amNY: A Food Lover's Guide to Kensington

Reblog: see amNY.com

This stretch of Church Avenue may be low-key and scruffy, but wedged between dental clinics, discount stores and beauty parlors are restaurants and shops representing a dozen nationalities, including Polish, Albanian, Thai and Bangladeshi.

Take the F or G train to Church Avenue. Start at McDonald Avenue and walk toward Coney Island Avenue.

Follow this link for the rest...

Fatal hit and run accident on Ocean Parkway

Sadly a local man was killed late last night in a hit-and-run accident.

From ABC's 7online.com:

Police say 67-year-old Juan Sifuentes was struck by a dark-colored car while trying to cross Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn.


He was pronounced dead on arrival at a hospital following the accident.

If you have any information that may help the NYPD investigation, please contact the proper authorities. If you have nothing but conjecture and wild speculation, please post in the comments area below.

I can haz new home in Kensington?

Okay, so we don't encourage encouraging the strays, but these homeless pets were just too furry to ignore. If you're interested in adopting a kitty or three, checkout the info below.

Jonathan writes:

I recently came across a litter of 3 kittens and took them in. The problem is no, no kill shelters are accepting and I already have 3 cats of my own.


They're about one month old. They haven't been checked out but we're willing to get that done if anyone is interested. The one in the first picture (view here) is a little stand-offish (he was on the street about a week or 2 longer than the other two kittens) He just needs some love forced on him to get him used to human contact, I don't believe he's beyond saving, there is hope with him. He's gotten better since we found him but he's not quite there yet.


The other 2 seen together in the pictures are male (the dark grey) and female (the light grey). They are inseparable and sleep on each other. They are very sweet and if anyone is interested in one of the greys they must take both.. The light grey female is definitely the sweetest one of the bunch and will make a great pet.

Hit the comments section if you're interested in contacting the keeper of the kittens.

Hipsters vandalize statue; local coffee shop gets famous

We've been hearing an awful lot about the shameful theft and apparent destruction of the mini Statue of Liberty from Vox Pop over on the other side of Coney Island Ave. In our opinion the video looks more like 'art' of the most tasteless, not to mention illegal, variety. I can't imagine terrorists would pay so much attention to lighting. That said, hopefully whoever is responsible gets pinched and has to pay for a new Lady Liberty. Speaking of attention, whoever the perps might be, Vox Pop now has an article on the front page of CNN.com. If anyone has info on this most heinous of crimes against iconic plaster, please contact the proper authorities.

Thanks to everyone who has been nagging us about this. We kid, we kid.

NONE SHALL PASS!

While such things have been rumored for years, starting tomorrow those pesky G trains will no longer pass us by on their way to hipper places. Click the image for the details, if you haven't seen these posted already.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in. Even more thanks to those of you who notice when we end sentences in prepositions, but don't bother to complain about it.

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!

Now is the winter of our discontent

Made glorious summer by these San Marzano Plum Tomatoes. With the KWT Winter CSA you can get your fruit on alllll winter long. Sure, it seems like it's a bit early for this info, but farmer Evan (I have no idea if Evan is a farmer) needs to know how much green stuff you require to make it through those long, cold nights. See his letter below.

I know it's way too early to think about winter, BUT the time has come, not yet
to sign up, but just to drop me a line if you are interested in being part of
the KWT Winter CSA. There were 32 shares for us last year and they need an idea
of how many to put aside this year.
Visit the website for details: www.wintersunfarms.com, click on "what's in a
share".
This is a wonderful mini-csa to carry you over through the cold months
(dec-march) with blanched/frozen local delicious veggies, berries, etc. You can
also order cheese, eggs, and other farm products. Pickup is just once a month at
the Oak and the Iris cafe, 4 times total. Cost is $128. It was a big success
last year, and the company that does it is expanding like crazy. The frozen
stewed heirloom tomatos are absolutely incredible on pizza or pasta - so much
better than any from a can.
Sign up and collection of payment will be in July.
Please let me know if you're interested, and spread the word.

So email Evan at mevan11@gmail.com to discuss all things Bok Choy and, most of all, your Winter share.

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!

Brunch: Now we're talkin'

So Visions just sent us an email letting us know about their new brunch special. UNLIMITED bloody marys, mimosas and bellinis! Finally I don't have to go to Park Slope or downtown to get soused early on the weekends.

From Visions:

Visions restaurant & bar invites you to join us every Saturday and Sunday from 11 am till 4pm unlimited mimosa, bloody mary or bellini with any of your choices from our brunch menu.
Visions restaurant & bar 752 Coney island ave @ Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11226 718-282-3388

I've heard the brunch food is good too, but hadn't tried it myself because of the [previously] expensive cocktails. Has anyone had brunch there yet?

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!

Mmm... green fruit.

I usually don't like it when my lemons turn all green and fuzzy, but apparently that's good now. Doesn't that picture look yummy? That's all the stuff you can pickup right now in Sunset Park's (courtesy of bestviewinbrooklyn.blogspot.com) Green Market. If you'd like to have a market full of green edibles right here in our back yard, check out this online petition and vote your green pants off.

Students at local Yeshiva tumble through broken grate

From the Daily News:

Students posing for class pictures outside a Brooklyn Yeshiva took a terrifying fall through a shaft Friday after a grate suddenly collapsed, police sources said.

The children, ages 10 to 12, were standing outside the Yeshiva Shaare Torah at Ocean Parkway and Church Ave., when the grate inexplicably gave way, officials said.

The 15 to 20 students students tumbled some 15 feet down the apparent airshaft, sources said.

Two students were rushed to Lutheran Hospital with possible fractures. The other studens suffered minor injuries, and were taken to Maimonides Medical Center and Methodist Hospital.

The Kensington school is the elementary and middle school of the Yeshiva Shaare Torah.

Yikes. Hope everyone is ok.

Illegal gambling? Now we're talkin'!

The Village Voice ran a blog post today about how the slow economy has lead to a rise in back-alley gambling joints throughout the city. Today we can all be proud to call Kensington a major offender.

From the Village Voice:

And according to the Bangla newspaper Weekly Thikana, increasing numbers of Bengali immigrants are turning to gambling to supplement their income.

In the article translated into English by The New York Community Media Alliance, the paper claims illegal gambling joints have popped up in basements and the backs of grocery stores in Kensington, Brooklyn (also home to some great Bengali food) and various Queens neighborhoods, including Jackson Heights and Ozone Park. (read the whole story)

Being somewhat ignorant of Bangladeshi culture, I'm not sure what their preferred games of chance are, but if it's just guessing coin flips or something maybe I'll head down there and try and make back my rent.

Next ANA meeting tomorrow!

The Albemarle Neighborhood Association very kindly made their printed newsletter available at Foodtown (something they've probably always done), and it lists the time and date of their next meeting, which happens to be tommorow.

The Albemarle Neighborhood Association will hold its community meeting on Thursday, May 21st at the Flatbush & Shaare Torah Jewish Center, 237 E. 5th Street (corner Church Ave.). The meeting will start at 7:00 pm (sharp).

Our guest speaker for the meeting will be Assemblyman James Brennan, who will discuss a range of topics of interest to our community.

As during this past year, Foodtown will supply refreshments for the meeting.

We look forward to seeing everyone on May 21st at 7 pm.

Sincerely,
Larry Jayson
President

This meeting is open to the public. Thanks to the couple people who sent this in.

Anyone lose a bowling ball?

Saw this little guy hanging out on the corner of Avenue C and East 4th. I think he was lost.

Signs of life at Connie's.

As you've probably all seen, Church Avenue Restaurant Cafe has become Connie's Cafe Restaurant and they had their Grand Opening yesterday.

KWT writes:

I spoke with Connie this evening, and she is starting with a standard diner menu, using all fresh ingredients. Each day she will have 6 specials and she plans to have a Sunday brunch menu as well. The hours, to start, will be 6 am - 6 pm. She understands the need for evening hours and plans to expand hours in a few months. The restaurant has a bright and inviting new paint job. Once she gets the permits, she plans to have outdoor seating on the E 5th St side of the building as well.

Please come and support this much appreciated newcomer to the slowly expanding Kensington-Windsor Terrace dining scene. Connie has lived in this neighborhood her whole life, and looks forward to meeting everyone, and hearing suggestions from her neighbors.

Other reports indicate that Connie is interested in possibly hosting some live music as well, which most people would find welcome. Personally, we'll be happy if the coffee and soup aren't cold, like some other cafe's in the area whose names rhyme with "Baroque Candy Virus."

Update! We got an on the scene report:

We had breakfast there on opening day, and enjoyed it very much. My kids had pancakes with apples and cinnamon, and with chocolate chips. Next time they want the banana pancakes. Thank goodness for choices! The adults had delicious eggs with all the accompaniments (potatos, toasts and bacon!) The staff is friendly, attentive, and it was wonderful to see so many people from the neighborhood coming in on the first day. - J

Thanks, J!

Connie's is located on the corner of Church Avenue and E. 5th Street.