VINYL CLUB RETURNS FOR ONE NIGHT; SPIN YOUR RECORDS

Monday Night Vinyl Club

Monday, July 3rd, 8:00 p.m. to midnight

Monday Night Vinyl Club was a monthly fixture at Sycamore Bar until the DJ moved away a few years ago. But it'll be back this Monday for a special one-night appearance by Becca Simone.

From 8:00 p.m. until midnight, the customers are the DJs. Bring your vinyl records, in any genre, to Sycamore and spin them yourself on the big sound system (for free) after getting pointers on how to use the system.

Event location
Sycamore Bar
1118 Cortelyou Road
between E. 11th Street and Argyle Road
Ditmas Park
(347) 240-5850
https://www.facebook.com/Sycamorebrooklyn
www.sycamorebrooklyn.com
e-mail: sycamorebrooklyn @ gmail.com

               SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES!

G TRAIN CHANGES FOR THE NEXT THREE WEEKENDS

No G trains will run between the Hoyt-Schermerhorn and Church Avenue stations from Friday at 11:30 p.m. until Monday 5:00 a.m., during the next three weekends:

• June 30th to July 3rd,
• July 7th to July 10th, and 
• July 14th to July 17th.

A and F trains will provide alternate service.

The G will not stop at the Bergen, Carroll, Smith-9th Sts, 4th Av-9th St, 7th Av, 15th St-Prospect Park, Fort Hamilton Parkway, and Church Avenue stations. At those stations, take the F train instead. 

Transfer between the A and G trains at Hoyt-Schermerhorn.

Transfer between the A and F trains at Jay St-MetroTech. 

G service will operate in two sections:

1. Between Court Sq and Bedford-Nostrand Avs, and 
2. Between Bedford-Nostrand Avs and Hoyt-Schermerhorn, every 20 minutes.

• Transfer at Bedford-Nostrand Avs to continue your trip.

"YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD" WHEN YOU'RE INVOLVED

"You Can Change the World: Local Politics 201"

Saturday, July 8th, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

 
Local grassroots activist groups Ditmas Civic and Indivisible 9th NY will co-host "You Can Change the World: Local Politics 201." A member of New Kings Democrats will give a presentation on the Kings County Democratic County Committee and the RepYourBlock campaign.

RepYourBlock is

"a campaign led by New Kings Democrats – in collaboration with other Brooklyn political clubs, local progressive politicians and candidates, and everyday citizens – to help reform-minded Democratic voters run for County Committee." (http://www.repyourblock.com/about)

The free event will take place on Saturday, July 8th, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. It follows up on April's Local Politics 101, which focused on the basics of state and city politics. Ditmas Civic and Indivisible 9th NY co-hosted that free event as well.

Indivisible 9th NY is made up of a group of progressive neighbors who live in the 9th Congressional District. Congressmember Yvette Clarke represents the district.

Event location
Junior High School 62 Ditmas
700 Cortelyou Road
between E. 7th and E. 8th streets
Kensington, Brooklyn

Enter the school on E. 7th Street.

PARKING RULES SUSPENDED FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY

Alternate side of the street parking regulations--normally in effect on weekdays and Saturdays so that streets can be cleaned--will be suspended on Tuesday, July 4th, for Independence Day.

Parking meter regulations and all other parking regulations will also be suspended. Parking meter regulations are suspended on the major legal holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

KENSINGTON STABLES IS MOVING CLOSER TO BEING PURCHASED BY NYC

UPDATE:

DNAinfo, Kensington Stables Owner Accepts City Buyout at Prospect Park Horse Barn
"The city and Parks Department are hammering out the details of a contract of sale with the Blankinships, but have not arrived at a sale price yet."

 ---------------------------------

Brooklyn Paper, Stable-ized! Kensington Stables owners working on deal to sell barn to city

"The Parks Department is hammering out a deal to buy Kensington Stables, which it will continue to operate as a public horseback riding amenity."

---------------------------------

Curbed New York, Prospect Park’s endangered horse stables will likely be purchased by the city

"Kensington Stables will stay operating if ownership and the city can strike a deal. [The owners] decided to sell the barn to the city at well below market value instead, to insure it remains in the horse business, according to the family’s real estate agent."

---------------------------------

Windsor Terrace Patch, City Close To Deal To Buy Kensington Stables, Broker Says

"A judge has approved a liquidation plan that would allow the bankrupt property to be sold to the city's Parks Department." 

---------------------------------

Previous posts on this blog about why the stables are being sold:

UPDATED FEBRUARY 21ST AND 23RD: A BANKRUPT KENSINGTON STABLES MAY NOT BE AUCTIONED OFF

THE CITY MIGHT BUY KENSINGTON STABLES

 

---------------------------------

 

Kensington Stables
51 Caton Place, at E. 8th Street
phone: (718) 972-4588
e-mail: info [at] kensingtonstables.com
website http://www.kensingtonstables.com 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KensingtonStables
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bklynpony?lang=en

IHM 125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish celebrated its very first Mass on October 22, 1893. This October, IHM will start a year-long celebration of its 125th anniversary, ending it in October 2018.

The year will begin with an Opening Jubilee Mass with Most Rev. Raymond F. Chappetto on Sunday, October 15th, at 11:45 a.m.

The celebration will continue on Thursday, October 19th, with a dinner dance at El Caribe Country Club, at 5945 Strickland Avenue in Mill Basin (map).

To make reservations for the Opening Mass or the dinner dance, call Mrs. Sylvia Acquafredda, Administrative Assistant, at the rectory at (718) 871-1310 or send her an e-mail at ihmsylvia @ ihmbrooklyn.org.

The parish will publish a journal and will ask people and businesses to take out ads.

The year will end with a Closing Jubilee Mass on Sunday, October 14, 2018, at 11:45 a.m. and another dinner dance at El Caribe on Thursday, October 18, 2018.


Alumni and friends are invited to attend all of the events.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
2805 Fort Hamilton Parkway
between E. 4th and E. 5th streets
Windsor Terrace - Kensington, Brooklyn  website: http://www.ihmbrooklyn.org  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IHMBKNY/

SYCAMORE BAR IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS AGAIN

UPDATE:
Today's re-inspection, which allowed the reopening, reports

Establishment authorized to reopen after inspection conducted on 06/28/2017.
Violation points: 13

Sanitary Violations
1) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. (critical)
2) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist. (not critical)
3) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit. (not critical)

The letter grade is pending.

---------------------------------------------

Sycamore Bar posted this announcement today, June 28th, on its Facebook and Twitter pages:

"OPEN at 4pm Today!! Cold beers are flowin' at Sycamore, and we are soooo grateful for all your support, concerns and just pure love. Come on over. We've missed you tremendously!! Thank you  "

The bar was shut down for forty-eight hours, following Monday's inspection by the Department of Health.

The findings of the June 26th inspection that led to the closure were posted today on the Restaurant Grades page on the Department of Health website. 

Violations recorded in the following area (s), a Notice of Violation issued and establishment ordered closed by the Department of Health at the initial operational pre-permit inspection conducted on 06/26/2017.

Violation points: 66

Sanitary Violations
1) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. (critical)
2) Food contact surface improperly constructed or located. Unacceptable material used. (critical)
3) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. (critical)
4) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist. (not critical)

Disclaimer: The scores presented for recent inspections may not be final.

Restaurants are entitled to a hearing to challenge citations issued by the Department, and successful challenges may result in a change to the score and/or grade issued at the time of the inspection.

Some of the scores presented here may reflect inspection results that are being challenged but have not yet been adjudicated; the Department will update the information if it changes.

Sycamore Flower Shop and Bar
1118 Cortelyou Road
between E. 11th Street and Argyle Road
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
(347) 240-5850
sycamorebrooklyn @ gmail . com
http://www.sycamorebrooklyn.com
https://www.facebook.com/sycamore.brooklyn
https://twitter.com/SycamoreBklyn

SYCAMORE FLOWER SHOP AND BAR GOT SHUT DOWN YESTERDAY

UPDATE, June 28, 2017, from Sycamore's Facebook page:

"OPEN at 4pm Today!! Cold beers are flowin' at Sycamore, and we are soooo grateful for all your support, concerns and just pure love. Come on over. We've missed you tremendously!! Thank you  "

Additional information about the closing is in the blog's June 28th post here.

-------------------------------

After inspecting Sycamore Flower Shop and Bar yesterday (Monday), the Department of Health shut the bar down at 5:00  p.m., as explained in Sycamore's Facebook post above.

The bar's post states that "The crux of the closure pertains to our dual business model. The coexistence of the flower shop and bar is suddenly a little too cozy in the eyes of the great city of New York."

The findings of yesterday's inspection haven't yet been posted on the Restaurant Grades page on the Department of Health website. The results of the January inspection are still posted there. Sycamore received fifteen violation points and a grade of B.

The Sanitary Violations in January were

1) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas. (Critical)
2) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. (Critical)
3) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist. (Non-critical)

This disclaimer is posted below the inspection report:

Disclaimer: The scores presented for recent inspections may not be final.

Restaurants are entitled to a hearing to challenge citations issued by the Department, and successful challenges may result in a change to the score and/or grade issued at the time of the inspection.

Some of the scores presented here may reflect inspection results that are being challenged but have not yet been adjudicated; the Department will update the information if it changes.

In a comment under the Facebook post, City Councilmember Mathieu Eugene wrote "Thank you for bringing this to our attention. My office is currently looking into resolving this issue."

Sycamore Flower Shop and Bar
1118 Cortelyou Road
between E. 11th Street and Argyle Road
Ditmas Park, Brooklyn
(347) 240-5850
sycamorebrooklyn @ gmail . com
http://www.sycamorebrooklyn.com
https://www.facebook.com/sycamore.brooklyn
https://twitter.com/SycamoreBklyn 
 

AGENDA FOR FINAL COMMUNITY BOARD 12 MEETING UNTIL SEPTEMBER

Community Board 12 General Meeting

                    Monday, June 26th, 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Community Board 12's monthly general meeting will be held on Monday, June 26th, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting, as always, is open to the public.

If you have any concerns, questions, solutions, needs, or problems that you'd like the community board to address, arrive at the meeting before 7:00 p.m. and sign up to speak during the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting. You'll have three minutes to present your topic.

The agenda for the meeting is as follows:

General meetings of Community Board 12 are normally held on the fourth Tuesday of the month, from September through June, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Amico Senior Center. To go there, take the B16 bus to 57th Street on 13th Avenue, and then walk two blocks to the building. On the way home, get the bus on 14th Avenue.

Every neighborhood in New York City is represented by an all-volunteer community board, which serves as the neighborhood's liaison to city agencies. Board members are appointed by the neighborhood's city councilperson and the borough president.

The goal of a community board is to help resolve issues involving pedestrian safety, traffic congestion, housing, land use and zoning, outdoor lighting, potholes, sanitation, libraries, crime, police presence, social services, rodents, trash collection, public litter baskets, street and sidewalk conditions, etc.

Community Board 12's committees are

    Planning, Zoning Variances and City Map
    Education, Library, Cultural Affairs
    Sanitation & Environmental Protection
    Fire, Safety & Police
    Health & Social Services
    Housing & Buildings
    Legislation
    Parks, Capital Projects & Site Selection
    Transportation & Franchises
    Youth & Community Development

Meeting location
Amico Senior Center
5901 13th Avenue, 3rd floor
at the corner of 59th Street
Borough Park, Brooklyn

Community Board 12
phone: (718) 851-0800
fax: (718) 851-4140
e-mail: bk12 @ cb.nyc.gov
website: http://www.brooklyncb12.org
https://www.facebook.com/BkCB12/ 
Chairperson: Yidel Perlstein
District Manager: Barry Spitzer

TONY LEONE AND BOO REINERS DUO WILL PLAY IN A SMALL BACKYARD IN WINDSOR TERRACE

Tony Leone and Boo Reiners Duo

Wednesday, June 28th, 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 

The first twenty people who make reservations will be seated in Krupa Grocery's backyard to see the Tony Leone and Boo Reiners Duo perform.

At Krupa Grocery's first music show in its backyard, the musicians will give an acoustic performance, with a setlist filled with Merle Haggard, Taj Mahal, and Grateful Dead songs.

Tony Leone will play mandolin. He is a member of the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, has played with Phil Lesh & Friends, and was a member of the Levon Helm Band.

Multi-instrumentalist Boo Reiners also has played with Phil Lesh as well as with The Klezmatics and Charlie Louvin. He leads his own band, The Demolition String Band, with his partner, Elena Skye.

Make a reservation through Krupa Grocery's Yelp page. In the Notes section, type "backyard music." Be sure to arrive at 7:00 so that your food and drinks will have been delivered to you by the time the musicians play.

The cost per person is a $5 music charge and a $15 food or drink minimum for each seat in the backyard.

Location
Krupa Grocery
231 Prospect Park West
between 16th Street and Prospect Avenue
Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn
(718) 709-7098
hello @ krupagrocery.com
http://www.krupagrocery.com
https://twitter.com/krupagrocery

"SUMMER DAYZ," A FREE ART, DANCE, AND MUSIC CELEBRATION OF THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

Summer Dayz

Wednesday, June 28th, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Celebrate the end of the school year at Avenue C Plaza with

• a hip-hop dance demonstration by Mari E. Watson, dancer, choreographer, and owner of How to Dance LLC,
• a solo jazz dance performance by AJ Sharp, dance teacher at The Brooklyn Dance Centers,
• art activities for children and teenagers with Mondial Arte and The Singing Winds, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.,
• Bangladesh dance cardio with Taseen Ferdous,
• a dance performance by Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA), and
• a dance party at 5:00 p.m. with live music by Strings N Skins, a pan-African band based in Brooklyn, with music in English, Spanish, and Creole.

This free art, dance, and music celebration of the end of the school year is presented by The Kensington Stewards, with Cynthia Fortozo and Annie Ferdous producing.

Location
under the ArtBuilt Mobile Studio tent
Avenue C Plaza
at the intersection of Avenue C and McDonald Avenue
Kensington, Brooklyn

WHAT'S HOT (OR COLD) AT WINDSOR COFFEE

The best-selling beverage at six-week-old Windsor Coffee, say owners Karen and Mark Newfeld, is the refreshing Oslo cold brew coffee, a special roast and grind with chocolate overtones that is grown in Mexico. Also popular is the rich-tasting iced English Breakfast tea.

The various sweet and savory biscuits from Brooklyn Biscuit have particularly found favor with customers. The sweet biscuits currently offered are Blueberry Lemon, Vanilla Chip, and Chocolate Hazelnut. The savory biscuits, served warm, with  butter on the side, are Salted Buttermilk, Pepper and Goat Cheese, and Cheddar Jalapeno.

A local artist hosted an art show opening at Windsor Coffee on Friday. Her work will be on exhibit in the store for the remainder of the week.

Open hours at Windsor Coffee are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., seven days per week.

  

           SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT SMALL BUSINESSES.

Location
Windsor Coffee
144 E. 4th Street, Windsor Terrace
just north of Fort Hamilton Parkway, next to Hair Care by Yolanda

Previous blog posts about Windsor Coffee:

• New Coffee Shop Opening Tomorrow (Saturday, May 13th)

• More about the New Coffee Shop, Windsor Coffee

A NATURAL COMBINATION REUNITES: ITALIAN ICES AND ITALIAN FOOD

Two Brooklyn institutions--Korner Pizzeria and Gino's Italian Ices--meet again, with the return of summer. Korner is serving Gino's ices in these flavors: rainbow, lemon, cherry, chocolate, vanilla chip, and pina colada.

Family-owned and operated since 1966, Korner won a Golden Slice Award last July from Eater: "The Neighborhood Pizzeria Hall of Fame Presents: The Golden Slice Awards." Eat in, take out, get a delivery, or have an event catered.

Gino's Italian Ices has been making its products in Brooklyn since 1962.

Korner's open hours and delivery hours (minimum delivery: $9.00) are 

• Monday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. 
• Delivery 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 
• Sunday, open noon to 9:30 p.m.
• Delivery 2:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

SUPPORT LOCAL INDEPENDENT SMALL BUSINESSES.

Location
Korner Pizzeria
226 Church Avenue, corner of E. 3rd Street
Kensington, Brooklyn
(718) 853-3755 
https://www.facebook.com/kornerpizzeria

Menu: http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/korner-pizzeria/menu

"LYRICS, TUNES, AND TALL TALES": SINGER-SONGWRITERS IN CONCERT

        Church Avenue Sessions Presents "Lyrics, Tunes and Tall Tales"
                     Thursday, July 6th, 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Church Avenue Sessions presents "Lyrics, Tunes and Tall Tales," featuring four Brooklyn songwriters performing in-the-round, sharing the stories behind their songs as well as insights into their craft.

The songwriters--Avi Fox-Rosen, Bucky Hayes, Scott Stein, and Maddy Wyatt--will debut new music and collaborate on each other's songs in an intimate setting.

The ticket price is $15 at the door for an adult and $7 for a child under the age of sixteen.

This is the fourth concert for Church Avenue Sessions, the new monthly music series at Flatbush Jewish Center, in Kensington.

About the performers:
Avi Fox-Rosen is "an unapologetically genre defying singer songwriter...with a sardonic sense of humor, dense and dark lyrics, and enchantingly twisted melodies." Avi grew up in Los Angeles. (http://www.avifoxrosen.com/about.html)

Guitarist and singer-songwriter Bucky Hayes, "discovered the Grateful Dead, bought his first guitar at age 14, and saw an amazing Allman Brothers show; the course of his life was changed forever." He was born in Nashville and raised in both Central Florida and Atlanta, Georgia.  (http://www.buckyhayes.com/#about)

Pianist and singer-songwriter Scott Stein is "A classically trained composer with a jazz pianist’s touch but a pop aficionado’s sense of melody." He was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. (http://www.scottsteinmusic.com/about-1)

Maddy Wyatt, singer-songwriter, is the front-woman of her band of siblings WYATT, performing "folk/pop infused with bits of psychedelia, California dreaming and French revolution." She grew up outside of Denver. (http://bandofwyatt.squarespace.com/about)

About Flatbush Jewish Center
Flatbush Jewish Center, a Conservative synagogue offering programming and services for families, adults, and children, serves the Windsor Terrace and Kensington communities and offers traditional egalitarian services. The congregation was organized in 1921.

Concert location
Flatbush Jewish Center
327 East 5th Street, corner of Church Avenue
Kensington, Brooklyn
phone: (718) 871-5200
fax: (718) 871-5204
e-mail: office @ flatbushjewishcenter.org
http://www.flatbushjewishcenter.org
https://www.facebook.com/FlatbushJewishCenter

SEEN ELSEWHERE, JUNE 23, 2017: ANTI-MUSLIM HATE CRIME. KENSINGTON AND WINDSOR TERRACE NEWS ON OTHER SITES

          Kensington and Windsor Terrace News on Other Sites

                                             Crime

Taser-toting Brooklyn man threatens to kill neighbor outside mosque

"on E. 2nd St. near Albemarle Road in Kensington"
 
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/taser-toting-man-vows-kill-neighbor-brooklyn-mosque-article-1.3272567

--------------------

ALTERNATE SIDE RULES SUSPENDED FOR IDUL-FITR/EID AL-FITR

Alternate side of the street parking regulations--normally in effect on weekdays and Saturdays so that streets can be cleaned--will be suspended on Monday, June 26th, and Tuesday, June 27th, for Idul-Fitr (Eid al-Fitr).

Parking meter regulations and all other parking regulations will be in effect. Parking meter regulations are only suspended on the major legal holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

FREE INTERACTIVE PUPPET SHOW, "THE PUPPET PRINCESS"

"The Puppet Princess"

Sunday, June 25th, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

WonderSpark Puppets premieres "The Puppet Princess" in a free performance in the East Fourth Street Community Garden.

Princess Willow (portrayed by Jenny Hann, pictured above) has lost her best friend, Sprig the horse. The princess needs the audience's help to find him. Along the way, she and audience members sing songs together and make new friends in this highly-interactive puppet show.

Following the performance, children of all ages are invited to attend a workshop on making finger puppets. 

The show kicks off at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 25th.
 
About WonderSpark Puppets

From the WonderSpark Puppets website:

Founded in 2009 by husband and wife team Chad Williams and Lindsey "Z." Briggs, WonderSpark Puppets infuse fun and whimsy into all their performances. Outside of birthday parties and Jewish holiday shows, we regularly bring laughter and joy to the patients and staff at Mt. Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital in Manhattan.

WonderSpark Puppets performs highly interactive puppet shows throughout the NYC area and beyond!  Since 2009 we have been entertaining family audiences at NYC landmarks like Central Park, the New York Public Library, Mt Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital, Bryant Park, and more.  Fusing puppetry and storytelling with memorable characters and silly songs, WonderSpark performs at public and private venues.

About the East Fourth Street Community Garden

From the East Fourth Street Community Garden website:

The East 4th Street Community Garden is comprised of members of the community that are interested in sustainable, eco-friendly gardening. Each member must fulfill yearly requirements, which are crucial to the long-term success of a vibrant community garden.

From April through October, the Garden is open to the public at the following times:

    Wednesday 4:00 – 6:00PM
    Saturday 9:00AM – 1:00PM
    Sunday 10:00AM – 2:00PM
    Whenever the gate is open!

In addition, the garden also welcomes visitors for a series of special events and workshops, such as Jazz concerts and Fall Harvest Festivals. See our Events Calendar for more information.

Location  
The East Fourth Street Community Garden
179 E. 4th Street
between Caton Avenue and Fort Hamilton Parkway
Windsor Terrace - Kensington, Brooklyn 
http://eastfourthstreetgarden.tumblr.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/246036418909475