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Closing Bell: Heights Montessori Renovated, Expanded
This is old news at this point, but the Brooklyn Heights Montessori School in Cobble Hill has completed a renovation and expansion that was years in the making. The Montessori purchased the adjacent fire patrol station at 12 Dean Street in July 2009. The result? The school added 11,000 square feet to the existing campus and also renovated the entire facility. It’s pretty cool looking. Click through for more photos.
Brooklyn Heights Montessori School [Official Site] GMAP
Photos by Keith Telfeyan (more…)
05/24/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Bike to School Day Tomorrow
Tomorrow Park Slope school MS 51 is holding a Bike to School Day. The PTA and local bike store Bicycle Habitat are providing volunteers to escort students to and from school along three different routes, from Sunset Park, Carroll Gardens and Windsor Terrace starting points. The school is holding bicycling assemblies today on safety, etiquette, and bike locking. Parents from MS 51 ask drivers to remain alert to youth riding to and from school tomorrow, 7am to 4:00pm.
Photo by Dmitry Gudkov
05/22/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Inside Loew’s 46th Street Theater
The very cool blog After the Final Curtain posted photographs of the Loew’s 46th Street Theater, a theater built in 1927 now fallen into disrepair. It was built as the first atmospheric theater in New York City, designed to look like “a night sky in an Italian garden.” Clouds were even projected across the ceiling. According to ATFC, “the 2,675 seat theater was acquired by the Loew’s Corporation in August 1928, and closed so renovations could be made to the sound equipment. It reopened on September 10, 1928 as the Loew’s 46th Street Theatre.” In the 1940s the “night sky” effects fell into disuse. In 1970 the space became an independent movie theater, later that year it reopened as a concert hall and hosted bands like the Grateful Dead and the Bee Gees. That closed in 1973, and it has been used for furniture storage since. This isn’t to be confused with the Loews King Theater on Flatbush Avenue, currently under renovation.
Loew’s 46th Street Theatre [After the Final Curtain]
05/21/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: It’s Record Fair Weekend!
Usually the Brooklyn Flea holds a record fair in the fall, but this year it’s happening twice! So this Saturday at the Williamsburg Smoragsburg, expect around 25 record vendors, music performances, and (of course) lots of food. Here are all the details! As for the regular markets, the Saturday Smorg will be held as always in Williamsburg, the Brooklyn Flea will be Saturday in Fort Greene and Sunday in Williamsburg, and the SmorgasBrewery still runs Sunday afternoons at the Brooklyn Brewery Tasting Room. Here’s a list of some new Flea vendors (including cowboys and vintage clothing) and some new Smorg vendors (including jerk chicken and bok choy). And here’s how you get to all those markets.
Photo by panda073
05/18/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Slope’s Gorilla Coffee Gets Bike Parking
Via BrooklynSpoke we learn that on-street bike parking has been added outside of Gorilla Coffee on 5th Avenue in Park Slope. The blog’s commentary: “This morning, on-street bike parking was installed on 5th Avenue and Park Place, right in front of Gorilla Coffee. It’s only the third bike corral in the city and even though it was only completed within the last hour or so of this posting, it’s already seeing some action as shown in the photo above. …Two planters (seen on the truck prior to installation) will protect the bikes and racks from cars. Bikes on the sidewalk (mine is on the right) will soon be parked on the street, leaving more room for pedestrians.”
If You Build It, They Will Park [BrooklynSpoke]
Photo by Gorilla Coffee via BrooklynSpoke
05/17/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: The Sky’s the Limit in Coney Island
Via the Coney Island blog Amusing the Zillion, we have the photo above, as well as the following information: “Zamperla’s plans for Go Karts and a SkyCoaster on City-owned “Parcel C” in Coney Island were unveiled last November and on Friday the launch tower of the new thrill ride was put into place with a crane. Coney photographer Bruce Handy’s stunning photos juxtapose the SkyCoaster with the great-granddaddy of vertical thrill rides– the 250-foot tall tower of the landmark Parachute Jump. From the 1940s until it closed in 1964, the Jump was the high thrill in Coney Island and to this day it has supporters who clamor for it to be retrofit and made operable again. Will the new high thrill ride on the Boardwalk win them over? The Coney Island SkyCoaster will be called Boardwalk Flight, according to Luna Park’s website: ‘Take flight over the Atlantic Ocean at heights of over 200 feet. Not thrilling enough? Try it at over 60 mph! This Sky-Coaster will propel you mid-air giving you a sky-diving sensation.’ A SkyCoaster combines elements of skydiving and hang-gliding.” Upward!
SkyCoaster Under Construction in Coney Island [ATZ]
Photo copyright Amusing the Zillion
05/15/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Bed Stuy Beautification Over Weekend
Yesterday, the Bridge Street Development Corporation and the Bedford-Stuyvesant Youth Education and Safety Task Force held the Flower Bed-Stuy Day, a daylong beautification event. Residents came together to sweep sidewalks, remove dead brush, clean up trash, and plant trees and flowers along dozens of blocks. Participating groups also received two flats of plants and gardening tools for courtyard gardens. More than 50 of Bed Stuy’s block and tenant associations participated. Check out more pictures from the event after the jump. (more…)
05/14/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Skies Clear for the Flea
It’s been a gray week but the clouds have parted in time for the Brooklyn Flea and Smorgasburg this weekend. Saturday the Flea is in Fort Greene, Sunday it’s in Williamsburg. And as for Smorgasburg, the artisanal food market takes place at the Williamsburg location on Saturday. And don’t forget SmorgasBrewery, the mini-Smorg at the Brooklyn Brewery Tasting Room on Sunday afternoons! Lots to do, here’s how to get there. And here’s a list of all our food, antique, clothing, jewelry, and art vendors.
Photo by —/HEL
05/11/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Is There a World Beyond Manhattan?
We see no reason to dignify this post with a photo, but the Real Estate Board of New York announced its (all very well-deserved) “ingenious” deal of 2011 award winners in real estate and, of course, Brooklyn ain’t got nada. What’s a little weird, though, are the nominations for the retail deals of 2011, which have yet to be announced/selected: All Manhattan, most all corporate and boring. Guess the deal for Shake Shack on the Fulton Mall was inked in 2010, but still, we think there must be some Brooklyn deals that can compete with “55 Fulton Street – Key Food.” It seems as though the awards and nominations are only ever for Manhattan, which is kind of silly!
05/10/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: JJ Byrne Park Reopens This Friday
This Friday at 11am the NYC Department of Parks and Rec will cut the ribbon for the newly renovated JJ Byrne Park in Park Slope. There’s a new play area with equipment inspired by the farming and Revolutionary history of the Old Stone House, new perimeter gardens, and adult-themed spaces like a seating area with cafe tables. Renovation work began just about a year ago.
Ribbon Cutting for JJ Byrne Playground [Park Slope Civic Council]
J.J. Byrne Playground Revamp Starts This Week [Brownstoner]
J.J. Byrne Reno To Start Next Month [Brownstoner]
Plans for J.J. Byrne Park Revealed [Brownstoner] GMAP
05/09/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Free Tree Giveaway at Brooklyn Bridge Park
This weekend, The New York Restoration Project and MillionTreesNYC will be giving away trees at Brooklyn Bridge Park. Get your greenery this Saturday, from 10am to 12pm, on Pier Six… only the first 150 NYC residents in line will take away a tree. While the giveaway is based on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies run out, you can also reserve a tree here. Simple tree planting and care instructions will come with your tree. And if you are not within walking distance of the park, consider bringing a vehicle for tree transport.
05/08/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: The Slope Show
We had a knee-jerk, “Wow, this is really wrong reaction” to this business card when we saw it in a local coffee shop. Then we went to the website!
The Slope Show [Official Site]
05/07/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Starry Eyed at Smorgasburg
Mario Batali awarded Smorgasburg with his highest praises, so check it out this weekend and see what all the fuss is about. As always, the Smorg features tons of sweet, savory, packaged, and unexpected food vendors every Saturday in Williamsburg. Also on Saturday, the Brooklyn Flea runs in Fort Greene with jewelry, antique, clothing, food, and art vendors. (And here’s all the new stuff coming to the Flea and Smorg this weekend!) Flea vendors return to the Williamsburg location on Sunday, not to mention the food vendors serving at the Brooklyn Brewery Tasting Room Sunday afternoons. Here’s a map and directions to the many market locations.
Photo by Danny L.
05/04/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: PIP Open Houses This Weekend
It’s fantastic to see all the open houses pop up in anticipation of the Partners and Preservation grant awards. There are nine scheduled for this weekend in Brooklyn alone. (And have you voted for your favorite restoration project yet?) Pictured above, the the Coney Island History Project will hold an open house for the B & B Carousel from noon to 4pm. Since the carousel is away in Ohio being restored, architectural renderings, photos, and film of the restoration process will be on view. There will also be a contest to name the first horse. Other Open Houses in Brooklyn include the Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center, the Brooklyn Public Library, and the Tug Pegasus & Waterfront Museum Barge. The map of all BK locations can be peeped here [PDF]. Make sure to send along pictures of the historic sites you visit if this is part of your weekend!
Vote to Preserve NYC Historic Places [Brownstoner]
Photo by the Coney Island History Project
05/03/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: PS 321 Spring Auction Underway
Yesterday the PS 321 Spring Auction went live with over 400 products, events and gift certificates. Bidding will last through May 16th. Here are a few auction highlights: Rock-climbing by the Gowanus, a month of drum lessons, a pair of VIP tickets to The Colbert Report, an overnight trip to the American Museum of Natural History, lots of restaurant gift certificates, and tickets to Annie the Musical. All proceeds go toward the PS 321 students. Bid here!
05/02/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Plants Sale Starts Today at BBG
This week the Brooklyn Botanic Garden holds its annual plant sale, which offers the largest collection of plants in the NYC area, with an emphasis on native plants. Today, from 4:30pm to 8pm, the sale is only open to BBG Members. The sale opens to the public tomorrow, May 2nd, from 9am to 8 pm, and Wednesday, May 3rd, from 9am to noon. It takes place on the (tented) Cherry Esplanade. There’s a plant sale entrance and pickup right off Flatbush Avenue… you can see a map at the website. They’re promising just about every type of plant in stock, including annuals, perennials, shrubs, houseplants, vegetables, and more. So stop by, and call us when your garden starts looking really good this season!
Plant Sale 2012 [Brooklyn Botanic Gardens]
Photo by Rebecca Bullene
05/01/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: New Drips on 7th Avenue
Today Here’s Park Slope writes about the new art installation up at 200 Seventh Avenue, between Second and Third streets. The owner of the building is an artist and designer who has outfitted his home with “drips” since the late 70s. This is the eighth series of drips to go up over the years. As HPS says: “Light blue and goopy-looking, they keep with the organic theme; these ones even appear to have tails and horns. Just one more thing that makes our neighborhood awesome.”
New Set of “Drips” Installed at Mark Ravitz’s 200 Seventh Avenue [Here's Park Slope]
04/30/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Time to Flea
This weekend, all your favorite markets are back: Brooklyn Flea runs Saturday in Fort Greene and Sunday in Williamsburg, Smorgasburg runs Saturday at the same Williamsburg location, and SmorgasBrewery runs Sunday afternoons at the Brooklyn Brewery Tasting Room. Got all that? Good, now head over to the vendor list and check out all the awesome food, jewelry, art, antique, and furniture vendors that show up every weekend. And grab a map and directions to all the markets here.
Photo by wallyg
04/27/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Vote to Preserve NYC Historic Places
Today, Partners in Preservation, a community-based program provding preservation grants for local historic places, announced 40 historic NYC places in the running to have their grant requests fulfilled. American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation fund the program, which awards grants to landmarks in different cities every year. $3 million of funding will go towards the four project that receive the most votes from the public. Then a special advisory committee will review the public’s votes along with each site’s monetary needs to determine how the rest of the $3 million will be awarded. Now all you have to do is vote! The options in Brooklyn include the Brooklyn Public Library, the Tug Pegasus & Waterfront Museum Barge, Coney Island B&B Carousell (pictured), and the Brown Memorial Baptist Church. Check out the website for the list of all the worthy restoration projects. Voting lasts until May 21st. The popular vote winners will be announced on May 22 and the final list of grant recipients will be announced shortly after.
04/26/2012 4:00 PM
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Closing Bell: Sustainable Brooklyn
This Thursday the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is looking at “Brooklyn’s sustainable future and present” through discussing projects like the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Broadway Stages. The panel includes Andrew Kimball, the president of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Scot Medbury, the president of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, Regina Myer, President of Brooklyn Bridge Park to the line up and representatives from energy efficient companies. For more information and to register for the event, go here. Space is limited and advance registration is requested by today! The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the National Grid Auditorium, One MetroTech Center.
04/24/2012 4:00 PM
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adam_dahill
May 21, 2012 | 02:16 PM