Free Kayaking!

Brooklyn Bridge Park has done it again.  This 85-acre park founded 8 years ago and designed stunningly by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates really changed the entire feel of the neighborhood and when it first opened 6 acres back in March 2010, it was a true winner for the entire area. One really can spend hours there.

And now that the summer is upon us there is more to enjoy.  Being outdoors is the best and with the parks spray areas, roller rinks, sports fields and more, what better activity than to get out your paddles and enjoy some free kayaking right here at Pier 2.

This offer begins at the end of this month.  On May 31, 2018, Thursdays from 5:30–6:45pm, Saturdays from 10am–3pm and Sundays for Kayak Polo from 11am–3pm (kids 11 and over from 12:30–1:30pm), there is no excuse not to say adios to your screens and come on out and enjoy the wonderful waters.

As long as you follow the boathouse rules there’s absolutely nothing to stop you having fun in America’s great outdoors!

Smorgasburg Market

Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg market has returned!  Every Saturday on the Williamsburg watefront and every Sunday in Prospect Park from April until October, the “largest weekly open-air food market  in America” brings food from 100+ local vendors to the 20-30,000 visitors.
This will be the 8^th year of the market. Established by Jonathan Butler and Eric Demby as a spinoff of the Brooklyn Flea Market, it has been described as “The Woodstock of Eating” by The New York Times.
This year the newest additions include kakigori (Japanese shaved ice treat) and grilled lobsters. The classics that have been loved for years are returning too such as: the Bolivian Llam Party, Good Batch and Ramen Burger.

Brooklyn’s “Other Art Fair”

The Other Art Fair  began on 3 May (and is ending today) at Brooklyn Expo Center.   It is quite different from other such art events as, according to fair founder Ryan Stanier, they “offer up artists on their own, rather than through dealers.” 

Debuting in New York in 2017, it is hosted by the Saatchi Art enterprise of London and has 130 artists from around the world displaying their wares ranging in price from $250 to $10,000. The idea behind it is to provide a “springboard for talented emerging artists” since it increases their visibility toward collectors.

The other stand out part of the fair is the entertainment provided by local D.J.s along with Scott Campbell, a Brooklyn tattoo artist. Amber Vittoria was on hand to sketch visitors’ portraits at no cost.

The Other Art Fair is being held later on in the year in Bristol, UK, Melbourne, Australia, Chicago, USA, London, UK, and LA, USA.

10th Annual Brooklyn Folk Festival!

Earlier this month Brooklyners and other locals were able to enjoy Brooklyn’s 10^th annual folk festival.  For a long weekend of April 6^th to 8^th, there were concerts, jams, square dancing,  and even – for the first time – a Brooklyn Fiddle Contest. Beer was donated to Brooklyn folk by the Lagunitas Brewing Co., and the kids enjoyed a puppet show presented by the Boxcutter Collective.

Contributors to this amazing festival this year included: the Steel City Jug Slammers, Jackson & the Jacks, King Isto’s Tropical Spring Band, The HickHoppers, Feral Foster, Wyndam Baird, The Horse Eyed Men, Poorboy Krill and many, many more.

With thanks to all the sponsors including: The Folk Music Society of New York, Inc.,  the Howard Gilman Foundation, Rose Brand, Down Home Radio Show and Snowman Fabricators.

For those who missed it, not to worry, next month sees the Swamp in the City: A Cajun Music Festival on May 18-20^th.

Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day and this year’s theme is End Plastic Pollution.  Brooklyn has a lot of events to mark the occasion and to help find ways to change attitudes to how we deal with plastics.  Ultimately the hope is to find ways to substantially reduce plastic pollution.

One event – the TNOS Earth Day Fashion Show – is happening today in East Williamsburg at the Legendary Republic between 3 and 7pm.  Here, both local and independent designers and models will be able to show their clothing through the platform on the importance of the preservation of Mother Earth.

Tomorrow, one can join in the Bike to Work event.  Meeting at 8.30 in the morning at Prospect Park (441 Flatbush Avenue, Willink Entrance), this year the annual event is being started by borough President Adams. The idea behind it is the same as it always is – how to promote greener ways to move around Brooklyn and outer areas. 

Celebrating Bengali New Year

Yesterday Brooklyners were privy to celebrating Pahela Baishakh, the Bengali New Year right at home.  The Avenue C Plaza was open for revelers who came dressed in red, wearing masks to get their faces painted and enjoy Bangladeshi music, along with an all-female Samba drumline performance.  The event ended with a parade to Church Avenue and back.

The event was organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts (which was actually founded exactly 25 years ago in New York).  Jill Reiner helped to organize the event and made some of the dance masks that were used.  She said she really loved it this year and remarked on how “wonderful” it was to “see such a diverse group.”  She added: “People are beginning to introduce themselves to elements of a culture they don’t know about.”

Brooklyn Restaurant Group Gets New Head Chefs

The Brooklyn restaurants owned by Andrew Tarlow are generally regarded as some of the biggest shapers of Brooklyn's local dining climate. They are also responsible for the exposed brick and mortar trend that has since become international. Over recent months, Tarlow's empire has been through some changes, with new chefs entering the kitchens of all of his restaurants, which include Diner, Marlow & Sons, Reynard, Roman's and Achilles Heel.

Aside from the new chefs, whom we'll address soon, former Diner chef Caroline Fidanza is returning to the scene as culinary director for the restaurant group after closing her popular sandwich shop Saltie.

Achilles Heel has appointed former pastry sous chef Desire Tuttle, while Reynard's kitchen will now be run by Christina Lecki. Patch Troffer from San Francisco will manage Marlow & Sons, and Roman's former sous chef Frank Reed was promoted earlier this year. Adam Baumgart will take over Diner.

Tarlow said: "These people have a distinct voice, and we more or less have been in the process of changing menurs every day. I think you can see everybody's own touch- I would hope so. I don't want Patch to be making Ken's food. But, I think there's a stylistic approach that they fit into for those restaurants."

"If I would say where the future should go, the story should be about them (the chefs), because they're doing the hard work. I walk around and get complimented for their hard work. They're not in the dining room, so it's hard for them to get the compliments, but it's interesting," Tarlow added. "It's just not me."