This weekend, late night Friday, November 22 to early morning Monday, November 25, all day Saturday and Sunday (3 trains do not serve Brooklyn late at night) there will be no 3 train service at Clark Street or Borough Hall. 2 trains should be running normally and providing service to and from Manhattan and making all 3 stops between Borough Hall and  Franklin Avenue-Medgar Evers College. 4 trains should also be running normally and will make all 3 stops between Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and New Lots Avenue. On Saturday and Sunday there will be no C train service at High Street, as C trains in both directions will be re-routed to the F line between Jay Street-MetroTech and 34th Street-Herald Square. This means extra service at York Street in DUMBO.

The following week (Monday, November 25 through Friday, November 29), late nights Monday to Tuesday and Tuesday to Wednesday there will be no  Manhattan bound N train service at Court Street or at the N/R platforms at Jay Street-MetroTech. R trains and Brooklyn bound N trains should be running normally. On Thursday, November 28, Thanksgiving Day, trains will be running on Sunday schedules.

These are the PLANNED changes affecting local service for this weekend and for the following week. Always check MTA Info for unplanned service changes that may affect local service or service on other parts of your trip, or for planned service changes that affect stations to or from which you may be traveling. You can also get real time service alerts: register here.

Want to get a jump on Black Friday shopping, and enjoy some Danish delicacies and drinks as well? The Danish Seamen’s Church, 102 Willow Street (near Clark) will hold its annual Christmas Fair, or Julmarked, this coming weekend, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM both Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, Novembe24.

Shop unique Scandinavian designs, knitwear, gift items, holiday ornaments, Danish candy, and traditional food products for the Christmas Dinner at the annual Danish Christmas Fair. Or bite into delicious “æbleskiver” (puffed apple pancakes) – a traditional Christmas treat that all Danes give out at any social gathering through the holidays, and sip on hot glögg – the Danish take on mulled wine. It’s served in our covered, cozy backyard at the Danish Seamen’s Church.

The Fair promises “hygge overload.”

Photo: C. Scales for BHB

The 2024 Brooklyn Folk Festival, presented by the Jalopy Theatre and School of Music, drew large crowds to St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church Friday evening through Sunday evening. It also created its share of excitement, as shown by the audience members up and dancing in the photo above, to the sound of Shiva Lakhan (at center on stage) and friends doing classical Indian songs and Chutney, an amalgam of traditional Indian music with West Indian Calypso and Soca that originated with diaspora Indians in Trinidad.

Beareather Reddy, described as “Champion of the Blues,” gave a soul stirring set that concluded with a nail-you-to-the-wall rendition of B.B. King’s “Rock Me Baby.”

La Banda Chuska, said to be “a fireball of post-punk energy and subversive playfulness, a sort of tropical funk meets The B-52s,” lived up to that description and had people of all ages up and dancing.

Nora Guthrie, daughter of Woody Guthrie, gave a two hour presentation that proved to be worth every minute, “My Name Is New York, Ramblin’ Around Woody Guthrie’s Town.” She described every place he lived, from his arrival in February of 1940 at the invitation of an actor friend in whose Manhattan penthouse he spent a few days, through his many Manhattan residences and on Mermaid Avenue, Coney Island, until his death in 1967 at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village. She also mentioned the many interesting characters, some of whom, like Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan, went on to become folk music legends, he got to know and influence during his time in New York.

The youngest solo performer at this year’s Festival, was Riyae Park. She did a splendid set of folk songs, displaying both her mature voice and skill on guitar.

David Amram, a composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, and musicologist, described by the Boston Globe as “the Renaissance Man of American Music,” accompanied by a crew of superb musicians that included his son Adam on conga drums, presented a set as delightful as it was eclectic. He opened with his arrangement of Sonny Rollins’ “St. Thomas,” followed that with a waltz, then did his splendid take on Woody Guthrie’s “Pastures of Plenty.” After several more numbers, he closed with “Pull My Daisy,” the song he wrote with Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac for the 1959 short film with the same title. On this, Adam’s drumming was augmented by his young son with a bongo.

On Sunday afternoon Hopalong Andrew and friends put on a lively show for kids (and adults).

The Down Hill Strugglers are usually a trio, but on Sunday evening Walker Shepard, son of playwright Sam Shepard and actress (and former Lion’s Head waitress) Jessica Lange, was away on other business, so the Strugglers were a duo of Eli Smith, who has served as Festival Director for sixteen years, on banjo, and Jackson Lynch on fiddle. The two of them put on a sparkling show, beginning with an original song, “I’m Getting Ready To Go.” This was followed by traditional songs, including, to this train buff’s delight, “Casey Jones.” They ended their set with a rousing rendition of the old favorite. “Going Down the Lee Highway.”

Zarah Alzubaidi, a native of Iraq, accompanied by some first rate instrumentalists, gave stirring renditions of Iraqui songs, along with songs from the Gulf States.

The Festival concluded with a performance on piano, by composer and pianist Thomas Feng, of music by Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou, an Ethiopian nun who died last year at the age of 100. It can only be described as celestial.

These are but a few of the many performances that made this year’s Brooklyn Folk Festival wonderful.

This Thursday, November 7, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM, the Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, 137 Montague Street (between Clinton and Henry) will have its Holiday Open House.

[C]elebrate the holidays with us and be one of the first to shop our wide selection of one-of-a kind ornaments, holiday decor and handmade gifts. Enjoy bubbles and bites as you mingle and browse.

The Exchange has expanded holiday shopping hours from November 11 through December 24: Monday to Friday noon to 6:00 (Thursdays until 8:00 December 5th to the 24th); Saturdays and Sundays 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The Exchange will be closed December 25 through January 1. You can shop online anytime here.

The Brooklyn Folk Festival returns to St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, Clinton and Montague streets, this coming Friday evening, November 8, with performances continuing through Saturday and Sunday. There’s a complete schedule here. Among the performers will be long time Folk Festival favorites Nora Brown (photo above by C. Scales for BHB), The Down Hill Strugglers, Feral Foster, and Jerron Paxton.  Among others on the program are performers of old time and contemporary folk music, blues, bluegrass, jug band, afrofusion, conjunto, Cajun and creole, ragtime, New Orleans soul, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues. An especially intriguing (for your correspondent) entry is for 9:30 PM Friday in the Parish Hall, where La Banda Chuska “merges the sounds of vintage Peruvian cumbia and psychedelic chicha with 1960s Latin American and Middle Eastern surf rock.” The music programming concludes on Sunday evening, starting at 9:10, with “The Music of Emahoy Tsege-Mariam Gebru,” who was “an Ethiopian composer, pianist and nun who passed away in 2023 at the age of 100, her music will be played by pianist and composer Thomas Feng.”

In addition to the music, there will be presentations with discussion in the Workshop Room. Among these will be: from noon until 2:00 Saturday Nora Guthrie, daughter of Woody Guthrie, will present “My Name Is New York: Ramblin’ Around Woody Guthrie’s Town”; from 4:45 to 5;45 PM Saturday there will be a “Democracy Story Circle” where you can “Join Arts & Democracy and Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY to share stories about the election and beyond”; and at 7:00 Saturday evening you can attend a “Can-Jo Workshop” with “Perfessor” Zeke Leonard, who will teach you how to “[b]uild your own one string banjo out of a can.”

Tickets for the Festival may be purchased here.

According to the NYC Department of Transportation website a large number of Brooklyn streets will be entirely or partially closed tomorrow (Thursday, October 31) for some period of time in order to facilitate Halloween trick-or-treating. The only street in Brooklyn Heights affected is Joralemon, from Hicks down to Furman. It will be closed to vehicular traffic from 4:00 until 8:00 PM. The closure is at the behest of the Willowtown Association.

Photo: C. Scales for BHB

America is at a crossroads. Regardless of who wins the upcoming election, our house is still divided. How can we, the regular people, respond?

Over 150 citizens gathered at Plymouth Church on Sunday, October 27 for a screening of “Undivide Us,” a documentary about combatting toxic polarization. The ecumenical event was also sponsored by inter-faith partners including Grace Church Brooklyn Heights, First Unitarian Church Brooklyn and St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church. Volunteers, merchants and donors across the neighborhood helped to usher, donated food and spread the word.

We began with a powerful community prayer by assembled faith leaders in our community who prayed for unity in our nation.

Neighborhood clergy gathered for community prayer for unity

The were so many neighbors gathered to watch the film that we had to pull in more chairs four times. Standing room only!

Filmmaker (and Park Slope neighbor) Kristi Kendall  and I followed the screening with a Q&A, with so many thoughtful discussion points from our audience.

Afterwards, we gathered for fellowship in Plymouth’s gym for a community tea party. Strangers continued the discussion at tables, eating and sipping together and engaging in dialogue, seeking to disagree better.

What a gift and opportunity to practice how to be citizens in community with each other, regardless of who wins the election. We were reminded that disagreement is not division and that we can disagree better through discourse, engagement and self-governance and by treating our neighbors well.

I wrote an op-ed in Sunday’s New York Daily News (read it HERE) about the importance of the film, the significance of the tiny nonpartisan and interfaith event in the face of massive, partisan rallies and the historical connection of Plymouth’s Civil War history to today’s events.

Since you’ve already heard from me, I offered my Brooklyn Heights Blog spot to two voices from the next generation who attended the “Undivide Us” screening and tea party.  Here is what they saw and learned from Sunday’s event.

A Reflection from Charlotte McGuire

Charlotte is a Brooklyn Heights eighth grader at Packer Collegiate Institute. She is interested in theater, debate and crafts.

As an eighth grader  who is invested in the upcoming U.S. Presidential election, I thought the “Undivide Us” documentary was instructive because of its inclusive and empathetic viewpoint.

It is now just days before  the election. Just in the last few weeks, I’ve seen an increase in Trump/Vance signs, and just as many new Harris/Walz signs across our neighborhood and in the news. Social media is buzzing with hashtags, trends, and viral videos relating to the candidates. It seems like everyone has an opinion about the election, and no one is willing to change it or listen to a differing view.

The media often portrays the two parties with a bloodthirsty, out-to-get-you, CNN vs. Fox News mentality. As the documentary illustrates, news outlets accentuate those with stronger opinions and louder voices for their profit. But I learned by watching the film that only 20% of Americans are too polarized. On the contrary, 80% of Americans want to understand each other’s point of view.

”Undivide Us”  highlighted this difference by taking the time for the documentary participants to think about why the other side might think that way. If this compassionate approach was used on a wider scale in America, I think it would result in a greater understanding of each other, and therefore more unity.

In Sunday’s inter-faith gathering at Plymouth Church where I watched “Undivide Us” with my neighbors and New Yorkers from across the city, I saw a room packed with people in front of a pull-down projector, brimming with energy at the idea of learning something new.

Just before the screening, we prayed in community with several faith leaders that “we will not see our vote as a weapon or another voter as a threat.” Even though I cannot vote yet, I hope we can spread this message of love over hate, of respect over spite, and of compassion over isolation.

This is how we become undivided.

A Reflection From Monique Le

Monique is a dedicated accounting professional with a background in real estate and a passion for writing. Born and raised in California, she now resides in Brooklyn.

Blogger Monique Le with Filmmaker Kristi Kendall

A vibrant crowd swarmed the calm and serene neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights on Sunday afternoon. Curious locals, visitors who had read about the event online and in the New York Daily News and people of all ages gathered at Plymouth Church for the screening of “Undivide Us.” Guests trickled in throughout the film and by the time it was over, there was standing room only.

Social media, religion and other cultural divides have often triggered the emergence of polarization. As the election season comes close to a close, existential stress and tensions are at an all-time high. I think our obsession over wanting to better our country has ultimately silenced us due to fear of being judged and misunderstood. As a nation, we have robbed ourselves of the First Amendment and infringed on our own right to free speech. In the documentary “Undivide Us,” director and filmmaker Kristi Kendall faced the problem of toxic polarization head-on, seeking to find a way through the chaos we’ve created in what has become the divided states of America.

In the film, Professor Ben Klutsey, Director of the George Mason University Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange and Dee Allsop, CEO and Founder of Heart + Mind Strategies, traveled to the most politically driven cities and brought forth controversial topics amongst focus groups who share different viewpoints. The goal was to use psychological insights to develop strategies that enable the individuals to get an understanding of the opposing view–to focus on people rather than politics. The participants realized  that they share similar values and have much more in common.

Watching the film, I learned that we as Americans often believe the opposing party dislikes and disagrees with us more than they actually do. We believe we’re more polarized than we actually are—and that misconception can drive us even further apart. To solve it, we have to be able to sit down together and be open to understand diverse perspectives and ideas without criticism or judgment. In order to bridge America’s growing divide, we must seek to understand rather than be understood.

At the inter-faith screening at Plymouth hosted by several local congregations, visitors settled into their seats, eagerly waiting for the film to start. At the community tea party afterwards, the documentary was highly praised and thoroughly enjoyed by the visitors who gathered to discuss the film with Kristi, while others lined up for refreshments and nibbles.

I left the event recognizing that we must reclaim our voices and keep true to our beliefs while striving to find common ground. One conversation at a time, we can make a difference. Where there is mutual respect, there is hope for civil discourse and hope for an undivided America.

###

Thanks for coming says volunteer Sadie Horton

For more information, visit the Undivide Us movie site HERE or watch the film on PBS HERE.

Copyright Caroline Aiken Koster. All Rights Reserved. X: @aikenkoster Insta: kostercaroline 75

There will be a free, all ages Halloween celebration tomorrow (Tuesday, October 29) from 3:30 to 4:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room of the Brooklyn Heights Library, 286 Cadman Plaza West (between Clark and Pierrepont streets).

Come one, come all and join us for a fun filled, silly yet spookylicious Halloween event with our very Own Hype Girl “Bubbles”. Children and grownups will dance, sing and laugh alongside Bubbles and her crazy adventures.

There will also be a craft table. Come in costume or as-you-are. No reservations are required.

The last Open Streets Montague of 2024, this  Sunday, October 27 from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM, will, appropriate to the impending Halloween, feature a “Spooktacular” presented by Montague Diner, which will be serving warm drinks and Halloween treats all day long. Among the activities will be a dog costume contest, face and pumpkin painting, a sing along, and a spooky reading presented by Books Are Magic. There’s a full schedule and more information here. Another Halloween related activity will be presented by Brett McMullen, A.I.A. of McMullen Architecture, who will be on Montague between Henry and Hicks from noon until 5:00 and help those of all ages to design and build a haunted house. Photo and more information here. Thanks to the Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, 137 Montague, between Clinton and Henry, from noon until 5:00 you can meet Dennis J, Taylor, “a talented woodcarving artisan who handcrafts unique figurines.” More information here. As they have throughout the season, Chama Mama will have a free lemonade stand, with tasty morsels of cheese bread, between Henry and Hicks from noon until 4:00.

Last but certainly not least, a “bloodmobile” will be in front of St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, 157 Montague (near the corner of Clinton) from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM. New York City is having a “blood shortage emergency.” All blood types are needed, but type “O” donors, whose blood is in especially short supply, will be given rewards. If you want to donate, please register here; there’s more information here.

Montague Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Clinton and Henry streets and between Henry and Hicks streets from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Sunday. Parked cars on those blocks will have to be moved before 10:00 AM.

Past, present, now, then, truth, science, history, algorithms, chaos….if any of these topics seem relevant the first week of November, you might want to skedaddle down to Willow Place for a couple of hours with Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia.

The Heights Players will be presenting what some say is his greatest work, down in the pastoral reaches of Brooklyn Heights. See it November 1 – 10. Tickets are available at the Heights Players site.

Directed by Noel MacDuffie, it’s a perfect diversion, with folks named Thomasina, Septimus, Ezra, Hanna, Valentine and more.

Off you go, to get your tickets now!

Tomorrow (Saturday, October 19) the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, along with In The Raw, will present “Sound & Color! Autumn in New York,” a fall festival that will feature “live musical performances, food vendors, kids activities, arts and crafts, field games and more—including our signature pumpkin patch [photo].” It will take place on Pier Six; enter from Joralemon Street or Atlantic Avenue, from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM. There’s more information here.

This Sunday’s (October 20) Open Streets Montague will include several attractions arranged by City Council Member Lincoln Restler. Starting at 1:00 PM between Clinton and Henry streets, the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus will present a free “Flatbed Follies” (see photo) performance, featuring “acrobats, jugglers, clowns, and contortionists” as well as a “singing ring-mistress.” From noon until 3:00 PM between Henry and Hicks streets, Council Member Restler and the NYC Department of Transportation are sponsoring free fittings and distribution of bike helmets for all ages. No advance registration is required; children must be accompanied by an adult. From noon to 3:00 between Clinton and Henry Council Member Restler and Bike New York will present a Bike Bonanza, giving kids an opportunity to trade bikes and offering them free riding lessons; bring your own bike and helmet. You must register here; children must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Finally, thanks to Council Member Restler, from noon until 3:00 between Henry and Hicks you may get free compost; one or two forty pound bags which you must arrange to transport yourself. You want? Please reserve here.

Other events at this week’s Open Streets include a free concert by JAW, the “teen band sensation,” under the tent between Henry and Hicks starting at 3:00. From noon until 3:00 in front of Chama Mama, 121 Montague (between Henry and Hicks) there will be a stand giving free lemonade “and tasty bite-sized Khachapuri (cheese breads).” From noon until 5:00 in front of 115 Montague (between Henry and Hicks) L’Apéro by L’Appartement 4F will be selling “to-go tahini cookie sundaes and charcuterie boxes featuring our signature selection of saucisson and cheeses” as well as “natural biodynamic (and unbelievably delicious) wine” which you may take to the Adults Only “Sip Spot” at the corner of Montague and Henry.

Montague Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Clinton and Henry streets and between Henry and Hicks streets from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Sunday. Parked cars on those blocks will have to be moved before 10:00 AM.

Photo © John Huntington; used with permission.

This Sunday, October 13, Open Streets Montague will feature many opportunities for exercise to get and stay in shape and therapy for restoration or preservation of wellness, offered by local providers. It’s all free, but you must reserve times in advance. There’s a full schedule and make reservations here. Starting at 3:oo, under the tent between Henry and Hicks, Rogue Connections will perform “your favorite folk and rock hits.” Once again, all day, Chama Mama, at 121 Montague (between Henry and Hicks) will give free lemonade to kids who have lunch there with their parents (this offer stands through December 31), and, from noon until 5:00 L’Apéro by L’Appartement 4F will be serving up delicious “Sunday Sundaes,” charcuterie boxes, and biodynamic wine in front of 115 Montague, between Henry and Hicks. You may take your wine to enjoy at the adults only Sip Spot on Montague at the corner of Henry, between Henry and Clinton.

The Brooklyn Heights Association’s annual Designer Showhouse, located at 182 Clinton Street (photo), between State and Schermerhorn streets, described with photos in Mary Frost’s Eagle story and open through November 3, will host two events worth notice in the next few days. On Monday evening, October 7 starting at 7:00 there will be a Consignment Evening with The RealReal. On Tuesday afternoon, October 8 starting at 3:00 Gautier Coiffard of L’Appartement 4F will share his baking skills and teach you to make delicious chocolate chip cookies.

Photo: ToriSikkemaPhotography_ProjectPlant_BrooklynShowhouse-23 (1)

This Sunday, October 6, you may bring your pet, a favorite stuffed animal, or a photo of either to the front of 157 Montague Street, between Clinton and Henry, at 1:00 PM, to receive a blessing from The Rev. Canon John Denaro (photo above), Rector of St, Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. More info here.

From noon until 5:00 PM on Montague between Henry and Hicks you can get a look at the sports sensation that is sweeping the nation by watching the Montague Open Pickleball Tournament (sorry; all slots to participate are full).  Meanwhile, between Clinton and Henry, kids 12 and under can sharpen their soccer skills with Super Soccer Stars.

Hungry or thirsty? There’s much on offer. From noon to 5:00 PM Chama Mama’s Lemonade Stand, in front of 121 Montague, between Henry and Hicks, will offer “some fresh made lemonade and tasty bite-sized treats, including Khachapuri (cheese breads), skewers, and honey cake.” Chama Mama will also offer free lemonade for kids with their parents’ or caretakers’ lunch order. And, as every Sunday, L’Apéro by L’Appartement 4F will be outside 114 Montague, between Henry and Hicks, from noon to 5:00 PM,”serving to-go tahini cookie sundaes and charcuterie boxes featuring our signature selection of saucisson and cheeses.” Your correspondent, his wife and daughter can all attest to the deliciousness of their offerings.

Traffic will be closed (except for emergency vehicles) on Montague between Clinton and Henry and between Henry and Hicks between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

Perfect for a prelude to Halloween, Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit opens October 4 at the Heights Players. The production is directed by Michelle Maccarone.

Ouija-board level chaos is the spirit of the day as the classic comedy of one husband, two wives, and a seance gone awry appears down the hill on Willow Street.  It’s a perfect “happy medium” as we enter the pumpkin spice season.

The show runs October 4 – 13th and tickets are available HERE.  Arrive 15 minutes early for each performance and enter The Society for Psychical Research and experiment with a trip to the other side.

Fun and chaos are guaranteed….nothing spooky about that!

]]> http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/100325/feed 0 http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/100300 http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/100300#comments Wed, 25 Sep 2024 02:19:15 +0000 http://brooklynheightsblog.com/?p=100300

This year’s Atlantic Antic (photo above from a previous year) will take place on Atlantic Avenue between Hicks Street and Fourth Avenue this coming Sunday, September 29, from noon until 6:00 p.m., rain or shine. Local merchants will be represented, with special deals for the occasion, along with food, music, dancers, visual artists, clothing vendors, and fun sites for kids. There’s a festival map here. It’s sponsored by the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation.

The Brooklyn Book Festival will have its always popular Children’s Day on Saturday, September 28 from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM at Brooklyn Commons. There’s a schedule of events here. The Festival Day is on Sunday the 29th from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM at locations on Borough Hall Plaza, Columbus Park, and Cadman Plaza East, as well as nearby indoor venues. There’s a complete schedule here.

Open Streets Montague this Sunday will transform Montague between Henry and Hicks into Rue Montague, as L’Appartement 4F invites you to “[e]xperience the magic of Paris on Montague Street … [s]avor fresh crepes, enjoy live music, and learn French with CouCou — all without even needing a passport.” As was done last Sunday, sundaes, charcuterie, and wine will be served, and you may take the wine to the adults-only Sip Spot near the corner of Montague and Henry. Traffic will be closed (except for emergency vehicles) on Montague between Clinton and Henry and between Henry and Hicks between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

Photo: Chuck Taylor

Plymouth Church, 57 Orange Street (between Henry and Hicks) is inaugurating the Henry Ward Beecher Lecture Series “to inform a 21st Century audience of all ages on the history of the church, the history of New York City and Brooklyn, and the history of the United States.” Beecher, who served as Plymouth’s minister from its founding in 1847 until his death in 1887, is represented by the statue near the center of the photo above. To the statue’s left in the photo is a relief depicting a seated Abraham Lincoln. In February 1860 Beecher, famous for his passionate opposition to slavery, invited Lincoln, a former Illinois congressman and unsuccessful senatorial candidate who was known to have antislavery views, to speak at Plymouth. The venue of the speech, which is credited with Lincoln’s winning the Republican presidential nomination three months later, and the Presidency in November, was changed to Cooper Union in Manhattan where it was believed it would attract a larger audience. The day before the speech Lincoln worshiped at Plymouth. Pew 89, where he sat, bears a plaque with his signature.

The first Beecher Lecture will be on Wednesday, October 16, starting at 7:00 PM. The speaker will be historian Harold Holzer, former Senior Vice President for Public Affairs, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and now Director of Hunter College’s Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute. He is author of many books, most recently Brought Forth on This Continent: Abraham Lincoln and American Immigration. The lecture is free, and reservations are not required. Doors open at 6:30 PM at 57 Orange Street.

Photo: C. Scales for BHB

This coming Sunday, September 22, L’Apero at L’Appartement 4F

will be outside serving to-go tahini cookie sundaes and charcuterie boxes featuring our signature selection of saucisson and cheeses. Grab a can of natural biodynamic (and unbelievably delicious) wine to enjoy on the Promenade or at the Montague Sip Spot adults only area at the corner of Henry Street.

Kids get a benefit, too. Free lemonade with your parents’/guardians’ lunch. This offer lasts through December 24.

Traffic will be closed (except for emergency vehicles) on Montague between Clinton and Henry and between Henry and Hicks between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

This coming Sunday, September 15, Open Streets Montague will return to Montague Street between Clinton and Hicks, featuring a Back to School Party from noon until 4;00 PM. The party will include kids’ concerts; crafts, games, prizes, and a bubble show. From noon until 3:00 PM at Books Are Magic, 122 Montague (between Henry and Hicks), in conjunction with Brooklyn Book Bodega, will collect new or used books for kids or teens, “all genres welcome.” From noon until 4:00 PM at the Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, 137 Montague (between Clinton and Henry) kids of all ages (those under seven must be with an adult) can make beaded bracelets or backpack zipper pulls. A $5 donation is suggested. Champions Martial Arts will hold forth from noon to 5:00 PM in front of 151 Montague, between Clinton and Henry, inviting you to “Break a Board” and win a free tote bag. If you don’t feel up to breaking a board you may “say hi and claim your free trial class.” There will be a “high energy martial arts demo” at 2:30 PM. From breaking boards we go to making poems. Brooklyn Poets will have a stand in front of their studio at 144 Montague, between Clinton and Henry, where aspiring poets of all ages may “[e]njoy short lessons and hands-on activities every half hour from 12:30-3:30.”

Whether we were a Prom King, a Solid Gold Dancer or a Wallflower, we can’t look away from our prom. You can go home again, though, with the Heights Players.  Their kick off show of the season—beginning September 6th and running weekends through September 22nd– is The Prom.

Four fading stars. One girl’s prom dream. A heartwarming tale of hope and change.

When prom in Edgewater, Indiana is cancelled to prevent a lesbian couple from dancing, Broadway saves the day. Love brings together a town, the forces of LGBTQ and the power of inclusion. Love, laughs and dancing shoes come to Edgewater—and Brooklyn Heights– in The Prom. A show  “so filled with happiness that you think your heart is about to burst” (Variety).

Raise your hand if you don’t need that…..(ah, put it down, no Donnie Downers here.)

Get out your disco balls and lace up your dancing shoes and get down to the Heights Players on Willow Street.

Looks like a great cast getting ready for opening night.

The show won the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical with book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, book by Bob Martin, and music by Matthew Sklar. Hope, inclusion and fun just in time for Fall.

Tickets are available HERE

Tomorrow, Wednesday, August 14, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM the Brooklyn Women’s Exchange, 137 Montague Street, will host an event in which kids of all ages (those under seven must be accompanied by an adult) can learn to make beaded friendship bracelets. There is a suggested donation of five dollars; registration is not required.

This coming Saturday, August 3 , the Mark Morris Dance Group (photo) will be at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 1, Harbor View Lawn for “an all-ages family-friendly workshop” and “a special, outdoor performance.”

The workshop begins at 2:00 PM, where all ages and abilities are invited to dance with Mark Morris Dance Group. It will be followed by their performance at 3:00 PM. The repertoire will include Water, Words, and a new piece (unnamed). Words will be performed with live music by a pianist, who will also be providing musical interludes between pieces.

The event is free; please RSVP here.

FREE CONCERT | JULY 27 | 6PM | RAIN OR SHINE
EMILY WARREN ROEBLING PLAZA UNDER THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE

featuring Lara Downes, Time for Three, Christian McBride, Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal,
Arturo O’Farrill, Orchestra Elena & Aram Demirjian

St. Ann’s Warehouse, WNYC, and Brooklyn Bridge Park present Rhapsody for This Land: The American Odyssey in Music, a free, outdoor concert celebrating the 100th anniversary of Gershwin’s exuberant American anthem Rhapsody in Blue. Situated beneath the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, the concert features classical pianist and host of NPR’s AMPLIFY  Lara Downes, performing the New York City premiere of her take on Gershwin’s innovative 1924 work in a radical new arrangement by the Puerto Rican composer Edmar Colón. Considering American music through a century of immigration and transformation, Rhapsody for This Land celebrates our country’s long history of hope, protest, and change.

WNYC will broadcast the concert live as part of its own Centennial celebration. Listen live on 93.9 FM, AM 820, and www.wnyc.org.

Headcount, a non-partisan organization that channels the power of music to promote participation in democracy, will register voters at the concert.

Full details and RSVP at this link.

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 2 and continuing each Tuesday through July 23, from noon until 1:30 PM, there will be free jazz concerts at Columbus Park, near Borough Hall. Tomorrow’s concert will feature vocalist Nikita White; on July 9 Steven Kroon (photo) and his Latin Jazz Sextet; on July 16 Ricardo Strobert and his ensemble; and on July 23 Rome Neal. These concerts are presented by the Jazz Foundation of America with the Office of the Brooklyn Borough President. Thanks to the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership for alerting us.

This Sunday, June 30, will be the last Open Streets Montague of the spring to early summer session; Open Streets will return on September 15 for a session lasting each Sunday into the fall. This Sunday’s event, on Montague between Clinton and Henry and between Henry and Hicks from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM, will feature “a vibrant streetscape curated by Zoescope Studio. Supporting this are the office of Council Member Lincoln Restler and the NYC Department of Transportation’s Open Streets. From 1:00 to 4:00 there will be face painting, fun with hoops, and sounds by DJ Astra Soul.

Montague Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Clinton and Henry streets and between Henry and Hicks streets from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Sunday. Parked cars on those blocks will have to be moved before 10:00 AM.

Update: Open Streets Montague has been cancelled for this Sunday, June 23, because of predicted extreme heat. The final Open Streets Montague before the summer break will be next Sunday, June 30. We’ll let you know what’s on the schedule soon, so stay tuned.

This Sunday, June 23, Open Streets Montague will feature a performance on electric guitar by Larry Simon (photo, courtesy his website) who deserves the perhaps over-used accolade “multi-talented,” being a musician, composer, author, and collaborator with poets, both living and dead. Larry will be performing from noon until 1:00, either between Clinton and Henry or between Henry and Hicks – the website doesn’t specify – but we’re sure you’ll be able to hear and find him. Following Larry’s session, starting at 1:00 between Clinton and Henry, Danse Theatre Surreality will perform an excerpt from their work Shadowboxing in Blue, that “explores self-awareness through various lenses: fantasy, laughter, struggle, and tenderness.” From 2:30 to 3:30 (again location not specified) a local duo, The Rogue Connections, will perform “all your favorite folk and rock hits.”

What about the kids? From noon until 5:00, between Clinton and Henry, Super Soccer Stars will teach kids 2 1/2 through 7 “the fundamental[s] of the game in a fun, non-competitive way.”

Montague Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Clinton and Henry streets and between Henry and Hicks streets from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Sunday. Parked cars on those blocks will have to be moved before 10:00 AM.

This Sunday, June 16, is Father’s Day and, at Open Streets Montague, local businesses have lots to offer dads. Visit the Orange Theory table between Clinton and Henry from noon until 5:00 to sign up for a gift and a week of free classes. From noon until 3:00 between Henry and Hicks he can try his skill at the Olympic sport of curling, courtesy of the Brooklyn Curling Center. If he’s hungry Chama Mama, 121 Montague, between Henry and Hicks, will offer a special Father’s Day menu from noon until 5:00. More info and reserve a table here.

At 3:30, at the tent between Henry and Hicks, the P.S, 8 Junior Theater Club will perform songs from “Grunch,” their most recent production. There will be activities for the kids: Super Soccer Stars will teach kids 2 1/2 to 7 the game’s basics “in a fun, non-competitive way” from noon to 5:00 between Clinton and Henry; and from noon to 5:00 kids from 3 through 9 can “Create a Magical Raindrop” thanks to Brooklyn Trails. No location is specified; it’s somewhere between Clinton and Henry or Henry and Hicks; we’re sure you can find it. There’s a complete schedule of events here.

Montague Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Clinton and Henry streets and between Henry and Hicks streets from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Sunday. Parked cars on those blocks will have to be moved before 10:00 AM.

This Sunday’s (June 9) Open Streets Montague will feature a blood drive to benefit the New York Blood Center, sponsored by the Montague Street BID, St. Ann & the Holy Trinity Church, and the Brooklyn Heights Association. Donations will be taken from 11:00 AM until 5:00 PM in front of St. Ann’s Church at 157 Montague. If you would like to donate, you may make an appointment here.

Of course, as at every Open Streets Montague, there will be many opportunities to enjoy, learn, and listen. Brooklyn Poets will offer 20% off books and swag at their location, 144 Montague, between Clinton and Henry, between noon and 5:00. From noon until 1:00 at 151 Montague, also between Clinton and Henry, Champions Martial Arts will present a demonstration. Want to learn more about art? The Art Dude (photo, Montague BID) will be on hand, strolling along Montague, to answer your questions and give you free postcards of great art. It’s summer; concerned about your skin? Sun Mi James, 120 Montague (between Henry and Hicks) will be giving free samples of sunscreen and cleansers, as well as free add-ons to services when you book an appointment during Open Streets. Ready for some music? Local resident Cheryl Tugade will give a guitar concert from noon until 1:00. The teenage sensations JAW will perform from 3:00 to 5:00 at the tent between Henry and Hicks. There’s more information here.

Montague Street will be closed to vehicular traffic between Clinton and Henry streets and between Henry and Hicks streets from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM Sunday. Parked cars on those blocks will have to be moved before 10:00 AM.