Author: A Star-Revue Contributor

Arts

A REGINA OPERA OPERETTA

Brooklyn’s Regina Opera, known in recent years for some heavy lifting in productions such as Verdi’s Il Trovatore, and dramatic turns such as Puccini’s Il Tabarro, has ventured into the light side with their production of Sigmund Romberg’s The Student Prince. Romberg was a prolific tunesmith in the early days of Broadway, but he is best known for the three […]

Feature Story

Popular Brooklyn Cat Cafe to Expand with $165k from New York State, by Erin DeGregorio

In mid-May, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that $7.6 million would be awarded to 21 animal shelters and humane societies across the state—through the New York State Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund—for capital projects that “will enhance animal care and health and help ensure adoptions for New York’s dogs and cats.” One of the recipients in this fifth round of the […]

News

Smith street may bid adieu to hopes for a business improvement district, by Katherine Rivard

As Dawn Casale, Smith Street Alliance co-chair, briefly opened the meeting, she welcomed everyone who had come out to learn about the Smith Street Business Improvement District (BID) formation process. For nine years, she has been advocating for a BID in the Court/Smith Street area, alongside a small group of other residents and local business owners. So by April 19, […]

Feature Story

Commercial Flops, Fiascos, Mishaps, Oh My! Pop-up Museum of Failure is All the Hype in Industry City, by Erin DeGregorio

Have you ever done something so bad that you may have regretted it and wished people would forget it and never mention it again? Well, imagine your biggest flops and failures on display for all the world to see, literally. The Museum of Failure—a collection of more than 150 failed inventions, products, and services from the U.S., Europe, and China—has […]

Feature Story

One Man’s Mission to Protect the Pigeons, by Erin DeGregorio

The Gowanus Expressway may not be a part of everyone’s commutes, but, for Kelvin Diaz, walking adjacent to and underneath it is part of his routine. The Sunset Park resident walks approximately three miles between 65th Street and 12th Street under the expressway (a total of six miles), “patrolling the area intensively” for pigeons in need of help. “I’m a […]

News

Hoping for the best as Gowanus builds up, by Oona Milliken

An asbestos abatement notice, shuttered doors, and heaps of debris – this is what is left of Gowanus’ famous BBQ restaurant Pig Beach, one of the first businesses that closed its doors due to the rezoning outlined in the Gowanus Neighborhood Plan. The restaurant, a sprawling indoor-outdoor facility that has served as a community meeting spot for eight years, closed […]

News

Brooklyn’s Community Board 6: A Slow Start to the New Year, by Katherine Rivard

Those who were willing to join the February Community Board 6 meeting in person were rewarded with the chance to peek around a sleek, modern building in the heart of Gowanus and to sample some baked goods provided by one of the board members. The building is home to the Van Alen Institute, a Gowanus-based nonprofit. The baked goods (vegan, […]

News

NYPD Community Meetings: What are they all about? by Katherine Rivard

On January 9 at 2:35pm, a commuter waiting for their train at the 9th and Smith station rushed to find help after seeing someone fall onto the tracks. Officers Morgan Brown and Meir Green sprang into action. As the train approached, Officer Brown stood by the entrance to flag the conductor. Meanwhile, Officer Green jumped into the subway tunnel to […]

Feature Story

Spotlight on Brooklyn Collective: shop, sketch or host a party at this local gem, by Marie Hueston

For those readers who are already familiar with Brooklyn Collective — an art gallery and boutique in the Columbia Street Waterfront District — you know that it’s brimming with beautiful things. If you’ve never visited, get ready to find your new favorite spot to shop for handmade gifts, home accessories, and artwork. Located at 212 Columbia Street between Union and […]