Very Free Market Goes Seasonal - Got Stuff to Bring?

On this Black Friday, here's an antidote to some of the craziness. (Of course, I also strongly encourage frequenting the retail stores in Sunset Park!)

The monthly Very Very Free Market that recently moved to United Methodist, is going daily. Of course anyone is welcome to participate, but the focus for those who "buy" from the store is those who truly need items. The way the store works is people bring items they no longer want or need, and they take items that are new to them.

Not a Thanksgiving Post

This is incredible disturbing and sad.  If you couldn't think of anything to be thankful for, this article might help you discover something in your life that's worth a thank you.  

From the Daily News: Enslaved hooker's dead baby found during bust of sex trafficking ring

More links added below:  The story gets worse and worse the more you read.  People saw this girl leaving with bruises and cuts.  They noticed men going in and out of the building.  Gotta tell you, this makes me feel a lot better about being a "busy-body."

NY Post
NBC

What you see in Sunset Park: bird pattern

bird pattern
Originally uploaded by yeyanfit

Not exactly what you see but pretty close. Cable wires seem to multiply around Sunset Park. This artist took liberties in painting the negative spaces to look like stained glass.

Shop Brooklyn has Sunset Park Action

Marty Markowitz's Shop Brooklyn campaign includes some Sunset Park stores this holiday season.  Okay, so it's only three stores (so far), but that's three better than when I checked last week. 

Keep your cash local, or at least give the stores a chance to impress you.  Stop in, check them out, and buy if you like what you see.  The holiday lights are already on, and the holiday music (this year some songs will be sung by talented school children from around the area) will begin on Friday.

Were You There? (McDonald's Veterans' Protest)

Check out Sunset Park Chronicled if you happened to see or participate in the protest at the 5th Avenue McDonald's today.

Hurts So Good (Reflexology at Ocean Spa)

My foot-rub room with music, good smells, sanitized and HOT towels, and a little friend on the wall. *

Hoof it on down to Ocean Spa on 8th Avenue and 49th Street for a pretty darn excellent foot rub.  I was torn between a Swedish massage and a reflexology treatment, and ultimately I chose my feet over my back because I didn't feel like stripping and I had a finite amount of time and money to spend.

I had a two-year-old SpaFinder gift certificate for $50 that I wanted to spend in the neighborhood.  I know Home Spa in Carroll Gardens takes them, and O Spa in Bay Ridge takes them, but I wanted to stay close and I wanted to keep the funds in Sunset Park.  After a quick search on the internet, I found that Ocean Spa is the only Sunset Park spa that takes SpaFinder gift certificates!  Decision made.

What $100 Gets You in Sunset Park

At least, I think that's what it says across this bespectacled Tweety's forehead.  He was hanging (maybe still is) by the 5th Avenue side of the park.  Poor guy.  Reminds me of when I found this.

8th Avenue Provides Affordable Cuts and Rubs

The last time I got my hair cut, with a guy named Sam who works out of a nail salon on 8th and 41st, we were in the throes of winter.  Last week, I figured it was about time I neatened up the 'do, and since Sam's price is right ($20), I headed over to the salon hoping he'd be able to take me right away.  No go, so I decided to walk along 8th until I found a place that was relatively empty (not too difficult at 10:20 AM on a weekday).  The first place I found seemed appropriate for someone about to turn 40.

C'mon. Venus and Cool in the same place?  You know I had to go here to live the fantasy, if only for an hour.  Besides, it said women's hair was $15 and up, so I knew it was for me.   (That price is pretty standard for 8th Avenue, but I can only vouch for this place as not being a "bait and switch" for longer/thicker hair.)

Anyway, they whisked me in and settled in to one of those amazing hair-wash-scalp-massages that Chinese run salons do.  This one was amazing.  Not only did I get my scalp scrubbed, but she also massaged my shoulders and arms and back for a minute or so.  That alone was worth the $18 I shelled out for the cut.  Really.

The stylist didn't speak much English, so the receptionist/head scrubber translated.  He was shocked when I showed him how much I wanted chopped off (I mean, if I only go once a year...), so he wanted to double-check.  It was a basic, quick, clean cut.  He seemed to know what he was doing, but I never get anything that you could call a style, so I guess I'm a bad judge/test case. 

He was also shocked (and double-checked with the translator) that I didn't want my hair blown straight.  It just looks foolish on me; it's even more foolish than the Rosanne Roseannadanna look I get when a hair dryer comes near me.  I reassured him that five minutes in the wind and damp weather would calm  the wild, poofy look he so feared.  I was charged $18 plus tips for him and the head scrubber.  It may have ended up being a $20 charge had he needed the time to blow it straight.  (It took 45 minutes on my hair last time I allowed it.)

An aside to parents:  A woman came in with her one year old, and she held him on her lap while they cut and colored her hair.  She explained to me that a babysitter is too expensive, so she had to bring him.  I guess their color must be pretty cheap, too.  Anyway, the salon was totally fine with it, and if your kid can sit in a stroller while you get your hair done, it's a way to save on the babysitting.  Of course, this was on a weekday in the AM.  I wouldn't suggest it for afternoons or weekends.

What You See in Sunset Park: International Restaurant

Sun Setting Over International Restaurant , originally uploaded by Michael Comeau.

Yeah, yeah. The sunset is lovely. But International's food is really good, too. Click on the photo to see the photographer's favorites. I like the fried cheese and yuca.

What You See in Sunset Park: Kiddie Ride

Bike Seat, originally uploaded by mnwpng.

What You See in Sunset Park: Bittersweet

Didn't Make It, originally uploaded by mnwpng.

Click on the photo to read the description as to why.

5th Avenue: Moon Over McDonald's

IMG_0129, originally uploaded by buendiaproductions.

Fabulous. In all meanings of the word.

Work Back on at 713 43rd

After a Stop Work Order was issued on October 5th, 2009 for working without a permit, we had about six weeks of a lonely crane sitting on top of the building.  Now that the SWO has been rescinded, it seems that everyone is ready to get going.  Or, at least, the gates are open and materials are waiting.

 During the six week no-work period, the graffiti on the neighboring structure has been building up.  Farther down the street, another house is for sale and the demo/construction of the oversized lot at 765 has been in-process since their SWO was rescinded.  It will be an 8-unit dwelling.  A nice balance to this 10-unit dwelling.  Bookends, really. 

Brooklyn Parents and Musicians Suggest Their CD for the Holidays

Charles and Fati performed at the Bibliobus over the summer.  They are now selling their CD of Spanish language children's songs for $12 - just in time for holiday gift-giving.  See below for how to get yours.



from the email:

I wanted to write to suggest that as you start making your gift lists for sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, and any special kids in your life, you consider our CD, El Baile Del Sombrero.  El Baile Del Sombrero is a CD of children’s music in Spanish composed and performed by Fati and me.  It's a really fun CD with lots of dances, games, and laughs that we'd love you to share with people you care about.

The CD is wonderfully illustrated by Nina Frenkel who has brought to life all the characters from the songs on the CD--from Fermin the Cat to Teo, the little rabbit who forgets he likes carrots.  It's something that kids will enjoy looking at and poring over as they listen to the CD.  El Baile Del Sombrero is perfect for families that already speak Spanish but families that have an interest in exposing their kids to Spanish will have fun with it too!  At our website, abbasubi.com, you can listen to songs, see a video of Fati & I performing live, and download a lyric sheet.

Now that some other people have heard El Baile Del Sombrero, we've gotten some really positive feedback.  There's a few reviews of the CD online that really describe all the reasons it will be a great gift.

Wanna Jugar with Migo?
Spanglish Baby Finds
Bilingual Fun

El Baile del Sombrero costs $12.  You can order it from CD Baby by clicking on this link http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/faticharles. It's also available on Amazon, or you can support a great Brooklyn business and order it from Nairobi's Knapsack!

I'd really appreciate it if you could pass this email along to people you think might be interested in El Baile del Sombrero for their own friends and families!

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this email and have a wonderful holiday season!

Charles

What You See in Sunset Park: Cobble Stones and Yellow Buildings

Sunset Park reflections, originally uploaded by Barry Yanowitz.

Brownstoner beat us to this series of photos, but I think it deserves another look anyway. Barry Yankowitz snapped a wonderful series of reflective shots on 1st Avenue. I like this one because of the factory reflection. Check out his other photos in the BViB photostream and in his own collection.

CB 7's Thanksgiving Food Drive Ends Tomorrow!

Check out your cupboards or buy something on the way over or bring a five-dollar bill to the office. 

from The Brooklyn Eagle's reminders of various opportunities/needs:

Community Board 7’s Thanksgiving Food Drive
CB 7 is accepting donations of canned goods and non-perishable items, such as boxed cereals, cookies, cake mix, canned/bagged coffee, rice, pasta, baby food, juices, water, sweets, etc. Donations will benefit the food pantries serving the CB 7 District. Bring your donations to the office at 4201 Fourth Ave. no later than Friday, Nov. 20. If you wish to make a monetary donation, please call the office at (718) 854-0003 or e-mail communityboard7@ yahoo.com for further information. Board 7 is also holding a holiday gift drive, accepting donations of unwrapped new toys and clothing for girls and boys (infant to age 12) through December 18.

Sunset Park Gang Activity Gets Brooklyn Eagle Treatment

The Brooklyn Eagle has an article about the anti-gang efforts of the 72nd Precinct, led by Deputy Inspector Pintos.  The article mentions specifics from the gang awareness forum as well as tips for parents in recognizing signs that your child may be flirting with (or embracing) gang membership. 

from the article:

One front is using increased enforcement in targeted areas with proactive arrests. The second front enrolls the entire community in the "Gangs 101 Course" taught by NYPD Gang Division cops to other cops. Pintos said that without that, parents would lose their children to the gangs.

How's The Air Up There?

Walking in the park last night, I noticed these strange boxes hanging on a lamppost.  They add a lot to the sunset and torn banner, don't you think?  

 Upon closer inspection, my friend and I ruled out security cameras, sirens, and solar panels to help light the lamps.  All we had to do was check the bottom of the locked suitcases, of course.

Air pollution  monitors!  It says to call 311 with any questions.  When I exclaimed (in my eternal optimism), "Hey!  It's monitoring our air!  That's great!"  A passerby commented, "Yeah, but we can't find out the results."  Well, I say take this to 311 over and over:  5835.  That's the number on the boxes.  And according to the other markings, they will monitor the air until 12/2/09.

Call 311 for the results.  And if you are told the results aren't yet available, set up an alert for a week later and call again.

What You See in Sunset Park: Secret Messages

What You See in Sunset Park: Dragon Fly

Dragon Fly, originally uploaded by mnwpng.

Cool shot. Today looks sunny and lovely, even if it's a little chilly. Get out and enjoy the park!

Don't forget that the Bibliobus will be in front of the Rec Center from 1 PM to 4 PM!