Watch some birds..not angry ones.

We're always amazed, though not too surprised, at how many cool events and happenings go on in our wonderful borough of Brooklyn.  Here's one for you animal, particularly the feathered kind, lovers.  This Saturday, May 26th, head over to the Audubon Center at Prospect Park for an introduction to bird watching tour.  There are 250 species of birds at the park and you can learn about them all, though maybe not in one day.  Good thing this event happens every Saturday between 12pm and 1:30pm!

Memorial Day at Carroll Park.

As you can see by this sign, Memorial Day Monday you can head down to Carroll Park for ceremony at the war memorial monument.  We wanted to learn more about the monument itself and would like to share our findings.  It's been around since 1921 and was made by the Brooklyn-born sculptor Eugene H. Morahan.  This particular monument memorializes soldiers from the surrounding 8th Assembly District who fought and lost their lives in the first World War.  There is a picture from nycgovparks.org of the monument below.

Karloff Under Renovation

We blogged about Karloff, an Eastern European eatery on Court Street, when it first opened only a year and a half ago.  We noticed recently that they had brown paper in their windows and thought they had closed.  We then saw the sign (below) stating that they are getting a facelift, kitchen upgrades and changing their menu as well.  It seems so soon to be making all of these changes.  We really liked this place, they had a very unique menu and great ice cream, and hope the changes they make will bring in the customers while keeping the good aspects of the old Karloff in tact. No word on when they will reopen but we'll keep you posted.

Table 87 on Atlantic

Out with the old in with the new...sort of.  I guess there's nothing new about an Italian restaurant in this neighborhood, but we've caught wind that that's what's going to open up at 87 Atlantic Avenue.  It'll be called Table 87 and, as you may or may not be able to tell from our photo, it still needs a lot of work inside.  The space used to be Dallas Jones BBQ, which had really good food and we're sad to see that place go, especially since we could use more BBQ in that area.  The space itself is pretty small and wasn't very welcoming for dine-in customers, though.  Hopefully Table 87 will change that.  We'll see when renovation have finished.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Pool!

We'd heard about the pool opening up in Brooklyn Bridge Park this summer and were extremely excited about the prospects.  We learned more after reading a recent write-up in Time Out.  We love our neighborhood pools.  If you've never been to the Red Hook pool you should give it a try.  It's a bit of a hassle getting in (make sure you bring a lock!) but the pool itself is really big.  Brooklyn Bridge Park is such a beautiful setting, though, and even though the pool itself will be....well...cozy, the fact that you can go swimming and then hang out in the park after or before makes it all the more enticing.  Here's what we learned.   The 1,500 square foot pool is only 3.5 feet deep (great for kids!), free,and will be opening in early July on Pier 2. 

Brooklyn Studio Tours

Brooklyn Studio Tours, which is an art walk for Red Hook and Carroll Gardens, is this weekend and it's looking like the weather will be very welcoming for anyone who chooses to participate!  It's May 19th and 20th between 12pm and 6pm.  There are dozens of participating artists, galleries and art spaces with a few restaurants sprinkled in for when you need to nosh.  For more info and a larger sized map check out this link.  We'll see you there!

Today for Kids! Tomorrow for You!

If you happened to be hanging out with your or someone else's children today and need an idea for an activity, we've come across one.  The Rock Shop, 249 Fourth Ave between President and Carroll, hosts Mil's Trills Music and Stories today at 3:30pm.  This is an interactive music series for 0-4 year olds and entrance is a suggested donation of $15.  So, get the kids out today and do something educational.  Then you won't feel guilty leaving them with the sitter to go dancing tomorrow night at the Brooklyn Bridge Dance Party!  This is a Brazilian dance party with Djs and food trucks from 7-10pm on Pier1 of the park.  Music for everyone!

Snack Shop Transformed...finally.

In the blink of an eye a new shop has opened in place of Snack Shop.  It seems like ages ago that Snack Shop closed it's doors and every time we'd walk by a see the brown paper in the windows but no work being done inside we'd wonder "what's going to become of this space?" and "why hasn't it happened yet?".  Well, it's happened.  It's now First Place Provisions has specialty coffees, craft beers and local teas, as well as snacks cigarettes, and grocery items.  So, basically a fancy bodega equipped with an espresso bar and elegant new signage.  We like coffee, we like beer.  We'll check this place out.

Realty Collective to Open Red Hook “Shared Space” Office

Residential & Commercial Brokerage to Promote Local Business; Shared Space Mission with Artists’ Gallery

Realty Collective announced it will be opening its third office May 19^th at 351 Van Brunt Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn. In keeping with its mission of promoting local business and sustainable practices, the residential and commercial real estate brokerage will engage in a shared space model with Gallery Brooklyn, designed to add value to the community, increase street traffic and showcase artists from Brooklyn.

The 351 Van Brunt Street gallery and business space, Gallery Brooklyn and RC Red Hook will open with group exhibition “Lightness, Being,” curated by Trong Nguyen, showcasing three NYC-based artists - painter Jon Elliot, photographer Rebecca Reeve and sculptor Judith Braun - that will run May 19^th through June 30^th.

"We are passionate about Red Hook. I live here, and Realty Collective works with many clients looking to buy, sell and rent homes and business spaces in Red Hook. We’ve been looking for a storefront location that would meet both our goals of easy accessibility to those in the area, and would fit our business model of community engagement and sustainability,” said Victoria Hagman, Founder, Realty Collective. 

The 1,400-square-foot, ground level storefront, is located on a main thoroughfare of Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, and enjoys high foot traffic year-round. It is steps away from celebrated eateries and shops, including Baked, Fort Defiance, The Good Fork, Metal and Thread, Erie Basin, Foxy & Winston and also neighboring art galleries such as The Kentler International Drawing Space and The Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition. A local dog-walking firm uses a portion of the rear office area, while RC Red Hook will have an agent/client work and meeting section in the main, white-walled gallery space, as well as a window display showcasing Realty Collective listings.

About Realty Collective

Brooklyn-based real estate brokerage Realty Collective, http://realtycollective.com/, was founded in 2005 by agents who believed that dedicated professionals can have a creative life outside of their residential and commercial real estate careers, and that brokers with this kind of connection to their own creativity can, in turn, better serve their clientele. Like many Brooklynites, Realty Collective's agents are also sculptors, dancers, producers, photographers, musicians, filmmakers, and writers. In an increasingly automated world, the Realty Collective team maintains a hands-on approach, creating a personalized experience for each client. As a result, many of the Realty Collective clients are repeat customers, or arrive through referrals. Realty Collective teams with Brooklyn-based agencies and charities to help build a better Brooklyn for all.

About Gallery Brooklyn

Departing from the traditional gallery model, Gallery Brooklyn is the latest addition to Red Hook’s burgeoning art scene. How are we different – It’s all about partnerships! We do not directly represent artists. Whether you’re a great artist seeking space to show your work; a maverick curator wanting to realize your vision; or an artist based collective or organization seeking a prime exhibition venue, Gallery Brooklyn wants to share with you our 800 square-foot, high profile, storefront space in the heart of Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Bon Appetit Grub Crawl

                                        

"Brooklyn is experiencing a food and culture revolution – it's a hotbed of creative people doing new things."  That's a quote from the Bon Appetit Grub Crawl website.  Although we didn't say it we wholeheartedly agree and are so proud that they chose our borough as one of the locations of this event, which is explained best in their own words.

The Bon Appétit Grub Crawl is revolutionizing the food experience. It's an on-the-move, pub crawl-inspired, neighborhood food fare that celebrates the most buzzed-about chefs, restaurants, music, and local fare in three Great American foodie cities.

 It's June1st-3rd and will hit Carroll Gardens, Williamsburg, and Red Hook.  For more info and tickets check out their website here.