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We Love Toomey's! See Slideshow 
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Meet The Candidates for City Council on Tuesday, February, 13th! This is probably your last chance to hear directly from the candidates and decide who deserves your vote. Having the right person representing us in the City Council can make a huge difference for the future of our neighborhood. |
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And then there were 10... - Room 8 Three out of 13 candidates were found ineligible Tuesday by the Board of Elections for the February 20th special election to fill Yvette Clarke's vacated City Council seat. |
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| To Live, and Run, in Brooklyn - The Politicker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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THURSDAY EVENING IN PLG:
Meet Zenobia McNally At K-Dog Now that Yvette Clarke represents us in Congress, we need to elect a new city council member. There will be a special election on February 20th to decide who gets the honor. Meet one of the top contenders at K-dog on Lincoln Road this Thursday from 7pm to 9pm. |
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From Prospect Park
Southwest to Northern Uganda OR: Kevin and Aimee's holiday among the war displaced You may remember an earlier PPLG article on Kevin Bott, an NYU PhD student (and big league mensch) who is using applied theater to try and bring about positive social change. Just off the heels of a highly successful theatrical production in a NY prison Kevin and his equally wonderful wife Aimee have left the comforts of their Windsor Terrace apartment to spend several weeks in nothern Uganda. Their plan? To offer help, to learn all that they can about the war-driven humanitarian crises there, and to spread awareness of the needless suffering of innocent people - especially children. To that end, and also to reassure skittish friends and family, they are keeping a blog of their experiences which we will be monitoring closely. Kevin and Aimee were inspired to make this trip after viewing the highly acclaimed film Invisible Children which is an excellent way to learn more about the situation in Uganda. We wish them the best of luck and look forward to their safe return.
More on Kevin and Aimee's trip from a 12/17/06 email announcing their blog: "As many of you know, Aimee and I will be traveling to Uganda today. We'll be away for almost a month and would like to invite you all to join us... via the wonderful world of the blogosphere." "Aimee will be attending births and perhaps helping midwives deliver babies in the local hospital. I am helping an NYU colleague organize and develop a new school curriculum with the Ugandan education and culture ministry. Also, many of you also know that I have been working with state inmates in New York, doing prison theater for the past year. I am really hoping to connect with a prison organization so that I can get a glimpse into an African prison system (and maybe even do some theater work with inmates...?!)" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sunrise over PLG - 12/22/06 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| BORN 12/14/06: Emma Rebecca, 10lbs, 22" long (!) to the editors of this website. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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SUNDAY EVENING:
Prospect Park in Lights Celebration
Tonight in PLG Don't miss Prospect Park In Lights Celebration tonight! WHERE: Parkside & Ocean Avenue Entrance WHEN: 5:30 - 7:00 pm WHAT: Music, Entertainment, Lights & FREE Hot Chocolate & Candy! - Trumpeters from the Brooklyn Philharmonic - Steel drumming by the Sesame Flyers - Dance from the Congo Square Drummers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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¡Viva Enduro! PLG's newest restaurant packs them in - early reviews are positive Everyone enjoying dinner at Enduro, Jim Mamary's newest restaurant on Lincoln Road, seemed to have the same giddy "I can't believe I am experiencing this in my own neighborhood" expression on their faces. After a well-attended pre-opening party on Wednesday, Enduro opened its doors to the public on Thursday and was immediately swamped with happy dinners. Take-out copies of the menu were as hard to find as O.J.'s book on Friday (more menus are on the way) and the bar area was doing a very "healthy" business. Half way through our drink we turned to the person next to us at the bar only to realize it was the mysterious figure behind Across the Park. Other recognizable faces were the newlywed publishers of Stay Free magazine, the Axiom Addicts (who are playing 12/15 at Vox Pop), the owners of the first home featured on the PLG house tour (with a basement bar that rivals Enduro's), PLUS founder Mark Dicus, local DJ/author "Buzz" and, we are told, Marty Markowitz. Early reviews of the food have been very positive (but with the excitement over this place opening they probably could have served stale tortillas and dry rice and still gotten an enthusiastic thumbs-up - we are waiting for more sober reactions in the days to come). Enduro is located at 51 Lincoln Road - we will post the menu as soon as we can buy one on eBay. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Iraq for Sale Screening
draws a large crowd PLG peace group plans to screen more films in the future Local artist and peace activist Daniel Kohn (standing below) opened his beautiful studio (once a storage area for Ebbets Field groundskeepers) to the public Saturday for a screening of Robert Greenwald's expose documentary Iraq for Sale. The film documents how US corporations like Halliburton, Blackwater and KBR are raking in billions in US taxpayer money by spending as much money as possible providing supplies for the occupation of Iraq. Apparently their (often no-bid) contracts are on a "cost plus" basis, which means they not only get reimbursed for everything they spend, they also get a nice little bit on top. The result? When a tire blows out on an $80K truck, they just buy a new truck. When an massive order of computers comes in that isn't quite right for the job, the brand-new units are bulldozed into a burn pit and torched un-opened. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Now
Filming on the PLG Side of Prospect Park | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| DAILY
NEWS: SANTA'S NAME IS "MORT" Planet PLG's exclusive on Prospect Park events finally hits mainstream press | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLUS
GENERAL MEETING DRAWS A GOOD CROWD You know people are serious about working for positive change in their community when they are willing to sit in tiny wooden seats designed for toddlers in a stuffy classroom. The recent PLUS (Prospect Lefferts United for Services) general meeting provided the many first-time attendants with a summary of the group's recent activities which include: - Marketing Brochure for the Neighborhood PLG is a great neighborhood, but we still don't have a bank, a bookstore and many other "nice-to-have" businesses. PLUS has created a snazzy brochure to help draw businesspeople to the neighborhood - now it's just a question of locating funds to print it out. - The PLG Dinner Club PLUS program to support existing restaurants and create a nice social event to boot officially kicked off last Wednesday with dinner at Ali's Roti Shop. For $12 participants were treated to, in the words of PLUS leader Mark Dicus, "a family style traditional Trinidadian meal featuring Trini Barbecue chicken, lentils, macaroni pie, rice and peas, curried chicken, curried beef, curried goat, doubles, and much more". If you missed it, you can still enjoy Ali's delicious fare by stopping by at 589 Flatbush Avenue - and stay tuned for more PLUS-sponsored Pris Fixe meals around the neighborhood.. - Storefront Improvement Program If you have walked down Lincoln between Flatbush and Ocean lately you have seen PLUS' handiwork in the form of bright new awnings in front of several businesses. More is on the way (in the months to come new awnings will pop up in front of the Maple Street School, Enduro and, eventually, the bodega on the corner of Lincoln Road and Ocean Avenue). PLUS was able to secure additional funding for this program that, this time, does not require businesses to pony up any funds at all. Before and after photos of businesses were passed around and yours truly spoke briefly about our long somewhat successful dance with the MTA over improvements to the Parkside Avenue subway stop.  If you'd like to get involved in these PLUS activities or suggest new initiatives for the group contact PLUS' fearless leader, Mark Dicus. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DEMS TAKE
HOUSE AND SENATE It's a New Dawn in America! Clarke to join majority in Congress. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"CLUELESS" READER'S ELECTION QUESTION: "So voting is coming up on Tuesday and I realize that I have absolutely no idea where the polling place is here in PLG. You should post it before Tuesday, I'm sure there are other clueless people out there like me." Thanks for the question. Click here to find your polling place. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Inside The Theater Down The Street Stunning photos from the recent EDC tour of the Loew's Kings We had hoped to make it to the NYC Economic Development Corporation tour for prospective developers of the Loew's Kings Theater last week to see for ourselves the glory of this abandoned beauty. Alas, the day job once again got in the way. Fortunately a certain marioletto apparently does not have the same problem - he went and posted photos of the tour to flickr (many thanks to Brownstoner for posting this info on his site). We have been shouting from rooftops about this theater for some time now but if you haven't been following the story you can get the background info on the theater here. Borough President Marty Markowitz has taken up the Loew's Kings cause of in a big way and the EDC has issued a "request for expressions of interest" looking for developers interested in restoring the Loew's Kings to her former glory. We are continuing to scan the horizon for a white knight with deep pockets... See Also the A&E Loew's Kings Video | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Photos by
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We also know that our very own Parkside/Ocean entrance will host an event on December 17th, and that local folk will be asked to offer up suggestions. We'll post more as soon as details become available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stand Up For Your Rights Ocean Avenue slumlords - your time has come Thursday evening's Ocean by the Park Block Association meeting brought out a sizable group of angry tenants from the buildings along Ocean Avenue. Residents of 115 Ocean Avenue in particular described their frustration with conditions in their building and what they say is their landlord's attempt to drive out longtime rent-stabilized residents in order to jack-up the rents for gentrifying newcomers. Residents of several buildings along the block complained of frequent outages of hot or cold water (how do you like your morning shower - ice-cold or scalding hot?), periods without heat, front doors that can be easily pulled open, crumbling ceilings, holes between apartments, steam pipes on the verge of bursting and more. Tennant organizer Bennet Baumer advised residents of problem buildings to carefully document all problems by calling 311 and to maximize their effectiveness by organizing themselves into tenant associations. Baumer also suggested writing certified letters to negligent landlords outlining needed repairs and lacking services and taking landlords to housing court if the landlord fails to act. Planet PLG will be visiting some of the buildings mentioned to document conditions for an upcoming story. We will also present an update on news from the Prospect Park Alliance (which was also a topic at Thursday's meeting) soon. If you need advice on how to deal with a negligent landlord, contact Bennet Baumer at 212-979-6238 ext. 204. |
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| REMEMBER:
Ocean by the Park Meeting
Thursday Night! You are invited to an important community meeting at the Moravian Church Come meet your neighbors and lend support to the movement to organize tenants in the buildings on Ocean Avenue. We'll hear from a Tenant Organizer with the Metropolitan Council on Housing and we'll get an update from the Prospect Park Alliance on what is happening with the $35MM Lakeside Center which is to be built on our side of the park next to the lake. Thursday, October 26th, 7 - 8:30pm John Hus Moravian Church, 153 Ocean Avenue View The Flyer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ArtMart
11225 is a huge success! Works by 30+ artists, a solid turnout, free beer and a sneak peak at Enduro From all accounts we picked the wrong weekend to go out of town. PLG's first artsy street event in recent memory exceeded expectations in terms of vendors, buyers and warm and fuzzy community vibes. Hopefully there will be many more similar events to come. Congratulations to all the people from PLUS and PLGArts who made it all happen and thanks to Buzz and our friends at ATP for sharing their photos.
Debbie Hamilton of PLGArts, a svelte Marty
Markowitz and Mark Dicus of PLUS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CIVIL RIGHTS WATCH: If NYC would focus as intently on locking up slumlords with building and health code violations as they have on harassing this 75-year Clinton Hill artist (who was just taken away in handcuffs), the city would be a far better place. - The Broken Angel Standoff: A "Clinton Hill Waco" via Gowanus Lounge |
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It's Not Just a Cool Bar
Anymore
Flatbush Farm is now a full-fledged restaurant - 76 St. Marks Avenue You may remember our fairly recent, way-positive write up on this Park Slope establishment (owned by Damon, husband of Wendy - the director of PLG's Maple Street School). The atmosphere was very chill, the people behind the bar were extremely kind and the bar food was sublime. Well, they've now got the restaurant portion of the business up and running and we'll be checking in with them again soon. You can check out the delights of their menu by clicking on the links below: |
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Until PLG Gets Its Own
Market... We love Community Board 9... really. We don't have anything truly bad to say about them. We just wish they were open to the idea of shutting down Lincoln Road between Ocean and Flatbush just once - as a test - to see how the community reacts to a PLG market. To date, they won't do that... The struggle continues. Maybe if ArtMart 11225 (which will not close down the stretch) is a clear success they can be made to reconsider. READER'S TIP In the meantime check out the Caton/Flatbush Farmer's Market: "For several years now a small Farmers market has been selling produce on the corner of Flatbush and and Caton every Wednesday. The produce is fresh from upstate New York and Pennsylvania soil; peaches, plums, watermelon, collards, okra, baby tomatoes--all bursting with flavor." "Many people in the neighborhood are surprised to hear there is a farmers market in Flatbush. Most people respond, "Oh, yeah, the one at Grand Army Plaza, I've been there" This is probably because the market's produce is barely visible from the street, hidden behind the white vinyl tent. The last market of the season is November 15th. I recommend the pears, and the peppers." |
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The
Flatbush/Caton Farmer's Market |
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Develop
Don't Destroy Brooklyn Fundraiser The court battle against the 'Atlantic Yards' hinges on our ability to fund our legal team. While we have a very strong legal case and legal team, we can't win without your help in raising money and awareness. The walk is less than 2 miles, and starts at noon at the Prospect Park Bandshell. The event will include hundreds of walkers for a full day of talent, children's activities, music, food and booths at the Prospect Park Bandshell. |
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THIS SATURDAY!
ArtMart 11225 on Lincoln Road |
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READER'S TIP: Saturday is Brooklyn & Slim's
Last Night "The last night will be Saturday, and there will be free food. Probably Caribbean and Southern cooking, including Yvonne's excellent baked macaroni and cheese." Although we weren't around for most of it, Brooklyn & Slim is widely recognized as a neighborhood institution. It's very sad that the sweet people who own it have sold it. We can only hope that whatever follows will preserve some of the warmth of the place. |
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READER'S TIP: Revival House - Beloved Brooklyn Theater Will Be Saved - NY Post |
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K-Dog & Dunebuggy's New Awning
Arrives More new storefronts coming soon from PLUS' Storefront Program |
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Fall 2006 in PLG |
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