Free Sing-a-long!

Michael from Playground of Sound is hosting a music class in Greenwood Playground on Sat. at 10.15.

Oak & Iris Opening?

We heard from 2 emails that the Oak & Iris will be opening this weekend or early next week depending on the inspection. We've walked by a few times and seen a fancy cappuccino machine and lots of tables as well as a vibrate paint job. We are excited to see the selection and stop in!

The Oak & Iris
corner of E4th St. & Ft. Hamilton Ave.

Playground of Sound is a mixed age music class for kids up to four years of age that creates a space for children and their caregivers to be music makers. Everyone is invited to actively participate in the music and movement, really reinforcing the fact that we all possess the capacity to make music, not just passively enjoy it. I use Rob Sayer's The Music Class curriculum and a wide variety of kid friendly instruments and props. More information about the materials can be found at http://www.themusicclass.com/

Here's the fall schedule:
Playground of Sound at Rory's Room
3003 Ft. Hamilton Parkway
Brooklyn, NY 11218
Saturdays at 9:15
September 6 - November 8
(make up classes will be offered on Nov 15 and 22 for illness, vacation or religious holidays)
Tuition is $250.00 (only $230.00 if you register before August 23) and includes ten 45 minute classes, The Giraffe Collection book and CD. Sibling discount: $30.00
Infants nine months and under may attend enrolled sibling's class for free.
To register, call 347-244-0436 or email michael.harren@gmail.com

Michael will be doing a free demo class/sing along in the Greenwood Playground on Aug 30th as well. Feel free to come along and bring friends, even if you are already enrolled in the class.

Two-Headed Turtle stolen from Sean Casey Animal Rescue

Hamilton Dog House missing 2-Headed Turtle

Missing Turtle Report: Watch for the Two Heads
A two-headed turtle was kidnapped from the Hamilton Dog House, an animal shelter and pet supply store on East Third Street in Brooklyn.

Sean is saddened by the whole situation and is willing to take the turtle back no questions asked. There is a $1000 reward being offered for the safe return of the turtle. Neighbors started putting up flyers around the neighborhood but someone has been malignant enough to rip them down just as fast.

Crafts w Shanise @ Greenwood Playground

This week Shanise will be doing crafts on Wednesday at noon--come make masks out of paper bags.

On Friday Shanise will be at her regular time: 11:00 to do pipe cleaner people!!

In addition, Shanise will help out Linda Z on Tuesday with her"Everyone is an Artist" program starting at 10:30. They will be working with clay.

Stolen Bikes

We've heard some rumblings about locals getting their bikes stolen. We know of one on East 5th, another on Ocean Pkwy and got an email today about a bike stolen in front of Kensington Library. Anyone else have a bike stolen recently?

John Starks visits K-town Library?

FROM THE INBOX... a hoax?
Former NBA star John Starks will be at the Kensington Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library on Tuesday (August 12) at 2 p.m. He will have a Cablevision News camera crew with him and may read a story. (That has not been confirmed). Some of our Kensington neighbors might be able to attend.

Kensington Library
410 Ditmas Ave. between East 4th & East 5th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11218
t. 718-435-9431

R.I.P Joe & Joe's

We got an email that Joe & Joe's Pizzeria is officially closed.... anyone know if this is true or the guys are just taking a vacation?

Also we've noticed the Furniture store on Church Ave b/w East 5th and 4th closed awhile back. There is construction and work permits for something new. Please tell us if you know what's coming?

Any other retail news out there?

This Week at Greenwood Playground

Tuesday: Studio in the Park with Sam Campbell
10-2:00
Limited to 10 kids (with caregiver) per session.
This week, making "magic gardens" in clay
Please sign up in the playground

Crafts with Shanise
Wednesday 11:00
Making Popsicle stick bunnies
Thursday 11:00
Water balloon toss competition
Friday 11:00
Making Beaded Bracelets

Sunday 10:30: Sing-a-long with Gina Samardge

Organized by Friends of Greenwood Playground (who incidentally need volunteers for next year or there will no longer be kids programming!)

Where the Locals at?

Local Band Pistolera has a new album and NYC show:

PISTOLERA'S NEW ALBUM "EN ESTE CAMINO" OUT NOW!
CD RELEASE SHOW SATURDAY, AUGUST 9
at Central Park Summerstage, 3pm, Free
with Kinky and others

The album is already #8 on the CMJ Latin Radio Charts and received the following review from Billboard Magazine!

"Pistolera frontwoman Sandra Velasquez has not given herself an easy assignment: write searching, often politically conscious lyrics in Spanish with traditional Latin music instrumentation.....the results are often glorious and galvanizing ("Guerra," a translation of Bob Marley's "War," couldn't be more relevant). The musicianship is superb here, and it's a pleasure to listen to a whole museum of brass, bongos, congas, caxixi, maracas and pandereta incorporated beautifully into a sound that doesn't fit neatly into any genre." - Billboard

PS we are HUGE fans so if you haven't seen the band go check it out!

Maki Sushi Tasting

Angie, owner of Thai Tony's, has invited everyone to come in and try the new place MAKI SUSHI! Angie reminds us that not all Sushi is raw so there's something for everyone!!!

Location:
Maki Sushi on Ft. Hamilton (between E 2nd & E 3rd)
Saturday August 9th from 3-6pm

Graffiti Surveying

Jacob Stevens from Council member Bill de Blasio's office is coordinating Graffiti Surveying Tuesday, August 12th at 5:30pm. Any volunteers, please meet at the corner of Church Avenue and Coney Island in front of Rocky's Pizza.

Church Ave Accident

We heard the police activity on Church Ave is because a man got hit crossing the street. We hope the man is ok.

Falafal Fusion Gets Juicer

From the inbox:
They juiced the carrots on the spot while I was waiting for my falafel. At 5.00 for a large that price is about the average. The counter person said they would juice pretty much whatever a person wanted as long as they had it in stock or could get it from one of the local markets.

23 Caton Place - Any Future?!

Brooklyn developer to face bank in condo default case
Brooklyn developer Moshe Feller is scheduled to face off in court next month against Corus Bank, which filed suit against his Karl Fischer-designed Kensington condominium development about two months after contractors walked off the job. Corus filed suit in June against Caton on the Park, a 107-unit condo building that has sat idle since April 4, when the New York City Department of Buildings issued a stop work order.


As many of you know this development has caused a huge amount of tension in the area. The condos border on the stables and have been built right againest a building on Ocean Pkwy. At this point if the building is not complete what will happen? Here's a commentor from the article: As someone who lives across the street from this shell of a building, I can say this is a pathetic and sad situation. And it's the Kensington community that ends up suffering -- with a block full of debris, a building that looks like a vastly oversized pigeon coop, reduced parking on the block, security concerns and little hope of anything changing anytime soon.

Oak & Iris Cafe - Coming Soon

A bunch of you emailed us to post the note on the door of the old Jimmy's, soon to be the new "The Oak and The Iris Cafe."
Dear Bypassers and neighbors-
Soon (August) we will be opening a beautiful healthy cafe with full coffee/tea/juice bar, breakfast and brunch; sit down for delicious meal and your essential groceries all in one. The Oak and The Iris Cafe, here to serve our community.