Friday, November 30, 2012

On a fence on 2nd Place, a pair of children's gloves waiting to be reunited with their owner.  ...
Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Former Robin Des Bois On Smith Street To Become Brick Oven Pizza Place":I love pizza as much as the next guy but Smith needs another pizza place like it needs another nail salon. Where did all the good restaurants go????? And over on Pardon Me For Asking's Facebook page, Liz felt: "We need really something healthy, vegetarian, wifi space, organic juices, kid friendly, really anything but pizza (or...
The EPA Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group will be meeting with representatives of New York State's Department Of Environmental Conservation on December 4th, to speak about the agency's role  as it relates to the Superfund clean-up as well as the issue of Combined Sewer Overflow that continue to discharge into the canal.Representing the DEC will be James Tierney, Robert Schick, Venetia Lannon, and Gary Kline.Below is the meeting announcement...

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Despite a hurricane and a nor-easter some roses are still blooming.  I spotted this one on Carroll Street. ...
Over the last three summers, Smith Street Stage, a theatre group based in Carroll Gardens, has brought Shakespeare to Carroll Park. Their productions of 'Romeo and Juliet' in 2010, 'Macbeth' in 2011 and "Twelfth Night" in 2012 have delighted local residents. This holiday season, they are presenting Charles Dickens' "Christmas Carol" in the form of a live radio play at the Robert Acido Park House in Carroll Park. It should be great fun.Below...
Many in the neighborhood still miss "Robin Des Bois",  the french bistro and wine bar with a fun eclectic decor and a much-loved back yard at 195 Smith Street.  The eatery opened in a former shoe store a few years ago and quickly became a favorite on restaurant row, before closing in December 2011. In the last few months, the storefront and the apartments above it have been undergoing renovation.  Just a few days ago, a sign went...

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

If you are planning on doing some holiday shopping, mark this event on your calendar.  The Handmade Cavalcade on December 1st and 2nd is organized by the Etsy NY Team and features the work of 35 local artists and crafters. It is the perfect antidote to department store shopping.  Don't miss it.Here is more info:Santa’s Workshop isn’t the only place to find quality, handcrafted items for the Holidays. New York has its own enclave...
Judith Enck, EPA Regional Manager of Region 2 and Congresswoman Nydia VelázquezJudith Enck, EPA Regional Manager of Region 2Congresswoman Nydia VelázquezCouncilmember Brad LanderAssemblywoman Joan MillmanKay Gee, Area Director of Osha and Venetia Lannon, Regional Director, NYS DECWillie Nunn, FEMA Division D Supervisor, BrooklynWalter Mugdan, EPA Region 2 Superfund DirectorNatalie Loney ,EPA Region 2 Community Involvement CoordinatorResident Mike...
363-365 Bond StreetImage of proposed development courtesy of The Lightstone GroupTo read the letter in its entirety, click hereBrooklyn Law School Community Development Clinic  recently sent a letter to Amanda Burden, Chairperson of New York City's Department Of City Planning (DCP) on behalf of Friends And Residents of Greater Gowanus (FROGG) urging her agency to take no further action on the Lightstone Group's application for a modification...

Monday, November 26, 2012

Christmas trees for sale at the corner of Smith and President StreetsDecorating a lamp post on Atlantic AvenueChristmas carolers spreading Holiday cheer on Atlantic AvenueThe Thanksgiving turkeys were hardly carved and consumed when the attention shifted to Christmas all around the neighborhood.  Christmas tree vendors set up shop, garland and ribbons were wrapped around lantern posts and most festive of all, groups of carolers in beautiful...
“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can't remember who we are or why we're here.”  from The Secret Life of BeesIn a world dominated by images and the written word,  storytelling is becoming a lost art.  Yet nothing is more powerful than the human voice and the deeply personal stories that we all carry inside us.  Give that voice and those stories a chance to be heard and they have the capability...

Thursday, November 22, 2012

The turkey is in the oven, the cranberry sauce is simmering on the stove, the potatoes have been peeled and the wine has been chosen.  Time to relax for a few moments to wish all of you a very happy Thanksgiving and a lovely time with friends and family.I will meet you back here on Monday morning.Cheers, Katia ...

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A Community meeting has been scheduled with the US EPA for Monday November 26 at 6:30 pm at PS 32, 317 Hoyt Street, about Gowanus Canal flooding during Hurricane Sandy.In attendance will be Judith Enck, EPA Regional Manager of  Region 2, and Walter Mugdan, EPA Region 2 Superfund Director.The meeting is co-sponsored by Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, State Senator Daniel Squadron, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblywoman Joan Millman,...

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Lovely little mapleSpotted on Douglass Street ...
Root Hill Café at the corner of 4th Avenue and Carroll Street above andthe new Root Hill Burger just a few doors down on the same block.Root Hill Burger on 4th Avenue in Gowanus will be opening its doors for the first time tonight. The new eatery is an offshoot of Root Hill Café, at 262 4th Avenue on the same block.Stephen Kelley, one of the owners, invited me in for a peek. Obviously, there were still some last minute details to take care...

Monday, November 19, 2012

Take a few minutes to watch this great video produced by Amy Pearl for WNYC Radio.It features John Lipscomb of Riverkeeper. Lipscomb manages the water quality sampling program for the clean-water advocacy group and was one of the first people back on the heavily polluted Gowanus Canal with his boat  after hurricane Sandy and again, after the Nor'Easter a week later. The results of these tests  revealed extremely high levels of bacteria...