Celebrating Community
In the late 1980s, Brooklyn wasn’t cool yet. Most hipsters did not live in Brooklyn — their center was the Lower East Side. Coney Island and Downtown Brooklyn were considered dangerous. Then, a cultural oasis sprung up on Prospect Avenue in South Park Slope — a rock club called Lauterbach’s. It became home to a group of bands who played […]
There’s no such thing as a bad seat at the Brooklyn Ice House. The two picnic tables in front of the bar provide views of passersby. In the bar’s spacious back patio, wooden tables and benches are sprinkled among rusty chairs—nothing precious enough to cause concern if you have a little spill, nor dirty enough to fear sitting on. Inside, […]
The first few “walking with coffee” columns were interviews with Millennials, in which we discussed their views of “boomers.” One common complaint was that the post-war generation refused to let go of jobs, culture, politics, and basically everything. It brought to this boomer’s mind a novel by Aldous Huxley, “After Many a Summer Dies the Swan.” Written in 1939 it […]
On Prospect Park West, just south of Prospect Avenue sits a small outpost of flavor and coolness Dog Day Afternoon. The shop, opened by Joe Boyle, a Chicago native, and his partner Jay Kerr, serves up a top-shelf version of America’s national food, the hot dog. I started eating hot dogs at Nathan’s in Coney Island when they were 25 […]
A Tale of Two Kiddies Ok, full disclosure: I grew up on a block in Brooklyn during the 1950s. In the age before playdates, I was let out at the age of 5 to roam one side of the block between 4th and 5 avenues. (just for the record I have no issue with parents using playdates in a post-Etan […]
On June 5, at 7:30 pm, Carroll Park was filled, as usual, with children playing and parents catching up, but on the eastern side of the park, twinkly lights were strung from the back of the Park House and a stage, painted to look like a pool deck, was surrounded by folding chairs. It was Smith Street Stage’s first preview […]
Jay McKnight’s recent death was a loss for all of Red Hook. Relativity few people in the community knew of Jay as a highly talented musician whose incredible career spanned over half a century. His vocal talents enhanced the creations of The Dubs and other popular groups. Some of his works are preserved in the Library of Congress. This is […]
Turn worn-out jeans into cute Father’s Day keychains! Father’s Day is right around the corner and if you still need a present for Dad, this is the craft for you. Let’s get started! What you’ll need. Find a pair of old, worn-out, or ripped jeans. If you don’t have any, ask a friend or family member. In addition to your […]
What’s the most challenging part of your job? Yolanda Cruz, School Bus Driver, Phillip Bus Corp. What’s the most difficult part of your job? You have to be 100 percent aware. No matter how good a driver you think you are, there are other drivers out there that are not. We have to have twenty eyes on the road. My […]
VERDICT ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON Coffee, coffee, coffee, right. Jane just traded in the electric drip thing for a Keurig automatic thing.. It’s time for my 4pm make it through the day cup. She’s out at the moment but left me instructions on how to navigate this latest “modern convenience”. There are buttons to push, but first you insert a […]