Gowanus Goslings: Pair Of Canada Geese Raises Little Ones Near Canal

Gowanus resident Eymund Diegel came across a pair of Canadian geese who were on an outing with their little ones over the week-end.  Thankfully, he had his camera with him and was able to snap the photos above.
Eymund writes:

"On our way to train for the Gowanus Challenge, the upcoming canoe race, we came across two nesting pairs of Canada Geese, one on the Marmurstein Bus Lot (opposite Bond Street) and another family opposite Public Place at Huntington Street at the base of the former Subway Art History Museum.The brick building on Bond Street behind the Gowanus Goslings was originally built in 1904 (or slightly earlier (construction started 1900) and was built for the Empire City Hygiea Ice Company, the largest Brooklyn shipper of ice around the Gowanus neighborhood (285 tons per day in 1909).Hans [Hesselein] and the Clean & Green Team at the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, located directly opposite the building of interest, were kind enough to donate an original beer bottle of the Leonhard Michel Brewing Company that also operated in that building. Historically sensitive beer drinkers can view the bottle at the Hall of the Gowanus at 543 Union Street."

Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Eymund.

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Spence Students Visit Gowanus Area and Get Lesson On Canal

Students and teachers of the Spence School looking at the Gowanus

Natalie Loney of EPA Region 2

A group of students from Spence, a private school on the Upper East Side, visited the Gowanus Canal area yesterday morning as part of a school-wide field day to get to know the city better. As their classmates visited other neighborhoods, these seventh to twelfth graders toured Proteus Gowanus, the Old Stone House, the Lyceum, met with the Gowanus Dredgers and stopped at One Girl Cookies on Dean Street where they tried some of the bakery's famous whoopie pies.

Of course, a tour of the Gowanus area would not be complete without a lesson on the canal, its history and its recent listing by the Environmental Protection Agency as a Superfund site. For this part of the tour, the students were joined by Natalie Loney, EPA Region 2's Community Involvement Coordinator for the Gowanus Canal.

Ms. Loney spoke of the waterway's historic significance, its industrial past, the resulting contaminants and their impact on the environmental. She explained how the Superfund program works, what lead to the canal's nomination and the findings of the recently released Risk Assessment Report. She touched on the complexity of a clean-up that involves toxic sludge at the bottom of the canal, coal tar that leaks into the waterway from upland sites and the sewage that gets released into the Gowanus from the city's antiquated sewer system after heavy rains.

When she told the students that some in the community referred to the Gowanus Canal as "Brooklyn's Venice", the girls chuckled.

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Cobble Hill Association To Host A Community Roundtable Meeting With Congresswoman Yvette Clarke

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke

Important Environmental Issue In Congresswoman Clarke's District:
The Gowanus Canal

The Cobble Hill Association will host roundtable meeting with Congresswoman Yvette Clarke on Monday, January 11th to discuss various issues pertaining to her district and will provide an opportunity for members of the community to take their concern directly to Congresswoman Clarke. The meeting will be free of charge and open to all.

I would like to thank the Cobble Hill Association and its president Roy Sloane for organizing the event.
I will certainly be in attendance. I believe that Congresswoman Clarke owes her constituents an explanation for her failure to take a stand on the proposed listing of the Gowanus Canal as a Superfund site. She has been tiptoeing around the issue for months claiming she is doing due-diligence. As opposed to Congresswoman Velázquez's strong pro-Superfund statement, Ms. Clarke's fence-sitting has been deplorable.

I had lengthy conversations with the Congresswoman's staff about this very important environmental issue and hope to have an opportunity to finally hear directly from Ms. Clarke.

Cobble Hill Association's Community Round-Table Meeting
with Congresswoman Yvette Clark

Monday, January 11th
7:30PM
Christ Church
326 Clinton Street
(at the corner of Clinton and Kane Streets)

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A Real Brooklyn Experience: Two Toms On 3rd Avenue

Unchanged for decades:
Two Toms on Third Avenue between President and Union Streets

A Thursday Evening At 'Two Toms'

Father Jimmy

Owner Anthony

Owner Anthony bringing out two giant pork chops

The famous pork chop with red peppers, mushroom and onions.

Giant Shrimp, for those not in the mood for pork chops

Our friend Keith

Keith's daughters Alexandra and Nathalie

"I am from California." our friend Keith told Anthony of Two Toms "What should I have?" Without hesitation, Anthony said: "Pork Chops."
Yes, indeed. Two Toms is known for their chops. Everyone who has ever entered this family owned business will never forget these enormous slabs of meat. Always eager to provide guests with a real flavor of Brooklyn, my husband and I had suggested dinner at Two Toms to Keith and his family who were visiting us from Oakland.

Fully aware that one doesn't just walk into the place without a reservation, my husband called days ahead. Now, getting a reservation to this place is harder than to some of the hottest Manhattan eateries. Really. Two Toms seems to be fully booked for weeks ahead. So, we were all rather surprised when we scored a reservation. To complete the experience, our party walked from Carroll Gardens over the Gowanus Canal on the Carroll Street Bridge. I had not been to Two Toms in quite a few years, but I can assure you that nothing has changed in the place. Like a time capsule, it is a reminder of a simpler Brooklyn, one that bears no resemblance to the trendy eateries lining Smith Street or Fifth Avenue.

First opened in the 1940's, it has been operated by the same family ever since. Brothers Anthony and Jimmy now run the establishment. Anthony takes care of the customers while Jimmy is busy cooking. He took over in the kitchen after their mother Angie passed away a few years ago. Their father, also named Jimmy, proudly watches his sons in action from a table in the back.

I did notice one change from the last time we ate at Two Toms. When some at our table ordered the pork chop, Anthony did not follow up with his usual " one or two chops?" When I asked him about it, he grinned: "Na, nobody orders two any more." No surprise. Everyone must have wised up to the fact that one of Tow Toms famous chops is enough to feed a small army. It was a great evening, spend with great friends at a wonderful little Brooklyn restaurant. May it stay open forever and forever.

Two Toms is at 255 Third Avenue.
To make a reservation, call 718 875 8689



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