A Festival of Art from the Ancient to Modern at the Park Avenue Armory

Painted Wooden Egyptian Male Statuette from Phoenix Ancient Art

One of the highlights of spring in New York is most certainly the Art and Antiques Dealers Show NYC. This extraordinary celebration of art showcases a huge variety of work, from the oldest artifacts, which can be literally thousands of years old on display at the Phoenix Ancient Art booth, to more modern fare at presenters such as Clinton Howell who specializes in 19th century period pieces.

This year’s show was held from May 1-5 at the Park Avenue Armory and featured almost 60 galleries and dealers with their best objects d’art out for the scrutiny of the public. Collectors, art lovers, or just plain curious people who enjoy the unusual and beautiful gathered together to peruse a collection of art brought together in one of the most eclectic and varied displays possible to imagine.

Also part of the show was a fundraiser on opening night. This benefit preview was sponsored by 1stdibs.com and raised money to support the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The Art and Antiques Dealers Show is a yearly event not to be missed. Check it out next spring.

Police Rescue Man From Brooklyn Bridge Jump

Police Engaging Man on Brooklyn Bridge Tower

After receiving a call on Saturday that a man was standing on the Manhattan tower of the Brooklyn Bridge threatening to jump, NYPD arrived at the scene, donned harnesses, and climbed up the cables to talk the man down.

First to arrive at the bridge were detectives Keith Connelly and Gregory Welch. Without hesitation they put on harnesses and began the climb to the top of the tower. According to police reports the detectives waited until Sergeant John Flynn joined them before engaging the man.

The police spoke with the “jumper” for over an hour before he decided to come off the bridge with the policemen. The man agreed to descend safely after the officers “were able to ascertain the man’s concerns and issues.” He came down without a struggle with Emergency Service Officers after the man was convinced that they would help him get the aid he was seeking.

When the group reached the safety of the road the 52-year old black man, whose name was not released yet, was brought to Bellevue Hospital for an evaluation.

Lander’s District Chooses Where the Money Will Go

Brad Lander

In Councilman Brad Lander’s Brooklyn District a new experiment with democracy is underway and looking good. Over the weekend 2,812 residents of Kensington, Cobble Hill and Park Slope voted in what was the second election in New York City known as “participatory budgeting.”

The idea behind participatory budgeting is that the people in the neighborhood who are closest to the issues which are most important to them decide directly how their own tax money is spent.

Here’s how it works: Neighborhood residents came up with 24 proposals to put before the voters, and the voters chose among these 24 the six projects which will be prioritized for funding in New York’s 2014 budget. The budget of $1 million will be adopted in June using city capital promised by Lander.

The following projects were chosen by the voters to receive a part of the $1 million:

1. P.S. 230 will receive $180,000 to install 34 Smartboards in the school together with MacBooks. The school serves high-needs students. Many of the 1,300 pupils are also learning English as a second language.

2. The Carrol School, P.S. 58 will have eight bathrooms renovated using $110,000 of the budget. The last time the school was renovated was 1954.

3. Carrol Gardens/Windsor Terrace Library will receive $75,000to fund 29 new adult and preschool computers. The purpose is to support community needs for internet and computer competence and literacy.

4. Church Avenue will receive $300,000 worth of traffic and pedestrian safety upgrades. Sidewalks will be extended and crossing distances reduced on Church Avenue at the Coney Island Avenue and McDonald Avenue intersections.

5. P.S. 179 will receive $115,000 to upgrade the school’s technology infrastructure.  Twenty-seven Smartboards will be installed to help this underserved school which serves a high-needs population of English language learners, special education students, and gifted students as well.

6. New trees will be planted in the 3rd Street Green Corrider to help control rainwater runoff. Using a budget of $170,000, ten new trees with enhanced tree pits will be placed in Gowanus from Bond Street to Third Avenue. Drainage during storms should be improved while bringing shade and beauty to this section of Brooklyn.

“I am amazed by the turnout and cross-community collaboration we saw over the last week,” said Councilman Lander. “After one of the more trying years in our city’s history, it would be easy to divide into factions and work against each other for funding for our corner of the city.  But New Yorkers are showing a better way forward and are working together to make the tough decisions that make all of our communities stronger.”

Those who would like to see all 24 projects which were proposed can turn to Brad Lander’s web site.

Brooklyn Writer Brings Family Lore to Life in Second Novel

Amy Shearn of Brooklyn

Brooklyn author Amy Shearn took a bit of her family history and transformed it and enlarged it into her second novel, which will be launched in Park Slope on Tuesday April 2, at 7pm at the powerHouse on 8th.  An additional book launching will take place on April 14th at the Lark Café in Ditmas Park at 6pm.  

The book, entitled “The Mermaid of Brooklyn” is based on the story of Shearn’s grandmother, Jenny Lipkin, which is also the name of the heroine of the book. The real-life Lipkin was forced to support her family on
her own, without the assistance of her absentee husband. The fictional Lipkin is faced with similar difficulties.

The character is a former magazine editor who is married to a gambler who disappears one day. She is now faced with the prospect of supporting her family on her own in a Park-Slope walk-up. Jenny is overwhelmed with her responsibilities, becomes desperate, but eventually finds her strength with the aid of a magical mermaid.

District Attorney Hynes Honors Brooklyn’s Finest Women

Kings County DA Charles Hynes

Kings County District Attorney Charles Hynes honored 33 women of Brooklyn for their extraordinary service to their communities at the seventh annual “Extraordinary Women” event held on March 5, 2013.

Hynes declared that these women worked hard for years to improve the lives of those around them. They should be, and are, considered great role models for others, displaying a large degree of selflessness, dedication and compassion for their communities.

Among those extra-special women was June Rodrigues of Ditmas Park. In 2008 Rodrigues began to volunteer for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI.) Back then East Flatbush’s branch of NAMI had only two support groups. From the beginning Rodgrigues was dedicated to improving the lives of people with mental illness. It was one of her most cherished goals to improve the services available for them through education and advocacy.

Rodrigues is largely responsible for many of the most basic programs available through NAMI at the Kings County Hospital. Those include NAMI’s Peer-To-Peer, Family-to-Family, and NAMI Conexion, a support group for mentally ill Spanish speaking adults.

"It is an honor for me to recognize these women for their outstanding work, which benefits all the people of Brooklyn," Hynes exclaimed.

The 33 women were also given the special designation of “Special Ambassador” in their communities.

 "The women come from neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn.  The honorees all have one thing in common," Hynes said. "They make Brooklyn a better place to live.”

Special Programing at Brooklyn Museum Every First Saturday

Known as “Target First Saturdays,” the Brooklyn Museum opens its doors every first Saturday of the month from 5pm until 11pm. (The regular Saturday hours are 11am-6pm.)

Visitors to the Museum on the first Saturday of each month (excluding September) can expect to enjoy free programs including both art and entertainment. There are crafts projects for visitors to participate in, artist talks, tours of the galleries and other exciting activities.

Check the Brooklyn Museum’s website for details of upcoming programs. As implied in the name of the program, the popular department store “Target” is a sponsor, along with the Wallace Foundation Community Programs Fund,DLA Piper US LLP, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, The Ellis A. Gimbel Trust, National Grid, and more.

Kensington to Welcome Branch of Zarsha Leo

Nightlife in Kensington has just been raised by a notch or two with the addition of the trendy, upscale restaurant-bar franchise Zarsha Leo into the neighborhood. Older singles can utter a sigh of relief, as they no longer have to cross a river to enjoy a great night out. Great food, a large selection of wines, local beers, beer on tap and cocktails draw in the crowds, while the big-screen TVs tuned to the most exciting sporting events happening anywhere in the world, keep them there.

Evan Burschkopf is the CEO of this New York-based franchise. He has been experiencing great success with his Manhattan locations, and is expecting no less from Brooklyn.

“I have great faith in my Brooklyn brethren that they will patronize Zarsha Leo to the same extent as their Manhattan cousins. Coming originally from Brooklyn myself, I feel a close connection to my stores here, and hope the locals will get to feel the same way,” confessed Burschkopf.