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Camp Friendship

March 24, 2011 By admin Filed Under: Community

Celebrate Diversity at Brooklyn’s Summer Day Camps

Even with mounting anecdotal evidence touting the effectiveness of immersive learning, many youngsters still spend countless classroom hours feeling disengaged. That is among the reasons why making the most of a child’s time away from the classroom is so important.

Summer day camp offers children a chance to capitalize on their interests in targeted learning environments. Many participants show a marked improvement in their social skills, or even a greater ability to tap into analytical thinking processes, prompted by the tasks of solving specific problems. Once out of the classroom, and beyond the rigors of test taking, children blossom in unexpected ways, unearthing new talents and interests.

Fortunately, living in a major city affords parents plenty of day camp options no matter their schedule or income level. We’ve rounded up some of Brooklyn’s most diverse choices.

Brooklyn Boulders
575 Degraw Street | (347) 834-9066 | www.brooklynboulders.com
Gender: Coed
Ages: 6–12
Activities: Yoga, roped climbing, slack-lining, bouldering, belaying (top-roping), crafts
Description: Summer Adventures is a unique day camp for energetic kids seeking something different. With plenty of individualized instruction (the staff to child ratio is always 1:5), kids are taught the fundamentals of rock climbing in a safe, fun-filled atmosphere alongside fitness enthusiasts who love what they do. Healthy snacks and refreshments are included
Availability: Runs biweekly from June 27– August 26 (9AM– 3:30PM)
Cost: $495 per week

Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCaP)
789 Washington Avenue | (718) 638-7700 | www.heartofbrooklyn.org
Gender: Coed
Ages: 7–12
Activities: Hands-on activities, arts/crafts, field trips, swimming, structured learning
Description: Parents rave about the Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Summer Camp program, which was recently recognized with a National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award. Campers visit cultural institutions each week where instructors reinforce curricula organized around a theme. This year’s theme is “Food is the Fuel of Life,” so expect lots of gardening, cooking, basic biology, and life cycle concepts.
Availability: Three two-week sessions: July 5–15, July 18–29, and August 1–12 (9AM-3:30 PM with early morning/after camp extensions available)
Cost: $600-$650 per session

Brooklyn Design Lab
413A Seventh Avenue | (917) 657-7441 | www.brooklyndesignlab.org
Gender: Coed
Ages: 5–12
Activities: Sketching, designing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, field trips
Description: Amy Yang, founder of Brooklyn Design Lab, loves the arts and has an enthusiasm for teaching that’s infectious. While imparting the fundamentals of design, she enables kids to express themselves visually in ways that develop skills in spatial relationships and the processes associated with making art. Kids develop the language to discuss their work and display it in the studio window and around Park Slope.
Availability: Weekly sessions (organized by age group); K-2: July 18–22 (Paper), 25–29 (3D), August 8–12 (Painting), 15–19 (Clay) 9AM–11AM; 3-6: July 5–8 (Lego Architecture), 11–15 (Information Graphics), August 1–5 (Toy Design) 9AM–3PM
Cost: $220 per session

Brooklyn Friends Summer Arts
375 Pearl Street | (718) 852-1029 | www.brooklynfriends.org
Gender: Coed
Ages: 8–14
Activities: Sketching, painting, ceramics, woodworking, photography, songwriting, film making, field trips, swimming
Description: Taught only by professional working artists, children will enjoy intensified study in distinct arts disciplines and practice and interact in the state-of-the-art facilities of the Brooklyn Friends School, which includes dance studios, music rooms, high-tech technology labs, and two massive gyms. Field trips include visits to professional studios and discussions with artists, such as sculptor Tom Otterness and musician David Byrne, as well as to major cultural institutions.
Availability: Three two-week sessions June 15–July 1; July 5–July 15; July 18–July 29 (9AM-3PM with early morning/aᴀer camp extensions available)
Cost: $792–$1,144 per session

Carmelo, the Science Fellow
300 Atlantic Avenue | (718) 722-0000 | www.carmelothesciencefellow.com
Gender: Coed
Ages: 5–11
Activities: Hands-on learning, structured age-appropriate activities, Ḁeld trips, swimming
Description: Every Brooklyn parent knows Carmelo Piazza, the cool science teacher who lets children play with mealworms, build dinosaurs, and create their own silly putty. Piazza’s talent for seamlessly teaching basic concepts in science, however, is his best trick. His popular day camp is themed, with each week focused on specific curricula, such as geology, biology, chemistry, and physics. Field trips reinforce learning and days are structured around a lively schedule that includes plenty of hands-on activities/experiments.
Availability: Weekly from July 5–August 25 (9AM–3PM, with early morning/aᴀer camp extensions available)
Cost: $275–$425 per week

Creative Arts Atudio
310 Atlantic Avenue | (718) 797-5600 | www.creativeartsstudio.com
Gender: Coed
Ages: 5–13
Activities: Dance, theater arts, visual arts, swimming, field trips
Description: While investigating weekly themes, campers will be encouraged to express themselves as individual artists and as a group. Teachers specializing in specific media help guide instruction, which includes lessons in ballet, tap, and modern dance, drama, singing, puppet-making, writing, and the visual arts. Weekly swimming lessons are provided at the St. Francis College Aquatic Center in Brooklyn Heights. Availability: Two four-week sessions: July 11–August 5 and August 8–September 2 Cost: $425 a week; $1620 for a four-week session; $3,080 for an eight-week session

Kim’s Kids Summer Camp
378 Third Street | (718) 768-6419 | www.kimskidscamp.com
Gender: Coed
Ages: 4–11
Activities: Hiking, swimming, running, daily field trips
Description: Flexible scheduling and instruction by certified teachers make Kim’s Kids Camp—now celebrating its 31st season—a welcomed member of Brooklyn’s day camp family. With vigorous activities planned for each day, such as visits to the New York Aquarium, Bronx Zoo, or hiking in Prospect Park, campers are always engaged. A special end-of-the-summer visit to Sesame Place is also a big hit.
Availability: July 5–August 12 in daily or weekly sessions (9AM– 3PM, with early morning/after camp extensions available)
Cost: $780–$2,015

Park Slope Day Camp
241 Prospect Park West | (718) 788-7732 | www.parkslopedaycamp.com
Gender: Coed
Ages: 3–14
Activities: Sports, swimming, arts and crafts, horseback riding, rock climbing, gymnastics, martial arts, drama, climbing wall
Description: This long-time day camp leader offers plenty of flexibility, transportation options, and a varied schedule of activities that are targeted to specific age groups, such as the Cirque d’été acrobatic camp for its Pre-K group. Weekly field trips for all campers keep boredom at bay.
Availability: June 29–August 26 (8AM–4PM, with after camp extensions available)
Cost: Prices vary depending on child’s age and desired session with daily, weekly, and multi-week rates available, starting at $90 per day.

Willie Mae Rock Camp For Girls
87 Irving Place | (347) 599-0716 | williemaerockcamp.org
Gender: Girls only
Ages: 8–18
Activities: Instrument instruction, workshops, songwriting/band practice, live performances by visiting artists
Description: Intensified instruction makes Willie Mae Rock Camp one of Brooklyn’s most popular day camps. Girls form bands, write songs, and gain first-hand exposure to visiting professional musicians like Amy Ray (Indigo Girls), Kathleen Hanna, Kimya Dawson, and Martha Wainwright. The end of the session culminates in a performance at the Music Hall of Williamsburg.
Availability: Two weekly sessions July 11–16 and August 22–27 (9AM–5:30PM, 11AM–3PM on Saturdays)
Cost: $525 per week

Amy’s Make Up Tips for Brides

March 23, 2011 By admin Filed Under: Online Exclusive

Having taken the plunge myself back in 2005, I know one of the happiest days in a girl’s life doesn’t always arrive inexpensively. With costs of flowers, dresses and incidentals adding up, some brides feel the urge to cut corners, especially with their facial care/makeup application. This can be risky and sometimes result with a disappointed, stressed-out even teary-eyed bride minutes before she has to walk down the aisle.

Achieving the look you want can be so easy! All it takes is a little preparation and care. Below I’ve listed some very important tips and products that can guarantee to help you be your most beautiful and love the face that will be captured in your wedding photographs forever.

SKIN Preparation

Your skin is your canvas. As a painter does before he paints his masterpiece, his canvas must be well prepped. First of all, determine the overall health of your skin. Am I dry or oily? Do I break out often? If you decide you do have problem skin, rosacea, acne, eczema or scarring, start up a combative treatment AT LEAST two months in advance. Facials should be done at least two weeks prior to the wedding because accidental scarring or breakouts could occur and you will need time to heal. Also. Start drinking water! Water will keep you hydrated, flush out impurities in your body and give you a refreshing glow all the way to your wedding day.

Day of Wedding Suggestions:

1. If you happen to wake up with a pesky stress pimple or red spot, no problem! A product such as Face Atelier Transforming Gel, which has cucumber extract to sooth the skin and horse chestnut to reduce redness, will alleviate the redness in a flash.

2. Photographs and weddings go hand in hand. A foundation with long-lasting excellent coverage is key to a perfect picture every time. For brides, an outstanding foundation is one which is silicone based. Silicone provides unbeatable coverage with a natural satin finish. Face Atelier’s Ultra Foundation is a favorite to numerous professional makeup artists (even Lady Gaga, Fergie, and Rachel Ray are fans) and provides a flawless, youthful radiant illustrious look. No primer needed!

3.Where there are weddings, there are tears (of joy!). It is super-important that you use mascara that is waterproof and smudge-free. Face Atelier Sculpt mascara is a great products that will do the trick while conditioning and strengthening lashes.* If some tears do happen (as they always do) NEVER WIPE them away. Keep a tiny handkerchief or tissue with you and blot blot blot. Wiping will remove all the other layers of makeup around the eye and leave you puffy and red.

4. Neutral tones look great in photos as well as pastel colors. AVOID glitter, frosty makeup and sparkly shimmer makeup at all costs! You will end up looking like a disco ball instead of a beautiful bride. Recommended- Face Atelier Eye shadow with Vitamin E and Silica to absorb excess oil in the eye area.

5. With your friends, relatives and new husband, you are going to be kissing up a storm. A well-pigmented, long-lasting lipstick is key to keeping your lips beautiful all day. Choosing your “right” color is very important. A hue that is too nude or pale can make you look washed out (especially if you have very natural eyes). Face Atelier has twenty-seven hydrating and moisturizing lipsticks to enhance your lips from wedding to reception. Use Face Atelier’s LipLock after applying lipstick to double the wear time of your lipstick.

6. Finally, after the makeup is done, you are dressed and almost out the door to becoming betrothed, quickly spray some Face Atelier’s Face Finish, a light, hydrating, refreshing, alcohol free cucumber scented mist all over your face. Hold about 6-8 inches away and lock your final bridal look in place.

Off you go and smile! You are a radiant, beautiful bride!

Amy Zdunowski-Roeder is a Pro Makeup Artist for FACE atelier. She has worked as part of America’s Next Top Model Makeup Team, is a regular on movie sets and has credits in People Magazine, Womens World, NYLON and OUT Magazine. She also frequently writes make up tips and articles for Star Magazine, People Style Watch.com and Lifetime.com.

Prepping the Urban Ornamental Garden for Spring

March 23, 2011 By admin Filed Under: Online Exclusive

Crocus and Bees — Blooming crocus and pollen gathering bees will soon be a part of the urban landscape. Photo by Dan Silverstein

You’ve survived the brutal winter so far without moving to Miami. What next?

Whether it’s a rooftop, backyard, window box or pocket garden, there are many things to consider now that spring is around the corner. Some gardeners, especially with icy Northern exposures, may have to wait longer than others to begin digging in the soil. It’s helpful to keep in mind that the snow which created havoc for our daily routines also created a protective blanket while adding beneficial moisture to the soil. Since every urban gardener has different needs and aesthetic interests I have compiled a general to-do list. Some suggestions will be more relevant than others.

• Remove dead plant material and excess mulch.

• Consider experimenting with new annuals and perennials, especially those that attract bees and butterflies.

• Clean out your drains.

• Run water through your planter boxes and pots to see if they are draining properly. One of the main reasons why plants die throughout the season is because of poor drainage.

• If you have any outdoor electrical lines check to see if the wiring needs to be repaired or replaced.

• If you have perennials that were not cut back in the fall, they should be pruned once you see new growth at the base of the plant. Prune them back to ground level for the healthiest spring growth.

• In most cases your soil has been depleted of major nutrients during the previous season. It’s a great idea to work organic compost into the soil for the new growing season.

• Check all masonry and stone work for cracks.

• Most perennials can be divided and transplanted now. Generally, dividing perennials in the spring is relatively easy, and will result in more vigorous and healthier plants. Divided hostas can make great gifts.

• If you enjoy spending time in your garden for entertaining, meals or personal time and you haven’t any lighting, now is a great time to consider a few strategically placed LED lights. The quality of LED lights has improved dramatically and they are cost efficient. I do not recommend solar lights since their output is nominal.

• For shade gardens that are prone to slippery algae build-up on stonework you should consider giving it a power washing. Walking through your garden will be safer.

• Organize your gardening tools, fertilizers etc. Sharpen your pruners! Replace or repair any materials that are outdated or no longer function well. Consider a storage bin to protect these things and decrease visual distractions.

• Many hoses in urban gardens tend to be stored willy-nilly. Why not invest a few dollars in a hose bowl or a simple hose hanger? They both come in an assortment of colors, designs and materials.

• Check for leaks in the irrigation lines

• Consider repainting and restoring furniture or investing in new furniture that moves you. You want to be comfortable while relaxing in your garden.

• Try to keep your garden as simple as possible since it doesn’t require much to be successful.

Regardless of your garden’s size or aesthetic it’s good to remember that it evolves in different directions depending on the level of maintenance, weather, pests and other variables. Also remember that in gardening there are no serious mistakes. The process should be an enjoyable appreciation for nature and the pleasure it provides.

Dan Silverstein owns and manages GreenZone Landscape Design, LLC. He focuses primarily on Manhattan and Brooklyn gardens of all shapes and sizes. His philosophy is that any space can be wonderfully transformed regardless of aesthetic tastes and budget.

Inside Brooklyn’s Bean Belt

March 23, 2011 By admin Filed Under: Coffee Culture

An unknown author once said, “Man does not live by coffee alone.” I wholeheartedly agree given the surrounding neighborhoods of Park Slope, Windsor Terrace and Prospect Heights. Man – and woman – also need the coffee shop, a modern mecca of communal interaction defining our cupping palate and social character. So, if your coffee shop had a personality, what would it reveal about you? Here’s a ‘round-the-borough profile of coffee shop spaces that remind us of the commonly known “big five” personality traits and, by extension, our varied character identities.

1) Trait: Conscientious | Type: Conscious Consumer

Park Slope: Café Grumpy’s
From its minimalist approach in décor and design – one communal table, a few bar seats and an outdoor bench – to its direct seasonal coffee menu, Grumpy’s caters to the knowledgeable drinker who is a crop-to-cup connoisseur. While the café might have a justifiable attitude when it comes to how it serves its self-roasted coffee selections – i.e. no espresso over iced, one-size flat whites, the proper rule-of-third ratio for a cappuccino – one can appreciate its keen interest in providing a worldly selection of cautiously crafted varietals of coffee in their intended form. Grumpy’s is equally serious about the origins and social issues of their beans as an agricultural product. While it might be one of the more expensive cups of coffee you’ll purchase in the Slope, its coffee-with-a-cause ideology is worth supporting with a smile.

Prospect Heights: Breukelen
Breukelen pays homage to the original spelling of the borough’s name, provided by Dutch settlers in the 17th century. While it supports local roasters like Stumptown as well as community artists, the shop’s limited space is known for cleanliness, down-to-earth owners and neighborly coffee consumers in and out of the Heights. Noticeably, Breukelen is one of the few coffee spots to have an exhaustive list of alternative milk options for those with a wider drinking repertoire and a menu of vegan edibles. It stands in good company with neighbors Glass Shop and Sit and Wonder, but be assured Breukelen has an identity of its own, commanding respect for its attention to the simpler yet important non-dairy things in life.

2) Trait: Neurotic | Type: Crazy, Sexy, Cool

Prospect Heights: Glass Shop
On the one hand, it might seem out of the American ordinary, even a little insane, for this Australian-inspired spot by neighborhood guy Francesco Ison to serve coffee in glasses and pull shots of non-drip coffee by default. On the other hand, Glass Shop’s transparent space, haphazard décor (mainly culled from curbsides) and wild garden is infectious and doesn’t underwhelm. These disparate elements draw a diverse crowd not easily pigeonholed. “Glass Shop is like coming to a hang out joint where you’re expected to occasionally make coffee.,” says barista Maricia Duplessis. “Baristas are the engine of a coffee shop without us a coffee shop wouldn’t function.” Expect Philadelphia’s La Colombe for drip and espresso and a short sheet of Aussie drinks including a 2 oz. short black, a 6 oz. flat white and an 8 oz. long black. “Here, there are all the necessary components that make for a great life: coffee, company and people all mixed together,” says Duplessis.

Park Slope: Café Martin
Not even a year old and Café Martin is making an impression in the coffee community. This is due to owner-brothers Richard and Martin O’Connell venturing out on their own. You might call Martin, a skilled neighborhood barista, crazy for being the coffee wonder behind his namesake or confidently sexy for pulling off another great spot among a string of equally great cafés in the area. And if smart design is a prerequisite for enjoying coffee, then consider this spot a self-promotion in Euro-cool. Its high ceilings and suspended lights create a sense of airiness that is a respite from the oft tiny spaces that Brooklyners find themselves in. You’ll relish the multiple mirrors interspersed with art along the wall as a nice diversion for daydreaming. Ask anyone and they’ll recommend Martin’s equal parts cappuccino with an emphasis on cream as being unlike any other. He also walks confidently to the beat of his own drum, passing up known favorites like Stumptown, Intelligentsia and Counter Culture for a brand of Arabica up north. While Martin might be the known consistent staple here for now, the other developing variables in the months to come will make for an adventurous visit.

3) Trait: Openness | Type: Free Spirit

Park Slope: Roots Café
While the apparent low lighting contributes to its mellow vibe, it is touches of hands-on elements – worn-in couches and liberal choice of Stumptown coffee – that make the Roots Café quite the contrary. The space is infused with a combination of owner Jamey Hamm’s Alabama hometown charm and a Brooklyn neighborhood energy that creates a vibrant experience for each visitor. “It’s not about being part of ‘the scene’ … I want Roots to be a place where people feel that we’re all family,” says Hamm. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a daily regular or a one-timer, we want you to feel like you matter.” This explains why its unpretentious environment is intentionally communal and why you’ll often find folks crammed inside for local art and live music. A visit here for whichever part of their motto – coffee, community and culture – will surely put you in touch with more. It will connect you to the root of you – your soul.

Prospect Heights: Sit and Wonder
Gemma and Lucien Redwood made sure the name of their coffee shop also embodied their community ethos. Sit and Wonder was constructed so that customers will temporarily lose track of time and purpose. “We are free spirits ourselves and we didn’t want to be absent owners. Our coffee is for everyone and we want people to gather, to people watch, to feel happy and important,” says Gemma, who credits growing up in France as a major inspiration. Indeed, it is easy to just “sit and wonder” in a horizontal space with lines that lead you to circular tables, wrought iron cushioned seats, street-facing stools and reclining chairs. Here, your activity is as exposed as the brick walls, and it feels liberating. Once settled, there’s Hair Bender Stumptown for espresso, a rotating single origin drip to sip and always Holler Mountain. With a rotation of 6-7 beans during the week and bi-weekly deliveries, there’s no doubt about the Redwoods’ emphasis on quality coffee. If you’re used to grabbing your cup of joe on the go this will easily free you of the habit.

4) Trait: Agreeable | Type: Laidback, People Person

Windsor Terrace: Southside Coffee
Joshua Siddis and his partner Ben Jones are neighborhood staples who aren’t looking to impress you with the frills of fancy furniture, elaborate interior design or high-end machinery. Rather, the founding ambition of their little-coffee-shop-that-could is to woo your drinking sense with, “quality coffee and a sense of community,” according to Siddis. It’s not uncommon to see both partners pulling shots, doing an occasional pour-over or steaming organic milk alongside their long time friend and barista Amanda. The seating at Southside Coffee is diverse – window seats, outdoor benches, Lay-Z-Boys, couches, work tables and regular chairs, but so is the roster of high pedigree coffee from around the country – Intelligentsia (Chicago), Counter Culture (North Carolina), and PT’s (Topeka, Kansas). “You can have the best beans and machines but it also has to be in the right hands,” says Siddis. “We’re all here because we care a lot about what we do.” These factors combined are why Southside isn’t a destination coffee shop; it’s the people’s spot.

Park Slope: Red Horse Café
Upon entering you’ll feel like a regular even if it’s your first visit. Owners Brent and Carolina have created an everybody-knows-your-name-and-drink feel to the Red Horse Café. There’s an expansive coffee bar with everything you want on the menu – beer, wine, edibles and, of course, coffee in all its traditional sizes. If you’re staying, you can opt for a seat with a view from their lookout windows. The flood of natural sunlight a is highlight of being indoors. The walled art consistently beckons your eyes and incites conversation. During the day there’s sufficient quiet and calm for day workers. Chatter picks up in the mid-afternoon as does the social component. By evening, dimmable incandescent bulbs set the scene for intense lounging until its closing time. No matter the time of the day, there’s always room for intimate exchange, like an eclectic indie music playlist and an on-duty barista who usually excels in latte art. What better reason to sit back and enjoy it all.

5) Trait: Extrovert | Type: Social Butterfly

Park Slope: Tea Lounge
One of the longest running coffee shops in the Slope, the Tea Lounge wants your company by any means necessary. Luckily, it caters to everyone. There’s the mommy-and-me crowd, day workers, and students. Later you will find night owls with an arsenal of goods, games and alcoholic amenities. “I try to focus on the community and make the atmosphere and environment accessible,” says owner Jonathan Spiel. The Lounge’s coffee-sphere includes everything from live music, vintage videogames, beer, wine, more than 60 teas, smoothies, edibles and weekly bean deliveries from a micro-roaster in Maine. How is there room for all this? Tea Lounge is essentially a big living room. Plus electrcial outlets and free wi-fi can power up to 60 laptops. Tea Lounge offers up to 200 drinks including a signature Shot Chocolate and provide a space well into the night. It’s easy to love Tea Lounge for what it does best: being a social hub for the Slope.

Park Slope: Postmark
Postmark is not for tourists. And when it comes to baristas, it’s like a co-op of coffee shops: Postmark is famously run by outgoing volunteers from the Church of Park Slope. The happy medium of this altruistic space is that it’s equal parts community haven and coffee lounge. Don’t be taken aback if you find yourself being the only coffee consumer in the room (a rarity in Park Slope) or if you wind up amidst a group of activity seekers after 9 p.m. (also a rarity). Nonetheless, your experience will be a welcomed respite from a harried New York day. While tucked away off 5th Avenue path, there’s enough individualized attention at Postmark where you’ll feel like someone actually notices you. Now the name makes sense: Postmark will leave a stamp on your palate – and your heart.

Whether we’re a regular to one of the above establishments or a frequent visitor to a few, the plethora of locally diverse coffee-holes will surely nurture character and community – the heart of our neighborhoods.

Lost, Family Style

March 23, 2011 By admin Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

No Passengers Beyond This Point
by Gennifer Choldenko
Dial Books For Young Readers
244 pages

I only recently got around to watching Lost. My husband and I plowed through all 6 seasons in a few weeks. I was a reluctant convert, but I eventually became pretty addicted. And in my withdrawal, I was craving something Lost-like—preferably a book. Something with a little of the mystery still intact at the end, perhaps. Something for a young audience. And lo and behold, it fell into my lap like a bird from the sky.

No Passengers Beyond This Point is the story of a family longing for home. India, Finn and Mouse Tompkins live in a single parent household. Their father died when Mouse was an infant and their mother, struggling on a teacher’s salary, can’t keep up with the mortgage. The kids are forced to move to Colorado to live with their Uncle Red, who they hardly know. They are given just one day’s notice before they have to fly to Denver, a few months ahead of their mother who has to finish the school year. They are all apprehensive. To top it all off, they have to leave the family dog, Henry, behind. Nobody is happy. They are leaving their family home and their dog to live with a stranger. From this very emotionally charged set-up, a brilliant, dreamy adventure is born.

Their plane takes them, not to Denver (or, as the signs in the airport read: Not Denver, Not Boise, Not Chicago, etc.), but to an impossibly beautiful city. A small, friendly guy (who looks suspiciously like a kid) takes them by pink, feathered taxi to a picture perfect neighborhood. They are greeted by skywriting, billboards, and crowds of eager fans before they enter their dream homes. And they don’t have to share—there’s one home for each of them, each containing that child’s particular obsessions, and overseen by an alternative parent. India’s house comes with a complete wardrobe, with clothes particularly suited to her taste. Mouse’s alterna-mom meets her at the door with a plate of peanut butter chocolate chip cookies in one hand and a science book in the other. She spends the day making her own volcano. Finn’s house has it’s own basketball court with a scoreboard and dad to play with him. But the fantasy only lasts for one day. After that, the Tompkins’s have to figure out how to find their way back to their real home—wherever that may be. Suddenly things aren’t so dreamy anymore.

Gennifer Choldenko does not waste pages explaining the hows and whys of the fantastical voyage. Instead she just shows it to us. Choldenko understands that we don’t need to know in excruciating detail why everything is the way it is, and how it got there. She also knows that if there are some dots to connect, she does not need to connect them all for us. She just needs to leave the right clues for her reader. And that she does. She also knows how to create funny and poignant family dynamic, with beautifully and economically drawn characters. The dialogue is snappy and full of wit, even though the situation the family faces is harrowing.
I do have a couple of minor quibbles. The oldest sibling, India is central to the story, but she is the least likable character. Her dialogue is great—with some nice little wisecracks and jaded teenage insights. But the narrative from her perspective often seems a bit familiar, and too much like that of a standard bitter adolescent—excessively self-absorbed. That might be accurate, but it can be hard to empathize with her. I wish that she were struggling with a bit more than how she can get back to her best friend, Maddy. Or if that is indeed what she’s struggling with, that we could see why it’s a such a struggle to leave her behind when Maddy seems like a pretty lousy friend.

I also wish we didn’t reach the final act so quickly. I would love to have a bit more of the world they’ve been cast in—which is an amazing child’s fantasy. The houses, the taxi, the mysterious dark shoots, the odd politics and the byzantine establishment that runs it all are fascinating and original. I really wanted to languish in it longer, and I think kids will want to as well.

Overall, No Passengers Beyond this Point is a delightful and poignant adventure with lots of memorable dialogue and characters. And the cherry on top is how this novel resolves itself. I will not undermine the author by connecting the dots when she’s left them for you to connect. But readers will be very pleased with the picture this story creates and with themselves for helping to complete it.

Get Up, Get Out, Spring Is In The Air

March 23, 2011 By admin Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

Spring has finally arrived! It’s time to get out and explore everything that is blooming in Park Slope. With everything that happens in the neighborhood, where do you start? We have suggestions. Explore some of our favorite books, activities and events this season. If you have something you would like to share, send it along to us at office@psreader.com.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
P.S. 39 Spring Carnival
P.S. 39, 417 Sixth Avenue June 4, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Born out of a simple plant sale to raise funds for P.S. 39, the school’s annual Spring Carnival has grown into a full day of events and activities. Offering something for everyone, Carnival events and activities will include: pony rides, live Bluegrass music, clowns, games, prizes, face-painting, raffles, crafts and fantastic local food. Park Slope business owners and residents donate art, food and raffle items, adding to the community aspect. Admission is free and all precedes from the event support the school. Keep an eye on the P.S. 39 website, www.ps39.org, for more details.

FRIENDS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
Beasties: How to Make 22 Mischievous Monsters That Go Bump in the Night by Diana Schoenbrun [Penguin]
Park Slope illustrator Diana Schonebrun has true creative insight. Her Beasties are imaginative, playful, and a bit tongue-in-check. To be perfectly honest, they’re right up my alley. In her book, Beasties, she provides sewing patterns for 22 of her creatures so you can sew yourself. The accompanying illustrations are irresistible as each finished piece is photographed in a setting that tells a story and something about its personality. The instructions are simple and easy to follow, and allow room for you own creative input. If you are new to sewing, this may be the perfect book to build up your skills. With the book’s no muss, no fuss attitude, you will feel like one of Santa’s elves when you complete The first one. If you have been sewing for a while, it offers a refreshing break from the standard. Just try and decide which one to make first.

BROOYKLYN IN BLOOM
Hamani: Celebrating the Cherry Blossom
Brooklyn Botanical Garden April 2 – May 1
With the Brooklyn Botanical Garden’s annual Cherry Blossom celebration, you know that spring has officially arrived. As you stroll the grounds, take in the beauty of these delicate blossoms. Forty-two different varieties of cherry blossoms are scheduled to bloom at different times during this four-week period. You can learn more as BBG offers free walking tours on Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm, explaining the highlights of the exhibit. The festival culminates with Sakura Matsuri, a “rite of spring” celebration of Japanese culture on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1. For more information, visit the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s website www.bbg.org

ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN
Small Acts of Resistance: How Courage, Tenacity, and Ingenuity Can Change the World By Steve Crawshaw & John Jackson (forward by Vaclav Havel) [Union Square]
In this book, authors Steve Crawshaw and John Jackson (a Park Slope resident) celebrate the people around the world who took small steps to fight against injustice. In some cases, these smallest acts of resistance could prove dangerous for the protester, even life-threatening. Despite the risks, they found creative, non-violent means to provoke true change. The examples in this book prove that no act is too small; a single person can make a difference. In total, the book relays over 80 examples of bravery throughout the 20 and 21st Centuries. From boycotts of government-run news, to withholding sex, to staging pageants in war-torn areas, people have stood against their oppressors. On it’s own each story is more inspiring than the next. Collectively, they provide hope in an ever-changing world.

KIDS PARTIES MADE SIMPLE
Cheeky Monkey Party
It’s an ingenious idea: an entire party using colorful, reusable materials. Goodbye flimsy plastic party favors. Not sure how to organize a kid-centered party? Brooklyn mom Joanna Tallantine’s Cheeky Monkey Party, Inc. supplies everything you need. Each kit includes, a craft project, a game, a prize for each quest and gift bags for each guest. It also comes with instructions and tips to ensure your party is a success. A variety of themes (princess, pirate, under the sea) are available or you can mix and match to create your own special theme. Check out all your options at the Cheeky Monkey Party website www.cheekymonkeyparty.com.

HAVE A BALL
Bocce at Union Hall
Bocce seems to be a bit of a Brooklyn phenomenon. With outdoor courts in Carroll Gardens and McCarren Park, locals have ample opportunity to perfect their rolling skills. As sports go it’s very meditative; balls are rolled in a calculating manner and moves are well planned. It possesses the physics of pool, but allows more camaraderie and team play. Park Slope bocce enthusiasts are particularly fortunate. With only indoor bocce courts in Brooklyn, at Union Hall rollers are able to play year-round. Want to pick up some pointers? On Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights, you can root for your favorite teams in the seasonal bocce tournaments. It’s the perfect way to spend the evening. For more information visit Union Hall’s website www.unionhallny.com

GET DOWN AND DIRTY
Talking Dirt by Annie Spiegelman [Perigee]
My experiences with gardening aren’t what you would call “successful.” Attempts at window boxes and potted plants in the past have yielded anemic plants that resemble E.T. (during his “phone home” phase) more than pansies. Thankfully, Annie Spiegelman with her trowel, garden gloves and a sense of humor tackles all aspects of organic gardening. Her focus is on sustainable. With easy to follow steps, she takes you through each and every aspect of gardening from soil to pruning and from herbs to fruit trees. She makes the steps to growing your own organic garden seem achievable. The books is also chocked full of handy resources and suggestions. At the end of every chapter, she offers a plant recommendation based on the skills you just learned. Each one is paired with her “Universal Botanical Whaa-whaa Rating,” which is based on “practical merit” as well as “level of whining.” Throughout the book, she also explains the importance of organic gardening and its advantages over using harsh chemical pesticides. If you feel inspired by the buds sprouting from the thaw, Talking Dirt can assist you in creating your own piece of paradise.

A HIDDEN GEM IN NEW YORK HARBOR
Figment Festival, Governors Island June 10-12
Over the past four years, for me at least, the annual FIGMENT Festival on Governors Island marks the beginning of summer. This free art event converts the small island into a wonderland of art, music, and activities for adults and children alike. When you arrive at FIGMENT, you’ll have the opportunity to experience 400 art pieces, projects, and performances. They share one common theme: you are asked to participate, create, and engage. A former military base in New York Harbor, Governors Island was closed the public for many years. Now open from May through October, it functions as a state park. During this time, a free ferry provides transportation to and from lower Manhattan and Brooklyn to the festival. And who doesn’t like a ferry ride? To learn more, visit the FIGMENT website, figmentproject.org.

Reader Recommendations: Winter 2010

January 19, 2011 By admin Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

Looking for something to occupy your time in the cold weather? Here are a few things that peak our interest for the snowy season. With everything going on in and around Park Slope, narrowing the list to just a few selections was difficult. We managed to whittle our recommendations down to a list of our favorites; they are too good to keep to ourselves. If you have something you would like to share, send it along to us at office@psreader.com.

SWEET TREATS THAT SAVE LIVES
Rescue Chocolate
Sarah Gross has a knack for developing delicious chocolates. She also loves her rescued dog. When she realized that she could combine her talent with her passion, Rescue Chocolate was born. This Brooklyn-based company offers a variety of chocolates to satisfy your sweet. With fun names like “Peanut Butter Pit Bull” and “The Fix,” Rescue Chocolate brings awareness to animal issues. They also donate all of the net proceeds from your purchase to animal rescue organizations around the country. The chocolate is 100% vegan, yet tastes rich, sweet and decadent. The bright packaging for each chocolate bar includes information about the pet overpopulation problem and features the image of an adorable rescue animal. Chocolate is hard to resist on its own, but those puppy-dog eyes will melt your heart. Rescue Chocolate is available locally at Blue Apron Foods. You can also order it online to be shipped, or pick up your purchase at their Grand Army Plaza headquarters. To learn more (and order chocolate) check out the Rescue Chocolate website, www.rescuechocolate.com

A NEW TWIST ON AN OLD FAVORITE
Radio Happy Hour
I have serious nostalgic feelings about radio shows – visions of families sitting close to the radio, rapt with attention. I know I’m not alone with these feelings; Garrison Keeler has Prairie Home Companion, and in the movie A Christmas Story young Ralphie obsesses over Little Orphan Annie. Happily, modern technology is able indulge my nostalgia. This is the case with Radio Happy Hour, a monthly variety show recorded (frequently at Le Poisson Rouge in the West Village and occasionally at The Bell House in Park Slope) in front of a live audience. The show has an old-time format to it, combining music, comedy, audience participation and a murder mystery. Celebrity guests (who have included Norah Jones, Chuck Klosterman, and Jesse Eisenberg) are invited to play trivia and participate as characters in the murder mystery plot. A mix of writers, actors and musicians makes for an unpredictable, and hilarious evening. It’s smart, irreverent, and funny – a fully entertaining experience. You can listen to the podcasts of these hour-long adventures on the website radiohappyhour.com, or get in on the action by going to see a performance in person.

THE SECRETS TO YOGA AND LIFE EXPLORED
Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses by Clarie Dederer (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
Though set in North Seattle, this book could easily take place in Park Slope. Ten years ago Claire Dederer began taking yoga classes to ease back pains she experienced when breast-feeding her daughter. What she thought would be a physical whim turned into a spiritual practice that not only alleviated the problems with her back, but larger concerns in her life. Each chapter is devoted to a specific yoga position, which she uses as a tool to meditate on her past and present. With each pose she becomes stronger and more self-aware. While juggling the pressures of being a working mother and trying to accommodate all of the needs and expectations of her family, she finds solace in yoga. Sprinkled in is the history of yoga and spiritual background. It serves as a perfect introduction to yoga as Claire explains the origins of the poses and her experiences in finding them. We learn how yoga worked for her, and by extension can work for you. Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses (Farrar, Straus and Giroux) by Claire Dederer is available in bookstores December 23, 2010.

A DARK SATIRE FOR THE COLD NIGHTS
John Gabriel Borkman by Henrik Ibsen in a new version by Frank McGuiness. BAM Jan 7—Feb 6, 2011
Financial greed, embez-zlement, prison, and reinvention are at the center of Henrik Ibsen’s play John Gabrield Borkman. Originally written by Ibsen in 1896, Frank McGuiness of the Abbey Theatre in Ireland brings this new adaptation to the United States for the first time. Alan Rickman plays the title character, an unrepentant banker who has spent the past five years in prison for embezzlement. Upon his return home, he finds coldness and isolation from his wife, Gunhild (played by Fiona Shaw) and family. Matters are complicated further when Borkman’s former love, who happens to be Gunhild’s twin sister, arrives. This dark satire, though written over one hundred years ago resonates with the modern times. BAM hosts John Gabriel Borkman January 7 – February 6, 2011. To learn more and order tickets visit www.bam.org.

THE COOKBOOK THAT COMBATS GLOBAL WARMING
The Food Matters Cookbook by Mark Bittman [Simon & Schuster]
In Food Matters, Mark Bittman discusses how the way we eat impacts the world. He explains how changing your diet will not only help you lose weight, but make you healthier and help combat global warming. The companion, The Food Matters Cookbook, offers recipes to “eat slow and stop global warming.” It provides the guidelines for what he calls “responsible eating.” This involves cutting back on the calories in your diet that come from animal-based products, while increasing the amount from fruits, nuts, vegetables, and whole grains. What he creates is a diet not of denying food groups and ingredients, but of balance. The recipes are complex in flavor, but simple to make. This is not a vegetarian cookbook; it includes recipes using meat, seafood, poultry and dairy. What he does is simply reduce the portion sizes of animal products, so they are represented in the meal, but not central. Anyone with a sweet tooth shouldn’t fear either; according to Bittman dessert is not a taboo. The book also contains useful information for variations, substitutions and where to find local, seasonal, sustainable foods. With The Food Matters Cookbook (Simon & Schuster), you find that responsible eating can be simple and satisfying.

RING IN THE NEW YEAR
Chinese New Year: Feb 3rd – 6th, The Year of the Rabbit
February 3rd rings in the Year of the Rabbit on the lunar calendar. If you have never been in Chinatown during the Lunar New Year celebrations, it’s only a short subway ride away. The festivities kick off on February 3rd with a flower market and culminate on Sunday, February 6th with a fireworks demonstration and the 12th Annual Lunar New Year Parade and Festival. As the streets of Chinatown fill with people popping confetti tubes (a safer alternative to fireworks) lion and dragon dancers parade along street stopping into local businesses to bring good fortune in the year ahead. Immediately following the official parade, musicians and dancers open the festival. So grab a moon cake and join in the celebrations. You can learn more about the festival details by visiting www.explorechinatown.com.

Brooklyn Breeder

December 23, 2010 By admin Filed Under: Online Exclusive

I’ve had a year!

Think Bored To Death plotline, with a bit of Kafka thrown in for good measure, maybe a dash of In Treatment now that it’s relocated to the hood, and you’ll begin to get a sense of what I’m talking about here.

I wish I could tell you all about it (well, maybe not) but suffice it to say that my fidelity to our most livable neighborhood has been sorely tested.

But, I’m sticking by you, Park Slope.

Because I love you even though you do kind of suck sometimes.

Because for every colossally entitled, god-awful person in residence (and I would argue that we have more than our fair share), I have met more truly smart, funny, good people day in and day out than anyplace else I’ve ever lived.

Because you feel more like a small town to me than most small towns, with accidental friendships forged on subway platforms, bored to death at playgrounds, waiting an hour to mail a package…

Because of all the hilarious, misbegotten brushes with lots of different people, like trying to discuss the weather with my last food coop walker and ending up deep in a discussion of electromagnetic phases and the coming end of the world, whereupon Park Slope ends up at the bottom of the ocean like Atlantis. Because you love my dog and let him loose in the meadow every day.

Because you love my kids and give them freebies just for being charming.

Because you teach them well.

Because while you are bent on self-improvement, your ass is still kind of fat.

Because of my pals at Blue Apron and all the eclectic shops that I can’t afford to buy much at but admire nonetheless.

Because I only have to move the car once or twice a week.

Because there is a Park Slope Parents to have permanently banned me.

Because I make at least one new friend a day.

Because of the surfeit of coffee and bagels, even though I really, really want some matzoh ball soup and brisket around here.

Because of the remaining hippies, legal aid attorneys, social workers, teachers, dykes, and sleep-deprived parents.

Because people still stop and listen as they run the gauntlet of causey reps that litter 7th Ave and still care about stuff beyond how much stuff they have.

Because fabulous failed to make a go of it in Park Slope and moved upstate.

Because, our hair is still in desperate need of a dye at times, our clothes schlubby, our unibrows untweezed (except for that crazy samurai slayer!), eyes bespectacled.

Okay, that’s it. Happy Holiday, Park Slope! See you next year.

The Night

December 22, 2010 By admin Filed Under: Local Literature

What inspires me most? Inspired people. Alice Markham-Cantor is one of the brightest, most creative, and dedicated young writers I know. In her experimental story, The Night, Alice explores the smallness of a moment–how feelings can shift in seconds and how affected we become when we begin to notice the world around us.

To find out more about the workshop in which Alice wrote The Night, please visit: www.WritopiaLab.org. Writopia Lab is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization that holds creative writing workshops for kids ages 8-18 in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, L.A., and D.C.

Rachel Ephraim is Founder and Director of FreeBird Workshops.

You look around, tiny, crystalline snowflakes falling softly on your face. You glance up to the dusky purple star-strewn sky, to the perfect full moon, round as your wide-open eyes. This is a night of whispers, of dreams.

You walk down the sidewalk, old blue and gray sneakers sifting the thin layer of shadowed white fluff that lands softly on the cement. You glance back over your shoulder every so often, not knowing quite why you do it. The sounds of the busy New York avenue behind you begin to fade, muffled by the snow as you turn down a side street.

The trees are bare, their leaves fallen to the ground months ago. The cars parked on the street and the brownstone houses loom up on either side of you, huge shadows pricked with pinpoints of light, windows. Reflections of that light tinkle off the tiny icicle dangling from an overhanging branch. It snags your hair as you pass underneath the shadow-dappled bough.

It is beautiful, you realize, but also forbidding, cold, untouchable in the still. The night is calling to the wild, and you can hear it. A tight feeling rises in your chest, and you shiver.

You have no reason to be afraid, you know that. And yet you cannot stop the slow creep of fear of the unknown. Your breath accelerates, sending frosty puffs out into the smooth, dark air. Your breath does not even touch the quiet. You are not important enough for that. Compared to the world, the universe, the night, you are tiny, completely inconsequential.

Once panic begins to rise, it is almost impossible to stop. Your body tenses. You glance around wildly, at the same time trying not to move your head too much, trying not to attract any attention. The fact that there is no one else on the street doesn’t matter; the skeletal shadows cast by the trees and the houses on the moonlit snow have suddenly turned into monsters, demons, creatures of another time and place who are ready to rear up and tear the fragile world to pieces.

When you were young, your parents told you, ‘Don’t be afraid of the dark’. And you weren’t, not usually. But there is a difference, you realize, between the dark, and the night. The dark is simply the absence of light – it obscures your vision now as you peer into the shadows, sure that with your next step you will fall into an endless abyss. But the night, the night is something else entirely. The night is unfamiliar. Each night is something new. The night unlocks things from somewhere else, things you imagined as a child. You do not belong in the night, and you know it.
The panic is rising, the beauty of the snow-filled world evaporating. You raise your foot to run, to dash away from the still, untouchable night, then freeze in mid-step. In that single moment of terrified decision – to either succumb to your frightened thoughts, or defy them – you somehow know without a doubt that there is one other option. If you ride the fear, you realize, ride the rolling wave just as you used to do when you were six, playing at the beach, then it cannot touch you. If you accept the darkness, the night, then it will no longer frighten you. Fire cannot burn fire. Ice does not freeze ice.

That path has been there all along, you know that, but you were simply unwilling to see it. You do not like to depend on anyone else. You don’t like the idea of allowing something into your self, in fear that it might take you over. That you might cease to be you.

But you will still be you, you realize. It is like the snow that is still dancing through the calm darkness. If you were to open your mouth and catch a flake on your tongue, the ice will melt and become water, which will soak into you, eventually becoming part of your body. By letting the snowflake in, you do not become it. The snow becomes part of you.

It becomes clear. You must break bread with your fears, open yourself to them, and they will no longer trouble you.

You take a breath, the panic receding. It seems loud at first, booming against the silence of the moonlight, but becomes quieter, sinking into the soft, hushed night. It is no longer untouchable. You are part of it now, one of the tiny pieces that make up the greater puzzle.

You know that you should take a step, and another, that you should walk down the sidewalk towards the lights in the windows, the glowing squares of golden light that mark your home. But you don’t. You stay a moment and lift your face to the moon, sneakers planted firmly in the snow, hair falling off of your face, cold hands stuffed in your jacket pockets. You close your eyes and breathe in, listening and becoming the quiet of the night.

Healing Brooklyn’s Wounds

December 22, 2010 By admin Filed Under: Feature

Cuts and scrapes usually don’t require a trip to the doctor. With the proper care, these wounds generally heal quickly with home remedies. The first concern with open wounds is to control bleeding. Most small cuts or scrapes will stop bleeding in a short time. Wounds on the face, head or mouth will sometimes bleed a lot because these areas are rich in blood vessels. To stop the bleeding, apply firm but gentle pressure on the cut with a clean cloth, tissue or piece of gauze for 10 minutes.

The next step is to clean the wound so as to avoid infection. Water under pressure is the best way to clean a wound. The wound should be washed for 10-15 minutes. Make sure you remove all dirt and debris. Also, check to see when last you had a tetanus shot. If you haven’t had at least three tetanus vaccinations with the last being within ten years, visit your doctor.

Once the bleeding has been stopped and the wound is clean, dab a bit of antiseptic ointment on it to prevent an infection. Then cover the wound lightly with an adhesive dressing.

Most wounds heal in an orderly set of stages and in a predictable amount of time. Wounds that do not heal within three months are considered chronic. If a wound is not healed and/or shows signs of infection (tenderness, swelling or inflammation around the affected area, fever, or numbness around the wound) consult a physician.

Any wound, especially those on the feet, should be of special concern to persons with diabetes. Diabetes may cause neuropathy, which affects a patient’s nerves, so that he or she may be unaware that an injury exists. Since those with neuropathy may also have circulation problems, even a tiny cut or blister, unattended, may lead to infection and a chronic wound. “Individuals with diabetes, who have lost feeling or have poor blood flow in their feet should check them for calluses, injuries or blisters every day” said Judy LaLoie, R.N., an expert in wound care and director of clinical resources at New York Methodist Hospital (NYM). “Problems that are found early are easier to treat.”

In addition, conditions like as cancer and clotting abnormalities, as well as the effects of steroids and chemotherapy also impact wound healing. If unrecognized and untreated, chronic wounds—including leg ulcers from a vein problem, a bed sore, or an infected cut—can result in serious health complications. People with hard-to-heal wounds need expert care. “New York Methodist’s Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center offers a multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of chronic non-healing wounds that result from conditions like diabetes or poor blood circulation,” said Theodore Gaeta, D.O., medical director of the Center.

The Center’s wound care team assesses the whole person, aiding patients in taking control of their treatment and incorporating therapies that heal wounds over a period of time. A physician with wound care certification works together with members of the wound care staff to develop a treatment plan. The type of treatment recommended will depend on the type and severity of the wound and may include conventional wound dressings, antibiotic therapy, nutritional counseling, education/ prevention, surgery, and/or protective footwear.

In addition to the standard wound care treatment options, the Center also offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for wounds that fail to respond to standard care because of low oxygen levels and impaired circulation. In addition to diabetic wounds, HBOT is used to treat compromised skin grafts/flaps, radiation damaged tissues and chronic osteomyelitis (bone infection). “Our goal is to heal wounds, reduce pain, improve quality of life and prevent amputations,” said Ronald Soave, D.P.M., chief of podiatry and director of wound care at NYM.

The Center is located at One Prospect Park West. For an appointment or for more information on hyperbaric oxygen therapy and other treatments for wound care, call 718.622.2608.