Saturday, December 18, 2010

Big Movies for Little Kids - Pippi Goes on Board

At Cobble Hill Cinemas

Monday, December 20th at 4pm

Pippi Goes on Board
The last entry in the Pippi Longstocking series finds Pippi preparing to reunite with her seafaring father, who's been living as the king of a magical South Seas isle. But before bidding adieu to Tommy and Anika, Pippi throws an offbeat birthday bash, causes bedlam at a carnival, creates the world's biggest snowball and hosts an unconventional Christmas. (Sweden; 1975; rated G; color; live-action; 79 minutes)

Sponsored by Appaman kid's apparel: free t-shirts for all kids attending.
For more information, click here.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Free art workshop for families at Kentler - Sat 18th

K.I.D.S. Art Education Program

presents

DRAWING TOGETHER

in December

FREE Saturday Art Workshops
for Families


Saturday,
Dec. 18
10:00 am - 11:30 am


Join them for a cozy morning of
family-oriented, holiday-inspired art making

with teaching artist Ruth Wetzel

Designed for ages 4 & up
with their care givers



Please register in advance by emailing mollie@kentlergallery.org

Kentler International Drawing Space
353 Van Brunt Street /(Red Hook) Brooklyn, NY 11231/ 718.875.2098

Monday, December 13, 2010

Shop and Play at Everyday Athlete - Sat, Dec 18th - 2-6pm

Shop and Play at Everyday Athlete
A Holiday Market

Saturday, December 18th
2pm - 6pm

The last weekend before Christmas shop locally in the Columbia Street Waterfront District!

Check out Children's
books and games, tote bags, aprons, yoga bags, whimsical hats, cosmetics and free facial demos, jewelry, and even granola at Everyday Athlete's Holiday Market.

Find something for everyone on your list.

While parents shop, children can sing and dance with Karen and the Jitterbugs, featuring her new CD, Pancakes for Dinner.
Performances at 2, 4:30 and 5 pm.

Also enjoy cupcake decorating at the studio by Yum Cupz all afternoon.

Featured vendors:

Barefoot Books
- Nurturing a love of reading in a way that encourages children to explore their creativity and discover the diversity of the world's many cultures and traditions.

Mellyi Hat - The jazzy hat that delights your eyes, warms your ears and flaunts your style. Designed for everyone.

Cooking Smarter - New ideas to eat healthier: granola and designer cookies.

ageLOC Galvanic Spa
- Come enjoy a free facial demo that can unlock the secret to a younger looking appearance.

Matthew's Aprons - Wonderful aprons, yoga and foam roller bags in eco-friendly textiles.

GoodShip
- Roll-up totes designed with exclusive prints hand made in Brooklyn. Reduce plastic waste without sacrificing style.

Elbeto Jewelry - Organic and sterling silver designer jewelry hand made by artisans and artists in Colombia.

Love Cita - Original leather goods, such as cuff bracelets, belts and ladies bags.

Dance Theatre Etcetera Holiday Party - Dec 16th

Click here to find out about the amazing work of Dance Theatre Etcetera.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Shop locally: Holiday Specials at Element Healing Arts

This Holiday Season give a gift that your special someone will really appreciate - the gift of health and relaxation. Choose from any of our 4 amazing holiday special package deals.

Relax and Renew Package $175

1 hour Massage and a Facial

The Mommy-to-Be Package $175

1 hour Prenatal Massage and 1 hour Private 1-on-1 Prenatal Yoga Session

Health and Wellness Package $200

Initial Naturopathic Consultation and a Yoga 6 Class Card

The Luxury Package $220

90 minute Hot Stone Massage and 1 hour of Reflexology

Click here to see other great Package Deals available at Element.

Shop locally: Waterfront Mercantile on Columbia St

THE WATERFRONT MERCANTILE

A gift shop of winter wonders

OPENING SOIREE

prosecco, nibbles and hand crafted goods

Thursday december 16th, 6-9 pm

and shop on

Friday 12/17 & Saturday 12/18, 12-8 pm

Featuring

floral gifts from denise fasanello

luminaries from adam frank

printed textiles from lotta jansdotter

paper goods from sesame letterpress

home made sweets from nine cakes

jewelry from bonbon oiseau

children’s knits from eye spy baby

ceramic goods from paula greif


203 Columbia Street (btw Degraw and Sackett Streets)

Brooklyn, NY

CB6's Annual Holiday Party - Dec 14

CB6 Annual Holiday PARTY!

Brooklyn Community Board 6 2010 Holiday Party
Tuesday December 14th
6:00 to 9:00 PM

The DRAM Shop
339 9th Street
(between 5th/6th Avenues)
Brooklyn, NY 11215

$30 per person
Cash Bar
Bring a loved one
Bring a friend
All are welcome

The CB6 Holiday Party is a fundraiser for “Friends of Brooklyn CB6, Inc.,” the 501-c-3 non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the work of CB6. All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consider including a year-end charitable gift above the cost of the party. Checks should be made out to “Friends of Brooklyn CB6, Inc.”

Yes, our district has a flag, and here it is:

Friday, December 10, 2010

Breuckelen Distilling Co. and Kings County Distillers Tasting at dry dock - 12/11/10

Breuckelen Distilling Co. and Kings County Distillers Tasting at dry dock wine + spirits

Saturday, December 11th, 2010

4:00pm to 7:00pm


Meet the master distillers of Breuckelen Distilling Co. and Kings County Distillers as they each sample their spirit together at dry dock wine + spirits on Saturday, December 11th, 2010 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm, free. Following the tasting, Fort Defiance, located at 365 Van Brunt Street, will spotlight cocktails featuring these local spirits.


Breuckelen Distilling Co makes gin from organic New York grains in their Sunset Park warehouse. The spirit is entirely hand crafted from grinding the grain to blending the botanics, including juniper, ginger and rosemary. More information is available at www.brkgin.com.


Kings County Distillery is New York City’s first legal whiskey distillery since prohibition. They make un-aged corn whiskey (aka moonshine) from organic New York corn and barley from Scotland in very small batches. They make 2.5 gallons of whiskey a day and are currently putting some barrels aside for a spring release. Find out more at www.kingscountydistillery.com.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Reminder: Tree Lighting party at the Human Compass Garden on Columbia street

Please join us for some Holiday cheer !

Tree Lighting Ceremony
at
the Human Compass Garden
(corner of Sackett and Columbia street)

Santa will be there, as well as hot chocolate, cookies,
and coupons for our very own restaurant week!

Friday December 10th, 6:00- 8:00.

Bring family and friends!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Books Through Bars Holiday Book Drive on Sunday

Sunday, December 12, 2-8 pm

Books Through Bars is hosting one more book drive before the end of the year to help restock their shelves for 2011. Please come by with any paperbacks in the categories they need most: fiction, dictionaries, African-American and Latin American studies, politics (you can see the full list on their page at ABC No Rio). And they certainly will not say no to some cold, hard cash to help defray postage costs. Remember, there is a reason why they don't take hardcovers!

Warm refreshments will be on hand as well!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Trial Week at Everyday Athlete

Next week is your chance to try out all that Everyday Athlete has to offer.
For half the price, you can try all the classes for children and adult: the classics such as kids tumbling or mommy boot camp, and the brand new ones such as capoeira, skateboarding, Zumba, MELT, or developmental movement for children with special needs.

If you register early online you will receive 10% off any program and 50% off a 1 hour massage.
Everyday Atlhete - Trial Week Poster

Sunday, December 5, 2010

The Fabulous Jalopy has a blog!

Check out Jalopy's performances, classes, and news on their brand new blog here.

Cora Dance Announces Upstart Festival Auditions


Now in its third year, this festival celebrates the budding talent of artists new to presenting their own choreographic work in NYC. Curated by Cora Dance Artistic Director, Shannon Hummel, and BAX Founding and Executive Director, Marya Warshaw, Upstart performances feature 12-14 dance artists over two to three evenings, all of whom have been choreographing less than three full years in the city. Artists are chosen through live audition and must demonstrate the seed of a distinctive artistic vision combined with the desire to connect deeply with that vision as a career path in the future.

In addition to performances, festival participants take part in an open roundtable event facilitated by Hummel aiming to help participants build relationships and connections between one another and the broader dance community.

BAX provides a modest stipend for each choreographer and participants receive discounted rehearsal space at The Cora Studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn leading up to the performance events.

TO APPLY:
Audition slots will be assigned through an open call-in on Friday December 3rd between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on a first come/first served basis. Leave no messages, please.
Note: 2010-2011 Upstart Festival participants are not eligible to apply this year.

THE AUDITION:
Live auditions will be held on: Saturday December 18th 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. and Sunday December 19th from 2 - 8:00 p.m. Please come prepared to show 10-minutes of work or work-in-progress and talk briefly about the work and/or your process. (This may be the duration of the complete work or may be a section from a slightly longer work. Works selected for the festival may be no longer than 12 minutes.)

FESTIVAL DATES:
Orientation/Roundtable Discussion (MANDATORY):
Tuesday, January 25th, 7:00-9:00 pm.
Performances (three different shows):
Friday, March 4th at 8:00 pm | Saturday, March 5th at 8:00 pm | Sunday, March 6th at 6:00 pm.

Columbia street cleanup - Sat, Dec 11

Join The amazing team of the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative on Saturday, December 11th, 10:00AM, for the monthly cleanup along the Columbia Street segment of the greenway.

Tools and gloves provided, and all ages are welcome.

Meet at BGI’s office: 145 Columbia Street, between Kane and Degraw.

Big Movies for Little Kids - Meet Me in St Louis

Monday, December 6th, at 4pm, come watch the classic Meet Me in St Louis at the Cobble Hill Cinemas.

Judy Garland stars as Esther Smith in director Vincente Minnelli's musical masterpiece about the trials and tribulations of a tight-knit family living in St. Louis on the eve of the 1904 World's Fair. Memorable characters and charming songs, which include "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and "The Trolley Song," make this one of the greatest American musicals ever filmed. (USA; 1944; not rated; color; live action; 113 minutes)

Arts and carfts today at ArtsCetera

Join Nanette to decorate your own gift wrapping paper!















For all ages! Kids and adults!

Artscetera is located at 212 Smith street

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Holiday Fair at Christ Church

Craft fair, face painting, Santa, movies for kids, foods and beverages.
Fun!






- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Thursday, December 2, 2010

4th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Columbia Street - Dec 10

Participating this year are Lilla Cafe, Mazzat, House of Pizza and Calzones, Five Burros, Casalnova, Sugar Lounge, Margaret's Pies, Jalopy Theatre, Iro, Alma, and Old Brooklyn Wine & Liquor.
Help making this a successful event by coming out Saturday, Decmber 4th at 10 am to clean up the Human Compass garden.

Make you come by for the ceremony, you might score discount coupons to local businesses...

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

New comer on Columbia street: Waterfront Antiques

About a week ago, a new spot has opened on Columbia Street between Sugar Lounge and the offices of the Brooklyn Greenway. It is an antique consignment store that specializes in European porcelain and glass, as well as ethnic art.

You can also find oil paintings, vintage jewelry, crystal, silverware, sculptures and antique furniture.

The president is Annick Sawaya. Belgian, born in the Congo, she moved to the US when she was 7 years old. Owning shops in Paris and Cannes, Annick has had 15 years experience in antiques. With this new venture, she wishes to make the store a center for Art Deco and Art Nouveau treasures.

The most valuable piece is this painting by Abbott-Fuller Graves, entitled Dusk, and priced at $10,000. But relax, prices of other items start at $15, so you are sure to find a little something for any occasion.

Here is Annick's favorite piece.
A Chinese neo-guardian figure, which was originally made to guard against evil spirits
(from the 18th century, possibly even older).


This was my favorite piece,
(in case anyone wants to get it for me for Christmas. Hint, hint, Chris)
a Navajo sterling silver bracelet.


Come by tomorrow night, Thursday, December 2nd, from 6 to 8 pm, for a wine and cheese opening party and discover Annick's treasures.

Waterfront Antiques is located at 147 Columbia Street - 917.805.2968

Laird’s Applejack Tasting with Baked’s Apple Upside-Down Cake December 4th, 2010

Baked and dry dock wine + spirits are celebrating apple season! We’re serving Baked’s Apple Upside-Down Cake made with Laird’s Applejack and will be serving the spirit both straight up and in a cocktail. The pairing of pie and spirits will be at dry dock wine + spirits on Saturday, December 4th from 4 to 7 pm, free to the public. Customers will receive a 10% discount toward the purchase of any Laird’s product and can enter a raffle to win an Apple Upside-Down Cake from Baked. This offer is only valid on Saturday, December 4th.

Applejack has been a staple of American drinking tradition since colonial times. The Laird family has been making the “cider spirit” for over 300 years and became the first commercial American distillery in 1780. Everyone from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln and Johnny Appleseed help spread Applejack throughout the country. 


dry dock wine + spirits, located at 424 Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn, is Red Hook's neighborhood wine & spirits store, offering outstanding value and high quality from smaller vintners, producers and importers from around the world. We offer over 400 hand-picked wines with 50 choices priced $12 and under, as well as a beautifully edited selection of spirits. dry dock has been featured in both Imbibe and Out magazines as a destination shop with an eclectic collection of craft-distilled spirits including over 75 whisk(e)y choices. Wine & spirits tasting weekly; open m-w 12-9, th-sat 12-11, sun 12-8.

Baked, located at 359 Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn, is both a neighborhood spot and nationally recognized bakery. Baked has been featured on the Martha Stewart Show, Today Show, Food Network and the Style Network. Baked has also received awards from Time Out, French Culinary Institute, Citysearch and America’s Test Kitchen for their outstanding creations.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

“Eat Pie and Shop” at PS29’s Annual Holiday Fair/Pie Social Pie! Shopping! Movies! Crafts!


On December 5 from 11am to 5pm, PS 29 in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, will host the second annual “Eat Pie and Shop” Holiday Gift Fair and Pie Social, to benefit the school. Proceeds from this family-friendly Holiday event will support the school’s PTA.


The Pie Social is sure to be a delicious and entertaining afternoon event with local bakers – both amateurs and professionals – supplying a wide array of pies. For a $5 tasting ticket the public can sample a piece of pie of their choosing. Be assured this event is not only for those with a sweet tooth, the pies will cover all categories including fruit, creamy, savory and nut, so shoppers can come to shop, eat lunch and get dessert!


The pie competition will be an afternoon highlight. Bakers are invited to bring pies to be judged by parents and a panel of celebrity judges. The panel will include Gail Simmons, Food & Wine and “Top Chef,” Dannielle Kyrillos, “Top Chef: Just Desserts,” François Payard, co-owner of François Payard Bakery, François Chocolate Bar and Payard, and Brooklyn’s own Borough President, Marty Markowitz. The winner will receive a gift package from Food & Wine, a Payard Gift Box and Silver Pie Server donated by Fork & Pencil and bragging rights for the year! Judging will take place at 1pm.


The Gift Fair will highlight local artisans, craftspeople and merchants, and promises to provide a huge variety of handmade, local and sustainable gift-giving choices, from jewelry, to clothing from Half Pint Citizens to hand made and classic toys from Fork & Pencil. More than twenty different vendors will be displaying and selling their wares.


And while you shop, Rooftop Films will show a selection of independent short films for kids continually throughout the day. Tickets to the movies are $2. In addition, children can make free holiday crafts – perhaps an ornament, sachet or a frame as a present for Mom and Dad. To quench their thirst, kids and adults can both enjoy delicious and refreshing egg creams from Brooklyn Farmacy.


Melanie Raneri Woods, Principal of PS 29, said, “We are thrilled to host the second annual Eat Pie and Shop event. The event was such an amazing success last year and I am positive this year’s will be even bigger. It’s refreshing in the midst of all the holiday craze to have an event where children and adults can spend some time together and at the same time support the fabulous efforts of our school community.”

Eat Pie and Shop will be held on Sunday, December 5, from 11am to 5pm, at PS 29, 425 Henry Street, between Baltic and Kane Street. For more information on the event, including a list of all vendors and information on how to enter a pie, please visit www.eatpieandshop.org.

World AIDS event on 12/4 in Red Hook

Rolie Polie Guacamole at Bait and Tackle on 12/4

Rolie Polie Guacamole will be performing at Bait and Tackle on 12/4/10. The show is catered to kids 0-100, so there should be something for everyone to enjoy, no matter what the age group.

Check out the video below for Rolie Polie Guacamole's take on "This Land is Your Land"



Bait and Tackle is located at 320 Van Brunt Street.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Pub crawling with the Brooklyn Women's Rugby team! - Sat, Dec 4th

In an effort to promote Rugby, the Brooklyn Women's Rugby team is organizing a great pub crawl in Carroll Gardens.
As their press release says: "Women's Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in America and we want to make sure it continues to empower women in Brooklyn. We accept women of all skill levels and will teach everyone all the rules:) All of our club information is also available on our website."

The pub crawl starts at the Brazen Head at 3:30pm and will continue down smith street. The official pub crawl t-shirts are $12 and entitles you to all the great deals in all the bars.

Holiday Event at the Brooklyn Collective - Fri, Dec 3rd


The Brooklyn Collective Holiday Event


Come celebrate the holidays with us!

Shop for unique gifts from over 30 collections

by local artists and designers!

Complimentary cocktails will be served throughout the evening

PLUS! A special musical performance!


Friday, December 3rd


212 Columbia Street

(between Union and Sackett)

7pm-11pm


Featured Artists

Niccole Ugay, Akiko Kato, Sara Krugman, Corvus Noir, Amperstance, GIRLFAUXPAS, Lightexture, Plane Jane Project, Skye Fraser, Abbie Zuidema, In The Seam, Jenny Belin, Alexandra Batsford, Design and Labor, Lewis Henry Nicholas, Ink and Joy, Twig Terrariums, Sunghee Bang, LanVy, Rachel Goldberg, Jasmine Golestaneh, Stephen Merola, Oh Clementine, Mina Georgescu, Catherine Hnatov, elle s'appelle, AshiDashi, Near Modern Disaster, Nancy Waller Handbags, Patrice Yourdon, Jess Yam, Courtney P. Hewitt



For further info please visit www.brooklyncollective.com

Image courtesy of Jasmine Golestaneh

Alternatives to Housing in Brooklyn Bridge Park - public hearings and COWNA statement

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Committee on Alternatives to Housing, with the assistance of Bay Area Economics Consulting, is conducting two public hearings to solicit comments from the public on alternative sources that could be relied upon to finance the on-going operations of the park in lieu of revenues from the Pier 6 and John Street development sites.
Members of the public are invited to attend and testify and encouraged to submit written comments.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6pm – 8pm

Long Island College Hospital, 339 Hicks Street
Avram Conference Center, 1st floor

Thursday, December 9, 2010, 6-pm-8pm
St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street
Founders Hall Atrium, 1st Floor
------------------------------------
The Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association (COWNA) is issuing the following statement in response to this issue:

Our neighborhood is growing, there are more young families every year and there is enormous demand for recreational space for all ages and in all seasons.

The Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood looks forward to the completion of the park, which will become a cherished amenity.

We appreciate the challenges in getting the park built and maintaining it going forward. However, we fear that fundamental principles are being compromised by the proposal to locate private housing in the park in order to generate income for maintenance.

We oppose the development of housing and hotels in the park. We feel that the park should contain only such uses as can be utilized by all visitors. Our communities need recreation and relaxation space - the Brooklyn Bridge Park is a unique opportunity and we look forward to working with all stakeholders to identify sources of revenue that will sustain the park's ongoing operations as an alternative to the proposed housing.





Friday, November 26, 2010

New chocolate factory and distillery coming to Red Hook


It appears that a distilery and chocolate producer named Cacao Prieto will be joining the ranks of locally produced Red Hook food and drinks. Brownstoner posted the image above along with links to the company's pending liquor license and potential parent company site from the Dominican Republic. With such companies as Six Point, Red Hook Winery, Steve's Key Lime pie, Stumptown coffee, and others, producing high quality food and beverage nearby, Red Hook is truly becoming a center for local food and drink production.

Image above from Brownstoner

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Fix the Ditch - Final BQE Enhancement study results and survey!

Earlier this month, the New York City Economic Development Corp. (NYC EDC) hosted its final workshop as part of the BQE Enhancement study, a study that aims to find improvement opportunities along the BQE from Atlantic Ave. to Hamilton Avenue. This workshop included the unveiling of renderings that the study's team of architects have come up with (a selection shown above and below). These design ideas include features that will help with noise reduction, pollution mitigation, neighborhood beautification, improved safety, and improved neighborhood connections.

The final results of this project will be unveiled in 2011, but there is still a chance to make community input heard through an online survey that will close on 12/1/10. As the Columbia Waterfront is defined by the same cross streets as this study, it is critical for local residents to make their visions and opinions known.

The survey is available here. If you would like to do more than just the survey, Council Member Lander has also asked for people to send input to his office be emailing lander { at } council.nyc.gov.

Before you take the survey, you may want to view the entire presentation from the final workshop here. Other information and previous presentations are also available here. Finally, a selection of some other news coverage related to this presentation and study can be found below.


Curbed: "Here Are Three Ways to Make the BQE Less Horrible"
Brownstoner: "Big Money to Improve the BQE Ditch"
Brooklyn Paper: "Three Sum! City likes BQE fix plan, but balks at price"

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Showroom opening at Uhuru Design

Check out FOUND this weekend, a collective art and design show put on by Uhuru, a design + build furniture company based in Red Hook. All of the pieces have been made from found objects (some from the neighborhood).
They recently renovated the ground floor space, and will mainly be using it for a showroom for our pieces, kicking it off with a design show this
Sat & Sunday from 10am-7pm.


They are located at 160 Van Brunt.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

City Council Passes Clean Ports Resolution!

The New York City Council passed Resolution 414 this week, which is a major step toward implementation and enforcement of innovative environmental solutions for truck pollution related to the ports of New York and New Jersey (paraphrased from the NYC Council description, found here)

Our area's Council Member Brad Lander was a key player in introducing this Resolution and getting it passed. The Columbia Waterfront Neighborhood Association (COWNA) has also presented testimony in support of it at the related Council hearings and events. The Coalition for Healthy Ports, of which COWNA is a part of, released the following press release yesterday in response:


TRUCK DRIVERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS PRAISE NYC COUNCIL FOR PASSING CLEAN PORTS RESOLUTION

NYC Joins Mayors, Port Authorities and 150 Organizations Nationwide Urging Congress to Pass the Clean Ports Act of 2010

New York, NY – A coalition of truck drivers and environmental, community and labor groups are praising the New York City Council today for adopting Resolution 414 which urges the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to implement an environmentally sustainable, economically sound clean truck program modeled after the Port of Los Angeles, and further calls on Congress to pass the Clean Ports Act of 2010.

"This resolution is a strong message to the federal government that our ports are places we need to be able to improve environmental and labor standards,” said the resolution’s champion Councilman Brad Lander from Brooklyn. “There is a clear need for an expanded clean truck program in the New York and New Jersey ports so that we can have good jobs, a cleaner environment and healthier neighborhoods.

“The Teamsters Joint Council 16 is proud to join City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Council Member Brad Lander in this nation-wide effort for a cleaner, greener and more economically just port trucking industry,” said George Miranda, member of the Coalition for Healthy Ports and President of the Teamsters Joint Council 16. “Both Speaker Quinn and Council Member Lander understand just how critical these reforms are to the safety of our communities, the health of our children, the economic independence of these drivers, and the overall competitiveness of our ports.”

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey has faced criticism from environmental, public health and labor advocates for taking limited steps to replace a mere 8 percent of the old, dirty fleet of 7,000 trucks starting this January. Low-income truck drivers and taxpayers must pay the multi-million dollar price tag, rather than the powerful industry that profits from port trade.

At issue is the controversial profit-maximizing strategy that has dominated port trucking in the three decades since deregulation, in which trucking companies and their giant retail shipper clients transport imported goods via a contracted driver workforce who own and operate their own rigs. Individual drivers – labeled “independent” by the firms they haul for and impoverished according to several credible studies – must assume all costs and liability associated with port hauling.

The Port of Los Angeles sought to upend what officials there called the industry’s “caveman economics.” Environmentalists endorsed this approach because the model requires companies to directly employ their drivers as the logical means to shift financial and legal accountability for clean truck replacement and maintenance onto real companies with the capital to afford it. Labor advocates who have long asserted port drivers are independent in name only vigorously supported the LA Clean Truck Program, to facilitate an end to worker misclassification.

“In less than two years the LA plan has put more than 8,500 new, clean trucks into service at the ports and reduced diesel emissions by 80%,” said Elizabeth Yeampierre from UPROSE, an environmental justice organization in Brooklyn. “Truck drivers and port adjacent communities like Sunset Park here in Brooklyn are desperate for an LA-style clean truck program. I’m grateful that today the New York City Council recognized that urgency.

In the New York metropolitan region the Clean Air Task Force estimates that diesel-soaked air will lead to 1,400 preventable, premature deaths, almost 3,000 non-fatal heart attacks and nearly 50,000 asthma attacks this year alone. Dirty port trucks are a major contributor to his public health crisis.

The New York City Council’s action is a powerful endorsement of a national effort to modernize federal transportation law. In July, Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced the Clean Ports Act of 2010 to make it clear that local port agencies possess the authority to implement strict environmental and operational standards to protect public health and spur green growth.

New York City now joins the ranks of other port cities and more than 145 organizations across the country calling on Congress to pass the Clean Ports Act. Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Cory Booker have also endorsed the Los Angeles Clean Truck Program and Mr. Nadler’s legislation.

# # # # #

The Coalition for Healthy Ports is a partnership of environmental, public health, community, labor and faith organizations that promote sustainable economic development at the ports of New York and New Jersey. We are working to make the port trucking system a less polluting, more competitive generator of good quality jobs. We are a member of the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports, a national coalition of 145 organizations.

Fall Greenway Fete a Success!

On November 4th, an exuberant crowd of nearly 200 supporters of Brooklyn Greenway Initiative (BGI) gathered at FIND Home Furnishings to celebrate the progress being made on the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. There was plenty of room to spread out and raise spirits and funds for the Greenway in FIND's expansive 10,000 square foot showroom at 9th Street and the Gowanus Canal. Local restaurants provided drinks and food for BGI's 2nd annual fall benefit, and the Hot Johnsons kept lively music going all evening.
Guests enjoying food from Lilla Cafe

At the event, Council Members Brad Lander and Steve Levin were recognized for securing BGI's first-ever City Council funding.

"I am honored to be able to help support the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway," said Council Member Levin. "I am lucky enough to represent a large portion of the Brooklyn waterfront. As a Greenpoint resident, I know how important it is to increase waterfront access in Greenpoint and throughout Brooklyn. I look forward to utilizing the active space that the Greenway will provide, as well as riding my bike along the waterfront and enjoying the spectacular views."

Council Member Steve Levin

Council Member Lander added, "I am pleased to support the Brooklyn Greenway, which will be not just a recreational resource for joggers, walkers and bikers alike, but a key neighborhood revitalization tool and important piece of transportation infrastructure in our waterfront communities."

Waste Management was acknowledged for its generous support of BGI's ongoing monthly stewardship programs, as well as for funding a special native grass restoration project. This restoration, at BGI's Adopt-a-Highway site adjacent to the Williamsburg Street West segment of the greenway, took place in partnership with the Horticultural Society of New York's Green Team.

BGI also thanked its major event sponsors, including aptsandlofts.com, Con Edison, FIND Home Furnishings, Industry City Associates and S Clubs Fitness Spa & Lifestyle.

BGI Co-founders Brian McCormick and Meg Fellerath announcing raffle winners

The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway is a planned 14 mile, off-street, landscaped route for cyclists and pedestrians from Greenpoint through Sunset Park. Public benefits will include increased waterfront access, more diverse transportation and active recreation options, and increased economic development

Brooklyn Greenway Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit organization planning for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway and its long-term stewardship. This year, BGI has co-sponsored two series of community planning workshops with the New York City Department of Transportation, all part of the process to develop a Master Plan for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway.


Photos courtesy of Oi Ling Hu via BGI

For more information check out BGI's website here


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Le Beaulolais Nouveau est arrivé!!

The arrival of the Beaujolais Nouveau is always such a celebration in France. Back when I was in college in Paris, my friends and I were always looking forward to that time.

Late in November, the bars and bistros would bring out the outdoor heaters, and waist-high bags of walnuts. We would huddle up with our glasses and crack the walnuts, throwing the shells on the ground. We would drink, eat, share and smoke (it was the nineties) for hours, celebrating the first wine of the new vintage.

Those years seem very fay away, but I am delighted that a taste of my youth is coming to Red Hook thanks to Dry Dock


2010 Beaujolais Nouveau Taste-Off

Friday, November 19th, 2010

5:30 to 8:30pm

Come celebrate the first release of the 2010 Beaujolais Nouveau vintage with a free taste-off Friday, November 19th, 5:30 to 8:30pm at dry dock wine + spirits.

In one corner, Kermit Lynch Wine Merchants’ offering of Damien Dupeuble’s 2010 vintage will be ready for sipping, while in the other corner, Louis Dressner Imports will bring their Terres Dorees Beaujolais Nouveau to the ring for a flavor square-off. This pair of producers was chosen because of their use of traditional wine making techniques such as hand harvesting, the use of indigenous yeasts and the absence of sulphur dioxide added to the fermentation process. This is a rare opportunity to taste the first vintage of the season from two esteemed producers side by side.

From France, Beaujolais Nouveau is the first young wine of the new vintage year that is enjoyed in the autumn. Winemakers rush to pick, press and bottle the grapes in time for the release on the third Thursday every November. The tradition is to share the new harvest with friends and family during the holiday season, especially with the Thanksgiving meal.

dry dock wine & spirits, located at 424 Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn, is Red Hook's neighborhood wine & spirits store, offering outstanding value and high quality from smaller vintners, producers and importers from around the world. We offer over 400 hand picked wines with 50 choices priced $12 and under, as well as a beautifully edited selection of spirits. dry dock has been featured in both Imbibe and Out magazines as a destination shop with an eclectic collection of craft-distilled spirits including over 75 whisk(e)y choices.

Wine & spirits tasting weekly; open m-w 12-9, th-sat 12-11, sun 12-8.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Thanksgiving To-Go at Lilla Cafe

Not feeling up to the Thanksgiving food planning craziness? Well Lilla Cafe has come up with a perfect solution: Thanksgiving To-Go.
They will be accepting orders until Tuesday, November 23rd and you can pick-up Thanksgiving morning from 9 am to noon (delivery provided upon request).

Here is the menu:
Butternut squash soup
Bib lettuce, orange and fennel salad
Southern cornbread stuffing
Fresh citrus cranberry sauce
Fall vegetables including cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and turnips
Whipped Idaho potatoes with giblet gravy
Pumpkin, apple and sweet potato pie
Homemade rolls and cornbread

$30 per person (3 person minimum)

Lilla Cafe is located at 126 Union Street
718 855 5700

Special PS 29 Benefit Evening - Tue, Nov 16


The PS 29 PTA & Strong Place
Cordially Invite You to
A Special PS 29 Benefit Evening

Tuesday, November 16th
7:00 PM

A Private Preview of LENNONYC
at Cobble Hill Cinemas
Featuring a Talkback with Film Director/Writer Michael Epstein
(an Academy Award-nominated PS 29 Dad)

Immediately Followed by a Reception at Strong Place

$30 ticket price includes the screening, talkback
beer or wine & hors d'oeuvres
Sponsored by Sixpoint Craft Ales
Click here for tickets

Proceeds Benefit PS 29!

100 Congress is done!

Open house weekdays from 2 to 6 pm and weekends from 12 to 5 pm.








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Craft day Nov 21st at 5 Burro Cafe







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Thanksgiving pies by Margaret Palca

Order by November 22nd. Choices are pumpkin, apple, pecan.




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What light!

The building between the Human Compass garden and the new Caselnova has been torn down. What will go up in its stead? Condos probably.




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Caselnova is open!

Enjoy a "traditional family style Italian meal".










Send in your reviews!




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Monday, November 8, 2010

I love Bacon at Home/Made - Nov 9th - 6 to 8pm

Join Author Jayne Rockmill and participating chefs as they celebrate the release of the I Love Bacon book!

About the book: "In "I Love Bacon," Jayne Rockmill presents more than 50 bacon-themed recipes from some of America's hottest chefs--from Cat Cora to Rick Tramonto, Ming Tsai, Jasper White, Andy Husbands and Joe Yonan, Pichet Ong, Bradford Thompson, John Besh, and many others--along with mouthwatering photography.With instructions on how to make bacon from scratch and how to feature bacon in brunch dishes, small bites, soups, salads, sides, entrees, and even cocktails and desserts, this full-color cookbook proves that bacon isn't just for breakfast anymore."

Tantalizing recipes, including two from Monica are included in this tasty compilation of bacon exploration.

Proceeds from the sale of the book go to great causes: Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength.


Home/Made

293 Van Brunt St.
Brooklyn, NY 11231
347-223-3135

Friday, November 5, 2010

BQE Enhancement Stakeholder Meeting on 11/15




DETAILS
The BQE Enhancement project is a joint effort between the City and your community to improve the pedestrian environment along the BQE, between Atlantic and Hamilton Avenues. NYCEDC is hosting a series of collaborative workshops in 2010 to develop a vision to improve the study area. At the first workshop in May, designers solicited input and local experience about this section of the BQE. At the second workshop in July, designers presented several alternatives for the community’s consideration.

The final meeting will be a presentation of refined alternatives, and cost estimates for each, as well as a discussion of next steps.

WORKSHOP 3
When: Monday, November 15th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Long Island College Hospital (LICH), Avram Conference Center, Rooms A & B
339 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201

Join your neighbors at our third and final design workshop, so we can work together to improve the connections among the Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and Columbia Street Waterfront neighborhoods.

Please RSVP to BQE@nycedc.com

Happy Diwali!

As some of our long-time readers (bless all 4 of you!) might have noticed, I mentioned on several occasions that I am French. And while that is true, it is not entirely accurate. I am of French nationality, and French is my native language, but I do not have any French blood. Indeed both my parents immigrated as teenagers.

So my blood is half Portuguese on my mother's side, from a lovely region called Alentejo (in the South, full of olive and orange trees), and half Indian on my father's side. But not simply Indian from India, noooooo.
My father's family is Tamil ethnically (from the region Tamil Nadu, in the South, capital Chennai), but they immigrated long ago to a small island in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Madagascar, named Mauritius Island. I was also born in London and raised in Brussels, but that's another story.

Tonight is beginning is a 5-day celebration called Diwali, the festival of lights.

Light to help us drive away the darkness and ignorance and to awaken the light within ourselves.

The house is cleaned, small oil candles are lit everywhere, and many sweets are prepared to share with others. In the evening, an offering is made to the goddess Lakshmi and the god Ganesh.

Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth and prosperity and also personifies beauty and the arts. Ganesh is the Lord of Wisdom and the remover of obstacles. I wish you all smooth passage on the road to accomplishments.

It is also the beginning of the Hindu New Year. The Goddess of Good Luck will visit the homes that are brightly lit and the children will receive a new piece of clothing or a new toy.

Let us give thanks for the good things in our lives: our parents, our children, our friends who often become our families, the roof over our heads and the food on our tables.

I wish you strength and compassion to be the best person that you can. It all starts with you.

Much love to all,