Prospect Park Pedal Boat Rental Season Starts This Week-End

Sunday, May 3, 2009 Pedal Boats open for the season at Prospect Park! Details: Cruise Brooklyn’s only freshwater Lake in a pedal boat – it’s so much fun, you won’t even notice you’re getting exercise! Rentals at Wollman Rink, near the Parkside and Ocean Ave. entrance. Free parking. Pedal Boat season runs through mid-October.Location: Lakeside, by the Wollman Rink at Prospect ParkCost: $15 plus tax for a one- hour rental, plus $10 refundable...

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Love Brooklyn? Proud To Be From Brooklyn? Why Not Show It! Click HereFor Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...

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Picture Of The Day: A Must See On President Street

If you do nothing elsein the next few days,make sure to passthe corner of President and Smith Streets.There, for just a few days,you will see the three Red Bud trees bloomingin Carroll Park.But hurry up.Their amazing splendor only lasts a few days,and then,puff,it is gonetill next yearat the same ti...

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Regarding Gowanus Superfund Designation, Our Local Pols Are Showing Incredible Lack Of Leadership

From the moment it was made public that the E.P.A. had proposed the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site, our local politicians have shown an incredible lack of leadership and an amazing disregard for their constituents' health. Pardon me for asking, but are they collectively committing political suicide?Since Walter Mugden, of the US EPA stated at a public forum two weeks ago that the Gowanus Canal was so severely polluted that it easily fit the...

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Sign "Superfund Gowanus " Petition And Lets Finally Clean The Canal

The Superfund Gowanus petition is now up. I urge you to take a minute to sign it.It reads:The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agrees the Gowanus is an "Estuary of National Significance" and is "unbelievably highly contaminated" with tar, PCBs, sewage, lead, mercury and arsenic. The EPA has the tools to lead a comprehensive and inclusive cleanup. Our community has known for generations that this is a toxic public health hazard. Spot cleanup...

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Guided Tour Of Carroll Gardens 'Mom-And-Pop' Stores This Saturday

Mom & Pop Shops of Court Street - Guided Walking Tour - 12 P.M. SATURDAY, MAY 2nd Starting point: Court Street Sam's Restaurant,Corner of Baltic Street BROOKLYN On May 2nd join guide John Heyer, as he takes us through time to explore the rich history and flavors of Carroll Gardens' Historic Mom & Pop Court Street. The Tour will stop at Court Pastry Shop, D'Amico Coffee, Scotto Wine, Caputo Bakery, Marco Polo Restaurant, Esposito...

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Rock On In Carroll Park This Summer

On behalf of the Committee to Improve Carroll Park, we are pleased to announce that:THE CARROLL PARK CONCERT SERIES RETURNS ON JUNE 14th!! Additional Concerts will be held July 15, July 29, and Aug 8. All concerts at 4 pm. Check our new and improved website for details on lineup and sponsors. Recently highlighted in Time Out New York Kids’ Neighborhood Report, the Carroll Park Concert Series is back for Summer 2009. This delightful...

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Picture Of The Day: Fire Escape Garden

Oh! Life In Brooklyn...A few clay pots,four bright red geraniumsand a pale blue hydrangeaturn a fire escape intoa third floor garden.How pret...

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Local Pastry Shops Officially Open Italian Ices Season In Carroll Gardens

Monteleone's At 355 Court Streetand.... Court Street Pastry Shop at 298 Court Street a few blocks away90 degree weather in April prompted our local pastry shops to open Italian Ices season. Both Monteleone's and Court Street Pastry had their little side windows wide open to customers.Now I know that there are some in the neighborhood who exclusively frequent one or the other, swearing that one makes better ices and has better cookies than the...

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Brooklyn Independent Television's Brooklyn Review Takes A Look At The Gowanus Superfund Site Nomination

From BROOKLYN INDEPENDENT TELEVISION'S BROOKLYN REVIEW , this look at the Gowanus Canal and the Superfund Site Designation. Featuring Walter Mugden of the US EPA and David Von Spreckelsen, Toll Brothers V.P.Take a look. It is very interesting.For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...

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Picture Of The Day: Bird And Blooms

Sitting amidst the blooms of my neighbor's peach treeand the crisscrossed telephone wires,a female cardinal takes a break from building her nestin my gard...

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Best Reader Comment Of The Day

Comment left on Borough President Markowitz's Weighs In (???) On Gowanus Superfund DesignationNo opinion? His aide John Heyer, who is running for City Council in the 39th district, mentioned cancer and miscarriages last Saturday. Then he said today he still was not afraid to live near the canal. And, a few short weeks ago, the EPA explained the toxicity of the canal thoroughly and offered to help with federal monies. And Markowitz has no opinion?...

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Borough President Markowitz Weighs In (???) On Gowanus Superfund Designation

BP Marty Markowitz and his staffDo you remember, dear Reader, that I attended the Blogger Breakfast last week hosted by BP Markowitz? Over coffee and bagels, a lively discussion ensued regarding what role blogs play in covering the news in Brooklyn. Markowitz and his staff told the bloggers in attendance that he will gladly extend access to his office for information and statements.Of course, I asked for a statement on the Gowanus Canal's nomination...

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President Street In Spring

A glimpse at President Street in spring time by reader Alexandrea.These lovely shots were taken between Smith and Hoyt Streets.I especially like the photo of the cast-iron posts.Thanks, Alexandrea....

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Picture Of The Day: Gowanus Tree Blooming

In the back of an empty parking lotnear the Gowanus Canal,a tree blooms majestically,proving that beauty can be found in the most unlikely plac...

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90 Degrees In April Means Long Lines At Ice Cream Truck

Long Lines On Carroll Street, in front of the ice-cream vendorA very happy ice-cream vendorNothing cools you off better on a very hot week-end day in April than a nice cool ice cream. The little ice cream truck in front of Carroll Park on Carrol Street was doing a brisk business over the week-end.There was quite a line forming in front of it. It must have been terribly hard for the children, having to wait patiently for their turn.The ice-cream...

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The "Dazzle Me" After-Party

The "Dazzle Me" after-partyHouse Of Pizza's Grandma pieIt was a true privilege to be working on the 39th Council District's "Dazzle Me" Forum with some of my very favorite people in the neighborhood. Each and every one of them is an incredibly intelligent, extremely well spoken and inspiring individual. The forum could not have turned out better. The audience consisted of both young and old residents, old -timers as well as new residents,...

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39th Council District Candidates Submit To Tough Questioning At 'Dazzle Me' Forum

"Dazzle Me" moderators Rita Miller and Vincent JosephJosh SkallerGary ReillyDavid PechefskyJohn HeyerBob ZuckermanBrad LanderThis last Saturday, it may have been almost 90 degrees outside, but on stage, in the Carroll Gardens Library meeting room, it was even hotter. For almost two hours, the six candidates for the 39th Council district seat, currently held by Bill DeBlasio, were subjected to tough questioning on issues that are important to Carroll...

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Hey, Neighbor! Pardon Me For Asking, But...

It's Friday! That means its time for the question of the week. I promise that it will be the last one about food for a while. So far, I asked you what restaurant you would miss most if you ever had to move away from Carroll Gardens. Then, I inquired about your favorite neighborhood bakery, the best mozzarella in the hood and last week, we discussed the ultimate cookie to be found in Carroll Gardens.So, this (still) being an Italian neighborhood,...

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A Moment In Time: Help, Please!

After her doll carriage accidentally flipped overin the monument area of Carroll Parkshe was determined to seek help.She did not have to look long,for an adult came to the rescue momentari...

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A Teeny Tiny New Carroll Gardener

Please say hi to Alaia, a brand new Carroll Gardener. She is the newborn daughter of my wonderful friends David and Carolina.Welcome, Alaia! You'll be running in Carroll Gardens with the best of them in no time!For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...

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The Chant Of A Carroll Gardens Mockingbird

Over the loud hum of traffic, A very small creature insistently sings his song.It is a mockingbird. See it right there, sitting on the limb of a berry bush.He seems disappointed that his chant is ignore.For only if you stand still and listen for a whileDo you appreciate his vocal talent?For Home Page, click Pardon Me For Ask...

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Blogger Breakfast With BP Markowitz And Staff

Yesterday morning, bright and early at 8:15 Am, Borough President Marty Markowitz and his staff sat down with a group of Brooklyn bloggers. By his own admission, our BP has not quite gotten passed the email stage, but is quick to add that his wife is an avid blog reader. He seems to be interested in learning more about it and in reaching out to Brooklyn bloggers who write about local politics, developments and local issues. It is also clear that...

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