Kids art free -- Thursdays 'til 1:40.

Mmm... free art.

Free art classes on Thursdays for children ages 4-14 starting July 2. These will take place right in Greenwood Playground and run every Thursday for the month of July. Classes start at 10:00 a.m. and run for approximately 40 minutes each with a limit of 10 children per session (sign up Thursday mornings in the playground). Last class is at 1:00. Children must be 4 to participate.

Printmaking, watercolor, clay construction and self portraits are some of the areas to be explored.

This program was funded by Partnership for Parks and from generous local donors Brooklyn Real and Cynthia King Dance Studio (and of course The Friends of Greenwood Playground—your local parents who donate time to their playground).

Click here to view the official flyer in all its PDF goodness. Thanks, Clarice!

Oak, Iris, Photovoltaics.

Having a hard time getting your green on? It happens to everyone, but Sustainable KWT is trying help ease the pain of figuring out what's good, what's not and how to juice the grid with sunshiny current. Here are the details:

An Energy Conservation Teach-In: Solar Panels and Weatherization

June 17th, 6:30-8:30 PM

Come to the Oak and the Iris Café (2826 Fort Hamilton Parkway on the corner of East 4th Street)

Learn how you can make your home or apartment building healthier, more energy efficient and environmentally responsible.

• Waste less energy through window upgrades, attic insulation, and other weatherization techniques
• Learn if your building is a good candidate for installing solar panels and start making your own electricity and hot water
• Find out about the latest government incentives and tax rebates to pay for it all.

Guest Speakers will include local residents who have weatherized their homes and installed solar panels and representatives from local contractors and providers including AEON Solar, A.S.K. Construction, Solar 1, and 1BOG (One Block Off the Grid).

We hope you will arrive at 6:30 to chat with our presenters and your neighbors before the formal presentation at 7:00. We encourage you to purchase a delicious cup of coffee, muffin, sandwich, or dinner entrée from our lovely eco-minded hosts.

Ellen Honigstock (East 4th Street) & Sarah Goodman (Vanderbilt)

Sustainable KWT is a project started by two Brooklyn homeowners, Sarah Goodman of Windsor Terrace, an environmental educator, and Ellen Honigstock of Kensington, an architect specializing in sustainable strategies for existing buildings. Our goal is to build community through education and actions focused on reducing our local environmental impact. Contact saregood1@gmail.com or ellen@ehapc.com with any questions.

Please send in some followup details after this event. We'd love to hear about some eco-home projects going on in Kensington.

Publishing classes for everyone... even you!

Local Kensingtonian Kris Waldherr will be offering workshops at her gallery, along with exhibitions and other events. Starting this spring, Kris Waldherr Art and Words will be adding arts and publishing workshops to the mix. The studio-gallery is located near Newkirk Plaza on Marlborough Road. Class sizes are small, so each participant receives individualized attention.

Here are summaries of the workshops:

1. Children's Bookmaking. Saturday, March 28 and April 4, 2 - 3 pm.
Recommended for age 6 to 9. This two session creative art workshop teaches kids how to make a picture book. They'll learn how to take a simple story and transform it into a book utilizing collage, drawing,
and writing.

2. Publishing 101. Saturday, March 21, 2 - 4:30 pm.
Ever wondered what it takes to get published? Or what makes a publisher decide to buy a manuscript? Here's your chance to find out! This entry level workshop covers everything: manuscript submissions, book proposals, literary agents, self-publishing, book acquisitions, marketing. No prior publishing experience necessary.

3. Bookmaking Bootcamp: Children's Picture Books, Gift Books, and Art Books.
Tuesdays, April 7, 14, 21, 28; 7 - 9:00 pm.
This hands-on workshop is for fine artists, illustrators, photographers, and children's picture book creators -- anyone who has ever wanted to transform their art and words into a professional book. By the end of this workshop, you'll be on your way toward creating a book that can be submitted to a publisher or self-published. Bootcamp early bird special: Register by March 9 and receive a free half-hour follow up consultation with Kris ($50 value).

These workshops will be personally taught by Kris Waldherr, a publishing professional with twenty-plus years of experience. Kris began her publishing career as a children's book designer. As an author, illustrator, and designer, she's created Doomed Queens, The Book of Goddesses and numerous other illustrated books for children and adults. Kris has been published by Harry N. Abrams Books, Random House, HarperCollins and other major publishing houses.

To learn more or register for these workshops, visit ArtandWords.com/events.html
or e-mail kris@kriswaldherr.com.

Hey Kris, maybe you could add a class for blog publishing next time. We could probably use the help.

Ask Kensington: Would you like a local Yoga / Kickboxing studio?

So while I'm pretty sure my roundhouse kick could wipe the floor with Jean-Claude Van Damme, I could probably tune up my One-Legged King Pigeon pose. Is anyone else interested in some local classes?

Wilhyn Elizanda asks:

I am asking you all from the community to advise if you would like to see a YOGA/PILATES/KICKBOXING studio on Church Avenue. I drive to Windsor and feel the need for us in Kensington to benefit from a yoga studio right on Church Avenue. Your opinion are valued.

You know the drill, Kensington. Stretch out and speak your mind in the comments area below.