Local Events – with a Difference

There is a lot to do in Kensington, Brooklyn and new activities  coming up all the time.  Here we look at a couple of events that are slightly outside the box that locals can enjoy.

The first one is a plant class. In a recent article by Rebecca Fishbein on ‘The 10 best spots for plant classes in NYC,’ Kensington’s “Twig Terrariums” was ranked in second place.  Set up by good friends Michelle Inciarrano and Katy Maslow, the open studio and store offers a whole range of terrariums, DIY kits, pots and plants and unusual gifts. While there you can also learn how to set up your own plant and terrarium collection.  All materials are provided for the workshops and one can also choose a romantic date night option there. 

The second is a venture set up back in 2014 by Eleanor Rodgers who, at the time hosted informal LEGO classes for her son and some friends at home.  But after a while it developed into one of New York City’s really cool after-school programs.  The program since then has joined up with the Wingspan Afterschool Program at PS130 and is now called the Rodgers’ Kensington LEGO Class.  Featuring a STEM experience for little LEGO builders from Kindergarten to third grade.  From third to fifth grade, kids can make their own LEGO movie through this venture too.

Given that Kensington boasted the highest birth rate in New York City (in 2017) at 12 percent, this really is becoming a great place to set up kid-friendly businesses.

Kensington Entertainment

Two days ago BK Style and Partners hosted a fundraising event for Projext Culture – Save the Muse Brooklyn.  In celebration of Stevie’s BOI 100^th Anniversary, the featured artist was C Boogie and the event took place at 350 Moffat Street. 

The creative community that comprises the Muse Brooklyn provides a common space for international artists, celebrating all forms of circus.  circus can be used in a therapeutic background; for fitness; play and high quality entertainment. 

On 11^th April, Fashion Week Brooklyn showcased five brands at 630 Flushing Avenue “regaling fashion enthusiasts with their diverse and inclusive display [in order to present] the diversity of talent, spaces, art and fashion.”  one particularly outstanding show was Catherine Schuller’s Runway the Real Way (RTRW) and the entire event was an opportunity for the public at large to connect to a variety of fashions and brands.

Is this Brooklyn’s Most Legendary Pizza?

Check it out for yourself on thisvideo.  Lucali - located at 575 Henry Street – is “arguably the most famous pizza in Brooklyn.”  Here, INSIDER’s Herrine Ro takes a look at Marc Lacano’s eatery.

The Sketchbook Project

The Sketchbook Project, located in The Brooklyn Art Library, houses a unique collection of art: a collaborative library of sketches.

Open to visitors, each sketchbook is cataloged and has a unique barcode that makes browsing easy. The Sketchbook Project is home to over 30,000 sketchbooks from over 70,000 contributors from 135 countries.

People who are interested in contributing to the project can sign up on the library’s website.

For those who can’t visit the physical library, digital copies of many sketchbooks are available online. The Brooklyn Art Library also offers a traveling version of their library collection.

The Toy Museum of New York

The Toy Museum of New York is based in downtown Brooklyn, and offers workshops, performances and webinars.

The Toy Museum, which opened in 1999, has entertained and educated over 100,000 students. The museum is an educational institute chartered by The University of the State of NY Education Department, a NYC Department of Education Vendor and a registered charity.

The museum offers a traveling educational outreach program that visits schools and provides workshops for children, adults and seniors.

After 20 years of educating about the history of toys, The Toy Museum of NY is producing a new children’s television show. The pilot episode launched in February and features classic toys, new toys and their inventors.

The Brooklyn Bird Club

The Brooklyn Bird Club has been active for more than 100 years! Originally founded in 1906 by Dr. Edward Vietor, the club aims to “promote conservation and birdwatching in Brooklyn and beyond.”

The Brooklyn Bird Club hosts spring and fall early morning bird walks and organizes birding trips within the tri-state area. They present lectures on a variety of topics including bird song, nature photography and warbler identification.

A focus on conservation—how to maintain a natural environment within an urban setting—is a priority for The Brooklyn Bird Club.

Upcoming events include “Gulls Galore.” Together with Prospect Park Alliance, this is an opportunity to explore the park’s nature trails and discover the different species of gulls in the park.

Exercising at the Brooklyn Bridge Park

For all of you who want to exercise but don’t want to join a gym, here’s an easy solution:

You can join the New York Road Runners on their free Tuesday night Open Runs! Participants meet on the path south of Fornino at Pier 6 at 6:45pm. The run, which is a 5K, begins at 7:00 pm.

The runs are open to all ages and running levels. Strollers and dogs on leashes are also welcome. The flexibility of these runs means that you can exercise in a fun, free and low-pressure environment.