Red Hook Initiative is Hiring

Here's a job notice from Craig Hammerman of Community Board 6:

- Be a Peer Health Educator: Teenagers 14 - 18 years old. Applications available next week. Year round employment.

- Be a Community Health Educator, adults from Red Hook. No health experience necessary. Complete a 40 hour training and then work 5 - 10 hours each week.

- Tutors with a high school diploma and some college experience needed for work beginning January 2009.

To apply, send an email to info@rhicenter.org or call RHI at (718) 858-6782.


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Quite a Crowd for Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour This Past Sunday

The crowds seemed to be bigger than ever this past Sunday for Bob Diamond's famous tour of the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel. Folks were lined up all along the length of Trader Joe's at Atlantic and Court Streets in Cobble Hill.

Maybe they came after reading the recent article in the Brooklyn Eagle suggesting that the tunnel is haunted. (Seriously.)

Every once in a while a group would detach and move to the center of Atlantic Avenue, protected from traffic by a few sawhorses and a couple of plastic barriers (just a bit more substantial than the simple orange cones used in days past).

Diamond discovered the long-lost tunnel -- which runs under Atlantic Avenue between Boerum Place and Hicks Street) in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeated advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he dramatically uncovered, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.


Once you actually see what you're getting into, it might give you a moment of pause. You do have to climb down a hole which leads deep under Atlantic Avenue!

But you can (probably) do it!

(These tours are for the relatively hardy. Wear sneakers and bring a powerful flashlight.) Also, visit the web site of Diamond's Brooklyn Historic Railway Association.

Some video and photos of the interior here.

- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Is Probably Haunted
- What's Behind the Wall? Atlantic Ave. Tunnel Mystery
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel: What's Behind the Wall?
- Let Them Laugh: Bob Diamond's Brooklyn Trolley Idea Gains Traction
- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour
- Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return

Photos by MK Metz

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A Kid Named Bob Leads Republican Health Care Protest in Brooklyn

A teenager named Bob (he won't give his last name) was the leader of a rally held by the Brooklyn Republican Party to protest the healthcare reform bill passed in the House, denouncing it as “socialism” and calling upon the Senate to pass a measure more akin to GOP liking.

He was backed up by party bigs like Brooklyn Republican Party Chair Craig Eaton and state Sen. Marty Golden.

The high point came when Bob bellowed, “Mr. Obama, tear up this bill!”

We kid you not.

The full story is here.

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Mirrors Tilted Wildly Dance/ Art Performance

Triskelion Arts in Williamsburg presents the premiere of Mirrors Tilted Wildly, a two-night engagement on November 20 and 21.

Mirrors Tilted Wildly is a modern showcase of nine performances curated by Marisa Arriaga. This shared evening includes works by artists Sheri Wells, Nancy Hughes, Meredith Blouin of dance project Madame Spaghetti Arms, Ching-I Chang, Zita Nyarady, along with Sarah Beth Oppenheim and Nora Petroliunas, creative masterminds of Pocket Engine.

More here.

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Downtown Brooklyn Transit Study Open House Wednesday, Nov. 18

If you have ideas about improving bus transportation in Downtown Brooklyn, here is your chance to participate:

The Dept. of Transportation (DOT) is holding its second Open House regarding the "Downtown Brooklyn Surface Transit Circulation Study," which focuses on on improving local bus transportation for Downtown Brooklyn residents and visitors.

The meeting takes place this Wednesday, November 18, 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm; presentations at 6:15 pm and 7:00 pm. at:

Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street, Court Room - 3rd floor
Brooklyn, New York 11201

The notice says:

"NYCDOT is working with MTA-New York City Transit and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership to improve surface transit within Downtown Brooklyn. In this second Open House we will present our view of the future conditions of Downtown Brooklyn as well as some potential improvement options."

Photo by MK Metz
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Last Day to Enter 'Miss G Train' Contest -- Today, Nov. 16

Today -- Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 -- is the last day to enter the Miss G Train contest. Hurry and email your entry describing why YOU are the BEST candidate to wear the Miss G Train sash.

Send a letter to missgtrain@cityreliquary.org. The winner will be crowned November 19th 7-10 PM at the City Reliquary Museum in Williamsburg.

The contest organizers at City Reliquary want you to be creative in presenting yourself as the best candidate for “Miss G Train.” Your descriptive entry will be read to the audience and judges during the pageant.

Costume and music choice will be considered as part of your presentation. See here for more information.

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Brooklyn's Geeks and Freaks and Other Brooklyn Briefs

- The deadline for the Myrtle Avenue Pedestrian Plaza Call for Ideas is TODAY. Clinton Hill Blog

- A Brooklyn rabbinical student wins the WBA title; he met his model wife at Gleason's Gym. Village Voice

- Where can Brooklyn's geeks and freaks meet other eligible singles? At Blush Monkey, of course. OTBKB

- There's a hell of a view from the 51st floor of the new rental in Downtown Brooklyn, the Brooklyner at 111 Lawrence St. Brooklyn Eagle

- 333 Carroll Street -- the building with a horrific growth on top -- finally gets a Stop Work Order. For now. PMFA

- There is a clear link between living to 100 and inheriting a "mutant" enzyme that prevents cells from aging. BBC


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This Week's Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Work Schedule

DOT has issued the Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming work schedule for the week of 11/16/09:

Monday: Demo at Hicks & Joralemon, Chute Connection at Myrtle & Ashland
Tuesday: Sidewalk installation at Hicks & Joralemon, Chute Connection at Myrtle & Ashland
Wednesday: Conduit installation at Hicks & Joralemon, Chute Connection at Myrtle & Ashland
Thursday: Excavation at Clinton & Union, Chute connection at Myrtle & Adelphi
Friday: Granite curb installation at Clinton & Union, Chute connection at Myrtle & Adelphi
Saturday: On Smith between Schermerhorn & Atlantic (Revised: November 13, 2009)

DOT says that Downtown Brooklyn Traffic Calming Project will institute "state-of-the-art measures that will physically change roadways in a way that will calm traffic, increase overall community safety and benefit non-motorized users."

Thanks to Community Board 6 for this schedule.

- Traffic Calming Project Underway on Henry Street in Brooklyn Heights

Photo by MK Metz
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Platinum Brooklyn Parents and Their Platinum Babies Tonight, Nov. 13

We just received word that tonight Friday, Nov. 13, at 9 PM ET, a Brooklyn couple will be featured on WE tv's new show Platinum Babies. (Platinum, as in dripping with money and spending it like crazy on the baby.)

Here's a little blurb from the show:

"Tatyanna, a hip and eco-conscious writer, is not afraid to spend on her second child. Her family belongs to a trendy private lifestyle club in Soho, her friend invites her to a trunk show to preview exclusive maternity wear and the baby's christening happens on a Mediterranean island where the family is flown."

It seems that Tatanna is married to Michele. More details emerge on the show's website:

"They belong to a trendy private family lifestyle club in Soho where she can work out to prepare for her pregnancy and where their son Oscar can play as well. In order to prepare for natural childbirth, Tatyanna also has a doula and acupuncturist on her birthing team.

"An intimate gathering of Tatyanna’s closest friends takes place at a downtown hotel with an elegant meal prepared by the chef and owner and tailored exactly to her liking. Exotic floral displays add to the décor . . ."

The website includes a list of their expenses (and a vendor list so you can buy all that stuff, too). The list includes things like a $3800 Shower luncheon; $1200 Shower florals; $1941 Baby registry; $72 Chicken towels; $485 Organic bedding; $1200 Doula; $2100 Citibabes membership; $400 Trunk Show clothes; $680 Bassinet & Mosquito netting and $600 for a Custom swimsuit. (Where can we get us some of them "chicken towels"?)

Readers left some comments about Platinum Babies. Here's part of one:

This show the worst show I have every seen . . . In this horrible economic times, do we really need a show that conveys the message that . . . in order for your baby to thrive you need to spend $40,000 on a nursery and spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on clothes, equipment, etc. . . .

Here's another:

"waaah waaah waaah, so you are poor and you want to whine about it? Go be not platinum elsewhere sweetheart. Platinum is a way of life, and you are just a poor loser. You should be applauding characters like Pete and Jenna for having the courage to show off their platinum lifestyle before the likes of poor losers like you."

Does anyone know Tatanna and Michele? Do they really exist?

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Carrie Ahern Open Installation Dance Performance: Sensate. November 18 - 22

Choreographer Carrie Ahern and dancers investigate "boundaries" with the audience in Sensate, a dance performed throughout 4,000sq ft of the Brooklyn Lyceum, November 18-22.

In Sensate, the audience is free to enter and exit the performance spaces anytime between three designated hours, viewing the dance from anywhere they choose in the space. More at Brooklyn Lyceum


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