No need to repeat info when it's been covered in other places already - let's see what else is going on in the hood:
I noticed recently that I could not log in to the CHB Twitter account from my phone, and assumed I was just using a crappy app. However, it seems that our account was suspended due to "suspicious activity." Twitter has not responded to my query yet (which I submitted a week ago) - the status is "in process." Apologies! Did anyone see ay funny spam posts on it that might signal a suspension?
The CUNY Grad School of Journalism has just launched a special online neighborhood report called Brookyn Bridge Cultures. The purpose? Exploring the rich cultures and populations of Brooklyn's neighborhoods, as well as spotlighting immigrant communities and their contributions. to the borough. The site offers a very nice profile of Fort Greene's Madiba, including the establishment's history and interviews with the owner about South Africa and the restaurants' most popular dishes.
The full report is available online here!
In the past, we’ve dug up the history of the famous namesakes of some Clinton Hill streets – but what about Clinton Hill itself? Clinton Hill -- and Clinton Avenue – are named for DeWitt Clinton, a former New York City mayor, New York state governor and United States Senator. Born in 1769, DeWitt was part of a budding political dynasty – his uncle George Clinton was New York’s first governor, and later was Thomas Jefferson’s Vice President. George gave his nephew his entry into politics, offering him clerkship. Within ten years, DeWitt Clinton was a member of the New York State Senate, and a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention; a year after that, in 1802, he was elected to the United States Senate.
However, Clinton didn’t take to national politics. He served just under two years in the Senate before he resigned, stating that he wanted to return to New York and run for mayor because he was unhappy with the living conditions in Washington, D.C. (to be fair, the city had just been newly built and was going through growing pains). Clinton served three separate terms as mayor, spanning the years 1803 to 1815.
Clinton’s real claim to fame, though, started during his final term. In 1810, the New York State legislature began considering a canal connecting the Hudson River and Lake Erie. At the time, the United States was starting to settle the present-day Midwest; merchants in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, as well as western New York State, relied on the Great Lakes for their shipping. However, the only way to get to the Great Lakes was through the St. Lawrence River – which was controlled by France. But there was a tributary of the Hudson River, the Mohawk River, which lay only 360 miles from Lake Erie. Clinton was one of several men the New York State Legislature appointed to investigate the possibility of building a canal bridging that gap.
Clinton joined the surveying party in 1810, traveling with most of the others in the boat following the Hudson upstream and then the Mohawk River west. Another man, Governour Morris, was ostensibly the commission’s head, but the other members noticed Clinton’s obvious passion for the project and started regarding Clinton as their unofficial leader instead. Clinton also seemed to be having a grand time personally – in addition to his geographical notes, he kept a travel journal documenting the group’s travel adventures.
After the group prepared its report for the New York State legislature, Clinton took over securing funding for the project. He and Morris went to Washington to ask for federal assistance, but then-president James Madison turned them down. The commission was set to try again in 1812 until war interrupted their plans. The committee waited a until few months after the war had ended, then held a public meeting in New York City in December of 1815, designed to drum up support for the canal. Clinton returned to Washington to once again appeal for support. This time, Congress agreed, but Madison knocked a quarter of the federal funding out of the project. But there was so much popular support for the canal that New York State started breaking ground on the project anyway.
A year later, Clinton was elected governor when New York’s acting governor, Daniel D. Tompkins, was elected vice president under James Monroe, and thus got to have even more of a front-row seat on the Erie Canal project. Curiously, Tompkins tried to unseat Clinton in the 1820 gubernatorial election – even though Tompkins had been re-elected Vice President. Clinton won, but by a rather narrow margin.
But Clinton’s luck changed two years later, when his party didn’t even nominate him for re-election in 1822. Clinton returned to his post as president of the Erie Canal Commission – where he faced greater political challenges. During the Canal’s construction, Clinton often squabbled with members of the “Buckthorn” party, a faction of the Tammany Hall organization opposed to Clinton’s politics; both sides often clashed on details of the canal’s construction, as well as on who deserved more credit for negotiating its funding. In 1824, the Buckthorn Party managed to get enough support in the New York State Legislature to vote Clinton out of the Erie Canal Commission altogether.
But this struck many New Yorkers as deeply unfair – and they assembled their own grass-roots party, named Clinton as their gubernatorial candidate, and sent him back to Albany. The Erie Canal officially opened that year, and Governor Clinton thus proudly rode the first boat to travel the length of the canal from Lake Erie down to New York harbor. Clinton went on to serve two more terms as governor before dying in office; he is currently buried in Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.
On June 20, the Urban Assembly of Arts and Letters will present its second annual SummerFest. Free for all, the event will feature activities for the whole family, as well as a Taste of Fort Greene / Clinton Hill (lots of great restaurants are participating!).
Here is the official blurb from the Academy:
Saturday, June 20th, 2009 from Noon to 3:00pm
The Urban Assembly Academy of Arts & Letters, 225 Adelphi St, Brooklyn, NY 11205 (between Dekalb and Willoughby in Fort Greene) G train to Clinton-Washington; C train to Lafayette; R, N, D, Q trains to Dekalb
Free and open to the public, SummerFest invites all to this outdoor festival featuring an exhibition of student artwork, student performances, face painting, and games for all ages, including a dunk tank! Enjoy our "Taste of Fort Greene/Clinton Hill Food Fest" with food from: Bacchus, Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, Chez Lola & Chez Oscar, Graziella's, Habana Outpost, iCi, Island Pride Restaurant, Kif, Kum Kau, La Villa Pizzeria & Restaurant, Mont Blanc Dessert, Olea Mediterranean Taverna, Red Bamboo, Roosters Chicken Rotisserie, Ruthie's Restaurant of Brooklyn, and Steve's Authentic Key Lime Pies. Raffle items include a Park Slope YMCA family membership, a Giants football jacket signed by Carl Banks, 2 i-Pod nano's, and a digital camera! Join us! Questions?: (718) 222-1605 x3042 or view www.uaaal.org.
A few local residents, along with their friends in Red Hook, have started a new video channel called SMiXeL. One of their projects includes a series called Foodie Two Shoes, where the host explores and reviews restaurants and bars. One installment featured Desserts by Michael Allen. Click here to view!
CHB welcomes its newest contributor, Van. A stay-at-home dad since being laid off in January. he'll take us on a tour of local restaurants with his daughter Tillie in his new feature "Lunchtime with Tillie," evaluating for kid-friendliness and sharing his perspective. While we hope he's back in the workplace soon, we're psyched to hear about his slice of life in Clinton Hill. Welcome, Van (and Tillie!)!
Now is the time to pounce - chi chi boutique Stuart and Wright is having their annual summer sale!
85 Lafayette Ave www.stuartandwright.com
Last summer, the NYC DOT did something daring in Manhattan with its Summer Streets program, shutting down a main thoroughfare in Manhattan to traffic and allowing pedestrians and cyclists to roam freely and safely. This summer, it seems the program is extending down to Vanderbilt Ave in Prospect Heights, just a short walk from us! Vanderbilt has been looking awesome lately, with those tree plantings in the median and even more shops and restaurants. Take the opportunity to enjoy a car-free Vanderbilt this month.
Here is the official info from the DOT:
Every Sunday in June, Vanderbilt Avenue in Prospect Heights will be closed to automobile traffic from Dean St. to Park Pl. from noon until 5pm. Summer Streets on Vanderbilt hopes to promote a new type of open space where community members can walk, play, bike, relax, socialize, and come together. The event also aims to highlight the many cultural resources and local businesses in the Prospect Heights area. There will be music, art, biking, shopping, eating, sports activities, kids’ entertainment, and more. This temporary pedestrian plaza hopes to build on a movement that promotes walkable, livable, and sustainable streets and neighborhoods in New York City. Summer Streets on Vanderbilt is sponsored by the Vanderbilt Avenue Merchants District and the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council in conjunction with NYCDOT.
When: Sunday, June 14th, 21st, and 28th, Noon – 5pm
Where: Vanderbilt Avenue from Dean St. to Park Pl., Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
Price: Free
Regular reader Brian reports that the tiny storefront on Fulton near Waverly (that was briefly J+J Cafe and was most recently a computer repair center) is slated to become a bakery.
To be honest, I didn't even realize it had become a computer repair place. But there IS construction going on inside.
Has anyone moved into the skinny condo building with the scarily steep loft stairs yet?
Received this from the Children's Librarian at the CH Library. I've asked her to do an interview for CHB, to discuss our local branch, how the BK library system works, and how we as neighbors can best support the CH branch and get involved. The below is an easy way to email local politicians to ask them for their support for libraries. Don't forget what a great resource the local branch is - order any book you want online and it will be sent to the CH branch for you free of charge! HELP KEEP LIBRARY DOORS OPEN! Brooklyn Public Library faces a budget cut of $17.5 million.
A $17.5 million budget cut would:
* ELIMINATE 175 jobs through layoffs - that's one out of every six full-time BPL employees. * REDUCE service to five days a week at most neighborhood libraries – with limited weekend hours. * Buy 185,000 FEWER books, DVDs and CDs
These changes would take effect as soon as July 1, 2009.
Visit www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/open
Click on “Contact Your Elected Officials”
to let your voice be heard.
Thanks for your support!
Your Friends at Clinton Hill Branch
Non-profit organization Rooftop Films is bringing a selection of indie films to rooftop venues in the neighborhood this summer. Sounds like a pretty cool way to support independent filmmakers while enjoying summer in the city:Saturday, June 6, 8pm, $9 Stingray Sam (Cory McAbee | Brooklyn, NY | | 70 min.) New York Premiere! A dazzling six-episode musical-western comedy that takes place in outer space, written, directed by and starring Cory McAbee, the creator of The American Astronaut. Venue: On the Roof of Brooklyn Technical High School Address: 29 Fort Greene Place (Fort Greene, Brooklyn) www.stingraysam.com The filmmakers will be in attendance.
Wednesday, June 10, 8pm, $9 PANORAMA: Tales of Mere Existence Funny films about anxiety, awkwardness and existential emotions, featuring the animations of internet sensation Lev. Plus a live reading from Lev's new book. Venue: On the Roof of Brooklyn Technical High School Address: 29 Fort Greene Place (Fort Greene, Brooklyn) Filmmaker will be in attendance.
Thursday, June 25, 8pm, $9 Rooftop, BAM Cinemafest & Arthouse Films present William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe (Sarah and Emily Kunstler | Brooklyn, NY | 85 min.) He might have been the most hated and most beloved lawyer in the world, but did anyone really know William Kunstler? Venue: Outdoors across from BAM Cinematek Address: Parking lot across from BAM @ Fulton and Ashland (Ft. Greene, Brooklyn) Filmmakers will be in attendance.
Rooftop Films is a non-profit organization whose mission is to engage and inspire the diverse communities of New York City by showcasing the work of emerging filmmakers and musicians. In addition to its Summer Series – which takes place in unique outdoor venues every weekend throughout the summer – Rooftop provides grants to filmmakers, teaches media literacy and filmmaking to young people, rents low-cost equipment to artists and non-profits, and produces new independent films. Rooftop Films brings the underground outdoors. For more information and updates please visit the website at www.rooftopfilms.com.
Received this info from a reader: Fulton Street's recently closed Ralph's Internet Cafe and an ambiguous but previously Habana-affiliated long-empty store-front on South Portland have apparently been merged into what appears to be a large single retail space, stretching around Not Ray's Pizza. No sign who owns it, but apparently they like bright green.These photos are looking in from South Portland, towards Fulton.
Part of this storefront used to be The Stroll, operated by Habana Outpost. Anyone have an inside scoop?
A few readers have told me that CHB has some sort of spyware situation going on. Since I use a Mac and Firefox, I had no idea. Until we get the potential problem fixed, using Firefox should prevent any spyware problems. Please avoid Internet Explorer.
Two pet-related requests from readers: LOST DOG
Our Dog Sonnet is Missing! She ran out around 9 pm on Monday evening (May 11th) from our front yard on Clifton and Nostrand and we havn't seen her. She was sighted racing down Dekalb Ave and Grand around 10 pm last Monday evening. Last week we got a call around 4 am to say that she was on Dekalb and Carlton and dashed over immediately. We walked the streets with a mike shouting her name until 6 am but could not find her. She is small about 40 pounds, a puggle with brown short hair and a green collar. Unfortunately her tag is missing. I am attaching a couple of photos. My cell is 917 3653023. Please call if you see her. Its best not to try and grab her as she is very skiddish and runs fast. Just keep her in sight and call me or my husband Tor 347 591 9480. She is a real sweetheart and we miss her. Thanks Sujatha Raman-Snyder
FOUND DOG
Join PUPS on It's My Park Day, Saturday, May 16, for their annual poop pick up "event." PUPS members will be cleaning the park of dog poop and trash during off-leash hours (before 9:00 am) on May 16. Best of all, whoever picks up the most trash wins a prize! If you are participating, please plan to have all your poop picked up by 9:00 am for the weigh-in by the dog fountain. The Weighmaster's rules are: poop and trash are allowed, but no picking up rocks and sticks for the weigh-in. Bring your own bags, but PUPS will have some bags available if you forget.
Prize for the most picked up: dinner for two at Ici Restaurant, a large supply of poop bags, and the title of "PUPS 2009 Grand Poo-bah."
Volunteer Today at Fort Greene Park! If you love Fort Greene Park as much as I do, this information from the Fort Greene Park Conservancy may be of interest:
Volunteer to make Fort Greene Park even more beautiful while spending a few hours under historic trees or in lovely gardens surrounded by rolling hills. Volunteer activities vary and can include caring for trees, sprucing up pathways, installing erosion control, spreading mulch or compost, repairing fences, gardening, painting, raking, sweeping, weeding, or watering. No experience necessary. Tools and training are provided. Tuesday, May 12, 2009 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Fort Greene Park Visitors Center (Enter at DeKalb and South Portland Avenues)
More Information: (718) 722-3218
If you can’t make it today, you can also volunteer in the park on Tuesday, May 26th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
Another way to help beautify our borough is coming up this weekend:
American Express Make a Difference Day -- NYRP and American Express are recruiting more than 200 volunteers to join us on May 16th to plant trees at Red Hook Houses, a New York City Housing Authority development in Brooklyn, NY as part of MillionTreesNYC.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: Red Hook Houses, Brooklyn -- Meet at Red Hook Park (corner of King Street and Dwight Street)
You can register at www.milliontreesnyc.org.
The Greene Hill Food Co-op is having its first social event on Sunday May 17th! Go-Go Grocery! A Greene Hill Food Co-op Gathering Sunday May 17th 2nd floor at Red Bamboo: 271 Adelphi (at Dekalb) Doors: 4:30 PM $5 a person
Come meet your neighbors, and get the inside word about the Co-op. Food, Fun, Friends Win cool prizes by playing BINGO, featuring Rich Awn, the voice of Green Air Pin the Tail on the Co-op: help decide the location of our store Favorite Food Group Darts: aim for your favorite food group and then write down which product you’d like to see on our shelves!
Doors: 4:30 PM BINGO: 5:00 PM
http://www.greenehillfoodcoop.com
From April 23rd to May 18th, Myrtle Avenue will again play host to the Myrtle Windows Gallery, an open-air art gallery of ten storefront windows, with a group exhibition of paintings and mixed-media works by SONYA Artists. For this Prelude Exhibition to the 10th SONYA Studio Stroll, local restaurant Tamboril will show additional pieces in their dining area, for a total of 26 pieces and 17 artists. This Prelude Exhibition is co-sponsored by the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership (the Partnership) as part of their larger effort to bring art to public spaces on the retail corridor.
The Myrtle Windows Gallery 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 current exhibition features the work of various artists affiliated with South of the Navy Yard Artists (SONYA), a non-profit organization of artists living, creating, and/or exhibiting in Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Wallabout, and Bed-Stuy. The exhibition offers a sneak peek of the artists you will encounter on the annual SONYA Studio Stroll, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. “The immediacy of seeing art in the Myrtle Windows Gallery is a win for everyone. Passersby are afforded a visual ‘treat’ and the SONYA artists get great exposure”, says Wendy Burke, the exhibition’s curator and SONYA member. The Stroll, which takes place on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th from noon-6pm both days (rain or shine), is a free, self-guided tour that includes 36 studios and galleries representing over 50 artist members of SONYA. The Stroll map will be available for download on www.sonyaonline.org in the coming weeks.
“By bringing Art to Myrtle, we can enrich the regular sidewalk experience of the visitor, shopper, and resident, and also draw attention to participating businesses,” explains Meredith Phillips Almeida, the Partnership’s Director of Community Development. “We are thrilled to partner with SONYA to offer opportunities for artists from our own community to show their work through this initiative.” Conceived as an innovative local economic development strategy with the dual purpose of increasing access to art and driving foot traffic to Myrtle Avenue, Myrtle Windows Gallery offers an added bonus for participating merchants – if a piece is sold, the store where it is displayed receives a commission.
The pieces will be on display from April 23rd to May 18th in the following storefronts, all located within three blocks on Myrtle Avenue between Clinton Avenue and Hall Street: Karrot Health Food (431 Myrtle); Karen’s Body Beautiful (436 Myrtle); Three Stars Laundromat (439 Myrtle); Thai 101 Restaurant (455A Myrtle); Joseph Tyler Salon (456 Myrtle); Anima (458 Myrtle); Five Spot Supper Club (459 Myrtle); Move with Grace Dance & Yoga Studio (469 Myrtle); Miracles Barber Shop (473A Myrtle); Optimum Care Rehab (474 Myrtle). Additional pieces will be on display at Tamboril (527 Myrtle). The Partnership’s public art program is funded in part by a grant from the Lily Auchincloss Foundation and Myrtle’s Business Improvement District.
Last year, local artist Ellie Balk created a community mural on the side of Tillie's coffee shop. Neighbors were invited to paint a small dot on the location where they live. Join your neighbors in a celebratory toast and dedication!
Clinton Hill Blog published from 2006 - 2010. Please enjoy these archives - a love letter to the neighborhood.
