Monday, December 31, 2007

Local Car Service Recommendations?

It's New Year's Eve! Many of us will be in need of a car service late night so start recommending people! We like the place on McDonald off Church across from Astoria Federal...
For a People in Pain, a Reason to Dance (NY Times)
About 300 people make up the Darfurian community that has sprouted in Kensington over the last several years. Only about 20 are women, and many of the men, Mr. Hashim included, drive taxis for a living, despite their professional background in Sudan, where many were civil engineers.

Friday, December 28, 2007

Shock in Pakistani Enclaves in New York (NY Times)



Anguish in Brooklyn Over Bhutto Assassination (NY Times)

Along Coney Island Avenue on Thursday, there were those who did not know whether to believe early rumors that Ms. Bhutto had been attacked and sought out fellow immigrants for confirmation. At a community center on Coney Island Avenue that helps South Asian immigrants, a woman wearing a black headscarf leaned against a door frame, numb, she said, from the news.
“She was a mother, she had children,” said the woman, who declined to give her name because her culture frowns upon women conversing with unfamiliar men, she said.

F Weekend

WEEKEND SUBWAY GUIDE
F: Coney Island-bound trains skip Fourth Avenue, 15th Street-Prospect Park, and Fort Hamilton Pkwy between 12:01 a.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Sunday

Kensington Stories

The next time you’re walking from the subway on Church Avenue, make sure to make a left into the "Deal 99 Cent Store". Take out that two dollars you have in your pocket, and hand it to the lady in the ticket booth on the side where that guy sells all the hats and gloves. She will probably not smile and give you a small "Admit One" ticket.
The Beverly By Ron Lopez

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Church Ave Addition?

Is there any news out there about 505 Church Ave (next door to Old Brick)? It looks like the sign has been removed and the gate down for a few days/ weeks (its the holidays and we haven't been as observant!).

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Petition for 81 Ocean Pkwy

From the Inbox:

The residents of 81 Ocean Parkway have been involved in a lengthy negotiation process about the development of 22 Caton Place. A promise from the developer, witnessed by Bill deBlasio, was made last year to include ample space (16 feet) between 22 Caton and 81 Ocean Parkway. Since then, the developer Daniel Rokeach has donated $50,000 to the city council and filed plans which allow for only half that space. The city council now no longer remembers that promise, nor can locate records of that promise. We're asking councilman Bill deBlasio to keep our neighborhood livable and asking people of the neighborhood to sign the petition.


Less Than 300K

FSBO
$279,000 (maint. $608) -1 BR Co-op w/ Terrace; 350 Ocean Pkwy at Ave C

Friday, December 21, 2007

Neighborhood News/ Events

NEARBY NEWS:
Little Toninos pizza across from Greenwood Playground has been shut down because they didn't pay their taxes. The rumor around the hood is they won't be reopening and Dancewave wants to expand into that space for a larger administrative office space. Local parents are hoping for another pizza parlour or food option since the location is so close to the playground and a perfect spot for a snack, lunch or dinner. Anyone out there interested in the space? We here the realtor is Peretti.


NEARBY EVENTS: (Noone has emailed us about anything in Kensington Proper but these are all right over the border...)
Santa Event at Hamilton Dog House!
Santa is coming to the Hamilton Dog House on East 3rd and Ft. Hamilton Parkway on December 22 from 12 pm - 3pm. Please bring your pets and/or children for a photo with Santa!! Photos will be $5.00 and all proceeds will go to benefit NYAnimal Rescue There will be refreshments for pets and owners alike.

Estelle w Liberty
Liberty Sunset Nursery from Red Hook will be selling Christmas wreaths, trees and other beautiful plants in front of Estelle every day until December 25th. Hot cider and warm drinks on Saturday and Sunday!!!!
Estelle: 3011 Ft. Hamilton Pkwy between E. 2nd and E. 3rd

Juice Box Wine & Spirits (From the owners: the first shop specializing in boutique wines and artisanal spirits in wonderful Windsor Terrace)! Drop by their grand opening bash on Saturday December 22 from 4-8pm
Juice Box: 1289 Prospect Ave. between Greenwood Ave. and Reeve Pl.

Silent Solstice Disco
Sat, Dec 22, sundown (4:30pm-7pm)
Rustic Arbor on Lullwater in Prospect Park, BK
FREE to all - bring liquid offering, mug & radio headphones

Support Trees!

This is from the KWT:
The city planning commission will be voting in January on AmendmentN-080081@2ry. They are looking for community input. If you would like to read about this amendment here is the link:http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/street_tree_planting/index.shtml

This proposed street tree planting amendment supports MayorBloomberg's PlaNYC goals for increased street tree canopy, air quality improvement, and storm water management.Please send your letters of support for more trees to be planted in both commercially zoned and residentially zoned locations as soon as possible.
Letters can be sent to:
City Planning Commission Calendar Info Office
22 Reade Street
Room 2E
New York, NY 1007

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Welcome to donje' photography!

FROM THE DP TEAM:
We just launched our NEW WEBSITE http://www.donjephotography.com/ and wanted to introduce ourselves to the neighborhood by offering a unique opportunity to get Family Portraits. Professional In-Home Portrait Session$150

Each session you get:
· An hour of shoot time
· Inside/Outside, you pick
· Backdrop or no backdrop, your choice
· We also do pets :)
· As many photos as we can take, you choose 10 great photos that we will give you on CD in high quality Jpeg format. This means you have no obligation to buy prints through us; they're yours (this is a rare opportunity with any photographer)!
· This offer is available on all sessions booked by December 31, 2007 for January 2008.
Here is an opportunity to capture your family for a great price with great results. Give us a call with any questions and/or to set up an appointment 347-406-7886!!! *Our offer is good for Kensington, Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, Ditmas Park and the surrounding areas of Brooklyn.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Estelle w Liberty

Liberty Sunset Nursery from Red Hook will be selling Christmas wreaths, trees and other beautiful plants in front of Estelle every day until December 25th. Hot cider and warm drinks on Saturday and Sunday!!!!

Estelle: 3011 Ft. Hamilton Pkwy between E. 2nd and E. 3rd

Monday, December 17, 2007

Foodtown Reno

We hear renovations at local supermarket Foodtown are in full swing though when we stopped in less than a week ago didn't notice much change. We've been told this is because current reno is happening behind the scenes within the basement and storage areas. Anyone know what exactly is happening back there?

Less Than 300K


Abandoned Homes

We got an email from a local resident about a concern over 2 empty homes near the vacant lot off Caton and East 7th. We're pretty sure the developer of the Caton Place condos bought a row of homes across from the building going up near Kensington Stables, could these also have been snapped up by the same developer and left empty in anticipation for another new construction? We imagine these will see the wrecking ball if the proposed project for the lot on Caton is approved but don't have any real info. Regardless, this still doesn't necessarily answer the concern from local residents and aren't sure what we can do in the meantime....

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Daily Kensington Pix

By Rebecca Jane Wilde

PLUS a new one is up at Kensington Stories By Ron Lopez
Horseradish, Hockey and the Wolfman

Santa Event at Hamilton Dog House!

Santa is coming to the Hamilton Dog House on East 3rd and Ft. Hamilton Parkway on December 22 from 12 pm - 3pm. Please bring your pets and/or children for a photo with Santa!! Photos will be $5.00 and all proceeds will go to benefit NYAnimal Rescue There will be refreshments for pets and owners alike.

Hamilton Dog House and RESCUE!

In case you're in the market for a dog, cat, lizard or bunny check out the Hamilton Dog House and talk to Sean about the rescue animals! Currently they have a 4 month old pit bull mix named Brooklyn (on the left), a 6 year old Lhasa Apso, a rat terrier and a whole bunch of kittens. Here's is Sean's Resue site on PetFinder.

Currently Sean and the team over at the HDH also have a cat that was brought to them on Saturday. The former owners of Jimmys Deli on Ft. Hamilton and E 4th left the cat behind. It had been at least 2 weeks since the former owner's of Jimmys moved out and the people who lived above the store heard the cats cries and where able to get the landlord to come by and let them in to get the cat. The cat was brought to HDH and is now being treated over at Pet Haven. It will be available for adoption this week.

Lastly, Sean is always on the look out for volunteer dog walkers for a few of the pups at HDH. If you're interested stop in and offer to help out! We're planning to start walking Brooklyn w our own dog this week since he is an energetic puppy who needs some exercise. Even if its only around a few local blocks or a good half loop in Prospect Park the dogs would love it!

New WT Wine Store

From the Inbox:
You may already know this, but that wine store in lower WT (on Prospect Ave.) actually did materialize -- it's called Juice Box. It looks like they're still setting up, but they have a sign up and might already be open.

Playground of Sound - Winter Session

From Michael Harren at Playground of Sound.... After a highly successful pilot session of music classes at the Honeydew Drop Playhouse, I have decided to offer a full length session in Windsor Terrace/Kensington. Each class is 45 minutes of physically active fun with a wide variety of instruments, props and movement activities.

Here's the schedule, now at two locations:
Honeydew Drop Playhouse
1113 Church Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11218
Saturdays at 9:15 and 10:15
Jan 19- March 22
**includes 30 minutes of playtime after class**

Flatbush Jewish Center
E 5th St (at Church Ave.)
Brooklyn, NY 11218
Mondays at 9:15 and 10:15
Jan 14-March 17

The Winter session is 10 weeks long. Classes are mixed age and open to children from birth to four years of age. Tuition is $230.00 (additional siblings $180.00) and includes The Bunny Collection book and CD.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Daily Kensington Pix

By Rebecca Jane Wilde

Kensington Gift Guide

1. Get a portrait of you, the family or the dog by one of our local photographers. donje photography or Rebecca Wilde.

2. Buy a Tot Stop T-shirt from local resident Jessica who started the company.

3. Try a hey punkin! onsie or t-shirt from local Mom and business creator Heather. She even has an East 4th collection based on Kensington!

4. Get a gift certificate from Nail's Plus on Church Ave.

5. Buy some yummy and delicious stocking stuffers at Dan's Select Meats

6. Buy a work of art from one of the local artists... What about Adam Welch or Maggie Tobin? We totally dig their work. (Check out the blog roll for other local artists)

7. Buy Kesington neighbor san.drine's single for a pal.

8. Buy Anya Ulnich's book Petropolis for anyone! (It was on our must read list before we knew she lived in Kensington).

9. Stop by Estelle (on Fort Hamilton) for artisan goods and knick knacks.

10. Buy the dog or cat a treat at Hamilton Dog House (on Fort Hamilton) or It's a Dog's World located on Coney Island Ave.

11. Check out this interesting jewelry from local designer Kari Beth

12. Take someone to race slot cars at Buzz-A-Rama. Need info? Try askperri AT aol DOT com Perri is better known as Buzz.

Got more to add? Put it in comments and we'll updat the list next week!

F train Report Card - No Surprise

F line gets a C-minus (Brooklyn Paper)
“I would have given it a D. For the last six months it was horrible,” said Joyce Hardy Smith, who complained about delays and wait times.
But most riders were a little more generous than Smith.
The grades for 21 categories include:
• Adequate room on board at rush hour: D.

• Reasonable wait times: C–.
• Minimal delays during trips: C–.
• Sense of security on trains and stations: C–.
• Station announcements easy to hear: D.
• Metrocard machines: B– (highest grade).
These results, though less than glowing, are typical of the entire system and are therefore not necessarily a useful tool for comparing the lines against each other.
Of the 11 subway lines, only the 42nd Street shuttle got into B territory (B–) and no line failed (the C train got the lowest grade, a D).
In general, F riders were harshest about crowding (surprise) and the PA announcements.

Thursday, December 13, 2007

Need some K-town gear?

We don't know of anyone else that promotes Kensington t-shirts so if you're looking for a holiday gift for a true K-town supporter try cafepress.com (this is the Kensington page).

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Daily Kensington Pix

By Rebecca Jane Wilde

Reminder: Newcomer's Shabbat

Newcomer's Shabbat
The Flatbush and Shaare Torah Jewish Center warmly invites the entire community to join us the Newcomer's Shabbat- featuring our family friendly 'short and sweet' service. Oneg Shabbat will follow with refreshments.
When: December 14,2007 at 7:00 PM
Where: 327 East 5 St (corner of Church Avenue)
For more information call (718)871-5200

Nearby Obedience Classes

From Marion at It's a Dog's World:
It's a Dog's World , located at 593 Coney Island Avenue, near Beverley Road will be holding:
5 WEEK PUPPY AND BASIC OBEDIENCE CLASSES STARTING THE WEEK OF JANUARY 13TH

CLASS SCHEDULE:
Sundays at 11am Puppy
Sundays at 12:30pm Basic
Tuesdays at 7:30 Puppy
Wednesdays at 7:30 Basic
Thursdays at 7:00 Puppy
Thursdays at 8:30 Basic

4 DOG LIMIT PER CLASS
INSTRUCTORS USE STATE-OF-THE ART, GENTLE TRAINING TECHNIQUES
Go to http://compliantdog.com/Classes.html or call 718-684-5568 for more information about the classes!

Maybe Marion can teach some bad dog owners on E2nd how to keep their dog on a leash! : )

Post Office Consumer Advocate

We've tried to go to the post office 3 times in the last week and been turned off by the long lines and complaints we've gotten wind of through the yahoo group. Luckily we got a helpful hint from a neighbor!
If your local Postmaster hasn't been successful in solving your problem and you have already been in touch with someone from the Post Office's Consumer Affairs office the next step to take is to contact:
Consumer Advocate
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington DC 20260-2200
I also found an email address for the Post Master General... I sent an email there yesterday myself and haven't received a reply, but the email didn't bounce so I suspect that it's a good address: pmgceo@usps.gov

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Daily Kensington Pix

By Rebecca Jane Wilde

New Wine Shop (Disclaimer WT)

So we have no real info (and it is technically WT) but noticed the small commercial space behind the old laundry mat had lots and lots of boxes of wine, a wine 'cooler' and a large bottle of champagne in the window. Could lower WT be getting a new store or is this space just being used as a storage? Anyone out there got the info? (Address: 1289 Prospect Ave.)

From the In-Box

Hello Fellow Kensingtoners,
I live in the vicinity of Avenue C and E. 2nd Street, not too far from To-B-Thai restaurant. Over the last several months, I have noticed a disturbing trend on E. 2nd Street between Avenue C and Beverly Road. Some of our neighbors on E. 2nd Street between Avenue C and Beverly Road allow their big and unfriendly dogs to be on the side walk without leashes. In particular, I have had run-ins with a very large bulldog and another dog whose breed I don't know. I fear for the safety of my small children when we walk down E. 2nd Street, because these dogs immediately jump and snarl when a stranger, a stray cat, or another dog walks by. Even worse, it sometimes appears that their owners are too weak to control them adequately.

Leash laws people! Here's a link to Parks in NYC and the hours allowed for dogs to be off-leash. We're fans of the Nethermead in Prospect Park when off-leash hours are in affect starting in the Spring. Here are a few rules to remind local dog owners:
-Dogs must be on a leash (no more than six feet long) at all times, except in dog runs and designated off-leash areas at prescribed times.
-You must pick up after your dog and dispose of the waste in containers provided throughout the park.
-You must prevent your dog from chasing birds, squirrels, and other animals.
-Dogs are never allowed in playgrounds, zoos, swimming pools/facilities, bathing areas/beaches*, fountains, ballfields, or on basketball/handball/tennis courts.

From Church Ave F Stop

From the Inbox:
I saw this coming home last week. So funny! They ripped off the 'P' and switched the two words to provide a meaning totally the opposite of the originally intended one!

Yvette Hosts a Tele-Town Hall Meeting

Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke hosts a Live Telephone Town Hall Meeting For Residents in the 11TH Congressional District
(located in central Brooklyn – Borough Park, Brownsville, Brooklyn Heights, Caroll Gardens, Clinton Hill, Crown Heights, South Crown Heights, Cobble Hill, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Fort Greene, Gowanus, Kensington, Midwood, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Red Hook, Sunset Park, Weeksville, Windsor Terrace & Wingate)
DATE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2007
TIME: 7:30PM
PARTICIPANT CALL IN #: 1-866-447-5149 -- pin number is # 13319
The live ‘tele-town hall,’ provides an additional forum for residents of the 11th congressional district to hear directly from their Congresswoman and to communicate their thoughts, concerns, and questions about federal issues that are important to them. Topics for discussion include The War in Iraq, the Environment, ENDA, No Child Left Behind, Immigration, and Gun Violence

Daily Kensington Pix

By Rebecca Jane Wilde

Monday, December 10, 2007

Important Info!

From 1010 Wins:
Police: Two Men Posing as Cops Rob Brooklyn Grandmother
Officials said one of the men said he was a police officer and the other a detective and that they were both on official business. The grandmother allegedly let the men in her home on 17th Street in Windsor Terrace around 11 p.m. after the fake detective said he needed to speak to her grandson. Once inside the men robbed the home stealing cash and jewelry, police said. The two men allegedly held the grandmother and her grandson at gunpoint, but they were not hurt. The grandson said he didn't know the two fake cops. Police are still searching for the suspects.

Gentle Reminder

From the inbox:
There was a car alarm going off for quite some time in the middle of the night on E. 4th St., between Church & Albemarle!

Okay people! It's been proven that these loud alarms don't deter criminals from breaking into your car or stealing your stuff. Loud alarms that repeat and go off for hours at a time should be removed. If you really want a deterrent get a LoJack or another device that tracks your car. Especially if the alarm is sensitive enough to go off from a Harley or bus going by.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

New Donuts & Bagels

We hear the Grand Opening sign was added to the new shop on McDonald south of Church. We'll be interested to hear how the donuts, bagels and coffee are so make sure to let us know!

Santa Photos

Here's a cute one from donje photography taken at the event held this past Saturday at Estelle. We did some local shopping at Estelle this weekend then headed over to the new Hamilton Dog House for some doggie treats.

Where the locals at?

OVERCAT graces you all with their impassioned drum and guitar corpsecorp tomorrow! Including $2 mugs of beer how can you go wrong?
Monday, Dec 10@ MAGNETIC FIELDFREE!
Overcat is Roger Murdock and Kensington guy, Dave Rick
Magnetic Field is 97 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn

Where the Locals at?

Sunday, December 9th
5:30 pm
Brooklyn Philharmonia Chorus presents their winter concert at St. Augustine's Church, 6th Avenue and Park Place, Park Slope, Brooklyn.
From Local Steve who is involved:
We are doing the Gloria by Randol Bass, 4 Renaissance motets, the Christmas Cantata by Daniel Pinkham, Hodie by Z.R. Stroope, and John Rutter's famous Gloria, featuring an eight piece brass ensemble who will also perform works of Gabrielli. I'm on organ. Come on out, it should be spectacular.

Saturday, December 8, 2007

REMINDER: Santa Photos at Estelle!

Local photographers at donje photography are coordinating w Agnes at Estelle for Santa photos this Saturday from 11:30 – 1:30 at Estelle on Ft. Hamilton. Anyone who shows up will get a free 4x6 courtesy of Estelle and donje’ photography!

donje is also promoting a holiday special of a home portrait session for $150
(1 hour). You'll get a disc with the images but prints will be an additional cost (or you can download and order them yourself). Also additional prints of the Santa shoot at Estelle will be for sale at their regular prices (check http://www.donjephotography.net/)

REMINDER: Winter Festival at Greenwood Playground

Winter Festival at Greenwood Playground
Saturday, December 8, 2007
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Live Performances!
10:30 a.m. Storytelling by Ms. Cindy Brolsma
11:00 a.m. P.S. 230 Chorus, led by Dan Schorr
11:45 a.m. Ms. Nemer’s 4th grade class from P.S. 130, led by Helen Sorenson

Crafts Tables!!
Holiday cookie decorating
Origami snowflakes with P.S. 230 teachers
Face painting & crafts with the Honeydew Playhouse
A special winter craft with the Brooklyn Children’s Museum’s Education Department

Brownstoner profiles Residence at WT

Brownstoner: Condo of the Day: The Residence at Windsor Terrace
This new condo on the Windsor Terrace-Kensington border hit the market a couple of months ago, with Corcoran touting its “elegance, affordability and style.” How so? The eight units evidently have seven-foot windows, crown molding, Jacuzzis and “luminous white marble counter tops”; in terms of affordability, the pricing is a touch higher than at other new developments in the area, like Park Circle. Two-bedrooms are asking between $509,000 and $560,000, or around $575 to $600 a square foot. (At Park Circle, which is about seven blocks away and has larger units, prices are running in the mid-$400 to mid-$500-a-foot range.)

Here is the Corcoran listings for the Ft. Hamilton property.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Daily Kensington Pix

By Rebecca Jane Wilde

Where the locals at?

Matt Marks (mattmarksmusic.blogspot.com) and a couple other Kensingtonians are putting on a far-out awesome concert in Brooklyn Heights this Friday night.
Ensemble de Sade strives to revolutionize the relationship between performer and audience. While the standard deviation from the traditional concert modes has been to relax the boundaries between performer and audience, Ensemble de Sade seeks an intensification of the boundaries, an increase of the tension between the two opposing sides. The underlying hostility will become the basis for a new expression, one that exposes and utilizes the thinly concealed expressions of masochism and sadism inherent in all performance settings.

Music by: Michael Nyman, John Zorn, Krzysztof Penderecki, and featuring a radical imagining of Arnold Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire
http://www.ensembledesade.com
Ensemble de Sade is:
Caleb Burhans - violin/viola, Mellissa Hughes - voice, Bill Kalinkos - clarinet, Kelli Kathman - flute, Amir Kohrospour - piano, Matt Marks - horn, Kevin McFarland - cello, James Moore - guitar, John Pickford Richards - viola, Wil Smith - organ. Featuring Sara Katzoff as the Mistress of Ceremonies
Friday December 7th at 8:00pm
First Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn Heights
124 Henry St. Brooklyn NY
$10 Suggested Donation

Request from NY Post

FYI
I am working on a story for tomorrow about the impact this whole subprime mortgage plan could have on city homeowners. I want to focus on Kensington and find a subprime mortgage holder who might benefit from having their rates frozen, and someone else who might not benefit from the current proposal.

I'd really appreciate it if you could mention it on the blog. My work email is
jolshan@nypost.com

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Daily Kensington Pix

By Rebecca Jane Wilde

Kashruth Class at Shaare Torah

Kashruth class at the local Shaare Torah Jewish Center.
Rabbi Segal has been putting together topics for some time so expect some great information along with interesting discussions. There will be four sessions on the following Thursdays beginning at 8PM: January 3, 10, 24, and 31.
Kashruth: Fad Diet, Asceticism, Elitism, or ....?
Topics will include: 1) Why and How do Jews keep Kosher? 2) Can I keep a Kosher home without keeping a Kosher stomach?----Maintaining our Kosher standards while eating out. 3) Eco-Kashruth, Fad or Obligation? 4) Which foods require Rabbinic certification?
Four sessions are scheduled, however, if further interest is expressed, additional classes can be added. All are welcome! Please RSVP to lordofbk@yahoo.com.
Flatbush and Shaare Torah Jewish Center
327 East 5 Street - Brooklyn, NY 11218 (718-871-5200)

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Daily News Takes a Look at Battle w AF over Trees

Here is the update to the Astoria Federal Savings petition requesting Astoria Federal plant a tree or put planters either with a tree or plant near the entrance of the bank (or if blocking sidewalk, then a few small planters along the wall of the bank) in an attempt to bring some green to McDonald Avenues and Church Avenues. The marketing department said no. First they said they didn't have the staff to clean the planters and this was a project that they had no interest in whatsoever. Then they said they did have the staff but that they had tried planters in that corner previously and people had filled it with "unmentionables," making this request an"unreasonable" one. (Several long time residents have stated they never saw any planters on that corner.) Astoria Federal Resists the Push for Trees (NY Daily News)

Here is contact from AF (VP of marketing) email address:BEdwards@astoriafederal.com
If you are interested in dropping a note, call or email to the following which could be equally as effective.
The CEO can be reached through:
Corporate Offices: Astoria Financial Corporation
One Astoria Federal Plaza
Lake Success, NY 11042-1085
Telephone : (516) 327-3000
e-mail : ir@astoriafederal.com

Happy Hanukkah!


Anyone else notice there is a new shiny menorah on the Caton over pass overlooking Prospect Expressway? Happy Holidays.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Need Gifts?

We'll be posting a comprehensive list of some locals and their wears soon but if you're in need of a gift or two check out our new local store Estelle on Ft. Hamilton. We hear she has some beautiful and moderately priced gifts and ornaments available right here on the border of Kensington. (The three ornaments in the picture were all purchased at Estelle).

Where the locals at? #6

New silkscreen prints by Kensington artist Maggie Tobinavailable at rico (372-384 Atlantic Avenue between Hoyt and Bond)

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Daily Kensington Pix

By Rebecca Jane Wilde

Where the Locals at? #5

From the comments on our almost ready to publish Kensington Gift Guide:
Tot Stops is for hip kids everywhere. Created by two Brooklynite Moms, Illustrator Selina Alko and designer Jessica Sequinot (Kensington Resident), Tot Stops brings the energy and electricity of New York City to high-quality, home-grown t-shirts made in America. Reinventing the souvenir t-shirt with designs from New York illustrators and artists and keeping it sweatshop-free, Tot Stops takes the t-shirt to a new level.
For Moms & Dads, Aunts & Uncles, Grandparents & friends, Tot Stops tees make a perfect gift for anyone who loves New York and wants to celebrate artistry, diversity and quality.
Stores: Scaredy Kat 229 5th Ave Brooklyn, NY 11215
Maggies Threads 411 Seventh Ave Brooklyn, NY 11215
Capucine 20 Harrison St. New York, NY 10013
Orange Blossom 180 Lincoln Pl. Brooklyn, NY 11217
For wholesale or to buy direct contact jessica@totstops.com or TotStops.com
E-commerce site coming soon!

Where the Locals at? #4

Jonathan Blum (local Kensingtonian) is having his annual storefront studio sale next weekend (Fri.-Sun., December 7th, 8th, and 9th) from 11-7 p.m. in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He will have a large selection of monoprints, collages, and oil paintings available at affordable prices, and, of course, his famous apple cider (spiked or virgin) will be served. And this year, his storefront will be open every weekend from 12-8 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, through December. Except for the weekend of his studio sale, he will be selling in Union Square on Saturdays and Sundays.

Newcomer's Shabbat

The Flatbush and Shaare Torah Jewish Center warmly invites the entire community to join us the Newcomer's Shabbat- featuring our family friendly 'short and sweet' service. Oneg Shabbat will follow with refreshments.
When: December 14,2007 at 7:00 PM
Where: 327 East 5 St (corner of Church Avenue)for more information call (718)871-5200

Ron's got a new one up...

Kensington Stories by Ron Lopez
Silk Dreams at 90 Church

Kensington Holiday Gift Guide

We're compiling our first annual Kensington Holiday Gift Guide. We need info on you and your wears if you live in Kensington and sell somewhere else, have a store in Kensington, are part of a special show and are resident of Kensington or just want to send us local ideas or a link to a local. We think you get the picture... send 'em today b/c the gift guide is coming this week! K(B)