Free Yoga for Kensingtoners!

Thanks to the generosity of a grant from the Citizens Committee For New York City – together with support from Bend & Bloom Yoga and Arts & Democracy – free outdoor yoga classes were offered at Avenue C Plaza, Kensington.  The brainchild of The Kensington Stewards, the six week series – led by a certified yoga instructor – took place every Monday night for an hour.

The goal of The Kensington Stewards in this endeavor was to bring more neighbors in to Avenue C Plaza to take advantage of what is being offered.  White tents were set up for the yoga classes. 

The classes were a huge success and a whole cross-section of Kensington demographic turned up.  It was also a demonstration of unification of Kensington, Brooklyn.

Last of the Summer Whine….

The longest running British sitcom was called Last of the Summer Wine.  I guess parents of little kids may think of that (whine) when it comes to the end of the seemingly way too long summer break from school.  For those, it’s more like summer vacation and the livin’ ‘aint easy….when you’ve got small kids.

Well, the good news is you can amuse your kids at neighborhood parks thanks to City Parks Foundation’s PuppetMobile.  Performances of The Big Good Wolf are being shown today, tomorrow and Friday at the following locations:

Marion Hopkinson Park, Bed-Stuy – Wednesday, August 22 at 11am
Owl’s Head Park, Bay Ridge – Thursday, August 23 at 11am
South Oxford Park, Fort Greene – Friday, August 24 at 11am

This project and others like it is park of the goal of City Parks Foundation to “transform NYC parks into vibrant centers of urban life through sports, arts, community building and education programs.”

Look out for details of similar events as well as puppet-making workshops throughout NYC. Before you know it, the kids will be back in school!

Building and Infrastructure News

The City Planning Commission was (unanimously) approved the proposed 80 Flatbush Avenue’s mixed use project. Earlier this year the Brooklyn Community Board actually rejected the proposal put forward by Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President who requested a significant height reduction on one of the towers. Should the project be approved by the City Council it will then go ahead.

Plans include the creation of 900 apartments (within what would be Brooklyn’s second largest tower measuring at 986 feet!). There will also be two schools, retail and cultural space. Meanwhile over at 571 Ocean Parkway, permits were filed for an eight story residential building in Kensington. Should this be approved the property is great for public transportation, as it is located a mere six blocks from the 18th Avenue subway station and ten blocks from Hewkirk Plaza subway station. It won’t be as tall as the one on Flatbush Avenue measuring in at a mere 80 feet and offering 31 residential units.

JRAD Throwing Stones

Last month the JRAD Throwing Stones played in Prospect Park Bandshell, in Brooklyn. See them here: