Browsing Tag

Fun

Events

Brooklyn Bridge Park Pool Opens Friday, July 6

July 4, 2012

We’ve received word from the office of State Senator Daniel Squadron that the “pop-up-pool” near Pier 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park will open Friday morning, July 6, at 9:45 a.m. The Senator will be there, along with Park President Regina Myer, Park Conservancy Executive Director Nancy Webster, Assemblywoman Joan Millman, City Council Member Steve Levin and a representative from Borough President Marty Markowitz’s office (evidently Marty, hearing that the pool is only 3’6″ deep, decided to give it a pass).


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43631

From the Web

Arts and Entertainment, Downtown Brooklyn

Dekalb Market’s Grumpy Bert Launches ‘Plush’ Exhibition

July 2, 2012

Smiles, everyone! Over the weekend, BHB pal/BH resident Grumpy Bert in Brooklyn launched the new art exhibition “Plush Stories: These Plush of Mine.” The showcase of personal stories & photos of plush toys includes 50+ exhibits from the likes of Scotland, Trinidad & Tobogo, the U.K. and Australia. Stories run the gamut, from heartbreaks to reunions. Bert says, “Some plush are simply cute, others just strange.” The exhibit runs through August 5.

Bert’s shop and mini gallery is located at the DeKalb Market in Downtown Brooklyn at 138 Willoughby Street, and offers a collection of “cutesy, artsy gifts, designer toys, art prints, books, magazines and apparel.” Owner/operator Bert says, “We’re just a little mom & pop business surrounding ourselves with things we love.” Pics from the June 30 Opening Night reception below the jump.

(Photos: Grumpy Bert)


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43470

From the Web

There’s Water in the Pool

July 1, 2012

The Brooklyn Bridge Park “pop-up-pool” as seen from the Promenade Sunday afternoon, is filled with water and evidently ready for swimmers. It’s scheduled to open this week; there’s more information at the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s website.

(Photos: Chuck Taylor)


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43356

From the Web

Arts and Entertainment, Brooklyn Heights, Food

Photoville Improves Access

July 1, 2012

Last weekend I happened upon the Photoville exhibit that has been on display in the Brooklyn Bridge Park.  Coincidently, as I was arriving, a fellow neighbor in a wheelchair was leaving and she informed me that the exhibit isn’t really “accessible.”

After rolling around for 10 minutes, I had to agree with my friend and decided to register my concerns with the organizers on-site and with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy. This afternoon I was pleased to discover that my complaint was taken seriously. The two barriers that I was most concerned about were completely addressed. Thank you Photoville, Brooklyn Bridge Park in the BBP Conservancy for responding and creating an accessible event!

Without turning this posting into a complete recitation of my concerns and what transpired, there was more than a 2-inch drop down to get into the exhibit from the bike path and the cargo containers where the photos were being displayed all had a step. As you can probably imagine, I was quite annoyed with this discovery. While I appreciate that Dave from Photoville was trying to assist in offering to help with my wheelchair into the containers, is simply not a good idea. Lifting a 400-pound wheelchair is dangerous at best and is only acceptable under the Americans with Disabilities Act in the most extreme and unusual circumstances. When I got home later that evening, I wrote an email of complaint outlining the barriers.

As I arrived at the exhibit today, I really did not know what to expect. On the one hand, people had assured me that the problems would be fixed. On the other hand, reasonable plans to address wheelchair accessibility had not been thought through completely. Thankfully, when I arrived today my first discovery was that the 2 inch bump from the bike path had been abated.  Immediately I knew this was a good sign. Shortly, I found Laura Roumanos, who is the co-founder of Photoville, and she seemed pleased that I had made the effort to return. Laura offered to get the newly acquired portable ramp and assist me to get into the various exhibits in the cargo containers. We ended up having an interesting conversation as she gave me a guided tour of the installation.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43328

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights

Imagine A 9,000sf Permanent Floating Pool In Brooklyn Bridge Park…

June 28, 2012

The possibility of a permanent 9,000 square foot floating pool in Brooklyn Bridge Park is being floated by a design firm that appears to be making strides amid a tenacious engineering, environmental and bureaucratic process. In an ideal world, the project, deemed “+Pool,” could become reality by Summer 2015. BHB first reported the project last June (link includes video). Mind you, this is a far cry from the 3-1/2-foot temp pool opening this summer at BBP’s Pier 2.

The +Pool would be designed as four pools in one: with children’s, sports, lap and lounge pools. Each can be used independently or combined to form an Olympic-length lap pool, or opened completely into a fully open 9,000 square foot pool.

Behind the ambitious feat are designers Dong-Ping Wong of Family Architects and Archie Lee Coates IV and Jeffrey Franklin of PlayLab. According to their website, “After we test and prove the filtration, we’ll go through the long and arduous process of getting required city and state approvals.” The project was launched with the ideal of improving use “of the city’s natural resources by providing a clean and safe way for the public to swim in New York’s waters,” they add.

Curbed reports in an interview with Dong-Ping Wong that among the challenges ahead: Traffic in the river causes waves that could move the pool around, so the team must figure out whether tethers will allow it to glide up and down. In addition, +Pool’s design filters river water through the its walls “like a giant strainer dropped into the river,” so it would remove bacteria, contaminants and odors, leaving only safe and swimmable water that meets city, state and federal standards of quality. The pool would be the first of its kind.

Permits, meanwhile, could take anywhere from six months to a year-and-a-half, while +Pool also needs additional funding from investors and the public (via Kickstarter).

(Photo: +Pool)


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43160

From the Web

Brooklyn Heights, Events

Bird Buffs Gather At BBP This Saturday, June 30

June 27, 2012

This Saturday, June 30, Audubon New York aficionados will guide “birders” and bird enthusiasts on a walk through Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1. The educators will teach attendees how to spot and identify common and popular NYC feathered friends. The event takes place from 10-11 a.m., and is free to all enthusiasts. More information is here. A second bird-watching tour will gather Saturday, August 18.

Last year, BHB’s Claude Scales went on a similar bird tour of Pier 1; his report, with photos, is here.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/43059

From the Web

Downtown Brooklyn, Events, Food

Dekalb Market Forced To Relocate In Fall As City Center Buildout Burgeons

June 21, 2012

Fans of the wholly original Dekalb Market are going to have to find a new weekend play date for their urban retail and foodie fix. The landlord of the Downtown Brooklyn space—which opened last year at Flatbush and Willoughby Avenues—has informed its operators that they must vacate the premises by October. In its place will be the next stage of the burgeoning mixed-use City Point project.

The founders of the Dekalb Market—which houses an emporium of 60 boutique shops and eateries constructed from salvaged shipping containers—says they are disappointed by the developer’s plan to begin construction this soon, after being led to believe they would have five years to utilize the former empty lot. According to Eater, there is no word yet on where the market might relocate, although one potential spot is a private parking lot across Gold Street.

The operators of Dekalb Market sent this letter to their vendors:

Dear Container Shops,
As many of you have heard, our landlord has given us notice that they will begin construction this fall and therefore, we will be moving Delalb Market to a new location. While we have not received official notice, we understand the Landlord’s construction may begin as early as October.
While we are disappointed that the Landlord’s new development plans moved as quickly as they did, we see this as a great opportunity for Dekalb Market. By positioning ourselves as the first shopping center in history to move and reopen in the space of a few weeks we will be able to have a new “re-opening” with both the press and operations. The move gives us an opportunity to learn from the first year and make improvements and towards this end we will be conducting a survey to make sure we capture everyone’s input.
We have identified a couple of sites that would be ideal for the market in the Brooklyn area and are diligently working to make the transition work. We hope you will be able to continue with the Market in its new incarnation. We will provide an updated report to the new site and details regarding the move shortly.

(Photo: Chuck Taylor)


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42813

From the Web

Arts and Entertainment

Saturday In The Park: Free To Be

June 17, 2012

Who needs a battalion of tech when an idyllic day in the park with family and the simplicity of a helium balloon can trump the fun of Xbox any day? These folks are enjoying a sunny Saturday at Cobble Hill Park. (Photos: Chuck Taylor)


Source: Cobble Hill Blog
http://cobblehillblog.com/archives/7378

From the Web

Arts and Entertainment, Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Events, Food

Saturday: Atlantic Ave. Extravaganza For Shoppers, Foodies & Families

June 14, 2012

Coming this Saturday, June 16, is the Atlantic Avenue Extravaganza, 1-5 p.m., from the BQE entrance to Fourth Avenue. The event is designed to draw shoppers, foodies, families and art lovers to the sidewalks of the thoroughfare with a lineup of special events, performances, tastings and games in the name of making all more aware of Atlantic Ave’s burgeoning commerce, culture and community.

More details on our sister Cobble Hill Blog here. The Extravaganza is sponsored by the Atlantic Ave. Business Improvement District.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42352

From the Web

Arts and Entertainment, Events, Food, Music

Brooklyn Bridge Park’s ‘Sunset Bhangra’

June 10, 2012

On Thursday evening your correspondent donned rain-ready togs before heading down to Pier 1 at Brooklyn Bridge Park for the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Sunset Bhangra party, but the weather proved benign, as the rain that threatened stayed just to our north. People kept coming in droves; fortunately, food and drink were plentiful, and good. Video, more text and photos after the jump.

Looking down from the entry at 6:15 p.m., I could see a good sized crowd beginning to assemble.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation President Regina Myer.

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Brooklyn Heights Association President Jane McGroarty.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Executive director Nancy Webster.

In the video above, party guests cut loose learning to dance the bhangra way. It was a Bollywood climax to a delightful party.

Love the Park? Consider becoming a charter member of the Conservancy. Details are here.


Source: Brooklyn Heights Blog
http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/42026

From the Web