Claude Scales – Brooklyn Bugle

Dance Parties at Brooklyn Bridge Park Start Thursday With New Orleans Funk

May 7, 2013

BRIC Arts Media and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy are co-sponsoring a series of three Celebrate Brooklyn! dance parties on Pier 1 the next three Thursday evenings, starting at 7:00 p.m. This Thursday, May 9, the featured act is New Orleans’ Big Sam’s Funky Nation (photo). The NYC Freedom’s DJs will warm things up. Next Thursday, May 16, is an Afro-Cuban dance party with Pedrito Martinez and DJ Nickodemus. The final party, on May 23, is an Old School & Hip-Hop extravaganza with Zapp Band and D-Nice. More details here.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/58733

From the Web

Events

Mayoral Candidates’ Forum Monday Evening, May 6

April 22, 2013

On Monday evening, May 6, the Brooklyn Heights Association, the Park Slope Civic Council, and several other neighborhood civic groups, are co-sponsoring a Mayoral Candidates’ Forum to be held at Congregation Beth Elohim, 274 Garfield Place (at Eighth Avenue), from 7:00 to 9:00. All interested voters are invited, and no RSVP is necessary. You may submit questions for the candidates to Google Moderator. All mayoral candidates announced to date–Sal Albanese, Adolfo Carrion, John Catsimatidis, Bill de Blasio, Joe Lhota, John Liu, George McDonald, Christine Quinn, and Bill Thompson–have been invited.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/57793

From the Web

Landmark Preservation, News

St. Ann’s Warehouse Again Seeking Approval to Build in Tobacco Warehouse

April 18, 2013

You may recall the lengthy legal battle over the St. Ann’s Warehouse theater’s attempt to build a new performance space inside the 19th century Tobacco Warehouse in the Fulton Ferry Historic District, which led to a court decision holding that the transfer of the Tobacco Warehouse space from Brooklyn Bridge Park had not been done according to law. This legal obstacle has now been overcome by a transfer of new land into the Park in exchange for the Tobacco Warehouse, and St. Ann’s has presented new plans (see image) for a performance space, community room, and lobby to be built inside the roofless shell of the Warehouse. You can read more about the planned new facility and see more images in Theatermania.

The design proposal by St. Ann’s was considered by the Executive Committee of Community Board 2 at its meeting this last week and will go to the full board on May 8.

Note: This post has been modified since original publication.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/57706

From the Web

News

Vote For Local Project Funding From Councilman Steve Levin’s Kitty

April 1, 2013

As we reported last October, Steve Levin, who represents our district in the City Council, has $1 million in discretionary funds that may be used to bankroll projects in the area. Back then he had a community meeting to solicit ideas; now he has a list of sixteen “viable” projects and is asking constituents to vote this week for up to five of these projects to receive funding. The top vote getters, totalling up to $1 million, will be funded. A list of projects on the ballot is here.

Of the projects listed, several would benefit Brooklyn Heights or the immediate area. One would provide funds for laptops and smartboards at MS 8, which serves local students. Another would improve lighting in the Atlantic Avenue access to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Two others would improve Cadman Plaza Park; one by rehabilitating a presently closed comfort station, and the other by installing weight-based fitness equipment.

To vote you must be a resident of the district and sixteen or older. You must vote in person at a designated polling place, and bring ID proving age and residence. These are the locations and hours of operation of the polling places in this area:

The Moxie Spot, 81 Atlantic Avenue (between Henry and Hicks), today (Monday, April 1) through Saturday, April 6, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Borough Hall, 289 Joralemon Street, Wednesday, April 3, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

PS 8, 37 Hicks Street (between Middagh and Poplar), Friday, April 5, 7:45 to 9:45 a.m.

101 Clark Street Community Room, 101 Clark Street (between Henry and Cadman Plaza West), Sunday, April 7, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/57000

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Events, History

Grace Church Community Open House Sunday, March 24

March 17, 2013

Grace Church, which was designed by America’s then pre-eminent church architect, Richard Upjohn, and has stood at what is now 254 Hicks Street (corner of Grace Court, between Joralemon and Remsen) since 1848, is about to undergo an extensive renovation that will close its sanctuary (photo; services will be held in the upstairs Guild Hall during the renovation) for a year, starting after the Easter services at the end of March. To mark this occasion, and to give all members of the community an opportunity to view the sanctuary before it is closed, the clergy and vestry of Grace will host an open house and tea on this coming Sunday, March 24, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. There will be guided tours of the interior and a talk about the magnificent stained glass windows, some by Tiffany; organ music by Paul Olson; and an opportunity to see a model of the interior’s planned restoration. Refreshments will be served.

In the words of Grace’s Wardens and Rector:

Throughout its long history, Grace Church has served the wider community in Brooklyn Heights and beyond as well as its parishioners, whether through Grace Church School, the 85 year old pre-school, by making space available for community groups to meet, and through our many outreach activities. We view Grace Church as a community landmark and resource as well as a spiritual home for our many parishioners.
Please be our guests on March 24th to learn more about our plans to restore this beloved community landmark. We look forward to seeing you.

The event is free and all are invited.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/56448

From the Web

Around Brooklyn, Bloggers

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, "Brennan on the Moor."

March 17, 2013

It’s hard for me to believe they’re all gone now. Liam was the last; he died just over three years ago. I had the pleasure and honor of meeting Paddy some years ago at the Lion’s Head bar and harmonizing with him on a song. I went to a memorial concert for Tommy Clancy, hosted by Frank McCourt, at which Frank asked,

How do you tell an Englishman from an Irishman? It’s in how they propose marriage. An Englishman says, “Dahling, I love you. Will you marry me?” But an Irishman says, “Mary, how would you like to be buried with my people?”

Happy St. Patrick’s day.

Source: Self-Absorbed Boomer
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tzVM/~3/kmW2AuzoCRs/the-clancy-brothers-and-tommy-makem.html

From the Web

Around Brooklyn

Judge Rules SUNY Board Acted Illegally on LICH Closing

March 15, 2013

The Times reports that New York Supreme Court Justice Johnny Baynes, who earlier extended a temporary restraining order against SUNY’s shutdown of Long Island College Hospital, has ruled that the SUNY board acted in violation of New York State’s open meetings law, and vacated the board’s decision to close LICH. According to the Times:

The trustees’ use of a vague notice, a “skeletal statement of purpose in the written agenda,” and the timing of a two-hour closed executive session on Feb. 7, the day before the public vote, “seems intentionally designed to shield the purpose of the meetings from the general public and obstruct the transparency required by the Open Meetings Law,” the decision said, noting that the trustees “are not unsophisticated.”

The story also quotes a SUNY spokesman as saying that “the ruling hinges on a procedural technicality” and that “the board Would move swiftly to fix the problem.” If, as expected, the board again votes to close LICH, the plan must then be submitted to the State Department of Health, which could refuse to approve the closure, as it did a plan by LICH’s former owner, Continuum Health Partners, to close LICH’s obstetrics and pediatrics departments just over four years ago.

Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/8216

From the Web

Existential Stuff

Michael Simmons & Slewfoot, "Instant Forget" (NSFL).

February 27, 2013

Michael Simmons has been busy lately. A few days ago he sent me a link to an article claiming Elvis was Jewish. Now he provides a video (best viewed in full screen mode) by Thelma Blitz (aka clairedelune49) “made…without my knowledge or consent” (though evidently with his ex post facto approval). Here are his notes:

The song is “Instant Forget” by Michael Simmons & Slewfoot, written by Rob Stoner, recorded live at The Other End in December 1977. This is around the time Creem magazine called me “The Father Of Country Punk” and named Slewfoot one of the best punk rock bands in New York — even though we were emphatically not punk, except in attitude.

The visual is a Foto Funny I wrote (and starred in) for my 1980s Lampoon column “Drinking Tips & Other War Stories.” The strip was shot by director Allan Arkush (Rock ‘n’ Roll High School), the other male dinner guest is the late, great transgressive comedian Budge Threlkeld, the brunette is Allan’s wife Joanne Palace, the blonde is jazz singer Michele Winding. The waiter is an actor who was also a real waiter.

It ain’t high art, although I was usually high.

Addendum: The Drinking Tips illustration was by my friend Drew Friedman and the point of my column was to JUST SAY DEFINITELY during the JUST SAY NO era.

So, for those of you undertaking seasonal disciplines, this is definitely Not Safe For Lent.

Source: Self-Absorbed Boomer
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tzVM/~3/OFsWR63oR-c/michael-simmons-slewfoot-instant-forget.html

From the Web

Health, News

Court Puts Brakes On LICH Closure

February 21, 2013

According to this NY1 story, a court has issued a temporary restraining order that blocks SUNY Downstate from implementing its just issued plan to close Long Island College Hospital. The judge who issued the order has scheduled a further hearing for March 7. Petitioners in this case are unions representing nurses and hospital workers; however, the NY1 story also quotes a “local resident” who recently used the LICH emergency room as saying the care provided there was “really good.” This is a developing story; we will monitor and keep you updated.

Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/55537

From the Web

Around Brooklyn, Bloggers

Elvis was Jewish. That’s the emmes.

February 20, 2013

My old Lion’s Head drinking buddy Michael Simmons, often a helpful source of ideas for blog posts, sent me a message with the caption “The King of the Jews.” In it, he asked, “Was Elvis a landsmann?” (roughly, the Yiddish equivalent of “homeboy”) and gave a link to an article in Tablet magazine, the server of which is now down, perhaps thanks to the folks in Unit 61398. Anyway, according to the article, Elvis was halakhically (i.e. according to Jewish law) a Jew by virtue of being descended from a Jewish great-great grandmother, Nancy Burdine, exclusively through the female line. The article also claims that Elvis’ mother, Gladys Love Presley, was aware and proud of her Jewish heritage. As a consequence, Elvis had a Star of David carved onto her gravestone.

Then there’s this video: a montage of still photos with a soundtrack, allegedly of Elvis singing Hava Nagila. Or is it really someone else?

You decide.

By the way, emmes is the Yiddish word for truth. I learned this from my friend Gersh Kuntzman.

Addendum: Blogger Debbie Schlussel posted about Elvis’ Jewishness three years ago, assertng that:

He even did what people stereotypically claim Jews do: Elvis got a nose job (for the record, no-one in my family [Schlussel is Jewish] has had this procedure).

She also quotes from a Jewish Weekly article that traces his descent from his great grandmother, the daughter of Nancy Burdine and Abner Tacket, “the Jewess Martha Tacket.” This made me recall an anecdote I read years ago about the late Democratic honcho and prominent lawyer Robert Strauss. When he was a student at the University of Texas, a fellow student remarked about a photo of Strauss’ fiancée, “What a pretty Jewess.” Strauss replied, “You sumbitch, she’s a pretty girl”

Source: Self-Absorbed Boomer
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/tzVM/~3/6-yEAS_oxEc/elvis-was-jewish-thats-emmes.html