Close Your Eyes and Look as Far as You Can See @ Work - 10/29

WORK presents Close Your Eyes and Look as Far as You Can See, a solo exhibition of works by RYAN V. BRENNAN.

Opening Reception on October 29th, 7-9 Pm (Exhibition up through 11/16)

A common outlook on life - both sincerely whimsical and discerningly naïve - is unveiled through multiple series' of 3-D collage works, stop animation, site-specific installation, and handmade instructional books. Each project is a curious venture into deciphering an enigmatic world as magnetically magical as it is profoundly tragic.

Check out this stop motion animation by the artist for a taste of what to expect:


Work is located on the corner of Union and Van Brunt

Red Hook sketches by Stephen Gardner Pt. 2

Some more Red Hook sketches by Stephen Gardner. Check out his "Sketch of the Day" blog here.

Reminder: OKTOBERFEST @ Human Compass Garden 10/24

The forecast for Saturday predicts rain, so if that is the case, the rain date is Sunday October 25th! Please pass the word along and invite family and friends!

OKTOBERFEST in the Human Compass Garden
Saturday 24th
11:00 to 4:00
(rain-date October 25th)
A day of pumpkin carving, apple bobbing, bulb planting, art making,
cookie eating, neighbor greeting, and Halloween treating = day of fun!

The Human Compass Garden is located on Sackett and Columbia.

Added Value 2009 Harvest Festival Canceled

A note from Added Value about the cancellation of tomorrow's Harvest Festival:

Dear Friends
Due to the forecast of 100% heavy rain we are canceling the 5th Annual Harvest
Festival. Because of the large numbers of volunteers, institutional partners
and vendors involved we are not planning on rescheduling the festival. We want
to thank all of you who have worked over the past month to make this event
happen and we look forward to Harvest Festival 2010.

Please consider joining us next Saturday October 31st at the Red Hook
Farmers' Market where we'll be having Halloween inspired activities for
children including face painting, pumpkin carving, and costume making from 9:30
– 3:00pm

Regretfully yours
The Added Value Team

Red Hook Romance

Red Hook based photographer Heather Phelps-Lipton has the ability to make gritty neighborhood streetscapes look like the perfect wedding backdrop. Just another example of the countless amount of talent we have around here. Check out more of her work here

Progress @ Brooklyn Bridge Park

Brownstoner posted several photos this week (one of which is above) of progress being made at both Pier 1 and Pier 6 in the future Brooklyn Brige Park.

This particular phase involves the trucking in and installation of "gatehouses," which Brownstoner describes as follows:

Brooklyn Bridge Park received delivery of the gatehouses at both Pier 1 next door and Pier 6 down by Atlantic Avenue. The gatehouses, which, as we understand it, will house mechanicals as well as mark the entrances to the park, were manufactured off-site in New Jersey before being trucked in. They will eventually be clad in wood verticals using old growth long leaf southern yellow pine salvaged from the Cold Storage Building being demolished at Pier 1. How cool is that!

"Learning at Liberty" Open House this Weekend!

Liberty Sunset Garden will be offering classes and Q&A sessions this Saturday and Sunday in an open house format:

Saturday 10/24 2-5pm
Tropical Plant Q&A with Trisha Mulligan
Trisha will answer questions on bringing the outdoors in: how to prepare your plants for their move inside!

Saturday 10/24 and Sunday 10/25 2-5pm
Irrigation Demo with Jacqui Roytman
Create your own irrigation system! Jacqui will demonstrate sub-irrigation and drip irrigation techniques using recycled plastic bottles.
Plus face painting Saturday and Sunday!

Check out their site for more details

The BQE

The BQE - a movie inspired by the roadway that in many ways defines/confines our neighborhood - was released on DVD this week. And no, its not a documentary about the history of the expressway, but rather a musical and visual piece inspired by it, featuring epic music created by Sufjan Stevens and a group of hula-hoopers dancing throughout.

Check out a selection of the various associated merchandise available (including the soundtrack, comics, posters, and more) here

...or a WNYC interview with creator Sufjan Stevens here

Or the trailer here:

THE BQE- A Film By Sufjan Stevens from Asthmatic Kitty on Vimeo.

Columbia St. crash photos from 10/14 and 10/18

The following photos were taken by YumKim Yee, a member of the COWNA Public Services Committee. YumKim was also responsible for writing the letter to the DOT back in June that we previously mentioned.

We would like to urge readers to continue to snap photos like these, take note of dates and times, and submit them so that we can continue to document how dangerous this stretch of Columbia St. is.

Accident at President and Columbia on 10/18/09:




YumKim's comments:

Involved 2 cars on a Sunday afternoon of 10/18 where there were several injuries. Note the red car that went over the sidewalk & into the bushes in front of the building. By coincidence, this accident location is the very takes place where we asked DOT, 76th Pct & CB6 to install a traffic light/stop sign but was told that there was not enough incidents to warrant it.

Accident at Union St. and Columbia on 10/14/09 around 8am:

YumKim's comments:

Occurred at "8am" on Wednesday morning of 10/14. It involved a white van traveling s/bound on Columbia St. followed by a yellow taxi (I took the shot from my window above). Fortunately no fatalities from both cars (incl. taxi passengers) but you can imagine that someone could have been pinned between the taxi and pole/parked car...


And if you're just tuning in, don't forget the other crash that occurred on 10/18 within very shortly before the one pictured above

Anselmo's Tasting Day 10/27

Anselmo's Pizzeria will be having a tasting day on 10/27 from 5pm-10pm. Chef and co-owner Jack Stella will be cooking up delicious dishes for all to enjoy. Call or email to RSVP. Information at Anselmo's site here.