Heee Hee Hee!

For the sake of possibly saying something that will undoubtedly offend someone for either making too much fun or too little fun out of recent news, I'm simply going to say this. There's an event tomorrow evening in Prospect Park that looks like it will be at least quite a spectacle. Here are the details:

One-Gloved Run: A Run/Walk Tribute to Michael Jackson this Tuesday

Please join us this Tuesday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m., for a loop around Prospect Park to celebrate the music of Michael Jackson. Glittery costumes and/or wigs and makeup are encouraged (some of us will be going with the simple white t-shirt/black pants/black fedora combo), boomboxes playing the greatest hits will be carried, and when we reach the end of the loop we will organize a mass Thriller dance. Let's do right by MJ and make a spectacle!Don't worry if you're not a runner; we'll take it slow.

We'll meet at Prospect Park West & 9th Street, the same entrance you'd use for the band shell.

We'll go for drinks afterward, of course, where we'll dance... on the floor... in the round.

Thanks, Melody!

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.

Street Fair!

Yes, it came and went once again. Does anyone ever see any notices about this [in Engish] around the 'hood? It always seems to come as a surprise. Anyhow, love it or hate it, it went down on Sunday and local Flickrer Jon grabbed some nice shots of the action. Take a look at his photostream here.

Thanks, Jon!

Meet your Brooklyn Cyclones in Prospect Park

Our local minor league ball club is about to start their short season, but first you should bring out the kids and get some autographs from the team.

From the Brooklyn Cyclones:

Come and meet the 2009 Brooklyn Cyclones baseball team on the Long Meadow at Prospect Park! The players will sign autographs and there will be giveaways and fun for the whole family. This special event takes place just three days before opening day of the 2009 season at KeySpan Park on June 19th.

Location: on the Long Meadow, just off the path leading to the 9th Street and Prospect Park West entrance to Prospect Park (near the Tennis House). Interactive map at http://www.prospectpark.org/visit/interactive_map

The meet and greet goes down this Tuesday, June 16 from 6pm to 8pm. See you there.

Some people are going to the Rocky Horror showing tonight

and you should too. Here's the info:

Flatbush Flicks Presents

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Friday, June 12 at Midnight

Kent Movie Theatre

1170 Coney Island Ave

Q to Ave H.

$13 @ the door

Meet us (well, some of us) for pre-show drinks at Sycamore on Cortelyou Rd. and, apparently at 773 too... not sure if it's both at once or a crawl. View the flyer here. Anyway, there's the post. Are you satisfied, Laura?! :)

Meep! Meep!

If you see a blur zoom by you today as you stroll Ocean Parkway, it's probably the New York Road Runners. Their Half-Marathon Grand Prix's 7th mile will run through the hood on its way down to Coney Island. So if you are out and about, try not to trip anyone. If you're running, we'd appreciate it if you printed "KensingtonBrooklynBlog.com -- Your semi-monthly news source" on your number tag. K, thnx.

Thanks to Laura for sending this in. *waves* Hi Laura!

Sean Casey Fundraiser 05/08/09

The purpose of this endeavor is to aid unfortunate animals in the interest of a higher quality of life. We take in rescued, confiscated, neglected, injured, ill, unmanageable, or otherwise unwanted animals from private owners, zoos, shelters, and other public organizations. These animals are cared for, and/or rehabilitated to the best of our ability and means until which time they can be found healthy, happy homes - whether it be through adoption to qualified candidates or legally released into habitats suitable to the specific species in conjunction with licensed wildlife rehabilitators. Sean Casey Animal Rescue took in over 2000 animals in 2007 and again in 2008 from the NYC Shelter system, the most of any private rescue in New York . We plan to continue to serve the animals of this city but we need your help and support. Kindly consider a donation to SCAR.

The folks at Sean Casey do fine work but, as always, they need our help to do so. We hope everyone can make it out on May 8th. Good Luck, SCAR!

(Even more) scenes from the Church Avenue fair

The good folks over at the Brooklyn Voice put together this montage of pictures and video clips taken on April 5th, during the Church Avenue street fair.

Interspersed with strange plugs for the online paper and accompanied by possibly the worst song I have ever heard in my life, the video is nonetheless a great montage of scenes from the fair for anyone who missed it. Thanks to the (Brooklyn) Voice for putting this together!

Scenes from the Church Avenue fair

Yesterday, as most of you probably noticed, was the Church Avenue fair. It was a perfect day for all of us to emerge from our caves and shake the shackles of winter with a little help from some corn. Once I got past the sheer lunacy of being charged $7 for a hot dog, I managed to snap a few pictures. Unfortunately only one of them came out. The other we got from an associate.

It was good to see everyone out and enjoying themselves. The fleetness of foot required to dodge all the kids throwing Nitro Snappers at your bare legs was outweighed by the deliciousness of the roast corn and the amusement derived from realizing that the King Kong ride is operated manually. Children climb aboard something that looks like a modern ride but, in the end, a burly Baltic gentleman just swings them back and forth, looking bored.

Trivia at Visions

Time to dust off your thinking caps and... ugh, I'm too tired to be clever.

Thursday, Feb 19th - TEAM TRIVIA NIGHT

Please Note the NEW TIME.... *
*8:00 *pm Sign-Up – Play begins a*t 8:30* pm SHARP
Team Trivia – 2-6 people Per Team
Prizes for 1st and 2nd Place
New Drink Specials
2 for 1 Martinis All Night
20 % off Wings and Fingers

See you there.

Trivia night at Visions continues...

A last minute reminder for all our trivia adversaries out there:

Thursday, Jan 29th - Team Trivia Night
We have added an Extra Trivia Night in January
Please note the new time...
8:00 pm Sign-Up – Play begins at 8:30 pm SHARP
Team Trivia – 2-6 people Per Team
Prizes for 1st and 2nd Place
½ Priced Beers All Night
2 for 1 Martinis All Night
20 % off Wings and Fingers

Visions Restaurant & Bar

725 Coney Island Ave

See you there!

Thursday Quizzo at Visions!

Quizzo is back! After a preempting by our very own Festivus last month, Visions Bar and Restaurants is ready to release their bimonthly pub trivia game back into the wild.

Quizzo at Visions
8:30 pm Sign-Up – Play begins at 9:00 pm sharp
Team Trivia – 2-6 people Per Team
Prizes for 1st and 2nd Place
½ Priced Beers All Night
2 for 1 Martinis All Night
20% off Wings and Fingers

Bar trivia nights are old hat for Jill the MC/Bartender and she runs a fine show. Come on out and meet some locals. We'll be there with a couple other people, ready to take on all comers.

Visions is near the Southwest corner of Coney Island and Cortelyou.

Fundraiser/Party for local politician

Local Kensingtoner and reader/contributer Allison is hosting a house party and fund raiser for Josh Skaller, a Democrat running to replace Bill de Blasio. You may have met Josh at Festivus. I was too busy airing grievances to speak to him but by all reports he's a nice guy.

Read more about this event at KensList.

A Festivus for Kensington!

People of Kensington, clear your schedules for Thursday, December 18th, 2008.

From 8pm to 12 Midnight, please join Frank, Estelle, Steve, and Jake for A Festivus for Kensington at Visions Restaurant and Bar on the corner of Cortelyou and Coney Island Ave. This will be a no cover charge holiday event for locals and anyone else who wants to come.

• Half-price beers, 2-for-1 martinis, 20% off appetizers
  
• Feats of Strength
• The Airing of Grievances
• Festivus Miracles both big and small
  

Bring your friends. Bring your neighbors. Bring that old guy that lives on E.2nd with the big train-robber moustache that keeps trying to get my girlfriend to come inside for coffee. (Seriously, I love that guy, does anyone know him?)

Let's wrap up 2008 with a bang.

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

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

Save the Date

The Winter Carnival at Greenwood Playground will be held next Saturday December 8th. Details, schedule and thanks to those who are donating goods to come....

New Addition for Children's Music Classes

Playground of Sound Specially Priced Pilot Session
Honeydew Drop Playhouse at 1113 Church Avenue

December 1- 22

The session is four weeks long and will meet Saturday mornings at 9:15. Mixed age classes are open to children from birth to four years of age. Tuition is $60.00 and includes four classes, Lion Collection book and CD, and a half hour of playtime in the Honeydew Drop playroom after class. This is a special price to get things started down here in Kensington/ Ditmas Park area!

The creator of these classes, Michael Harren, just started putting together a website ( http://www.playgroundofsound.com/ ), which includes information about the classes he offers on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. If you want to know more about the material he uses, there is more information at http://www.themusicclass.com/

Depending on demand, he will be offering 10 week sessions at Honeydew and at the Flatbush Jewish Center on E5th St. at the corner of Church Ave. starting in January!

Kensington Bar Crawl - Tonight

From the inbox w an open invitation:
I'd like to send an open invitation to Kensington residents. Tomorrow, my wife has book club starting at 8. For me this means I have to leave, hit the bars, a night on the town. I'll be starting at Denny's a little after 8 and end up at Shenanigins. I dont know if there are any other spots to hit in between. If anyone is interested, see you at Dennys, Ill be wearing my Coney Island Polar Bear Club t-shirt.