Lunchtime With Tillie: Umi Nom

Hello everyone and welcome to a special super-sized edition of Lunchtime With Tillie! It’s me, Van, with her, Tillie, and as a special treat, we’ve brought along one of T’s best friends, 14-month-old Amira, and her dad, Marquis, aka “Amira’s pop.” It’s twice the kids, twice the grown-ups and twice the excitement!

And this lunchtime caravan of ours ended up at one of the neighborhood’s hottest new spots, Thai-Filipino restaurant Umi Nom on Dekalb and Classon. What can I say? We’re all just fancy like that!

Just kidding, because Umi Nom is as unpretentious as they come. I went there for dinner with Tillie’s mom, Amira’s parents and another couple a few months ago, and we had a wonderful time. It was just like having friends over for dinner and a bottle of wine or two (or six or seven, if you’re counting)!

Anyway, I had been hearing rumors about the restaurant being open for lunch, but I wasn’t planning on investigating any time soon. Part of that was due to me thinking they would just offer the small plates they serve at dinner. The dishes are all excellent, but if you end up getting a few to fill you up, it could make a little dent in the wallet.

It’s funny how we ended up there this time. We were all at the playground as part of our twice-weekly dads’ group meeting, but after a while of chasing the kids, Amira’s pop and I both worked up an appetite. I told him Tillie and I were about to go on one of our LWT adventures and that he and Amira were welcome to join us. As we started to gather up the kids, another dad in the group showed up, having just gotten back from Umi Nom. I told him my concerns, but he let me know there was a whole lunch menu and how great his food was. We already had a decision on where we were going, but I looked over at AP and I saw he was thinking what I was: Let’s go to Umi Nom!

When we entered, we were greeted warmly by the waiter. We were offered to take a seat anywhere we liked, but coming in with kids and strollers, it’s not exactly the easiest of tasks. Our strollers were able to be stored in the back of the restaurant near the open kitchen without folding them up, which is always a bonus to me. (I just hate taking out the stuff in the pouch underneath the seat, like the diaper pad, toys, stroller cover, etc., all the tools a parent on the go needs!)

After getting the kids situated in their high chairs, we took a look at the menu. The options all sounded so good, plus another bonus: They were all reasonably priced –  I don’t think anything exceeded 10 bucks. Even though I was tempted to go with Umi Nom’s spin on the burger, I decided on the bahay kubo – stir-fried rice with chicken, sausage, shrimp, egg and soy – and Amira’s pop got the chicken pad-seow and a side of garlic rice for Amira.

While we were waiting for the food, the waiter brought out some toasted bread for the kids, which was greatly appreciated. He even came back later to see if we wanted some more. (Probably because AP and I were munching on it!) I broke out with some of the pasta I made a literal vat of for Tillie a few weeks ago and gave her some. I also set some aside for Amira, which she really seemed to like. It made me feel proud of my baby-food-cooking abilities, even though Tillie’s mom called me out for the lack of vegetables in said vat.

The kids were having a great time interacting with each other, which they always seem to do. Tillie gets real excited around Amira, kind of like that looking up to the older kid situation. Between feeding the two and picking up crumbs, the two dads were able to catch up.

My food and the garlic rice came out first, and it was a most welcome sight! I took a bite first to determine if the seasoning would be OK for Tillie to handle, which it was. (Well, that’s part of it: Remember, I was starving!) Amira’s pop dished up some garlic rice for the kids while waiting for his food to come out, and I offered him some from the heaping mound on my plate. We both agreed that mine was delicious: The rice had a slightly sweet taste to it, while the shredded vegetables had a nice contrasting tanginess to them. And there was enough meat for a piece in every bite. Tillie’s been a big rice eater, so the dish worked for her, too.

Also, you can take this as an indication as to how good it was: You know how I usually have pictures of the food included? My food was so tasty that it totally wiped out any intention of taking shots of it – eating it was the main priority!

The noodles came out shortly and Amira got a little bit of the dish set aside for her. She tried to feed Tillie a couple of pieces of chicken, but the two couldn’t pull off the transaction without the food hitting the floor!

After the eating was done and the bellies were full, we packed the kids up to go – all the while raving about how good our food was. They were both getting kind of tired after being out and about for a while. We got the bill, which was about $27 for the two of us – a good value for all the food and the wonderful experience we had.

So just in case more of a recommendation is needed: Run, don’t walk (or stroll) there. The staff couldn’t be nicer and the food couldn’t be better. Plus, it’s great to go there with a chum – child and grown-up alike!

Friday Photo(s)

Reader Quoc Pham sent me some extraordinary Marathon photos!  He says of his photos: "My pictures tend to focus on people rather than the race or the runners themselves. I try to convey this spirit of community that is so specific to our neighborhood."

View more of his compelling work here.

Erica Allen Photo at Melanie Flood Projects

Last month, we interviewed local curator Melanie Flood.  Here's info on the latest photography show in her home: Exhibition Dates: November 8 -- December 2, 2009 Reception: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 6-9pm

Melanie Flood Projects is pleased to present "Untitled Gentlemen", a solo exhibit of photographs by Erica Allen.

A series of fictional photographic portraits exploring representations and constructions of identity. Created with faces from contemporary barbershop hairstyle posters and figures from found studio photographs, this work gives new value and meaning to otherwise discarded and primarily functional photographs.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Erica Allen is a Brooklyn based artist originally from Oakland, California. She received her MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts in 2008. Recent awards included the Women in Photography (WIP-Lightside Individual Project) runner-up grant. She has previously exhibited at the Camera Club of New York, the Broadway Gallery and Visual Arts Gallery in New York City. www.ericaallenphoto.com

ABOUT THE GALLERY

Melanie Flood Projects is a contemporary salon-style gallery operating from the home of Melanie Flood, aimed toward creating a comfortable environment for the enjoyment and dialogue of the arts. Artists & art lovers are offered a meeting place to come together in a personal, domestic setting.

For more information about the exhibit, the gallery, or to RSVP please contact:

Melanie Flood Projects 186 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205 mfloodprojects@gmail.com

Karaoke at Tamboril

It once seemed like there were no local options to do karaoke in the neighborhood.  Now we have another karaoke locale!  Tamboril is now offering karaoke on Tuesdays, plus 2-for-1 happy hour drink specials from 5:30 - 7:30.

Tamboril 527 Myrtle Ave (bt Grand and Steuben) Brooklyn, NY 11205-2605 www.tamborilnyc.com (718) 622-5130

Brooklyn Junior Opens on Clinton Avenue

Regular BK Flea Vendor Brooklyn Junior has opened their very own shop on Clinton Ave, just north of Myrtle.  They celebrated their grand opening on October 31.  Read more from their inaugural press release: What happened when a couple of artists had kids and then found that the children's wear market was hopelessly lacking in the clothes they really wanted their children to wear? They let the DIY spirit move them and turned into entrepreneurs – and Brooklyn Junior was born. This Halloween, owner Nadia Georgiou opens the doors of Brooklyn Junior’s new Clinton Hill shop, located at 150 Clinton Ave (corner or Myrtle), for the first time.

Since 2008 Brooklyn Junior has been selling colorful, chic and unique clothing for babies and kids on the web at brooklynjunior.com as well as at the Brooklyn Flea in Ft. Greene and Dumbo. Nadia’s popular designs include bright kimonos, super soft silkscreened tees featuring drills, fire hydrants, and headphones, baby onesies in adorable colors and patterns, and lots more to please all kids from newborns to six-year-olds. And now, for the first time, they’re under one roof on Clinton Avenue – along with colorful toys and accessories.

But Brooklyn Junior’s Clinton Avenue space isn’t just a store – it’s Nadia’s workshop, too. Half the space displays the designs in a shop setting, and half houses the actual place where Brooklyn Junior designs happen. It’s a rare and fascinating glimpse into the process behind the designs – and it takes a true artist to be willing to display the materials.

See our interview with Nadia here!

CHB Interviews: Jeff Arancherry

Jeff Arancherry grew up in Westchester county. He started playing bass at 15 and slowly starting picking up percussion instruments as his interest in music grew. After college, he was able to purchase enough equipment to create quality demos, but found that he lacked the time to learn how to use any of it due to his new career. After switching careers and moving to Brooklyn, he joined Bella Watt, to which he contributed songwriting and arranging. He currently teaches high school math in Brooklyn and uses his free time working on various projects, including transcontinental collaboration the Death Valley Girls.

Do you live in Fort Greene or Clinton Hill and how long have you lived here? I live in Fort Greene and I've been here for about 5 years.

Where did you move here from? I moved here from Stamford, CT, where 16 year-olds drive cars that my parents can't afford.

As a musician who's played in a few different projects, how do you feel about playing music in NYC? Is it harder or easier than other places? NY pretty much has a scene for everyone. The opportunities for collaboration with musicians who have a diverse musical background are much more plentiful than, say, Stamford.  However, there is such a large quantity of music being produced here that the chances of getting decent exposure are minimal. From the perspective of one who wishes to play in front a packed room of strangers, doing music here is harder than other places because there's always some other band playing somewhere else. In the end though, the optimist in me believes that this causes the driven musician to refine and develop her or his sound to increase the chances of reaching a larger audience. The cynic in me recognizes that this also causes struggling bands to disproportionally focus on image and promotion rather than the music itself.

What are your favorite places to see live music in the city? In the neighborhood? How about your favorite places to play? For venues in the city, I really love the sound at Webster Hall Studio. I've never heard live guitars sound so full before. I try to avoid going to shows at larger venues simply because I enjoy being able to tune in to individual instruments to understand how each one contributes to the overall sound. In our hood, I've seen Mum at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. It was pretty nice to be able to walk 3 minutes to get to a show.  It's really a beautiful place, and the sound was great, especially considering how many musicians were on stage. I also like seeing music at the Paul Robeson Theatre, another gorgeous spot. As for places to places to play, Mercury Lounge, Pianos, and Ace of Clubs (formerly Acme Underground) have amazing people working the sound. Monkey Town is also a pretty unique place to play.

What are you listening to right now? I'm really into Cornelius' Sensuous right now. I feel as if every few years I come across an album that completely changes the way I think about music. Sensuous is definitely one of those, as was Miles Davis's Bitches Brew and Live/Evil, Prefuse 73's Vocal Studies, pretty much every Meshuggah album, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, and Squarepusher's Music is Rotted. Other bands I'm currently into are Irepress (Boston), 375000 Yen (Paris), Hailu Mergia and the Walias (Ethiopia), and 1980 (Paris). I spent a month in Peru this summer and came back with a bunch of Cumbia from the 60's that I've been jamming out to. I've also been revisiting Sunny Real Estate after seeing them at Terminal 5 a couple of weeks ago. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a new album from those guys.

Do you have any shows coming up? I don't have any shows schedule right now. I just started a new instrumental band with a couple of new dudes I met recently as well as a drummer I played with in an older band. We don't have a name or demos yet, but we should be playing shows by January.

Listen to Jeff's solo project here.

Lunchtime With Tillie: Red Bamboo

Hey everyone! It’s Van and Tillie, and for our latest culinary adventure, we boldly went where no Van had gone before: vegan/vegetarian restaurant Red Bamboo on Dekalb Avevue. Now, I know my record of past lunch choices (any place with a big, juicy hamburger) might not support this claim, but I promise Red Bamboo had always been on my radar. The bold aromas as I’ve walked by with Tillie on the way to the playgrounds in the area piqued my curiosity: “Man, what’s going on in there?” I’ve often asked myself. “Maybe I’ll give it a shot one day,” I’ve answered, then moved on.

But after getting called out by Tillie’s mom, Tillie’s mom’s mom and just for good measure, my mom, about my recent bacon and cheese run, I figured I need to do something maybe a teensy-bit different the next time out. A suggestion from among the comments in the last LWT made me see that this was my time for the Red Bamboo foray.

We went on another one of those late-sleeping-Tillie days, but I was a little more prepared to stave off starvation. I ate a small plate of some leftovers at the start of her nap, and that held me over. The leftovers had a dual purpose, too: They were kind of a pre-backup plan for Red Bamboo, because I had no idea what I’d be getting into there – you know, what if I just didn’t like it? I had never been to a vegetarian restaurant; this could be tough.

Anyway, when she finally woke up, I was prepared for us to roll out immediately with her lunch packed and some snacks. When we got there, I was hoping to sit outside, but the tables weren’t set up. It was nice out, but it had been raining for the past two-and-a-half days, so that made sense.  I rolled her in, and we had our pick of where to sit, so I chose a nice, plush booth and Tillie got the high-chair treatment.

While I’m looking over the menu, the waitress arrived with a glass of water for both Tillie and me. Tillie didn’t have the using-the-straw-on-her-own thing down yet, but it was good to have backup for us! And about the menu: I looked through the whole thing before going to the lunch section, and I have to say it all looked really appetizing! The lunch menu, which ran from noon to 4, continued that and it took me a while to decide on what I wanted. It’s split into three price sections – $5.95, $6.95 and $7.95 – all of which seemed reasonable to me. And whatever you pick comes with your choice of soup, salad or collard green roll. I decided to go with the soy butterfly chops and collard greens with the calalloo soup.

Also, this go-around, even though I brought along lunch for Tillie, I wanted to order her something off the menu (her very first dish specifically for her!), so I got a side of the sweet corn mashed potatoes.

As we’re waiting for the food, Tillie seemed restless. Looking back, I probably shouldn’t have put her in a stroller mere minutes after waking up. Plus the fact that she managed to actually stand up in her high chair despite being buckled down at one point would indicate she wanted to be running around!

After strapping her back her down, my soup arrived. I never had this type of soup before – a spicy broth with spinach, okra and onions. Tillie was reaching for some, but I couldn’t give her any as it was just too hot for her, but it was very nice for me! Her mashed potatoes came out shortly thereafter. I had a bite of them first, and I was like, yum! These will be perfect for her! She had a few bites, but wasn’t devouring them like I thought she would, so I got out her little container of pasta I packed. My main course came out while I was feeding her: the breaded soy pork chops with an apple-raisin sauce on top and side of collard greens with vegetarian ham.

Here it was for me: the moment of truth. The soup and mashed potatoes were just precursors into the vegan world for me, this was the real deal. SOY chops? VEGETARIAN ham? Those things didn’t even sound like something I should be eating! But after the first bite, as with the soup and potatoes, I was hooked. The seasonings were perfect, and please take my word on this: As someone with the deepest of Southern roots by way of Louisiana and Alabama, I like to think I know what good collards taste like. And these were by far the best that I’ve had in the neighborhood, hands down, vegetarian ham and all!

Tillie had a bite of the greens, but she was really interested in the apples and raisins on top of my chops, along with her pasta. Despite wanting to eat all of the food in one sitting, I managed to get out of there with a chop left and a scoop of mashed potatoes. We got the bill, which was $13, and proceeded to pack up.

Now, our bill was in the double digits because of the extra potatoes, but as I mentioned earlier, the price selection they have is great. Our experience there was perfect with excellent service and wonderful food. I learned that I can’t take Tillie from crib to stroller to high chair in one fell swoop. And I also learned that I can thoroughly enjoy a vegan meal. I can’t wait to go back!

Marathon Madness!

The NYC Marathon will make its way down Lafayette Avenue this Sunday!  It's a great time in the neighborhood- local bands play, people blast music, neighbors cheer in the street.

Want to watch the marathon with kids?  Head down to Still Hip, who will be partying with noisemakers and banners (and bloody marys for mom and dad at Mirrors).

Myrtle Holiday Windows Returns!

It's hard to believe that the holiday season is almost here once again.  That said, Saturday is November 1!

Myrtle Ave Partnership will once again be coordinating a holiday window painting contest for storefronts on Myrtle Ave.  If you're artistically inclined, please consider submitting an idea.  last year's entries were awesome.

The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership is excited to announce the second annual Myrtle Holiday Windows Contest!

To usher in this holiday season we’re inviting local artists to use storefront windows along Myrtle Avenue as a canvas for festive holiday art, and to compete for some great prizes at the same time! The goal of the project is to bring contemporary art and holiday cheer to the Myrtle Avenue streetscape while helping to promote both local businesses and artists. Artists or small teams of artists will be paired with local merchants to create a festive holiday window design in a portion of the storefront window.

The window ‘decorating’ must occur Thursday, November 12^th through Sunday November 15^th, bringing creative holiday spirit – and hopefully shoppers – to Myrtle Avenue throughout the weekend. The holiday windows will be on display through the end of December and all visitors and shoppers will be able to vote via text message for their favorite storefront design until Sunday, December 13^th (winners will be announced shortly afterward).  The top three designs will be awarded Myrtle Avenue gift certificates valued at $250 (first place), $100 (second place) and $50 (third place).

Visit our blog from last year to view the winning windows: http://www.myrtleavenue.org/blog/index.cfm/2008/12/29/And-the-Winners-Are

Visit our Flickr site for photos of all the 2008 holiday windows:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/myrtleavenue/sets/72157611024719538/

Guidelines:

• The materials used to create the holiday window scene may include paint, lights, paper, or any other material agreed upon between the artist and the merchant.  Be creative!
• If paint is used, it must be temporary and easily removable (all products applied to the windows must be removable and must not damage the glass in any way). Painting will take place on the INSIDE surface of the storefront window.
• The Partnership will supply a $50 stipend per storefront window to cover supplies and services.
• If selected, artists must commit to painting their assigned window between Thursday November 12^th and Monday November 16^th. This time can be determined during discussions with the merchant partner.
• Artists must include the Myrtle merchant in the design process to ensure that the concept is appropriate for their business.   At least one, in-person meeting to discuss preliminary ideas is required.  The merchants are very excited about this project, and looking forward to working with a local artist. Some of the most popular designs in 2008 creatively incorporated the business theme somehow. This is not required, just an idea to provide some inspiration!

How to apply to become a Myrtle Holiday Windows ARTIST:

Please send the following VIA EMAIL to Meredith@myrtleavenue.org by Wednesday, November 4^th:

• Name, address, telephone and email contact information
• Select up to three Myrtle Avenue businesses that you would like to work with from the list below(or you can let us pair you with a Myrtle merchant if you don’t have a preference).
• Very briefly, tell us about your proposed design ideas for the storefront window.
• A simple sketch, photo or other imagery that represents your idea would be very helpful
• Photos or links to examples of your past work.

Fort Greene Offers Some of the Best Deals on Bike Tune-Ups

Wallet-friendly blog Brokelyn, focusing on ways to enjoy our borough without breaking the bank, recently went on a hunt to find the most honest and reasonable bicycle tuneup.  I'm proud to report that he found his best, and friendliest, deals in Fort Greene (Bicycle Station and Bespoke). Well-done, local businesses!

Check out the story here.

Halloween Festivity Roundup

Just so you have a listing of all of the great stuff going on this Saturday: *The Fort Greene Park Conservancy Halloween Festival, 12-3 pm, in the park.  This event includes games, entertainment, costume parade, free pumpkins, hay rides and more for kids of all ages. It is a thrill, so make sure to come. SCH is a co-sponsor and loves to do this for the kids.

*The Great Pupkin Dog Costume Contest, registration at 11:30, judging at noon – 1 pm. New location: on the steps of the Monument for observers and on the lower terrace for the dogs (in costume.) Finally everyone can see these hilarious pups in their refinery.

*Society for Clinton Hill Halloween Walk, 5-6:30 pm. Kids, in costume with parents, pick up maps of generous homes at the Pratt/SCH garden at DeKalb/Hall. Great treats and even greater decorations!

*313 Clinton Avenue Carnival of Carnage, shows run every 30 minutes between 5 – 8 pm. This year’s circus theme is more extravagant than ever before and will amaze all spectators. Talk about unbelievable acts…fire balls, weird things and more. The street will be closed off and multiple homes will be participating. SCH is a major sponsor of the fun.

In addition, there are many, many homes with decorations and treats even in addition to those on the map, so get out and see and enjoy! The entire neighborhood is alive with decorations and fun.

UPDATE:

Saturday, October 31 | all day block party at Still Hip on Grand at Lafayette: The street is closed off and we are going to have Halloween fun all day! Here is what we have scheduled so far:

• 11-2 face painting
• 11-3 - portraits by Orrie King
• 1pm - Rolie Polie Guacamole
• 2pm - Let's Dance Brooklyn performance
• 3pm - Pistachio: A Brooklyn Girl Made From Trash
• 4pm - Grand Avenue March of the Costumes!
• 5pm - LIG funk band
• + MORE

"Clinton Hell" on NY1

Check out the news piece on NY1 featuring the extravaganza at 313 Clinton Avenue here!

B38: Still Crappy

My new job necessitates taking the R train at DeKalb, so I am back to taking the B38 (at least on days when I am wearing heels).  Today, I saw a huge crowd waiting for the bus and groaned.  And then four (yes, FOUR) B38s pulled up, all in a row.  Seriously?  They still haven't worked this out? And btw, why does the B38 now turn down Ashland?  Is it because of the new building construction? $!@&!!!

My Favorite Haunted House: Finally For Sale

When I first moved to the neighborhood, almost the entire row of houses on the east side of Waverly between Greene and Gates were boarded up.  Now, just one remains.  It's long been a favorite of mine, as I watched its neighbors get redone and once again become beautiful homes. Now, this last shell standing is for sale, through Brooklyn Properties.

This purchase is not for someone looking to move right in.  The listing states:

Shell property in Historic Clinton Hill for sale by auction on November 12, 2:30 pm in Judge Betsy Barros' Chambers, State Supreme Court, 360 Adames St. Part 76G, room 575, Brooklyn, NY 11201.

Requirement: Buyer must be prepared to make immediate emergency repairs to back wall and roof. Both DOB and LPC are prepared to expedite permits for repairs.

Price: $450,000

I hope someone will give this place the love it needs.

Renovation on Vanderbilt

I've noticed it a few times and a reader recently called it to my attention - the carriage house that used to house a preschool, and that was once a candy workers' union, is undergoing a rehab inside: whats up in the space on vanderbilt next to the yellow carriage house -- looks like a new school or something? betw, dekalb and lafayette.

For some reason, I assumed it was a residential renovation.  I thought maybe I saw it on Brownstoner, but I couldn't find it just now when I did a search.  Anyone know for sure what's up?

The Great PUPkin: Saturday, October 31

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!)

Lunchtime With Tillie: Maggie Brown

“Must … get … food. Somehow, someway … must eat.” Those, my friends, are the words of a hungry man whose daughter is transitioning to a later naptime.

Hey everyone, It’s Van and Little Miss New Nap Schedule Tillie, with more “Lunchtime” adventures. I was almost afraid we’d have to change the name to “Dinner With Tillie” since she’s sleeping now from late morning to early afternoon. But we made it out before Happy Hour and went to Maggie Brown on Myrtle Avenue for our latest excursion.

So our day, like most LWT days, started off pretty regularly: There was nothing major on the agenda, except for a little playground action, which we knocked out in the morning. We came home and I tried to put her to sleep, thinking she’d be up at a reasonable hour for lunch. Well, turns out that plan of mine wasn’t what she was looking to do, which she made pretty clear to me by jumping up and down in her crib. I took her out of it and brought her to her little play area with the idea of that winding her down. But by the time she started showing some signs of exhaustion, it was 12:30! That’s around the time we go out! I guess she’s good, but what was I going to do? The only thing I had for breakfast was a snack pack of Lorna Doone cookies!

I could’ve fixed something or ordered delivery, but that would’ve been pretty lame: “Lunchtime With Tillie’s at Van’s House.” And this was the only day this week we were going to be able to go out, working around our busy story-time and play-group schedule. So I buckled down and got ready for the test of my endurance. After two hours and some change, just when I started hallucinating and seeing visions of pizzas dancing around my head, she woke up! Sure, it was 2:45, but I figured we could make it out quick enough. Good thing I packed up her stroller with her food while she was out.

We’re walking down the street to our original destination, and all I can think of is “food, here I come!” Then Tillie starts coughing and the next thing I know, she spits up all over herself! So we took a U-turn back to the house, threw on some fresh gear and were out once again.

As it was now about 3:15 and I was about to start eating Tillie’s Goldfish crackers, I figured we should go somewhere a little closer to the house. Maggie Brown, which is almost across the street (and makes one of the best burgers around), was the way to go.

We got there and the dining room area was completely empty. It was a nice day, so everyone must be outside, I thought, so we might as well join them. There was only one other table seated, to my advantage, as there would be fewer obstacles to getting a quick meal.

I took a look at the menu to make sure there was nothing new to veer me away from my usual: a Maggie Brown burger with bacon and cheese. (I know I write about them a lot, but I promise there’s more to my diet than bacon and cheese!) I placed my order, then took out Tillie’s food: some elbow macaroni with spaghetti sauce, zucchini and spinach I made the day before for her. Tillie’s mom and I thought this would be a good way to get the baby some green veggies in her system. I got called out the day before by TM for the lack of vegetables in the pasta and I was all defensive, telling her I just cut them small; that’s why it doesn’t look like a lot.

As I fed Tillie this serving, though, I realized her food was pretty skimpy on the spinach and zucchini. So after calling Tillie’s mom and apologizing for being indignant, I went back to feeding Tillie.

Before T got halfway through her food, mine came out (I guess there’s something to be said for late dining) and it was one of the most beautiful sights my eyes had come across all day (after T and TM, of course)! I ate a couple of those golden-brown fries to appease my appetite as I still had Tillie-feeding to do. I gave Tillie a couple of more bites of her light-on-the-veggies pasta before taking a bite of my big, juicy burger, which was just perfect. Maggie Brown does the bacon cheeseburger right: Melt the cheese over the bacon, then you don’t have rogue pieces slipping out and you get the winning combination in every bite. Amazing!

After that first bite, I knew I needed more right away. I didn’t bring any finger food for Tillie to eat, but luckily, I could slip her a fry or two or eight to manage while I worked on the burger. Then I could work in more macaroni for her, too. It was a delicate operation, but we pulled it off! She had half a banana for dessert and then we started to pack up.

I would say the whole experience was worth the wait. We got to sit outside on a lovely afternoon, I had a great lunch with excellent service and Tillie was in a pleasant, well-rested mood. My meal wasn’t the cheapest on the block at $12.50 (adding bacon and cheese will get you every time), but was well worth it. If you have the inclination and time to spare, I recommend going. It’s a perfect spot for the post-nap crowd!

PACC's 45th Anniversary

Tomorrow, PACC celebrates its 45th Anniversary.  After the fancy dinner celebration, join in the much more affordable after party:

Lovely Reno on Waverly

A few years ago, 424-26 Waverly Ave was covered in stone with a front porch filled with Sponge Bob trinkets and mirrors.  Now it looks to be undergoing a great renovation!

I can't wait to see what the finished product looks like.

Autumn Gardening in Fort Greene Park

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.