Exercising at the Brooklyn Bridge Park

For all of you who want to exercise but don’t want to join a gym, here’s an easy solution:

You can join the New York Road Runners on their free Tuesday night Open Runs! Participants meet on the path south of Fornino at Pier 6 at 6:45pm. The run, which is a 5K, begins at 7:00 pm.

The runs are open to all ages and running levels. Strollers and dogs on leashes are also welcome. The flexibility of these runs means that you can exercise in a fun, free and low-pressure environment.

Jane's Carousel

Visit Jane’s Carousel-- a beautiful, antique carousel in the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Jane’s Carousel is a true antique. Originally built in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company, the carousel features 48 carved horses. The carousel was originally part of the Idora Park amusement park in Ohio. When the park closed in 1948, the carousel was purchased by Jane and David Walentas.

After 27 years of renovations, the carousel was donated by Jane Walentas as a gift to the Brooklyn Bridge Park. The carousel is housed in a glass pavilion that was designed by the Pritzker-winning architect Jean Nouvel.

The carousel costs $2 a ride and is free for children under the age of 3 who are accompanied by a paying adult.

The carousel is also a great place to host a birthday party, a photo shoot or even a wedding.

The Ed Center at the Brooklyn Bridge Park

The Brooklyn Bridge Park is an 85-acre waterfront park that stretches 1.3 miles along Brooklyn’s East River shoreline.

The park features a variety of activities, both indoors and outdoors. The Ed Center, part of the Brooklyn Bridge Park, is a wonderful place to visit with young children. Open four afternoons a week, the Ed Center is free to visit. 

Hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 5pm.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park has a 250-gallon aquarium filled with critters from the East River, a model of the Brooklyn Bridge Park and a reading corner. Special activities include crafts and themes related to the environment and nature.

Visiting The NY Transit Museum

Have you visited the New York Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn?

It’s a wonderful museum for visitors of all ages. Current exhibits include:

17th Annual Holiday Train Show—This train show includes a miniature model of Grand Central Station and miniature subway train sets.

Ticket to Ride is an exhibit that showcases the different tickets, tokens, and passes that were used to pay travel expenses.

Underground Heroes: NY Transit in Comics, an exhibit that explores how NY’s transit system has been featured in comic books.

Special activities are often available, including vintage holiday rides on the Nostalgia Train.

For younger children, there are a variety of hands-on activities in the Discovery Room, making the New York Transit Museum a wonderful place to visit, learn, and explore! 

Brooklyn Children's Museum

Looking for an educational, indoor activity?

Visiting the Brooklyn Children's Museum will help you keep your kids entertained with a variety of hands-on activities.

The children's museum offers a sensory room, a color lab and a large variety of interactive exhibits. Fun and learning are combined in this wonderful museum.

Keep in mind that the Brooklyn Children's Museum is closed on Mondays and offers free admission ("pay what you wish") every Thursday from 2 to 6 pm, and on Sundays from 4 to 7 pm.

Enjoy the museum this winter!

The Polar Bear Plunge

The Polar Bear Plunge took place on New Year’s Day and was a chance for adventurous swimmers to raise money for a good cause.

The 115^th annual Polar Bear Plunge invited swimmers to jump into the frigid waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Swimmers raised over $55,000 for the Coney Island community. Money was earmarked towards creating a cleaner and environment and improved quality of life for Coney Island Residents. The Coney Island community is a neighborhood with a high poverty rate that is still recovering from Superstorm Sandy.

Founded in 1903, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club is the oldest winter bathing organization in the United States. They swim every Sunday from November through April.

The Lefferts Historic House at Prospect Park

The Lefferts Historic House is a wonderful place to visit this winter. This hands-on educational experience is suitable for all family members.

Located within nearby Prospect Park, the Lefferts Historic House is a NYC designated landmark. Built in 1783 by Pieter Lefferts, the house remained in the family for four generations. It was later relocated from Flatbush Avenue to Prospect Park and opened as a museum.

The Lefferts Historic House operates an interactive children’s museum that includes a working garden, historic artifacts, and exhibits. Visitors can play with traditional games and engage in a range of historic activities such as candle-making and butter churning.

This destination offers an interesting and enriching educational experience.

History of the Kensington Public Library

The Kensington Public Library opened in January 1908 with a collection of only 400 books. In 1912, the library expanded and moved to 771 McDonald Avenue, where it remained for the next 48 years.

 By 1960, the Kensington Library, having outgrown its previous location, moved to Ditmas Avenue. Its renovation garnered national interest because Kensington was the first branch to have air-conditioning and children’s furniture in the children’ section.

In November 2012, the Kensington Library re-opened after additional renovations. The library was designed to be environmentally-friendly and was praised by the Art Commission of New York for its successful integration of green design.

Located in a residential area, the Kensington Library is based on the concept of daylight, and most of the library is bathed with natural light, creating a pleasant environment for readers.

Events at the Kensington Library

As the weather gets colder in New York, visiting your local public library can provide a wonderful indoor activity.

The Kensington Library offers several programs, in addition to books. For children and babies, there is Toddler Time; Teen Tech Time for teenagers; and Homework Help for school-age children.

Unique lectures and educational activities are also offered weekly.

On Wednesday, December 12^th, a class on American Sign Language will be featured. On the same day, a musical Hanukah celebration will take place at the library. That evening, a knitting and crocheting class will be offered.

Stop by the library to see for yourself...books are only the beginning!

Thank you to the Kensington Stewards

The Kensington Stewards are a neighborhood group that recently organized a popular event.

The event, which was organized for the third year in a row, celebrated the Day of the Dead which honors deceased ancestors. The event was held at PS 179 on Avenue C and included activities, performances, and music.

Traditional Mexican dancers and musicians from the band Mariachi Fiesta performed, and free food was served during this five-hour fiesta. Child-friendly activities including face painting and dancing were part of the fun.

The menu included traditional Mexican dishes such as tacos, tamales, Mexican sweet bread, and arroz con leche.

The event was appreciated, thanks to the Kensington Stewards.

Horseback Riding in Kensington, Brooklyn

When Prospect Park was first designed in the 1860s, it had bridle paths for carriage drives. Horses were part of everyday life, and Prospect Park was designed to accommodate them.


More than a century later, horses are no longer part of everyday life. There's only one stable in the Prospect Park area-- Kensington Stables-- but luckily, it offers many family-friendly activities, including pony rides and parties for young children, a teen horsemanship program, trail rides and horseback riding lessons.

Visiting Kensington Stables is a great way to combine outdoor fun and exercise!

Enjoy a Visit to Green-wood

Before the weather turns frigid, stop and visit Green-Wood, a beautiful and historic destination.

Now a National Historic Landmark, Green-wood was one of the first rural cemeteries in America. Home to 478 acres of hills, valleys, paths and ponds, Green-wood is so beautiful that it inspired the creation of NYC’s Central Park!

For history buffs, Green-wood’s 560,000 permanent residents include well-known people, among them Leonard Bernstein, Boss Tweed, Charles Ebbets, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louis Comfort Tiffany and Horace Greeley.

Green-wood is also a Revolutionary War Historic site—the Battle of Long Island was fought on its grounds in 1776. Green-wood is also a site on the Civil War Discovery Trail and a member of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System.

Free parking is available, and several dining options are available nearby.

Brooklyn Fundraisers

Brooklyn wine lovers take note: today and tomorrow for a one time fee of $65 you can enjoy Delta Amex Perks’ Wine Riot. With this access pass, you will be privy to wine tasting where you will be able to drink and learn about all different types of wine from around the world.

Wine lovers can now benefit from “a temporary tattoo booth, photo booth, Wine Riot's famous Bubbly Bar and a few thousand fellow winos.”

Brands like Hennessy “will be showing the rich world of cognac and the art of cocktails….[and] guide rioters through the most revered blends including Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège and Hennessy X.O Cognac, where they'll become experts in making classic cocktails with the world's finest ingredients.”

There will be classes on basic wine understanding, taking a look at differences in wines and a presentation of Wine Riot’s Bubbly Bar will offer: including Cava, Prosecco, Sparkling, Rosé, Champagne, Crémant and Sekt.

And even for those new to the wine scene, the actual event is fun and engaging for everyone!

Wine Riot: Education-Revolution

Brooklyn wine lovers take note: today and tomorrow for a one time fee of $65 you can enjoy Delta Amex Perks’ Wine Riot. With this access pass, you will be privy to wine tasting where you will be able to drink and learn about all different types of wine from around the world.

Wine lovers can now benefit from “a temporary tattoo booth, photo booth, Wine Riot's famous Bubbly Bar and a few thousand fellow winos.”

Brands like Hennessy “will be showing the rich world of cognac and the art of cocktails….[and] guide rioters through the most revered blends including Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège and Hennessy X.O Cognac, where they'll become experts in making classic cocktails with the world's finest ingredients.”

There will be classes on basic wine understanding, taking a look at differences in wines and a presentation of Wine Riot’s Bubbly Bar will offer: including Cava, Prosecco, Sparkling, Rosé, Champagne, Crémant and Sekt.

And even for those new to the wine scene, the actual event is fun and engaging for everyone!

Gear Up for Fun Local Events

As we prepare for Halloween, let’s take a look at what’s happening locally for all ages.

This morning is the Halloween Pumpkin Patch Costume Contest. Hosted by Dodge YMCA, this is a family-friendly event which takes place at Dodge YMCA headquarters at 225 Atlantic Avenue and starts at 10am to 1pm. Free for adults, it is just $10 per kid who will enjoy costume contest, face painting and more.

Prospect Park Documentary

This video is a trailer for the fundraiser for Brooklyn’s Prospect Park – somewhat of a poor cousin next to New York’s Central Park. But it shouldn’t be since its 526 acre coverage makes it Brooklyn’s second largest park. For residents though it’s quite different; they love it. It is often filled with walkers, runners, cyclists, ball players, rollerblading, family picnics, boating and a whole lot more.

 

Biking in Brooklyn

If you’re in Brooklyn and you want to get around, cycling is a great option. America’s first bike path was created there (Ocean Parkway, back in 1894) and the region didn’t stop there. The Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway (still under construction) is one of the nation’s most popular cycling areas.


So if you’re into cycling and you’re looking for something to do, start by Kensington’s Ocean Parkway and continue on the path to Coney Island’s Surf Avenue. As you cycle through the beautiful tree lined path, you’ll be privy to a wonderful tour of “local Brooklyn brownstones” before getting to the area’s much loved boardwalk that you can walk under at Ruby’s Bar & Grill and enjoy true American fare. From cheeseburgers to corn dogs, potato knishes and hot/sweet sausage, wash it all down with one of Ruby’s Famous Ices. Don’t be put off if you don’t have a bike; just go down to Brooklyn Bridge Bike Rent.


For the less energetic/adventurous Brooklyn’s Waterfront Greenway is a perfect window into the area. While walking between Piers 1 and 6, you cannot fail to pause for the Manhattan skyline or ferries. Get back to basics with Jane’s Carousel which is so reminiscent of summers gone by or cool off at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

Upcoming Local Events

You don’t need to wait for a long time to get a local laugh. In fact, you can do so every Wednesday at the Jupiter Comedy at Oak Tree Tavern is a great evening activity. For a mere $5 per person, bring a friend, family member or even a date from 8pm-midnight.

If laughing isn’t your thing, consider the Alberta Food Tours via Craving Kensington. Every Thursday from 6-10pm you start the tour at Brasserie Kensington with cheese curds and beer, make your way for some tea tastings at The Naked Leaf, check out The Crave’s behind the scenes, get ready for more cheese samples at Peasant Cheese Shop, move on to Kensington Wine Market and then complete your meal at Pulcinella.

For those looking for a bit of an edge, from October 3 to 31, the spooky pop-up Nightmare Machine,will get locals in the mood for Halloween. Featuring freaky clown rooms to hallways full of rainbows, this will sure keep you on your toes!

Support Local Brooklyn Women

There are various minorities in Brooklyn, New York but the group that seems to get the most focus is the African Americans. Here, we look at how women in business are faring in the area – and how great it is these days to be part of the women of Brooklyn.

So first we’ll take a look at Radical Women. Located on Tompkins Avenue, these 4 women opened their boutique store to give women the opportunity to stay on trend, in fashion and empowered. The four female entrepreneurs are self-described “daughters, artists, mothers, sisters, lovers, bosses, anthropologists, givers, liberators, designers, warriors, care givers, peace makers, hell raisers, heart breakers,” which they believe is “radical.” They purport that they were “destined to build this community,” as they work on creating a safe and comfortable space for women to thrive. Currently their featured collections include items made by: Anat Fritz, NOK, Ashaka Givens and Lamine Kouyaté’s XULY.Bët brand.

For amazing resources, make sure to check out the Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, which has been working for centuries to “support independent craftspeople from Brooklyn and beyond.” There, you will find amazing handmade crafts, clothes for kids, toys, gifts and so much more all carefully created by local artisans. This not-for-profit organization gives 70 cents of every dollar spent directly to the crafter.

The organization started in 1854 as a need to support struggling women, many of whom “found themselves in need of income but with no means of support. Following the lead of church ministers who were training indigent women in the craft of needlework, a group of concerned local women began the Brooklyn Female Employment Society providing a discreet enterprise, or “exchange,” through which women could sell their needlework and handcrafts. As the organization evolved into the Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, a small sewing school and storefront enabled women to care for their families and earn income without having to work in a factory or other dangerous environment.” 

And then there are the  Black Women Meetups. Recent events have been: NYC Restaurant Week: Gourmet “Fashionista” Italian Dinner; Exhibit and Brunch: Footwear from Stuart Weitzman – Historic Shoes; and the most recent one which took place just three days ago: Daniel: Fine Dining “Foodie” Extravaganza.

 So these days women are faring pretty well in Brooklyn. Long may that continue.

Carroll Gardens Greenmarket

Located between Smith and Court Streets across from Carroll Park on Sundays between 8am and 2pm throughout the year, this makes a great brunch meeting place for locals and tourists. Buy beautiful fresh cut flowers and locally grown produce as well as grass-fed beef and a whole lot more. Vendors include: Jersey Farm, Fishkill Farms, Haywoods Fresh, DiPaola Turkeys, Hot Bread Chicken, etc.