Kids concert at Southpaw, Saturday 3/29 at Noon
Josh Guttman | March 25, 2008
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Brooklyn Free Space will host a benefit concert featuring AudraRox and Toxic Muffin on Saturday March 29 at 12 noon at Southpaw located at 125 5th Avenue. Kids of all ages will enjoy New York’s famous kiddie-rock band AudraRox, a 2007 Parent’s Choice award winner, and pre-teen band sensation Toxic Muffin. This family-friendly concert should not be missed.
Tickets are $12 in advance,
$15 at the door.
Babies 1 and under free
For more details and ticket information please go to SP Sounds
There will be lunch treats and beverages available for purchase.
Brooklyn Free Space, a cooperative nondenominational preschool located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, has been in existence since 1978. The director and teaching staff are passionate and dedicated education professionals who have worked at the school for many years.
http://www.brooklynfreespace.org/events/concert
Dangerous cell tower installed on Henry @ President?
Josh Guttman | March 21, 2008
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Got this note last week from a concerned neighbor….does anybody know anything about this?
Sphere: Related ContentHi, I encountered a dangerous situation today at 553 Henry street. It looks as though they installed some new cell phone antennas on the roof. But here is where it gets good; not only did they do that, they also went ahead and put a huge antenna directly on the facade of the building on the 4th story. Now this is pretty scary being we have many small children walking by the building everyday. Not only will this become an issue with a good storm but looking at it makes me nervous.
Bergen Carroll needs writers!!
Josh Guttman | February 7, 2008
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You might have noticed the recent slow-down in articles on Bergen Carroll. It’s because nearly all our writers parlayed the exposure they received from Bergen Carroll and were lured away by bigger NYC publishers. If you live in Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Red Hook or Boerum Hill, have a pulse on what’s happening in the ‘hood and like to put pen to paper (or words to website), please get in touch about joining the sexiest local blog in New York City. We’re at josh [at] bergencarroll [dot] com.
Sphere: Related ContentRecord attendance at this year’s Halloween parade
Josh Guttman | November 1, 2007
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More than 500 parents, children and onlookers filled Cobble Hill Park yesterday for the largest neighborhood Halloween Parade in history. The parade route ran through the park, exiting on Congress, then back around and through again. Later, trick-or-treaters bombarded Verandah Place and then scattered throughout the neighborhood in search of treasure. Thanks to Diane & Co. for sending me their photos. The flickr stream of photos is here.
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Cobble Hill Halloween Parade - 4pm Wednesday 10/31
Josh Guttman | October 29, 2007
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This Wednesday is the annual Cobble Hill Halloween Parade in Cobble Hill Park. Festivities will begin at 4pm. This is always one of the year’s best events and great for the kids. The event is sponsored by the Cobble Hill Park Association and Friends of Cobble Hill Park. Neighborhood trick or treating will follow.
Daycare Update: New Playgroup in Red Hook!
Rachel Markowitz | August 16, 2007
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My last post gave rise to a few questions. How will the community respond to the daycare shortage? What is being done to combat the stroller mafia turf wars? Who is the father of my imaginary children? An alarmed ex-boyfriend called me immediately to ask if they were his. I’m going to be discrete on that last answer for now.
Good news for Red Hook folks! While you may have to walk across the BQE to get to the subway, you no longer have to travel for daycare. I recently spoke with Stephanie Cherry, one of the five founding families of the brand new Red Hook Playgroup.
Stephanie’s search for local daycare began in late 2004. Like other Red Hook parents, she was frustrated that all the good daycare centers were in the
“We wanted more of a learning environment,” says Stephanie, “one that was for kids
The Red Hook Playgroup will open
Red Hook Playgroup will have an open house August 28th for interested families. There are still spots left for the fall, and currently there is no waitlist.
Red Hook Playgroup is located
Daycare Shortage and the Rise of the Stroller Mafia
Rachel Markowitz | August 8, 2007
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Most deadly gangs can be identified by their colors. The Bloods are red. The Crips are blue. But the Park Slope Stroller Mafia can be easily identified by – that’s right – their strollers. I’ve heard tales of hip young parents bringing their babies to bars, parking strollers up front while they kick back with a beer. Ever been to the Tea Lounge on Union Street? Good luck not spilling your coffee as you maneuver around the assorted strollers on your way to find a seat. Once a defining trait of Park Slope, the stroller mafia has moved west. But is the neighborhood ready for them?
I spoke recently with a local parent and long time resident of the community. While he loves the neighborhood, he’s recently been looking at Connecticut real estate. Why? Simply because he can no longer get his kids into daycare. Bergen Carroll-land daycare centers are overcrowded, and their waitlists are long.
I decided to do some investigative work, so I called Choo Choo Train Daycare on Court Street. The heavily accented woman I spoke with informed me that their class of 22 has two spots available, but they already have two families coming to look at the school. If these families decide to enroll their kids, Choo Choo Train Daycare will be booked up for the school year. Choo Choo is a very international place, I was told, and the class is run by three certified teachers.
Next on the list was Cobble Hill Playgroup. The director, Carol Troha, was very nice and called me back right away. She asked if I would be interested in putting my three year old daughter on a waitlist (my five year old is too old, as they only accept children 2-4) for the afternoon session. Everything else was completely booked. In fact, when I first called, she asked if I was calling about fall 2008. Troha told me that they try to keep an even mix of girls and boys, thus waitlists are separated by gender and age. While my three year old had a good chance of getting into the afternoon session, all other waitlists were closed.
My last call was made to Linden Tree Preschool and Playspace at Christ Church. Linden Tree takes children ages 2-4, but I was told that they were already booked up for two and three year olds. I asked the man I spoke with if he’s noticed a higher demand for preschool and daycare in recent years. He said that demand has risen considerably, particularly in the last two years. Several new preschools and daycare centers have opened recently, but it seems supply is far from meeting demand. Any entrepreneurs out there interested in the kiddie biz?
We’ll keep you posted on the daycare status in weeks to come.
Sphere: Related ContentBulldogs invade Carroll Gardens for meetup
Marie Carter | July 26, 2007
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Once a month in a garden on Columbia Street, owners of bulldogs gather for a meetup. This Sunday past, I joined the gathering. Running around the garden was a chorus of grunting bulldogs (some of whom were wearing tank tops and “Beach Boy” dog sweaters) followed by owners at the ready with drool wipes.
A four-month old called Beefy was learning to skateboard. Inspired by videos of Tyson, the skateboarding bulldog, Beefy’s owners yelled shouts of encouragement as Beefy mounted the skateboard. He pedaled the board a couple of times but then jumped on and the skateboard came to a complete halt. Also in attendance was Wally, a three-year-old who was imported from Hungary, apparently a common thing for bulldogs.
Sunday was a hot day with temperatures in the 80s. A lot of water was drunk and dogs in attendance were panting heavily. “Topper likes to sit outside in the heat even though he’s being beaten by the sun,” says owner, Nick. “My other dog, Boss, is the smart one and stays home with the AC.”
The drink du jour at the gathering was Bulldog Gin, a new import from London launched in January flavored with poppyseed and dragon eye, a cousin of the lychee family. The bottle neck is, of course, in the shape of a spiked bulldog collar. Cocktails with names such as Sweet Tail and Hair of the Dog were being mixed.
For more information, visit the meetup page or www.bulldoggin.com.
Sphere: Related ContentLocal Hot Dog Cook-Off to benefit BARC Animal Shelter
Josh Guttman | July 25, 2007
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This Saturday in Fort Greene is the second annual Great Hot Dog Cook-Off. All proceeds go to the BARC Animal Shelter in Williamsburg. Whether you’re a dog-lover, a hot dog-lover or a master hot dog chef, there is something here for you. I cannot be in attendance, however, I’m expecting that my previously submitted Sweet and Sour Veggie Chili Wiener Schnauzer will represent…yo. Tickets can be purchased for $15 and chefs are asked to register in advance.
Brooklyn Bridge Park’s new floating pool
Rachel Markowitz | July 17, 2007
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Most have probably heard by now of Brooklyn’s latest summer attraction: our very own, brand spankn’ new floating pool. At a glance, the 25-meter pool has the appearance of an in-ground, crystal blue, members-only swimming club. However, it’s actually a big barge floating on the east river. From the south end of the Promenade in Brooklyn Heights, you can get a good view of the long line to get in, as well as the make-shift beach that lies amidst the urban landscape. A free shuttle runs from the Borough Hall and High Street subway stations to allow neighbors an easy way to get there.
I have to say, my first thought when I heard about a brand new, free-for-everyone pool was, this sounds like a really great way to get herpes from a toilet seat. It’s hot out, and the majority of us are not, believe it or not, weekending at the Hamptons. If Water Taxi Beach attracts a large crowd on hot days, just imagine the congestion at a place where you can actually swim. I pictured lots of accidental skin to skin contact with large strangers while trying to maneuver around the pool. And just thinking about the bathroom gave me that creepy crawlies. After reading up on it, however, it seems as though they’ve got a good system down.
The pool has a 175-person capacity, so the personal space thing is not an issue. And you don’t have to worry about that loud family of seven on line in front of you, hogging your pool time either; guests are let in on a session-basis, most sessions lasting from an hour to 90 minutes. Guests are given wristbands for a particular session, one hour before sessions on weekdays and 30 minutes before sessions on weekends. Sessions are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. While you wait, the idea is to hang out on the large block of sand called Brooklyn Bridge Park Beach. The beach has concession stands and promises games of volleyball and soccer. Umbrellas are also available for rental. I haven’t yet visited the floating pool, but now that I know the risk of acquiring a social disease is minimal, I might just go check it out. I’ll be back soon with swimmer reviews to share.
The Floating Pool at Brooklyn Bridge Park Beach is open 7 days a week. The closest subways are the 2/3/4/5 trains to Brooklyn Borough Hall or M/R trains to Court Street. See www.brooklynbridgepark.org/pool for more details.
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