Where to Buy a Christmas Tree

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In Clinton Hill proper, I've located two xmas tree lots and one location to buy other xmas-related plant stuff.  I visited all three this weekend to check on prices, quality and offerings: 1. Clinton Ave at Lafayette, in front of Cadman Church:

The overall selection here is very good.  I usually visit this lot since it's closest to me, and because they often offer a variety of tree types. This is the only lot in the area that I've seen white pine/scotch pine longer-needle trees.

They have all sizes, and the trees are very robust.

It's not cheap, however.  These babies are priced at $10/foot.  If you have a fancy brownstone apartment and are looking to wow, this might be your best bet.

Also selling: wreaths, holiday berry bunches, maple syrup, pine branch bunches

2. Myrtle Ave between Washington and Hall:

The tree selection is large, but not as high quality as lot #1.  However, the lot has a large staff on hand and is offering free local delivery!  If you're looking for a tree with a little more "character," this is your place.  They even have a few "Charlie Brown" style pines.  Plus, you can't beat the price (ranging from $10-70).  Due to the economic climate, I gave this one a try this year (even though it's a much farther walk -- though I suppose I could have asked for delivery!).  I was able to pick up a fairly tall tree (6+ feet) for just $30!  It's not as big around, but it fits nicely in the corner of my apartment.

Also selling: wreaths

3. Root Stock & Quade, Myrtle between Washington and Hall:

Don't want to deal with the hassle of getting a tree, or don't have the room?  Root Stock & Quade is offering lots of holiday goodies for the home.  Pine bunches in a variety of types will provide delicious seasonal scents, and pine garland ($12/yard) will look lovely draped on the mantle.

Also available are mini poinsettias ($6) and mini potted pine trees ($12).  Plus, being potted, they can last for months or years (provided you can keep them alive).

Also selling: tree ornaments and pine-scented candles

Tree locations outside CH boundaries:

  • Tree lot on Fulton near BAM Harvey Theater (Fort Greene)
  • Home Depot on DeKalb just past Bedford (Bed-Stuy)

Any more to report?

Greene Hill Food Co-Op Meeting: Dec 11

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The Greene Hill Food Co-Op has new branding!  Read about the process here. Next Meeting: Dec 11.

From the food co-op:

Please join us for The Greene Hill Food Coop's December General Meeting:

When: December 11 7pm-9pm (meeting will start at 7:15pm, newcomers please come at 7pm) Where: BRIC Studio, 57 Rockwell Place b/w Fulton & DeKalb (note location change)

Please take a look at our agenda for this General Meeting. Any size of monetary contribution is greatly appreciated to go towards the rental of the space.

We are very happy to announce that Sitters Studio (www.sitterstudio.com)  will be providing free childcare during the December meeting.  Sitters Studio is a unique babysitting agency that is entirely staffed with artists who have a childcare background.  They arrive with a tote of artistic toys ready to engage the children in fun and creative play.  The agency is insured and bonded.  All of the sitters are reference and background checked and are CPR certified.
Please email Erin at erinhkaplan@gmail.com by December 9th to let us know if you will be in need of childcare so that we can staff the appropriate amount of sitters.

We are still in need of facilitators and secretaries for this General Meeting and more to come.  A Governance Committee member would talk you through a step by step instruction in performing either task.  Word credit available.  Contact Veronica for more information.

Look forward to seeing you there!  Visit our website www.greenehillfoodcoop.com for more information.

A Note on Surveys and Changes

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Thanks to all who responded to my reader and business surveys before Thanksgiving!  I will leave the polls open until January 5.  Visit the SURVEYS page on the right nav. (Yes, I know there is a design problem on inside pages, and it will be fixed soon!) Also, if you indicated interest in contributing, I will be in touch soon!

xo-

Lesterhead

At Last! Choice Greene is Open!

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After waiting months and months, Choice Market's first offshoot is open.

The inside is fairly spacious (meaning lots of room to walk around, unlike the cozily cramped Choice Market).  They're selling lots of fresh stuff!  Kinda reminded me of a (very) mini Fairway:

And my favorite section:

fresh produce at choice greene

Lots of fresh herbs!  Yay!

(Choice Greene is Located on Greene Ave at Grand Ave)

Planet Green Casting

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Normally, I try to stick to CH-based events, but a TV show casting focusing on green living recently popped into my inbox and it sounded interesting (and like a good opportunity to showcase our beautiful neighborhood!).  Plus, participants will learn how to incorporate green techniques into their everyday lives and have the potential to win money!  And who doesn't want some money right now, right? Wa$ted is an eco-green, home makeover show.  We are currently casting our 2nd season and we are looking for energetic, unique, and diverse households in and around the tri-state area that might be interested in learning how to be a bit more green. Our mission is to show the viewing audience and the show’s participants’ ways and means by which they can reduce their impact on the environment and frequently save money in the doing. The program is fun but with a clear message.  I am reaching out to you for help spreading the word about this unique opportunity among your readers and the Clinton Hill Community.

If you think this is something either you or your readers might be interested in it would be great if you could pass along our official casting call or post it to your blog.  The ideal households are those who may not want to go green or are hesitant to buy into the green movement or maybe they are interested in being green but feel overwhelmed by all the information and options that are out there.  I'd be pleased to explain the details with you further if you would like.  So please feel free to give me a call or email and we can discuss the show in greater detail.  In the meantime, I am including below a brief description of the show and what it entails along with a link to the Planet Green website.

Wa$ted is in its 2nd season for Discovery’s Planet Green.  The goal of the show is to teach people to be less wasteful and to be more green.  Our hosts, Annabelle Gurwitch and Holter Graham, want to show people how easy and fun it can be to save the environment and save money.  We want to show that through some simple changes to your house and your lifestyle you can reduce your carbon footprint and save money without sacrificing your luxury and comfort. The eco-makeover will involve lifestyle tips, cool gadgets and products, and superficial changes to the home.  And the best part – we help you save MONEY!  With the potential to WIN money based on your success.  Wa$ted focuses on a spectrum of environmental issues within households from their waste, energy, water and transportation consumption.  With the help of our green experts we narrow in on certain problems facing each family that are both hurting the environment and the homeowner's bank account. Each episode offers dozens of customized, unconventional solutions in the form of appliances, gadgets and easy-to-maintain tips and tricks on how to best shrink ecological footprints, conserve energy and produce less trash, which in turn saves the homeowners (and viewers) some serious cash, both upfront and over the years.

Requirements:

Must own home or apartment

Must live within 2 hours of NYC

Shooting is 2 days – with some additional time over the course of the month

If interested, contact Joey at joey.lucas@liontv.us.

Coat Drive @ Connecticut Muffin: TOMORROW

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Students from the group Banneker Brothers United from local high school Benjamin Banneker Academy for Community Development have organized a coat drive that will also take place on Saturday, December 6th. Please bring your gently used coats to their NYCares collection site, located in front of Connecticut Muffin at Clinton and Myrtle, from 11:30am to 4pm.

Myrtle Ave Holiday Window Painting: TOMORROW

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I was finally able to meet one of my contacts at MARP - Jennifer Stokes- in person earlier this week!  She and all the folks at MARP have been going above and beyond with innovative programming in our neighborhood. Tomorrow, artists will paint and decorate the windows of local businesses for the holiday season!  Passers-by will be able to vote for their favorite via text message.  This is a great opportunity to take a stroll, grab some lunch, a cocktail or some hot cocoa, and do some holiday shopping locally.

Here's the complete press release:

Join us this Saturday, 12/6 as local artists bring holiday cheer to Myrtle storefronts using paint and lights!

__________________________

Myrtle Holiday Windows Contest: A New Spin on a Popular Holiday Tradition

Watch as Local Artists Bring Sixteen Storefront Windows on Myrtle Avenue to Life with Festive Holiday Scenes!

FORT GREENE and CLINTON HILL, BROOKLYN, December 3, 2008 – On Saturday, December 6th from noon to 5pm, seventeen storefronts along Myrtle Avenue spanning from Washington Park to Classon Avenue will come to life with holiday spirit as part of the first annual Myrtle Holiday Windows Contest. The contest will bring local artists to Myrtle to create festive holiday scenes on a portion of each participating merchant's storefront window using paint and holiday lights. Residents and shoppers will be able to vote for their favorite holiday window via text message up until Christmas Day, and the winning artist or team of artists will receive $250 in Myrtle Avenue gift certificates as a prize. Take a stroll down Myrtle this Saturday, and watch the transformation take place! This project is sponsored by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership (the Partnership) as part of their ongoing effort to bring art to public spaces to draw more people to the retail corridor, and is supported in part by a generous donation from the PrattStore.

The Myrtle Holiday Windows Contest is the newest installment in the innovative Myrtle Windows Gallery program, which brings two-dimensional art traditionally limited to the private gallery to the public arena via the storefront window where it is accessible to anyone walking down the street. The Holiday Windows Contest creatively uses the storefront window as canvass to bring art to the community, holiday cheer to the avenue, and shoppers to Myrtle.

All the painting will take place during five hours beginning at noon this Saturday, December 6th, creating a sort of live art performance where the art-making is as much part of the excitement as the final product! All are invited to come out and watch the holiday magic happen. The following businesses are participating in the contest (listed in order travelling from west to east on Myrtle between Washington Park and Classon Avenue): Fort Greene SNAP (329 Myrtle); Ray's Barber Shop (331 Myrtle); Gnarly Vines (350 Myrtle); Burzh-wa (352 Myrtle); Kinara II (368 Myrtle); The Bakery (154 Vanderbilt); Duncan's Fish Market (385 Myrtle); Kiini Ibura (388 Myrtle); Kapella's (417 Myrtle); Karen's Body Beautiful (436 Myrtle); Jive Turkey (441 Myrtle); Joseph Tyler Salon (456 Myrtle); Barking Brown (468 Myrtle); Zaytoons (472 Myrtle); Optimum Care Rehab (474 Myrtle); Pillow Cafe (505 Myrtle); Square Root Café (584 Myrtle).

Special signage posted in each window will instruct viewers on how to cast a vote for their favorite holiday window via text message. The 'polls' will be open from December 6th through December 25th, when the winner will be announced on our website at www.myrtleavenue.org. The painted windows will be on display through early January.

"We're excited to put our own spin on holiday storefront windows traditionally seen in larger department stores, bringing cheer to Myrtle Avenue in a fun, unique way. We are proud to have professional artists, art students, and even local school teachers and students participating in this project. This is a wonderful expression of not just holiday spirit, but community involvement as well," explains Meredith Phillips Almeida, the Partnership's Director of Community Development. The Partnership hopes this contest will boost foot traffic to Myrtle Avenue during the holiday shopping season, and is encouraging residents to support the area's small businesses by shopping local during these tough economic times.

First Friday + Holiday Party @ RePop: Dec 5!

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From RePop: December marks the last month of the year and thus the final event in 2008 for RePOP. We are extremely pleased to feature fine new paintings by John Mathias as well as a fresh collection of jewels from his darling wife, the incomparable Miss Ellie.

In addition, RePOP will also be hosting our annual Holiday Ball. Most usually a Halloween event, we are decking the halls a little later this year by spreading some Christmas cheer instead.

Art opening and cocktail party will be held within the shop with after hours shenanigans to commence in the back room after 11pm. Quests are encouraged to dress festively and bring a bottle or a suggested $5 to contribute to the bar.

Event: First Friday Dec. 5:  Fine Art & Fabulous Jewels by John & Ellie Mathias "It's a Holiday Ball!  " What: Holiday Party Host: RePop NY Start Time: Friday, December 5 at 7:30pm End Time: Saturday, December 6 at 2:00am Where: RePOP 95% Recycled

Fulton Construction and Parking Problems

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Received this from a reader:I live in Clinton Hill at Washington Ave and Fulton St.  There has be a lot of continuous construction going on in this general area, making it very difficult to find parking.  Does anyone know if Alternate Side of the Street Parking has been temporarily suspended in the area due to construction?  I checked nyc.gov and there was no such notice posted.

That work's been going on for years now, and I've heard no such thing about parking rules being suspended because of it.  Wouldn't it be nice if they were, though? I never considered the effect this must continue to have on parking availability in that immediate area.  Is there a way to petition for this?

I do know that the alternate side rules are being reduced in the near future, from four days to two, in our community board district.  No word on when the change will take effect.

December Events @ Tillie's

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December EventsTillie’s of Brooklyn 248 DeKalb Avenue Brooklyn NY 11205 718 783-6140 www.tilliesofbrooklyn.com

Friday 12/5/08 8 p.m. Nico Soffiato Quartet Nico Soffiato, guitar Nick Videen, alto sax Giacomo Merega, bass Zach Mangan, drums

The music of the Nico Soffiato Quartet travels through several musical trajectories that simultaneously comforts and challenges any listener.  While its roots are strongly grounded in the jazz tradition, its routes move towards complex rhythmic and harmonic structures, creating a melodic soundscape in flux with every groove. For more information and audio samples, see www.myspace.com/nicojazz.

Cover: $5; $3 with student ID

Tuesday 12/9/08 4:30 p.m. Rolie Polie Guacamole Now a monthly feature due to popular demand, Frank Gallo and Andrew Tuzhilin bring a fresh new acoustic funk to children’s music. Appropriate for both kids and adults, suggested age range for kids is 1 – 7. Please note that strollers must be left outside due to space constraints within Tillie’s. A minder will be on-site. Cover: $5

Friday 12/12/08 8 p.m. Newxotica David Caldwell-Mason, keys Keith Drogan, vibes Eyal Maoz, guitar Andy O’Neill, drums

Newxotica plays/explores the musical world known as “'EXOTICA”, drawing inspirations from many sources, including Duke Ellington’s big band jazz, and soul, but especially the music of the great composers Martin Denny and Les Baxter.

Cover: $5; $3 with student ID

Art The Balkans

Robyn Holl December 1 2008 – January 3 2009

Robyn Holl was born in Virginia and raised in Maryland. She earned a B.A.in Painting from Pratt Institute in 2003.  Recently relocated to the U.S., she lived for four years in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, where she volunteered in the Film Klub (Mladi Most) and the Youth Cultural Center. She also assisted with art workshops supported by Cradle in the Pavorotti Music Center and had led workshops in the humanitarian organization, Club Novi Most.  She has exhibited her work widely in Europe and in New York and showed her Senior Thesis Project at Tillie’s in 2003, “Across the Counter,” finely etched portraits of customers. That same year she received the Rose Hoffman Epstein Memorial Award from The National Arts Club in New York.

Of her finely colored abstractions, she says: “Commonly art is thought of as earnestly seeking truth; but to me uncertainty, questions, loss, and acceptance of the lack of simple answers or solutions are in some sense truths.  It is necessary to continue to look, despite the idea that only uncertainty is certain.  What is important for me is the act of looking for, and seeing, that which is not there. To abstract means to subtract from reality, to reduce to a subject’s essence. The process is of losing, which comes back to the reason for the search.  I am searching.”

Reception Wednesday 12/3/08 7-9 p.m.

Open Mic:

Thursday 12/4

Thursday 12/18

8 p.m. sign-up

8:30 p.m. performances

Host: Nick Noir

No cover

For more information on any of the above call Patricia Mulcahy at 718 783-6140 or contact us via mail@tilliesofbrooklyn.com. Directions to the store are on the website under “Getting Here.”

WEEK OFF

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I'm headed out of town tomorrow for the holiday and am taking a much-needed week off from CHB. I'm at a crucial juncture with the site, and am trying to evaluate what needs to be done to make improvements for the readers and to make it easier for me to run!

Please help me out by taking a short survey.

If you are a CHB reader, click here! (SURVEY RE-OPENED AND UPDATED WITH EXTRA QUESTIONS!)

If you are a local business, click here! (to sweeten the pot, one lucky business survey participant will receive a free one-month ad on CHB!)

Thanks, and have a happy Thanksgiving.  (Anyone going to wait on line at Jive Turkey?  Reviews are welcomed!).  See ya on December 1!

NOTE: Thanks for the overwhelming response thus far!

Swimming at LIU!

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Received this from a swimming friend of mine.  A great opportunity if you're interested in using the LIU pool and joining up with some like-minded people. Long Island University has kindly opened its doors to the Brooklyn Masters Swimming program, a division of Team New York Aquatics. For those of you who are not familiar with Masters Swimming, we're part of the United States Masters Swimming program and they're devoted to getting more people swimming.  We have swimmers of all ranges looking for many different things out of the program.  There are people who compete (swim meets, open water, and triathlons), and those who never do and just like swimming with a fun group of people and like having coaching to give them a good workout or improve their stroke. We have four lanes at LIU, so we can accommodate a wide range of speeds.

Currently, our practice times are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings from 7-8:30am (with some holiday changes - check the website for those details).  The locker rooms open before 7 so we can hop in the pool at 7 on the dot. All you need to bring with you other than your swim gear (cap, suit, goggles) is a towel and a lock if you need a locker.

LIU requires everyone who uses the pool to be on a list with the security guard at the front desk, so if you'd like to try it out, email info@brooklynswim.org to get your name on the list.

Now is a great time to try out the pool.  Because of the holiday season and the start of the team, we have a discount rate for members of $75/month for three workouts a week, or less if you're going to swim fewer than three a week.  Starting January, when our schedule will be uninterrupted by the holidays, the price will increase to $114/month.  Or if you're not sure how often you'll swim, you can pay $15 per workout or you can purchase a 6-workout Splash Card for $80 or a 12-workout Splash Card for $160.  You can try out one workout for free so no need to make a commitment right away.

***Brooklyn Masters Swimming is on a special holiday schedule this week, and as a special holiday bonus, you can join us for a FREE trial workout!  The normal cost for a drop-in is $15, but this Monday and Tuesday you can swim with us at Long Island University from 7:00 - 8:30 am at absolutely no cost.  The only thing you need to do is contact our head coach, Conrad Johnson (cjswim007@earthlink.net or 917-446-0595) to get your name on the security list at LIU.  YOU MUST HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO ATTEND YOUR FIRST WORKOUT.

For more info contact cjswim007@earthlink.net or info@brooklynswim.org, or check out our website at http://brooklynswim.org.***

See you in the pool!

Neighborhood Deals

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Holiday Sales abound! Collecther - Cool vintage store on Franklin south of Lafayette: NOV 29 Re-opening Saturday 12-8 join us for hot cider and 25% off

NOV 29-30 Saturday and Sunday 25% off your purchases

Tessan Boutique - tiny shop on Clinton at Lafayette that's gorgeously curated: Holiday Sale: Up to 50% off!

Fort Greene Artisan's Market - two indoor locations! Two Real Estate Offices have provided an indoors venue for Fort Greene Park's Artisan Market. The Artisan Market,an outdoor art&craft venue on the DeKalb Avenue sidewalk perimeter of Fort Greene Park,is the Fort Greene Park Conservancy's weekly fundraiser for the Park mid-April to mid-October. Natasha Harsh, a local artist, produces the Artisan Market and has organized the 3DaysOnly@2Locations Holiday Sale to promote both this seasonal fundraiser on the park plus create a sales opportunity for some of the artist and designer "regulars" during these very difficult economic times.

Come on over and support your local Artists/Artisans and Musicians. Free and open to the public. 3 Days Only @ 2 Locations– Nov.28/29/30 Crafts & Collectibles Holiday Sale in Fort Greene features Artist/Designers from Fort Greene Park’s Artisan Market: Angeline Roth, Kevin Barry, Citybitz, PJ Cobbs, Jacobs Eye,Jessica DeCarlo and others at Fillmore Real Estate, 75 Lafayette and Location/Location, 88 South Portland. Located just two blocks from BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) both locations will be open Fiday – Sunday 10AM – 5PM with Artists selling their original and unique creations at wholesale prices. 4PM Performance 11/28- SPOKE Jazz Quartet at Fillmore Real Estate, 75 Lafayette Ave. 3PM Performance 11/29- SPOKE at Location/Location, 88 South Portland. SPOKE’s latest recording of their original music will also be available for sale. For additional info call (718) 855-8175.

Day Care Fair at LIU

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Check out local day care options and register your children at this upcoming Day Care Fair! Council Member Letitia James and Council Member Bill de Blasio Host a Brooklyn Day Care Fair on Saturday, November 22nd, from 10 am – 2 pm at the Long Island University - Brooklyn Campus

Do you need Day Care for your child?  Want to learn about affordable and subsidized day care centers in and near your neighborhood?

COME TO THE BROOKLYN DAY CARE FAIR TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL CHILD CARE OPTIONS FOR YOU CHILD

At the Brooklyn Day Care Fair you can:

 Meet local Day Care Centers Director

 Enroll your child in Day Care

 Learn about eligibility for subsidized Day Cares

 Obtain information about immigrant needs

 Learn about options for newborn and infant care, as well as special needs

 Find out about care during non-traditional hours

ON-SITE enrollment for the child care centers through the Administration for Children’s Services [ACS] - in order to enroll you will need:

• Proof of Residence

• Proof Reason for Needing Child Care

• Legal Residency for Non Citizen Children

• Proof of Income

• Family Members

Door Prizes!!!  Door Prizes!!!  Door Prizes!!!

TONIGHT: SCH Meeting!

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Come by and see what's new in the neighborhood! Society for Clinton Hill

General Meeting

Thursday, November 20, 2008, 7-9 pm

Saint Joseph's College, Saint Angela Hall, 267 Waverly Ave. (DeKalb/Willoughby)

AGENDA

7-7:30         *Food by Grand Dakar - Chef Pierre Thiam will be available with his  new book of recipes.  Signed copies available for sale.

*Re-live Halloween in Clinton Hill, slides and video

7:30            Welcome, Jim Barnes, President

7:40            Arts & Artists in Clinton Hill, local photographer, and Pratt professor,  Bill Kontsias will show and discuss his BAM-sponsored art exhibit "The Face of Tillie's," which features candid portraits of neighborhood residents.

Introduction: Ken Korman, SCH Board Member

8:00            Greening Clinton Hill, greening professionals There are so many interesting and economical things we can do to reduce our individual carbon footprint.  Come and learn from the experts.

Introduction: Sunny Argan, SCH Board Member

8:30            Committee Reports – Dave Haberer & Suzanne DeBrango

8:40            House Tour –  May 3, 2009 - Linda Scher & Brett Truit

8:50            Neighborhood Development

The contractor for 271-275 Washington Ave., the site next to St. Luke's Lutheran Church, will discuss his development plans.  Q&A to follow.  Introduction: Mary Cole

8:55                 Make Your Own Holiday Wreath – Brent Porter

9:00                 Adjourn