This is Brooklyn - Past Winter in Prospect Park

This Is Brooklyn

Prospect Park Winter 2011 Photography by: Anonymous

*Submit your Photos of the Brooklyn at: roothillcafe@gmail.com

Life's Mysteries are in a jar of Marshmallows

Just thought you should know. 

This Is Brooklyn

photography by: Matthew J. Burgess

matthewjburgess.wordpress.com &  www.weathereyeout.com

*Submit your Photos of the 'Brooklynest' places at: roothillcafe@gmail.com

Make Brooklyn even better by supporting local artist. 

Visit former Presidents and historic places today

President's Day for too long has been about buying an automobile from a car dealer. This year take a moment to explore the Presidents within your own neighborhood by visiting dedicated sculptures and maybe a park or two. There are many places in the city that have honored the Presidents; here are a few in the Park Slope/Gowanus area.

This bust of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President, sits on the far north side of Grand Army Plaza. This sculpture of President Kennedy was originally erected in 1965, but took up until August of last year to be finalized. The bust of the former President was adjusted and given a different stand during a resent renovation. Brooklyn's own Neil Estern created this piece and was on hand last year for it's dedication. 

This handsome man is of course Abraham Lincoln. This sculpture by Henry Kirke Brown has an interesting story because it was first placed in the Elliptical Plaza (now Grand Army Plaza) in 1869, but for one reason or another (maybe political) the statue was removed and placed (abandoned) in Prospect Park's Concert Grove in 1896. There it sat falling in to disrepair, until an extensive renovation was done during the late 1980's. The beautiful and improved statue still sits in the Concert Grove, but according to the New York Post the statue may return to Grand Army Plaza soon. The statue probably will not sit in it's originally position since there is currently the bust of JFK in that particular location. see: NYPost.com

You can find another sculpture of honest Abe still in Grand Army Plaza on the Civil War arch known as Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial. This fine Roman style arch is similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and also features the United States 18th President Ulysses S. Grant. Both Grant and Lincoln are mounted heroically on horseback as reliefs on the inside of the arch. These bronze reliefs were done by both William Rudolf O'Donovan (figures) & Thomas Eakins (horses). The Soldier's and Sailors' Memorial Arch was designed by John H. Duncan and was completed in 1892. The Arch became a designated landmark by the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission in October of 1973. 

Washington Park, also still known as J.J. Byrne Park, is a staple of Park Slope's 5th Avenue. It was originally named to honor America's first President George Washington, but was briefly changed to honor Brooklyn's Borough President James J. Byrne. The name was only recently changed back to Washington Park. The park contains the Old Stone House from the Revolutionary War's Battle for Brooklyn (aka Battle for Long Island). The Old Stone House is where General William Alexander fought British troops so, at the time, General George Washington could escape across the Gowanus Creek (now part of the Gowanus Canal).

Artist rendition of what it might of look like when Washington crossed the Gowanus

Of course this city has a ton of other great historical sites. Please check out brooklynhistory.org & NYCGovParks.org for more information or just for the fun of it. 

*caution facts could be historically accurate or could be something you tell tourist. 

Giant Cinnamon Bun

Do not attempt to adjust your screen...these Cinnamon Buns are that huge!

Theatre: Arthur Miller's The American Clock

If you hang out in Park Slop/Gowanus area (which we hope you do cause it's pretty sweet) you might remember last March when, Brave New World Repertory Theatre presented The Crucible at the Old Stone House in Washington Park. If you missed the fine work of this theatrical company, don't worry, they are back with another Arthur Miller played called The American Clock. And lucky for all of us they are presenting this production just up the street. 

Set primarily in Brooklyn, but moving throughout the United States, The American Clock is a panoramic patchwork about the Great Depression told in a medley of dramatic scenes and songs of the era, including Mood Indigo, Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries and On The Sunny Side of the Street. Alternately upbeat and bittersweet, Miller’s ode to the optimism and naiveté of the American spirit warns that the clock is ticking on the American Dream. The 53 characters—ranging from a middle-class Brooklyn family to train-riding hobos and high-riding Wall Street brokers brought low, will be played by 20 actors and musicians who tell the poignant story of an economic crisis Americans believed could never again happen.

The American Clock

from 

Brave New World Repertory Theatre 

at The Brooklyn Lyceum

227 4th Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Trains: R to Union Street

March 3-13, 2011

Thursdays & Fridays – 8pm | Saturdays – 3pm & 8pm | Sundays – 7pm

Priority seating and assistance available to those in wheelchairs or visually impaired. Please email info@bravenewworldrep.org for details.

Purchase your ticket here: The American Clock 

*support local artist

Need A Date (Bar)?

This date won't judge you...

...and is ever so sweet. 

You won't forget your time together. 

Take a chance on a sure thing...

they'll be waiting for you here at the cafe. 

Happy Valentines Day! 

This is Brooklyn!!! - Photo of Brooklyn Bridge through rainy windshield from Fulton Ferry Landing

This Is Brooklyn

*Brooklyn Bridge through rainy windshield from Fulton Ferry Landing*

Photography by: Nomi Lubin
Nomi Lubin is a painter whose work can be found at: NotPaintings.Blogspot.com

Show us your Brooklyn! Submit photos of this beautiful borough here: RootHillCafe@gmail.com

What to do on V-day go to Attitude: Brooklyn Portraits by Brooklyn Photographers at Central Brooklyn Public Library

Photo: Lauren Fleishman

If you still are wondering what to do on Valentines day then look no further than the Central Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza. Right now in the main lobby the library has an exhibitions called Attitude: Brooklyn Portraits by Brooklyn Photographers. This free exhibit features individuals that are synonymous with Brooklyn and shows the many diverse characters within the borough. Some of the images are just on white backgrounds displaying the unique the sharp and soft facial features of individual Brooklynites. Other images show people within their natural urban surroundings adding a context to each of the characters demeanor and style. Still others show couples embraced in a loving moment and comes with a comment from someone within the photograph. These particular images with their comments will tug at your heart stings because they explain caring relationship featured within the photograph. Even though you may not know these individual Brooklynites (some you will cause they are our neighbors) you will feel like you have met then before or know someone almost exactly like them. 

Representing Brooklyn in the finest way the photographer for this exhibit are: 

Michel Scott Berman, Joe Delano, Walker Esner, Laure Fleishman, and Nora Herting. 

photo by: Joe Delano

Attitude: Brooklyn Portraits by Brooklyn Photographers

Exhibitions: Now - April 9th

Central Library 

10 Grand Army Plaza

Brooklyn, NY 11238

More on the Brooklyn Library

The Brooklyn Public Library system represents how Brooklyn is still independent from the rest of the city. The Brooklyn public library system is funded by the city and state, but is control by Brooklyn separately and independent of the two other library systems (New York Public Library and Queens Borough Public Library) within the city. The Brooklyn Public Library system is the 5th largest library system in the United States and has some of the best and highest attended public programs. There are over one million periodicals: books, magazines, etc., and over one million individual items such as maps and manuscripts available at the 58 locations in Brooklyn. This means that every resident in Brooklyn has access to a library within half-mile of their homes. Funding for this wonderful system can be difficult, so if you feel like donating a few dollars drop off on your visit to your local public library or find out how to donate funds and supplies here: www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/support/.

There's no reason to not be ready to kickass! Self Defense Class Saturday

This Saturday just around the corner from Root Hill at Tessa Gordon's Pure Energy Martial Arts learn how to be ready for any possibility. Learn to be tough so you can face when things get 'tough'. 

Self Defense for Women

Sat, Feb 12th, 2011 2pm-4pm

Tessa Gordon's Pure Energy Martial Arts

548 Union St. Gowanus, Brooklyn, NY 11215

More info: Here

Kombucha Growlers are in.

Well our sleek new Growlers are in! 

What's a Growler you may ask? 

Well, it is a glass container used for filling up in-store liquid, so you can take it back to your home.

What, back to my home? 

Yes, this is so you can fill up your favorite Kombucha (either Straight Up or Passion Fruit...mmmh Passion!!!) here at Root Hill Cafe and take it back to your home to enjoy.

Awsome!

Yeah, it is pretty awesome. 

In case you might of missed it: Root Hill Cafe also serves up a pint of Kombucha fresh from the tap. 

For more on Kombucha visit our friend over at Kombucha Brooklyn

Henry the Hippo was hungry...

In the wild jungle Henry the Hippo was sad. True he liked splashing and swimming in the water. He liked hanging out in the mud and playing games with his other hippo friends, but he was sad because he felt somehow starved and incomplete. You see Henry the Hippo wanted something more than splashing and swimming in the water, sitting in the mud or even playing games with his other hippo friends, Henry was hungry for love.

Then one day one of his hippo friends introduced him to another hippo named Helen who, like Henry, enjoyed splashing and swimming in the water, sitting in the mud and playing games with other hippo friends. Also, just like Henry, Helen felt hungry and incomplete. Helen the Hippo was also, hungry for love. So Henry went out and got Helen cookies for a human holiday called Valentines day. Helen was ecstatic! Helen loved the cookies and shared them with Henry the Hippo. Together eating cookies they were no longer hungry hungry hippos. And they lived happily ever after. The End!

*cookies by Margaret Palca Bakes

This is Brooklyn - Photo

This Is Brooklyn

photography by: Matthew Burgess

Matthew J. Burges is a versed photographer whose work can be found via:

matthewjburgess.wordpress.com &  www.weathereyeout.com

*Submit your Photos of the 'boro filled with Kings' at: roothillcafe@gmail.com

Support local artist!

Neighbors: HS Hollywood is just down the street...Reel Works

As a teenager if you made a documentary about your life would it be all about prom, a high school crush, how boring it was to sit in school, or would it be something more?

Reel Works knows that teens have stories that are beyond the surface of everyday high school. They aim to pair teens with professional filmakers to capture the world through teenage eyes. They feel through the cinematic arts teens will gain self-esteem and find a unique way to express themselves. Born in Brooklyn at the Prospect Park YMCA in 2001, Reel Works offers five core programs: The Lab, The Master Class, Reel Impact, Reel Works Production, and the Summer Lab, in order to help teenagers create art through film. This nonprofit organization now resides just around the corner at 540 President Street, Suite 2F.



If you'd like to learn more about Reel Works programs, to volunteer, or to make a donation head over to their site: www.ReelWorks.org




Support the arts and those that create new artist

Kombucha = Super Powers, maybe

Earlier this week we added something new and tasty to our menu . . .

We brought in something that will energize and detoxify you. We got Kombucha! 

-from our friends at Kombucha Brooklyn.

What is Kombucha you may ask? 

Well it is a type of fermented tea that contains: Probitotics, Polyphenois, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Organic enzymes, Vital amino acids, & Organic acids. You know healthy things, that gives you energy, and possibly super powers. (Keep in mind that this is nothing like Brawndo, which has what plants crave.)

You can buy bottles of Kombucha in various locations, but there are very few places that have it on tap. That's why we loaded up not one, but two of our taps with this interesting elixir. 

Right now on tap we have:

Straight Up 

or 

Passion Fruit

plus, Red Ginger in a bottle

Photo: Angelo pours the first pint from our new Kombucha tap

Come by give it a little taste of this unique drink!

Behold the power of the Pumpkin Muffin

The Pumpkin Muffin is an untapped resource of unimaginable power. It surpasses Frodo's ring by 10 times and puts the energy output of the sun to shame. What make's Pumpkin Muffin's particularly amazing around this time of year is that they have the ability to make crappy ice filled days, like this one, into wonderful days just with a single bite. Once eaten the frowning face brought on by the cold will be erased and all the ice will magically melt with a single look. 

Ted Talks: Future Urban Oysters in places like Gowanus...

Kate Orff, of TED Talks, discusses urban oysters and her vision for using them to rejuvenate areas such as the Gowanus Canal.



via: TED.com

Today's Specials: Hummus Avocado Sandwich of goodness or Salmon Salad Sandwich from out of this world

Hummus Avocado Sandwich 

in toasted sesame pita with cucumber and carrot. mmmmmmh good!

served with Brooklyn Brine's pickled eggplant string beans & carrots 

or maybe...

Salmon Salad Sandwich

with lettuce and cumber

served with a side house greens 

Give 1% to Change the World

We all spin along on a big giant ball in the middle of a huge universe. We run here and there and everywhere; sometimes so busy we can't even think. But there are moments in our lives when we do have free time. These are the times when we are checking facebook or reading blogs(by the way you should read this one more), sitting in front of the TV, and staring into space. These are the moments when we finally have time. But is it time well spent? Do we really need to watch 4 hours of TV a day; that's 9 years of our lives. Maybe instead of wasting time, we could be changing the world for the better. That's what the 1% Club is doing.

The 1% Club is an online market place for development projects where one can directly offer 1% to a project of ones own choice. Basically it's a place where you can take an idea of helping someone and actually help someone. 

"We are the first generation that has the knowledge and means to collaborate on a global scale. If all of us can write an online encyclopaedia (Wikipedia) together, than surely we should be able to solve poverty together!" —1% Club

There are 234 projects happening right now through the site.
A few of those projects are:

Furnishing the 6th Children House of Lord Buddha Home for Children (East Asia)

Sustainable Ecofishing Development in Acandi (South America)

Needy Youth Production & Skills Training in Masaka  (East Africa)

Playground for Change 2 (Playground for Children) (Central America)

Schoolbooks for our new school in Petauke  (Southern Africa)

The site is not just about donating money, it's about donating ones time, network, or knowledge. The 1% Club believes that anyone can make a difference and can take steps to make a better world for someone that needs a little help. 

Check out the amazing projects happening right now and learn more about what the 1% Club has to offer at: OnePercentClub.com