The Word on Columbia Street Needs YOU

We are seeking more neighbors to blog about the best neighborhood in Brooklyn, perhaps the world!

Help us keep The Word on Columbia Street going as the only blog dedicated to news and history of our fascinating corner of Brooklyn.

Contact andreaoncolumbiast at gmail.com if you are interested in being a part of our team. We are all volunteers who love this neighborhood. You can write about what interests you: local businesses, family events, local history, etc.

Columbia Waterfront Fall Festival and garden tours Sept 14

Carroll Gardens Association is holding its Fifth Annual Columbia Waterfront Fall Festival on Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 12 PM to 6 PM. 

The Fall Festival runs from Degraw Street to Union Street on Columbia Street and from Columbia Street to Hicks Street on Union Street in the Columbia Street Waterfront District of Brooklyn. This is a free community event that's always a lot of fun. Last year the local restaurants were selling food outside, local hula hooper Celia was demonstrating techniques for the kids, and there was a stage with live music.

To complement the festival this year, from 12:00-1:30 pm, all of the community gardens in the Columbia Waterfront District will be part of a walking tour. The guided tour will begin at the Human Compass Garden on the corner of Columbia Street and Sackett Streets and will make a stop at each of these gardens along the way: the Amazing Garden, Summit Street Garden, Pirate's Cove Garden, the Backyard Garden, the Urban Meadow and then will end at the South Brooklyn Children's Garden. At each garden there will be current members to give a presentation about that garden, answer questions about what is going on in the garden and how to get involved. 

Amazing Garden's Best Grilled Sandwich Competition Sept 7

Next weekend, get yourself down to the Amazing Garden on Saturday, September 7th for their THIRD annual grilled sandwich competition!

How it works: three chefs compete for the title of best grilled sandwich (meat) and best grilled sandwich (vegetarian). This year's competitors: Lauren Rauh (Iris Cafe), Josh Kaplan (Dassara), and Morgan Jarrett (Nightingale 9). As sandwiches come off the grill, ticketholders get to sample them and vote on which was tastiest.

Entry: $15. It's a fundraiser, and all revenues will be used for maintenance and repairs of one of the most popular community gardens in our part of Brooklyn.

Benefits: continuous delicious food, live music, and beverages courtesy of Brooklyn Farmacy.

Time: 3 pm, Saturday September 7th

Location: The Amazing Garden, at the corner of Carroll St. & Columbia St. in Brooklyn.

Five Questions for Kings Coffee

If you ever walk down Carroll Street between Columbia and Van Brunt, you may have noticed a tiny espresso bar called Kings Coffee. Co-owned by brothers Dominic and John, Kings Coffee sells beans and coffee that they will lovingly brew for you have a few minutes to linger. We asked them to answer our Five Questions for a Local Business. 

1. How did Kings Coffee come to be in the Columbia Waterfront District?

My Great Grandfather, John Vitale, was an artist who immigrated to the United States from Napoli. He opened his photo studio on the 2nd floor of 221 Columbia Street and settled his family into the 3rd floor. Thus, Great Grandpa John established my family's roots on the Waterfront. As my brother John and I set out to find a home for Kings Coffee, fate steered us from other neighborhoods and led us back to where Great Grandpa John had his start.

2. What should we know about your coffee? Will you be selling beans as well as cups of coffee?

My brother and I spent two years apprenticing under a Master Italian Roaster in Bensonhurst whom everyone affectionately calls Mister Joe. After 50 years in the business, Mister Joe decided it was time to retire. And so, he taught John and I his traditions and trusted us to continue his legacy. Mister Joe has an incredible pallet and during his career he perfected two blends of coffee. These two blends of coffee, Mister Joe's Espresso and Mister Joe's Americano, as well as, a single origin Decaffeinato, can be purchased at Kings Coffee.

Kings Coffee also has a small Espresso Bar where you can purchase cups of coffee, mostly in the Italian style with a notable exception, the Breükelen Dutch. A nod to Brooklyn's roots and brewed with the first CoffeeGa Ridge 3.2 in the country, the Dutch Cold Brew method produces one of the finest cups, both smooth and flavorful with noticeably less acidity. You can purchase flasks of the Breükelen Dutch concentrate so you can take the experience with you on life's adventures. Better yet, come back with your stories and your bottle and we'll gladly refill it at a discounted rate.

3. What is your favorite spot in the Columbia Waterfront?

We are lucky to have Chris and his team at Christopher Webb Films as our neighbors. Having creative minds gathering just down the block – or with us when they escape for coffee breaks – is infectious and inspiring.

4. What's your favorite meal in the Columbia Waterfront?

Less of a meal and more of a snack. I have an awful sweet tooth and a wonderful chocolate factory to cater to it. The chocolate from Cacao Prieto is decadent and pairs wonderfully with our Breükelen Dutch, an indulgence you can only experience on the Waterfront.

5. Anything to add?

We will be celebrating our One Year Anniversary on August 4th. We would love to see you and your readers there.


Kings Coffee is offering Word on Columbia Street readers $1 off your next purchase at Kings Coffee when you mention The Word on Columbia Street, good until July 31st, 2013. Conditions apply. Limited one per customer.

Thanks, Dominic!


Kings Coffee is at 37 Carroll St (between Columbia and Van Brunt)
Website coming soon at http://www.kingsroasters.com/

Rooftop Films at the Waterfront Museum!

Rooftop Films comes to Red Hook on Thursday, August 1 at the Waterfront Museum aboard the 914 Lehigh Valley Barge #79, In the water at 290 Conover Street. (Next to Fairway.)

The Expedition to the End of the World (Daniel Dencik | Denmark | 88 min.) NY Premiere
Rooftop sets to sea for this spirited documentary about a three-mast sailboat full of daring artists and off-beat scientists exploring territory only recently revealed by polar ice melts.

*Preceded by:
Reindeer (Eva Weber | 6 min.)
A poetic study in movement and sound, this film takes you on a journey to the twilight expanses of the Lappish wilderness to experience the ancient practice of reindeer herding or ‘husbandry’.

7:30PM: Doors Open8:00PM: Live Music by Biet and Black
8:30PM: Films Begin
10:30PM-12:00AM: After Party at Brooklyn Crab (24 Reed Street) courtesy of Red Stripe & Tito's Vodka

Tickets and more information: http://rooftopfilms.com/2013/schedule/the-expedition-to-the-end-of-the-world/

South Brooklyn Children's Garden Bug Fest

The South Brooklyn Children’s Garden (SBCG) announces its inaugural bug festival,Saturday, July 20, 2013, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. This SBCG public event will celebrate bugs for the central role that they play in the environment and in the SBCG garden. This event is open to the public and free.
“As our plants mature during July, bugs are standing room only in the garden. There's no better time than now to demonstrate the importance of bugs in the garden and food cycle," said garden founder Shannon Mulholland. “We are looking forward to inviting the neighborhood into our garden to learn about bugs and to enjoy all the garden has to offer."

Bug Festival activities will include:
Bug Costume Contest and Parade at 12 noon
Lady Bug and Praying Mantis Release
Butterfly Exploration
Arts and Crafts
Live music by The Dad Beats
Food will be provided by Margaret Palca Bakes, Italian ices by House of Pizza.

WHEN: Saturday, July 20, 11am – 2pm (rain date Sunday, July 21)
WHERE: South Brooklyn Children’s Garden, 204 Columbia Street (Corner of Sackett and Columbia Streets)

The South Brooklyn Children’s Garden is a community garden founded in August 2012 with a mission to provide a physical and education space for local children to learn about gardening, food cultivation, how it effects the environment and our local ecology. It is a member of New York City’s Green Thumb Program, a division of the Department of Recreation and Parks.http://www.southbrooklynchildrensgarden.org/.

Sunday Early Morning Implosion Scheduled for Governors Island

Tomorrow morning, Sunday, June 9th at 7:36 am, the tallest non-historic building on Governors Island is scheduled to be demolished by implosion opening up space for 30 acres of park to be added and views of the Statue of Liberty. While we may not hear or see the actual implosion from our windows, they are going to be broadcasting it live for your viewing pleasure on the Governors Island blog. They will open the feed up at 7:20 am so grab that cup of coffee and watch the live implosion (the first in the city since 2001) or if you want to see it first hand their blog lists the top 5 spots to view it from:


TOP 5 PLACES TO VIEW THE IMPLOSION
5) The foot of Pioneer Street, Red Hook, Brooklyn
4) Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian and Bike Path, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
3) Liberty State Park, Jersey City, New Jersey
2) Battery Park Promenade, Lower Manhattan
1) 7:30 AM Staten Island-bound Staten Island Ferry

Summit Street Community Garden Tag Sale

The Summit Street Community Garden Tag Sale is slated for Saturday June 8, from 9-3. However, if the rain is still falling the rain date is Sunday, June 9. 

Stop by for deals on books, clothing, CDs, LPs, jewelry and household items, as well as children's books, toys and clothing. They'll also have homemade pickles, jams and baked goods. Items will be priced to sell, but they're willing to bargain! All proceeds benefit the Summit Street Community Garden.

For more info:
http://summitstreetgarden.blogspot.com/

Give Our Columbia Street Trees Some Love

Columbia Street tree mulching flyer

Get together with neighbors on Saturday, June 14 for a tree-mulching party, sponsored by the Parks Department. Work will be done from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., starting at the corner of Columbia and Woodhull, and hey, free coffee and donuts. Ask for Wylie!

For more info email wylie.goodman [at] parks.nyc.gov. 

Last Minute Alert! Spring Carnival till 3pm!

BROOKLYN SPRING CARNIVAL FOR LITTLE KIDS

http://www.familiesfirstbroooklyn.org/

 

On Saturday, June 1st the Annual Spring Carnival will take place on Baltic Street, between Court and Clinton Streets in Cobble Hill. Sponsored by Families First, which is located on Baltic Street, the day is a celebration of family and community for families of toddlers to kindergarten-aged children.

 

The Carnival features the kids’ favorites: baby animals in a petting zoo, a bouncy house, face painting, spin art, tattoos, mini-carousel, carnival games, arts & crafts, a bake sale and balloons!

 

 

The Annual Spring Carnival is the principle fundraiser for Families First, a not-for-profit organization established in 1981 to provide families with children’s classes, workshops for parents, and an indoor PlaySpace.  Parents, caregivers, and young children, six months to 5years, find a warm and supportive educational environment here that prepares them to successfully enter the school age years. Other sources of support for Families First are membership and program fees, grants and donations. We would like to thank Ridgewood Savings Bank and Goldman Sachs for underwriting assistance for the 2013 Spring Carnival. Proceeds from the event will be used to support parent/child education programs at Families First.