BQE Enhancement - Community Design Workshop - July 20th

BQE Enhancement - Community Design Workshop
Tuesday, July 20th, 6:30-8:30
Location: Long Island College Hospital

For more information about this project click here. For a presentation from the previous workshop in May of 2010 on this subject, click here

RHED Presents a Red Hook Networking Event - Tue 6/29

UPDATE: This event is open to anyone in the Columbia Waterfront who is interested as well

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Red Hook is home to an incredible array of entrepreneurial talent. To help local businesses grow Red Hook Economic Development (RHED) will be hosting its kick-off networking event on Tuesday June 29th at 6:30 pm at Red Hook Mercado (410 Van Brunt St), with Kentler Gallery (353 Van Brunt St) as a rain location. Come enjoy free food (from the Red Hook Food Vendors), a "first round" on RHED, and meet your neighbors.

The networking event will provide local businesses with introductions to other entrepreneurs to develop more local collaboration, as well as foster greater awareness of their products and services. We also encourage entrepreneurs seeking to open a business to come meet existing Red Hook businesses, some of whom may be help with their business start-up (ex. web design, marketing, architecture, construction and finance).

Please RSVP by responding to email below with your name, business name (if you have one), address and phone #; and don't forget to bring your business cards! Hope to see you there.

Andrew Flamm

Red Hook Economic Development

Andrew { at } redhooked.org

BlueBQ Funraiser for PortSide BlueSpace programs - Sat. July 3rd

TICKETS NOW DISCOUNTED TO Adults $35, kids $10

BBQ from 6-8:30. Guests are invited to linger later to watch the sun set over the harbor.

Food from The Good Fork, Red Hook Lobster Pound, Tom Cat Bakery, Trader Joes, Betty Brooklyn and more

Featuring:

• Peter Waldman, the Balloon Meister
• Jack Putnam of South Street Seaport channelling Herman Melville
• Live auction featuring rides on various maritime vessels, dinners, and locally desiged clothing
  
• kids wading pool, games, chalk, bubbles n balls
  
• music by Smitty & more TBA

Produced by: Brooklyn Based and Brooklyn Based Kids

BUY TICKETS HERE

All proceeds from this event go toward supporting the wide array of programs that PortSide has planned for its new home at Pier 11/Atlantic Basin in Red Hook. Examples of programming include "TankerTours," "TankerTalks" (a speaker series), harbor tours, youth programs, "TankerTunes" and "TankerFlicks" (music and movies aboard the Tanker Mary Whalen's deck), volunteer days, local walking tours with waterfront themes, participation in City of Water day, and much much more.

Find out more details about the variety of programs PortSide has in store here

This is a great opportunity for our community to have access to the waterfront and enjoy such an exciting selection of programming and events. Start the season off on the right foot by attending this BBQ!

Maize Field: Integrating the 17th Century into the Present Landscape

If you've walked by the corner of Bergen and Smith St. within the past month or so, you may have noticed the garden growing there as part of a public art installation. The installation was actually created by Columbia Waterfront resident Christina Kelly, and it isn't your average garden.

The project is called Maize Field and includes the garden in Boerum Hill as well as another garden in Canarsie, both of which have been documented as Indian planting grounds in the 17th Century. These gardens follow the tradition that was used back then called "three sisters" gardening, using crop varieties of corn, beans, and squash (the three sisters) that are part of the heritage of the Lenape and Haudenoseaunee from this region.

Christina describes the idea behind the project by saying "The project participates in the continual change that defines the city by highlighting a historical past then integrating that history back into the present landscape."

She will be at the garden on Sunday 6/27 from 1:30 to 4 handing out seed packets and talking to anyone that is interested in hearing more about the project. Sounds like a good stop along the way while at Smith St. fun day.

Folks should also check out the project's website for more pictures and background information, as well as Christina's blog about the project, where she tracks progress at both gardens and talks about the overall experience of doing the project.

Help Added Value make another ten years possible!

Added Value opened its 10th annual farmer's market this past Saturday, marking the anniversary of a pioneer in the local food and sustainability movements. Over the course of ten years they have expanded in their home base of Red Hook and the Red Hook Community Farm, but also by expanding beyond the borders of Red Hook through such projects as the farm that they opened on Governor's island last year.

They are now asking for support that will help them continue growing in years to come. Read the email below, which contains some important links, to find out ways you can be of help:

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Dear Friends,

10 Years and Still Growing!!!!

This Saturday, Added Value opened our 10th Annual Farmers’ Market What a
milestone!

Aseel and Selina were working with customers, while Guillermo and Malcom helped
our 75 CSA members pick up shares. Cyrus, Eugene, Tariq and Jerry made sure the
tables stayed full by leading volunteers in harvest tasks through the day.

Since launching our work in 2001, more than 175 teenagers and 5,000 students
have participated in our programs. Now with the Added Value Farm on Governors
Island, we are poised to serve the thousands of visitors who come to the island
each week.

Today we are asking you to help launch us into our second decade of
award-winning programming. There are three different ways that everybody can
lend a hand to Added Value in the next month

(1) Before July 12, 2010: VOTE ON FACEBOOK!

Vote for Added Value on Facebook and let the folks at Chase Community Giving
know how important our work is to you. More than 200 nonprofits, such as Added
Value, are eligible for donations ranging from $20,000 to $100,000.

What you can do: Vote and SHARE this opportunity with your friends on Facebook,
Twitter and other social media. Let them know you are supporting us and ask
them to do the same. [Psst …Chase customers and employees can vote, too, so
pass it on.]

(2) DONATE on IOBY.ORG!

In Our Back Yard (I.O.B.Y.) provides an easy, quick way to donate any amount to
Added Value programs. Specifically, we are working to raise $3,219 for "Growing
on Governor's Island,” h

This initiative will support the cultivation of three new acres of farmland.

(3) INVESTORS CIRCLE: VERY TIME SENSITIVE ACT BEFORE June 30, 2010:

Link: http://www.added-value.org/donate-june-30

Give $1,000 by June 30 and get a 25% tax credit.

Recently, Added Value was awarded Empire Zone Tax Credits. However, New York
State is canceling the program effective June 30, 2010 -- so we need to act
fast to take advantage. Make a donation to Added Value of $1,000 or more before
June 30, 2010, and you can reduce your tax bill by 25% of the value of
donation.

The tax credit applies to individuals AND corporations filing taxes in New York
State. and provides benefits in addition to any deductions for charitable
donations on both New York and federal income tax returns.

Why is this important for Added Value? Donations of this substantial size help
Added Value cultivate more land, and improve crop storage and transportation.
These improvements help us raise more revenue and ensure the long-term
sustainability of our programs. And the bigger we grow, the more Added Value
can do to reach its important social goals, including:

-- Expansion of Opportunity for Local Youth: More cultivated space means more
jobs and more lives changed for a better future.

-- Improved Heath in our Community: More investment in increasing our CSA
(Community Sponsored Agriculture) membership and the successful Farmer’s
Market means more healthy families.

-- Increased Educational Programming: Help us build our farms into dynamic
centers for sustainability educational and agricultural resources for kids and
community

"Save the B71" rally recap

Here are some pictures from today's rally to save the B71 bus. The event started by a group of Columbia Waterfront and Carroll Gardens residents boarding the bus at the Columbia and Henry Street stops and riding it over to the rally on Smith. The riders were greeted by a small crowd that had already started to gather just before 5.

After 5 o clock hit, the crowd grew even larger, eventually growing to include elected officials and many of their staff members who showed up to help support the cause. Brad Lander, Letitia James, staff from Joan Millman's office, staff from Daniel Squadron's office, representatives from Marty Markowitz's office, members of COWNA, members of the Cobble Hill Association, and members of the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association, were all present, among others.

Some of the most exciting moments of the rally included when B71 buses drove by with everyone cheering and when Brad Lander invited children to step in front of the crowd and talk about what they use the B71 for. School and the dentist seemed to be some popular destinations, as opposed to the more expected destinations such as Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Children's Museum, or the the Botanic Garden.

Also worth noting from what was said by many is how this bus connects neighborhoods that aren't otherwise connected and serves as the easiest way for disabled and elderly citizens to travel.

While the MTA says this bus and many others are a done deal, we gathered to say NO and will continue to look to our elected officials for more support and action.

Check out some more pictures and comments at the Urban Meadow blog

Also check out this "Save the B71" video that a local student made:

Phoenix Beverages is still at it!

The relief that was felt last week upon hearing that elected officials and Phoenix Beverages had come up with an interim solution has turned back into frustration and disappointment. Starting yesterday, June 21st, Phoenix Beverages trucks (aka Long Feng beer trucks) were supposed to stop using Columbia St. and instead use the BQE when traveling between Pier 11, where they unload empty bottles to be recycled, and Pier 7, where they load up on beer to be delivered the next day.

As of today, June 22nd, they have not lived up to their promise. Numerous trucks were reported as traveling up and down Columbia St. all day today. I saw a few myself, got emailed about some, and talked to others who also saw some. Yesterday I also saw a Twitter posting that asked why the trucks were still being spotted.

I would like to urge local residents and businesses to make more noise about this. COWNA has been in frequent contact with elected officials about this, and elected officials have been keeping the pressure on Phoenix and EDC, but apparently its not enough.

I would also like to thank Council Member Lander's office, State Senator Squadron's office, and all of our other elected officials for the close attention they have been paying to this matter. I'm confident that we can come up with a solution and get these trucks off of our local streets as originally promised.

For some recent background information on this topic, check out these articles and posts:

WOCS: Council Member Lander's Columbia Waterfront Update
Brooklyn Paper: City and beer company raise a glass on Columbia compromise
A View From the Hook: Phoenix Beverages and the NYCEDC are LIARS
Daily News: Beer distributor Phoenix Beverages infuriates Red Hook residents with noisy delivery route
Brooklyn Paper: Its a booze cruise on Columbia St. thanks to beer trucks
WOCS: Phoenix Beverages has arrived


Photo above taken today, June 22nd, at approximately 1:45pm. Submitted by anonymous source.

Rhum tasting event at Dry Dock - 6/27

dry dock wine + spirits in conjunction with Rhum J.M, Rhum Clement and Fort Defiance are proud to present:

Rhum Agricole-Palooza Tasting Event 6/27

Together with Benjamin Jones, dry dock wine + spirits in Red Hook Brooklyn, will host a Martinique Rhum tasting featuring Rhum Clément & Rhum J.M. Sample Rhums. Savor them neat, or enjoy in the classic rum cocktail, the El Presidente. Ben will be here to explain the unique quality and character of Rhum Agricole. He will also show you the joys of making cocktails at home with Rhum Agricole, and will teach the rituals behind the classic Martinique ‘Ti Punch.

Afterwards, head over to Fort Defiance, located at 365 Van Brunt St (corner of Dikeman) for traditional Martinique cuisine and cocktails inspired by St. John Frizell’s (Fort Defiance owner and food/spirits writer) trip to Martinique.

dry dock wine & spirits, located at 424 Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn, has quickly become Red Hook's favorite neighborhood wine & spirits store. Our wines are produced by smaller vintners, and offered to us by importers from around the world. We carry over 400 hand-picked wines, with 50 priced $12 and under, as well as an amazing selection of spirits, including over 75 whisk(e)y choices. We host wine & spirits tasting weekly.

Open Mon-Wed 12-9, Thurs-Sat 12-11, Sun 12-8

The Brooklyn Collective Summer Event - Fri 25th - 7pm

Please join us to celebrate over 15 new collections from local artists and designers!

Friday, June 25th

7pm- Midnight

196 Columbia Street

Between Sackett and Degraw

Featured Artists

Chris Munstre

Sam Phillips

Minagraphy

Black & Red Eye

Whimsiology

Novel-T

J. Cravata

Nancy Waller Handbags

Alexandra Batsford

Jess Yam

Design and Labor

LanVy

Lewis Henry Nicholas

elle s'appelle

Rachel Goldberg

Tattoo Girl Lingerie

Happy Clay

AshiDashi

Complimentary Cocktails will be served throughout the evening. Plus, a surprise musical performance!

For further info please visit www.brooklyncollective.com

Author Festival at the Waterfront Museum - Sat 26 from noon to 4pm

The festival is curated by author Gabriel Cohen featuring live readings and talks by authors who have written books with a waterfront or maritime theme. The authors' books will be presented for sale by cosponsor BookCourt bookstore. Pinataland, Brooklyn's longstanding "dark old history" Americana band will be on deck, performing a special selection of sea and waterway-related songs.

WATERFRONT BOOKS & AUTHORS FESTIVAL
SATURDAY JUNE 26
NOON TO 4 PM

ALL TICKETS $6

SCHEDULE OF PRESENTATIONS

Noon-12:15 Welcome audience

12:15-12:30 Ben Gibberd, NY Waters
12:35-12:50 Jessica DuLong, My River Chronicles
12:55-1:10 John Waldman - Heartbeats in the Muck

1:10-1:30 Pinataland-20-minute music set

1:35-1:50 William Kornblum, At Sea in the City

1:55-2:10 Trevor Corson, The Story of Sushi,The Secret Life of Lobsters

2:15-2:30 George Matteson, Tugboats of New York

2:30-2:50 Pinataland-20-minute music set
2:50-3:00 Raffle, politician speeches

3:00-3:15 Gabriel Cohen, The Ninth Step and The Graving Dock
3:20-3:35 Terry Walton, Harbor Voices
3:40-3:55 Nathan Ward, Dark Harbor:
the War for the New York Waterfront

Free Boat Tours Thursdays 4 - 8 pm & Saturdays 1 -5 pm
aboard Red Hook's antique wooden barge.
Donations Appreciated.

Refreshments compliments of Fairway Market & Arizona Iced Tea.