Local Clothing And Accessory Designers Holiday Event At Deity On Atlantic Avenue

From Raina Blyer's new collection: Creem
at www.iloveryann.com

Why not support local clothing and accessory designers this holiday season? Check out the Design & Dine event at Deity, find out what the new trends are and take care of some of your shopping. Read on:

Design & Dine @ Deity in Brooklyn

Thursday December 10th 2009

Local clothing and accessory designers holiday event

What: “Design & Dine” at Deity in Brooklyn is announcing it’s launch event, offering the Brooklyn community an opportunity to shop and dine on both floors of the beautiful Deity Supper Club and lounge. Through out the night, Deity will be serving up a special Prix Fixe menu upstairs to patrons for $25. All guests will receive one complimentary “Design & Dine” cocktail of Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur & Champagne, additional “Design & Dine” cocktails are at a special price of $5.

Who: Local clothing, jewelry and accessory designers.

Why: “Design & Dine” was created to promote local, Brooklyn based designers and businesses within their community. By promoting local design and local business, we are strengthening our local identity and local economy.

When: Thursday December 10^rd from 5-10pm.

Where: Deity Brooklyn, 368 Atlantic Ave between Hoyt and Bond.

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A Moment In Time: Bringing The Tree Home

Thanksgiving was hardly over,
when thoughts turned to Christmas
for some Carroll Gardeners.

Under blue sky and balmy temperatures,
some began the ceremonial " buying of the tree."

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Old Blockbuster Space Continuing Its Slow But Steady Transformation Into a 'Union Market'

The old Blockbuster space at 288 Court Street is continuing its slow but steady transformation into a Union Market, purveyor of fine food .
Big posters in the storefront's windows now easily identify the space as the future home of local, organic and prepared food. A glimpse into the now almost completed space revealed new gleaming refrigeration units.
Can the cheese, bread and olive oil be far behind? It looks as though the estimated opening in December is right on schedule.



Related reading:
Union Market On Court Street Moving Along Nicely


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Dandelion Boutique Replaces Jewelery Store On Court Street

Once the home of Casale/ Carroll Gardens Jewelers, the small storefront at 306 Court Street, has become home to the 'Dandelion Boutique', a small women's wear and accessory store at 306 Court Street. The boutique just opened its doors two weeks ago.
I popped in on Wednesday and was pleasantly surprised by the small but interesting selection of clothing items. The store also carries handbags and jewelery.

It almost seems bold to open a small boutique, especially since so many similar stores have closed on Court Street recently. Lets see if Dandelion can succeed in this tougher economic climate. I wish them luck.

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Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Dear Friends,

I would like to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving and hope that you have lots to be thankful for.

I am staying right here in Brooklyn this week-end and am looking forward to a quiet holiday with my family and friends.
The turkey is defrosting in the refrigerator, the wine is chilled and the table is already set.

Have a great time everyone, and if you are traveling out of town, have a great trip!




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Picture Of The Day: Almost Bare

"I hope you don't mind,
but I have to take a photo of this spot"
said the blogger to her friend
at mile 2 of their walk.

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Fire Damage Significant At 178 Smith Street

178 Smith Street back in February 2009

Burning 178 Smith Street building at around 9 AM
photo credit: Joe Calabrese

178 Smith Street on Tuesday afternoon

# 178 Smith Street was never the prettiest house on Smith Street. Clad in yellow aluminum siding, it housed a shoe repair store and a barber shop. At about 9 AM on Tuesday morning, the place went up in flames. The damage is significant. It most probably needs to be torn down.

Judging by the photo of the burning building, the fire started in the shoe repair shop.

By 4 PM, workers were getting ready to secure the burnt building with plywood. A small crowd had gathered across the street, obviously shocked by what they saw. Someone pointed at a bookshelf visible through the third floor window. The flames had left it undamaged.




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Local Pediatrician To Make H1N1 Vaccine Available To Community Residents Today

I received word yesterday from Zipporah Dvash, Asst. VP of Public Affairs & Development at Long Island College Hospital, that the H1N1 vaccine is available through local pediatrician Stephen Turner.
Read on for more information from Zipporah.

Although this is short notice, please be advised that local pediatrician Stephen Turner, MD, received sufficient quantities of the H1N1 vaccine and so will be making the shot available tomorrow to community residents (children AND adults) who wish to come and be vaccinated. There is a $20 administrative fee.
No appointment is necessary.

Location: 185 Montague St., 4th floor
Time: 1:00 – 4:00 pm
Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009

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Comment Of The Day: Ambience And Decor Gone Amiss

Bacchus has left the following comment on the post "First Diners At Café Mei Mei On Court Street":

I had dinner there on Sunday night. While the menu, food and service were nicely executed, the ambiance and decor had completely gone amiss. We couldn't help but notice the restaurant's design reflected a frozen yogurt shop with bright lighting to boot. The music selection was also odd and unfit. 90's grunge rock with a sprinkle of Johnny Cash. Not the kind of mood I'm looking for if I'm spending $18 on an appetizer. Hopefully, these kinks will work themselves out as time progresses.

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Picture Of The Day: Cold November Day

On this wet and cold November day,
she had to remind herself,
that the days would get longer soon
and that spring was really just a few months away.

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A Look Back In Time: About Principal Samuel Mills Sprole And Public School 32 On Hoyt Street

Former Public School 32 Building on Hoyt Street
at the corner of President Street

Current Samuel Mills Sproke School,
PS 32 Building at the same location.

Though I have passed Public School 32 on Hoyt Street many times and have attended my fair share of meetings in the auditorium, I never really took notice of the official name of the school. Yet it is spelled out in big silver letters right over the front entrance : Samuel Mills Sprole.

Mr. Sprole, it turns out, was the school's principal for thirty-two years, from the school's beginning in 1873 until his death in 1905.
Reader Alexandrea did notice the name, investigated and found Sprole's obituary, published in the New York Times in 1905.
According to the article, he was extremely dedicated to the school and educated "many men now prominent in various walks of life in Brooklyn."

However, Sprole's school building was a beautiful brownstone building which does not exist any more. Instead, the present building was erected in the early 1950's at the same location. ( I was told that a shovel from the 1949 ground breaking is displayed in the school.)
What a pity, really. The original building, with its cast iron fence, is so much more attractive.

Thanks, Alexandrea, for this great bit of neighborhood history.

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Community Board 6 Chosen To Test "We Are Looking Into It" Street Decals To Identify Reported '311' Road Conditions

This just in from Community Board 6 Manager Craig Hammerman. Our district has been chosen as a test area for the city's new orange street repair stickers. On Monday, November 23rd, the new marking will be used to identify road conditions called in by residents through the 311 system.
Supposedly, this will give residents a way of tracking the city's coordinated response to the problem. The bright orange sticker's "NYC: We Are Looking Into It" slogan may, however, quickly turn into a joke if the city takes too long to execute repairs.

If you, dear Reader, spot the first such sticker in the neighborhood, drop me a line or send me a photo to post.


More information on this city initiative below:

New York City Marks the Spot (in Brooklyn Community Board 6)

Beginning November 23, 2009 you may notice some changes on the streets in your neighborhood.

New York City inspectors will test street decals as an innovative approach to marking pavement for repair on City Streets.

Why will the City mark the spot?

These markings (pictured on flyer) are used to identify and mark roadway conditions reported by customers for repair and to let everyone know that the City is coordinating repair of the issue and to mind the hazard.

When a customer calls 311 to report a condition for repair, a City inspector will visit the site and determine the necessary next steps. For many issues, private companies, utilities or other City agencies may be required to respond which may influence the duration of repair. City inspectors will affix a small, bright orange decal adjacent to the site. For issues that are repaired immediately, no decal will be used.

Customers will know the City is "looking into" repair of the issue.

What can customers expect?

This program is designed to provide customers with greater transparency of how the City is responding to roadway issues and will not provide any obstruction to the roadway surface.

This pilot program will continue into 2010.


To learn more information about street conditions, please visit the reference materials section at www.nyc.gov/operations.

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EPA To Hold Public Informational Meeting Regarding Gowanus Canal Superfund Listing

The Carroll Gardens and Gowanus Canal communities will have a chance to hear directly from the Environmental Protection Agency on the proposed listing of the Gowanus Canal on the National Priority List as a Superfund site.

This will be an informational meeting about what the EPA has already done and how the agency proposes to proceed. On hand will be Walter Mugden, EPA Region 2 Director, and Christos Tsiamis, Remedial Project Manager.
Please do not miss this opportunity to get all the information about the proposed Superfund designation of this neighborhood's highly toxic canal.
Below is the meeting information from EPA:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--Region 2 (NJ, NY, PR, USVI)

EPA is hosting a public information meeting about the Gowanus Canal


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites you to attend a public information meeting to discuss upcoming activities at the Gowanus Canal.

Thursday, December 3, 2009
from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
in the auditorium of
P.S. 32
located at
317 Hoyt Street, Brooklyn, NY

This meeting will include a formal presentation followed by a question and answer period.

For more information about the meeting or other site related issues you can contact:

Natalie Loney
Community Involvement Coordinator
loney.natalie@epa.gov
(212) 637-3639 or 1-800-346-5009
Christos Tsiamis
Remedial Project Manager
tsiamis.christos@epa.gov
(212) 637-4257

Additional site related documents are available at:
www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/npl/gowanus/

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Hello Again, Brooklyn, New York

Just back from Arizona, dear Readers, and, despite the sad occasion, it was a very, very lovely trip. The week-end was spent amidst family, sharing memories, tears and laughter.
And under a brilliant sun and the bluest sky, my husband and I had time to take a walk through the most spectacular landscape early one morning .
Thankfully, I did not see the warning about coyotes, scorpions and rattlesnakes till after we returned. I may have decided to forgo the walk. And that would have been a real pity.

I will resume my regular Brooklyn posts as soon as I unpack and get a good night's sleep.





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Dear Readers,
I am off to Arizona for a few days to attend the memorial service for my father-in- law, who passed away on November 7th.

I promise, I will be back on Monday morning. In the meantime, please leave me your comments, send me your photos and your neighborhood stories so that I won't miss Carroll Gardens.

Cheers, Katia






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The Carroll Park Bocce Players Forgo Their Court For A Place In The Sun

It happens every year at the same time. When the days get shorter and deep shadows fall on Carroll Park's bocce court, the elderly players move to the benches on the opposite side, where the rays of the sun reach all day.
They were sitting there yesterday, engrossed in conversation.






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