Accordion music, knishes, and egg creams, along with our Heather Quinlan, greeted upwards of 100 guests at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema this evening to see a preview of Heather’s work-in-progress film If These Knishes Could Talk. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz was on hand to give a short talk on the Brooklyn accent, which he, naturally, considers the true American speech (never mind those people who say the real McCoy is found in Buffalo). He also described how one of the best kosher delis in Brooklyn has passed from Jewish to Italian to Egyptian Muslim hands, while remaining kosher. Marty was treated to a birthday knish with candles.

During a Q&A session after the screening, Heather was asked what she plans to add to the film. She said she hopes to travel to New Orleans to interview speakers of the Yat dialect, which is similar to “Brooklynese”, and to East London, to interview speakers of the Cockney dialect, which she sees as the closest British analogue to a New York accent.

Brooklyn Heights Cinema owner Kenn Lowy prompted enthusiastic applause at the close of the event when he announced that the Cinema will be around for some time, as the landlord has said he wants to do the right thing.

Don’t forget: Tonight, February 9, The Brooklyn Bugle/Brooklyn Heights Blog is presenting a special preview of BHB contributor/filmmaker Heather Quinlan’s If These Knishes Could Talk, “The Story of the New York Accent,” at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema from 6:45 to 8:00 p.m. Knishes and egg creams will be served. (buy tickets here).

Quinlan will host a Q&A before the screening of this special 25-minute version of her work-in-progress. All ticket sale proceeds will go to the completion of the full-length film.

This Thursday at 12:30 PM, the Promenade Gardeners are hosting the first of our winter gatherings: Plant Trivia from Brooklyn and Beyond. We’d love to invite interested members of the public to join us for this first class and snacks. We sit, chat, look at photos of plants, and Koren and I ask some tough and not-so-tough questions about plants we interact with in daily life in literature, medicine, popular culture, and our walks on the Promenade. Half of the 90 minute meeting is devoted to plants of the Promenade, with a special emphasis on what was bought and planted last year using funds raised by the Promenade Gardens Conservancy and through our bake sales. Joining the group will give one an early taste of spring and a little extra appreciation for plants in our day to day life. Those who’d like to come should RSVP to the hostess, Koren Volk, at volkkoren@hotmail.com and she will provide location details.

Admission is $20 for a family of four ($5 each additional); and $10 for CAFF or Brooklyn Historical Society members. The meeting point is BHS at 128 Pierrepont Street.

Pre-registration is required. For tix, click here.

Plymouth Church is hosting The Bandana Splits, “a concert for kids and their grown-ups,” on Saturday, February 11 at 11 a.m. The female trio’s signature is reminiscent of classic girl groups, a la the Ronettes, Caravelles and Andrews Sisters.

The concert is described on the Plymouth Church website, as: “Three young women meet in Brooklyn, discover their love for singing and girl group harmonies and wow NYC audiences with their charm and talent. Now they’re ready to take it to the next level: a concert for Brooklyn kids.”

Tickets for the event are $10, with a $30 max per family. Plymouth Church is located at 75 Hicks Street between Hicks and Henry streets.

Check out more about the Bandana’s at their website here.

This Saturday, February 4, Grace Church, 254 Hicks Street (corner of Hicks and Grace Court) will hold its annual Winterfair. From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., you may shop for children’s clothes and toys, men’s and women’s clothing, books and CDs, sporting equipment, plants and flowers, furniture, housewares and tchatchkes. From 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the cafe will serve delicious hot luncheon entrees. Starting at 6:30 p.m., there will be a gala cocktail reception and silent auction; the theme of this year’s gala is “Russian Rhapsody.” (Disclosure: your correspondent’s wife is in charge of the auction.) Among the prizes available at auction will be goods and gift certificates from local merchants and restaurants, tickets to cultural and sporting events, antiques and art works. Admission to the Fair is free; tickets for the gala are $25 if purchased in advance from the parish office (718-624-1850), and will be available at the Fair for $30.

If you have items you would like to donate for sale at the Fair, please take them to the Church during the day today through Thursday. Books, CDs, children’s toys and clothing should be left on the stage in the downstairs gym; fleas, clothing, sports equipment, and the like should be put in the back side pews on the left of the Church. If you have items for the silent auction, please contact Martha Foley at 718-624-4306 or foley.martha@gmail.com

Evan Hughes will discuss his recently published book Literary Brooklyn, which examines the connection between writers and Brooklyn as a place and identity. Edgar Garcia will discuss Walt Whitman, one of the authors featured in Literary Brooklyn, particularly Whitman’s role in Brooklyn’s publishing history. This event is part of BHS’s spring series, Inventing Brooklyn, which examines key people that have influenced Brooklyn’s past and present and highlights cultural trends that have roots in Brooklyn’s rich and diverse history. This event is free and open to the public.

This Saturday, January 21, BHS will present a guided tour of their building:

Come explore our beautiful landmark building. Designed by architect George Post and built in 1881, Brooklyn Historical Society’s building was ahead of its time. Using the latest technology, Post created a magnificent structure with amazing craftsmanship. On this guided tour you’ll learn not only about the building as an architectural gem, but you’ll also find out the “more than meets the eye” history of one of Brooklyn’s premier cultural institutions. This tour is free with museum admission and open to the public. Admission is always free for BHS members. This tour is part of BHS’s Brooklyn Walks and Talks program series.

Museum admission (for non-members) is $6 for adults; $4 for seniors over 62, students over 12 (college students must show ID), and teachers; and free for children under 12.

News 12 did a feature from the Brooklyn Heights Cinema, where they interviewed me about “If These Knishes Could Talk”, and a few lucky matinee customers about the New York accent. They also put in a plug for the upcoming Knish/New York accent film fundraiser. (Glad my mascara held, it was quite a windy day.) Hope you like the segment and hope to see you all there February 9th! With news of the possible closing of the Brooklyn Heights Cinema, it’ll be good to rally the troops and show the theater some love. Video after the jump.

Kick-Off Party
January 4
5 – 8 PM
St. Ann”s Parish House at 157 Montague Street

Fun for the whole family. Enjoy a photo booth; jazz performed by the Lucas Dedmon quartet; and complimentary wine, hors d”oeuvres, and hot-spiced apple cider. Chess demonstrations and games for children from 5 – 6 PM.
The event is free and open to the public.

Theater 2020 will present the second of its two holiday season events, A Radio Christmas Carol, this Saturday afternoon at 3;00 p.m., at St. Charles Borromeo Church on Sidney Place. It is described as “Charles Dickens’ Christmas Classic Performed as a Radio Play complete with Foley Artist Sound Effects” and should be fun for adults and kids alike. You may make reservations and buy tickets at the Theater 2020 website, or pay at the door. Admission is a suggested donation of $20, but you may pay what you feel you can afford.

Your correspondent got home too late to see the Christmas tree lighting (or, actually, re-lighting) ceremonies yesterday. Fortunately, Mr. J. was there with cam to record the event. His video begins with some other Heights scenes. Enjoy! (Video after the jump.)

The Christmas tree at the Montague Street entrance to the Promenade is already ablaze with light (photo), but the official lighting, complete with carolers and local dignitaries, will happen this Wednesday evening (December 14) between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. (You can catch part of the ceremony and head to Vineapple for the BHB gathering starting at 6:00.) The Daily News warns: “Drivers should avoid Montague St. and adjacent streets in Brooklyn Heights on Wednesday afternoon and early evening.”

And stop by the BHB Mixer at Vineapple after the tree lighting!

Mr. J. and his cam went to Pier 1, Brooklyn Bridge Park, to see the crowd assemble for SANTACON, then joined them on their march over the Brooklyn Bridge. Watch after the jump.

“Tis the Season to be Jolly”, and this morning, hundreds of merry-makers gathered at Brooklyn Bridge Park, tricked out as Santas, Mrs. Clauses, elves, reindeer, penguins (?), Christmas Trees — and someone labeled “Hanukkah Harry” — to join in the annual rite of SANTA CON, a free-wheeling holiday celebration organized by Facebook Pages and Twitter feeds. Santa is, of course, nothing without presents, and partakers were asked to bring non-perishable foods, which members of the USMC will deliver to the Food Bank for NYC. The assembled masses will spend the day meandering through area bars, and if they follow form from previous years, will be seen around the city late into the evening.

The Promenade Gardeners will have another of their popular bake sales at the Montague Street entrance to the Promenade this Saturday, December 10, from 10:30 a.m. until everything is sold (rain date Sunday the 11th). Your correspondent can attest to the quality of the goods offered at past sales, and the proceeds go to Promenade Partnership, a cooperative venture between the Brooklyn Heights Association and the City Parks and Recreation Department, which uses the funds for upkeep of the beautiful gardens adjoining the Promenade. Update: Hot cider will also be available.

There will be a craft fair at the Brooklyn Historical Society, 128 Pierrepont Street (corner of Clinton) this Wednesday, December 7 through Sunday, December 11 (11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weekdays; 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday), presented by BHS and NYCreates. This event will feature items made by a wide variety of local craftspeople, all suitable for holiday gift giving. There’s more information on the NYCreates website.

This week’s feature guest is musician Tyler Sussman, who will be playing the flute and didgeridoo.

Remember to bring shakers and blankets!

Here’s the official rundown from Montague BID:

• In the evening, at 5:30 p.m., the BID will sponsor a performance by the Grace & Spiritus Chorale of Brooklyn at the annual lighting of the Brooklyn Heights Promenade Christmas tree. The tree is located at the far western end of Montague Street.
• After the tree-lighting, from 6 to 6:30 p.m., community members are invited to enjoy the Chorale or sing along as they walk the length of Montague Street spreading their holiday cheer.

And after the fun on Montague Street, make sure to join us at the BHB Holiday Mixer at Vineapple. Details here.

Calling all knitters and would-be knitters! Support Christmas at Sea, a program of the Seamen’s Church Institute that distributes handmade comfort to mariners who spend months at sea by knitting warm items, such as hats and scarves. If you are interested, please email the church at SAHT157@gmail.com or call us at 718-875-6960. Yarns and needles will be available at the Bee—or bring your own. Refreshments will be provided.

How often do you have the opportunity to get your craft on, chat with your neighbors and support a worthy cause all at once? Come on down to the St. Ann’s Knitting Bee. You’ll be glad you did!

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz will light the Borough Hall Christmas Tree (last year’s in photo) this Monday, December 5, at 5:30 p.m. There will be entertainment (besides the always entertaining Marty) and a visit from Santa. Refreshments will be served afterward in Borough Hall.

Chanukah comes late this year. The first candle on the big menorah will be lit on Tuesday, December 20, at 5:00 p.m. Brooklyn Heights’ own Rabbi Aaron Raskin will join Marty for the ceremony and, again, refreshments will follow.

There will be a performance of music from the Bach Christmas Oratorio on Sunday December 11 at 3PM at the Zion German Evangelical Lutheran Church at 125 Henry Street.

It will be performed by the Bach in the Heights Chorus and Orchestra, a group made up of musicians and singers studying or graduated from Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, Curtis Eastman and the University of Indiana at Bloomington.

Tickets are $10 dollars at the door or you can make reservations by calling 718 935 1832 or email a reservation to bachintheheights AT yahoo.com.

Addendum: It’s a busy weekend for fairs in the neighborhood. See AnnOfOrange’s comment to this post for a list.

Welcome Back Kotter’s Juan Epstein would be proud as Congregation Mount Sinai [250 Cadman Plaza West] presents a Judeo-Latin-Jazz flavored holiday concert on December 4.

Brooklyn Eagle: If you’re ready to snap your fingers, clap your hands and tap your feet, come experience Eugene Marlow’s Heritage Ensemble as it performs its unique Judeo-Latin-Jazz repertoire at Congregation Mount Sinai’s annual holiday concert, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m.
The Heritage Ensemble will also accompany Congregation Mount Sinai’s own Cantor Shira Lissek, who will sing selections from the Great American Songbook.