Oh yes, it’s totally that time again. Time to reach into your wallet and grab hold of all the cash you’ll spend to keep your children busy this summer. Time to look at camps. And believe you me, there’s quite a few to choose from. Whether it’s day camp or sleep away, local or far-flung, the NY Family Camp Fair Tour will be in Park Slope this Sunday, 29 January, to help you make a decision. More than 60 camps will be on hand at the Union Temple, 17 Eastern Parkway, from noon to 3pm and Renee Flax, the Director of Camper Placement of the American Camp Association, NY & NJ, will also be there to answer questions. PRE-REGISTER NOW to receive a gift bag at the fair. You’ll also qualify to participate in a raffle for a chance to win a Camp Trunk from Lesters or our grand prize family trip.
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Hey Brooklyn, What Are Your Kids Doing This Summer?
Got Family for the Holidays? Consider These Brooklyn Hotels
The new Aloft New York Brooklyn Hotel
So what’s new on the scene for this year’s upcoming holidays? Here’s a small list of alternative hotels we think would be appropriate for anyone visiting BoCoCa. They may not be walking distance, but what’s NYC without a little public transportation? Please let us know if you have any additional knowledge we missed.
Aloft New York Brooklyn Hotel (216 Duffield St., Downtown Brooklyn): With 176 air-conditioned guestrooms, a restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and free Internet and wireless, we like this shiny, new hotel. Also good to know, pets are allowed!
Hotel Le Bleu (370 4th Avenue, Park Slope): Another “boutique” hotel on a not-so-gorgeous drag of Park Slope, this property promises complimentary breakfast and guest parking, which is pretty good for this area. Alas, wireless is only free in public areas. Expect blue-tinged rooms with FREE bottled water! But tell your mom to leave her Yorkshire terrier at home for the holidays, no pets allowed.
Hotel Le Jolie (235 Meeker Ave., Williamsburg): Come on, hipster it up at this B’burg hotel near the Williamsburg Bridge. Again, you’ll get complimentary on-site parking, breakie, bottled water and wireless Internet in public areas. Plus, fancy Egyptian linens in the 54 guestrooms. No pets here either.
Brooklyn Farmacy News and Summer Hours
Amazing what a year can do. Just last spring we were wondering when the newly renovated Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain would open to the public in Cobble Hill for egg creams, organic ice cream treats and general merriment (helped along by the crew of Discovery Channel’s Construction Intervention). Today, most folks in the neighborhood will tell you what an amazing spot it is to sit, play some Monopoly, grab a sundae and hang with the family. So it was a joy to hear the sweet shop will be open for new warm weather hours as follows: Monday to Thursday: 11am to 10pm, Friday and Saturday: 10am to 11pm and Sundays: 10am to 10pm. In addition, you can help yourself to free wireless AND they’re now serving lunch. The “Grumble Grumble Grilled Cheese” made its debut this month with sharp cheddar cheese and multi-grain bread from Caputo’s Bakery. Served as a special with tomato soup and an egg cream, or solo with a crisp deli pickle from Ric’s Picks you may want to bring your laptop and park it for a while.
Lil Ruggers Back in Prospect Park For Spring Kids Classes
Springtime in Brooklyn means warmer weather, higher spirits, and a plethora of new activities to sign your child up for. And if you haven’t heard of Lil Ruggers, tag rugby for kids, you may want to check it out. The program takes place at the Prospect Park Tennis House South for a a mini session of 7 weeks starting this Sunday, 8 May. Children aged 3 to 4 play from 10am to 10:45am and 5 to 7 year olds go from 10:50am to 11:45am. The class size is limited to 15 students and Devorah Bumberger (CEO and Founder of Lil Ruggers) says, especially at this age, rugby is the perfect sport to help with listening, coordination, sharing and communication. The activity is controlled and non-contact, so there’s no worries about broken collarbones or cauliflower ears. The cost is $280 and you can sign up here. Feel free to call 917-400-2542 if you have any additional questions or email at dev@lilruggers.com.
Carroll Gardens One-Chair Hair Salon-Wine Included
The Bird House is a labor of love. A private hair salon with just one chair on Luquer and Court, owner Brooke Hunt envisioned a personal, comfortable setting to cut, color, blow-out and create amazing hair styles for the well-deserving residents of Bococa. Her website promises customized, professional styling according to your wants and needs. And you’ll be pampered with coffee in the morning and wine in the afternoon, along with a stack of Us Weekly’s to peruse (because we know you don’t read that at home). Best of all, it’s affordable. Haircuts go for $50 for women, $40 for men and $25 for children. A full head of highlights and lowlights is $125 and a blow-out is $30. You can peruse the full menu here.
The salon opens tomorrow, 29 April, and you can check it out yourself with these promotions:
Launch weekend
& Japan relief fundraiser
April 29 & 30
To celebrate the official launch of The Bird House studio, Brooke will donate 10% of each service to the Red Cross for Japan relief.
Blow-out blowout
May 27 & 28
10:00am-6:00pm
Book an appointment at The Bird House for a free blow-out! Tell all your friends. First come, first served. Enjoy drinks and treats.
Referrals
For a limited time, when you refer your friends to The Bird House, you’ll get 50% off your next haircut, after their first visit.
Easter Egg Hunts in South Brooklyn
This is a big week. I know because not only are my kids home from school. but parking (street cleaning) regulations are suspended from today through Friday, 22 April for observance of Passover, Holy Thursday and Good Friday, then again on the following Monday and Tuesday, 25 and 26 April for observance of Passover again. And, of course, Sunday is Easter, so here’s a few egg hunts in the hood if you want to bring the kiddies, courtesy of A Child Grows in Brooklyn. We also included Brooklyn Bridge Park’s free Spring Fling in the list (not actually an egg hunt).
Spring Egg Hunt at Pierrepont Playground- Saturday, April 23rd: 10 am SHARP
Candy, treats, bake sale, face painters, balloons and good friends have made this an annual tradition for many families! This year they will have access to the grassy area towards the promenade for the 4 and under crowd. Professional photographer and neighborhood dad Geoff Cardillo will be available to take portraits of the kids in their Spring best. Photos will be available for purchase via a website after the hunt. All proceeds will benefit the Brooklyn Heights Playground Committee.
Details: Located at Pierrepont St. and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. (In case of rain please check our web site at www.bhplaygrounds.org for updates). The rain date is Sunday, April 24th.Urban Meadow’s Second Annual Spring Egg Hunt – Saturday, April 23rd: 10:30 am SHARP
For little ones (0 to 4), the hunt will take place at the Urban Meadow. For big kids (5 and up), the hunt will be at Mother Cabrini Park, the playground next door to the Meadow. Both hunts start promptly at 10:30, so get a basket and be on time! After, you can enjoy some baked goods, coffee, face painting and meet a real bunny. This free event is open to all and brought to you by the members of the
Urban Meadow, local businesses and neighbors like you. Thank you!
Details: The Meadow is at the Corner of President and Van Brunt Streets Brooklyn, NY, 11231Eggs-Travaganza Easter Egg Hunt at Brooklyn Children’s Museum- Saturday, April 23rd: 9 – 11 am (hunt starts promptly at 9:30 am) and 12:30- 3:30 pm for Rabbit
Scout out eggs in the Children’s Museum’s Garden: will they hold prizes, treats or golden tickets? There will be a special area for ages 3 and under. (Please remember to bring your own basket.) After the hunt, join everyone in a private craft area for more family fun. Then Beatrix Potter’s favorite rabbit “Peter” will make a special appearance at Brooklyn Children’s Museum from 12:30-3:30 pm. You will hear about the magical world of Peter Rabbit and his friends in Mr. McGregors’ Garden during lively book readings. Enjoy fun family crafts, and have your picture taken with Mr. Rabbit himself! Free with Museum admission, photos available at an additional fee. All ages
Details: Egg Hunt: Members $5, Non Members $12, children under 1 are free. Ticket sales begin March 17, either in person at our admissions desk, email sales to specialevents@brooklynkids.org, or via phone at 718-735-4400×127. Ticket price includes Museum admission for the day. 145 Brooklyn Avenue (at St. Marks Avenue), Brooklyn. Call (718) 735-4400 or visit www.brooklynkids.org for more info.Spring Fling at Brooklyn Bridge Park- Saturday, April 23, 10:30 a.m.– 1 p.m.
The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, in partnership with Brooklyn Bridge Park, will kick-off the 2011 programming season with the 6th Annual Spring Fling. This celebration of spring will feature Easter Bunny, AudraRox!, and Butterfly Boogie with the Wildlife Theater Company. Spot some birds with Brooklyn birdwatcher, Carolyn Murphy. Come to Pier 1 for an egg toss, egg roll, a duck race, and other games to get your feet moving! Beautiful Earth Group will also be on site to make solar power bead necklaces. Karma Kids Yoga will also be there to help you practice your yoga poses and Transit Museum, Brooklyn Public Library and Moxie Spot will host activity tables. Game prizes provided by Jacques Torres Chocolate. 10:30-11:30 – Wildlife Theater Company’s Butterfly Boogie 10:30-12:30 – Storytelling 10:30-11:00; 11:30-12:00 – Birdwatching (max 30 people) 12:00-1:00 – AudraRox! Games and activities throughout the event!
Details: Visit The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy for more details. At Pier 1.Easter Egg Hunt EGGstravaganza – Saturday, April 23, 2-6 pm
DonnaDivine Productions will host this egg hunt with crafts, face painting, raffles, refreshments, games and receive a free spring family portrait. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
Details: $25 for 4 people and $5 per additional family member. Email info@donnadivine.com for payment instructions. Prospect Park.Grace Church Festival Eucharist and Egg Hunt- Sunday, April 24th: 10:30 am
The Parish Choir sings and there is an Easter egg hunt after the service.
Details: Grace Church is at 254 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Rainy Day? Find a New Laptop
A laptop is a big purchase. Whether it’s for work, fun, family or all of the above, your choices are hardly simple. The lingo can be confusing (RAM, OS, processor speed, Bluetooth, optical drive), and nobody wants that 19 year old sales clerk glaring at us like we flunked high school math. To make things a little easier, and jack up your tech IQ, our friends at Techlicious have created a giant guide to the best laptops of 2011. From sub-$500 Netbooks to slim, sleek workhorses, you’ll get all the details you need to face the Best Buy geek–or feel confident enough to buy one online.
Get Your Green on in the BK
It’s that time again. St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and though it’s certainly an excellent excuse to throw a few back, we also hope there won’t be any green vomit lining the streets of Bococa. I will be celebrating at the brand new Stinky Bklyn, tony cheese and fancy food purveyor. Not to fear, the move is just down the street, to 215 Smith St. between Butler and Baltic. Remember to stop in and see the new space–and grab a beer with your cheese. Plans not finalized yet? Here’s a few things around town which should make your day a lucky one. In the meantime, don’t forget to pick up Trader Joe’s seriously yummy Irish bangers before they are over and out.
The Brazen Head (228 Atlantic Ave.) will offer $5 pints of Guinness, free corned beef sandwiches after 5pm, and a menu of 11 Irish whiskeys by the glass.
Char No. 4 (196 Smith St.) is serving a St. Patrick’s day special during dinner in addition to the regular menu both at the bar and in the dining room. It includes smoked beef-Guinness sausage over house made corned beef and cabbage, a 1 ounce taste of Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey and a bottle of Smithwick’s beer for $24. A flight of three Irish whiskeys will also be featured for $11.
Want to go a different route? Head to Brooklyn Bead Box (244 Smith St.) and get all green beads 20 percent off until 20 March.
They’re bringing sexy back at the Galapagos Art Space (16 Main Street, DUMBO) with a St. Patty’s Day Burlesque show. Get green with envy watching Miss Tickle, Madame Rosebud and Eden shake their tail feathers. Starts at 8pm (show begins at 9pm) and tickets are just $10.
I guess you can say The Little Mermaid is kinda’ green. At least that’s what the folks at the Bell House (149 7th Street, Brooklyn) were thinking when they scheduled a Little Mermaid Sing-Along. Sit through the screening and you’ll be rewarded with the words to all the songs. The more whiskey you drink, the further under the sea you’ll sink. For $5 you’ll also get themed drink specials, goldfish crackers, trivia and contests. Doors open at 7:30.
Ceol promises a true Irish menu, including Guinness Irish beef stew, bangers and mash, and Guinness chocolate cake.
Prospect Park Winter Jam
Well, I mean, if there’s going to be snow, we might as well take advantage. And the Winter Jam in Prospect Park seems a perfect way to enjoy the weather. Taking place Saturday, 5 February, at The Nethermead (enter at Ocean Ave. & Lincoln Rd), the event is free and will include a Snow Field to mess around in; a “Learn-To” area for all ages to learn the basics of skiing and snowboarding (equipment provided); national snowbaording contest the Red Bull Buttercup; and a Winter Marketplace to sip and taste samples from local producers. The event will proceed rain, shine or snow from 11am to 4pm. Want to get your blood circulating before you hit the festival? Join the Hibernation Hike through the Ravine to look for dens of hibernating mammals. Meet-up is at 11am at Prospect Park Picnic House (West Drive and Third Street).
Yet Even MORE BK Shopping
On Friday, 26 November, the third annual “Shop Brooklyn,” will officially kick off the holiday shopping season. Initiated in the fall 2008 by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the event is a borough-wide “shop local” campaign for local residents and visitors, highlighting the service and individuality of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods and shopping corridors. The point is to unite Brooklyn’s vibrant “Main Streets” under one cohesive banner to promote shopping in Brooklyn and “Brooklyn Bonus” offers. Want to be a part of this BK lovefest? Participating retailers, restaurants, bars, and other service providers will display a “Shop Brooklyn” logo in their windows and offer special “Brooklyn Bonuses” each weekend through 25 December. For more info and updates, check here.
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