The Heights Players Present 'The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow' For Halloween

Just in time for Halloween, The Heights Players, "Brooklyn's oldest self- sustaining community theatre, is presenting "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

Don't wait to get your tickets. Read on:

The Heights Players Theater for Children kicks off its 56th season with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow on October 29 at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $6 each and reservations can be made at: theaterforchildren@heightsplayers.org.

There will be two other Theater for Children shows this season. On December 10 and 17 (at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) we will be presenting Wenceslas; and, on April 21 (again, 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.) we will be presenting three "Green" Fairy Tales written by young playwrights from MS 442.

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The Legacy Of Charles Ebbets At Brooklyn Historical Society

It's Dodgers Week-End at the Brooklyn Historical Society, which included a lecture on Charles Ebbets on Saturday and a Brooklyn Baseball film series. Read on:

The Legacy of Charles Ebbets, Lecture by John Zinn

Saturday, February 19, 2:00pm

128 Pierrepont Street,

at the corner of Clinton Street in Brooklyn Heights

During his more than a quarter of a century as Dodger club President and owner, Charles Ebbets built two new homes for his team. While the first was a relatively uncomplicated wooden structure (Washington Park, 1898), the second, which bore his name, became the beloved home of the Dodgers and one of the most famous ballparks in baseball history. Ebbets Field was an important part of the strong connection that Charles Ebbets created between Brooklyn and his baseball team. John Zinn, lead historian for BHS' Ex-Lab exhibition, Home Base: Memories of the Dodgers at Ebbets Field, will discuss Ebbets' achievement in building his new ballpark and how he developed the relationship between the ball club and the borough. This event is open to the public and free with museum admission.

In conjunction with our current exhibit, Home Base: Memories of the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field, BHS celebrates the beginning of spring training with a film series on Brooklyn baseball. The films will be shown on three consecutive Sundays in February and March.

For more information on events, go to Brooklyn Historical Society

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Brooklyn Historical Society Hosts: Brewed In Brooklyn-A Look At The Role Of Beer In the History Of The Borough

My husband and his friend Joe used to brew their own beer in our Brooklyn kitchen, so I know a lot about the fermentation of barley. Mercifully, they stopped after a few years and now buy their favorite brew from the local store like everyone else. However, I bet the two will want to attend the upcoming lecture about the role of beer in the borough's history at the Brooklyn Historical Society. Maybe I'll tag along. How about you?

Brewed in Brooklyn:

A History of Fermenting Barley in New York’s Favorite Borough

Thursday, January 20th,

6:30 - 8:00 pm

The Brooklyn Historical Society

128 Pierrepont Street at Clinton Street

The Brooklyn Historical Society will host Brewed in Brooklyn: A History of Fermenting Barley in New York’s Favorite Borough on Thursday, January 20 from 6:30-8:00 pm. Join David Naczycz and Cindy VandenBosch of Urban Oyster for an entertaining, in-depth look at how beer has played a pivotal role in the history of Brooklyn. A free beer and cheese reception precedes the talk. 21 and over only. Advanced ticket purchase recommended as the event will fill up. Purchase your tickets through the BHS website www.brooklynhistory.org

Tickets: $15 BHS members/$20 non-members.

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Picture Of The Day: The Heights Promenade In Late Afternoon

I was on my way home, when I turned around to look at the water.

The sun was aglow in the winter sky.

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A Moment Back In Time: Three Aerial Views Of Brooklyn Heights At The Turn Of The Century

The Brooklyn Bridge and the Heights in 1899

The Waterfront At Montague Street, 1899

Looking N.E. from the Temple Bar building at 44 Court Street, corner of Joralemon Streets in 1912

I just recently came across these great aerial views of of the Brooklyn Heights area, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the waterfront. It is amazing to me how much has changed and yet, how much remains the same.

I can't help it, but my favorite photo is the one taken from the Temple Bar building at 44 Court Street. If you look closely at the bottom left hand side of the photo, you can detect white shirts drying on a clothe line.

It reminded me of this wonderful old postcard I found a while back. It dates from around the same time.

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Girotondo Italiano: A Neighborhood Language Playgroup For The Very Young

Girotondo Italiano At Arts Cetera on Smith Street

How about enrolling your little one in an Italian language playgroup this fall? Starting this September, classes for both 0-2 year olds and 2-5 year olds will be offered at Arts Cetera at 212 Smith Street in Boerum Hill on Mondays. The fee for the 10 1-hour weekly sessions is $250 with a one time $25 registration fee.

Classes are also given in Brooklyn Heights.

Sounds like a lot of fun for the bambinos...

For more information and to register, click here.

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Before There Was A Park: The Brooklyn Heights Docks In The 1910's

Long before there was a Pier 1 through 6 Park along the Brooklyn Heights shore of the East River, there were, of course, the shipping piers and warehouses. I just found these amazing photos of what the waterfront looked like in the 1910's. In the background, the skyline of Manhattan looks so very different than today.

The photo below is taken a bit later, I believe.

Cool photos, no?

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Cool Or Not Cool? Taking Kids Sledding In Hillside Dog Run

photo credit: NicolaH on Flickr

After a lengthy and sometimes heated discussion on PMFA about people insisting on letting their dogs run off-leash in Carroll Park, comes this comment by a reader:

I wanted to revisit this post because of a similar experience I had today, only in reverse. We brought our 5-month-old puppy to Hillside Dog Run in Brooklyn Heights, which was covered in snow.

As usual dozens of parents show up with dozens of kids to sled down the hill inside the dog run. My very well behaved, if not excitable, puppy, got enthused by the action and at one point, playfully nipped at a kids arm. To which the obnoxious parent tells me that my dog should be trained to not bite children!!! And of course, explaining to this person that his child is SLEDDING IN A DOG RUN, so he should maybe expect that to happen some times, because dogs are trained while on leads, NOT WHILE RUNNING OFF-LEASH IN A DOG RUN WHERE YOU'RE LITTLE BRAT SHOULDN'T BE SLEDDING IN THE FIRST PLACE.

That's a valid point, I would say. I can't imagine taking my kid into a dog run to sled any more than I can see letting a dog run free in a park where children play. What say you, dear Readers?


***UPDATE***

Please read the comment left by Matthew Parker, President of Friends Of Hillside Dog Park, regarding the shared use of the hill in case of snow. It's very interesting.
To read, click here.

Related reading: Part 2: Hey Neighbor! You Know That Carroll Park Is Not A Dog Run, Right? Hey, Neighbor! You Know That Carroll Park Is Not a Dog Run, Right?




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Weird Little Memorial To The 'Gloved One' On Henry Street, Complete With Paparazzi Figures

How wonderfully weird...
And totally appropriate for the occasion, no?
This little windowsill memorial to Michael Jackson on Henry Street in the Heights includes, besides a picture of the 'King Of Pop' , a glittery glove, African sculptures, faded white roses and a number of little figures, including some brides, grooms and paparazzi with cameras.
Touching, in a creepy sort of way.




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More Store Closings...This Time, On Atlantic Avenue

Atlantic Avenue between Henry and Clinton Streets

Former home of Pomegranate at 152 Atlantic Avenue

Former Dhaka at 148 Atlantic Avenue

Former news stand at corner of Atlantic and Clinton Street

There is no denying it. The number of empty storefronts on Smith Street and Court Street is getting worrisome. Yesterday, I walked down Atlantic Avenue. I passed Pomegranate Looms, a nice place for wonderful rugs, ceramics and fair trade products and was surprised to see it closed. Two doors down, Dhaka, an Indian restaurant, was also empty. Both have closed recently.
Around the corner, another empty storefront. The news stand at the corner of Clinton Street and Atlantic is for rent.
No doubt, this is just the beginning. How very depressing.

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A Moment In Time: Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus

He looked so real,
And he danced, too.
I kid you not.
So, the little girl,
Very cautiously at first,
Investigated.
She touched his belly,
Ran her fingers
Over his red velvet suit
And then she pulled the leg of his trousers up,
To see what makes him move.

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Court Street Then And Now

Court Street in the 1920's

Court Street in 2008

About eighty years separate these two photos of Court Street, looking from Montague Street up beyond Atlantic Avenue. Surprisingly, much is the same, though the trolley cars are so much nicer than today's buses, don't you think? And may I just say, dear reader, that I risked my life standing in the middle of traffic to bring you the '08 shot?

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Take A Moment To Save L.I.C.H.'s Pediatric's Department

photo credit: seeareelem on flickr

An email is being circulated on several list servers regarding Long Island College Hospital's proposed closing of their pediatric unit. It is a response to an announcement made at the Community Board 6 meeting.
According to the Daily News:

Brooklyn's Long Island College Hospital will close by the end of the year if the state does not approve a plan to shutter its money-losing units, the head of the institution said Monday night.
"I cannot go through the rest of the year without relief," said Stanley Brezenoff, president of the hospital's corporate parent, Continuum Health Partners.
Speaking at a packed Community Board 6 meeting last night, Brezenoff said he has asked the state Health Department for permission to shut down the pediatric and dentistry departments.
The latest cost-cutting measures come after the hospital asked for the state's okay in July to close its maternity ward.
"Sometimes an amputation is necessary," Brezenoff said.

( click here to read entire article)

After years of mismanagement, it seems clear that Continuum has brought Long Island College Hospital to its knees. Shame on them. If you are as outraged as I am, take a moment to read Dinah Gieske's email below and write a letter to Brezenoff.

Dear Friends,

Please take a minute to call Continuum Health Partners' - Stanley Brezenoff @ 212-420-2000 and John Wren @ 212-415-3776 to register your protest about the closure of LICH pediatrics. They are proposing closure of all in-patient and out-patient pediatric services there.
Our next closest hospitals are Brooklyn Hospital and Methodist Hospital, both with already overburdened emergency rooms.
LICH has a special pediatric emergency room that segregates the children from the
adults. It's quite good.
This has to be approved by the Department of Health, so it might be useful to contact them as well: http://www.nyc. gov/html/ mail/html/ maildoh.html

Thanks for your support in "thinking globally and acting locally."

Dinah Gieske

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Brooklyn Disease Du Jour: Dropsy In The Head

This Will Cure You!

Long ago in Brooklyn, at the Fulton Drug Company, 191 Fulton Street, one could buy a certain cure for headaches, neuralgia, fever, nervousness, sick or sour stomach for only 10¢ a box.
Dr. Marquet's French Headache wafers were tasteless, quick and sure.
Of course that was during Victorian times. These days, we have little pills, but French Headache Wafers sound so much more effective!


Related Reading:

Brooklyn Disease Du Jour: Dropsy In The Head

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Picture Of The Day: Brooklyn Waterfront

Looking from the Brooklyn shore towards Manhattan
On a crisp fall day in September,
Two cranes reach into the sky.
It was crystal clear on this day seven years ago.
Do you remember?

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Postcard From Brooklyn: Court Street Circa 1920

How I love photos and postcards from the past. Don't you?
Here is a great photo of Court Street circa 1920's.
In the distance are Cobble Hill and Carroll gardens.
Neat, no?

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Picture Of The Day: Pretty Parasols On Court

Court Street, Brooklyn Heights

On a clear and sunny September day,
Chinese Paper Parasols
Are shading some rather hideous handbags.

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A Moment In Time: Court Street At Dusk

A beautiful warm spring evening
on Court Street,
in downtown Brooklyn.
I must have noticed these imposing old buildings before,
but never against the lovely darkening sky.

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Re-Unveiling Of The Brooklyn Bridge In 1945

Dear Reader, you must know by now that I love history. When I found this stock photograph of the re- unveiling of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1945, I was thrilled.
Labeled :
"This is a general view of the crowd in the Manhattan Street Plaza, gathered to witness the re-unveiling of the Brooklyn Bridge today in connection with the current Victory Bond Campaign. Mayor La Guardia officiates as Victory Bond Auctioneer."
I just needed to know more about the event. Below are some pretty great details on the day and a wonderful tidbit about Walt Whitman and his non-existent Brooklyn Bridge poem.

In 1944, New York decided to remove the railroad tracks that ran across the bridge and to raze the transport terminals that stood at either end. The following year, the bridge was reopened to pedestrians and to automobile traffic at a grand ceremony. As Stanley Hyman subsequently reported, "the sponsors of the bridge's 'unveiling' in 1945 were so certain Whitman must have written something about [the] Brooklyn Bridge that they recklessly announced that a poem by him would be read at the ceremony. They were unable to produce." The sponsors, however, upheld their promise. Sandwiched between the address of Manhattan Borough President Edgar Nathan, Jr. and New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia was a public reading of Whitman's "historic verse," "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry." Written thirteen years before construction began- and a full twenty-seven years before the bridge opened- "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" makes no reference to a bridge between New York and Brooklyn, and neither does it envision one. Nevertheless, public recitals of this "historic verse" have become a standard commemorative practice. The poem enjoyed public readings at the bridge's rededication in 1954, at the span's seventy-fifth anniversary, and again at the centennial in 1983.

As the organizers of the 1945 re-unveiling ceremony realized, Whitman wrote no poetry that celebrated the Brooklyn Bridge. In fact, he barely wrote about the bridge at all. The span appears only twice in his voluminous literary output, and on both occasions the reference is fleeting.

From: The Brooklyn Bridge: A Cultural History, By Richard Haw
to read more, click here

[Brooklyn Bridge]

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Superman Sighting In Brooklyn Heights

Well, it's not every day that one sees Superman in Brooklyn!
But here he was in the Heights. Making deliveries....

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