This Is Brooklyn
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| Prospect Park Winter 2011 Photography by: Anonymous |
*Submit your Photos of the Brooklyn at: roothillcafe@gmail.com
Monday, February 28, 2011
This is Brooklyn - Past Winter in Prospect Park
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
This Is Brooklyn
photography by: Matthew J. Burgess
*Submit your Photos of the 'Brooklynest' places at: roothillcafe@gmail.com
Make Brooklyn even better by supporting local artist.
Monday, February 21, 2011
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).
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| 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.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
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
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
Monday, February 14, 2011
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
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
Sunday, February 13, 2011
What to do on V-day go to Attitude: Brooklyn Portraits by Brooklyn Photographers at Central Brooklyn Public Library
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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.
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photo by: Joe Delano |
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/.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
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
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