Grants for Street Trees Projects

The deadline is June 15th, so if you want $1,000 and more knowledge about how to care for newer and older trees on our streets, get going with your application!

The workshops cover how to water the trees properly, building partnerships in the neighborhood, and project planning. Maybe they will address how to keep people from using the trees and their roots as doggie toilets and waste bins. I even saw some kids using the baby tree outside for a pole dance. Too bad "Respect for Mother Nature 101" isn't mandatory for maintaining citizenship.

Even though the ticker on the website is still just under 82 thousand trees, it seems that the City is serious about its Million Trees Campaign. If you can't/don't want to apply for the grant, here are some tips from the Campaign.

I'm just going to re-print the information I received. There are several Sunset Park residents interested in working with the program, so don't think you have to go it alone. Here's the info:

A Chance to Make a Difference for Street Trees:

Apply to Partnerships Academy: Street Trees! Deadline June 15, 2008

If you've ever dreamed up a project to take care of the neglected street trees in your community, if you've ever sat around thinking of creative, long-term, community-based solutions to educate and get others to dig in and help–it's a great time to turn those ideas into reality. Join a group of like-minded people in our new program, Partnerships Academy: Street Trees! Applications are due June 15, 2008.

As part of this free one-year program, you can:

· Receive a grant of up to $1,000 to carry out your stewardship project

· Attend six monthly skill-building workshops with a community of fellow tree stewards

· Get one-on-one support throughout the year

We're looking for street tree project ideas that can serve as models around the city, and that also engage the community. We encourage creativity. Imagine:

· Starting a team of neighborhood youth, seniors, and neighbors to adopt street trees

· Hosting a street festival and making artistic tree signage reflective of the culture and history of the neighborhood

· Starting a coalition of dog owners and tree stewards to raise awareness about dog waste in tree beds

· Combining public health and tree care in a weekly tree stewardship and exercise group

Sessions will be led by Partnerships for Parks and feature experienced tree stewards and MillionTreesNYC partners. Topics will address challenges such as watering, strategies to build relationships in the community, and project planning. For details, see www.PartnershipsForParks.org or call (212) 676-1929.

Sunset Park Prepares for Puerto Rican Day Parade

It seems there is a lot of disbelief when it comes to those who claim that a decent amount of Puerto Ricans still live in Sunset Park. Not every Boricua has left yet. In fact, many homeowners want us to know that they are still here.

Besides several in-front-of-the-house booths selling beads and flags and patches and coqui items, a lot of homes and plenty of cars have been adorned with the other red, white, and blue.

If you want to purchase PR Parade gear, check out 47th Street close to 6th, 44th Street close to 5th, and a roving retailer on 5th Avenue around the high 30's.

Sunset Park Claims a Climber

Honestly, the coolest thing about the whole NYT climb yesterday is this photo taken by Nicholas W. Skyles, who works at the New York Times building. I'm not a big fan of people who risk their own lives and the safety of others to bring attention to a cause. I know, I know. We're supposed to love risk-takers and admire their cojones and all that. Well, I don't. In fact, I wouldn't even bother mentioning it except that the second guy was from....you guessed it....Sunset Park! He's in Bellevue now, but usually he lays his brave old bod right in our neighborhood.

You can read all about it in the NYT version of the story. Now, Malaria No More is a worthy cause. No one would dare dispute that. And bringing attention to Global Warming is important as well. But it's not as though either of these issues is obscure or neglected. I mean, Malaria No More even has Jordin Sparks singing to our current fearless leader in its name. Not only did Idol Gives Back contribute to it, but ExxonMobil is a partner as well. Yeah, this organization really needs help. Bring it home, Reynaldo. Check out Neighbors Helping Neighbors or the Center for Family Life. I'm sure you can think of some interesting stunt to bring attention to these worthy organizations as well.

Anyway, of course the second climber, who reached the top despite some wiggles and wobbles, was from Sunset Park. I wonder if he lives around 18th Street? Or would Park Slope want to claim him then?

Sunset Park Family Day - Activities For All Ages

My impression is that this year's Brooklyn Day/Family Day in Sunset Park had many more booths, activities, and generally fun stuff than last year. My one regret is that I missed the majority of the music. There were a few Chinese dances, some Puerto Rican Bomba, and some amateur Rap performances. However, the music seemed to be all wrapped up by 2:30 PM. And I missed the swords! Hmph.

There was a lot to see otherwise, that's for sure. The Recreation Center's Guitar Program had a fantastic display of projects in the works. Monday through Thursday, anyone who is a member of the Rec Center can participate in this program. Call 718-965-6533 for more information. Materials and teaching and space are all provided by the Recreation Center's program. The Audio Program was also represented, and they were selling CDs.

There were blow-up jumpers (what are those called?) for younger kids, and there were hockey (NY Rangers!) and soccer and board games available for older kids. The most popular areas, as always, were the booths that were handing out free junk. Popcorn, ices, beach balls, balloons, plastic gadget necklaces, fans, bouncy balls...you get the idea.

The juggling stilt-walker with Challenge Early Intervention Center was chatty and friendly, the face-painters were doing their best to adorn children with hearts and Sponge Bobs, and the young people running the Adidas booth were trying to get the kids to BACK UP! because there were only so many bouncy balls to hand out.

The Petting Zoo was disturbing. No adult supervision meant that kids were feeding the animals hay and batting at the animals' faces to get a touch. Some kids were poking the hens with straw - and the cages were as small as the halal places on 3rd Ave or in the 30's. The hens were beautiful...red and white and speckled. At least the larger animals had some room to move away from the gate when they were being poked. The bunnies were also on top of each other. Sigh.

At least the ponies at the pony ride looked in decent condition. They certainly gave the children who rode them a thrill. No one noticed that the rides were just 45 seconds long. Still, not bad for a free ride.

A lot of kids were entertained by the board games and hula-hoops and soccer. That was encouraging. In fact, the Adidas booth only had kids in it for the bouncy balls; no one was watching the televised games.

Two very cool displays were courtesy of the FDNY and the Museum of Natural History. The Safety House let kids walk/crawl/roll through a house with smoke. All the kids seemed very interested and entertained when they emerged. The Museum trailer was also popular. It had displays from Zaire and North America and others. The teepee proved a popular photo opportunity.

The Sunset Park Rec Center and Grounds Staff did a great job staying on top of the trash and organizing the events. Happily, the weather also cooperated with sunshine and cool breezes.

More Sunset Food Highlighted for its Cheap and Good Stuff

While the "Dollar Grub" roving reporter bemoans the rising prices, there are plenty of things available on 8th Avenue for $1, even now. Sadly, for me, most of them involve hot dogs or skewered/fried meat. I'll add, however, that raisin buns and red bean buns are also available at most bakeries for 70 cents. Mmmmm. The ices in the park carts are also $1, but the ice CREAM is usually $1.50.

His first stop was Starlite. The Red Bean buns are amazing there. Huge and fresh and sweet and just good. My favorite limonada seller (corner of 44th and 5th Ave) is highlighted in photo #30 - although he didn't buy one of her $1.50 drinks. Her horchata is very drinkable, as well.

Here's the link to MetroMix.com's Dollar Grub featuring Sunset. Love the photo of this guy contemplating a hot dog roll. Very funny.

Brooklyn Day Celebration in Sunset Park

Beginning around noon, there will be music (last year was pretty cool), the FDNY Safety House, an MTA bus demonstration, and other festivities. Hopefully the weather will hold out for the fun. Photos to follow.

What is Brooklyn Day other than a non-school day for the kids in Brooklyn and Queens (teachers have professional development per the last contract)? Well, you can read a little about it here. Or you can read a more extensive version of its history via The Brooklyn Paper's GO Brooklyn article.

Ingenious Car Protection System?

While I wish I had purchased one of those bumper protectors a long time ago, I've resigned myself to having mauled bumpers and headlights due to inconsiderate fellow parkers. It never occurred to me that other options were available. I passed by this shrink-wrapped car on 41st Street. The back was much more protected than the front, but it was pretty well covered in plastic wrap.

The Post Gives Sunset 18th Street When it's Mexican Knife Fights

Today's Post uses its clever headline-naming skills on an article about a girl fight involving knives and various wooden implements on 4th Avenue and 18th Street - "Sugar and Slice." They called the location Sunset Park. Interesting. I suppose that because the young ladies were Mexican, and because the Post wanted to use the line "Sunset Park is known to be rife with Mexican gangs." The debate regarding the borders of Sunset Park has interested a lot of people in the last decade or so. (Okay, it interested people before that, too.) For most of us, the actual borders don't really matter. However, with the new condo buildings and development going on in the "Greenwood Heights area of Sunset Park," a lot of newer residents want to know where the heck they actually live.

Despite what realtors, commenters on Curbed.com, wikipedia.com (edited within the last couple of months to change the designation, btw), and other place-oriented folks would think, names like South Park Slope and Greenwood Heights are not official neighborhoods...yet.
A former blogger, Sunset Parker, had this to say when commenting on a 2006 post on GowanusLounge.com:

For the record, Sunset Park's borders designated by the City of Brooklyn (going back way before "the Great Mistake of 1898" when Brooklyn was incorporated into the City of New York) are Bay Ridge Avenue, Prospect Avenue, the water and 8th Ave. That's official. (Official as in, recorded in the Hall of Records, City Hall or wherever they store such designations).

This is supported by "official" maps like this one:


Technically, Sunset Park begins at Prospect Avenue, so the knife fight on 18th Street was definitely within those borders. What I find grating, however, is that when something negative happens, the area is Sunset Park. Most often, when news occurs around the blurry borders, it's South Park Slope, or "bordering" Park Slope. I wonder if Corcoran (the Real Estate entity that says Sunset Park begins at 38th Street) has lobbyists at the newspapers.

I suppose the Post can be forgiven. Especially since they also claim that FDR, the high school from which the knifers were playing hooky, is "nearby" to the fight. 58th Street and 20th Avenue is "nearby" to 18th Street and 4th Avenue? The reporters are even more ambitious in their neighborhood walks than I am.

Rainbow Cafe is Shuttered, For Now

The Rainbow Cafe, whose signs are featured on both Forgotten NY (two-thirds down the page) and Lost City, has its shades drawn and closed. A small, handwritten sign is taped to one of the windows; it reads: "Closed for Business!!" I don't remember seeing The Rainbow Cafe ever closed like that, and I received an email from a curious neighbor about the same sighting. My first thought was that rising commercial rents had victimized another Fifth Avenue business (much like the furniture store kitty-corner from The Rainbow Room). I was wrong.

Sadly, the reason for the sudden closure is the passing on of the owner. The Rainbow Cafe will be closed for at least a few months, according to those in the know. Ironically, on Sunday a baby shower was celebrated at The Rainbow Cafe. It would be a shame to lose this place; it adds a lot of neon charm to that strip of Fifth Avenue. Our condolences go out to the families affected, and to the employees.

Lost Dog/Found Cat in Sunset Park

Both the lost dog and the found cat have their photos hanging from various lamp posts and trees around the park. If you think you've found the dog or if you lost the cat, email me at bestviewinbrooklyn [at] yahoo [dot] com and I'll send you the contact information.

Light Industry hosts "Tuning a Deaf Ear"

Tuning a Deaf Ear - Curated by Peggy Ahwesh

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at 8pm
55 33rd Street, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn, NY
Ticket Price - $6

"Where are the transmissions coming from? They're coming from Pittsburgh."
- Videodrome (David Cronenberg, 1983)

A program of transmissions from Pittsburgh featuring small gauge oddities, punk documents from the late 1970's, home movies, industrial films of heavy industry and selections from the George Romero nostalgia vault. Playing off a combination of home movies that perform celebrity, performance in the punk underground and role playing in the silent film, this program presents aural and visual interplays and turns the tropes of sensorial convention on its ear: a vampire film by deaf children, a punk documentary, sound problems on
the Super-8 mag track, a silent work print version of a sound film.

Featuring a variety of films I saw originally while living in Pittsburgh in the late 1970's and early 1980's, these works are seared into my memory as fantastic microgems of cinematic invention and sublime eccentricity.

Featured in the program:

Miss You, Natalka Voslakov, Super-8, 1979, 3 mins
Natalka's kids Zoe and Zoltan perform the Rolling Stones classic.

Nosferatu in WPSD, Super-8, 1979, 18 mins
A Super 8mm rendition of the vampire story performed by kids from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf under the guidance of their teacher Tippi Comden.

Debt Begins at 20, Stephanie Beroes, 16mm, 1980, 40 mins
Part fiction part documentary, with music by The Cardboards, The Shakes, Hans Brinker and The Dykes.

The Beach Bunnies at the Electric Banana, Peggy Ahwesh, Super-8, 1980, 10 mins
Acting out at the punk club one night.

About Peggy Ahwesh

Peggy Ahwesh came of age with 1970's feminism, Super-8 film and the punk
underground. She works in film and video, is on the editorial board of
Ediciones la Calavera, a book publishing initiative. Ahwesh plays music with
Barbara Ess in the band Radio/Guitar. She teaches film and video production
at Bard College.

Community Meeting about New US PowerGen Plant

As announced in 2007, Sunset Park will be the location for a new power plant. On Thursday, June 5 at 6 PM there will be a community-wide meeting concerning this proposed power plant project for the area. The meeting begins at 6 PM, and the offices are located at 166A 22nd Street. If childcare is needed, please call the UPROSE offices at 718-492-9307. You can also email at info@uprose.org.

Check out the October announcement about the power plant here. The first paragraph follows:

New York, NY, October 1, 2007 — Astoria Generating Company, a subsidiary of US Power Generating Company (”USPowerGen”) that owns over 20% of the generating capacity located in New York City, announced today the South Pier Improvement Project in the Sunset Park area of Brooklyn, NY. The Project will update the existing 560-megawatt Gowanus Generating Station with the addition of approximately 100 to 150 megawatts of new, cleaner electric generation to help meet the need for additional capacity in the Sunset Park area and in New York City while reducing the total emissions of Astoria Generating’s power plants in Sunset Park to below current levels. “The South Pier Improvement Project is a significant investment in the environmental and energy future of the Sunset Park community, the Brooklyn waterfront and New York City,” announced Jay Worenklein, Chairman and CEO of USPowerGen. The South Pier Improvement Project is projected to produce electricity in late spring of 2010 and will cost in excess of $100 million to construct.

Sunset Park Exterminators Highlighted in the NYT

We're home to some of the City's most necessary avengers. It's a fun little profile.

Relay for Life in Sunset Park is 15 Days Away

Whether you've been affected by cancer directly or indirectly, this is a great event for the community and for the participants.

There still time to sign up a team, and plenty of time to sponsor a team or participant. June 14th is the Relay, sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The actual relay will be at PS 24, on the corner of 38th Street and 4th Avenue.

The event contact for Sunset Park is Jen Silvester. Contact her at: 718-237-7851 x9134 or
Jen.Silvester@cancer.org

The day begins at 2 PM with registration, and it continues with a 3pm Opening Ceremony/Survivor Lap; 4pm - 5pm - Survivor Reception; 8pm - Luminaria Ceremony. The Luminaria Ceremony is a moving part of the event during which candles are lit in memory or in honor of loved ones.

Go to the Relay for Life of Sunset Park website for more information.

Add-On to the Open Studio Tour this Weekend

Maybe the building has entrances on both sides, but a lot of the artists are listing the address for the Open Studio Tour for today and tomorrow as 253 36th Street. It's still the 3rd floor, and it's still from 11 AM - 6 PM Saturday and Sunday. Here are a couple of links to artists' pages:

Steph Costello

Andrea Goldsmith

Open Studios in Sunset Park: Tonight and this Weekend

According to brooklynpotter on Brooklynian.com (and a follow-up call to the NARS office), there will be some art to see this weekend on 35th Street. Over 60 artists will be sharing their work.

Tonight (Friday) there will be an opening reception from 6PM-9PM, and Saturday and Sunday the studios will be open from 11AM-6PM.

Stop by the NARS Foundation site's 1st Grand Art Studio Opening at 88 35th Street, 3rd Floor to check it out. It's between 2nd and 3rd Avenues. Here's the information posted by brooklynpotter:

Since NARS Foundation was established in September 2006, it's taken a while to announce to the public the incredible artists we have working in our studios. To build our own community of artists, I believe that NARS needs your support and cooperation to create and accomplish future goals. Currently, NARS has 77studios in 4 sections with 103 artists. NARS Foundation is now ready to help you exhibit your work, see the work of your fellow artists and meet each other.

Our 1st Grand Art Studio Opening is in Sunset Park where 3 of our 4 artist studios are located. 61artists from 61 units with 4 guests artists each will be there. Plus, four musicians will perform original composition of their art piece. We're located in southwest Brooklyn where a new artist community is growing.

Please join us and find unexplored regions of powerful, energetic art.

Junho Lee
Founding Director
NARS Foundation
88 35th Street 3FL
Brooklyn, NY 11232
NARS Phone: 718-768-2765
Cell: 718-715-3044

Occasional Playground Option at PS 169

The Sunset Park Playground becomes all but hedonistic after 3 PM; it's not very toddler-friendly with the "big kids" tearing around and getting out their Springtime energy. However, another option is available for a safer play time. Yesterday, while doing errands around the neighborhood, I happened to notice that the gate to the PS 169 mini-playground was open and empty. I remembered that another local parent had shared some information earlier in the season, so we went in and had a grand old time.

At one point, some pint-sized skateboarders came in with their dog. Apparently, they were also avoiding the bigger kids while perfecting their "Casper" moves and slides. I got the distinct feeling that if I hadn't been there, the doggie remains would have remained. Instead, they took the dog out to the grassy area of the park across the street to do her business.

Here's the scoop: if the gate is open, small children with their parents/caregivers are welcome to use the playground. Part of the reason is to avoid vandalism and graffiti (and doggie poo). I suppose they figure that if adults start hanging out there, it will deter those with malicious intentions from committing uglification of the play-space. The custodial staff has had to spend a good amount of time cleaning up various decidedly un-artistic graffiti from walls and equipment. I saw plenty of evidence of clean-up, and unfortunately, lots of newer and really bad graffiti. Pictured are some of the examples. We need more art classes in the public schools!




In all, when available, it makes for a great afternoon option. Most of the playground is shaded later in the day as well. Another bonus. The entrance gate is on 44th, just off of 7th Avenue.

Friends of Sunset Park Library hosts its Community Spring Sale Tomorrow

While enjoying the weather and the Park tomorrow, stop by 51st and 4th to support our local library branch. The Friends of Sunset Park Library are hosting a huge rummage sale. The funds raised will go to the Sunset Park branch of the Brooklyn Library. Lots of "gently used items" will be available to browse through and buy. If you prefer to sell your own items, a table costs $25 - and sharing a table with a friend is just fine.

The Friends of Sunset Park Library will be signing up new members, accepting donations, and helping community members to obtain or renew library cards. Information about the many diverse programs for children, teens, and adults will be available as well.

Stop by to support our library from 10 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, May 31st. Our branch is located at 51st Street and 4th Avenue.

To buy a table please contact the President Liz O'Hare at OE0025@aol.com.

Burned Out Van in Sunset Park

Kind of gutsy, I think. The torcher chose to do the deed right on the corner of 4th Avenue and 44th Street. It happened on Tuesday night (5/27/08). The last time I saw a car this burned out in the immediate neighborhood was on 6th Avenue between 44th and 45th; that was early last year, I think. That's even more residential. This poor van still has its garden tools and the remains of potting soil in the back.
Some kids on the street were excited about watching the flames leap into the sky from their windows, and the fire trucks that showed up were pretty exciting, too.

Hump Day Walk to Storytime

Almost every Wednesday I take my cherub to Spanish story time at El Pequeno Artista in South Park Slope. Or is it Greenwood Heights? Or is it really Sunset Park? Anyway, it's on 20th Street. In the winter, the bus ride was pretty quick, but it costs $4 round-trip (does anyone else remember the days when you could take the same bus in different directions on the same swipe?), and I didn't get my much needed exercise and fresh City air. Walking is free and much more entertaining.

Here's what we saw on the walk home today, in the order in which I found it:

Some dog poo, at least I hope it's canine-oriented, left last night. As you can see from the line in the sidewalk, this dog was not made to poop out of the way. (And for all you dog lovers who get indignant about the ONE TIME someone didn't clean up, I would have posted the diaper I also passed, but the photo was washed out due to the high chlorine level in the diaper.)


I was also able to admire the progress on another building going up across from the cemetery. It's slow-going, it seems. I've been watching it a while. I can't tell if they plan on putting another floor on. However, the L shape makes sure to block lots of annoying sunlight from entering the surrounding homes. I guess the success of the condos next door (the garden terrace on the top floor was recently featured on Brownstoner.com) has encouraged the taller version.

Another few blocks brought us to the set for Rescue Me in the middle of filming a scene featuring a woman giving birth on the street. Super original! I guess they are doing the sound at a later date, or maybe she's a Scientologist who has to do a silent birth. I didn't hear any groaning or screaming or cursing, so it must be one of the two choices.


And finally, on this surprisingly low-on-garbage-in-the-street day, I found that my neighbor's roses have begun to bloom. Every year I've enjoyed passing these roses. Many of the other passers-by do as well. Some come with scissors or knives so they can enjoy them longer. Makes for a flowery end to a very pleasant walk.