Grand Army Plaza Seeking Talented Types

This just in from the Prospect Park press team:

Have a band? A dance troupe? A chorus? Or a theater group? Share your talent with everyone in Brooklyn by performing in Grand Army Plaza. The Grand Army Plaza Coalition is looking to make Grand Army Plaza a more vibrant, entertainment filled part of Brooklyn’s crossroads.  Sorry no pay, but a chance to get recognized and to show off your talent. For more information contact: talent@prospectpark.org.

Shameless Self-Promotion: My book is out!

It has absolutely nothing to do with this blog, but I'll be damned if I let that get in the way of letting all 23 of you readers know that, as of today, I am a published author!  Yes, my book, Ad Nauseam: A Survivor's Guide to Consumer Culture is out today in quality book stores nationwide.

Here is the publisher's description:

With the style and irreverence of Vice magazine and the critique of the corporatocracy that made Naomi Klein's No Logo a global hit, the cult magazine Stay Free!—long considered the Adbusters of the United States—is finally offering a compendium of new and previously published material on the impact of consumer culture on our lives. The book questions, in the broadest sense, what happens to human beings when their brains are constantly assaulted by advertising and corporate messages. Most people assert that advertising is easily ignored and doesn't have any effect on them or their decision making, but Ad Nauseam shows that consumer culture does take its toll.

In an engaging, accessible, and graphically appealing style, Carrie McLaren and Jason Torchinsky (as well as contributors such as David Cross, The Onion's Joe Garden, The New York Times's Julie Scelfo, and others) discuss everything from why the TV program CSI affects jury selection, to the methods by which market researchers stalk shoppers, to how advertising strategy is like dog training. The result is an entertaining and eye-opening account of the many ways consumer culture continues to pervade and transform American life.

You can download the table of contents, foreword by NYT Magazine columnist Rob Walker, and preface here if you wish. Or listen to my coeditor Jason Torchinsky and I on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show yesterday. The book is available for purchase at many fine retail outlets (though we'd prefer that you place your money directly into our coffers).

I hope to do a reading at K-Dog later this summer with my pal Daniel Wright, whose book, Patently Silly, just came out as well. More on that when we get our act together.

Where to buy organic food in PLG

So you've got money to buy food without pesticide but don't know where to spend it? You've come to the right place. In my hours lost wandering PLG with baby Sidney, I visited the grocery stores in the neighborhood to see who had what on the organic front. All of the three large grocery stores had at least a couple of staples. Prices varied, with no one a clear winner, but there are a few generalizations I feel comfortable setting forth:

Papa & Sons has the most organic options, with not only staples such as rice, cheese, orange juice, and tofu but my new favorite thing, Baby Mum-Mum. Pioneer had a greater selection of frozen foods, however.  Western Beef, the biggest store of all, offered the least variety of organics.  

Before I go into more detail, keep in mind that some foods are more important to buy organic than others. Onions, avocados, pineapple, and mangos, for example — all of which are plentiful at any number of bodegas in PLG — have such low pesticide loads that the difference between organic and non- is scant. On the other hand, you want to buy your peaches, apples, and bell peppers organic if eating bug spray bothers you. For a full list of which fruits and veggies are safe to eat even when grown conventionally, see the Environmental Working Group's Shopper's Guide to Pesticides (more info here).

Ok, so here, in order of organic-friendliness, is a rundown of local options:

LITTLE PAPA & SONS (1141 Washington Ave. - at Lincoln)

Little Papa & Sons (which is actually called J.H. Little Papa & Sons) carries most of what Associated and Pioneer carried, but a lot more: Organic Valley Orange Juice (6.89), rice (5.29 for 2 lbs), cheese (4.79 for 8 oz.), beans, etc. I started writing down the various products but stopped when I realized you should just go check it out for yourself. When I visited on Wednesday, gallons of Farmland Milk were on sale for 1.99 - bargain! (Technically, Farmland isn't organic, though the store advertised it as such. The cows are hormone and antibiotic-free, however). This small shop doesn't have any organic frozen foods, though. The main Papa & Sons (across Flatbush) also has some organic items, including baby food, mac & cheese, and a frozen veggie or two.

PIONEER (184 Parkside, near Ocean)

Pioneer has the most frozen offerings: many Amy's products (hot cereal, burgers, baked ziti for kids, mac & cheese, shepherd's pie, cheese pizza pocket sandwich), Earth's Best Chicken Nuggets (4.39 8 oz), spinach & artichoke bits, buffalo wings, green beans, Soupman squash soup, mixed veggies, plus various nonorganic veggie burgers and gourmet meals. Pioneer was also the only place I saw that carried fresh spring mix (4.49/5 oz.). Other stuff includes: Tostitos, Eggs (2.99 doz.), Organic Valley Milk (4.99/half gal.), Silksoy (4.69 half gal.), and Stonyfield Yogurt (5.29),

ASSOCIATED (Flatbush at Hawthorne)

Middle of the road, in terms of offerings, though they did have Applegate smoked turkey (4.99 7 oz.) and BGH-free Applegate Muenster (4.99), which I didn't see at the other large stores. Milk (5.19 half gal.), Lactaid (!), Silksoy (4.39 half gal),, Eggs (2.50 Nature's Yoke - cagefree vegetarian, doz), Tostitos, and, like Pioneer, some (nonorganic) Garden & Boca Burgers

WESTERN BEEF (44 Empire Blvd., at Washington)

The biggest store has the smallest selection of organics. What it does, offer, however, is an off-putting stench upon entry and a huge, refrigerated meat room that you really should visit at least once. Every grocery store needs a huge refrigerated meat room. This one also carries staples in party-sized packages, so if you're looking for a 5 pound bag of shredded cheddar, here's the hookup.

Western Beef also has the widest selection of international foods and it's fun browsing the aisles looking at all the exotic goods. In terms of organics, pretty much all I saw was milk (Organic Valley, 4.69/half gal.), Silksoy (4.29/half gal.), eggs (on sale for 2.88 doz.), and a box of dry cereal (Health Valley multiflakes, 5.19). 

OTHER OPTIONS 

The bodega on Lincoln and Ocean (14 Lincoln) has a few dry goods—rice, pasta, mac & cheese, canned beans and soups—as well as eggs and milk. In fact, you can find milk at a number of bodegas around here.

Of course, if you have anything to add or notice any errors here, please leave a comment.

Let's have a fireworks party!

I love this sign that the NYPD has been putting up all over the nabe. Fireworks are LLEGAL? Looks like someone could use a basic lesson in graphic design. 

Blockwide Stoop Sale this Sat. June 20

On Parkside Avenue b/w Bedford and Flatbush Ave. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Rain or Shine

Neighborhood Cleanup Day this Sat. June 20

This just in at headquarters:

The Nostrand Avenue Merchants Association, Hawthorne Street Tenants Civic & Community Alliance Organization, and PLGNA are proud to sponsor a Neighborhood Cleanup Day:

Saturday, June 20th, 2009
8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Nostrand Avenue b/w Empire and Linden Boulevards
And adjoining blocks
The initial meeting point is Fenimore and Nostrand
Participants will blanket the area throughout the day
to collect litter, beautify, and clean up the neighborhood.

LGNA Board Member Evelyn Williams has spearheaded the planning and is still accepting donations to support the purchase of plants for beautification.  

For more information call:
718.774.5466 or
718.774.5698

Curious. I've never heard of the Hawthorne Street Tenants Civic and Community Alliance. We'll have to look that up.

PLG Eyesore

As the bubble bursts and the real estate market ... um ... adjusts, there are few more depressing signs than a partly constructed building. The monstrosity at right, currently blighting the NE corner at Lefferts and New York, has been sitting dormant for years. I knew this, because I frequently pass it, but never really thought about the fact that it is almost (if not completely) unchanged from when we moved to the neighborhood in early 2006.

A building that hasn't progressed since 2006 isn't entirely a casualty of the current economic woes - the developer ran out of money during the boom times, after all - but there is no way that the building will move today. Especially when a partially completed project has been left to suffer the whims of the elements for years and the owners have the building on the market for $8.5 million.

Via Curbed.

Council rep Eugene fined $24,584 for elections violations

From the New York Post story about our very own City Council rep:

A New York City councilman is being fined more than $24,000 for elections violations in three 2007 campaigns. The city's Campaign Finance Board said Councilman Mathieu Eugene racked up 29 violations. Those include failing to provide his bank statements, accepting five corporate contributions and using campaign funds for non-campaign related expenses.

What a winner, huh?

Hawthorne Street now has archives search

Over in the right column there.

Street Art on Rogers

Last week, there was a storefront on Rogers that never seemed to be open but its wares are clearly selling like hotcakes.

The White People store, located on Rogers between President and Union, was part of the Sign Project by Specter, a Banksy-like street artist.

Consider me a fan of his even if he thinks I am part of the problem.

Via Brooklynian Forums, photo by Jake Dobkin

Now with Twitter!

Apparently, it's all the rage now, so if you want to follow us via Twitter, now you can: twitter.com/HawthorneStBlog.

PLG Arts Seeks State Manager for Summer Show

This job ad just crossed my path. Any takers? 

PLG Arts is seeking a stage manager for our 4th annual production of "Daydream," a shortened version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" for children of all ages, presented free in Prospect Park's Imagination Playground. The pay is minimal, but this is a good opportunity for resume building and practical theater experience. The show opens July 4th and runs every Saturday in July at 11:00 am and every Sunday in July at 2:00 pm. Rehearsals are starting on June 16th.

You must be available for all performances but rehearsal commitment is negotiable.

Daydream is an Equity Showcase production (approval pending).

For more information and to schedule an interview please contact Laura at
laura@plgarts.org or 646-281-8325

Why are so many trees on Lincoln dying?

I noticed the other day that two more street trees on Lincoln Road—on the south side, near Ocean Avenue—have died. If I'm remembering correctly, these trees were healthy last season. I think they were among the batch planted about three years ago, after construction on Lincoln ended. Around the corner, on Ocean Avenue, an older tree is dying and the one next to it seems to be headed toward the same fate. I have no idea what kind of trees these are, but here's a detail of the sick leaves.

Further down Lincoln (around 40 Lincoln), another young tree—which appeared healthy last season—is on its last few limbs. The one next to it died a couple of years ago but was replaced with a new tree this spring, thanks to the Million Trees Project.

As someone who asked the City to replace the dead tree (using the handy Million Trees form), I now feel partly responsible to help keep it and the others alive. If anyone has a clue, please say so in the comments, and let us know if anything can be done.

Bike racks in PLG

The NYC Department of Transportation has just released a Google map with the locations of 97 percent of public bike racks in the City. According to this handy map, you can find bike racks in PLG at:

353 Ocean Ave (at Woodruff)
1155 Nostrand Ave (at Rutland)
1127 Nostrand Ave (at Midwood)
1109 Nostrand Ave (at Maple)
1082 Nostrand Ave  (at Lincoln)
1783 Bedford Ave (at Sterling)
592 New York Ave (at Midwood)
315 Empire Blvd (bet Rogers & Nostrand)
41 & 51 Lincoln Rd (at Flatbush)

That said, the last time I saw the rack at 41 Lincoln, it was lying broken on the sidewalk, having just been rear-ended by a truck.

(Via Streetsblog)

Help plan the Hawthorne Street block party

The Church of the Evangel is planning its annual block party — usually held in September — for Hawthorne between Flatbush & Bedford. In recent years, the block parties have been sparsely attended, but the church is now actively seeking residents' involvement in order to make the block party something everyone here enjoys. Next week, planners are holding a meeting to solicit ideas and volunteers. If you live on this block, please try to come:

When: Wednesday, June 10, 7 pm

Where: Church of the Evangel (Hawthorne & Bedford)

What: Meeting to discuss our block party

Charles and I are already thinking about what we could do. We'll probably opt for pulling the grill out and making hot dogs for everyone. Since tweens take up much of the block, maybe a toddler play area is in order. (Any other toddlers around?) 

Anyway, if you can't make it to the meeting, leave your suggestions in the comments and we'll pass them on.

Proposed PLG Charter School needs your help

The planning team for the Lefferts Gardens Charter School (LGCS), including yours truly, is hoping to get approval from the Board of Education to launch a k-8 "green" school in PLG next year. The application is due at the end of this June and we're feverishly working to pull everything together. Want to help?

Here's how: we need letters of support from community groups, local politicians, and parents of school-age kids who could enroll in the school.  These letters should state who you are (e.g. PLG resident and parent of Johnny Doe, 5 years) and the fact that you support a school such as ours: one that takes a child-centered learning approach to environmental-science. Other possible points to mention include the need for an alternative school in our neighborhood and ways you might be able to help the school. 

We are especially interested in getting letters from parents whose kids will be in either kindergarten, first grade, or sixth grade in the 2010-2011 school year (which is when we're hoping to start).

Here are a few sample letters to give you an idea, as well as some more info about the proposed school. So far, we've received letters from the Maple Street School, the Audubon Center, the Botanic Gardens, the Brooklyn Center for Urban Development, Lefferts Manor Association, PLG United Voices for Peace and Justice, and State Senator Eric Adams. 

If you need any more information, feel free to email me at brooklynite282 at gmail.

p.s. Does anyone have a large building they want to give us? (We'll settle for just the land.)

PLG house tour today! And stoop sales!

I'm late at getting this out, but wanted to mention that there's not one but two group stoop sales in the nabe today (Sun. May 31):

1) 50 Lefferts, between Bedford and Rogers (time unknown), is a multi-apartment affair

2) Maple Street, between Bedford & Rogers (noon to 5 pm): Vintage household items: glassware, porcelain, and ceramic pieces, decorative arts and sundry collectibles, household goods, clothes, books and children's toys.

...and let's not forget the Prospect Lefferts Gardens House Tour today from noon to 5 pm.