Breast Cancer Awareness Month at the Polish Bar of Brooklyn

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picture-4.png The Polish Bar of Brooklyn is once again raising money for Breast Cancer awareness, research and treatment!  Stop in for a mani/pedi, pick up the latest O.P.I. color and purchase a card in honor of someone you've lost to the disease.

The Polish Bar of Brooklyn 470 Myrtle ave. @ Washington (718) 622-5363 www.polishbarbrooklyn.com 

October Events @ Tillie's

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October Events at Tillie’s Art

Around the Corner Tamara Thomsen

October 8th – November 10th

Reception October 18

7-9pm.

"Around the Corner" is a series of paintings on wood panels inspired by the industrial landscape on the East River waterfront in Long Island City, where artist Tamara Thomsen lived for several years. Muted colors and flattened perspective capture the look and feel of a neighborhood growing beyond its early twentieth-century roots.

Thomsen, who now lives in Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn and maintains a studio in Gowanus, uses various techniques and materials, as well as experience gained in a two-decade stint in the design world, to investigate the premises of an overly embellished environment.

From 1981 to 1998, she was a co-founder and Senior Vice President at Smart Design, an award-winning, multi-disciplinary design firm with offices in New York and San Francisco, best known for developing Oxo Good Grips kitchen tools.

Thomsen earned an M.F.A. in Painting at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1981, and a B.F.A. in Painting Syracuse University in 1976. All work in the exhibition is milk paint, wood stains and veneer on wood panels. For more information, see http://tamarathomsen.com

A member of the Gowanus Artists Association, Thomsen will also show her work in her studio during the A.G.A.S.T. 2007 Gowanus Artists Association Open Studio, October 21 and 21st. For more information about hours and location: http://gowanusartists.com Music

Friday, 10/5/07 J. Phoenix

8 p.m.

J. Phoenix is a winner of the ASCAP/Sammy Cahn Award for excellence in lyrics ad has performed in clubs all over New York, including the CBGB Gallery and Arlene’s Grocery, as well as the Sundance Film Festival and Intel Music Festival.

Music journalist Brian Cogan says: “J. Phoenix is by no means a soul singer in the traditional sense. While trace elements of Al Green and Sam Cooke can be detected on the Geiger counter, there is just as much craft as a typical Disney show tune, somehow funneled through Seal.”

J. Phoenix’s songs have been recorded by Nancy Wilson, Tupac Shakur, Michelle Wright, and Earth Wind and Fire. This fall he releases his debut CD, Masterpiece (From The Soul Music).

Cover: $5

Friday, 10/12/07 Nhojj

8 p.m.

Nhojj started singing as a child in Guyana, where he performed in churches, on radio programs and eventually for the president. At 18, he moved to New York City, where after graduating from NYU with a B.A. in Economics, returned to his true calling - music. He has recorded two CDs, “I've Been Waiting for You” (2001) and “Someday Peace Love & Freedom” (2003).

”If Wyclef is the new face of social conscience and Arrested Development its history, then Caribbean-born, NY-raised Nhojj is its voice. What a voice. It manifests itself through his throat as a honeyed, subdued and unadorned combination of Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. It manifests itself in an imagination that has created a hybrid of soft Southern soul, folk and jazz-reggae. His is a voice that is as familiar as an old friend, as comforting as a happy memory, as stirring as the first flush of love. LOGO-Magazine / UK's #1 New Music Magazine

For more information, see www.myspace.com/nhojj

Cover: $5 Open Mic Hosted by Nick Noir

Every other Thursday

10/11

10/25

Sign-up: 8:30 p.m.

Show: 9:00 p.m.

Come one, come all!

Reader Questions: Dogwalker Wanted

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Received this note from a reader:I’m writing because I really need your help. I adopted a dog two weeks ago. For the past week, a friend of mine has been walking him during the day, but I need to find a permanent, reliable dog walker in the Clinton hill/Fort Greene area. Is there anyway we could get a discussion about this going on your Clinton Hill blog? I’ve asked around at the park, but am coming up short. I would also be interested in knowing what people think of Kiki’s doggie daycare.

People, weigh in! Personally, I use dogego.

CHB Presents: HAUNTED!

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Last October, I did a fun little Haunted House of the Day series.  It was a big hit, so I'm doing it again.  This time, though, I am going to start TODAY, October 1, and feature one haunted house per day (even on weekends) until Halloween.  This is because I love Halloween, and also because it will likely be harder next year to find 31 haunted houses in Clinton Hill, with the rate of change and renovations and whatnot. As a child, I loved all things haunted.  What makes a house haunted, you ask?

  • Padlock on door, keeping humans out
  • Cemented-over windows, keeping ghosts in
  • Broken windows
  • Unattended trash and mail
  • Graffiti
  • On occasion, bad design/decor

OK then, let's get started!  Bed-Stuy Blog will also be playing along, though not as frequently.

Waffle Weekends @ Frank White

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Starting this Saturday, Frank White is launching Waffle Weekends! They'll be serving waffles/toppings Saturday & Sundays (10-1).They'd like to offer Clinton Hill Blog readers something special for stopping by this weekend -- a complimentary 'lil kim' size coffee or fresh squeezed orange juice with waffles! Just mention CHB for your free beverage :)

Frank White cafe/gallery/social 936 Atlantic Ave. at St. James Pl. www.frankwhitenyc.com

More info on FW here.

Sports, Philanthropy and Networking

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There's a new touch football league based at Brooklyn Tech in Fort Greene. Here's the info: ZogSports, the charity-focused, social, co-ed sports league for young professionals in their 20s and 30s, is coming to Brooklyn for the first time this fall and there is still room for people to sign up for our awesome co-ed Touch Football league!

ZogSports has spent the last four years helping young New Yorkers break the monotony of the typical day – work/gym/bar/home - by offering sports leagues, trips, social events, and volunteer opportunities. To date, they have brought together 33,000+ participants and given more than $290,000 to charity.

This fall, ZogSports expands to Brooklyn with Kickball in Prospect Park and Touch Football at Brooklyn Tech.

Participants can sign up as an entire team or as an individual/small group and we’ll place them on a team. Teammates get to know each other at the organized post-game happy hours at local bars.

As a philanthropy-focused organization, ZogSports donates a portion of all proceeds to charity, and helps all participants Play For Your Cause by making donations to winning teams’ charities of choice. Teams have the opportunity to win both on the field as well as off, with awards given for Best Team Name, Best Team Spirit, and Best Happy Hour Team. ZogSports also partners with local charitable organizations to promote/co-sponsor their events, and organizes charity events of its own.

If you are interested in posting some information about us, please feel free to check out our website at www.zogsports.org. We’re in the last few days of registration for the Brooklyn league, so people should sign up soon. If they want to come out and meet us, we’ll have a table at the Atlantic Antic this Sunday.

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I suggested they start up a kickball league in FG Park, as that would be more my speed. My contact said she'll keep it in consideration.

Desolate Fort Greene Corner

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The corner of Myrtle and Flatbush is such an incredible eyesore. I know it's WAY out of CH, but I notice it every time I come home late-night in a cab. Everything save for a check cashing place is shuttered and ready to fall apart. Wonder if the same person/company owns the whole block and is just waiting to raze it in favor of more condos.I know this is right near the projects, but it does seem odd that such a prime locale is sitting in decay.

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UPDATE: Restaurant on Waverly and Greene

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A few weekends ago, I ran into Josie Smith-Malave, one-time Top Chef contestant and Clinton Hill regular, standing outside the in-the-works restaurant opening in the former bodega space on Waverly and Greene.  She told me the space was slated to serve "global comfort food," and was aiming to be "a real neighborhood place - one you'll eat at three times a week." Since then, there's been a lot of activity.  The newspapers are off the windows now, and I spotted some stuff being moved in on Friday night:

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I'm going to do a little interview with Josie in early October to coordinate with the restaurant's opening.  Stay tuned...

Haunted Church Update

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The Haunted Church (447 Clinton Ave) has been covered in a black shroud the last several weeks.  Now the plywood barricade facing Clinton holds an interesting announcement: dscf1812.jpg

According to a comment on Brownstoner way back from 2005, it sounds like "Clinton Rising, LLC" has owned the building since January '05.  If they're responsible for all that nasty trash sitting outside for the last 2.5 years, I'm worried.  Then another 'Stoner post says it was sold this past April.  Wait, now I can't find that post from 2005!  Am I hallucinating?  This is certainly one of the most confusing situations in the nabe.

I couldn't find any info about the project on the architect's site, and a Google search for Living Space Design on Ryerson yields nothing.

Wonder how this reno will turn out...

October Events in the Nabe

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It's never too early to plan ahead! Monday, Oct. 1, Fort Greene Park Conservancy Gala Wine Tasting This annual party will be held at the roof top gardens and penthouses of the Forte Condo project on Fulton/Ashland which provide stunning views of our park and communities. There will be 100 wonderful wines, food, wine experts, and friends of the park. The VIP session will start at 5:30 pm for a ticket price of $150, the general admission starts at 6:30 for $80 advance and $90 at the door. (All tickets are tax deductible.) Tickets are VERY limited, so purchase early. Contact Amy Bennett at amy@greenegrape.com. Tickets available at www.fortgreenepark.org.

Sunday, Oct. 14, noon, DDDB Annual Walkathon to support the Legal Fund. This exciting event is for the whole family and features entertainment, our favorite elected officials, community activists and others. We need coordinators, team leaders, behind the scenes volunteers, artists, technical experts and others to make this all happen. So, save the date. Plan to walk or sponsor a walker or team. Make a generous contribution. For more information, contact: DDDB.net or Scott Turner at scott@fansforfairplay.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , (718) 499-8729

Saturday, October 20, Daffodil Bulb Giveaway, 1:30 pm to 5 pm. Free daffodil bulbs will be distributed for planting in tree pits, sidewalk containers, front yards, community gardens or anywhere they can be enjoyed by the public at large. Bulbs are being provided by the Brownstone Brooklyn Garden District as part of the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill greening initiative. Planting is up to you. For more information contact natashaharsh@earthlink.net.

Saturday, October 20, Artisan Market, DeKalb Ave. near park entry. What the Fort Greene Greenmarket does for locally-grown food products, the Artisan Market does for local art and design. Open 9am to 6pm. For information contact natashaharsh@earthlink.net.

Saturday, Oct. 27, Fort Greene Park Conservancy Children’s Halloween Fest. Bring the kids in their costumes for a day of excitement. There are free pumpkins, costume parade at 2pm, hay ride, ponies, games, great sponsors, and the dog costume contest listed below. Everyone loves this day in the park. For more information contact: www.fortgreenepark.org. SCH is proud to be a sponsor of this wonderful event.

Saturday, Oct. 27, noon, PUPS Dog Costume Contest, Fort Greene Park. Bring your dogs in costume, many owners are also in coordinating costume attire, join the pageant and maybe you’ll win one of the fabulous prizes. Meet M.C. Christine in her lime green tuxedo. Hilarity is guaranteed for all. For more information contact: info@fortgreenepups.org.

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 5 pm. Society for Clinton Hill Children’s Halloween Walk. This event gets bigger and more exciting every year. Meet at the SCH Garden at DeKalb/Hall to pick up maps for the best locations for entertainment and treats. Parents must accompany children. FREE.

Wednesday, Oct. 31, 6-9 pm, 313 Clinton Avenue, Continuous Halloween Show. The show is put on by the Clinton Hill Players featuring Janna Hyten, DK Holland, Claudia Howard, Andrew Watts, Kelsey Hyten and other Clinton Hill stars. Show to be featured in Time Out NY. SCH is proud to be a sponsor. Janna is currently raising money for this year's set and show. Anyone who provides a $100 donation will receive a free ticket to the famous Halloween party at 313 Clinton Ave. (The show is very expensive to put on, and Janna has bankrolled it herself for many years.) Contact janna.hyten@gmail.com.