Reader Recommendations

From Traditional to Specialty: The Best Camps To Diversify Your Kid’s Summer

June 4, 2020 By Kara Goldfarb Filed Under: Reader Recommendations Tagged With: kara goldfard, summer camps

Start Planning Your Summer with Park Slope Reader’s Summer Camp Guide

Traditional camps, which have been around since at least the late 19th century, have continued to be a summer staple for kids from all corners. Classic summer camps tend to offer a range of diverse activities, usually have a heavy focus on the outdoors, and promote a warm camp culture that fosters deep friendships. But in recent years, there has been a consistent rise of specialty camps. Camps that focus on activities in one area are beneficial to kids who want to explore an interest in more depth or for those who don’t feel like they fit the mold of a “standard” camper.

However, in today’s tech-heavy society, the consequences of kids missing out on the free-spirited outdoor environment of traditional camps could be more dramatic. On another note, with the interminable pressure parents feel to make sure their kids are utilizing every opportunity to get a “leg-up” at an early age, it’s worth it be circumspect when considering how your children are going to spend their summer.

Balancing these two types of camps has led to a new camp trend: creating patchwork summers that combine traditional with one or several specialties.

“Parents are opting out of the conventional route of one camp for the whole summer,” says Charlotte Brown, former Camp enrollment manager at the 92nd Street Y. “Instead they’re choosing to diversify their kids’ experience by sending them to a traditional camp for one half of the summer, and several specialty camps for the other.”

This way, kids get the benefit of exploring individual passions and discovering new interests, without sacrificing the physical and emotional benefits that come from “green exercise.”

And camps are responding to this by doing things like providing flexible schedules for campers, offering shorter sessions, and creating partnerships. In the list of selected camps below— a mix of traditional and specialty— we highlight the booking options for each one to make it easier for you if you decide to send your child to several smaller programs instead of one camp for the entirety of the summer.

Piper Theatre Camp

Now in its 20th year, Piper Theatre Summer Youth Programs run throughout the month of July and offer one week, two week, and four week workshops. The workshops are catered to theater enthusiasts from age 6-16. The educators/directors are experienced professionals who guide and support the young actors in performing plays and ensemble work with an emphasis on physical theater. They’ve been known to put on a range of shows from original full length plays, shakespearean works, and creative play workshops for younger age groups.

Youth Education Program

Booking: One week workshops (four sessions total) for ages 5-9 are available starting June 29, July 6, July 13, and July 20.

Two week workshops (two sessions total) are available for ages 8-11, starting June 29 and July 13, ages 8-11.
Two week workshops (two sessions total) are available for ages 10-16, starting June 29 and July 13,
Four week session for ages 10-16 runs from June 29-July 25.
The Peper Musicans for ages 11-15 runs from June 29-July 25.

Location: Old Stone House of Brooklyn, 336 3rd St.

Kim’s Kids Summer Camp

Living in a metropolitan area like New York City makes it more of a challenge to seek out nature. That’s where Kim’s Kids comes in. Operating as a traditional camp, Kim’s Kids incorporate activities for the that revolve around explore the outdoors, like hiking and climbing. But they are constantly switching it up, so that no two days are the same. The enthusiastic counselors take their campers, ages 4 ½ to 12, on a trip every day to different areas of the city, giving campers the opportunity to explore a variety of adventures and attractions, including swimming pools, bowling, zoos, museums, amusement parks, historic landmarks, and more.

More info on their website. https://kimskidscamp.com/

Booking: Kim’s Kids emphasizes their flexibility when it comes to schedules. They offer everything from two-week sessions to six-week sessions, with the additional option of three, four, or five days a week.

Location: PS 321 on 7th Ave & 1st St.

Cirque d’Été

It’s more than just clowning around. Cirque d’Été (Circus of the Summer), is a specialty program within the Park Slope Day Camp. This performance camp offers two-week sessions, with each session concentrating on a different set of skills. The experienced staff members introduce acrobatics, circus skills, costumes, music, and yes, clown-comedy. Campers are encouraged to practice discipline in order to excel at the skills they’re taught, but the atmosphere remains fun and non-competitive. At the end of each session parents and friends are invited to watch their children perform a GALA Performance.

More info on their website.

Booking Options: There are three sessions total and campers can choose to sign up for one, two, or all.

Campers can also supplement weeks of Park Slope Day Camp’s Traditional Camp with Cirque d’Été sessions.

Sessions dates: July 6 – 17, July 20 – 31, August 3 – 14

Location: Carrol Gardens, Hannah Senesh Community Day School 342 Smith Street, between 1st Place and 2nd Place*

* Express bus services provided to and from the other Park Slope Day Camp locations.

Dancewave

Dance can be a powerful and creative way for children to express their emotions. Dancewave’s summer programs gives young dancers the opportunity to do this, while simultaneously improving on their skills. With a range of intensity levels and styles of dance, there’s something for everyone. Students age 4-18 can explore Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, Choreography, and African, and compositional techniques. Part of Dancewave’s mission is to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. The members of Dancewave aim to build a positive overall culture by implementing the social science of restorative practices, which is all about increasing social capital and improving relationships.

https://dancewave.org/summer-dance/

Booking: Ages 4-6 can register for a one week session of half days.

Ages 6-11 are offered full day options for one, two, or three weeks. Also an extended day option that includes non-dance related games and crafts.
Intensive and Advanced Intensives are offered to older students, contingent on auditions. (Audition dates listed on website.)
Programs run from July 6 – August 16

Location:182 4th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11217

SkateYogi

No need to be a skating pro to enjoy this camp— SkateYogi offers an All Levels camp for ages 6-13, and an Intermediate + version for ages 9-15. Within in each camp, students are grouped based on their specific skill level. So no need to worry if your child is a complete beginner, there’s a place for everyone. Likewise, more advanced skaters don’t have to worry about getting bored, as they are taught new tricks and techniques. Plus, all levels will get to experience more of the city with regular field trips to skateparks in all different areas.

Booking: Sessions are weekly, but anyone is welcome to register for multiple weeks, with discounts available to those who register for two or more weeks.

All Levels run from June 16-September 4. Intermediate+ (Urban Shredders) run from July 6-September 4

More info on their website.

Locations: All Levels, SKATEYOGI, 140 Empire Blvd – Intermediate+, Golconda Skate Park, Downtown Brooklyn (near the B/Q Dekalb Ave stop)

Mill Basin Day Camp

Offer day camps for children ages 3 – 14, Mill Basin places a special emphasis on choosing the right counselors to make sure your campers are in the best hands for a fun and interactive summer. Also counselors are certified in CPR and First Aid, undergo reference and background checks, and attend mandatory training sessions before camp begins. The staff is also trained in methods to integrate new campers into the routine, making them feel comfortable and at home right away. Campers follow a pre-structured schedule made up of a wide variety of activities. Sports, fashion design, legos, magic, computers, swimming, and more. So campers can enjoy their favorite activities and pick up new ones along the way.

More information.

Booking: The sessions range from four weeks to eight weeks, with the option for three day, four day, or five day weeks.

Location: 5945 Strickland Ave

Trail Blazers Camps

A well established camp, with a strong focus on the environment and the outdoors. Campers enjoy exploring and appreciating nature. It’s a Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), teaching campers life skills on working through challenges. They also take campers on trips around other areas of the city. Overnight options are available too.

Day Camp Website

Location: Park Slope, 394 Rogers Ave

Spoke the Hub

Looking for a multi-arts summer program? Spoke the Hub gives interested campers the chance to advance their skills in theater, dance, fashion, film-making, and circus. Field trips are part of the curriculum as well. Ages 5-15.

Booking: Full day and half day options available

Locations: Gowanus Arts, 295 Douglass Street (between Third and Fourth Avenues) — 748 Union St. (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues)

Sweetly Brooklyn

This small batch Brooklyn bakery that specializes in custom cakes and puts on private events and parties will be offering a baking and decorating camp for the first time this summer. They are still working out the dates, but it’s sure to be a sweet time.

More info on Sweetly Brooklyn

Location: 447 6th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Biocitizen’s Our Place Summer School

First opening ten years ago in Western Massachusetts, Biocitizen when on to open a location in Los Angelos, before opening additional locations in Chile and New York. Biocitizen’s Our Place Summer School is for “6-12 year olds who like to walk & want to know how the(ir) world work.” With a mission of preparing the youth for climate change, this summer program combines adventure learning, fun, and education. Our Place’s sessions are five day-long each with a 5 to 1 staff to student ratios. During each session the teachers, who are all are certified first responders and carry medical kits, lead students on Field Environmental Philosophy walks around New York City, visiting places like waterways, transportation systems, landmark parks, and cultural and architectural nodes. To give a frame point for each adventure, teachers pose a question at the start of the day. Give your child the experience of being an active part in their community.

More info on the website.

Booking: Each session runs M-F, 9am-3pm, Starting the week of June 29 until the week of August 25

Location: Drop off and pick-up at the Brooklyn Public Library

Sleepaway recommendation

Farm and Wilderness Camp

For something a bit different, the Farm and Wilderness summer camp, located in Vermont, offers family camp and overnight camp options and is a quaker based camp, founded in social justice. On 4,800 acres of land, Campers learn how to contribute to and be a part of a community while participating in activities that center on living off the grid, like backpacking and building shelters. They also offer activities like guitar playing, skit performances, and blueberry picking.

Campers range from age 4-17, with different programs divided by age group. As a gender inclusive camp, Farm & Wilderness offers choices for boys, girls, and gender non-binary campers, to ensure your child feels supported in their environment.

More information.

Location: Farm & Wilderness Foundation Inc. 401 Farm and Wilderness Road Plymouth, VT 05056

https://www.gofundme.com/f/park-slope-reader-covid19-relief

Help us keep Park Slope Reader FREE and LOCAL throughout this time!

Nine Essential Art Galleries In and Around Park Slope

January 8, 2020 By Sam Benezra Filed Under: Reader Recommendations Tagged With: sam benezra

Park Slope and its surrounding neighborhoods have a long history of fostering art and housing a diverse list of artists that includes ‘80s art world wunderkind Jean-Michel Basquiat, renowned abstract painter and printmaker Joan Snyder, and A Series of Unfortunate Events cover illustrator Brett Helquist. In 2019, this tradition is alive and well. Park Slope retains a close-knit, diverse, and grassroots art community, held up by a wealth of supportive and adventurous gallery spaces.

Here’s a look at nine essential art galleries in and around Park Slope:

Leroy’s Place

(http://www.leroysplace.com)

A unique space on 7th Ave in Park Slope, Leroy’s Place is a whimsical interactive gallery and shop, managed by a small art company of the same name. The space is less a traditional gallery than an exhibition space for the Leroy’s Place collective, a collaboration between illustrator Serene Bacigalupi, puppet artist Jacques Dufforc and fabric artist Whitney Raynor. The collective’s fantastical sculptures, paintings, puppetry and films conjure a magical, Burtonesque world in the heart of Park Slope.

Open Source Gallery

(https://open-source-gallery.org)

The Open Source Gallery takes its name from the open source software movement and its philosophy of open collaboration. “In this spirit of free exchange of knowledge, we provide a forum where art intersects with the community and the world at large,” states the gallery’s mission. These principles are reflected in the gallery’s program, which features a diversity of international artists, who often come in contact with the gallery typically via the internet or outside referrals rather than local connections. In addition to their regular program, Open Source also runs a children’s art program called KOKO, as well as a free-of charge, town-hall-style event series called the Church of Monika, inspired in part by the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas.

Winter Exhibitions: Void & Co. / February 26 – March 28

Ortega y Gasset Project

(https://www.oygprojects.com)

This artist-run space in Gowanus is named for Spanish writer and philosopher Jose Ortega y Gasset and dedicated to his maxim, “yo soy yo y mi circunstancia,” or, “I am myself and my circumstance.” In the spirit of the pragmatist’s famed observation of the struggle between the individual and its environment, the gallery prioritizes exploratory practice. The not-for-profit gallery is run entirely by working artists, who manage the gallery collectively and democratically, without a specific curatorial objective. In this communal environment, artists are encouraged to experiment, and given the freedom to pursue ideas without regard for profit.

Winter Exhibitions: Far x Wide, Young Space, and Art Start / January 3 – 5

Pioneer Works

( https://pioneerworks.org)

One of the most unique spaces in all of New York City, Pioneer Works is more than just a gallery. Founded in 2012 by LA-born and Brooklyn-based sculptor Dustin Yellin, Pioneer Works is an artist-run, not-for-profit cultural center and events space located in a three-story converted iron factory. The 27,000 square foot space once produced railroad tracks and large-scale machinery; now it houses an ambitious and eclectic arts program inspired by intellectual unicorn Buckminster Fuller and Black Mountain College, the experimental college at which Fuller taught. Over the years, Pioneer Works has presented stunning exhibitions and performances, held lectures and workshops on science and technology, built a 3-D printing lab, and so much more.

Winter Exhibitions: Check website for Winter exhibitions.

Trestle

(https://www.trestlegallery.org)

Located on 3rd Ave in Gowanus, Trestle is a non-profit contemporary art gallery and art space that provides studio space for over 130 Brooklyn artists. It was founded in 2012 by a team of Gowanus artists including Rhia Hurt, Mary Negro, and Ajit Kumar, who wanted to produce a space that would foster a supportive environment for local artists. Trestle hosts a variety of programs such as workshops and educational programs in addition to its exhibition slate. The gallery holds 8-10 exhibitions per year and has showcased thousands of local and international artists from across the world in its seven-year history.

Winter Exhibitions: Check website for Winter exhibitions.

Ground Floor Gallery

(http://groundfloorbk.com)

Founded in 2013, Ground Floor Gallery is a commercial art space run by independent curators Krista Scenna and Jill Benson. The gallery, which focuses on showcasing under-the-radar local artists and fostering connections between them and new buyers in the Park Slope community, has a convenient location in central Park Slope on 5th St. and 5th Ave, about a block away from the Old Stone House.

Winter Exhibitions: 7th Annual Holiday Show: Gifts by Artists

440 Gallery

(https://440gallery.com)

A small gallery and events space located on 6th Ave in the heart of Park Slope, 440 Gallery is run by 16 local artists, who exhibit work in a variety of mediums and styles. The gallery has a cooperative model, in which the artists represented by the gallery work together to manage the daily mundanities of the space’s operation (sweeping floors, writing press releases, etc.). In return, each artist is guaranteed a solo show once every two years and free reign over their exhibitions. It will be celebrating its 15th year in operation in 2020.

Winter Exhibitions: Check website for Winter exhibitions.

321 Gallery

(http://321gallery.org)

Located in Clinton Hill just a couple blocks away from the Pratt Institute, 321 Gallery is a small, artist-run contemporary art gallery situated in the basement of a brownstone painted in the fashion of a white cube. Since its founding in 2012, it has regularly hosted exhibitions as well as performances, screenings, readings, and talks. Since 2013, it has also served as the site of SEMINAR, a monthly discussion of texts selected by a variety of philosophers, writers, scientists, and artists.

Winter Exhibitions: Check website for Winter exhibitions.

Thomas Nickles Project

(https://www.thomasnickles.com)

The Thomas Nickles Project is a Washington Heights gallery space focused on showcasing Cuban contemporary artists. The gallery was founded in 2016 by gallerists Kristen Thomas and John Nickels after a trip to Havana. Today, it represents 15 Cuban artists and regularly holds exhibitions in Park Slope and other locations around the city.

Winter Exhibitions: Check website for Winter exhibitions.

School’s Out For The Summer: 2019 Summer Camp Preview

April 10, 2019 By Candice Dixon Leave a Comment Filed Under: Reader Recommendations, Reviews Tagged With: candice dixon, child care, outdoors, outside, park slope kids, Summer camp

Roasting marshmallows by the campfire, rock climbing up a cliff, swimming in the lake, and building robots are just a few fond childhood memories I have from summer camp. Everyday held unlimited adventures: hiking, field trips, acting, art classes, science experiments… all of which allowed my imagination to run wild! At the end of each camp day, I couldn’t wait to ramble about my exciting day to my parents. It was gåratifying to see their elated faces as I showed off my projects, or sang camp songs, and talked about my new camp-besties. Summer camp was liberation. No worries about homework, teachers, or tests… just sunny days, exploration, and great friendships.

If I could relive those days again I would without hesitation. And, if I were growing up in Brooklyn, I would have a hard time choosing from the list of awesome, diverse, action-packed choices this borough offers. It would be terrific to test my bow and arrow aim at Gotham Archery, master the halfpipe while boarding at Skateyogi or even land a lead role in a stage production at the Piper Theater summer session. In fact, I would definitely take a chance and experience a sleep-away summer session at Hidden Valley Camp in Maine. There are so many options and exposure for Brooklynite youngsters’ summer plans. Although that’s a wonderful thing, it can be overwhelming for parents to sift through options and make decisions, which is why the summer camp list was created. Use it as a guide to cater to your child’s creative, energetic, and inquisitive being. It is my hope that your child will look back as an adult and smile when thinking about past summer adventures due to a camp included on the list.

Day Camps

Gotham Archery – It’s time for kids to nock their bows, aim, and release toward to target at Gotham Archery! Children can use their imagination while learning how to properly and safely become a master archer. The summer camp is available weekly and daily if preferred. During the day, campers will gain recurve and compound archery and participate in games, be involved with STEM projects, XBOX Kinect and receive homework /reading time opportunities, and of course celebrate their achievements during the Friday pizza parties!

Dates: Weekly and daily registration available for June 27 – August 26

Location: 2 locations – Gowanus and Lower East Side

Cost:

Early bird special: receive 10% refund if space is reserved by April 1
JOAD kids receive 10% refund
Siblings receive 5% off
Ranges from $225 – $600 based on daily or weekly registration
Early drop-off and late pick-up available for additional costs

Kim’s Kids Summer Camp – For kids who seem to last like the Energizer Bunny, well, we’ve found their summer camp match! Kim’s Kids Summer Camp offers daily trips within New York City and surrounding areas. Excursions allow kid to be kids through hiking, building sand castles, forging through streams, running, climbing, and more. The only thing your child will need at the end of each day is a restorative night’s sleep. Also, for parent’s convenience, flexible scheduling is available.

Dates: July 1st – August 9

Location: Park Slope

Cost: Depends on session and number of days selected

Ages: 4 ½ through 12 years old

Mill Basin Day Camp – Here is a camp which caters to all – from toddler to teen. Mill Basic Day Camp offers a wide range of fun, interactive activities- like crafts, athletics, games and music for the little ones as well as swimming, field trips (baseball games, Great Adventure, museums, etc.), computer explorations for the older youth. This is ideal for families with children of varying ages to enjoy the summer together and make new friends.

Dates: July 1 – August 23

Location: Mill Basin

Cost: depends on time length and age level

Registration available for 4 – 8 weeks OR 3,4, or 5 days per week
Early drop – off and late pick – up available for additional costs

Ages: 3 years old until those entering 9th grade

Skateyogi – If your child prefers to shred the Brooklyn sidewalks on a skateboard, all day every day, than Skateyogi is totally their speed. Whether your child is interested in skating or is it obsessed with the sport, this is a young border’s summer paradise. Nonstop days full of halfpipes, ollies, and more! Potential campers may enjoy a trail opportunity before committing to the summer sessions, as day camp sessions are available during school holidays. At Skateyogi, registration can be arranged for one week or more depending on level of interest. Plus, intermediate skaters can participate in the camp’s Urban Shredders program.

Dates: Sessions start June 17 – August 30, 2019

Location: East side of Prospect Park and Golconda Skate Park

Cost: Early Bird registration until March 16 2019 (save up to 20% off)

Early Bird special: $600 – $675/week
Regular price: $725/week

Ages: 6 – 14 years old

Spoke the Hub (Camp Gowanee) – Youth artists will explore a myriad of art forms such as dance, theater, and digital film making; instructed by master artists at Spoke the Hub’s Camp Gowanee. Daily outdoor play allows children to release energy and then focus their creativity in the all-day intensives. Their original work will be presented in performance or portfolios and the end of each session. Be sure to consider the additional intensives for those 3 – 5 year old creative minds.

Dates: July 8 – August 30

Location: Park Slope

Cost:

Varies based of selected program track
10% discount for registration before March 1
Members receive 10% off
Siblings receive

• 10% discount for registrants before March 1

• Members receive 10% off

• Siblings receive 15% off

Ages: 8 – 12

TechExplorersBK – Is it hard to separate your child from a touch-screen device? Here’s an opportunity for kids to have a different type of hands – on approach to the technology to which they’ve grown attached. TechExplorerBK helps shift kids from consuming to producing technology. Classes are expert lead who provide a transformative learning environment for campers to experience the latest in technology and mold critical thinking, literacy, and problem solving skills. Curriculum covers 3D animation, Lego robotics, game making, and much more!

Dates: June 17 – August 30th

Location: Park Slope

Cost: varies depending on the sessions

Ages: Ages in 3rd to 8th grade, depending on the class

The League of Young Inventors– All little engineers are welcomed to join The League of Young Inventors this summer. Weekly classes will allow children to unlock the mysteries and magic of how the world works. Children are encouraged to ask questions and use their wondrous minds to sketch, measure, cut, and glue their way to resolutions. Session topics include The Physics of Play, Spy Gadgets and Gizmos, music composition, and water inventions.

Dates: June 17 – August 26

Location: Park Slope ( multiple locations)

Cost: varying ranges for weekly or daily rates

Ages: kindergarten to fifth grade; each activity specifies specific age group

The Tiny Scientist – At The Tiny Scientist, campers learn about the wondrous world in which they live and beyond. Through hands-on exploration, design, questioning, and analysis kids will have a blast gaining understanding how the world works. Creative, fun, engaging sessions include: earth science, the solar system, kinetics, dinosaurs, and much more!

Dates: Multiple sessions spanning from late June until the end of August. Click here for details.

Location: South Slope and Prospect Heights

Cost:

0% off all summer sessions at the Prospect Heights location until April 1, 2019
$140/day OR $600/week; early drop-off and extended day care available for additional costs.
0% sibling discount offered

Ages: 5 – 10 years old

Piper Theater – A world of wonder awaits young thespians at the Piper Theater. The entire month of July is filled with dramatic workshops, musical rehearsals, and improv to develop budding theater skills! Under the direct of John P. McEneny, students will create full-scale productions and perform them either in the Old Stone House of Washington Park.

Dates: July 1 – 26, excluding July 4th

Location: Park Slope

Cost: Varies depending on program

Ages: 10 – 16 years old

Sleepaway Camps:

Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp – An action-packed, adventurous summer retreat awaits all who attend Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp. This beloved co-ed Jewish sleepaway camp upholds Jewish values (respect, charity, community, and volunteering) and welcomes children from all backgrounds. Located in the beautiful Berkshires, campers can participate in traditional or culinary camp programs. Traditional camp includes water activities, athletics, arts and crafts and nature pursuits. The culinary campers will gain confidence in the kitchen through gaining food knowledge, field trips to local farms, visiting purveyors, and the Culinary Institute of America.

Dates and Cost: varies according to sessions and activities. Visit this link for the traditional camping experience and here for the culinary camp.

Location: Berkshires, New York

Hidden Valley Camp – A fantastic option for children who want some independence and have an affinity for the performing arts and adventure! A leader in international sleepaway camps for over 65 years, Hidden Valley Camp offers a plethora of thrilling options such as horseback ridding (including llamas!), water sports, visual and theater arts, just to name a few. Camp days are spent 350 acres of land near the Maine coast and the owners of the camp, live at the camp year round.

Dates:

June 22 – August 15
Select 3 – 4 weeks or 7 – 8 weeks sessions

Location: Freedom, Maine

Cost:

Varies depending on number of weeks
Sibling discounts available
lus, discounts if parent is a public school teacher, police officer, or fire fighter

Ages: 8 – 14 years old

Slope Summer Soundtrack

July 18, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

Mixtape Back in the 1980s and 90s I spent hours in front of my tape deck, pressing record and composing the perfect soundtrack to the season: Summer road trips, cook-outs, and afternoons at the beach. The Northeast holds a unique relationship with the summer. It promises three to four months of sun and much cherished warmth; concerts in the parks, rooftop movies, sprinklers in playgrounds. Things tend to slow down, work is less hectic, and we go outside to play for a bit. We welcome it with open arms, but our opinion changes somewhere in the middle. Like a guest over-staying his welcome, we become aware of its flaws—fatigued by the swelter, the heat, and the persistent odors. But we hang on through those last weeks until it bids us adieu and we pull out our jackets and get back to business.

“Palisades Park”
Freddy Cannon (1962)
How perfect is this song? It holds all of the promise of summer in a nutshell. The carousel-like opening just begs a trip to an amusement park. The singer takes a walk in the dark with all the optimism of the summer in his heart, after all “that’s where the girls are.” I can’t get to Coney Island fast enough.

“Rockaway Beach”
The Ramones (1977)
An ode to your favorite weekend retreat. As Joey Ramone describes, the concrete is hot and the bus ride does feel too slow. It’s time to get out to the water and this breezy song is the anthem to get you there. The beauty of most Ramones songs is that the repetition makes for easy learning, put this on your iPod and you’ll be singing along in no time.

“Summer of Love”
The B-52s (1986)
Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson buzz around downtown with orange popsicles and lemonade. Even the rain doesn’t spoil their spirit. It’s time to throw on a brightly colored dress and pick up a refreshing beverage. Leave the umbrella at home.

“Cruel Summer”
Bananarama (1983)
In the video, three of the cutest (and most inept) auto-mechanics frolic in the streets of DUMBO until a kindly, bearded trucker drives them off to a roof-top dance party (presumably to Williamsburg if his facial hair is any indication).

“Too Darn Hot”
Erasure (1990)
For the 1990 benefit album, the techno pop duo offered this interpretation of Cole Porter’s song from Kiss Me Kate. It just proves the clever timelessness of the song-writer’s lyrics. Andy Summers would like to “coo with my baby tonight, pitch the woo with my baby tonight,” but “Mister Pants for romance is not.”

“Brazilian Girls”
Tourist Trap (2006)
Everyone needs a good summer samba. This is the updated New York version. Percussive and fun, it shares the good and the bad as making the experience whole.

“Ice Cream”
Battles feat. Matias Aguayo (2012)
Frenetic and catchy at the same time, this song is the sonic marriage of a NYC-based experimental band and Chilean techno master. No matter that the song’s lyrics aren’t in English, you will still be singing along. Never has a song about ice confection been so infectious.

“Don’t Play No Game I Can’t Win”
The Beastie Boys feat. Santigold (2011)
This is exactly what the summer sounds like in Brooklyn. The dance hall beats capture the sounds of cook-outs gone into the late night, cars driving by with windows down, and somehow the sound of sirens. It’s aggressive and moving, like a busy sidewalk. What’s more Brooklyn than The Beastie Boys?

“Even When the Water’s Cold”
!!! (2013)
There’s something so distinctly New York about this song by Brooklyn band !!! (pronounced Chk Chk Chk). It’s a danceable ditty for the end of a hot evening with its refrain, “I’ll swim even when the water’s cold, that’s one thing that I know.” It feels gritty, almost seventies, and definitely urban.

“Water Fountain”
tUnE-yArDs (2014)
This is my song for summer of 2014. It’s the audio version of hopscotch. It’s another light, simple tune. You want to sing along, clap your hands, and dance at the same time. The lyrics make absolutely no sense, and for me that’s just fine.

If you like the songs and want to hear more, tune into to my radio show 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24 on wxci.org

The World Is Your Oyster

July 18, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

Brooklyn summers are hot. There’s no denying it. To be honest, once the weekend is upon us the last thing I want to do is hop on the hot, oppressive subway that seems to defy any semblance of a schedule. Leaving the borough during summer weekends is nothing short of an adventure. Luckily, everything you need can be found within walking distance. Now that the city has brought the Fourth of July fireworks display back to its rightful home, there really is no reason to go anywhere else. Here are our suggestions for some fun, enlightening, and tasty things to check out this season.

Piper Theater Productions
Old Stone House
Producing free outdoor theater at the Main Stage at the Old Stone House, Piper Theater Productions lives up to its mission of “creating free and dynamic theater for families.” This year their production of Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson runs Thursdays through Saturday nights (excluding July 4). It’s an unexpectedly fun and informative musical about our seventh president. Bring a blanket and watch the performance under stars. More information can be found online at pipertheatre.org/performances.

Brooklyn Unicycle Day
August 29
This event is proof that Brooklyn truly offers everything. Join in the “one wheel madness” during this thirteen-mile ride, starting at City Hall in Manhattan, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, and ending in Coney Island under Deno’s Wonder Wheel for fireworks to commemorate the day. It’s part of the three-day 2014 Unicycle Festival, which continues for the next two days on Governors’ Island. For a full list of events and tour route visit nycunifest.com

Ai Weiwei: According to What?
Brooklyn Museum through August 10
Spanning twenty years and a variety of mediums, this show features the work of a highly-respected artist. Inherently Chinese, with influences from ancient dynasties as well as modern daily life, Ai Weiwei’s work is thought-provoking and beautiful. He is most noted for designing the Bird’s Nest Arena for the Beijing Olympics, but is also widely known for his unapologetic criticism of the Chinese government. As a result, this artist is unable to leave his country. His works in According to What? speak volumes in his absence. For more information, visit the museum’s website, brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/ai_weiwei.

Banhmigos
178 Lincoln Place
What’s better than a picnic in Prospect Park? A picnic that involves no cooking whatsoever! Banhmigos’ offerings represent my favorite hot-weather eating. Vietnamese sandwiches filled with cool, crisp veggies paired with a refreshing bubble tea will leave you satisfied without feeling stuffed. Their menu is extensive, offering a variety of salads and sandwiches for carnivore, vegetarian, and vegan tastes. Don’t leave without ordering a bubble tea; rather than using powder, theirs are made using green or black tea. You can see their menu and order online at banhmigosbrooklyn.com.

Breaking Free of Cabin Fever

April 18, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

As I type this looking out my window in mid-January—snow and ice on the ground and the temperature hovering around 20—I can only assume that spring will someday arrive. The temperature will rise and fauna will return. While we await the thaw, here are some reasons to put on the rain boots and exit the apartment.

Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club
514 Union Street

Brooklyn has long been a home for obscure sports enthusiasts, offering everything from bocce, skee-ball, kick-ball leagues, and winter swimming a la the Polar Bear Club. Shuffleboard can now be added to this list of wonderful unique past-times with the opening of the Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club. Located in a converted warehouse on Union Street in Gowanus, this new bar offers an experience completely unlike anything in the area. Royal Palms boasts ten regulation-sized shuffleboard courts and two 27-foot bars specializing in tropical drinks in the 17,000 square-foot Florida-inspired space. If all of the activity makes you hungry, there is space for local food trucks to pull right in and offer some of their grub. Take a tropical vacation without leaving the borough. Lanes can be rented for $40 an hour (for four players); and if you develop a real talent, you can join a league or become a member.

Child Baker to Culinary Chef
by Susan A. Tenteromano and Christopher E. Sanchez
Trafford Publishing

This book, from the owners of Le Petit Bakery in Fort Greene, is the perfect introduction for your budding chef. Simple and delicious recipes are laid out in a way that children can easily understand. Unlike other children’s cookbooks, these recipes aren’t just what you find on the kiddie menu of your local diner. These are trusted recipes, tested by the authors (a mother and son), and lovingly shared to inspire the next generation of foodies. Among the recipes you will find lemon squares, shortbread cookies, and chocolate covered pretzels. During the baking process, children learn math and reading comprehension with a delicious reward at the end. Susan Tenteromano designed the book specifically to help boost confidence in children as they complete each dessert. Child Baker to Culinary Chef can be ordered online, or you can reserve a copy at Le Petit Bakery (354 Myrtle Avenue) while picking up a cronut.

Puppet Works
338 6th Avenue

Looking for an interactive experience for your kids? Puppet Works runs performance of timeless classics for children ages three and up. These dazzling puppet shows make an ideal first-time theater outing for younger children. It’s an art-form that is best experienced live. Children and adults love the characters and craftsmanship in these interactive shows. This spring, the Puppet Works show features three well-known fables: Peter & the Wolf, The Ugly Duckling, and The Frog Prince. This not-for-profit puppet theater is a Park Slope landmark, operating out of its Sixth Avenue location since 1980. Performances take place 12:30 and 2:30 every Saturday, reservations are required. Tickets are $9 for adults and $8 for children—note that Puppet Works does not accept credit cards. Children are welcome to pull up a mat and get close to the action.

Touch-a-Truck!
May 17, 12-5pm
18th Street, between 6th & 7th Avenues

As the parent of a toddler, I can honestly say this is an ingenious idea. There’s a big star on our calendar for May 17th as P.S. 295 holds their fourth annual Touch-a-Truck Fundraiser. Twenty trucks—including a fire truck, police car, cement mixer, garbage truck, and ambulance—line Eighteenth Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Children are invited to not only touch, but climb into the trucks and meet their operators. Food trucks will also be on-hand to offer some sustenance to the little climbers and their parents. Admission is $5 and all proceeds benefit P.S. 295. To learn more visit www.ps295.org.

Brooklyn’s Winter Wonderland

January 17, 2014 By admin Leave a Comment Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

It’s a new year—get out and try something new! The weather might be brisk, but here are a few things that are worth the braving the chill.

Sharpen Your Skates
Lakeside at Prospect Park
The area formerly known as Wollman Rink has received a major facelift over the past few seasons. I have been lamenting the lack of an open-air ice rink, but the renovations are proving worth the wait. The unremarkable skating rink and parking lot area have been transformed into the Lakeside Complex at Prospect Park. The activity center features two new rinks that will be open year-round for ice and roller skating. One enclosed rink will be covered by a green roof which is comprised of soil ranging from six to eighteen inches deep, allowing for shrubs and small trees to take root—adding to the park’s green landscape. In addition to skating, the area also provides three additional acres of park space, a new dock for pedal boats, and a terraced walk overlooking the water. The Parks Department promises that it will offer something for everyone all throughout the year. The new project is intended to harken back to the park’s original design, which was disrupted by the skating rink and accompanying parking lot in 1960. It will provide more openness for the borough that so appreciates its green space.

Park Slope’s “Welcome Oasis”
The Bell House – 149 Seventh Street
This past fall the Bell House celebrated its five-year anniversary. This Park Slope premiere venue offers a more indie alternative to the Barclay’s Center. They host decidedly NYC-centric events such as Trivia Nights with NY1 Anchor Pat Keirnan, Point Break Live, and NPR’s Moth Storyslam. It’s also the perfect venue to see indie bands such as Yo La Tengo, Bob Mould, and Dean Wareham. Their schedule of events is compelling and diverse, and always offers something decidedly unique. Entering the large open bar area that acts as the Bell House entry, you immediate feel welcome by the open space and the friendly staff. Particularly on a cold winter night, it offers home-grown warmth that can only be found in an independent venue. The ticket prices are so reasonable it almost seems silly not to try something new. The fact that it’s right around the corner also means you won’t have to wait on that cold subway platform during the wee hours of the night in order to get home. Check out their website thebellhouseny.com for a complete listing of upcoming shows and events.

Warm, Soothing Sounds
The National: Trouble Will Find Me (4AD)
Hailing from Ditmas Park, the Brooklyn band The National released their sixth album. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, Trouble Will Find Me is the perfect introduction to their sound. Moody and highly orchestrated music creates the ideal backdrop for Matt Berringer’s baritone lyrics of insecurity and longing. It’s contemplative music, lyrical and full of poetry. Opening track, “I Should Live in Salt,” starts quietly with a pleading that begs to be heard as more than mere background music. The song slowly builds a swell as the entire band comes together finding its full voice. Later in, “Sea Of Love,” takes this sound and mixes it with a catchy pop that becomes uplifting. Directly in the middle of the album “Graceless” picks up like a moving freight train. There are no throw away songs on the album. As a whole, Trouble Will Find Me is rich, warm and complex, like a good cup of coffee.

Crossing the Gowanus
Red Hook, Brooklyn
Our neighbors to the east were hit extremely hard by Hurricane Sandy last year, and some long-standing businesses were forced to shutter for good. The ones that were able to rebuild and reopen did so at enormous cost. It’s a true pity, because the neighborhood is ripe with personality and was really coming into its own before the storm. Although Red Hook is on the rebound, this past summer didn’t bring the traffic necessary for it to fully bounce back. It’s time to rediscover this sweet and eclectic little hamlet. Indulge your sweet tooth with a delicious confection from Baked (359 Van Brunt Street) or with a Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie (204 Van Dyke Street). Check out what’s on display at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (499 Van Brunt Street) and then take in the unrivaled view of the Statue of Liberty from the Fairway parking lot. Warm yourself with a libation at Sunny’s Bar (253 Conover Street) and photograph yourself in front the iconic Ye Nautical Garage next door—you can’t miss it, it’s the one with the fishing tackle displayed on the outside. That short list only scratches the surface; Red Hook is filled with galleries, restaurants, and shops all in a one-of-a-kind setting. There’s so much to see and do, and it’s all within an easy walk.

Spring Fever

March 16, 2012 By admin Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

As the weather warms, it’s time to get out and explore what’s new in Park Slope this season. If you have something you would like to share, send it along to us.

Edible Brooklyn: The Cookbook

Edited by Rachel Wharton

According to foodies, Brooklyn has been hailed as the new frontier for chefs. Without the borders imposed by Manhattan and with growing competition, Brooklyn chefs have found that creativity and passion endear them to the locals. A number of remarkable cookbooks have come out in the past year devoted to our favorite borough. My issue with these predecessors is that while they do include recipes from local chefs and restaurateurs, the recipes included are so complicated it seems that they’re really intended to get people into the restaurants themselves. Edible Brooklyn: The Cookbook follows the format of featuring and focusing on local restaurants and food sources, but the difference is that the real focus is on the recipes themselves. It is a true cookbook. The recipes are uncomplicated, using easily sourced ingredients and a few steps. The photos that accompany them are nothing short of mouth-watering. Edible Brooklyn: The Cookbook has really found the perfect balance of neighborhood guide and cookbook. The stories behind each establishment are compelling, but not overwhelming, highlighting the uniqueness of the borough while underlining the importance of the food itself.

Video Kid Brooklyn

In this digital age, video devices are not only affordable but are also extremely user-friendly. Whereas a generation ago even making home movies involved carrying a heavy VHS camera and home editing suites were cost-prohibitive to most, the new era has ushered in the ability to make films and shorts from your computer. Kids have a unique eye and panache for creativity, Video Kid taps into this ability by offering video production classes for children ages 5-12. This film school offers production classes focusing on the basics and fundamentals, teaching skills in a way that children understand. Students are able to put these skills to work in a real-world way, by creating their own video shorts. To view class projects, learn about classes and sign up for the summer season, visit www.videokidbrooklyn.com

Brooklyn Skillshare

One of the amazing things about living in Brooklyn is that no matter how obscure your hobby or interest may be, you are bound to find other people who share your interest. Brooklyn Skillshare offers an open opportunity to hone your skills and learn more. Classes are taught by people within the community who possess a passion and knowledge that they would like to pass on to others. They are also free (unless noted otherwise on their site) and cover a diverse set of topics: Making Homemade Baby Food, How To Plan And Enjoy A Multi-Day Bike Trip, How To Make Smart-Ass Robots, and Producing A Documentary From Scratch, are just a sampling. If you have a skill you would like to share, there is an open call for teachers. Classes are held throughout the season and the Tea Lounge hosts Skillshare Night on the first Tuesday of every month. For a list of upcoming classes, visit www.brooklynskillshare.org

Green-wood Cemetery

It’s just a couple of quick stops away on the F-train and offers a plethora of borough history. Not only is it a beautiful place for a stroll and some quiet peaceful reflection, but throughout the season, the cemetery hosts a number of events and tours. Learn more about history during the RMS Titanic and Green-wood: 100 Years Later Trolley Tour; learn more about the indigenous flora and fauna with their mulch (bring your own bag) and Azaleas & Dogwood Trolley Tour and bird-watching walking tour; the Green-wood’s Great Women Walking Tour focuses on the historical highlights of the cemetery. Join in for a night of music at the chapel, or create your own walking tour as you amble along the serene 478 acres of hills and valleys that overlook Manhattan. Founded in 1838 as on the America’s first rural cemeteries, the location gained historic landmark status in 2006. Some of its more famous residents include Leonard Bernstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Boss Tweed. Green-wood Cemetery is located at 500 25th Street. Admission is free, with additional fees for tours and events. For directions and a full list of all the events and tours, go to www.green-wood.com

Moral Eyes

Inspired by the success of TOMs Shoes, Joe Sachs embarked on his own accessory company that benefits those in need. Park Slope-based Moral Eyes offers affordable reading glasses and sun readers in a wide range of styles. They are fun, fashionable and practical. Like the shoe company, whenever a pair of Moral Eyes glasses is purchased, the company donates a pair of glasses to someone in need. In addition to this initiative, Moral Eyes has also partnered with the non-profit organization New Eyes for the Needy setting up locations where old frames can be donated and recycled. Recycling locations can be found throughout Brooklyn. Locally, you can try on a selection of the Moral Eyes reading glasses at the Community Bookstore (143 Seventh Avenue). You can learn more about Moral Eyes on their website, www.moraleyes.com

Winter Wonderland

December 22, 2011 By admin Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

Winter in Park Slope is nothing short of idyllic. The lights, the shop windows, and the food all invite us to celebrate the season. If you have something you would like to share, send it to us at office@psreader.com

A Friendly Sing-Along

Little Nut Tree by Dan Zanes
[Festival Five Records]

Little Nut Tree is Dan Zane’s first album in five years after the release of his 2007 Grammy-winning Catch That Train. Everything about the new album is fun and eclectic. Starting with the colorful artwork on the CD packaging itself, which is designed like a colorful board book, to the styles and rhythms of the music. Enlisting the help of renowned musicians like Andrew Bird, Joan Osborne, Sharon Jones and the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars, Little Nut Tree is filled with “family music,” the songs are meant to appeal to parents as well as children. The musical landscapes move around the globe with the Jamaican sound of the title track, to folk and songs with a more Middle Eastern influence, to the R&B classic “Down In the Basement.” The English shanty “John Kanakanka” is a catchy and sure-fire sing-along. You can catch Dan live at the Kaufman Center in Manhattan on January 10th. For more dates, visit www.danzanes.com as this Brooklyn native frequently performs close to home.

Party Like A House Elf

Harry Potter Yule Ball at the Bell House
149 Seventh Street
December 17 5pm

This year the Bell House invites you to don your dress robes and join other Potter fans for a holiday celebration. The Yule Ball is a night where wizards and muggles can mingle while Harry & The Potters, along with other acts including Draco & The Malfoys and Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt! supply the entertainment. It’s a night of fantastic revelry, an opportunity to partake of your favorite potion and celebrate the season in style. A portion of each ticket price benefits the non-profit organization, The Harry Potter Alliance, which “brings Harry Potter fans together to fight the dark arts here in the muggle world” by encouraging members to use their own creativity towards making the world a better place. You can learn more and order tickets on the Bell House’s webiste,
www.thebellhouseny.com.

Support the Arts

440 Gallery hosts the 7th Annual Small Works Show
440 Sixth Avenue
December 8 through January 8

In its seventh year, the Annual Small Works Show has become a winter tradition. The artist-operated 440 Gallery offers an eclectic selection of artwork submitted from around the country. Each piece measures no more than 12” in any dimension, making for the perfect gift or accent for your home. With this event, 440 Gallery provides a wonderful introduction to new artists and the opportunity for you to become a patron of the arts. This year’s show is juried by Sara P. Mintz, Associate Director at Cynthia-Reeves Contemporary Fine Art Gallery in New York. Each year, as the show becomes more renowned the artwork submitted becomes more diverse, ranging in a wide variety of mediums. Stop by the gallery now to see the show and reserve your favorite piece. For more information visit www.440gallery.com.

Perfect Paw Protection

Protex PAWZ Natural Rubber Dog Boots

Inclement weather always poses a bit of a problem with dog walking. Although my beloved mutt is a hardy breed, walking after a storm or ice can be perilous. The cold and snow don’t pose the biggest problems; instead it’s the salt and de-icers that create the biggest headaches. We have tried a variety of dog boots, which provide a few minutes of entertainment as my dog duck walks around until he kicks them off, but they don’t make it out to the sidewalks. We try and avoid the areas that look salted, but a mis-step renders my dog limping and crying in pain. Finally, last year we discovered PAWZ. These reusable rubber boots not only provide protection, but prove to be a simple solution. Looking like balloons, these rubber boots are easy to put on and take off. They not only stay on, but seem to be less strange for your dog’s natural gait. Durable, they handle the sidewalk tread and dogs’ claws. Sold in sets of 12, there are extras if one gets lost along the way or develop a hole. If you’re feeling industrious, holes can be patched up easily with electrical tape. PAWZ come in sizes to fit any breed and are sold at pet stores throughout the area.

Lights Out

Blackout by John Rocco
[Disney Hyperion]

Your children may not be old enough to remember the night all of New York City went dark, but John Rocco does. In his book, Blackout, the renowned illustrator not only recreates it, but he does so through the eyes of a child. With curiosity and wonder, our hero watches as the neighborhood and city go dark. In the darkness, a family comes together to explore, play games and greet neighbors. John Rocco’s illustrations beautifully capture downtown Brooklyn during this magical evening. We see all of the elements that make the borough unique: the river, bridges, skyline, rooftops, stoops and street scenes. It makes not just for a great story, but acts as a reminder of the importance of shared family time.

Evidence of Autumn

October 5, 2011 By admin Filed Under: Reader Recommendations

The air is crisp, the leaves are colorful, and we found a whole new crop of items and activities to peek our interests.

THE STREETS ARE ALIVE

Atlantic Antic
Sunday, October 2, 2011 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Atlantic Avenue: Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue

This year marks the 37th annual Atlantic Antic. On October 2nd, Atlantic Avenue is closed to traffic from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue. Instead, the streets are filled with food vendors and live music. Spanning over one mile, it is the largest festival in New York City. As the weather gets cooler, it provides the perfect chance to sample some new foods from around the world and indulge in traditional favorites while you take in the neighborhood and meet your neighbors. How often are you presented with the opportunity to stroll Atlantic Avenue, the ever-changing thoroughfare that unites various Brooklyn neighborhoods?
This year, in addition to food from local and international vendors, the festival includes an entire block devoted to children’s activities.

The Atlantic Antic is presented by the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation, a not-for-profit agency committed to the economic development of the Atlantic Avenue area from Fourth Avenue to the Brooklyn water font. It’s a true Brooklyn tradition. The Beastie Boys even give the festival a shout-out in their song “Shadrach;” and if that isn’t a Brooklyn endorsement, I don’t know what is. You can learn more about the festival by visiting www.atlanticave.org.

THE SCHOOL YEAR AT A GLANCE

NYC School Calendar iPhone App

I’m still getting used to the multi-functionality of my phone. And although a round of Angry Birds and wacky ring tones are fun, I’m more interested in the applications that make life easier. The NYC School Calendar App for the iPhone does just that. Merging the school calendar with your own, it’s fantastic for planning vacations, play dates and appointments. The app adds the NYC School calendar to any other calendars you have on your iPhone, allowing you to view everything at once. The schedule downloaded by the app is complete with school holidays, vacations and half-days. The calendar is comprehensive, but you can delete and add dates as you like. Instead of inputting these dates manually, it does the work for you. If you prefer to keep your calendars separate, you can just use the app on its own to keep track of the school schedule. Get the NYC School Calendar app.

MONSTER MASH

Puppetry Arts’ Haunted Halloween Carnival
Saturday, October 29th 11am-4pm
1st Street Recreation Center of PS 372 between 3rd and 4th Ave

Don your spooky apparel and join Puppetry Arts for their Sixth Annual Haunted Halloween Carnival. Modeled after the community Halloween events Tim Young experienced as child in South Carolina, this event includes a wide array of activities. You will find all everything a carnival could offer: raffles, giveaways, a bounce house, and kid-friendly haunted house. What makes the event unique are the creative activities offered. They include fishing for healthy teeth with the House of Orthodontia monster shadow puppet game, and making “pizza monster puppets” and crafty masks. The carnival focuses on artistic and imaginative aspects that make Halloween so much fun. In addition to the activities, Brooklyn Cyclones mascot Sandy the Seagull will be in attendance as well as every one’s favorite Star Wars droid, R2-D2. Be sure to allow enough time to explore before the costume contest commences at 3:30pm.

FEELING GRAVITY’S PULL

ModKat

Modern design has finally met the call of your pet’s needs. The logic is pretty simple: allow your cat the privacy to do his or her business while reducing the amount of litter that gets tracked into your home. A great amount of thought has gone into every aspect of the design of this high-concept litter box. First of all, the entry point is on the top. On the lid is a hole that your cat can climb through; the texture is grated so that any stray litter falls back into the box below. Standing 15 inches tall, the “rooftop” is easily accessible. The design also acts to keep kids and other pets out. It’s sleek and colorful and can actually blend into the décor the rest of your home. Or it might just make your cat feel very stylish. The goal is to bring together form and function. It is also environmentally friendly as the liner is reusbale.

ModKat is available in pet stores throughout Manhattan and can be found locally at Loving Pet Food at 145 Smith Street, as well as online. You can learn more by visiting their website www.modkat.com

Vishnu-in-Cosmic-Sleep — Photo courtesy of Oliver Forge & Brendan Lynch Ltd.

THE PATH OF THE GENTLE WARRIOR

Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue Skinned Warrior
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn
Now through Oct. 2nd

It’s always a pleasure to take in a beautifully curated art exhibit. Somehow the enjoyment gets enhanced when the art involved possesses a religious context. The blending of artistic energy with spiritual devotion creates an element of action in the story-telling. Characters come to life with feeling and complexity. Not that this isn’t true with secular art, but religious art has the benefit of the back-story, of heroic deeds, life-changing decisions and the conflict between good and evil.

The exhibit Vishnu: Hinduism’s Blue Skinned Warrior focuses on one single deity, compiling art from around the world, to create a comprehensive collection of Hindu art. The exhibit is divided into three sections, the first dealing with Vishnu, the gentle god. The second part examines his avatars, representations of him on Earth, as well interactions with his cohorts Rama and Krishna. The third section focuses on Vaishnava (Vishnu worship), with images of temples and ritual objects. It is the first exhibit of its kind, including over 170 images, sculptures and icons. It’s an eye-opening, spiritual exhibit in which you not only take in art, but learn about a culture.

The exhibit is on display through October 2nd. For more information visit www.brooklynmuseum.org.

BECOME A CULINARY MASTER

Purple Kale Kitchenworks

Autumn offers an incredible bounty when it comes to food. With all of the colorful produce available and the cooler weather, it seems that Mother Nature is reminding us that it’s time to eat up for the winter months ahead. It’s the perfect weather to spend strolling farmer’s markets and orchards, bringing home the seasonal bounty. The dilemma I always encounter is what to do with all of the good food. Coming up with creative treatments for the ingredients isn’t my strong suit. Luckily, Purple Kale Kitchenworks provides the solution. The mission of this culinary school is to assist “the home cook who loves food but wants to put better, less scripted meals on the table, and do so efficiently and with little waste.” Their workshops teach the basic skills used by professional chefs; techniques that make cooking less arduous and more enjoyable. They also offer more specialized classes in vegetarian cooking and a “parent only” workshop that invited participants to share solutions for feeding a family. Each workshop is intimate and improvisational, allowing participants to get involved and work with new ingredients. Continuing the food conversation is their 2 Minutes to Dinner blog, which shares recipes and includes behind the scenes photos from previous workshops. You can learn more about Purple Kale Kitchenworks by visiting their web site, www.purplekale.com

THE EVOLUTION OF A NEIGHBORHOOD

The Invention of Brownstone Brooklyn:
Gentrification and the Search for Authenticity in Postwar New York
by Suleiman Osman [Oxford Press]

The act of buying a brownstone to fix up and convert to a single-family dwelling is not a new one. In his book, The Invention of Brownstone Brooklyn, Suleiman provides a detailed history of “brownstoning” in Brooklyn starting with Brooklyn Heights in the 1940s and moving through Boreum Hill, Fort Green, Carroll Gardens and Park Slope, he chronicles how these neighborhoods were transformed.

There were growing pains and community clashes, but the book proves that Brooklyn is not only dynamic, but filled with people who want to maintain a character different from the suburbs and New York City.

The book is interesting as it provides history of the rebirth of neighborhoods through gentrification. Vivid descriptions of Park Slope in the 1950s detail a neighborhood in turmoil, which is hard to imagine now. Neighborhoods have changed dramatically over the years, but it’s also interesting to find that some things remain the same.