This Memorial Day, Let's Honor Carroll Gardens' Servicemen At Carroll Park Memorial

Everyone here in the neighborhood knows the beautiful war memorial that stands in the center of Carroll Park, but few take the time to read the long list of names on the two bronze plaques attached to the side of the monument, commemorating those Carroll Gardeners who died in the service of this country.

This Memorial Day, lets take a moment to remember Franky Manning, Joseph Milori, Pasquale Muscillo and their comrades . Read on:

Memorial Day Ceremony In Carroll Park

Monday, May 31st – Noon

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance.

It is a day to honor our nation’s war dead.
It is a day to honor our veterans It is a day to pray for the safe return of all those presently serving in our military
oin Us As We Honor Their Sacrifice
And As We Place A Wreath At The War Memorial Monument

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What Exemplifies Brooklyn? For Brooklyn Director Spike Lee, It's The Stoop!

What exemplifies Brooklyn? For most, it's the Brooklyn Bridge, the Brooklyn Heights Promenade with its spectacular view, Coney Island and maybe the rickety old wooden Cyclone. To Brooklyn filmmmaker Spike Lee, it's the stoop. And if you happen to live right here, in New York's coolest borough, you know exactly what he means, right?

When asked by Absolut Vodka to collaborate on a limited "Absolut Brooklyn" edition, Spike Lee chose to feature a brownstone stoop on the specially- designed bottle.

And for those of you who are wondering, Absolut Brooklyn is a blend of red apples and ginger.

Related Post:

Cheers, Brooklyn! The Borough Gets Its Own Limited-Edition ABSOLUT Vodka

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Best Comment Of The Day: Not Another CVS

Karen has left the following comment on the post "'Home Court' Furniture Store On Court Street Closing":

I have never personally shopped at home court, but it is always sad to see a small locally owned establishment go out of business. Maybe we don't need any more high priced boutiques or bad mexican restaurants, but I think those options are certainly better than some big box store or chain pharmacy. Small businesses will come and go, some stick, some don't. That's a lot more interesting than another cvs... or overpriced super market.

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A Moment In Time: Sprinkler Fun In Carroll Park

Carroll Park was the place to be

on a steamy hot day

in May.

You see,

the sprinklers were on

and provided

instant

relief.

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The Sad End Of Monte's Venetian Room: Marshal Seizes Famous Gowanus Eatery

Long before some envisioned gondolas gliding on the fetid waters of the Gowanus Canal, there was Monte's Venetian Room. First opened in 1906 by the Montemarano Family, the restaurant has been steeped in local lore ever since. Once the playground of Sammy Davis Jr. and other members of the Rat Pack, the place had lost much of its luster in the last few decades. Sure, the red banquets and huge mural of Venice were still the same, but the interior, along with the staff and the food, had grown tired over the years.

Last owned by Toni Monti, the eatery at 451 Carroll Street between Third Avenue and Nevins Street, turned out Chef Luis Chuia's rather unimpressive veal saltimbocca or marsala and chicken parmesan. His Italian cheesecake continued to be famous outside of the neighborhood, though.

And then, just like that, one day the Venetian Room's doors closed in 2008 and never reopened after more than 100 years in business at that location.
It was rumored that the place was going to be renovated, but nothing of the kind ever happened. Dust slowly accumulated on the bar, banquettes and tables.

It now seems that there is one last twist in the restaurant's long and troubled history. A Marshal's Legal Possession notice was posted on the premise's window on May 19th. It is an order to vacate the ground floor commercial space as well as the parking lot next door.

It is indeed a sad end to this Gowanus eatery. I am glad that I ate there at least once about six years ago, though by then, it was clear that its hey days were long over. If I remember right, my friends and I were the only ones in the place on a Saturday evening. Choosing a dish from the extensive menu was frustrating since the kitchen seemed to be out of almost everything. After the rather sorry meal, the elderly waiter with the lovely South Brooklyn accent handed us the dessert menu, but prefaced by saying that the only thing available was the cheesecake.
"It's the best Italian cheesecake in Brooklyn" he told us.
Though it seemed like a waste of money back then, I don't regret having had the chance to soak up the Venetian Rooms 'atmosphere' before it faded away. And I can now honestly say, I will miss the place. Somehow, the neighborhood is a bit poorer without it.

Here is a brief history of Monte's Venetian Room by Lyn Stallworth and Rod Kennedy, Jr. from their wonderful 1991 The Brooklyn Cookbook:

Nick Montemarano's father and mother, Angelo and Filomena, opened their no-frills, home-style Angelo's Tavern in 1906. Nick was born in 1916, in the family apartment upstairs. Nick and his brothers, Rocco, Vincent, Michael, Peter, Angelo, and Joseph, worked in the tavern as they were growing up.
When the boys came back from the service after the war, Angelo's Tavern got a massive facelift and became Monte's Venetian Room, the landmark of South Brooklyn. Despite the name, most of the cooking is solidly Neapoliatan.

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A Place For Women: Taliah Performing Arts Center On Bond Street

Taliah founder Tamar Reich

photo credit: Taliah Performing Art Center

Just a few months ago, Taliah Performing Arts Center, a 3,800 square foot rehearsal/performance venue located in Carroll Gardens/Gowanus, opened its doors to empower women through the performing arts. Founded by Tamar Reich, the center at 303 Bond Street (between Union and Sackett) offers both acting and dance studios just for women. Classes are given every day and include Scene Study, Belly Dancing, Flamenco and starting this week, Irsaeli Folk Dancing.

The cost is $64 a month, $20 drop in. $15 first trial class for Carroll Gardens residence.

So, if you haven't discovered Taliah yet, make sure to stop by to check out this unique place and sign up for a class.

From the center's web site:

With an emphasis on the craft of acting and the art of dance, taught by an acclaimed and international diverse group of teachers, Taliah is a space for women to have fun, tap into their inner child, dig deep into their souls, create, inspire and be inspired within the safety of an embracing women’s-only environment. The acting and dance studio will have a special division for kids and teenage girls to encourage and help them find expression and confidence through the exploration of these powerful mediums. Taliah will also provide a showcase for the monologues, scenes and dance compositions in special evenings celebrating the courage and beauty of these powerful women. Taliah not only encourages women to create their own work and stories but will also offer professional guidance that will allow them to excel in doing so.

Taliah which was born out of a one woman’s need for a creative outlet, is proud in being a place that will give room and opportunities to all women including women from the Jewish communities to help change the reality derived from the limited resources out there to express their creativity, and to lift the barriers that keep them from creating and expressing their own personal journeys.

Click here for an interview with Tamar on The Gloss

Taliah PAC

303 Bond St.

Brooklyn, NY 11231

646-342-0758

info@taliahpac.org

***AND STARTING TODAY AT TALIAH PAC***:

Israeli Folk Dance class starting today,

Thursday May 27th

8 PM

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Long Island College Hospital Planning A Day Of Health And Fun

Get re-acquainted with Long Island College Hospital and its community of dedicated doctors, nurses and staff at a great event featuring music, demonstrations and health screening.

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Have fun and get healthy at Long Island College Hospital’s community health day!

When: Saturday, June 12, 2010

10:00 am – noon

(Rain date – June 19, 2010)

Where: Henry St. (between Pacific and Amity Sts.)

What:

Free Health Screenings

CPR for Kids Demonstration

Meet LICH Physicians

Tour the LICH Pediatric Emergency Room

Clowns, Face painting

Light Refreshments

Children’s sing-along with music by Audra Fox

And Much, Much, More…

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Call 311? No Lack Of Rules Governing Restaurants And Bars, But Agencies Not Enforcing Them

Leroy Branch, Assistant District Manager of Community Board 6

addressing the audience

With the proliferation of bars and restaurants in our residential Brooklyn Brownstone neighborhoods, complaints about quality-of-life issues have multiplied as well. Though there are specific rules and regulations governing these businesses, the various agencies in charge of enforcement sometimes choose to turn a blind eye.

For example:

*Did you know that a bar's doors and windows are to be kept closed at all times to prevent noise from escaping onto the sidewalk? ( NYC Department Of Environmental Protection)

Walk down Smith Street or 5th Avenue on a Saturday eve and you would not know that this law exists.

*How about the fact that only 25 % of a restaurant's outside area can be used for smoking as long as the designated smoking area is contiguous, separated from any other dining areas by 3 feet. (NYC Department of Health Rule)

Check out any of the bars which allow smoking in their backyard area. None of them follow this rule.

* Most importantly, restaurants and bars are not allowed to exceed a capacity of 75 people on their premises, unless they have a Place Of Assembly Permit. That number includes the establishment's employees (NYC Department Of Buildings.)

The rule exists as a fire safety measure.

It would appear that most establishments in Brownstone Brooklyn operate without a Place of Assembly Permit, though many regularly exceed 75, especially if they have a backyard, which accommodates more patrons.

In order to better understand those and other rules governing eating and drinking establishments, the Permits and Licenses Committee of Community Board 6 took time out from voting (and mostly approving) new liquor licenses and unenclosed sidewalk café permits at their monthly meeting on Monday. On hand were representatives from

the Sanitation Department, Fire Department, Department Of Health, Department of Environmental Protection and the New York State Liquor Authority, and the 76th and 78th police precincts. Unfortunately, the Department of Buildings did not send anyone, though the agency is responsible for issuing business permits and enforcement of the zoning resolution.

Quite a few local residents had taken the time to show up to get information as well as to address topics such as noise, backyard use, over-capacity, smoking and other quality of life issues. The solution to most of these issues, according to the agency representatives, was to call 311 to make a complaint, a frustrating and time consuming remedy to problems that could easily be fixed if the agencies would just enforce their own laws.

Below are a few videos I took during the meeting. I hope that the information can be useful to others.

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Get Ready For The XIII. Brooklyn International Film Festival

Get ready for the XIII. Brooklyn International Film Festival, scheduled this year from June 4th to June 13th at the indieScreen and the Brooklyn Heights Cinema. According to the organizers, BiFF will present over 100 film premieres that were selected from over 2,400 submissions coming from 92 countries. This year, BiFF will screen a record 16 films that were made by Brooklyn filmmakers with 12 films set in Brooklyn. Below is just a sampling of some of the films which will be shown during this year's festival.

Gabi on the Roof in July | NY Premiere
Director: Lawrence Michael Levine
Narrative Feature / United States, 2010 99 min
An edgy character-driven ensemble comedy about ex-girlfriends, sibling
rivalry and whipped cream set in a city that's constantly in flux.

Bad Day to Go Fishing | NY Premiere
Director: Alvaro Brechner
Narrative Feature / Uruguay, 2009 110 min
The former strongest man on earth and his crafty manager tour small-town
South America staging wrestling matches and challenging all comers.

The Minutemen Movie | World Premiere
Director: Corey Wascinski
Feature Documentary / United States, 2010 82 min
In 2005, the Minutemen positioned themselves along the U.S./Mexico border.
Dissatisfied with the influx of undocumented immigrants and fed up with the
lack of government involvement, they are armed, energetic, and bound by
common ideals.

Queen of the Sun | East Coast Premiere
Director: Taggart Siegel
Feature Documentary / United States, 2010 83 min
Without bees, Albert Einstein said, "man would only have four years of life
left." From the director of The Real Dirt on Farmer John comes a profound,
alternative look at the tragic global bee crisis.

Ten Stories Tall | NY Premiere
Director: David Garrett
Narrative Feature / United States, 2010 96 min
As two New York families grieve the loss of a beloved matriarch, death takes
center stage in their own daily struggles. Soon becoming a force for
startling revelations in their lives, death spurs unexpected journeys of
self-discovery.

Colin Hearts Kay | World Premiere
Director: Sebastian Conley
Narrative Feature / United States, 2010 82 min
Brooklyn has been called "The Bloggiest Place in America" and this charming,
wildly inventive feature is one of the first films set in the world of
Brooklyn bloggers. Park Slope cartoonist Colin Jenson takes us on a
hilarious journey back in time to uncover what went wrong over his three
year relationship with Kay Ho, a successful food blogger.

Win/Win | US Premiere
Director: Jaap van Heusden
Narrative Feature / Netherlands, 2010 83 min
"Cock-a-doodle-doo, you sneaky post-it sucker." Ivan's innocent game of
secretly sticking yellow notes with stock tips all over the big investment
bank is over. A senior trader catches him red-handed and pulls him out of
the stuffy research department into the buzz of the dealing room.

For all information regarding the XIII. Brooklyn International Film Festival, click here.

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Best Comment Of The Day: Kind Of Charming

Anonymous has left the following comment on the post "'Amgula' And 'Quiesh': Spell Check Needed At Court Street Eatery":

I always find those types of things on signs kind of charming.

You see them so often in New York that they're almost part of living here. I'd miss them in some ways if they weren't around.

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Picture Of The Day: Gowanus Strawberries

In a cheery yellow window box

on a ledge near the Gowanus,

strawberries are slowly ripening

in the sun.

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"Have Love Affair With Downtown Brooklyn" : Searching For Elusive $1000 Room, Studio Or 1 Bedroom

This flier was taped to a lantern post on Smith Street here in Carroll Gardens.

I don't know Tracy or Rich, but they describe themselves as two friends and longtime residents of the neighborhood, who "have a love affair with Downtown Brooklyn." They are looking for a $1000 room, studio or 1 bedroom.

A room may be possible, but what do you, dear Reader, think their chance is of getting a studio or one bedroom for that price?

Any thoughts? Or better yet, does anyone know of anything?

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'Amgula' And 'Quiesh': Spell Check Needed At Court Street Eatery!

In front of Sweet Melissa's on Court Street

How does an Amgula and Brie Omelette sound? Or how about a Mushroom Gruyère Quiesh?

I know what you are going to say, dear Reader. Yes, yes, we all make spelling mistakes, including yours truly. I also know that spell check has not been invented for blackboards yet.

All the more important to check and make sure that the daily menu announced in front of one's eating establishment is checked before public viewing.

Just saying...because a 'quiesh' certainly does not sound appetizing. Unless, of course, its an 'amgula quiesh.'

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Best Comment Of The Day: Pillaging Bicycle Parts

Lisanne has left the following comment on the post "Be Aware! Bicycle Theft On The Increase In Carroll Gardens":

My bike has been getting pillaged for parts lately..i have had this bike for over 10 years and it is from the 80's. Not "cool" looking at all and no one has EVER touched it. That's all changed. They pried my rear wheel off last week and it's an OLD tire!

Pure evil!

If only my landlord would let me keep the bike in the building. Just not fair.

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Be Aware! Bicycle Theft On The Increase In Carroll Gardens

Over the week-end, I received this email from reader Marybeth, with a warning to local residents. It seems that bicycle thefts are on the increase in the Carroll Gardens/ Gowanus area. Unfortunately, Marybeth has first-hand knowledge. Hers was just swiped.

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My bike was stolen from my sister's front yard today. It was lock up and the lock was cut. The police made a point of saying that there has been lots of bike thefts in the neighborhood. Hoyt St between Degraw and Sackett. Thought the was should get out so others don't have to go through this.

Marybeth

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'Home Court' Furniture Store On Court Street Closing

Just about two weeks ago, 'Home Court' Furniture' at # 286 Court Street had a sign in the window stating that they were remodeling. Now, it seems that the store is closing its doors for good. A new sign announces that the store is for lease.

Though I have never really bought anything there, Home Court was the only furniture store in the immediate area for years, until of course, Ikea came to Red Hook. Home Court offered basic pieces, mostly geared toward the apartment dweller, but the prices certainly were much higher than the Swedish superstore's.

Over the week-end, the store was selling out its stock, including a stuffed deer.

So, pardon me for asking, dear Reader, but will you miss the place? Did you shop there? What would you like to see in the space now?

And of course, for you Carroll Gardens old timers, what stores were there before?

My own memory is fuzzy as I only remember it being an annex to the paint store across the street at 285 Court Street, which has since closed as well and still stands empty.

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