We got an email from My Open Bar (a great guide to free booze) telling us that you can get a shoe shine from 6 - 8 p.m. tonight at Deity Supperclub, 368 Atlantic Ave. between Bond and Hoyt in Boerum Hill. They'll be serving Hendrick's Gin, no cover.
My Open Bar says, "Hendrick's Gin, for the uninitiated, is by far the best stuff on the over-saturated market. Tonight, taste why, and get your shoes shined, too. Bourgeois guilt not included."
My Open Bar, conceived and developed, respectively, by Rob Hitt and Seva Granik of Williamsburg, lists free drinking opportunities for every day of the week.
Photo courtesy of My Open Bar
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Thursday, December 3, 2009
After Work Shoe Shine and Hendrick's Gin in Boerum Hill Tonight (Thursday, Dec. 3)
You're Invited to Council Member Letitia James' Holiday Party/ Toy Drive
Everyone's invited to Brooklyn Council Member Letitia James' Holiday Party/Toy Drive. Spread the joy -- bring an item for a child in need, like new unwrapped books, toys, coats, gloves, hats, or scarfs. The party takes place at:
Rustick Tavern, 471 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn (between Kent Avenue & Franklin Avenue) Thursday, December 17, 6 - 10 p.m.
For more information, please contact Council Member James' office at 718-260-9191. Music, hors d'oeuvres, cash bar.
Photo by Un Punto in Movimento, Creative Commons license
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Five Brooklyn Filmmakers Receive JT3 Artist Awards
We recently received word that five Brooklyn residents received the first-ever JT3 Artist Awards for emerging filmmakers at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on October 22:
* Bridget Palardy, JT3 Artist Award of Distinction, $2,500
* Nikyatu Jusu, JT3 Artist Award, $1,500
* Wendy James, JT3 Artist Award, $1,000
* Chioke Nassor, JT3 Artist Award, $500
* Andrew Brotzman, JT3 Artist Award, $500
The celebration featured director Adam Brooks ("Definitely, Maybe") and was hosted by Tony-award nominated actor Brandon Victor Dixon.
Jesse and Judith Thompkins launched The Jesse Thompkins III Foundation for Young People in the Arts in memory of their son, a young filmmaker who was killed while jogging at the corner of Vanderbilt and Atlantic in Brooklyn on August 3, 2008.
JT3 Art chose Brooklyn as the focus of their 2009 grant program because of Jesse’s passion for the neighborhood.
See here for more photos and details of the event.
Photo: From left to right: Wendy James, Chioke Nassor, JT3 Art Chair Judith Thompkins, Nikyatu Jusu, Bridget Palardy (not pictured Andrew Brotzman)
Photo courtesy of JT3 Art
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Sticks and Stones Opening Tonight (Dec. 3, 2009) in DUMBO
The Giacobetti Paul Gallery (MADARTS) presents "Sticks and Stones" at 111 Front Street, DUMBO.
The opening reception is tonight, Thursday, Dec. 3rd from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sticks and Stones features the work of Kasia Polkowska, Robert Melzmuf, Donna Powers, Christine Staehelin and Amallia Orman.
From the gallery:
"Melzmuf's stoic stone and wood sculptures ground the space while the bold colors of Polkowska's cut glass landscapes command attention. Staehelin's abstracted landscapes paintings wash in gorgeous subtle palettes contrasted with her bold, minimal brushmanship. Powers' painting compliments Staehelin's, with tight imagery and a subtle hand in bold colors. Come and see the new work from the residents of MADARTS, have a glass of wine and meet the artists."
Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Is Everybody Spying On Us?
We already know that every ad network in the world traces every web site we visit. But it's amazing to hear about how many requests for phone line and Internet surveillance the major communications companies receive from law enforcement and government agencies.
Verizon alone says that the company receives “tens of thousands” of requests annually for customer records and information from law enforcement agencies, according to an article in Wired.
In October, Sprint apparently served more than 8 million law enforcement requests for GPS data from mobile phones used by subscribers. That’s one request for every 6 people on the network. (WM Power)
The National Security Agency routinely examines "large volumes of Americans’ e-mail messages without court warrants." New York Times
Verizon, Cox Communications, Comcast, Yahoo and the others make a mint providing spying services to the government. Cox Communications, for example, charges $3,500 for the first 30 days of a wiretap, according to Wired. Yahoo refused to release how much it charges because it might "lead to impairment of its reputation for protection of user privacy and security." (heh)
Your friends, employees or business partners may be spying on you through your cell phone as well. According to the National Terror Alert blog, a security consultancy in Gloucester, Massachusetts puts the number of tapped phones in the U.S. at 3 percent -- that does not include government tapping. Your iPhone app may be spying on you, too.
Put that together with the psychological information that credit card companies compile about you from your buying habits (New York Times and Huffington Post), plus what your digital video recorder reveals about your TV habits, what your Internet use reveals about your state of mind and the information your rented car sends back to base, you're probably being tracked night and day.
Even your printer may be tracking you. Or your shoes!
By the way, we really like that shirt you're wearing. Is it new?
Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.
The One Building In Brooklyn That Lost $80,000 in Value Over Six Years, and More Brooklyn Briefs
- The state won't tell Daniel Goldstein or The Brooklyn Paper how it determined that the Atlantic Yards holdout's apartment is worth $80,000 less than he paid for it six years ago. (The Mafia probably has a word for it, though.)
- Mayor Bloomberg and the NYC DDC announced Tuesday that they are suing Comptroller William C. Thompson to try to force him to approve a contract in connection with the proposed renovation and expansion of the Brooklyn House of Detention on Atlantic Avenue. Brooklyn Eagle
- Brokelyn has put together a roundup of the first annual NYC Bloggers Do the Holidays Roundup, including a month's worth of free or cheap holiday-ish things to do.
- Grab your checkbook: Bond-rating agency Moody's has given a barely investment-grade rating to the bonds for the Atlantic Yards arena. The Empire State Development Corp. could make its initial bond offering as soon as today. No Land Grab (summary from other sites)
- A deer swam from New Jersey to Governors Island. Really. New York Magazine
Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.
AIDS Memorial Quilt Comes to Brooklyn Borough Hall for World AIDs Day 2009
The Brooklyn Borough President's Office sent us this photo of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, on display in the Courtroom at Borough Hall yesterday to mark World AIDs Day 2009. EAC Brooklyn TASC offered free HIV testing, counseling and more.
According to the New York City's Dept. of Health web site, Brooklyn is Ground Zero for AIDs. Out of 1,234 cases of HIV diagnosed in the city in 2007, 452 lived in Brooklyn. This compares to 264 in Manhattan, 263 in the Bronx, 161 in Queens, 24 in Staten Island and 70 unknown.
The Watchful Eye Testing, Outreach and Prevention Initiative partnered with the Caribbean Women’s Health Association to commemorate World Aids Day with music and ceremonies honoring Tracy Mack, Natashua Rice, Pastor Christina Walker and New York City Council Member Al Vann.
Photo by Kathryn Kirk
Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Brooklyn Friends School Winter Crafts Fair 2009 -- This Weekend, Dec. 4 & 5
One of our favorite holiday craft fairs takes place this weekend -- Friday evening and all day Saturday. Besides being a blast, it's a great way to Buy Brooklyn. Here's the release:
Brooklyn Friends School (in Downtown Brooklyn) becomes a winter wonderland on Friday, Dec. 4 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This annual blow-out event will fill the school from top to bottom with three floors of adventures for kids to explore: Carnival bouncy rides, games and face painting, kid’s make-your-own craft section, photo taking and frame making, a book fair with Spanish readings, a Karate demonstration and for older kids a Guitar Hero competition. The local crafters will again sell their wares, along with fresh holiday plants. Savory food, beverages, baked goods, and cupcake decorating round out the day. Eighty percent of the profits support Horizons at Brooklyn Friends.
(Note: the children's rides and games take place Saturday, along with the holiday craft fair. The Friday evening event includes the holiday crafts only.)
Brooklyn Friends School is located at 375 Pearl St. near the Brooklyn Marriott.
Sponsored in part by: Park Avenue Building, Brooklyn Hospital Center, Open Road NY, 5boro and School Bus by Superior. Activities have individual pricing but entrance to event is free.
Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.
Monday, November 30, 2009
How to Apply for Food Stamps in Brooklyn
Do you find that you've cut way back on your food purchases lately because you can't afford it?
The New York Times published a story Sunday saying that food stamp use at record highs. Food stamps now help feed one in eight Americans and one in four children.
But many folks don't even realize that they're eligible for food stamps. If you are still working but your hours have been cut, you may be newly eligible.
A single person with a gross monthly income of $1,174 (that's $14,088 a year) is eligible. A family of two can gross $1,579 monthly ($18,948/year) and under; a family of three needs to gross $1,984 a month or less ($23,808/year) to be eligible -- or up to $ 36,624 a year if there's an elderly or disabled person in the family. And so it goes -- see here for larger families.
Note that other factors come into play, such as expenses. According to the state, your savings aren't held against you. The only way to be sure you're eligible is to apply.
There are eight food stamp centers in Brooklyn. Here's the list. But you may not even have to go in person if you're working, disabled or a senior.
Here is the city's online guide to applying for food stamps. (You can also call 3-1-1 to get started.) You can be working and still get food stamps. People on Social Security have an easier time getting food stamps. Here's the city's food stamp calculator to see if you're eligible. (We also tried the state's food stamp calculator and found it a bit quicker.)
If you need emergency assistance, go to a food pantry. Here's the city's phone number for pantries; here's a story about one in Brooklyn Heights.
Go to McBrooklyn's HOME PAGE.
Brooklyn Doorman Wins $1,000 a Week for Life, and More Brooklyn Briefs
- A 33-year-old Brooklyn doorman wins $1000 a week for life in the New York State Lottery. ABC
- Eddy Sanchez, the Pratt student who was brutally mugged in August, is out of the rehab center and has begun to walk again. The Local/Ft. Greene
- A new candy store is expected to open in DUMBO in time for the holidays. Brooklyn Eagle
- Three weeks after receiving its 501(c) status, a Bed-Stuy community organization was robbed and now has to start over from scratch. They even stole the vacuum cleaner. Bed Stuy Blog
- What to do with all those leftover parsnips: Parsnip Pancakes! Not Eating Out in New York
- The Dandelion Boutique has replaced a long-time jewelry store on Court Street in Carroll Gardens. Pardon Me For Asking
- The New Jersey Nets fired coach Lawrence Frank on Sunday after losing their first 16 games. Huffington Post
- New York Magazine lists movies with Oscar buzz for this holiday season. NYM
- Get the kids and put on your walking shoes: Mommy Poppins has put together a holiday window itinerary. Mommy Poppins
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