Ask Kensington: What will the switch to digital mean for my TV reception?

We've all seen those ads on TV. Some of them seem honest and helpful, others seem like a scare tactic from Cablevision. The question is very real though... what will the switch to Digital TV mean for me? This may seem like it's not really a Kensington-specific question, but airwaves vary based on many things, and one of them is location.

Dawne writes:

With the big transition to digital coming up, I would love to see a discussion on whether anyone in our area has had any luck with HDTV antennas, particularly indoor antennas. I live in a 6-story apartment building on Cortelyou, just west of Coney Island Ave. For those of us who are still trying to resist signing up for cable....

Now I have some experience myself with the new ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee -- the new acronym replacing our old NTSC standard) signal, so I'm going to try to share what I know. I've been using a cheap $25 Terk TV-5 Digital antenna for about 3 years now to receive free HDTV over the air (OTA). You'll get the big networks in crystal clear HD beauty... technically even better than cable or satellite. Why? Because the cable companies compress the signal so they can redistribute it more easily. Is the difference noticeable? Usually not. You'll also get a few other channels that you'll probably never watch and some things you may not have known existed. Did you know that NBC offers NBC Weather Plus? It's an all-the-time weather channel from NBC 4. This brings me to another topic...

Channels - A slightly simplified list

• 2.1 - CBS
  
• 4.1 - NBC
  
• 4.2 - NBC Weather+
  
• 4.4 - NBC US (seems to be a national feed with a lot of sports/news)
  
• 5.1 - FOX
  
• 5.2 - MyTV (non-HD stream of 9.1)
  
• 7.1 - ABC
  
• 7.2 - ABC Plus (infomercials!)
  
• 7.3 - ABC Now (news, weather)
  
• 9.1 - MyTV
  
• 11.1 - CW
  
• 11.2 - Latin
  
• 13.1 - NET (PBS)
  
• 13.2 - NET (Non-HD)
  
• 13.3 - NET Latin
  
• 21.2 - PBS
  
• 21.3 - PBS
  
• 21.4 - PBS
  
• 23.1 - Latin
  
• 25.1 - PBS
  
• 31.1 - ION
  
• 31.2 - QUBO
  

So yeah, lots of channels, and they changed around all the numbers too! Basically the channels x.1 are the regular HD channels. The x.2, x.3, etc are generally of lesser broadcast quality.

But how do they look for real?
In short, really, really good. My antenna is pretty small, but aside from having to occasionally turn it 90° for certain channels or adjust to follow a drifting signal, most channels come in flawlessly. If you have a giant old antenna sitting on top of your building you should DEFINITELY use it. It absolutely should work. Don't let the guys at J&R tell you that you need something fancy. All you need is a TV, an ATSC tuner and a UHF-VHF antenna. New HDTVs include the ATSC tuner, so if you have one just plug in to the antenna and you're all set. If you need a tuner, check out the coupon program the feds are offering here: https://www.dtv2009.gov. Fill out the form and they'll mail you a $40 coupon card to use at Radio Shack or Best Buy or wherever you buy your batteries.

So, Kensington, anyone else out there soaking up the digital goodness? Tell us how it's working for you or fire away with some questions below. I'm gonna go watch American Idol now.

Restaurant Wars gets sticky

Some bright morning in the not-too-distant-future, I expect to wake up and find that they've opened up a Waffle House in Kensington. Later that day you may happen by the new joint and see me passed out, wheezing on the tile floor, distended belly treating my t-shirt like a sausage casing, my palms and face tacky with mapley goodness. Pathetic and sad though I may appear, don't cry for me... for at this moment my life would be complete.

Until that day, we have Faros, Church Ave Restaurant Cafe, and Corner Cafe. Choose wisely in the poll on the right and comment below.

Long live Buzz-a-Rama

Sunday's New York Times featured an article about one of Kensington's most celebrated (and quirky) businesses. I'm still hoping to see Buzz-a-Rama open one day. I assume I'm a slot-car prodigy and will continue to do so until proven wrong.

Here's a snippet from NYTimes.com

Most fads can survive one assault from the next big thing, or maybe two — but 44 years later, Buzz-a-Rama is hanging on, if barely, in the face of several generations’ worth of electronic competition. Coin-operated video games were the first threat. Radio-controlled cars. Computer games. Games on iPhones. Wii. Mr. Perry, now 73 and still known as Buzz, said 30 or 40 other slot-car tracks were operating in the city in the late 1960s, but so far as he knows, Buzz-a-Rama is the last of its kind in the five boroughs.

Read more here and seriously, try to get over to Buzz's if you can. I know I will.
Thanks to Patrick for being the first to tip us off to this.

Update: I got into Buzzy's today and the place was rockin! A local news team was in there covering the high speed action and said there would be a full story on at 10pm. If you get News 12 Brooklyn, be sure to tune in for the fun. If, on the other hand, you're like me, maybe someone will TiVo it for you...

Clothing swap at Sycamore

Sycamore, the flower shop that magically transforms into a bar when the planets align (or every evening around 6) is hosting their first ever clothing swap. I'm not really familiar with the concept myself, but apparently you show up with your bags of unwanted clothes, and everyone takes what they want out of everyone else's bag. The rest goes to charity. According to this here flyer, the swap begins at 2pm on Saturday, January 24th (that's tomorrow, folks) and ends when the last pair of courdouroys are swapped or the Genny Cream Ale runs out. Just be sure you don't slip in the mud on the way to the bar, ruining the very pair of pants you were about to swap.

Sycamore is located in Ditmas Park, on 1118 Cortelyou Road, between Stratford & Westminster.

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.

Maki Sushi space for rent

We received word this morning that the space occupied by Maki Sushi on Fort Hamilton Parkway is now for rent. This, sadly, will make for one fewer food option in the neighborhood. So, other than Sushi Sushi in Windsor Terrace, what Sushi options are left to the folks of Kensington?

The owner of the space is looking for a new renter or a possible partnership opportunity. Interested parties should contact the number on the For Rent sign.

Basmati now open on Church!

Basmati, the new Indian Restaurant on Church between E2nd and E3rd, opens today!

A reader writes:

I was very happy to see that Basmati has opened today! They are
offering very reasonably priced Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi food (for
veg dishes prices are $3.99-$4.49. A samosa is .85. They have a lunch
special for $5.99) They are on Church btwn e.2nd and e.3rd. They
deliver. Their number is 718.972.9111.

So if you're like me and have been dreaming of bathing in mulligatawny closer to home, this is big news. Give it a whirl and let us know what you think in the comments!

Local house fire sparks massive response

A fire on E. 4th St. between Ave. C and Beverley tonight resulted in a very large turnout from multiple firehouses. Anyone have any more info? According to a firefighter on the scene, no one was injured. Anyone have any more info?

Brooklyn back in the day: Kensington Edition

from gowanuslounge:

This is McDonald Avenue near Avenue C in Kensington in 1980. The photographer writes: “This is where the F train begins its rise to become an elevated train going out to Coney Island. I have to apoligize for my finger but I remember how nervous I was taking this picture with my new camera. I just got it and didn’t want to get ripped off. Funny thinking back … I was only 1 block from home and I felt so far away.” It all feels very, very far away. (See picture)

More endangered Bus Lines.

In addition to the possible reduction of B67 service, it has also come to our attention that the B23 Cortelyou Road bus is facing complete elimination by April 2009.

From a local flyer:

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has proposed the ELIMINATION of the Cortelyou Road B23 bus route by April 2009.

YOU can help us fight it!

Visit www.cb14brooklyn.com/petition to sign our online petition to save the B23 route

Attend the MTA’s Public Hearing on this and other service cuts on Wednesday, January 28th, 6 PM, at the Brooklyn Marriott. For more information, visit www.cb14broklyn.com

Sign CB14’s Petition Today!

This one is easy enough...click the link, sign the petition. The line, as stated in the petition, provides unique access to the Q, B, F, D, and M trains, the Cortelyou Road and Flatbush Avenue commercial strips, schools, restaurants, hospitals and cultural institutions.

Help Sean Casey Animal Rescue win a Makeover!

Sean Casey Animal Rescue is in the running to win a Million Dollar Shelter makeover, which will create room for more animals in the shelter, and help find homes for more animals who won't otherwise have a chance.

We ask that each volunteer commit to earn 100 points a day on zootoo, a site that is like Myspace for pets. The contest goes from now until March 13th but other rescues are working hard and fast!

To earn 100 points a day is easy:

• 50 points for each friend you refer who signs up.- as many as you want
• 200 for every pet you adopt from Sean Casey Animal rescue.
• Up to 3 videos of your pet per day at 25 points each.
• Up to 5 photos of your pets per day at 15 points each.
• Two journal entries on anything for 15 points each.
• Rate 3 pet products per day for 20 points each.
• Comment on up to 5 news articles on zootoo for 5 points each
• up to 5 pet wars per day at 1 point each.
• And answer one question (many different topics) per day for 4 points.
  

That's a total of 324 points per day, without adopting! So you don't need to do all of it just some. The more points you earn, the more you're helping. We need everyone's help! More volunteers who consistently help are great even if they earn less. But a CORE group of volunteers is needed.

Just follow the link to begin:
http://www.zootoo.com/reg/aff/seancaseyrescue
Make sure your supporting Sean Casey Animal Rescue and Shelter zip code 11218!!
Thank you for your help and support!

This is a great local organization that could use our support. Let's all do our part to help.

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.

Kensington's IHM Catholic school to merge

We hardly knew ye

A hot topic on a local mailing list, it seems likely that the school at Immaculate Heart of Mary on Fort Hamilton will be closing at the end of the year to merge with Holy Name on Prospect Park West.

From nytimes.com:

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn proposed Monday to close at least 14 of its elementary schools as part of a reorganization that officials said they hoped would stem a steady decline in enrollment that has plagued Catholic school systems nationwide for decades.

Some schools would close to merge with others. In Brooklyn, Immaculate Heart of Mary would move into Holy Name. In Flushing, Queens, St. Michael and St. Ann schools would close to consolidate with St. Mary’s Nativity. (Read whole story)

This seems to be rather distressing for parents of IHM students, although Holy Name is by all reports a fine school. Anyone have any insider info on the particulars?

T-Mobile begins its campaign to conquer Kensington

Maybe someday it'll be a theater again.

Save the B67!

A multitude of readers and concerned residents have contacted us regarding the possible demise of the B67 busline that runs to Park Slope and beyond.

According to this highlight of the proposed budget cuts, B67 weekend and weekday service would be cut completely, which would be a major blow to the residents of Kensington and other nearby neighborhoods who rely on this line.

Here's what you can do to help:

Brooklyn Public Hearing
6pm on Wednesday, January 28
NY Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge
333 Adams St, Brooklyn

Contact Michael Bloomberg's office via Email (through nyc.gov)

Contact the Head of the MTA via Email (through mta-nyc.custhelp.com)

Contact Governor Patterson via Email (through ny.gov)

Thanks to everyone who sent this in. Let's save the B67!

Free skating in Kensington! (on the sidewalks)

Our section of Brooklyn has been dealing with this problem since at least 1905, and there doesn't seem to have been much progress. At least half of the surfaces between my door and the F train are still dangerously slippery even though the last flake fell about 30 hours ago.

Administrative Code NYC.
§ 16–123 Removal of snow, ice and dirt from sidewalks; property owners' duties. a. Every owner, lessee, tenant, occupant, or other person, having charge of any building or lot of ground in the city, abutting upon any street where the sidewalk is paved, shall, within four hours after the snow ceases to fall, or after the deposit of any dirt or other material upon such sidewalk, remove the snow or ice, dirt, or other material from the sidewalk and gutter, the time between nine post meridian and seven ante meridian not being included in the above period of four hours.

This may not be news to everyone. If you own a house, you are lawfully bound to remove the snow and ice from your sidewalk. If you rent, your landlord is lawfully bound to make sure it gets done. And if you're Foodtown, as reader LavenderPhoenix points out, you definitely have to make sure your customers and passers-by have safe foot paths. But what's to be done? I would imagine this is the sort of thing 311 was created for, but it might be easier to just call Foodtown at 718-871-6161 and politely state your concerns.

Does anyone else know of any businesses who haven't done adequate snow and ice removal? Also, does the entirety of E.3rd St. between Beverly and Ave C count as a business? If so, I have a phone call to make.

Share and share alike

We know you're out there. We've see the traffic reports. There are hundreds of thousands of you, possibly even millions* of you, who are reading this site but aren't interacting with it!

People of Kensington, Make your voice heard! Share your stories, opinions, and concerns by emailing us, and don't forget to comment! Most of you have logins already, but for the few of you who don't, you can get one on myOpenID.com in about 90 seconds flat. You don't even need to put in ANY personal information...just pick a name and a password. 90 seconds to give yourself a voice. 90 seconds to freedom. 90 seconds for America.

* figures hyperbolized for the sake of ego

An open letter to Am-Thai: still awesome

Dear Am-Thai Chili Basil,

The previous post that occupied this space, a post about your health inspection, was, in retrospect, a bad idea since yours was basically on par with the other local restaurants. I've taken it down in acknowledgement that posting it without at least posting similar information about other restaurants was probably a mistake (especially since it's personally my favorite Thai restaurant in the 'hood)

Completely my fault. Jake has washed his hands of this terrible post. I have flogged myself 300 times with a fistful fettuccine, as my ancestors were wont to do when they erred as grievously as I have. I have stopped short of the ceremonial self-lynching only long enough to redeem myself to you and the good residents of Kensington, who deserve much better than the sub-par standard witnessed in the aformentioned post. I offer my apologies to the good people at AM Thai and offer them an olive branch: I will gladly eat complimentary meals every day for the rest of January to showcase my confidence in your food handling practices. Please contact me at the address on the right to work out these details.

Sheepishly, and with much chagrin,

Steve

More filming in Kensington

Reader Julie tipped us off that there is more filming going on at the Flatbush Jewish Center this week. Apparently, they're filming a crime drama called Holy Rollers.

From IMDB:

Set in 1999, "Holy Rollers" follows the journey of a young Hasidic Jew, Sam Gold, from an Orthodox Brooklyn community who innocently gets lured into the world of ecstasy drug trafficking by a friend, Barak Zimmerman, with ties to Jackie Solomon, an Israeli drug dealer. Story is inspired by actual events in the 1990's when Hasidim were recruited as mules to smuggle drugs into the United States.

Sounds gripping. Anyone been asked to be an extra?

Thanks Julie. Keep the tips coming!

Local Spotlight: Gideon Kendall

Meet Gideon Kendall. For the past 15 years he has been working as an artist, illustrator, animation designer, and musician in Brooklyn. His impressive list of accomplishments include illustrating a slew of books ("Dino Pets", "Littlebat's Halloween Story", "The Caveman's Pregnancy Companion"), TV Production Design ("Pepper Ann", "The Kids Next Door") and playing in various bands in and around Brooklyn. We had an opportunity to speak with Gideon and ask him a bit about his life, work, and living in Kensington.

How long have you lived in Kensington, and do you plan to stay here?

My wife (Julie Peppito) and I traded in our Park Slope co-op for our Kensington house two years ago. Barring environmental or economic apocalypse, or a professorship at an art school in a nice college town, we will never leave.

What types of things do you typically create?

Children's books, Comic Strips, Drawings, and Songs.

Do you have a particular piece of which you are the most proud?

First and foremost would be my son Milo (right), who is almost six months old. Every day I am overjoyed, overwhelmed, flabbergasted and exhausted by him. As far as illustration, Dino Pets (written by Lynn Plourde, Dutton, 2007) is my best published work so far. The sequel, Dino Pets at School, comes out next year. I have written and illustrated my own picture book, You're It!, about a group of kids who turn into monsters when they play tag, that I'm very excited about. I'm looking for a publisher. In terms of fine art, I've been working for several years on a series of very detailed black and white drawings. Although I think they have been progressing well, I am still most proud of a relatively early one that is a portrait of me and my wife Julie (left). Musically, my new band The Ditty Committee is just getting off the ground. We've written some nice songs, though, and you can hear demos. The musical project I am most proud of, is in fact a Musical. My old band Fake Brain wrote and performed a ridiculous multimedia rock opera which we performed in a limited run at Bowery Poetry Club in 2005. (watch a clip).

Do you have a favorite artist or one who has influenced you the most?

In my formative years it would be a 7-way tie between Dr. Seuss, Robert Crumb, Rembrandt, B. Kliban, MC Escher, Marvel Comics & Durer. Currently, I'd have to say my wife Julie (juliepeppito.com), followed by Dave Cooper, Jacek Yerka, Artsybasheff & Mark Ryden. Musically, I grew up with an odd mixture of Devo, Bob Dylan, hardcore punk, early hip hop, Pink Floyd, Gang of 4 & MX80 Sound. Currently I listen to Randy Newman, Grandaddy, The Hives, Momus, The Divine Comedy & GBV. Also, I'm slowly developing an appreciation of jazz and ragtime.

Do you draw any inspiration from the neighborhood?

Absolutely. In Dino Pets, all of the houses and scenery are based on Ditmas Park. In Kensington there is so much to wonder at: I am fascinated by the gaudy silver and gold fences and the fortress-like brick fronts that some have chosen to gird their humble homes with. I have also sampled most of the unpronounceable eastern European and Russian beers that are available. I draw strength from the delicious tacos available from various purveyors, as well as from the spicy chickpeas and nan at Madina. Being an artist and a musician has been made so much easier with the magical K-town perks of basement, driveway, attic and garage.

Does your music influence your artwork and vice versa? How so?

I don't know about influence, but I would say that both my art and music are concerned with the same things: body parts and fluids, the innate wierdness of existence, the horror and beauty of nature, and the stupidity, cruelty and occasional loveliness of human beings.

Finally, is there anything you'd like to plug?

I think I've plugged my various enterprises quite thoroughly already in this interview, so I'll just say this: Kensington Blog rules!

Thanks, Gideon. You can find out more about Gideon's various endeavors at his website. If you know someone you'd like to see spotlighted here, let us know! Drop a line to the address at the top right. You know you want to.

Kensingtonians in the News

Former Lt. Edith Lynn, retired Brooklyn Cop (and current Kensingtonian), has written a tell-all book about the inefficiencies of the NYPD.

From Brooklyn Eagle:

Is the average amount of time to process an arrest too long? Are police officers’ decisions being impacted by factors outside of their control? If so, what can we do to improve the situation?

These are some of the questions that retired Brooklyn police officer Edith Linn, currently a professor at Berkeley College in New York, asks in her new book, “Arrest Decision: What Works for the Officer?" (Read More)

Anyone have any stories of police inefficiency in the neighborhood?

Sim-Sim Café makes Village Voice best of 2008

From the Village Voice:

Sim-Sim is one of New York’s rare Azerbaijani cafes, and just in case you’ve forgotten, Azerbaijan is an oil-rich former-Soviet republic in the Caucasus Mountains, a region sandwiched between Georgia and Iran. (Read more)

Good for Sim-Sim. From what we've been told, this is the only authentic Azerbaijani restaurant in Brooklyn, although I wouldn't take that to the bank. Back in October, the Voice did a real review of the joint, and gave it high marks -- high enough, apparently, to make Best of 2008.

Sim-Sim Café is located at 312 Ditmas Avenue, between E.3rd and E.4th.

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.

Revived 'Cupid' Filming in Kensington this week

Everything old is new again.

We've received reports of something filming in Kensington this week. After a little digging and a couple logical leaps, we've come to the conclusion that they are going to be filming episodes of the newly revived ABC series 'Cupid', some piece of baloney that only lasted 15 episodes in 1998.

Let's hope things go better for them. In the meantime, I guess residents of E. 3rd between Ablemarle and Caton will have to park somewhere else. Thanks to reader Kris for the tip.

ugh

Victim of bus fatality indentified

If any of you folks have been following this sad local story, it may interest you to know that the victim of the hit-and-drag Bus incident on 36th St. has been identified.

from nydailynews:

The man struck and dragged to his death by an out-of-service city bus in Brooklyn was identified Sunday as a 21-year-old Russian immigrant, police sources said.

Igor Ovodenko was struck by the B67 bus on 36th St. in Kensington on Saturday night as the bus drove to a nearby depot.

The driver will not face criminal charges, said police. (Read whole story)

Our thoughts are with Igor's family at this difficult time. Please, everyone, be careful out there.

KensList update

Turns out the email address we originally posted was non-functional. We've gotten several postings since fixing the address, so if you tried to submit a listing and never saw it go live, please send it to the corrected address:



Thanks!

edit: Also, please do not send anything other than specific listings to this address, as it is specially designed to handle these requests. If you have a question about Kenslist or an existing posting, just drop us a line at the regular address.

So the holidays have been keeping us busy...

...but we'll be back, we promise. We just need a few days out of dodge to let '09 sink in and we'll be on the keys with lots of posts in no time. Until then, send in your stories and photos of how you rang in the Twenty-O-Nine Kensington style. Embarrassing, post-champaign photos are appreciated, but not required.

Happy New Year, Kensington.

Travel baseball for the youngins

I wish someone would tell us about an adult baseball league around here (neighborhood blog league anyone?), but if you're looking to get your little slugger in the batter's box, checkout the SFX Huskies.

Here's the (3-2) pitch from Steve Reiser:

Kensington resident and SFX Youth Sports board member, Steve Reiser, is pleased to announce that the SFX Huskies will begin trying out new players aged 7-15 for its travel baseball program beginning next Saturday, January 10 at the SFX gym located at 752 President St, off of 6AV. Click here for info or email me directly at steven.reiser@verizon.net for more details. SFX Youth Sports also has an instructional program for all players that do not make one of the Huskies teams. No child is turned away!

Getting your own kid involved in a competitive baseball team now is probably our only chance at grooming some players for a successful Mets pennant bid in 10 years. So please, for the good of the city, consider this.

KensList!

So we've been getting a lot of your emails asking us to help peddle your used lawn chairs. On the internet, there's no shortage of people looking to take stuff off your hands, but let's face it, no one wants to shlep out to Greenpoint to trade commemorative plates for a sockful of nickels.

Enter KensList. Keep your eye on the new box on the right for local classifieds. Want something posted to KensList? Drop an email to the address below and let us know. Your ad will see facetime from real locals, just like you. You should use this feature to buy, sell, or trade goods or services, to meet people for specific purposes, or really, for anything you'd use any other classifieds service for. Except this one is all Kensington, all the time.

Click through if you see anything you like, and drop us a line if you have anything you think people would like to see.

UPDATE: Send listings to

UPDATE 2: The address above is now correct, thanks Greg.

Restaurant Wars: Round 4 Wrap-up

After a bit of a holiday break, we're back on task and ready to wrap up Round 4.

Operators of Yen Yen Chinese Restaurant: on behalf of the food-eating people of the village of Kensington, we order you to accept this worthless bauble graciously, and furthermore to display it prominently for all to see. Failure to comply will result in a shunning the likes of which has not been seen since the original Persian Restaurant Wars of the early 7th-century. Congratulations are in order.

Next up: Continental Indian. Nominate in the comments. Restaurant wars continues. There can be only one.

Happy Holidays

Whichever of the many available holidays you observe, not the least of which is Festivus, may we wish you a peaceful and happy one. No matter how you celebrate the season, or even if you don't celebrate it at all, you can probably still appreciate this clip, which sums it all up pretty perfectly.



From the good folks at the Kensington Blog, Happy Festivus.

Gallerie du Kensingtön

As you can see, there's a slideshow with a couple of neighborhood pictures going on the right hand side now. This is the new Gallerie du Kensingtön.

Here's the deal - email neighborhood photos to the address at the top right and we'll add them to the stream. Get your name in lights! We'll turn this into a hood full of Ansel Adamses yet. Thanks for contributing!

Kensington: Now and Then

Church Avenue East West (thanks, Jeff) from E5th.

(click pictures to see enlarged versions. See brooklynpix.com for more vintage brooklyn photography!)

Restaurant Wars, Round 4: Chinese Food

Chinese Food in Brooklyn can run the full gamut from succulent strips of Peking duck to Ramen Noodles microwaved in Soy sauce. Somewhere in between lies the options we have available in Kensington. Vote in the poll on the right for your favorite Chinese Restaurant in Kensington. Turnabout is fair play, so it's time for us to read their fortunes for once.

Ask Kensington: Can you recommend a good real estate broker?

It's that time again. A new Kensingtonian is about to join our ranks... but he needs your help.

Jason asks:

I'm looking to move to Kensington next month... I'm wondering if you can recommend one or more good brokers for apartments in the area.

So we're putting this one up knowing full well that we're opening the comments up for lots of shameless self-promotion and possibly some pretty scathing complaints. Please, behave yourselves.

Skating at the other Wollman Rink.

People new to the area may not know that there's a second, lesser known Wollman Rink in NYC and it's right in the heart of Prospect Park, between the lake and the concert grove.

Regular Schedule
Mondays 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Tuesdays 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursdays 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Fridays 8:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.; 7 – 10 p.m.
Sundays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.

Holiday Hours
Christmas/New Year’s
Dec. 24 -25: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.
Dec. 26 - 27: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.; 7 – 10 p.m.
Dec. 28 -31: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.
Jan. 1: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.
Jan. 2 - 3: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.; 7 – 10 p.m.
Jan. 4: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.; 2 – 6 p.m.

For more information on this most hallowed of incredibly dangerous passtimes, visit prospectpark.org. Let me know how it goes. I'll be inside next to the fire. Wrapped in 6 blankets.

Ask Kensington: Any good gyms in the area?

Here's another question we couldn't answer (and we're feeling pretty guilty about that).

Emily asks:

I'm looking for a good gym in Kensington - I know of Curves on McDonald Avenue and that's pretty good but what else is there in the area? Suggestions, please!

Please, help a neighbor out. Put down your dumbbells and head to the comments section.

Weekend F Service

from mta.info

179 St-bound F trains skip Ft Hamilton Pkwy, 15 St-Prospect Park, and 4 Av
Weekend, 12:01 AM Sat to 5 AM Mon, Dec 20 - 22

For service from these stations, take a Coney Island-bound F to 7 Av or Church Av and transfer to a 179 St-bound F.

For service to these stations take the F to 7 Av or Smith-9 Sts and transfer to a Coney Island-bound F.

This seems to happen a lot.

Festivus (or how I learned to stop worrying and love Kensington)

(Duncan airs a grievance on the Festivus pole)

Festivus was a big hit! About 60 people came through Visions throughout the night and it was great to meet everyone. The Festivus pole allowed residents to air various and sundry grievances about Kensington and affairs in their personal life. Many thanks to everyone for coming out, and also to the staff at Visions for accomodating us (especially Jill who we know does not read this blog, despite assurances otherwise). Hopefully our next event will be even more successful! Any late winter holidays we should be celebrating together? February 24th is International Pancake day, a breakfast-themed Kensington event may be in order. Any thoughts?

Click here for more Festivus pictures at Flickr.

Festivus is upon us!

Oh day of days! Festivus is here! Please join us at Visions Bar and Restaurant at 8pm tonight and meet everyone!

We are expecting a great turnout and are looking forward to meeting some folks in the neighborhood. We hope you are too. Be prepared to air your grievances about your family, friends, neighbors, and Kensington at large.

K-town hits NY Post houses of the week

From NY Post:

Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1½ Square feet: 1,200. This Avenue C duplex co-op might be far from Alphabet City, but with plenty of space, a new washer/dryer and a convenient location near public transit, it has a lot to offer. There's also a spiral staircase and a lower-level rec room. Agents: Gina Castellano and Matthew Powers, Prudential Douglas Elliman, 718-840-2006 and 718-840-2000

Restaurant Wars, Round 4

Restaurant Wars, Round 3 was sort of like watching a bunch of third-graders take on Usain Bolt and a cannonball in the hundred meter dash. Yummy Taco and El Gavilan practically crossed the finish line before the other runners were done clumsily tying their shoes. But Kensington has spoken. Yummy Taco, who narrowly defeated the more authentic (and more expensive) El Gavilan, is apparently the favorite on this list. May they wear their beautiful one-of-a-kind badge , recast from the bronze codpiece of Hector of Troy, with pride for the rest of their days.

And now, on to the nominations for Round 4

There's no shortage of Chinese options within the boundaries of Kensington, so there's probably no need to branch out. Sound off in the comments with your nominations for local Chinese restaurants!

Local Library Round-up

Basic Computer Classes - Kensington Library

We all know someone who needs this class. Intended for adults with little or no experience operating computers. It can be anyone from your hunting-and-pecking Aunt Ethel to your literally-afraid-of-the-machine Grampa Bill.

Tuesday, Dec 16 at 6:30 PM
Wednesday, Dec 17 at 10:30 AM
Tuesday, Jan 20 at 6:30 PM
Wednesday, Jan 21 at 10:30 AM
Tuesday, Feb 24 at 6:30 PM
Wednesday, Feb 25 at 10:30 AM

Resume Writing Workshop - Windsor Terrace Library

If you're like most people (read: me), your resume probably needs work. This class can't hurt.

Monday, Jan 5 at 1 PM

Skills Training and Employment Project - Windsor Terrace Library

Get help with job and career information, resumes, cover letters and interview preparation. Note: this is not an actual job. You will not be paid.

Tuesdays, 11 AM
No session on:
December 23, 2008
December 30, 2008

For a full list of events at the local libraries, click here! From what I understand they also have rooms full of books that you can just take home for free? Anyone have any more information on this? It sounds too good to be true.

Ask Kensington: Which drycleaner won't ruin my clothes?

It's time for another installment of our award winning* Ask Kensington series!

Liam asks:

So after having yet another dress poorly pressed (you could see the marks) and a hem ripped open at our 3rd attempt at a drycleaner... I'm wondering if you could post a recommendation forum of some kind so the good citizens of kenisngton can recommend a good spot?

Thanks very much!

Anyone have a particular drycleaner with which they've had continued success? Let Liam known in the comments!

* Most awards pending and/or completely fabricated

Kensington: Now and Then

Northeast corner of Church & Coney Island Avenue.

(click pictures to see enlarged versions. See brooklynpix.com for more vintage brooklyn photography!)

Opossum Kingdom?

So word on the street is we have an opossum population right here in Kensington. Local Brendan tipped us off to these cute little marsupials after snapping a shot of this critter on Albemarle Road. Though this photo looks a little gruesome, in all likelihood this thespian of the animal kingdom is very much alive and out rummaging through your garbage or chasing tasty rats into the safety of your home right now. I, for one, welcome our pointy-snouted overlords.

NYC Icy on thin ice?

A reader writes:

NYC ICY is offering soups for the winter because NOBODY is going in there. Let's not let another great local business fail. They offer gourmet ices and sherbets. They have sophisticated flavors like Grapefruit basil ice, Apricot Ginger etc but also stuff kids like such as Fire Engine Red Ice. The Sherbets are really good too but no Ice Cream per se. They sell it by the pint which is great to bring to a dinner party and the flavors change all the time. The owners live in the neighborhood. Business has been SO SLOW that they are thinking of closing for at least the season. I heard they are offering soups. It would be great to get people to start going there before we lose yet another business over here.

I personally stand guilty of not patronizing this local business, but it was only due to ignorance. I only saw it for the first time three days ago and got this email yesterday. It sounds delicious, different, and the sort of thing we should support. Yelpers seem to agree that it's a fine establishment. So go buy some water ice! Or some soup! It is your civic duty to bolster the local economy in this time of recession.

NYC Icy can be found near the corner of Church Avenue and Coney Island Avenue.

Proactively solving the graffiti crisis

No one likes graffiti.

Well, graffiti 'artists' like it. But their opinions don't count much. Train robbers like robbing trains too.

Back to graffiti, we have to ask ourselves why we hate it so much. It's annoying, illegal, and can make otherwise nice places look like dumps. When we see it, we rage inside. Why, we wonder, would anyone waste their time with such a thing? Who, we ponder, might this Vegeta person be? And what, we muse silently, can we do to stop him?

Almost nothing.

You can hope to stop defacers in the act by attempting to be in the right place at the right time, but unless you're armed with something stronger than harsh language, you may find yourself alone and freshly mocked. There's nothing less threatening to the average criminal than the phrase "Hey, you! Cut that out!"

Alternately, you can fill out a Graffiti Report form that the city of New York has so kindly made available to us. I have no personal experience with the effectiveness of said report, but in the best case scenario, someone comes along a couple weeks later and makes a new blank sheet of paper for someone to tag.

Or you could accept the fact that, like jaywalking and music piracy, graffiti is here to stay.

There's an upside to this. Qualified acceptance allows us a measure of control. Why should we be content that the surfaces throughout Kensington be covered in meaningless scrawls? If we must have it, then we should demand the best. Let the journeyman can-wielder drift down to Midwood to ply his lesser craft. In Kensington, we should settle for nothing less than art. This can be accomplished by fillling out this Graffiti Report Card and taping it up next to local defacements. If we can't stop them, we can at least shame the bad ones into leaving the best urban easels open for their betters.

Brownstowner gives the Facebook group a shout

From Brownstowner:

A few weeks ago, the NY Times did a story on 30-something native Park Slopers who found one another through Facebook. Well, that's not the only nabe represented in that digital world. Kensington residents have started their own Facebook group, with 578 members (at the time of this posting) celebrating "Brooklyn's best kept secret." Discussion topics include best restaurants in the area, doctors and "that guy that walks backwards," in which 19 people posted 42 comments. (Read whole story)

Hey, how about that! For the record, we're at 650 members and counting. Looks like we have a lot more people in our group than other neighborhoods. Good for us. Here's hoping we all get to meet each other at Festivus.

Free Flu Shots Next Week

From Councilman de Blasio's office:

Free Flu Shots Available at Councilmember de Blasio's District Office Next Week

Brooklyn – Flu shots are an important safety precaution as we head into winter. Free flu shots will be available on December 15th from 10am-1pm at Councilmember Bill de Blasio's District Office (2907 Fort Hamilton Parkway). Please email Sarah Figuereo-Rey at sarah.figuereo@gmail.com to sign up. Please RSVP to ensure enough flu shots will be available. Must be 18 years or older to receive the flu shot. Open to all Brooklyn residents. Please contact Sarah Figuereo-Rey at 718-854-9791 if you would like more information.

So if you're younger or older or just can't pass up a deal this good, contact Sarah now!

Restaurant Wars, Round 3

In a bout reminiscent of Wepner/Ali, Korner Pizza went the distance against Little Tonino's but couldn't hang on for the win. Congratulations to Little Tonino's, who, for their trouble, will take home this valuable bronze star graphic , a form of currency in parts of sub-Saharan Africa.

And now, on to Round 3!

Break out your giant nacho hats, Kensington. Restaurant Wars just went south of the border. Vote in the poll on the top-right of the page on your favorite Mexican food option in Kensington. Don't let anyone tell you that you have to go for the most authentic option, either -- if Yummy Taco is your thing, then vote your conscience. But make sure you tell us why in the comments section.

Kensington: Now and Then

Northeast corner of Church & McDonald.

(click pictures to see enlarged versions. See brooklynpix.com for more vintage brooklyn photography!)

News of the Boring

Through our many clandestine sources (namely, the facebook group) we have discovered that the boring 99 cent store that took over the lot formerly rented by Joe & Joe's Pizza will reopen as an even more boring T-Mobile store.

Hopefully this information is wrong and we'll discover in a week that it's really going to be a combination Tatoo Parlor/Burlesque House.

Meet Ali

You may have noticed something shiny and new in the heart of Kensington. 46 days ago, a man named Ali trundled his stainless steel cart to the northwest corner of Church and McDonald and set up shop. Smiling widely while grilling his chicken, he opines that his native Afghanistan offers the best food in all of Asia, because they keep their recipes simple and cook more of the animal at once. Ali has spent much of his 2 years in the United States working at Middle Eastern restaurants (including Gyro King), but recently decided that going into business for himself was wiser. We have to agree. The lamb and chicken were both succulent and flavorful, the pita was fresh and grilled ever-so-lightly to add that crucial razor-thin layer of crispness, and the white/hot sauce combination was perfect. At $3.50 for an overloaded gyro or $5 for platter with rice and a drink, the one-two punch of taste and value is pretty extraordinary. So the next time you're emerging from the subway at Church & McDonald, wondering, as we all do, what you're going to do for dinner that night, swing by and see Ali. You may find yourself coming back for more than just the food.

Stay connected with the Kensington Facebook Group

At around 600 members and growing, the Kensington Facebook Group is a great way to stay in touch with locals. It will be used to announce and remind about upcoming events and you can use post threads of your own about whatever might be on your mind. You may even see a few of your neighbors on there. Post neighborhood pictures and news (don't forget to let the blog know too, though!), questions, comments, or just say "here I am!"

If you're already a Facebook member, click here and then click 'join this group'. If you aren't a Facebook member, now is a great time to sign up. It's a free and useful way to stay in touch with folks you know and meet ones you don't.

Kensington Kitties adoption wagon world tour

If you're in Park Slope today buying christmas ornaments made out of recycled hybrid mopeds, stop by the Kensington Kitties wagon and meet some of the cats and kittens they have available for adoption. They need good homes, but a dollar or your pocketful of change always helps too. Click here for more information.

Volunteer with GALLOP

From VolunteerNYC.com:

GALLOP, a New York City-based nonprofit corporation offers therapeutic riding lessons to individuals with disabilites at the historic Kensington Stables in the East Windsor Terrace section of Brooklyn, near Prospect Park.

GALLOP is always in need of volunteers to help out with our program in ANY way! No horse experience is necessary, but it does help. We provide all the training you will need. We need people to help out at the stable with the horses and riders during lessons. Also, we have tons of "behind the scences", such as office work, fundraising, grant writing, etc. (more info)

A Festivus for Kensington Facebook fiasco

For anyone who is a member of the Kensington Facebook group and received multiple annoying invites to this event, we apologize on behalf of the sad, lonely Facebook software engineer who was playing Minesweeper instead of doing proper quality assurance. This event is still happening, and there seems to be quite a bit of interest, but the RSVP list keeps resetting and then it re-invites everyone to, I am sure, their extreme annoyance.

So, we removed the event from Facebook and are re-adding it. We hope that A) this will be the last invite you receive and B) you still plan to come out and meet everyone!

Update: Deleting and re-adding the event seems to have worked out the kinks. See you at Festivus!

Holiday Fundraiser for Sean Casey Animal Rescue

The Sean Casey Animal Rescue invites you to join them and the Open Mic Project for a night of live music, raffles and contests at our holiday party. Come celebrate a successful year of rehabilitation and adoption of a record number of orphaned animals.

We rescued over 2,000 animals in 2008 and we are aiming high for 2009. But we need your help and support to continue our work. 100% of the $20 cover charge will go directly to the rescue.

Join the Sean Casey Animal Rescue for this event at 9pm on Friday December 12th, 2008 at The Old Carriage Inn - 312 7th Ave (between 7th & 8th St.) in Park Slope.

F-trains getting makeover?

From Control Geek:

I was waiting for the F subway at 15th Street/Prospect Park Brooklyn this morning and a brand new train came in! Apparently they were testing it, it had the automated announcements and everything: To keep people from boarding, they were opening the doors on the wrong side. (More, including pictures)

This is a little old, but it's news to me. Apparently they've been testing these on occasion for a little while now. They have the automated announcements and light-up maps and the whole shebang. Anyone else seen these or have any more info?

Ask Kensington: How safe is the 18th Ave F stop?

We've been getting some questions in our inbox over the past week or so that we probably aren't the most qualified to answer. We're hoping you can provide some insight to others in the community. So here's looking at you in our first installment of Ask Kensington.

April from Bushwick asks:

I am really struggling with a decision about where to move and am looking for advice on whether living on Ocean Parkway and 18th ave is ok. I live in Bushwick now so don’t expect perfect safety. I’m just wondering what the F train at 18th ave is like during normal times of day on into the evening around 11pm.

Sound off in the comments section and help a fellow Brooklynite out.

Update: April has decided to move to the area. "Thanks for responding! It is so hard moving into a brand new neighborhood, but I like what I see so far."

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.

Thursday Bar Trivia

Any Quizzo fans out there? A fortnightly pub trivia event kicks off tomorrow night (12/4) at 9pm sharp at Visions Bar & Restaurant, near the corner of Coney Island and Cortelyou. Come alone to meet people or come with a couple friends and play as a team. General knowledge questions will be pop-cultural as well as scholarly, so everyone can contribute something to a team. As veterans of many bar trivia nights, we challenge each and every one of you to come out and prove your worth for the chance at no less than a $50 gift certificate and a round of polite applause for the winners. The flyer I'm seeing here also says half-price beers and select apps for the duration of the game, so it shouldn't put too much of a dent in the old wallet. Also, if you've been looking for a good burger in Kensington, this is your place. Manny (the Monday bartender) tipped us off to this fine slab of Salisbury and I haven't stopped thinking about it all week.

Our brains are booked for Pete's Candy Store tonight, but I think we'll have something left in the tank for any and all local challengers.

What, the F?

For the second year in a row, the MTA is asking for feeback on the various subway lines so they can analyze the resulting report, sort of shrug, half-smirking, and throw it into a drawer marked "ignore at all costs."

It's that time of year again. Grab a report card at your F-train station of choice and complain about crowded, late trains. Of course, there's always the chance you're happy with F Service. If this is the case, lavish praise at your discretion. No matter what we all write, you can count on it resulting in a fare hike.

Update: reader Joy points out that rather than spend time filling something out and then not bothering to mail it, you can opt to fill the rider report card out online, by clicking here. Thanks Joy!

Restaurant Wars, Round 2

The votes are in and the tribe has spoken. After meeting some stiff resistance early on from To B Thai, Am-Thai pulled away from the pack and is now worthy of being coronated "Best Thai food in Kensington." Congratulations, Am-Thai! Allow us to present you with this bronze star graphic which can be bartered for fresh water in the event of nuclear apocalypse.

We'd also like to note that this week's Yelp - Brooklyn newsletter included some nice words about runner-up To B Thai.

If you happen to be kicking around Kensington, Marcus V recommends 2 B Thai for "inexpensive, awesome Thai food on a quiet corner in an unpretentious neighborhood."

And now, on to round 2.

Best neighborhood pizza is a topic of conversation that has historically lead to fisticuffs in taverns and brothels the world over. We expect nothing less now. Vote for your favorite pizzeria in the poll on the right and then use the comments section below to arrange times and places to fight about it. I personally prefer Little Tonino's and will meet anyone who says different in front of Walgreen's at 3pm. Bring nunchucks.

Nominations for Restaurant Wars, Round 3

We need your help. As we look toward round 3 of Restaurant Wars, we're realizing that we can't decide which establishments should be included and which should not. We need you to comment with your nominations for notable Mexican restaurants in the Kensington delivery area.

Make your nominations for the Mexican restaurant category in the comments section now!

Falafel Fizzle?

Falafel Fusion appears to be out of business after less than a year.

From Andrea @ Local birding:

Falafel fusion is out of business. Saw a "for rent" sign on the gate today. So bummed!! They had the best food.

The food here was pretty good in our opinion, and they put some effort into branding and menus, etc. It's a shame to see it go, when plenty of inferior restaurants seem to just keep chugging along. Let's hope something decent takes its place!

Won't someone please think of the horses?

From Brooklyn Paper:

City seeks ‘stable-izing’ effect in Kensington
By Sarah Portlock
The city moved forward with rezoning an eight-square-block area near the Kensington Stables — a move that concerned locals hope will protect the area from large-scale development encroaching on their turf. (read whole story)

So it seems like the folks at Community Board 7 have scored a pretty major victory for people who want to see a limit on building heights in this 8-block area. Apparently large-scale development has been spooking the horses at the stables. Then again, maybe they just need to teach their horses to not be so scared all the time. Maybe some sort of alfalfa-based hypnosis regimen.

End of the boom?

From therealdeal.com:

Two years ago, the Windsor Terrace/Kensington section of Brooklyn was one of the brightest spots in the emerging Brooklyn real estate market.

The neighborhood was fast becoming a magnet for writers, artists and growing families priced out of more established areas such as Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights.

However, the wave of speculative residential development that started in Windsor Terrace/Kensington during the boom has now been stopped in its tracks by the squeeze on lending. The financial meltdown has — at least for the near term — left several half-built condos and empty lots in its wake. (read whole story)

What do you think this means for the rest of us, other than a bunch of unfinished eyesores dotting the neighborhood?