Archive for ‘How We’re Living’

Update on Vehicular Safety Meeting for PS 29

By , 8 February, 2012, No Comment

Last week, we showed you the result of some seriously bad driving on Kane St., near PS 29. And Monday night, residents gathered to discuss how to slow drivers down in the neighborhood. Maureen Hogan, who hosted the meeting in her home, sent me just a few details to share–and she seems optimistic that something will be done to make the area safer for everyone. Though I couldn’t be there myself, here’s what was discussed:

Chris Hrones from the DOT, presented several options, and a subgroup is planning to apply for Speed Bumps, as well as exploring the potential for other traffic calming measures. he also explained the concept of “Slow Zones” (a program that reduces speed limits from 30 mph to 20 mph and adds safety measures, such as speed bumps, within a select area), which might be a good long range goal.

Both Hrones and Paul Grudzinsky from the 76th Pct. were well versed in the many problems in our area, especially on Hicks St and various Court St “problem areas” and were very receptive to discussion of problems immediately around the school and along Kane , Clinton, Baltic and Congress streets, which suffer from motorists that drive inappropriately for circumstances.

There was a general agreement that some measures are needed to prevent future tragedy, and a willingness from our representatives and elected officials and the Police dept to work towards some measures that will accomplish this.

Hicks St traffic calming studies are already underway, but the DOT might try in short term to put up a “your speed is” radar sign, and more signage. The timing of lights requires more research.

Now, we wait, and hope some of these issues will be addressed. In the meantime, you may not want to park your car at any corners!

Traffic Safety Meeting Planned in Cobble Hill

By , 31 January, 2012, 2 Comments

Quick update on our post from earlier in the week. We received this email from Maureen Hogan, we THINK the owner of that totaled Volvo on Kane and Henry St. If you’d like your say about traffic safety, you may want to stop by 155 Kane St next Monday, 6 Feb @7pm.

Meeting to discuss need for traffic calming on our roads around PS 29.
We will have a representative from the DOT: Christopher Hrones, and P.O. Paul Grudzinski from 76Pct.
Please spread the word, and ask people to bring specifics about accidents and near misses that they have witnessed, as the classification of accidents as “side swipes” or “disobeying of traffic lights” does not tell the whole tale as to the reckless driving we have been experiencing on our streets.
Various politicians are making every attempt to come, as well.
Thanks, and hope to see many of our neighbors there! m

Tow Trucks at Work in Brownstone Brooklyn

By , 14 November, 2011, 1 Comment

Does this image look familiar? If, like me, you own a car and park on the streets, you’ve most probably been there–the good ole’ Brooklyn Navy Yard. Recently though, I’ve noticed an abundance of cars being towed and ticketed in the BoCoCa neighborhood. Twice I saw cars parked too close to a hydrant get the heave ho (the law states a car must be 15 feet away), and just this week I saw at least four tickets being written up for cars parked in No Standing zones while parents whisked their kids into their respective schools. Not sure if there was a big push to collect extra cash this month or I’m just witnessing more violations, but thought I’d give a heads up. Anyone else notice a higher volume of acts against autos recently?

Brooklyn Bridge Park Open House

By , 8 November, 2011, No Comment

According to the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, the park attracted over 60,000 visitors on an average weekend this past summer. To celebrate, it will be premiering Brooklyn Independent Television’s (BIT) 25-minute documentary, “New York’s Next Great Park” as part of an open house on 17 November from 6:30pm to 8:00pm (at it’s new administrative offices at 334 Furman Street), to welcome and talk with community members about the park and its ongoing construction.
In addition, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Community Advisory Council will meet on 22 November from 6:30om 8:30pm at Brooklyn Borough Hall (209 Joralemon Street). The agenda includes a presentation of the responses received for the Pier 1 Hotel and Residental Development.

Free WiFi at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 and Pier 6

By , 14 October, 2011, No Comment

The weather may finally be forcing us indoors to work, but it’s a comfort to know there’s free WiFi at both Pier 1 and Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. So all you folks with your laptops can grab some coffee and park for a few hours without taking a up an entire table at Starbucks. And even better, parents can quickly surf the web or email on their smartphones while hanging with the kids. The free service is part of a five-year initiative led by AT&T and the City that is bringing wireless to 20 parks across the five boroughs.
Another good wireless hint? Brooklyn Farmacy (Henry and Sackett) also offers free WiFi. Come on, you know you’re dying for an artisinal egg cream while you finish the next great American novel.

61 Local Hosts Local Food and Drink Events in Cobble Hill

By , 3 August, 2011, No Comment

Come for the beer stay for the food. That’s the message Cobble Hill’s brew pub 61 Local (61 Bergen St., near Smith St.) sends with it’s communal tables, comfy wood paneling and locally sourced eats and booze. Former Sixpoint brewing engineer David Liatti opened this bastion to Brooklyn in January and wants you to come on in and be part of the community.
This month, they’ll be hosting a bunch of super cool events. The first, FOOD JUSTICE and WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE LOCAL takes place next Monday, 8 August at 7pm. A discussion panel with Brooklyn Bridge CSA includes panelists Christopher Nicolson from Red Hook Winery, Molly Culver from BKLYN Farmyards, Jeff Hutchinson and Christopher Munsey. Come for a lively discussion about what makes the local terroir or geography unique, how this is reflected in local craft, why it’s important to support your local business, how to define “local” and what it means in relation to food justice.
The next night, Tuesday 9 August, they’ll be hosting A Chocolate Tasting by Feast Upon from 7pm to 9pm. Come meet the producers, learn how they make it, and figure out who makes it the way you like it. Chocolate makers and chocolatiers in attendance include Mast Brothers, Jacques Torres, Cacao Prieto, JoMart, Raaka, and Fine & Raw. You can grab tickets here.
Saturday, 13 August, will bring a super sweet event called the Pint Mash-Up with Steve’s Craft Ice Cream, featuring three new ice cream flavors made with local craft beer. The schedule of events is as follows:
11am- Steve’s Pop-up ice cream cart at 61 Local
Kickstand Coffee cart sets up to serve iced coffee and floats all day
Raffle tickets are given with every float purchased
6pm- Free samples of Steve’s feature flavors: BEER PRETZEL CARAMEL, MAPLE PECAN PORTER, BROOKLYN BLACKOUT
Guest bartenders from Sixpoint and the home brewers team
11pm- Winners of the raffle prizes are announced.
“Pint” shuffle showdown between those lovable underdogs the Home Brewers and the ruthless Sixpoint and Barrier Brewing pro-team.
And lastly, a Brooklyn Cured sausage making and Beer pairing class will take place on 15 August at 7pm. Brooklyn Cured founder Scott Bridi will teach the class to making well-seasoned, perfectly textured sausages with distinct flavors. There will also be a pairing of three different artisanal beers. Get tickets here for $45 each.

Summer Arts at Pierrepont Playground

By , 24 June, 2011, No Comment

Looking for some educational programs for the kids? A Summer Arts Program will be conducted by the Micro Museum of Cobble Hill at Pierrepont Playground, beginning Tuesday, 5 July. The programs are funded by individual contributions to the Playground Committee, as well as generous annual contributions from the Brooklyn Heights Association, and best of all, it won’t cost a thing. From the mailing list: We will offer Science and Movement classes on Mondays from 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm and Creative Arts classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am – noon. These programs are recommended for children aged 4 and up. All classes are held at Pierrepont Playground. A parent or guardian must be present at all times.

New B&N Nook For Summer Reading

By , 24 May, 2011, No Comment

In my other, non-Bococland life, I play a journalist covering lots of lifestyle stuff and today got a chance to check out the new and not-yet-released Barnes and Noble Nook e-Reader. I realize many of you may still like the paper variety, but if, like myself, you can’t fit any more volumes in your Brooklyn apartment, you may want to think about a switch. Unlike the Nook Color, which has been out for quite a while and boasts the ability to read all kinds of media (newspapers, magazines, blogs, etc) this Nook is going back to basics as just a book reader. It’s scaled back in many ways–including a weight of under 7.5 ounces and an almost square footprint of 5-inches (w) by 6.5-inches (h). The six-inch, no-glare, e-ink screen makes it a perfect gadget for reading outdoors and it comes with built-in WiFi to purchase books. Other than a home button and four page turning buttons on its sides, you navigate using a full touchscreen. I like that you can just touch a word to go straight to a built-in dictionary (yes, I still use that feature on a fairly regular basis) and the page turning is quicker than with many other e-readers I’ve played with. Plus, if you use it for about half hour a day (and remember to turn off the WiFi), you’ll get up to two months battery life on just one charge. A social media aspect is being touted by B&N, with an area that lets you pull suggestions for future reading from Facebook, Twitter and Nook Friends (which you can cull from your email or Facebook account), as well as industry reviewers from Barnes & Noble itself. No, there’s no built-in 3G, so you’ll have to make sure to download your books while in a WiFi area (including AT&T hotspots). And, if you’re planning an international trip, better do all your browsing before you leave cause it won’t work overseas. You can pre-order the Nook now for $139 (it will be available 10 June–in time for Father’s Day), or if you want a bargain, grab the first generation Nook readers for $119 (WiFi) or $169 (3G) while supplies last.

BQE Workup At Cobble Hill Association Meeting

By , 21 May, 2011, No Comment

You’d be hard-pressed to find a Brooklynite who thinks the BQE is anything but a hot mess. From start to finish, it’s a jumble of potholes, bad merges and unfathomable traffic–plus it’s nasty to look at. Which wouldn’t be so terrible if we didn’t actually need it. If you’d like more information about how and why it was created, how it’s gotten so gross and what we have to look forward to, you may want to pop into the Cobble Hill Association Spring General Meeting. Focusing heavily on the BQE, you’ll get a fascinating look at the construction of the BQE “ditch” that runs through our communities by historian Francis Morrone, an update on plans to reconstruct Triple Cantilevered Roadway, and a look into how to “Fix the Ditch”–-a presentation of the NYCEDC/Starr Whitehouse “BQE Enhancement Study.” The meeting begins at 7:30pm Monday, 23 May at Long Island College Hospital, Conference Room A, (enter at main entrance 339 Hicks at Atlantic).

Brooklyn Waterfront Wants Full Ban on Helicopters

By , 17 May, 2011, 1 Comment

image via Curbed

Over the years, I think I’ve come to terms with tourist helicopters. Yes I know, they’re noisy. And frequent. On the bright side, my kids have spent many an hour watching them fly over the East River at the promenade. However, it looks like residents have finally had enough. Sure, tourist flights were banned from the West 30th Street Heliport last year, but according to Patch.com, residents and elected officials are calling for a complete ban of tourist flights from the Downtown Heliport too. A rally held this past Sunday at Brooklyn Bridge Park was attended by Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, Councilmember Stephen Levin, Councilmember Brad Lander, Councilwoman Sara M. González, Councilmember Gale A. Brewer, and Brooklyn and Manhattan community leaders and residents.

“Issues of helicopter noise have been a major concern for over a decade,” said Millman. “Living in Downtown Brooklyn we are subject to the constant helicopter noise as they circle and hover over our neighborhoods. It affects our quality of life.”

I guess we’ll find out soon enough how that goes. What do you think? Is it an issue you’re willing to fight for?

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