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Shooting on Bergen Street Friday night
Julia Lipkins | August 5, 2008
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On Friday night, two young men were shot near the corner of Bergen St. at Nevins. On Saturday afternoon, a local police officer confirmed that both men were in stable condition. We haven’t seen much coverage in the local press so no telling what this was about. Below are some photos taken at the scene:
JDub Records at Prospect Park Bandshell, Sunday 7/20
Josh Guttman | July 17, 2008
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I just got an email about this exciting group of musicians performing a free show Sunday at Prospect Park Bandshell. This looks to be a great addition to the already stellar Celebrate Brooklyn summer lineup.
Join host Michael Showalter in celebrating JDub Records’ fifth anniversary, with performances from Gypsy folk-rock band Golem, hip-hop and reggae from Tel Aviv’s Soulico, the Ladino-infused Sephardic tunes of DeLeon, and the ritualistic afro-pop and cantorial blues of the Sway Machinery, with special guests Jon Langford of the Mekons, the Hungry March Band, and more!
Sunday, July 20, 2008
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Prospect Park Bandshell
For more information, visit JDub Records.
Half of Clinton Street blocked off for commercial today?
Josh Guttman | July 15, 2008
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What’s up with the blockage of Clinton Street from Warren to Amity today for a commercial? How do people feel about this inconvenience…. both sides of the street sequestered? It’s great that film producers have discovered the beauty and charm of our neighborhood, but the frequency of filming and street closures is getting to be overkill. Sure, the city and local merchants get paid, but what about us?, you know…the ones who are actually inconvenienced. Please chime in and voice your opinions on this.
Bastille Day means Pentanque on Smith – this Sunday
Josh Guttman | July 11, 2008
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One of my very favorite neighborhood weekends of the year is upon us. It’s Bastille Day!! Bar Tabac (128 Smith Street/Dean) and Ricard celebrate Bastille Day on Sunday July 13 with the annual street festival and Petanque tournament. This event, now in its seventh year, closes down Smith Street every year, as the street is covered in sand for the Petangue courts. The event is organized by Bar Tabac, Robin des Bois and the local Community Board.
80 teams participate in what has become the largest Petangue tournament in the U.S. Players from around the world, including France, Italy, Thailand, Australia, the U.S. and Canada, as well as Brooklyn locals, will fight it out for the prize of top team.
Special cocktails made with Ricard and sandwiches from Bar Tabac’s outdoor grill, including the popular merguez sandwich with frites ($6), will be served. Neighboring restaurants join in as well, serving food and drink to the spectators.
Music will be provided by Baby Blue Orchids, an American big band, and the Francois Wiss Ensemble, playing French gypsy music.
When: Sunday July 13, 2008 – Noon – 8pm
Where: Smith Street between Bergen and Pacific
Alternate side parking suspended July 7-Sept 7 (Carroll Gardens)
Josh Guttman | July 1, 2008
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As the Brooklyn Paper reported this morning, the suspension of alternate parking that Park Slope has been enjoying much of the summer is coming our way. Starting July 7th, alternate side parking rules will take a hiatus to allow the city to replace nearly 2,000 parking signs. Why do the signs need replaced? It turns out that the current 3-hour window for street cleaning (typically 8a-11a, during which time the cars shift into double-parked mode) is being reduced to a 90-minute window as the city has improved street cleaning scheduling and efficiency.
While The Brooklyn Paper reported that round two will affect most streets within Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill, and Gowanus, it actually focuses primarily on Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill (see map). The east and west borders are from Court Street east to Fourth Avenue and the northern border is Wyckoff Street and St. Marks Place south to the Gowanus Expressway and 15th Street. Cobble Hill, typically considered north of DeGraw and west of Smith, will only partially benefit. Of course, that means that we’ll enjoy the benefit during round 3 later which will begin later in August. Those living on the edges may even get to double dip!
Marco Polo Ristorante’s 25th Anniversary Gala
Jess Levey | June 12, 2008
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The other day, my boyfriend Josh and I were talking about how we need to make a visit to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx to partake in some good ol’ school Italian eating. But, after Tuesday night’s festivities and chow down at Marco Polo Ristorante on the corner of Court and Union Streets, I was reminded that I happen to live in the sister neighborhood to this Italian Gem.
It’s strange that I had forgotten this fact considering that I was born and raised in Brooklyn, and have a very fond memory of spending, what must have been, my 10th birthday eating and celebrating at Marco Polo. I can still vividly picture a huge mud pie (My all time favorite dessert which was only made perfectly by Snookies in Park Slope) which was carried out to me by 6 or 7 large Italian men in tuxedos whose vibrato shook the forks on the table. They were accompanied by a stellar piano player, and I was very happy to see the same piano resting in the same exact place that I had remembered.
Actually, not much has changed in Marco Polo since my visit 22 years ago, three years after they had opened! Everything from the Venetian gondola ice sculpture filled with decorative clams (which Josh deemed unfair in their inedibility) to the gaudy chandeliers and the exposed brick set with Murals of An Adonis Marco Polo in picturesque Venice seemed just about exactly how I had remembered it. I was taken back to the days sitting at my Nana’s home in Bensonhurst – wait a second, that never happened, I am Jewish, not Italian – but a common fantasy amongst us Jews as Marty Markowitz reminded the crowd in his warm and humorous speech during the meal. Markowitz’s speech was full of Brooklyn chutzpa complete with a true NY accent and full of love for his Borough and for Joe Chirico, the Owner of Marco Polo, and dear friend of Markowitz’s.
Josh and I truly felt that we were intruding on an intimate family gathering. As the night went on, we were left alone at a table set for 8. When one of the publicist’s decided to join us, we welcomed the company, but all I really wanted to do was to sit with my hometown peeps, though none of them seemed to share the sentiment.
Marco Polo opened their doors in 1983, at a time when most people were scared to even walk to the Cobble Hill Theater (I being one of these people). Joe was one of the first big restaurants to take the risk and open up in a neighborhood that seemed far off from becoming what it is today. However, rather than ignore the changing faces of Carroll Gardens, Joe announced during the evening that the restaurant will undergo a complete renovation and Marco Polo will be handed down to his son, who is currently in culinary school. The renovation will modernize the restaurant, open it up, make it slicker, more minimalist, and chic.
I cannot say that I am happy about this change. Recently, I had the opportunity to eat at Sammy’s Romanian in the LES, and during the evening at Marco Polo, I kept thinking that this could be a destination place like Sammy’s, a place where one can be reminded of a culture like their own, or exposed to a culture vastly different. A place whose lure is in the countless nights that people have gathered together by the piano on the same dark carpets, and within the same brick walls. This kind of energy only exists within a place that remains true to its form. Maybe I am just a sucker for nostalgia, but it’s hard not to be when you live in a city (oops, I mean a borough) that is constantly renovating what I believe should just remain the same. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it, the saying goes, and for Marco Polo, and for Brooklyn, if you want to open something chic, maybe it is best to leave that up to the real “city” folk across the river. For now, I like my Brooklyn like it always was – diverse, friendly, unpretentious, full of character, chutzpa, uniqueness, and damn good cookin – from whatever home you may have come from.
Atlantic Ave ArtWalk this weekend, June 7-8…
Julia Lipkins | June 6, 2008
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This weekend, Atlantic Avenue will play host to the highly-acclaimed ArtWalk. Now in its 5th year, the ArtWalk offers pedestrians the opportunity to engage with local artists and merchants by visiting their studios.
“ArtWalk includes artists across all media, participatory events, film, public art, live music, and activities for families and children of all ages. Visitors can enjoy exhibits, view and buy work, meet the artists and sample the Avenues restaurants, shops and bars at their own pace. To add to the weekend festivities, local businesses host receptions while area restaurants and bars offer special rates to ArtWalkers throughout the weekend”
Here’s a list of participation artists and a handy map of the route. Bergen Carroll recommends the following special events:
CANNONBALL PRESS SHOW
Saturday & Sunday, June 7 – 8, 1pm – 6pm
Atlantic Gardens Storefront, Atlantic Avenue and 3rd Avenue
“Cannonball Press will present high quality, fine-art editions of original work starting at only $20 by over 50 artists such as Sean Star Wars, David Rees, David Ellis, Maya Hayuk, and Swoon. The collaborative duo and master printer will also be on hand doing woodcut demonstrations and will exhibit new large-scale 25″ x 12″ mural banners created from this process.”
Kim Holleman: Mobile Public Artwork Trailer Park
Saturday & Sunday, June 7 – 8, 1pm
Public Art Projecy
“Trailer Park is a portable, natural, public park housed inside an 18′ x 8′ x 7” mobile Coachman Travel Trailer. The interior is fully planted, designed, and treated as a “real”
park.”
MARTIN SOBEY: Site Specific Art Installation on Atlantic Avenue
Saturday & Sunday, June 7 – 8, 1pm – 6pm
Public Art Project
“Artists Statement: I install abstract photography on just about everything, including poles, ventilation ducts, sidewalks, streets and high traffic pedestrian zones. Placement is critical, as I find very specific locations for differing types of installations.”
“Twilight Becomes Night” by director, Virginie-Alvine Perrette Followed by discussion with the filmmaker
Film Screening: Sunday, June 8th, 5pm
Belarusan Church, 401 Atlantic Avenue
“Twilight Becomes Night is an intimate and emotional portrait documenting the life of small businesses today surviving amidst myriad issues that threaten neighborhood stores – the large chains, high rents, and public policy, among others. Using the streets and shops of New York City as a backdrop, the film moves beyond nostalgic regret to reveal a high-stakes transformation and its potential to affect us all. In the end, the film is a powerful reminder of individual commitment and community activism in preserving local business.”
Silent Auction Benefit & Artist Reception
Sunday, June 8th, 3pm – 5pm
Flying Saucer Café, 494 Atlantic Avenue
“Bid on oil paintings by Robert Szot and Glenn Paul Smith throughout ArtWalk and join us Sunday 3pm-5pm as we celebrate and announce the auction winners. Fifty percent of all silent auction proceeds will benefit Getting Out & Staying Out, a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing the recidivism rate of young men being released from Rikers Island.”
Gowanus Studio Grand Opening + Kelso Beer
Josh Guttman | May 16, 2008
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Got an email about this event coming up on Friday. Looks interesting….
The Gowanus Studio Space will show installations by Rose Nestler, Ben Cohen, Tom Watson, Emily Elsen, Wennie Huang and Kate Elliot at Kelso of Brooklyn’s 5000 square-foot brewing space! Come for the art, stay for the beer.
Opening Reception and Kelso Beer Tasting
Friday, May 16th 6pm
FREE and open to the publicKelso’s Annual BBQ
Sunday, May 18th 2pm-6pm
FOOD by Brooklyn’s own Fette Sau and Heartland Brewery of NYC – $10 suggested donation to The Gowanus Studio Space
MUSIC and Kelso BEER – free
ART by Gowanus Studio Space Artists
invitation only – please rsvp to angela [at] gowanusstudio [dot] orgKelso Brewery
529 Waverly Avenue in Brooklyn
Between Atlantic and Fulton
take the G, A or C to Clinton Washington
Featured neighborhood photos is noticed!!
Josh Guttman | May 14, 2008
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You may have noticed all the new photos appearing in the featured photo section recently. When I put together Bergen Carroll a year or so ago, I setup a feature whereby readers could showcase their neighborhood photos by tagging them Bergen Carroll on Flickr. For the better part of 12 months, nobody noticed and the only photos rotating through the system were ones I uploaded myself. Then, something happened and some people figured it out. Over the past two months, 80 neighborhood photos have been tagged Bergen Carroll on Flickr by 3-4 different photographers. I love that this feature has been noticed and is being used as intended. Thanks to Ryan and Wally for contributing the most prolifically.
New Tennis league starting May 15
Josh Guttman | May 7, 2008
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I came across this new tennis league starting up May 15. Since I’ve been wanting to get more serious about tennis this spring and play more matches, I’m hoping the league gets lots of interest. If enough Bergen Carroll-ers sign up, we could organize a local Brooklyn branch which would be ideal.
FYI – I signed up as advanced. If you wanna play me, join the same league. Technically, I’m probably advanced-intermediate, but I’m betting that most players overestimate their skills:)
