduce kids to the ecological systems in nature 7) get exercise by hauling your tree to the park 8) meet neighbors 9) get free hot chocolate on Sunday during the Chipper session. 10) see how big your neighbor's tree was

Merry Christmas...

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...Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Winter Solstice. I noticed yesterday morning that someone hung up several origami ornaments on the trees of St. James Place. Most of them looked like this:

unexpected ornament

unfolded

Pratt student?  Religious group?  Random neighbor? No matter -- I really like them.  Thanks to whoever hung these beauties.

I'll be posting this week, though on a lighter schedule.

Hope whatever you're celebrating is merry.

xoxo, CHB

Friday's Photos (with Commentary)

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I love this house on Hall Street by Myrtle Avenue. It seems they have inflatable dolls for every holiday.

It's here!

Looks like BOA is a few days away from officially opening.

I read on Brooklynian that Pillow Cafe's moving closer to the Associate on Myrtle. Could this be the new home for Pillow Cafe?

Tree Hunt

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On Saturday, I began my hunt for a Christmas tree. I had hoped for a Scotch Pine, but none were to be found. Instead, I settled for a lovely short-needle tree from the lot at the church on Clinton and Lafayette:

snb10508.jpg
They also have gorgeous wreaths, starting at $20:
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I also spied a tree lot on Myrtle between Washington and Hall:
snb10498.jpg

Their selection didn't look as robust, but it was early in the morning.

There is also a lot on Washington just north of Myrtle, but their trees were locked up early in the day behind a fence-thing, so I can't speak to the selection.

Need a GIANT tree? Try Gardel's Garden on South Portland. Last year, Bishop Laughlin HS also set up an enormous lot on Lafayette. The workers were super friendly, and even gave me a free bag of pine branches towards the end of the month. Haven't seen them set up yet this year.

All the lots I've seen so far have a wide range of tree-heights, and they've all included the mini Charley Brown size.

Do you spy a particularly good (or bad) tree lot in the nabe? Email me!

Just Wondering...

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Did anyone wait on line for a Jive Turkey turkey last week?  I saw a fairly long queue both Monday and Tuesday before I left town.  Can you not preorder or something?  And were those people just waiting for a fresh bird?  It seemed the boxes being unloaded from the truck were not-yet-prepared. I may order a fried turkey for Christmas...

(PS- I AM SO EXCITED TO BE BACK IN TOWN!)

Huh?

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Last night on my evening dog walk, I noticed that the Clinton Hill Co-ops already have their Xmas lights up! xmas early

They could have waited a week or two at least. I'm still enjoying my Halloween memories.

I must say, I really like these lit arches, which have not been used before. However, lots of bushes have been decorated with the "whichever-string-of-lights-I-find-first" technique. This means that half of a bush will be blinking while the other set is steady.

I find this very irritating. It's almost as offensive as "Mirror's on Grand." Almost. Dude, at least be consistent!

Clinton Hill Society's 12th Annual Halloween Walk

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Tuesday, October 315:30-6:30 pm Pratt-Clinton Hill Community Garden (corner of DeKalb and Hall)

All costumed Trick-or-Treaters up to age 12 invited! The parade route winds through the neighborhood. Maps to the most generous homes will be provided.

PARENTS: PLEASE ACCOMPANY YOUR CHILD!

Also, be sure to check out a popular carriage house on Waverly between DeKalb and Willoughby -- I'm told the landladies put on quite a show for the kids!