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Filmed in Brooklyn

Filmed in Brooklyn published on 5 Comments on Filmed in Brooklyn

Seeing Saturday Night Fever the other night just gave me a warm fuzzy feeling about Brooklyn. So fuzzy that I had to come up with an entire list of movies filmed in my favorite boro. Check out my NYC list of films here.

By the way, this isn’t in any particular order. That would take too much effort. It’s what comes into my mind first. I tried to pull up some under-the-radar films that aren’t necessarily the best, but at least you won’t see them on every other list.

1. Saturday Night Fever. A classic. I refused to see it for about 15 years after it came out because I cringed at those type of guys. Oddly enough, I kind of miss them now that they’re not so prevalent. Great Bensonhurst/Bay Ridge memories. And yes, I’m old enough to have danced on that 2001 floor.

2. The Warriors. Come out to play-ay? What more can I say-ay? Only that my friend’s dad wrote the novel. And it features Coney Island.

3. Do The Right Thing. This summer, as hot as it is here in Bed Stuy, I keep saying I’m gonna throw a garbage can through Saraghina’s window. If you don’t get the reference, you need to rent your ass this movie. Actually, most of Spike Lee’s movies celebrate Brooklyn, but this one is my favorite.

4. Laws of Gravity. A little known 1992 indie film. Was it great? That’s to be debated, but it could be a great cult classic. Filmed in Greenpoint and my high school buddy Arabella was in it, so it gets the friend plug.

5. Dog Day Afternoon. “Attica! Attica! Attica!” Pacino at his finest right there on Prospect Park West in Windsor Terrace.

6. Moonstruck. An ode to Carroll Gardens. And the moon. Cher is awesome. Norman Jewison, the same guy who did Fiddler on the Roof, directed this movie, proving that there’s no difference between Jews and Italians. We’re all loud and like to eat.

7. The Sentinel. Horror movie that scared the bejesus out of me back in 1977. Mostly filmed indoors, but the sentinel looks out over the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

8. Requiem for a Dream. Another Coney Island backdrop! And a shout out to another fellow Murrow HS alum Darren Aronofsky.

9. Last Exit to Brooklyn. A disturbing look at the seedy side of 1950’s Red Hook. But a great film!

10. Boardwalk. Gosh, I only saw this movie once and I really don’t remember it. I do remember seeing Ruth Gordon and Lee Strasberg filming it on the boardwalk back in the late 70’s when I was a young-un. Oh, how I loved Ruth Gordon.

11. Over the Brooklyn Bridge. Oh boy, I pulled this one out of my you know what. Don’t remember if it was any good. Was Margaux Hemingway IN anything good? Elliot Gould, a Jewish deli owner in Brooklyn. Shelly Winters, Sid Caesear, Carol Kane…ring a bell? I think I have to rent it.

12. The Chosen. Never heard of it? Two words. Robby Benson. Six words. Robby Benson plays a Hasidic Jew. Nuff said.

Brooklyn Summer Concerts n Stuff

Brooklyn Summer Concerts n Stuff published on

The season is upon us! Outdoor concerts, performances and movies.

Celebrate Brooklyn is already in full swing but take note that the best reminder of Brooklyn’s 1970’s embarrassing roots is showing this Saturday, July 14th. Saturday Night Fever is playing at Prospect Park! Long before Jersey had The Situation, Brooklyn had Tony Manero.

The Coney Island Seaside Concerts appeal to my 1980’s nostalgia much better than any other (free) concert venue. Do you know the line up yet? Are you ready for this?

Squeeze. But don’t go. I don’t want it to be too crowded. I need my dancing space. If you insist on going, that show is July 20th with The Romantics.

Sorry, let’s backtrack a bit. The Coney concerts start off this Thursday on July 12th with a tribute to Donna Summer. Gloria Gaynor, The Village People, The Trammps and Rose Royce! But that’s the night that rock defeats disco in my world.

August brings us Joan Jett AND The Blackhearts for more 80’s and Gladys Knight and The Commodores for you 70’s fans.

Get your funk on with Bootsy Collins and S.O.S. Band on July 16th at Wingate MLK concert venue. Public Enemy plays with Salt and Pepper (Ok, Salt-n-Pepa) on July 30th.

Full calendars:

MLK Concert Series

Seaside Concerts

Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll.

Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll. published on 2 Comments on Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll.

Day 2 of my friend plugs! Who doesn’t like sex and drugs and rock n roll? Well, not really drugs. But who doesn’t like gossiping about sex and drugs and rock n roll? A-ha! My friend Judy McGuire, a sex-n-love advice columnist who has interviewed some pretty important rock stars in her time (like Joe Strummer), wrote an entire book on the subject.

The book launch party takes place this Thursday, July 12th at Powerhouse Arena in Dumbo. It’s sure to be a blast and if my opinion is not enough to convince you, refreshments will be served.
Very Good Indeed.

It’s Atlantic Dammit!

It’s Atlantic Dammit! published on

I’m a bad friend. My BFF, t-shirt designer Deb, made these statement tees and I never gave her a plug. Oh, but everyone else did! Nah, I’m not in the dog house, but I’m the last kid in town to feature these Brooklyn activist shirts on my blog.

Remember the whole Atlantic Yards fiasco? Eminent domain? Promises of low income housing and jobs that never materialized? Protests from the community? Yeah well, what’s done is done. What’s done can’t be undone.

But that doesn’t mean Deb…or anyone else…has to stop bitching about it.

The story is that Barclays Bank bought the subway station name rights and now the Atlantic/Pacific stop is called “Barclays Center”. First of all, as much as New Yorkers accept change, we are creatures of habit. Anyone calling The Triboro “RFK Bridge”? How about the Queensboro “Ed Koch Bridge”? Hell’s Kitchen?

You get my point. But to add insult to injury, the name “Barclays Center” wasn’t something that was earned. It was bought (kind of like our current elections). Popped on a project that many people are unhappy about.

Looking at the half full glass, one can always say that it could have been worse. Could have been called “Forest City Ratner Station”.

Get yer t-shirts here.

Related Deb interviews at DNA and Prospect Heights Patch.

Photoville, USA

Photoville, USA published on

What could be better than an emerging photographers’ photo exhibit? An entire photography town! Dumbo’s Brooklyn Bridge Park transforms into Photoville this weekend for all of us lovers of captured moments.

Of course there will be exhibits around “town” but that’s not all, folks! Photoville features workshops, a greenhouse, a beer garden and even a dog run!

Thirty plus shipping containers will act as galleries showing the works of world photographers, with big wigs such as Magnum and Photo District News getting in on the action.

The event runs until July 1st. Check out the weekend schedule here.

Knowing About Home Repair Grants

Knowing About Home Repair Grants published on

Homeowners would surely entertain the idea of being able to repair their own home. After all, who does not want to improve their home living conditions? The only problem about this is the possibility of facing expenses, and other unexpected extras. This is where home repair grants enter the picture. Generally speaking, these home repair grants are issued to American citizens who are not able to have their homes fixed because of financial difficulties. Millions and millions of dollars are being offered to residents who need urgent home repairs and improvements.

Tips to Acquire

Home repair grants are generally given for free in order to make sure that there is no need for repayment. Still, there are requirements that need to be submitted and be qualified for. For one, the homeowner should be legally recognized as the owner of the property or residence that needs to be fixed. In line with this, it is also important to provide the needed documents and certificates to support the claim.

Also, this grant is not just given to anybody. The homeowner should also be part of the low income bracket. However, if you are the type of person who wants to renovate your home, then you can still give it a try. At the same time, you need to layout the things that need to be fixed, specifying the details involved. For a quick estimate, you may ask your municipal contractor in order to see how much money is needed to have the tasks done. This will prove to be a good factor in determining the home repair grants to be given.

 

The Next Steps

Since the government is the main distributor of these home grants, they can be found by visiting local departments like FEMA and HUD in order to see if specific grants are available for application. There are also organizations that are also willing to assist needy people and families. At the same time, there are also philanthropists who seek to help the needy ones by giving grants.

Also, it is possible to get information from local newspaper in order to search for people who will offer these grants from people. For instance, people who win from cosmik casino bonuses also share their winnings to people who need to repair their own homes. These people typically announce their offer in public printed publications.

The Legend of Brooklyn (The Dog)

The Legend of Brooklyn (The Dog) published on

It was many and many a year ago in a kingdom by the park that a dog there lived whom you may know…. Ah, I’m talking about Brooklyn the Ghost Dog. A big, scary looking dark dog. Many dog walkers have encountered him. I’ve looked upon him with my very own eyes a number of times. He would just sit and stare. Sometimes he took interest in the other dogs. Sometimes he would just vanish. He was always behind the fence in the woods. Untouchable.

Legend has it that Brooklyn the Dog had been living in those park woods for years. He was reported to rescuers as early as 2008 but they had never been able to catch him. The mysterious canine looked well fed and happy enough. I liked to think that he had human companionship somewhere. Perhaps the owner was as elusive as him.

This is a true story and guess what? There’s a happy ending! Local rescuer Sean Casey was finally able to capture Brooklyn last week. The massive Cane Corso was limping and had slowed down enough for people to get close to him. He’s healing now and there’s already a line of people waiting to adopt him. He also has Lyme Disease. Yes, from Prospect Park.

I’m looking forward to seeing Brooklyn in the park with his new family soon! On the other side of the fence.

Brooklyn’s Disco Days

Brooklyn’s Disco Days published on

* First, a fun fact. Donna Summer’s daughter’s name is Brooklyn.

The passing of Donna Summer has stirred up some fond childhood memories. I was in junior high when Donna reigned as the Queen of Disco. Too young to go to “discotheques” like Studio 54 but old enough to appreciate a talent when I heard it.

It wasn’t until my adult life when I first heard that the whole disco backlash was possibly racially motivated. My husband who grew up in Ireland was the one who mentioned it. Since then I’ve also read that it may have also been anti-gay. I don’t know how the “Rock vs. Disco” war played out in other parts of the world but here in Tony Manero land, it was pretty much in your face. Racial maybe, only here in Brooklyn it wasn’t a push against the black artists creating the music. Sorry, but in my 12 year old mind, it was anti-Italian. I won’t use the G word, but let’s just say that Jersey Shore had nothing on Brooklyn back in 1977. Can I use the C word? Cugine?

Cugines and disco went hand in hand. The hair. The gold chains. The pointy white sneakers and leather jackets. Viceroy and Jordache jeans! Oh, I wore them too. They got a bad rap for the way they dressed and talked but most of them were sweet when it came down to it.

Brooklyn and Disco were synonymous back in the 70’s. From “Last Dance” at every barmitzvah to our pride in Donna Summer’s relationship with “that Brooklyn Dreams guy”. Do I even have to mention “Saturday Night Fever”? It took me about five years after the release of that movie to finally watch it because it hit too close to home and I didn’t even hang out with “those types”.

By the early 80’s when disco was dying off, I finally got to dance on that Saturday Night Fever 2001 Space Odyssey dance floor. It was the size of a postage stamp.

But disco will never die, not even with Donna. Don’t believe me? Go put on some disco music and just try not to shake your groove thang.

Bedford Historic District

Bedford Historic District published on

The Landmarks Preservation Commission voted unanimously to calendar the Bedford Historic District yesterday. This doesn’t mean it happens automatically. The next step is the public hearing, but judging from all the positive feedback from the multiple meetings over the years, this shouldn’t be an issue.

I’ve been in Bed Stuy about six years now and obviously I’ve seen lots of changes, but this one is pretty substantial as far as the neighborhood getting recognition for being an historic gem.

What’s that? You want me to make a list of changes? Well, ok.

1. More building permits posted. That’s definitely more of a new school thing than old. Glad my own renovation is finished because I’m more of an under the radar DIY kind of gal.

2. Restaurants, bars and wine shops, oh my! Gosh, I remember when Applebees was a big deal because it was supposedly the first sit down restaurant in the hood. There were lines around the block. How far we’ve come.

3. And wine shops! Yeah, I included it in #2. So what? Remember when it was all behind bullet proof glass? Remember that?? Shit, I’m so old that I remember the bullet proof glass liquor stores in my former South Slope neighborhood.

4. Whiteys. Can’t skim over that one. I was the first pale face on the block (granted, it’s a short block). My nickname at the local hardware store was “The White Lady”. I’m no longer special.

5. More dogs. More strollers. More LGBT.

6. Fuckin’ hipsters.

7. Better services. It was sooo difficult to find a pet sitter six years ago. Now the one I used in Park Slope works in this area as does a number of full time dog walkers.

8. The city is paying attention to us. Trees along Fulton. A pedestrian “park” on Fulton and Marcy. Nostrand Avenue is finally going to be repaved!

9. Tourists. Where are all of these European families coming from (and don’t say “Europe”) and why are they here?

10. Cafes. Too many. Ok, so we were all excited to get the first one or two hip coffee houses. Now we have more than enough.

I liked this neighborhood when I first moved here but every time I walk around, I love knowing that I made the right choice.

Lefferts House

Lefferts House published on

lefferts5

We visited one of the oldest houses in Brooklyn yesterday. The late 1700’s Lefferts House is located in Prospect Park, but did you know that the original location was six blocks away on Flatbush and Maple? And did you know that the 1783 structure was the second Lefferts home to be built after the original 1687 homestead was burned down during the British invasion of 1776?

lefferts2

It’s all good now. The home was donated to the city back before it was moved and has been a museum ever since. It’s a small house by today’s standards so if you visit, don’t expect a full day trip. Bring the kiddies as the Prospect Park Zoo and Carousel are within spittin’ distance.

Suggested admission is a mere $3 for adults.

lefferts1

Brooklyn Lost a Piece of Itself Today

Brooklyn Lost a Piece of Itself Today published on

Adam Yauch has passed from cancer at the young age of 47. This celebrity death hits way too close to home for me. I’ll always remember Adam as that guy in the punk band back in high school. He was a year older than me, one of those hip brownstone neighborhood kids who went to Murrow.

Thanks for the music and activism, Adam.

Public Real Estate Auction

Public Real Estate Auction published on


The Kings County public real estate auction is coming up this month. To be clear, there are auctions every Thursday but the annual one is a bit less risky, IMHO. The opening bid prices are listed on the government site and you can preview the properties prior to the auction. Download the flyer from their site for pictures and more info on each home.

163A Halsey is up for auction again. It sold for $400k last year with a starting bid of $325k. Obviously, there were multiple bidders. Wonder what happened?

New Sunset Park Digs for Animal Shelter

New Sunset Park Digs for Animal Shelter published on 1 Comment on New Sunset Park Digs for Animal Shelter

Sean Casey Animal Rescue acquired a 5000 square foot space in Sunset Park over a year ago and it’s finally ready to house homeless pets. The grand opening should be announced in June.

Sean Casey is the go-to guy for pet adoption in central Brooklyn. Check out the hundreds of dogs in Prospect Park during off leash hours on a weekend and ask where these people got their dogs from. Sean Casey is Da Man.

The original Kensington storefront will remain open for adoptions and the Sunset location will shelter pets as they come in off the street or from kill shelters. The space can comfortably house up to 42 dogs and 50 cats with state of the art kennel cleaning facilities that I wish I had in my own house.

Casey would like to open a shelter like this in every borough and I have no doubt that he’ll make it happen.

Check out the video below. Timmy is up for adoption. TIMMMMAAYYYY!!!!!!!

Via Windsor Terrace Patch

Take These Broken Wings

Take These Broken Wings published on 1 Comment on Take These Broken Wings

Broken Angel

Broken Angel, the famed former private residence of artists Arthur and Cynthia Wood, is hitting the auction block once again this Thursday. The Woods bought the Clinton Hill home for $2000 back in 1972. No, I didn’t leave off a zero. The house itself became their work of art until it was declared unsafe in 2006 as a result of a fire.

The couple defied the vacate order and were arrested. They lived with their pets in a car outside the home after they were thrown out. Cynthia died of cancer in 2010 at the age of 72.

The house, which was featured in Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, has lien of $2,663,376 against it.

All That Jazz in Bed Stuy

All That Jazz in Bed Stuy published on

Some Friday nights when we come home, we see a jazz session through the parlor windows of a beautiful Macon Street brownstone. I always say to my husband “We have to become friends with THOSE people!” Thanks to a frieneighbor who forwarded this NY Times article, I now know that we don’t have to be invited over to 107 Macon on jazz nights. We just have to show up with 20 bucks and we’re in!

Hostess Debbie serves up a fish fry along with the music and welcomes people up to the open mic every week.

Something else I didn’t know. 107 Macon is also the Sankofaaban B&B. You learn something new every day.

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