Plant Sale in Cobble Hill Park this Saturday

Stroll over the highway to Cobble Hill Park for the Cobble Hill Tree Fund's annual Spring Plant Sale this Saturday, April 28. They are also setting up a Plant Identification Treasure Hunt for all ages. Winners will receive a free plant!

Details are  on the Cobble Hill Association blog.

Donate to Carroll Gardens Library for their May 19 Sale

Friends of Carroll Gardens Library is now accepting donations for their May 19 Love Your Library Day Book Sale and Community Celebration. 


Yes, you can donate:
New or used books
CDs, DVDs and records
Children's books, CDs, DVDs
Journals
Current textbooks


No thanks to: Damaged books without covers; tape cassettes or VHS videos; coloring books or activity books; magazines; outdated textbooks and computer manuals.

Donations will be collected through May 9 at only the following times: Saturdays 10:30 to 12 noon, Wednesdays 6 to 8 p.m., and Fridays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enter through the main doors on Clinton Street and bring your donations go downstairs through the auditorium or take the elevator on the Union Street side to the basement.

Friends of Carroll Gardens Libraries also needs volunteers to help accept donations, sort and organize books, and staff the sale. Sign up here!

Brooklyn Studio Tours Seeking Artists, Local Shops and Sponsors

Brooklyn Studio Tours has announced their Spring Artist Open Studio Tour in Red Hook & Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn on Saturday, May 19 & Sunday, May 20 from 12PM to 6 PM.


Artists can register their studios for a $40 fee; the deadline is April 27. Local shops, bars, restaurants, galleries, etc can be included on the tour map and website for a fee. They are also seeking sponsors. More here: http://brooklynstudiotours.com/2012/03/calling-all-artists-sponsors-local-shops-may-19-20-spring-studio-tour-registration-now-open/

Spring Classes and Children's Summer Clay Camp at Clayworks

Clayworks on Columbia Street says it's time to register for their Spring Session.

Come join us..... make some pots..... & have some fun with clay!!

WHEEL/HANDBUILDING CLASSES
Monday 10 am to 1 pm 4/16 thru 6/25 (no class 5/28)
Wednesday 7 pm to 10 pm 4/18 thru 6/20
Thursday 7 pm to 10 pm 4/19 thru 6/21
Saturday 10 am to 1 pm 4/21 thru 6/30 (no class 5/26)

SCULPTURE CLASS
Monday 7 pm to 10 pm 5/14 thru 7/23 (no class 5/28)

$320 for 10 week session includes open studio time, clay and use of our glazes.

To register or for more information about our classes and studio call 917 428 3128 or visit our website www.clayworksoncolumbia.org


And they'll have a new summer daycamp! Read on...

Our new Clay Camp is designed to provide children and young teens with fun and
creative clay projects. They will learn to construct several clay projects, to color
and glaze them and to learn how to turn mud into magic. No prior pottery or clay
experience is required. Our ceramic art instructors are experiences artists and
teachers who will work with all the children to help them have a meaningful and
fun experience.

Camp sessions are a week long --- from Monday to Thursday --- and are either
morning or afternoons. The cost of one session, which includes all materials,
instruction, tools and firing, is $240. For a second child in one family, the cost is
$200.

Our sessions are as follows:

Session 1: July 23 - July 26 10 am to 1 pm (ages 6 - 10)
Session 2: July 30 - August 2 10 am to 1 pm (ages 6 - 10)
Session 3: August 6 - August 9 10 am to 1 pm (ages 6 - 10)
Session 4: August 6 - August 9 1 pm to 4 pm (ages 10 - 15) --- Teen
wheel camp

For more information or to register your child please call or email
info@clayworksoncolumbia.org


Clayworks on Columbia, Inc.
195 Columbia Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231-1402
718-694-9540

Element Healing Arts

I must have walked past Element Healing Arts on Union Street hundreds of times over the years before I tried their massage and yoga classes, and now I feel silly for missing out for so long. It's a little oasis of relaxation in there!

On April 22 they are hosting a special workshop called Beauty From Within. It's all about boosting beauty with whole foods. The class costs $10 and includes juices by Blueprint Cleanse, a handout on workshop topics and gift bag with samples and products from Sprout, Ajara Skincare and more.

They're also offering a free Community Yoga Class on Tuesdays from 5:00pm - 6:00pm. Ohmmm....

Urban Meadow CSA 2012 Season Beginning Soon

The bounty of  last year's first pickup + eggs!

Last year from June through October my household received super-fresh and organic vegetables and fruit every week direct from a Pennsylvania farm. It was our first time taking advantage of a Community Supported Agriculture program (or CSA) and we are excited for the new season.

This year the season will start on June 2 and will end October 27. A full share is $525 for the season and volunteering for one morning to help with the pickup. (You can make arrangements on your own with a neighbor to split the cost of a full share, but you both have to work a pickup shift.) Pickups will be at the Urban Meadow on President and Van Brunt every Saturday from 10:30am to 12:30pm and offer a wide selection of vegetables from week to week. The deadline for registration is Friday, May 18.

We'll get our veggies from the same farm as last year, Ant Hill Farm, located in Honesdale, PA. (http://www.theanthillfarm.com). Check out their site to see gorgeous photos of the farm, learn about their methods and the produce they offer, and events for CSA members like tours, music festivals, canning workshops.

If you're interested in becoming a member or have any questions, email urbanmeadowcsa@gmail.com. Also check out http://urbanmeadowcsa.tumblr.com/.

Columbia Street Post Office Reincarnated

Photo by _tar0_
http://flic.kr/p/8LmEKP

Good news and bad news about our little post office at 257 Columbia Street. Despite public outcry and a petition with thousands of signatures, our little contracted postal center with the USPS was forced to close after 17 years of operation by Rita Faraone. However, Rita has reopened as a private postal center called Columbia Waterfront Postal Center. The opening hours will be extended, and you can mail out packages via USPS, pick up mail, and purchase stamps. The USPS will still visit on a daily basis.  In the future Rita plans to offer money orders, bill payment and function as a copy center. 

Since this is now a private postal center, "these services will come with a small processing fee" said Rita said in a letter posted at the new Center. "We hope that you will continue to support us."

Columbia Waterfront Postal Center will be open Monday - Friday 10:00am-4:00pm and Saturday 12:00noon-4:00pm.