Eat Pie and Shop at PS 29!

Sunday December 7th is PS 29's annual Eat Pie and Shop holiday event! Enjoy delicious homemade pies, enter a celebrity judged pie contest, shop more than 30 artisans at the gift fair, have your child’s portrait taken professionally, and hang out while your kids have their faces painted and do crafts.
Sunday December 7, 11am - 4pm
Eat Pie and Shop at Brooklyn’s PS 29
425 Henry Street, between Baltic and Kane
www.eatpieandshop.org

Pie Social: Taste delicious homemade and premium pies for $5 a slice or 5 for $20. Both sweet and salty options, so come for lunch and desert.

Celebrity-judged pie contest: At 2pm, Gail Simmons, judge of “Top Chef,” Melissa Clark, food columnist for the New York Times, Kelsey Nixon, Host of Kelsey’s Essentials, Paulette Goto, host of The Cooking Channel'sf Unique Sweets and other kitchen pros will name the best pie of the pie contest. Taste the winning pie.

Artisan Holiday Gift Fair: Take care of your holiday shopping while the kids do crafts. More than 30 of Brooklyn’s best artisans are selling their wares, including jewelry, clothing and beautiful paper products as well as books and classic toys from fork + pencil.

Children's Crafts and Activities: Face painting, crafts and a Kids Choice pie contest of kid baked pies. Your kids will have a blast!

Professional Portrait Studio: You can get a beautiful portrait of your child/children taken during the event. $30 for one high-resolution image which you can print, email, gift to grandparents, etc.

Toys for Tots: U.S. Marines will be on hand to pick up all donations of holiday gifts.

Paper Shredding, Electronics Recycling, Rummage Sale and Bake Sale to Benefit Open House Nursery School

Protect Your Identity. Help Your Community. SHRED IT!
WHEN: Saturday, November 16, 10am-2pm
WHERE: Open House Nursery School, 318 Warren Street (between Court and Smith)
WHAT: Paper Shredding, Electronics Recycling, Rummage Sale and Bake Sale!

To raise funds for the school and as a service to the community Open House will have a professional shredding truck parked outside the school. Bring old bank statements and other confidential papers for shredding. In addition, we will collect small electronics for recycling. There will even be a rummage sale and delicious baked goods!

DOCUMENT SHREDDING. $10 for the first box/bag and $5 for each additional. ALL DOCUMENTS SHREDDED WHILE YOU WATCH!

RUMMAGE SALE. Come by and rummage for clothing and other treasures. All unsold goods will be donated to Wearable Collections.

ELECTRONICS. Acceptable items include inkjet/laser printer cartridges, GPS, iPhones, iPods, digital cameras, MP3 players, headphones, iPads and other tablets, and laptops. All items will be recycled responsibly.

All proceeds support Open House Nursery School and their financial aid program. Open House Nursery School is proud to be one of the few preschools in the neighborhood to provide financial aid. Part of their mission is to support families with limited income, as well as those who may encounter a sudden unexpected economic downturn.

Halloween Fun in the Neighborhood

You're invited to our neighborhood Columbia Waterfront Halloween Party and Parade on Sunday, October 27 from 10:00am to 12:30pm at Mother Cabrini Playground. Starting at 11 am, the Underground Horns band will lead the neighborhood costume parade. Come in costume, bring percussion instruments and get ready for a good time. 

This event is organized by volunteer members of the Urban Meadow Community Garden. Face painting, baked goods, coffee and hot chocolate and Urban Meadow t-shirts will be for sale with proceeds benefiting the Urban Meadow.Cabrini Playground and the Urban Meadow are on President Street between Columbia and Van Brunt.
http://urbanmeadowbrooklyn.blogspot.com/




Love Thy Pet's Halloween Party is Saturday, October 26 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
Bring your costumed pet between 1 and 2pm for the costume contest.
Guess the weight of the Pumpkin for a chance to win the door prize!
Enjoy cake, coffee, dog cake, and Doggy Goody Bags.
You can also get a free, professional photo shoot of your dog in costume, taken courtesy of Taryn Truese-Smith.
Love Thy Pet is at 164 Union Street (between Hicks & Henry)
http://lovethypetbklyn.com/
718-596-2399

Clayworks on Columbia's Children's Clay Class presents The Halloween Show
in the Clayworks Gallery Window October 30 - November 10. 

http://clayworksoncolumbia.org./

Spooooky... what other Halloween events are happening in the hood? Please let us know in the comments. Happy halloween, everyone!

How would YOU spend $1 million in the neighborhood?

Our City Councilmember Brad Lander's Participatory Budgeting process has begun! There is still time to submit ideas for improvements to the neighborhood. On the District Council 39 PB website you can post an idea, see what your neighbors are proposing, and support or comment on their ideas. The deadline is November 3rd. 

Through Participatory Budgeting, community members propose ideas and vote for how to spend at least $1,000,000 of the public budget in our Council District. If you have an idea about how things could work better in your community, share it on the map. Check out the guidelines to see what ideas can be funded. Your idea will be then reviewed, alongside all the others, based on its feasibility, the need it would address, and the number of people it would benefit. The top projects will be put on a ballot, and next April, all residents of the 39th Council District will be able vote on which to fund.

Go forth and make a real difference!

Nominate Carroll Gardens Library to win $10,000!!

Ok... yes... we may be a little frustrated that the library is scheduled to be closed for about a month this summer (it is posted that it will close at the end of business on June 7th and re-open on July 8th), but truly it provides so many community benefits that certainly it deserves to be nominated for a chance to receive the $10,000 award!

The short survey can be anonymous or you can give them your contact info. It takes about 3-5 minutes of our time and will be accepting nominations until July 1st.... but don't wait! Don't procrastinate! Click on the link below and nominate!

~NOMINATE MY LIBRARY~

Upcoming events at the Carroll Gardens Library

Thursday, June 7 2-4pm 

The Summer Reading Kick-off Party celebrates the start of Brooklyn Public Library's Summer Reading program with fun activities for the whole family.

Author Daniel Kalla

Tuesday, June 12 at 7pm

The CG Library Authors Series continues with Daniel Kalla reading from his new novel The Far Side of the Sky (June 5th, 2012, MacMillian/Tor-Forge) which focuses on a short but extraordinary period of Second World War history, when the cultures of Europe and Asia converged.

For more information visit the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library blog or Brooklyn Public Library's events calendar.

Love Your Library Day is May 19

Love Your Library Day is coming to the Carroll Gardens Library on Saturday, May 19! It's the annual fundraiser of the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library with a huge book sale and community celebration from 10AM - 4PM at the library at 396 Clinton Street at Union Street. In addition to the book sale, the group is celebrating our community with a line up of cool entertainment including readings by children's authors and local residents Josh Lewis, author of the "Super Chicken Nugget Boy" series and Lela Nargi, author of "The Honeybee Man", a finalist for the Cook prize for children's science writing; art activities with Curious Jane, and more!

Brooklyn Public Library t-shirts will be available for sale and they'll have another delicious bake sale - all to raise money for the library and raise awareness of how important libraries are to the community. FCGL holds monthly meetings and everyone is invited to share their ideas and energy. FCGL’s website is http://friendsofcglibrary.blogspot.com/ and FCGL can be found on Facebook at Facebook.com/FriendsofCarrollGardensLibrary and Twitter at Twitter.com/FriendCGLibrary.

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/

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....

New Free Community Yoga at Element Natural Healing Arts

Just over the highway there is a calm oasis called Element Natural Healing Arts. I recently tried a massage and a yoga class at Element and both were heavenly. Here's a list of holistic therapies they list on their website: acupuncture, herbology, massage, reflexology, lymphatic drainage, Thai bodywork, rolfing, chiropractic, European & Ayurvedic facials and skincare, nutrition, ear candling, reiki, Alexander technique, craniosacral, yoga, meditation, personal training, pilates mat, Tai Chi and martial arts. 

They've recently added a free community yoga class to their schedule and changed the prices of all classes. Drop-ins are now just $12/class, a 6 Class Card is $66 ($11/class; expires 10 weeks)  and a 10 Class Card is $100  ($10/class; expires 15 weeks). Not too shabby.

Author Patrick Taylor Appearing at the Carroll Gardens Library Feb 29

 This just in from the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library: 

February 29, Leap Day, is a rare date which occurs just once every four years. Rarer still is a Brooklyn appearance by New York Times bestselling author Patrick Taylor (the “Irish Country” series) – but that’s exactly what’s scheduled for Wednesday, February 29 at 7 p.m. when the author visits the Carroll Gardens branch of the Brooklyn Public Library for a discussion and signing of his novels. It will be the author’s exclusive New York appearance.

 “We are so excited that Patrick Taylor will be visiting not only the library, but Brooklyn for this event,” says Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library secretary and event organizer Diane Saarinen.  “We can only hope our ‘little village’ of Carroll Gardens is half as interesting as the Ballybucklebo that Taylor depicts in his colorful novels.”


Taylor , author of the bestselling An Irish Country Village, A Dublin Student Doctor and more, is also looking forward to the February 29 event: “Although I have visited New York often, I am really looking forward to my first visit to Brooklyn--even if Ebbets Field is gone and the Trolley Dodgers who hired Jackie Robinson in 1947 have long been in LA,” the author says. “And where better to go than a library in a borough that has 58 branches of its Public Library system? I hope what I have to say will be interesting and entertaining.”


Seating is limited and those who wish to attend this exciting event must register for tickets at http://patricktaylorinbrooklyn.eventbrite.com/  A donation of $10 per person at the door is suggested. Signed books will be available for purchase. 


“An Evening with Patrick Taylor” Wednesday,  February 29, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Carroll Gardens Library, located at 396 Clinton Street, on the corner of Union Street, Brooklyn New York. Subways: F and G train to Carroll Street.


About the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library: The Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library was chartered early in 2011 and hosts their book sale fundraiser each May, in addition to organizing dynamic programs at the library. Its goals are to support the library by helping to make the Carroll Gardens branch a hub of the community with programs for children, youth and adults all year round. Visit their website at http://friendsofcglibrary.blogspot.com, friend them on Facebook at http://facebook.com/FriendsofCarrollGardensLibrary and follow them on Twitter at http://twitter.com/FriendCGLibrary.

Fall Recycling Day: Electronics, Textiles and more! October 23

Wil Blanche, flickr

Inspired to do some Fall Cleaning? Here's a local and convenient place to get your old electronics, clothes, and documents recycled.

Did you know that electronics recycling in NYC is now required by law? Old computers, monitors, and other electronics must be recycled at a dedicated eWaste recycling facility.

At this event there will also be free shredding and you can learn about composting. Check the links for details.


Sun October 23, 10:00AM - 4:00 PM

Fall Recycling Day: Electronics, Textiles and more!

PS 29 Schoolyard - Baltic St. between Henry St. and Clinton St.

Public School 29 at 425 Henry Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn will be hosting its fall recycling day.  All items collected during the day will be recycled according to the highest environmental standards.

• Old computers and electronics will be collected by Lower East Side Ecology Center, in conjunction with Cobble Hill Association.   See www.lesecologycenter.org to review the list of accepted items from households.

• Computer hard drive shredding provided by eRecycleNY, PS 29 parent owned EPA compliant electronics recycling company serving the NYC area.  See www.eRecycleNY.com for more information.

• Clothing rummage sale, proceeds go to PS 29 PTA.  Wearable Collections will be picking up remaining clothes, as well as stained & ripped clothing, textiles & stuffed animals.  www.wearablecollections.com

• Confidential Documents shredded on-site (& then recycled) for a small fee. by Time Shred Services

• Composting Workshop led by The NYC Compost Project in Brooklyn.  Backyard composters will also be for sale.  

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/compost/compostproj.shtml

For more information, please contact us at PS29RECYCLES@gmail.com.

Registration open for music classes at Jitterbug NYC

From Karen at Jitterbugs NYC, who offer retro-style music class for babies, toddlers and preschoolers:

Calling All Jitterbugs!

Thanks again to all of those who joined us at Carroll Park last week for the Karen K & the Jitterbugs concert.  Over 300 people came out, and we had a ball!  Check out photos on Facebook at Jitterbugs NYC! 

FALL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!  Classes offered with Karen & Aaron in Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Red Hook!  Check out the Schedule & Register at www.jitterbugsnyc.com. Classes are already filling up, so be sure to register soon!  10 weeks for $225 / Classes begin Sept. 19th.  $25 / siblings.  Remember, Stroller Strides participants get $10 off. (Sing, wiggle, shake and...exercise with baby!)

LATE SUMMER / EARLY FALL DROP-INS!  $20/family, and FREE if you've never been to a Jitterbugs class before!  Classes offered the weeks of September 6th-9th & 12th-16th.  Check www.jitterbugsnyc.com for details. 

FAQ: Who's teaching what?  Karen will be co-teaching the Wednesday and Thursday morning classes with Aaron this fall, so you'll see her often.  And you'll see Aaron more often on Mondays, Thursday afternoons and Fridays! 


Karen
_____________

Karen Kalafatas
Jitterbugs, Inc.
www.jitterbugsnyc.com

Summertime and the Reading is Easy!

Hey, neighbors! I'm Andrea and I've just joined the blogging team for The Word on Columbia Street. I've lived in the neighborhood almost six years and every year I fall more in love with our little section of Brooklyn. For my first post here's some news from our local public library, the Carroll Gardens branch of the Brooklyn Public Library on Union St and Clinton St. Tomorrow kicks off the library's Summer Reading program. Here are the details:

Come to the Summer Reading Kick-Off Party at the Carroll Gardens Library on Thursday, June 9 from 2pm-4pm (public schools are closed for Anniversary Day)! Celebrate the start of the Brooklyn Public Library's annual Summer Reading program with a free multicultural celebration with activities and treats. Hosted by BPL and the Friends of the Carroll Gardens Library. Go to our website for more details at friendsofcglibrary.blogspot.com and keep up with FCGL's activities at the library all summer at Facebook.com/FriendsofCarrollGardensLibrary.

Love Your Library Day at the Carroll Gardens branch - Sat, May 14th

Save the Date for the “Love Your Library Day” book sale

to benefit the Carroll Gardens branch.

Saturday, May 14, 10 AM

4 PM at the library (corner of Clinton and Union Streets)

Thousands of fantastic books at great prices, baked treats, and special guests including Karen K and the Jitterbugs performing free at 10 AM- let her entertain your kids while you browse!

If you have gently used books (especially children's titles) to donate for the sale, please drop them off at the library through May 5.

FCGL’s next meeting is Wednesday, May 4 at 6:30 at the library downstairs – everyone is invited to join.

We’re on Facebook.com/FriendsofCarrollGardensLibrary and check out our new blog friendsofcglibrary.blogspot.com/

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)

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.

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

Halloween Karaoke Party - Sat, Oct 30th

Come dressed as your favorite rock star!

Party with your friends and family near the park house from 5:00 – 9:00 and sing some of your favorite songs with Lion’s Roar Karaoke and their 10,000 song library.

Hot cider will be available, and some snacks if we can muster them!

Suggested donation of $1 per song to benefit Friends of Carroll Park.

ARToberfest (Brooklyn Studio Tours) - 10/23 and 10/24

A number of artists and art studios will be opening their doors to the public this weekend in celebration of "ARToberfest 2010," an event being organized by Brooklyn Studio Tours. There are participating artists in Carroll Gardens, Red Hook, and the Columbia Waterfront, so visitors from outside the area could easily make an afternoon of it (especially if visiting a local restaurant for food in between).

Check out the official site here or the tour map here