Summer Streets on Vanderbilt Ave

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Last summer, the NYC DOT did something daring in Manhattan with its Summer Streets program, shutting down a main thoroughfare in Manhattan to traffic and allowing pedestrians and cyclists to roam freely and safely. This summer, it seems the program is extending down to Vanderbilt Ave in Prospect Heights, just a short walk from us!  Vanderbilt has been looking awesome lately, with those tree plantings in the median and even more shops and restaurants.  Take the opportunity to  enjoy a car-free Vanderbilt this month.

summerst

Here is the official info from the DOT:

Every Sunday in June, Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights will be closed to automobile traffic from Dean St. to Park Pl. from noon until 5pm. Summer Streets on Vanderbilt hopes to promote a new type of open space where community members can walk, play, bike, relax, socialize, and come together. The event also aims to highlight the many cultural resources and local businesses in the Prospect Heights area. There will be music, art, biking, shopping, eating, sports activities, kids’ entertainment, and more. This temporary pedestrian plaza hopes to build on a movement that promotes walkable, livable, and sustainable streets and neighborhoods in New York City. Summer Streets on Vanderbilt is sponsored by the Vanderbilt Avenue Merchants District and the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council in conjunction with NYCDOT.

When: Sunday, June 14th, 21st, and 28th, Noon – 5pm

Where: Vanderbilt Avenue from Dean St. to Park Pl., Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

Price: Free

A Coffee Shop for Grand Avenue

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mysterious storefront On an ambitious jog last night, I huffed past the intriguing space on Grand and Clifton.  And... the door was open!

The inside featured exposed brick, and a giant vintagy-looking sofa covered in plastic.

So I knocked and asked the guys inside.  They were just the electricians, but they said they thought the space was slated to be a coffee shop.  As for the opening date, they didn't know.

The inside space looked large, so perhaps it will be a nice complement to Choice (which offers virtually no inside seating, BUT has done a bang up job of adding more benches outside).  At the rate the reno is going (1.5 years so far), it might be open in time for winter, when sitting outside at Choice might not be as appealing.  I doubt they will be able to top the deliciousness that is a Choice chocolate croissant.

January 2008: early stages of rehab

PACC "Rolls Up the Gates"

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Thinking about opening a store in the neighborhood?  Tomorrow, PACC will show several available storefronts on Fulton Street! Come view over 16 available commercial spaces Thursday, June 11th at Pratt Area Community Council’s Rolling-Up the Gates Storefront Stroll. This 1-day self-guided tour will showcase spaces on Fulton St between Flatbush and Bedford Aves from 12:00 noon – 7:30 pm. Welcome reception from 12-1 at Autour du Monde Restaurant, 860 Fulton Street, corner of Clinton Avenue. Presentations of art work by Julia Kito Kirtley at 936, 1110 and other venues along Fulton Street. Tour maps and property info can be picked up throughout the day at the PACC office at 896-900 Fulton St, 860 Fulton St. and at stores along Fulton St.

For more info, call (347) 823-5700 ext.10 or visit www.prattarea.org or the event page: http://pacc.publishpath.com/june2009-storefront-stroll

New Flower Shop for Fort Greene: Stem

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The Real Fort Greene mentioned it recently, and someone left a comment on CHB about it - Fort Greene has a new flower shop called Stem! stem1

I walked by this morning and it wasn't open yet.  However, I'm liking their potted-plants-in-old-cans display.

stem2

Stem is located on S. Oxford bt Fulton and Lafayette.

Has anyone been inside yet?  What are the prices like?

UPDATE: More coverage on the Local and Brownstoner

The Sartorialist Hits Fort Greene!

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The Sartorialist, a wonderful fashion blog that features photos of people on the street sporting unique looks, finally made a visit to our neighbothood!  I have been following his photos for years now, through Manhattan, Paris and the like, wondering how he had missed our little slice of funky fashion.  I happened to check the site today, and it looks like he paid a visit! Fulton Street 1

Lafayette Avenue

South Portland

Fulton Street 2

Very awesome that his photos reflect the diverse character of the neighborhood.

If anyone is interested in doing a style "column" for CHB, let me know!

Brand Us: an Art Show on Clinton Avenue

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Apparently, there is an art gallery on Clinton Ave between Fulton and Atlantic!  I guess I need to get down there more often.  Anyway, here's an interesting show going on there, featuring the artists who run the studio: BRAND US. : A ONE MAN/ONE WOMAN SHOW

buckwild flygirl

Opening reception: Saturday, June 13, 2009, 6 – 10 pm

The Capital Hill Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of new paintings and drawings by Phillip Martin and Theresa O’Neill.

Phillip Martin was born in Kingston, Jamaica on July 7, 1974. As a young man, he moved to Dallas, Texas, where he resided until accepting a soccer scholarship from UCLA in 1992. He began coaching soccer in 1996 and continues to do so to this day. Phillip has been painting with intense dedication since 1998, though his life has always been full of images and Art. Phillip's work is rooted in history, culture, myth and the power. "I paint the things I know and love. I paint heads because anyone can be a head. People need and deserve to be remembered. In the memory of the remembrance of things past. We are the ones who must outlast. Anyone looking at a head can project themselves or whomever they think fits the profile. The heads serve as a way to document the greater narratives of all our lives throughout all of time." In addition, Phillip has been performing poetry in Los Angeles for over ten years under the name Phillharmonic. He has performed with noted luminaries Saul Williams, Lewis McAdams, Wanda Coleman and Kamau Daaood Phillip now lives and works in Brooklyn, York New. He is looking forward to getting his paintings out to the world. “My creative will wills it. We are the ones we have been waiting for.”

Theresa O’Neill was born and raised in Northern California. In childhood as of now, Theresa’s passion was to tell stories and she spent most of her childhood days creating plays and movies with friends, siblings, cousins and anyone else she could convince to play along in the great spectacle of all creative acts. In 2000, Theresa moved to Los Angeles to study theatre at UCLA and she continues to work as an actress to this day.  Although Theresa has made visual work all along the path, she did not truly begin painting until 2005. Theresa’s paintings and drawings are always a deeply personal chronicling her experiences. The majority of Theresa’s work revolves around a characters she calls the Sensualist:- "To be sensual, I think, is to respect and rejoice in the force of life, of life itself, and to be present in all that one does, from the effort of loving to the making of bread.” - James Baldwin. Theresa currently lives and works in Brooklyn NY. “I love it when it gets weathered and you have to tape it together.  So you do.  Cuz you know you going to want to see it again when you forty. And like the late night Topanga CatSkills hillside, you love every shading and curvature. Because you saw how it was formed. Because you were a part of it.”

For more information, please contact the gallery.

CAPITAL HILL GALLERY

503 ClLINTON AVE. #2   BROOKLYN   NY   11238   T.  310.871.2844

The Capital Hill Gallery is both the studio and exhibition space run by Theresa O'Neill and Phillip Martin.  This is the third show they've have had at the gallery since they first moved in this past September.  The gallery focuses on O'Neill and Martin's work, as well as local artists, most recently Rahkeem Taylor. The last exhibition, Musec Plus Us., was filmed by BCAT. Each show thus far has continued to evolve and grow to what they hope becomes a community staple for a vibrant and vital Brooklyn art destination. They look forward to more good times ahead.

Teen Challenge Offering Coffee and Thrift Store?

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Teen Challenge might be selling off some real estate, but they're expanding in new ways.  A new Teen Challenge coffee shop recently appeared on Vanderbilt between Gates and Greene. I haven't seen it open, though.  Anyone been in?  Is it open for business?

tccoffee

Next door to the coffee shop, in the non-descript brick building, Teen Challenge appears to have opened a Blessingdales store.  A Google search explains that Blessingdales it a Christian second-hand store.  But there's no store sign.  Not the best promotional idea?

CHB Interviews: Brian Vargas

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In an effort to highlight some of the neighborhood’s many talented and diverse musicians, here is the first in a series of artist profiles. vargas_hi_res

Bryan Vargas, a native Brooklynite, teaches music at St. Joseph's College and has a band called Bryan Vargas & Ya Esta, which plays what he describes as “funky latin jazz.” Bryan’s music, which is fresh and rhythmically focused, has been praised by NY Newsday and The New Yorker.

How long have you lived in the ‘hood? I've lived in my current Ft. Greene apartment for 6 1/2 years, moved in Oct. 2002. I also lived just around the corner from 98-99. The interim time was spent hopping between Williamsburg, Park Slope, Sunset Park and Queens. I spent my early childhood in South Williamsburg, and a large part of my life was spent accompanying my Mom & Grandma to the Fulton Mall as they shopped at A&S (now Macy's), the Albee Square Mall (now a pit, soon to be condos), and the Dime Bank next to Junior’s. We often took the G train, but if we drove, Ft Greene was the in-between neighborhood we traveled through. So I have strong, vivid memories of the old Ft Greene of the 70s and 80s, and memories of the occasional lunch in a neighborhood spot.

What’s your favorite thing about living in Clinton Hill/Fort Greene? Way to many to mention. What I love most about the neighborhood is the general vibe. I truly feel relaxed as I walk down the streets. Other Brooklyn brownstone neighborhoods have a hustle and bustle that we just don't have here. Folks here are CHILL. People get along. They help each other out. They play with each other's dogs. It's a great place to live. I also love the food. We have some of Brooklyn's best restaurants, and I love the fact that I never have to leave the neighborhood to eat if I don't want to. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how much I love Ft. Greene Park. I think it's the greatest small park in all five boroughs. It has a peaceful serenity to it that you feel as soon as you step foot on the block. I'll save what I DON'T like about the 'hood for another time. For now we can stay positive!

Is there anything particularly special about living in the neighborhood as a musician or artist? Any neighborhood secrets you can share with us? To be honest there are LESS musicians living here than there were when I first moved in. I had tons of friends in the area, and I'd see famous and semi-famous and not-so-famous musicians walking down the street every day. A lot of these folks have been priced out over the years and relocated to Bushwick, Bed-Stuy, Long Island City or elsewhere, which is really too bad. There are still a lot of musician folks around here, but now we that we have the "celebrities", the actors and such, it's a much pricier place to live. That being said, there are so many GREAT things about being a musician here. For one thing, bumping into all the musician folks that are still here - and the ones who have managed to find deals and still move in! Since we're a REAL neighborhood here, it's easy to start up a conversation on the street, whether you know the person or not. The close location to all the different types of transit is a huge help. All the subway lines, the LIRR, the buses, the bridges, even the BQE. I can get anywhere I need to go in the city easily. So I can play ANYWHERE. And since we're so close to the bridges, late night, post-gig cab rides home are affordable and the cabbies are usually cool with the trip into Brooklyn. Since I teach guitar as well, students can reach me easily from mass transit, and the drivers can park fairly easily. There are also GREAT resources here. Like BAM! How can you beat that? Great bands every weekend in the Cafe, and I've even been able to play there a couple of times. And they have the bigger shows, Next Wave Fest, all that. I even saw David Bowie going to a show there one time! You can't beat that for a great neighborhood resource. We've also got the colleges in the area. And as horribly LAME as the Guitar Center is in the Atlantic Ave, "Target Mall," it's saved my ass a few times. Last minute guitar strings, and things like that. And then some of the restaurants have really good music, like Madiba and Chez Oscar. And we get the Afro Punk Fest. And the BAM Dance Africa Fest. And Dope Jams on Myrtle Ave. There are so many great things about living here. I could go on all day.

What are your favorite NYC venues to play? To see shows at? My favorite place to play is Joe's Pub. Great backline, very professional, and folks love going there. I also love playing at a place up in East Harlem called Camaradas. The owners there go out of their way to make everyone feel like home, and they have the best audiences in town. Best Brooklyn venue, hands down, is Southpaw. I wish we could play there more often. And I must add Rockwood Music Hall in the LES has the best backline in NYC, and despite the venue's small size they work really hard to make the music sound top notch. My favorite places to see shows are Prospect Park Bandshell and Central Park Summerstage (although we've played at both of these too!). Free music, great, diverse lineups, and free for all. You get the coolest crowds and the best vibes there. I try and go to as many of these as possible every year. I hope they go on forever. Honorable mention should also go to Le Poisson Rouge, which may be the best new spot in NYC.

When’s your next show? Excellent question! Well, I just finished my MA Thesis (MA in music, of course...), so I put gigs on hold except for private parties. So the next step is to start booking some gigs again! We'll have some things happening soon. Go to our Myspace page for the latest updates.

You can purchase Bryan’s album, Afro Latino Soul, here.

Listen to Guerrerros Africanos.mp3 from Afro Latino Soul.

Details on Donation Policies at the Brooklyn Public Library

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In an earlier post, many readers commented about how they were disappointed that our local library branch wouldn't take donations for the (small) branch collection. Turns out it is not a branch-specific policy. This is the response from the branch's children's librarian, Alexis Gutierrez:

"As far as I know (and what I tell people on the phone) is that we do take donations-- they just can't be put in the library's collection. This isn't Clinton Hill branch's personal policy, it's a systemwide one that doesn't make a lot of sense but unfortunately we are bound to it. (Also we don't take old mildewy stuff or encyclopedia sets before 1990, but that's kind of obvious :)

When people donate books, they go in our Donation Bins by the front door. They are for the community to benefit from-- and by that, I mean it's a simple Free Pile. I do have a Donation Receipt I give for folks who'd like something for tax purposes, but the donation process is pretty simple."

Changing that policy is another situation altogether, but why not use the community donation box anyway?  I ask every person to donate five books to the pile, and to pick some up next time they go.  When you're finished, put them back in the box.  It'll be like a micro-library within the library!

We'll hear more from Alexis in an interview soon.

Another Bakery for Fulton?

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Regular reader Brian reports that the tiny storefront on Fulton near Waverly (that was briefly J+J Cafe and was most recently a computer repair center) is slated to become a bakery. bakery

To be honest, I didn't even realize it had become a computer repair place.  But there IS construction going on inside.

Has anyone moved into the skinny condo building with the scarily steep loft stairs yet?

Clinton Hill Dentistry

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Drs. Philip and Daniel Epstein have been serving the FG / CH community for 43 years at their dental office on DeKalb Avenue between Washington and Waverly, and now they've seemingly closed up shop. densist

I called the phone number listed online, and it seems to redirect to Charles Grannum, DDS, on St. James Place.  Maybe he took over the practice?

BK Public Library Facing Budget Cuts

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Received this from the Children's Librarian at the CH Library. I've asked her to do an interview for CHB, to discuss our local branch, how the BK library system works, and how we as neighbors can best support the CH branch and get involved.  The below is an easy way to email local politicians to ask them for their support for libraries.  Don't forget what a great resource the local branch is - order any book you want online and it will be sent to the CH branch for you free of charge! HELP KEEP LIBRARY DOORS OPEN! Brooklyn Public Library faces a budget cut of $17.5 million.

A $17.5 million budget cut would:

* ELIMINATE 175 jobs through layoffs - that's one out of every six full-time BPL employees. * REDUCE service to five days a week at most neighborhood libraries – with limited weekend hours. * Buy 185,000 FEWER books, DVDs and CDs

These changes would take effect as soon as July 1, 2009.

Visit  www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/open

Click on “Contact Your Elected Officials”

to let your voice be heard.

Thanks for your support!

Your Friends at Clinton Hill Branch

Rooftop Films in the 'Hood

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Non-profit organization Rooftop Films is bringing a selection of indie films to rooftop venues in the neighborhood this summer.  Sounds like a pretty cool way to support independent filmmakers while enjoying summer in the city:Saturday, June 6, 8pm, $9 Stingray Sam (Cory McAbee | Brooklyn, NY | | 70 min.) New York Premiere! A dazzling six-episode musical-western comedy that takes place in outer space, written, directed by and starring Cory McAbee, the creator of The American Astronaut. Venue: On the Roof of Brooklyn Technical High School Address: 29 Fort Greene Place (Fort Greene, Brooklyn) www.stingraysam.com The filmmakers will be in attendance.

Wednesday, June 10, 8pm, $9 PANORAMA: Tales of Mere Existence Funny films about anxiety, awkwardness and existential emotions, featuring the animations of internet sensation Lev. Plus a live reading from Lev's new book. Venue: On the Roof of Brooklyn Technical High School Address: 29 Fort Greene Place (Fort Greene, Brooklyn) Filmmaker will be in attendance.

Thursday, June 25, 8pm, $9 Rooftop, BAM Cinemafest & Arthouse Films present William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe (Sarah and Emily Kunstler | Brooklyn, NY | 85 min.) He might have been the most hated and most beloved lawyer in the world, but did anyone really know William Kunstler? Venue: Outdoors across from BAM Cinematek Address: Parking lot across from BAM @ Fulton and Ashland (Ft. Greene, Brooklyn) Filmmakers will be in attendance.

Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and inspire the diverse communities of New York City by showcasing the work of emerging filmmakers and musicians. In addition to its Summer Series – which takes place in unique outdoor venues every weekend throughout the summer – Rooftop provides grants to filmmakers, teaches media literacy and filmmaking to young people, rents low-cost equipment to artists and non-profits, and produces new independent films. Rooftop Films brings the underground outdoors. For more information and updates please visit the website at www.rooftopfilms.com.

TOMORROW: Free Shuttle Between BK Flea and other BK Destinations

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The Brooklyn Flea has become a hotspot for NYC bargain hunters near and far. This Saturday, May 30, Brooklyn Flea visitors can score another deal: Heart of Brooklyn’s FREE hop-on, hop-off shuttle to the cultural attractions near Grand Army Plaza will be running from the Flea in Fort Greene between 10am and 6pm. The HOB Connection stops at Brooklyn Public Library, Prospect Park/Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Brooklyn Children’s Museum. A full schedule with times can be found at http://heartofbrooklyn.org/connection. The Connection will depart the Flea at 10am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 4pm on Saturday.

More than just free transit, the shuttle features on-board tour guides providing information about the restaurants and shops in nearby Prospect and Crown Heights, summer calendars with suggested activities and coupon books full of local discounts (also available to print online at http://heartofbrooklyn.org/couponbook).

The HOB Connection regularly offers free transit to the cultural attractions in the Heart of Brooklyn from various neighborhoods in Brooklyn (Bay Ridge, DUMBO and Williamsburg) each Saturday, and from Manhattan’s Museum Mile each Sunday.

Children's Art, Framed at a Discount

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Have an artistic kid?  The Clinton Hill Simply Art and Framing has just informed me of a special framing sale. CLINTON HILL SIMPLY ART AND FRAMING INTRODUCTORY SALE - Custom Picture Framing Offer

"kidz"

Bring any children's artwork now thru June 30 40% off regular price*

Children's Art Only Please no substitutes

Cherish the Moments

*Select samples only

Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 6pm

583 Myrtle Avenue (near Classon) Brooklyn, NY 11205 718-857-0074

We truly custom frame Est.1991