The Polar Bear Plunge

The Polar Bear Plunge took place on New Year’s Day and was a chance for adventurous swimmers to raise money for a good cause.

The 115^th annual Polar Bear Plunge invited swimmers to jump into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Swimmers raised over $55,000 for the Coney Island community. Money was earmarked towards creating a cleaner and environment and improved quality of life for Coney Island Residents. The Coney Island community is a neighborhood with a high poverty rate that is still recovering from Superstorm Sandy.

Founded in 1903, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States. They swim every Sunday from November through April.

The Lefferts Historic House at Prospect Park

The Lefferts Historic House is a wonderful place to visit this winter. This hands-on educational experience is suitable for all family members.

Located within nearby Prospect Park, the Lefferts Historic House is a NYC designated landmark. Built in 1783 by Pieter Lefferts, the house remained in the family for four generations. It was later relocated from Flatbush Avenue to Prospect Park and opened as a museum.

The Lefferts Historic House operates an interactive children’s museum that includes a working garden, historic artifacts, and exhibits. Visitors can play with traditional games and engage in a range of historic activities such as candle-making and butter churning.

This destination offers an interesting and enriching educational experience.

History of the Kensington Public Library

The Kensington Public Library opened in January 1908 with a collection of only 400 books. In 1912, the library expanded and moved to 771 McDonald Avenue, where it remained for the next 48 years.

 By 1960, the Kensington Library, having outgrown its previous location, moved to Ditmas Avenue. Its renovation garnered national interest because Kensington was the first branch to have air-conditioning and children’s furniture in the children’ section.

In November 2012, the Kensington Library re-opened after additional renovations. The library was designed to be environmentally-friendly and was praised by the Art Commission of New York for its successful integration of green design.

Located in a residential area, the Kensington Library is based on the concept of daylight, and most of the library is bathed with natural light, creating a pleasant environment for readers.

Events at the Kensington Library

As the weather gets colder in New York, visiting your local public library can provide a wonderful indoor activity.

The Kensington Library offers several programs, in addition to books. For children and babies, there is Toddler Time; Teen Tech Time for teenagers; and Homework Help for school-age children.

Unique lectures and educational activities are also offered weekly.

On Wednesday, December 12^th, a class on American Sign Language will be featured. On the same day, a musical Hanukah celebration will take place at the library. That evening, a knitting and crocheting class will be offered.

Stop by the library to see for yourself...books are only the beginning!

Thank you to the Kensington Stewards

The Kensington Stewards are a neighborhood group that recently organized a popular event.

The event, which was organized for the third year in a row, celebrated the Day of the Dead which honors deceased ancestors. The event was held at PS 179 on Avenue C and included activities, performances, and music.

Traditional Mexican dancers and musicians from the band Mariachi Fiesta performed, and free food was served during this five-hour fiesta. Child-friendly activities including face painting and dancing were part of the fun.

The menu included traditional Mexican dishes such as tacos, tamales, Mexican sweet bread, and arroz con leche.

The event was appreciated, thanks to the Kensington Stewards.

Horseback Riding in Kensington, Brooklyn

When Prospect Park was first designed in the 1860s, it had bridle paths for carriage drives. Horses were part of everyday life, and Prospect Park was designed to accommodate them.


More than a century later, horses are no longer part of everyday life. There's only one stable in the Prospect Park area-- Kensington Stables-- but luckily, it offers many family-friendly activities, including pony rides and parties for young children, a teen horsemanship program, trail rides and horseback riding lessons.

Visiting Kensington Stables is a great way to combine outdoor fun and exercise!

Enjoy a Visit to Green-wood

Before the weather turns frigid, stop and visit Green-Wood, a beautiful and historic destination.

Now a National Historic Landmark, Green-wood was one of the first rural cemeteries in America. Home to 478 acres of hills, valleys, paths and ponds, Green-wood is so beautiful that it inspired the creation of NYC’s Central Park!

For history buffs, Green-wood’s 560,000 permanent residents include well-known people, among them Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Charles Ebbets, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Horace Greeley.

Green-wood is also a Revolutionary War Historic site—the Battle of Long Island was fought on its grounds in 1776. Green-wood is also a site on the Civil War Discovery Trail and a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System.

Free parking is available, and several dining options are available nearby.