Living In Victorian Flatbush

Victorian Flatbush featured on Channel 7 Eyewitness News

2008-06-26T20:03:00.002-04:00

Sandra Bookman, of Channel 7 Eyewitness News, came to Brooklyn yesterday in response to the This Old House story which featured Victorian Flatbush. The story featured an interview with Mary Kay Gallagher and Dana Sclar. Alexandra Reddish also showed the reporter several houses in the neighborhood. You can view the video at Channel 7's site by clicking, here.

This Old House Domino Effect - NY Post and NYC WABC's Channel 7 Updated

2008-06-25T15:02:00.004-04:00

The NY Post has also tapped into ThisOldhouse.com's feature of the 12 Best Places to Buy. This article featured our very own Victorian Flatbush. The NY Post article also features the current available properties in the neighborhood. Click here for details.
The most interesting part of the article talks about updating mechanicals and other challenges that come with purchasing houses that are roughly 100 years old. For those who have made these investments do you feel the cost outweighed the investment or was worth every penny? Please feel free to contribute comments and please answer our poll to the right.
With our neighborhood making waves in print and online media we will have another media outlet contributing to the spotlight on Victorian Flatbush. Thursday or Friday on the 6 pm edition of Channel 7 Eyewitness News, Sandra Bookman will be doing a feature on the neighborhood. When the link is posted at 7online.com we will update the blog.

This Old House Online Rates Victorian Flatbush a 'Buy'

2008-06-24T13:40:00.003-04:00

This Old House Online has rated Victorian Flatbush as one of the Top 12 Places to Buy. Click here.

OSSO on the Ditmas Park Concert Series, This Thursday

2008-06-06T10:11:00.000-04:00

Thursday, June 12, 2008
7:00-8:00pm
PS 217 Auditorium
1100 Newkirk Ave. @ Coney Island Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11230
B/Q train to Newkirk Ave.
www.myspace.com/ossonyc
www.myspace.com/ditmasparkconcerts

Cortelyou Farmers Market opens Sunday, June 1!

2008-05-21T14:02:00.000-04:00

Cortelyou Farmers Market opens Sunday, June 1! Watch local blogs and store windows for posters about specifics: particular farmers, special events, and more. Klezmer Music (& children's clothing swap?) at opening market.Please join Friends of Cortelyou on Saturday, June 1, at 10 am, for a meeting on the opening day of the 2008 Cortelyou Road Farmer's Market. Look for our table between Argyle and Rugby on Cortelyou Road.

Rock and Roll Grammar School..(and other music too)

2008-04-04T09:11:00.002-04:00

This might not be the utopia that the Ramones envisioned in their 70s classic but it's pretty close. In two weeks the first Ditmas Park Concert Series kicks off. Per the fliers in and around Ditmas Park this was supposed to kick off on last night (4/3/08). However, per their MySpace page the concert series will kick off on 4/17/08:

"The Ditmas Park Concert Series, with the help of a grant from the NYC Dept. of Cultural Affairs and the Brooklyn Arts Council, presents a series of five concerts and workshops connecting the world-class musicians living in the Ditmas Park area of Brooklyn with the students and residents of the community. The DPCS features five bands whose bandleaders live walking distance from our venue: the beautifully renovated 600-seat auditorium of arts magnet elementary P.S. 217. Each group presents a free music workshop to 120 pre-registered 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students on the afternoon before each concert, and a concert open to the public from 7:00-8:00pm. The concerts are free for students with a pay-as-you-wish donation for adults. The DPCS highlights the diversity of musical genres in the Flatbush area of Brooklyn by programming five diverse bands. Each of these bands plays creative, original music composed by the bandleaders."

The bands are quite an eclectic mix. The Alan Ferber Nonet (Jazz); Fire in July (Art Song/Improvisation); Shayna Steele (10-piece R&B band); Clare and the Reasons (Indie Band); Osso (Classical/New music). Sadly a Ramones-esque band is not on the roster.

----------------
Now playing: The Ramones - Rock 'n' Roll High School
via FoxyTunes

Fisherman's Cove Pulls Anchor and Shifts to the Otherside of the Plaza

2008-04-01T15:32:00.004-04:00

Fisherman's Cove, a restaurant specializing in Jamaican cuisine, has moved from the spacious digs on the west side of Newkirk Plaza to the east side of Newkirk Plaza. The new space has diminished seating but the kitchen seems to have made a seamless transition with a sparkling new facade.
My source tells me that the former space for Fisherman's Cove will soon be occupied by a chain specializing in the same type of food that Fisherman's Cove specializes in.

It's a Dogs World

2008-04-01T15:32:00.001-04:00

It's a Dog's World, located at 593 Coney Island Avenue, near Beverley Road, will be starting a new series of dog training classes in May.

To find out more about the classes, please goto http://compliantdog.org/Classes.html. You can register online at http://compliantdog.org/Registration.html

Class Schedule for May

Puppy Class for dogs 5 months and younger

Every Tuesday, starting May 6 at 7:30 for 5 consecutive weeks
Every Thursday, starting May 8 at 7:00 for 5 consecutive weeks
Every Sunday, starting May 4 at 11:00 for 5 consecutive weeks

Basic Obedience Class for dogs 6 months and older

Every Wednesday, starting May 7 at 7:30 for 5 consecutive weeks
Every Thursday, starting May 8 at 8:30 for 5 consecutive weeks
Every Sunday, starting May 4 at 12:30 for 5 consecutive weeks

Urban Martial Arts -- Just Opened on Coney Island Ave.

2008-03-10T16:01:00.004-04:00

Urban Martial Arts , just opened on the corner of Coney Island Avenue and Newkirk Avenue. Carmen Van Kerckhove, wrote in:

We've been open for about a week doing pre-sales, and our regular
group classes start on Monday, March 17th.

Your readers might be interested in taking advantage of our special:
for just $19.99 they can get 2 private lessons one-on-one with the
Sensei, as well as a free official Urban Martial Arts uniform. No
further commitments. That goes for both adults and kids.

If they'd like to do the special, they can either call us at
718-287-5500 or fill out this form, here.

Spartan Gym

2008-03-10T02:22:00.002-04:00

Spartan Gym, a no-frills gym, has opened on Coney Island Avenue. They are offering a 1 year membership for $200 until 3/31/08. They are located at 166 Coney Island Avenue. You can call 718.434.2300.

A Sleeping Giant... Will Pomme De Terre open by March 20

2008-02-28T22:47:00.003-05:00

Pomme De Terre, Ditmas Park West's future French Bistro, has gained some "pre-open" press from New York Magazine. This is the latest venture for the Farm of Adderly's Gary Jonas. As a resident of Ditmas Park West it's nice to have a restaurant "right around the corner". Hopefully they can open by the International Day of Francophonie, which is the the day French speakers rejoice in their knowledge of the French language. More to come..

Grooming at It's a Dog's World

2007-11-07T23:52:00.000-05:00

It's a Dog's World is proud to announce that dog and cat grooming will be offered in the store, starting Saturday, November 17th.

Please call 718-684-5568 or email Marion@nydogsworld.com to make an appointment.

593 Coney Island Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11216

Grading the Schools: PS 139 and PS 217 Receive a "B"

2007-11-07T13:32:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks back I had heard that all NYC Public Schools would receive a grade of A-F. This grading system obviously was meant to mirror the system 99% have grown accustomed to since childhood. Yesterday I was surprised to come across the actual list in the Daily News. After a brief case of "Not knowing my school district" I found PS 139 and PS 217. My son just started at PS 139 this fall in kindergarten and we have friends whose children are attending PS 217. Alexandra and I have been pretty happy with our limited experience at PS 139. So, it was nice to see that satisfaction validated on some level.
Big question from a lot of people I heard feedback from was, "How are the "Graders" being graded?". I received some feedback on the process, but this is far from official:

Basics on the Construction of the Elementary School Report Card:
€ 85% of the report card grade is derived from the state ELA and math
test scores: 55% from changes in the test scores from year to year
(progress) and 30% from the actual scores (performance).
€ 15% of the report card grade is derived from attendance (5%) and parent
and teacher surveys (10%).

I sincerely hope that other families are just as satisfied with our local grade schools.

Ethiopian.... Silk... Chicken.... $1 Off all Lattes and Cappucinos- The Latest from Vox Pop

2007-11-06T13:54:00.000-05:00

As pointed out by Ben and Lien over at Ditmas Park blog, here, and and e-mail from Kristen there is something new brewing over at Vox Pop:

- Ethiopian Organic (Thats Coffee)
- Black Silk Espresso
- New Chicken, Brie, and Cranberry sandwich
- Most importantly $1 off Lattes and Cappuccinos

So, if you didn't hear it there or from Vox Pop directly -- you know now. Also, be sure to bookmark there food page for the upcoming revamped menu, here.

Historic Victorian Flatbush Presentation

2007-11-03T11:00:00.000-04:00

Marine Park: Salt Marsh Nature Center, 3302 Avenue U, Brooklyn

Historic Victorian Flatbush. Monday, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m

Borough Historian Ron Schweiger presents the lecture on this historic district filled with beautiful homes and memories from the Victorian era. Free. For more information, call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/parks.

photo thecmrc.blogspot

Calendar [Brooklyn Eagle]
October [Salt Mary Alliance]

Gallery Openings About Town

2007-11-02T11:51:00.001-04:00

Edward Burtynsky - Rocks of Ages

Joel Shapiro: New Sculpture

Yeondoo Jung [Tina Kim Fine Art] 545 West 25th, 3rd floor
Les Jardins Noirs [Stellan Holm Gallery] 524 west 24th
Edward Burtynski [Charles Cowles Gallery] 537 West 24th
Joel Shapiro [PaceWildenstein] 545 West 22nd
Jessica Dimmock, The 9th Floor [International Center of Photography] 1133 Avenue of the Americas

Shows [ChelseaArtGalleries]
The DKS List [dks.thing.net]

The BQE "A National Monument" - Sufjan Stevens on WNYC

2007-11-02T11:06:00.000-04:00

Sufjan Stevens's Highway

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens talks about his orchestral homage to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. "The BQE" premieres at the Brooklyn Academy of Music tonight and runs through Saturday.

Sufjan Stevens performs on WNYC's "Spinning on Air"
More about 'The BQE' at BAM

Soundcheck [WNYC]
Sufjan Stevens and "The BQE" [Living In Victorian Flatbush]
A Shout Out from Sufjan [Ditmas Park Blog]

Friday Links

2007-11-02T08:51:00.000-04:00

The Future Home of Ex-Lax Gardens [Flatbush Gardener]
Backyard of The Day: Prospect Park South [LIVF Archives 8/24/06]

Trick or Treating [Ditmas Park Blog]
Cross at your own peril [Ditmas Park Blog]
Reminder: Cortelyou Road Daffodil Planting, This Weekend and Next [Flatbush Gardener]
New 7-story dorm for Brooklyn College [Flatbush Life]
Closing Bell Poly Preps New(ish) Look [Brownstoner]
Weekend Events [Brownstoner]

Video of Frederick Peters of Warburg Realty analyzing the media's coverage of NYC real estate [The Real Deal]
Exhibit 1A: Ditmas Park Real Estate [IntoTheBox.TV] via Ditmas Park Blog
Downtown Brooklyn in 2012 [New York Post]

New York City Marathon [11/4/07]
From Brooklyn to Los Angeles: Dodgers Hire Torre [New York Times]

Joseph Berger Lecture 10/10 - The World in a City: Traveling the Globe Through Neighborhoods of the New New York

2007-10-31T11:49:00.000-04:00

Sisterhood of Temple Beth Emeth v’Ohr Progressive Shaari Zedek invites you to a Sabbath Morning Brunch and Lecture on Saturday, November 10, 2007. The Guest Lecturer will be Joseph Berger, a New York Times Reporter and author of The World in a City: Traveling the Globe Through the Neighborhoods of the New New York

It’s one great speaker after another for our monthly Sisterhood brunch. Won’t you please join us to hear award winning New York Times reporter Joseph Berger introduce his recently published "The World in a City: Traveling the Globe Through the Neighborhoods of the New New York. Our Temple neighborhood is one of the featured areas.

Brunch – 10:00 am Temple Banquet Room
Lecture begins – 10:30 am
Shabbat Services to follow at 11:30

Sisterhood Members - $5.00
Non- Temple Members - $10.00

*EVERYONE WELCOME*

83 Marlborough Road Brooklyn, NY 11226

Joseph Berger [Random House]

Jospeh Berger [New York Times Archives]
Temple Beth Emeth v’Ohr Progressive Shaari Zedek [53 Marlborough Road]
Metro Briefing [NYT Sunday Book Review]

Links - Flatbush Gardening

2007-10-31T09:39:00.000-04:00

The Great Pumpkin House in West Virgina by Dave Fatella

1,000 Daffodils on Cortelyou Road [Flatbush Gardener]
How to plant Daffodil bulbs [Flatbush Gardener]
Think Spring on Cortelyou [Ditmas Park Blog]
Community Gardening Organizing [Ditmas Park Blog]

‘Status symbol’ for us - Overwhelming support for landmark designation [Flatbush Life]

Ghost Stories [Ditmas Park Blog]
A Real Brooklyn Ghost Story [DITHOB]
Good Place for Haunting [Flatbush Gardener]
Good Place for Haunting #2 [Flatbush Gardener]
Wednesday Events [Brownstoner]

A Whole New Set of Landmarks [NYT City Room Blog]
Affordable Housing going up on Flatbush [Brooklyn Junction]
Not All is Gloomy in Real Estate: A Blog Network Attracts Capital [New York Times]

Last of the Squeegee Men [Room 8]
RIP Robert Goulet 1933-2007 [Robert Goulet]
Red Sox faithful jam city to pay tribute [Boston Globe]

Updated features within the Victorian Flatbush Map on MaryKayG.com

2007-10-30T13:10:00.000-04:00

The Victorian Flatbush Map has been updated on MaryKayG.com with new Google Maps integration. The map is still the same, but now when you click on each number within the shaded area it takes you to an aerial view map of each sub-neighborhood. Each name and specific boundary was created by the individual developers who were responsible for building each neighborhood in the early 1900's.

Victorian Flatbush Map [Mary Kay Gallagher]
When Flatbush was Greenwich (or Bedford... or Scarsdale): The "Mecca" of Victorian suburbia [Victorian Flatbush: An Architectural History]

Halloween Parades - Ditmas Park

2007-10-29T12:50:00.000-04:00

BOO! Join the Annual Prospect Park South Halloween Parade!

Spooky civil war soldiers will lead marchers with “fife and drum”
Halloween novelties for the kids
Refreshments including brownies, cookies and cider
Meet friends and march together
Bring noisemakers of all shapes and sizes

Gather by 5pm at 1203 Albemarle Road

West Midwood Halloween Parade

Donations of cookies, donuts and cupcakes are welcome.
Apple juice is provided.
The parade starts at 6:15 p.m. and proceeds down Glenwood Road from the subway cut to Westminster Road. It then disperses into individual trick-or-treating throughout the neighborhood.
All are invited, especially kids in costumes.
SPECIAL GUEST THIS YEAR CLIFFORD, the big red dog.

We will gather at 5:45 at the end of Glenwood Road (between Rugby Road and the Q train cut)

Please call Virginia Waters at 212-788-0822 with any questions.

Flatbush Family Network
Halloween Parade [Ditmas Park Blog]

The Marine Park Brief

2007-10-29T11:58:00.000-04:00

Sun rise over the Marine Park Golf course in Brooklyn - by Peter Paulding

The NY Daily News reports the Marine Park Golf Course must close next month -

"...following allegations and legal wrangling over alleged mob ties. But Parks Department officials vowed the 18-hole course would remain open while they look for a new company to run it. The changes come after months of uncertainty at the public golf course following questions raised by Controller William Thompson in January linking operator Domenick Logozzo to a reputed Colombo crime family soldier. Logozzo sued the city last spring for canceling his 20-year, $10 million contract over the allegations, which he disputes." continue reading...

Thankfully, the temperatures have dropped in recent days so this decision will not affect most golfers handicap this season. On my last trip to Marine Park the course was in great shape and really is the best golf course in New York City. The driving range is not far from completion and the new practice area along with the course were in heavy use. Hopefully, a legitimate company that has experience operating golf courses in addition to the pro shop and bar/restaurant is found before next season.

Marine Park links face shutdown [NY Daily News]
Fore: Golfgate Widens from Bronx to Brooklyn [Curbed]
Golfing in Brooklyn [LIVF 9/4/07]
Tees Times [Marine Park Golf Course]
Golf Courses and Driving Ranges [NYC Parks Dept]

Comptroller Voices Concern About Brooklyn Golf Deal [New York Times 1/4/07]
City Wasted Millions on Bronx Golf Project, Audit Says [New York Times]
Fiscal Hazards in Bronx Golf Course [Gothamist]
Blogtalk: This Is What They Blog [NYT City Room Blog]

CAMBA receives $1.3 million in funds from the U.S. Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

2007-10-28T21:42:00.000-04:00

Flatbush Life 10/25 -

A Brooklyn non-profit community based organization (CBO) was recently awarded over $1 million in federal funds to help low-income HIV/AIDS patients.

The Church Avenue Merchants Block Association (CAMBA), 1720 Church Avenue, received the $1.3 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer their Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program.

“Having a stable home can make all the difference in staying healthy and living with this disease,” said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson in awarding the money.

CAMBA Executive Director Joanne Oplustil said the money, which will go toward three years of programs, is a continuation of funding for the same program the CBO has been doing for several years. continue reading...

$1 M to sure up AIDS housing - CAMBA gets funds to administer program [Flatbush Life]
HUD announces $32 million in HIV/AIDS housing aid to help 31 AIDS programs nationwide
[HUD]
NYU Study on the impact of BIDS [Brooklyn Junction]
Commerce Meets Art [Brownstoner 3/6/06]

Sufjan Stevens and "The BQE"

2007-10-27T15:41:00.000-04:00

Kensington based folk-indie rocker Sufjan Stevens is performing his half-hour-long music-and-video composition entitled "The BQE" described as a "symphonic and cinematic exploration of New York City's infamous Brooklyn-Queens Expressway." "The BQE" will premiere at BAM starting on November 1st for 3 nights.

Further along in the interview Sufjan sounds like a local real estate broker touting the uniqueness of Cortelyou Road...

GO: Speaking of parties, how do you like living in Kensington?
SS: I like it a lot because it’s remote and … it’s extremely diverse. I think Cortelyou Road is one of the most diverse streets in the entire country. There’s no consensus in terms of the ethnicity and the kinds of people who live there, it’s so mixed. There are little boutique shops coming in and some great restaurants — you should go to The Farm [on Adderley]. It’s two blocks down on Cortelyou. That’s the place to be; it’s really good food.

Let's sign him up....

11.6 miles of Bad Road [The Brooklyn Paper]
Playing in Traffic [New York Magazine]
Sufjan Stevens [Asthmatic Kitty Records]
The BQE [BAM]
A Shout Out from Sufjan [Ditmas Park Blog]