Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

The Current Weather in Park Slope

Brought to you by The Feldman Family from their weather tower in Park Slope.

Ten Times Around the Park on a Bike

A Year in the Park biked ten times around Prospect Park the other day and she wrote about what she saw:

On a Saturday blessed with a few sunny hours, picnics blossomed on the soaked grass of the Long Meadow. I had ample opportunity to observe them pitching camp and settling in: Today I cycled around the park 10 times. That's a personal best for one-day mileage: about 35 miles. (Each circuit is about 3.5 miles.) My Century ride is next week. (It will almost certainly be a "metric Century," or 65-mile segment, for less Olympian riders; I am digesting my disappointment in the hopes of converting it to fuel.) I was thrilled to find some other members of Team in Training were also charging around the park drive.

 

Smartmom: Jen and Paul We Hardly Knew You

Here's this week's Smartmom from the Brooklyn Paper:

So, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany are selling their gorgeous limestone mansion on Prospect Park West for a cool $8.5 million and buying a place in Tribeca.

Sure, the mansion is a bit out of Smartmom’s price range, but she did check out the listing on the Sotheby’s Web site, where the home is called “one of the all-time great houses of New York [where] sunlight fills the grandly proportioned rooms all day long through oversized windows.” (Oh, so that explains why Connelly and Bettany always had their shades drawn tight!)

Of course, the neighborhood is abuzz. In Smartmom’s case, the buzz started at 3 am on Tuesday, with that first e-mail from her twin sister, Diaper Diva. Luckily Smartmom was sleepless on Third Street, so the pair chatted in the old-fashioned way — over their cellphones.

“One thing you have to say is they kept up the integrity of it,” Diaper Diva told Smartmom as they surveyed the pictures together. “They kept the original details and decorated with a light touch. I like the mix of the mid-century with the Victorian.”

Then Diaper Diva went back to bed. But Smartmom couldn’t sleep as she tried to figure out how Jen and Paul could possibly walk away from all that?

Why would anyone — especially anyone with a house like that?! — leave Park Slope for Tribeca? Why would anyone give up a view of Olmsted’s magnificent Prospect Park for one featuring the West Side Highway and New Jersey?

In some ways, Connelly and Bettany’s Manhattan move calls into question everything that people like Smartmom hold dear. That house on the corner of Carroll Street is a Slope dream, a home to lust over: a historic, 5,200-square-foot mansion crammed with architectural details and facing a beloved park. If they were miserable in a house like that, what does that say about the rest of us? (You got it: we’re more miserable!)

Then again, if Jennifer Connelly can walk away from such a great home, maybe it is possible for all of us to give up the material things that we always think will make our lives so wonderful (but never do).

Smartmom would prefer to think that Connelly, a lifelong Brooklynite, just wants to try life on the other side of the East River. That would be less of a blow to Slopers because we all know that Park Slope is a Shangri La compared to Tribeca.

Still, Smartmom still took it personally. After all, she liked having the actors as neighbors.

They were just a nice couple with kids. All right, they were Hollywood royalty — she has an Oscar; he has, well, those tall, gorgeous, British good looks — but they were good Slopers.

They kept a low profile.

They seemed smart.

They filled their front garden with tulips.

She rode her bike in Prospect Park and played with her kids at the Third Street Playground and the Tea Lounge (though the one on Union Street, not the less-fancy original on Tenth Street!).

Like Us magazine is always pretending, these stars really were “just like US.” Or so we could pretend.

But now they’re walking away from us.

So Smartmom is walking away from her Prospect Park West envy. Yeah, right. What Smartmom wouldn’t do for a cool loft in Tribeca.

What's Going on this Week?

Look what's going on this week. Try to get to one of these events!

May 12 at 7 pm Louis Rosen and Capathia Jenkins will be performing songs from their new album, One Ounce of Truth: The Nikki Giovonni Songs at Joe's Pub. 425 Lafayette Street. Reservations: 212-967-7555.

May 14 at 7 pm: Martha Dudman, author of Black Olives and and Nan Bauer-Maglin, author of Cut Loose, a collection of true stories and reflections written by 27 women, read their work at the Old Stone House. Fifth Avenue and 3rd Street in Park Slope

May 15 at 7 pm: Have a post-Mother's Day cocktail (or two) with NY Sun Columnist, Lenore Skenazy, magazine writer, Amy Sohn, and the Brooklyn Paper's tell-it-like-it-really-is Smartmom and others, who will will shock, amuse, and entertain you, and they won't make you eat your vegetables before you get dessert. It's happening at the elegant and fun The Montauk Club at 7 p.m. Cocktails and a reading. Free.  Lincoln Place and 8th Avenue.

May 17 all day: NY Writer's Coalition Write-A-Thon: a daylong writing festival will benefit NYWC's free, unique and powerful creative writing programs across New York City. Colson Whitehead is the guest speaker. 

Use the day however best serves your writing needs; write on your own, participate in workshops, or receive fun and stimulating prompts from our “prompt stations.” Like a walk-a-thon, our attendees will ask friends and family to donate in support of their day of writing. These contributions will help fund NYWC's creative writing programs for at-risk youth, the homeless and formerly homeless, the formerly incarcerated, seniors, and many others that aren’t heard from often enough in our society. At theNY Center for Independent Publishing. 20 West 44th Street.

 

 

The Treachery of a Trusted Partner: May 14th Reading at the Old Stone House

It’s happened to too many women we know.The guy that they thought they knew well walks out. In fiction and in real life, what happens?

This is the territory covered in two remarkable books.

--Martha Dudman’s latest novel Black Olives
--Nan Bauer-Maglin’s Cut Loose, a collection of true stories and reflections written by 27 women

For an entertaining and therapeutic evening, join
Martha and Nan reading from their books

Wednesday May 14
7:00 pm
The Old Stone House
Fifth Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets, Park Slope, Brooklyn
(easy to reach from R train, Union Street stop, or F train, 4th Avenue stop)
718-768-3195
For additional information, call Betsey at 718-768-1130

May 15th is Post-Mother's Day Cocktails for Edgy Moms

Join ruckus rousing NY Sun Columnist, Lenore Skenazy, magazine writer, Amy Sohn, and the Brooklyn Paper's tell-it-like-it-really-is Smartmom and others, who will will shock, amuse, and entertain you, and they won't make you eat your vegetables before you get dessert.

Come to this reading/cocktail party (cash bar) at the Montauk Club in Park Slope on May 15th at 7:00 pm.

From single moms to sexy moms to moms who let their kids ride the MTA alone, these writers will shock, amuse, and entertain you, and they won't make you eat your vegetables before you get dessert.

Readers include:

Christen Clifford, writer/ performer of Off-Broadway's hit show Baby 
Love, true stories about sex and motherhood

Louise Crawford, The Brooklyn Paper’s Smartmom and editor of Only the 
Blog Knows Brooklyn

Michele Somerville Madigan, poet and blogger, Fresh Poetry Dail

Sophia Romero, blogger, The Shiksa from Manila and novelist, Always 
Hiding

Lenore Skenazy, the controversial New York Sun writer, who let her 9-
year-old take the subway alone

Louise Sloan, Huffington Post blogger and author of Knock Yourself 
Up: A Tell-All Guide to Becoming a Single Mom

Amy Sohn, author of the novels Run Catch Kiss and My Old Man

Location: 25 8th Avenue between Lincoln and St. John in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Date: Thursday May 15th
7 p.m. Cash bar for cocktails
7:30: The reading begins
Admission free

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Bed Stuy Banana: It Was Good to See You

Now I'm the Gertrude Stein of the Brooklyn blogging world, eh? I loved what Bed Stuy Banana had to say about the Blogfest. Here's an excerpt. She has more fun descriptions on her blog. I was pleased that she, along with many others, did a shout out.

I attended the Third Brooklyn Blogfest (an annual communion of artists, activists, and other misfit toys culled from the Brooklyn blogosphere by the Gertrude Stein of the Brooklyn blogging world, Louise Crawford of Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn) last night with a mixture of trepidation and excitement, my hand firmly clutching Big Joe's (formerly known as Joseph, more on that later). As usual I was prepared for the absolute worst, for my detractors to come up and flip loaded nachos into my face, telling me how much they hated my blog and bearing printed out sheets highlighting my blog's grammatical errors, incorrect word usage and run-on sentences. And as usual, the absolute worst failed to happen. In fact I had a small group of fans (amazing what a complimentary bunch of bananas sent to the right people can do) cheering me on and I felt feelings akin to what I'd felt in art school, having found my tribe at last. Or one of them at least. At various times in my life thus far, my tribes have included gay men at New York clubs in the early nineties, earth mamas, curmudgeons, and fashionistas.

Brooklyn Blogfest: What Does It Want To Be?

The Brooklyn Blogfest started in 2006 as a joke. Sort of. I run Brooklyn Reading Works, a literary reading series and decided that it would be fun to do a reading dedicated to bloggers.

On the poster I called it the First Annual Brooklyn Blogfest. It really was kind of a joke. I made the poster in September but as the date got closer and closer, I realized, hey, I better organize this thing.

By then, there were quite a few bloggers. So it really was the first annual blog gathering.

Initially I thought it was going to be like these geeky computer conventions I used to go to with Hepcat back in the late 1980's. He was a big Amiga Computer guy and we'd travel up and down the east coast (and even out west) attending these conventions, including Siggraph on one occasion.

The first Blogfest was geeky and fun. A bunch of bloggers in the upstairs room of the Old Stone House. And just about everyone there spoke and did sort of a show-and-tell. It was a very long evening but a fun one.

You could describe it this way: a meeting of co-conspirators, who had never met in person but had been following the activities of one another

There was barely anything to eat or drink because I didn't expect too many people to come. I thought it would be like a poetry reading. I didn't know any of the bloggers personally and who knew they'd all show up.

They did. In droves.

Brownstoner came incognito because he still had a day job. Gowanus Lounge introduced himself to the crowd. No Land Grab and Norman Oder were there, as was Lost and Found and the ever lovable Dave Kenny of Dope on the Slope, delivered a hilarious PowerPoint presentation about the evolution of blogging beginning with cave paintings.

Joe's NYC and Travis Ruse both presented incredible slide shows of their work. I read the opening paragraph of "Only the Dead Know Brooklyn" by Thomas Wolfe, the story that inspired the name of my blog.

That, my friends, was the first Blogfest.

The second Blogfest was in 2007. A huge number of people crowded into the Old Stone House. Some people had to be turned away due to concerns about fire code regulations. The program was a bit more organized. It wasn't quite the fun, free-for-all of that first year but a lot of interesting ideas were shared. Lumi Rolley, of No Land Grab, gave Norman Oder a superhero cape for for his his journalistic masterwork,  Steven Berlin Johnson, talked about place blogging, Pastor Daniel Meeter blessed the event with a dutch benediction, Brownstoner talked about quitting his day job.

Afterwards, some complained that there was too much about development and real estate. Too much about Atlantic Yards.

Everyone, however, loved that the party was sponsored by Partida Tequila. Getting them as a sponsor was a real coup. And people enjoyed the margaritas and the Mexican food.

This year was a whole other kettle of fish. I knew we had to get a bigger space and when I toured the Lyceum I was smitten by that big, historic building and the feeling of the performance space. I also noticed the huge screen and video projector and got it into my head that we could show video.

There were rental fees involved, which there never were at the Old Stone House (because of Brooklyn Reading Works). This was going to be a much bigger deal.

Thankfully, many people got involved and I even had a slew of co-producers/partners in crime, including, Eleanor Traubman and Mike Sorgatz of Creative Times, Petra Syrmister of Bed-Stuy Blog and Adrian Kinloch of Brit in Brooklyn. Blue Barn Pictures volunteered to make a video and Morgan Pehme of Brooklyn Optimist put together a beautiful Tribute to Brooklyn's photo bloggers.

Twenty or so bloggers showed up to set up before the show and it was a wonderful collaborative effort.

The presentation to my mind was diverse and interesting. There was a nice selection of bloggers, who brought up many interesting points about the lack of diversity both racial, economic and geographic. The videos were a high point, as was the Shout Out when more than 60 new bloggers got up to share their blogs with the crowd.

I got a variety of comments from people after Thursday's Blogfest:

--quite a few people loved the event

--one blogger thought it was an exercise in self-congratulation and self-promotion.

--others found the ideas interesting

--one guy said there should be more readings from blogs and less speeches about blogs

--one guy said we shouldn't charge for the event but should charge for the liquor; it should be a free event.

--someone said it just needs to be a party.

--others were inspired by the speakers and the shout-out; it made them feel like blogging.

All in all, it makes me wonder if there needs to be another blogfest and, if so, what the blogfest needs to be. A good question that I'm sure will be discussed in the coming weeks.

Whatever happens, it's been a fun journey getting from that first one, which was conceived in jest to the third one which was a great collaboration and a thoughtful program and party.

Reaction to the Blogfest

Not surprisingly, there's lots to read about the Blogfest.  I am feeling tired from last night so I swiped these links from Gowanus Lounge about the Blogfest. Thanks Bob (I knew you'd understand).

· Brooklyn Blogfest [Reclaimed Home]
· Gratitude [New York Shitty]
· Brooklyn Blogfest 2008 [Sustainable Flatbush]
· Blogfest 2008 Coverage [Flatbush Gardener]
· Blogfest 08 Photoset [Flatbush Gardener/flickr]
· Brooklyn Blogfest is a Hit [Brooklyn Optimist]

Everyone had a lot to say.

Brooklyn Skeptic  wrote with her signature skepticism that the Blogfest was an exercise in self-absorption. She did, however, like the free beer. Angela Freeburg with NBC Universal made a short video and had a more upbeat take on the event.

Hundreds of bloggers came out to promote their blogs, discuss the evolution of blogging, and network while munching on Mexican food, sipping Brooklyn Beer, and indulging in sweets like wasabi brownies provided by Brooklyn Fudge.The blog-fest enabled blogging pros and new bloggers to discuss the blogosphere, a rapidly changing world that covers everything from vegan food to hyper-local news.

Creative Times listed some of her personal highlights, including

The evening concluded with the Shout Out, where roughly 60 bloggers from the audience came to the mics up front to introduce themselves.

People stayed well past the ending of the program to dine on the donated edible goodies, mingle, and get their portrait taken by Hugh Crawford of No Words Daily Pix from Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn.

A personal highlight from Blogfest was being part of the team of bloggers and non-bloggers who pulled together as Staff to make every aspect of the event go well, from the food to the DJing, to the sound system. It definitely takes a village to raise a Blogfest.

New York Shitty, who delivered a terrific speech at the Blogfest about her life as a blogger, seemed to enjoy the fest even if it was in Park Slope:

Anyone in the know will tell you schlepping one’s ass from Greenpoint to Park Slope and back is no picnic. This usually entails taking the G to F. Getting to the Brooklyn Lyceum is a bit more complicated. Do I want to transfer at the 4th Avenue Station for the M(aybe) or R(arely)? No, I have more faith in my feet than those trains, thank you very much,

All in all, a good time was had by all. Personally, I'd like to thank Gerritsen Beach for all his help during the clean up help at the end of the night. I am now, officially, a fan of his blog, which is dedicated to Gerritsen Beach Offering current news, links and reviews and not memories.  

Continue reading "Reaction to the Blogfest"

So How Was the Blogfest?

Like a bride at her own wedding, Thursday night's Brooklyn Blogfest at the Brooklyn Lyceum is mostly a blur for But it was also an incredible gathering of a vivacious "tribe" of New Yorkers.

Brooklyn bloggers.

As I said in the Blogfest video by Blue Barn Pictures, Brooklyn bloggers are a smart, ambitious, entrepreneurial, creative, opinionated and enthusiastic group and they're a lot of fun to hang out with.

The Blogfest back story is just as fun as the event. For months, there's been lots of  behind-the-scenes planning and organizing by a large group of bloggers drawn from the Brooklyn Blogade, an constantly expanding group of bloggers who meet monthly all over Brooklyn. My co-producers Eleanor Traubman and Mike Sorgatz of Creative Times, Adrian Kinloch and Petra Symister deserve the lion's share of the credit (their links are below). 

20 bloggers showed up at 6 p.m. to do whatever needed to be done. Bloggers set up video equipment, chairs, tables, food, beer; they made name tags, signs, manned the money table and more. It was a sight to behold.

You can be sure they did it with gusto. I thank them all. 

When Amanda from Brooklyn Fudge showed up with her signage and her pretty cake plates I wanted to kiss her. She helped set up the "hospitality area" along with Angela of Red Mango Bakery, the folks behind much of the vegan baked goods at many Brooklyn cafes and Danielle of Habeas Brulee who runs Jack, an occasional restaurant that is open for one seating per night every other week or so.

I was equally thrilled when Bierkraft delivered the 17 cases of beer, that were paid for by Outside.in, the company that is fast becoming an essential resource for place bloggers.

Pre-show, I had no idea what to expect. On Thursday I started to get the feeling that the event might be well-attended. But I also had my doubts. I always have doubts and lots of worry.

What if nobody comes?

By 8 p.m. I knew we'd have a crowd. A very good crowd.

As is often the case at special events, there were some pre-show technical challenges (video, ah video). Still thanks to a great crew spear-headed by Adrian Kinloch (Brit in Brooklyn), Morgan Pehme (Brooklyn Optimist), the guys from Blue Barn Pictures and two incredibly helpful guys from the Brooklyn Lyceum, we were ready to go by 8:20 or so.

While the crowd filed into the downstairs performance space, that used to be a bath, DJ Solo P from Groovalicious Entertainment entertained the crowd with a great selection of groovalicious music including calypso favorites and other fun stuff.

The Lyceum was full of friends and strangers when the video, Place Matters; Blogging My World filled the enormous screen.

Blue Barn's video was, as expected, fantastic and it contained the biggest talking heads in High Definition video you've ever seen, who conveyed something of the feisty spiritedness of the small group of Brooklyn bloggers, who were interviewed.

The video, which included an appearance by NY Shitty's mascot, Hannah the Hardhat, was followed by short, consistently interesting speeches by a diverse group of bloggers and journalists:

Eleanor Traubman of Creative Times spoke about the community that formed around the planning of Blogfest

Petra Symister of Bed-Stuy Blog, spoke about the need for diversity in the Brooklyn blogosphere, especially in the realm of place blogs, which, she said, are very homgenious in terms of race and economic class.

Greg Sutton, Megan Donis and Narina from Brooklyn Community Access Television spoke about their new series, A Walk Around the Blog and showed a short trailer.

Miss Heather of the blog, New York Shitty talked about the interactivity of blogging, "I am not merely putting something out in the world for people to read. My blog is not a monologue; it is a dialog with my readership," she said.

"Keep the dead rat stories coming," she said in closing.

Gowanus Lounge's Robert Guskind, in his sonorous, low radio announcer's voice, suggested that the word blog has less and less meaning because there is so much unique content online. He urged those who are "thinking about starting a blog to stop thinking about it and to start doing it." especially in underblogged areas like Sheepshead Bay and Sunset Park.

WNYC talk radio host and recent winner of a Peabody Award, Brian Lehrer, appeared in a video personally reaching to bloggers to send stories for his CUNY-television weekly news show. After Lehrer's clip, Gersh Kuntzman, editor of the Brooklyn Paper, wondered aloud about the future of blogging and the destructiveness of mean-spirited blog comments.

Heather Johnston, producer of a wonderful food blog called sogood.tv talked about her evolution as a video blogger and delivered the Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers.

Big gratitude to Morgan Pehme of Brooklyn Optimist for his  Tribute to Brooklyn's Photo Bloggers, a montage of photographs by some of the best, including Fading Ad Blog,  Joe's NYC, Flatbush Gardener, Bed-Stuy Banana, Park Slope Street Photography, No Words Daily Pix, Brit in Brooklyn, Forgotten NY and many more. All I can say is WOW. It was a beautiful tribute to these hardworking and creative folks, who are capturing what's going on on the streets and skylines of Brooklyn.

Chris Kreussling of Flatbush Gardener talked about the Brooklyn Blogade as an opportunity to attach a face to a blog at monthly meet ups. This group is constantly looking for new recruits: those who blog and those who are thinking about blogging. The next one is on June 22 at noon at Root Hill Cafe on Carroll Street and Fourth Avenue. Come one, come all.

Finally, Rob Lenihan, the wonderful blogger behind the very well written Luna Park Gazette, told the crowd it was time for the Shout Out, everyone's chance to announce their blog to the world.

Imagine my surprise when 50 or more people lined up for the microphones. Thank goodness  we had that timer/buzzer with us (operated by my daughter).

In the next few days I will post a list of all the bloggers who did the shout out; it was a high point of a great evening.

The party and the schmoozing went on until around midnight. A good time was had by all. For me it's a bit of a adrenaline blur.

But I loved it. I really did. More thoughts to come...

Pix by Flatbush Gardener

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Today's the Day: Blogfest at 8 p.m. at the Brooklyn Lyceum

Today is the day. There are a few last minute details to attend to but everything seems to be in order for tonight's third annual Brooklyn Blogfest.

For those who don't know, the Brooklyn Blogfest is a gathering about Brooklyn blogging for bloggers, blog fans, those interested in blogging and those passionate about Brooklyn.

The festivities are TONIGHT at 8 p.m. at the Brooklyn Lyceum, 227 Fourth Avenue just steps from the R train's Union Street station. Suggested donation is $10 to help offset the costs of this event. There will be food and drink a-plenty and lots of time for networking and socializing.

Indeed, it takes many hours of unseen work, coordination, attention to detail, writing, phone calling, emailing, and outreach to the community to pull off an event like this and thank goodness there were so many people lending their positive energy and creativity to the event.

As Eleanor Traubman of Creative Times wrote in an email the other day: 

Thanks to those who helped to do the behind the scenes prep work and who have stepped up in such a generous way to help out on the day of the event.  It takes a village to raise a Blogfest and we are a really great village!

Thanks to Eleanor and all the other people, who came together and donated their creative energy to this project. It was a team effort that was a joy to be part of.

Ikea Getting Some Positive Reviews from Hammerman, NY 1

Ikea is opening on June 18th after years of protests from local Red Hook residents. But now that it's a reality, it will be interesting to see how the neighborhood likes its new neighbor.

According to Jeanine Ramirez, the Brooklyn reporter for NY 1, Craig Hammerman and others seem to think that Ikea is a good neighbor and doing things right by Red Hook.

It remains to be seen whether Ikea is indeed a positive thing for Red Hook and the surrounding neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

But it can't be denied that Ikea has done (or was forced to doP quite a few things right even if the big blue and yellow box store is a bit glaring contextually in that historic area.

On a positive note, the store offered first choice of jobs to people in the community and they are offering full benefits even for part-time employees.

Now that's cool.

No doubt the Red Hook Ikea, the first Ikea in New York City, has great views of the water, the New York skyline and the Statue of Liberty.

Sitting on  22 acres in the Erie Basin, the big box Swedish store turned 6 of its acres into a public waterfront esplanade. I am eager to see if this effort to win over the community pays off. It sure sounds nice.

Craig Hammerman of Community Board 6 seems to be very positive about the new Ikea.

"There were certain conditions that the community board had imposed on its land use review and IKEA has lived up to all of the conditions," Hammerman told NY 1.

According to NY 1:

Ikea helped pay for turning lanes on Hamilton Avenue to ease the traffic flow in and out of Red Hook. Shuttle buses will pick up customers at nearby subway stations, water taxi service will run to and from Manhattan's Pier 11, two city bus lines are extending their routes to the store and rental Zipcars will be on-site.

IKEA widened and paved the street in front of the store, upsetting some residents who wanted to keep the old stone road that was here. So, designers included the stones in the park landscape. The store also incorporated cranes to preserve the site's maritime history.

Sounds like Ikea is adding public transportation (i.e. shuttle buses, extended lines for the existing buses, and water taxi service) to a neighborhood sorely in need of public transportation. Whether these modification will just be for customers or for the community as a whole remains to be seen.   

June 18th is just a few weeks away. Everyone wants to see how this store fits into the life of this very special Brooklyn community and whether it is a benefit to the place or just a drain on the community's resources.   

Sharpton, Sean Bell's Fiancee, and Hundreds Arrested at Protests

If you wondered what all those police helicopters were doing swarming over Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon, it was because of the demonstrations at the Brooklyn Bridge and other sites around the city protesting the Sean Bell verdict.

Reverend Al Sharpton, Sean Bell's fiancee and hundreds were arrested at a Brooklyn Bridge protest and call to urge authorities to launch an investigation into Bell's shooting by police. Here's an excerpt from the NY 1 article:

The Reverend Al Sharpton and Sean Bell's fiancée were arrested along with about over 200 protesters shortly after 4:45 p.m. Wednesday, as they blocked traffic on Park Row by the entry of the Brooklyn Bridge in Lower Manhattan.

According to police authorities, the over 200 arrests were part of a coordinated campaign organized by Sharpton to urge federal authorities to investigate Bell's shooting by detectives more than two years ago.

Joseph Guzman and Trent Benefield, who were injured during that shooting, joined Sharpton and Bell's fiancée, Nicole Paultre Bell, lined up and peacefully put their hands behind their backs as police put plastic handcuffs on them. Sharpton and Bell were placed in a police vehicle.

Late Wednesday night, some demonstrators told NY1 that the protests would be weekly, but there was no official confirmation of such strategies.

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Music for 17 Musicians: Josh Schneider Easy-Bake Orchestra

TONIGHT at the Brooklyn Lyceum at 8 p.m. hear original compositions and arrangements by The Josh Schneider and the Easy-Bake Orchestra, 17 of New York's most fearless improvisers.

The Brooklyn Lyceum
227 Fourth Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
$10.
Take the R train to Union Street.

If You're Thinking of Starting a Blog...

Come to the Blogfest and get the cool handout: Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers and Top Ten Tips for Photo Bloggers.

The Third Annual Brooklyn Blogfest 2008 is an event for bloggers, blog-readers, those interested in Blogging, and those passionate about Brooklyn. It is open to one and all and everyone is warmly welcomed. No need to RSVP or be personally invited.

Date and Time: Thursday May 8th, 2008 at 8 p.m.

Location: The Brooklyn Lyceum. 227 Fourth Avenue at President Street just steps from the R-trains Union Street station.

For cool Blogfest T-shirts: Come to the Blogfest

More info: Louise Crawford at 718-288-4290 or louise_crawford(at)yahoo(dot)com

What to Expect: Here's the line-up for the program. The show begins at 8 p.m.

Video: Place Matters: Blogging My World by Blue Barn Pictures

Brief Welcome: Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn (Louise Crawford)

Speaker: Creative Times (Eleanor Traubman)

Speaker: Bed-Stuy Blog (Petra S.)

Video: A Walk Around the Blog Promo by Brooklyn Independent Television

Speaker: New York Shitty (Miss Heather)

Speaker: Gowanus Lounge (Robert Guskind)

Speaker: Gersh Kuntzman, editor of The Brooklyn Paper

Video: A Word from WNYC's Brian Lehrer

Speaker: Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers presented by So Good (Heather Johnson)

Speaker: Outside.in, a resource for bloggers who blog about where they live

Video: A Tribute to Brooklyn's Photo Bloggers with music by Brooklyn's Ready Fire Aim  (video produced by Brooklyn Optimist)

Speaker: Bloggers Reach Out: The Brooklyn Blogade presented by Flatbush Gardener

ANNUAL SHOUT-OUT: Your chance to share your blog with the world introduced by Luna Park Gazette

Food and Fun: There will be light refreshments and other goodies from Maria's Mexican Bistro, Red Mango Bakery, Brooklyn Fudge, and beer courtesy of Outside.in

After the presentation there will be plenty of time for conversation, networking, beer and delicious snacks courtesy of Maria's Mexican Bistro, Red Mango Bakery and Brooklyn Fudge.

Many Thanks to Our Blogfest Sponsors: Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, Blue Barn Pictures, Outside.In, Brooklyn Optimist, Gowanus Lounge, Michael Sorgatz, Brit in Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy Blog, Red Mango Bakery, Brooklyn Fudge, Maria's Mexican Bistro, DJ Solo P from Groovalicious and the Community Bookstore.

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Office Space in the Montauk Club

I was glad to see a post on Brownstoner about office space at The Montauk Club. It even mentions my friend and landlord, Martin Goldin, a developer who bought the lower level of the club, which at one time was the club's bowling alley.

When Marty bought the space in 2001 the space was a complet wreck. He preserved the details that he could  and turned the rest into a modern office space complete with a shared conference room,  kitchen, public restrooms and a recycling area.

Hey, did I mention that my office is in that building. I don't know what I'd do without it. I was Marty's second tenant and it's my sanctuary; the place where I get the most work done.

The available spaces are $950 and $1200.

Yes, it is hard to find office space in Park Slope. There's very little. I've had a few spaces in people's brownstones. But this is the best situation yet. I had my attic garret on 17th Street and my basement mud room on 6th Avenue. But they were both freezing in the winter.

But this is the most professional and the best. I've been there since 2002 and I'm not going anywhere.

Part of the fun is walking into that building every day. It's very Grand. The offices are in the basement and have no architectural detail but it's still fun to be part of it all.

Why We Liked Jennifer and Paul

They were just a nice couple with kids. We liked that. (Alright, they were Hollywood royalty. She with an Oscar, he: tall, gorgeous and British. But they were nice).

They kept a low profile. We liked that.

They seemed smart. We liked that.

They covered their first floor windows with shades so we didn't feel too voyeuristic. But we could see the Calder mobile hanging on the second floor. We liked that.

They filled their front garden with tulips. We liked that.

They made up feel like we were special because they chose to live here. We liked that.

She was the hometown girl who decided to come home after Hollywood success. We liked that.

They picked the prettiest house in Brooklyn to be their home. We liked that

They had good taste. We liked that.

She told Vogue Magazine that she loved Prospect Park. We liked that.

She biked in the park; went running; they played with their kids at the Third Street Playground and went to the Tea Lounge. We liked that.

They were just like us. Or so we could pretend. We liked that.

How Could They Ditch That Gorgeous Mansion?

Slopers are falling all over themselves trying to figure out how Jennifer Connelly could ditch that gorgeous mansion.

Just check out the Brownstoner comments.

It calls into question everything Slopers hold dear. That house on the corner of Carroll Street is a Slope Dream House.

It is inconceivable to most Slopers that someone could walk away from what many Slopers lust for:  a historic, 5,200 square feet mansion crammed with architectural details facing a beloved Park.

"I love that house," Diaper Diva told me. "One thing you have to say is they kept up the integrity of it. They kept the original details and decorated with a light touch. I like the mix of the mid-century with the Victorian."

Perhaps Connelly/Bettany want a more anonymous life away from the glare of envious Park Slopers. Or maybe it's not that at all. Maybe they got tired of the multi-floor living. Or they needed  more privacy or security.

Maybe Connelly, a lifelong Park Sloper, wants to try life in Manhattan.

Moving to Tribeca? That's a real blow to Slopers who believe that their neighborhood is heaven on earth.

Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany Selling Their PPW Mansion

Diaper Diva writes:  "Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany are moving to Manhattan. Check out Brownstoner. They are selling their mansion. You get to see pix of the interior but I got to see the Calder Mobile I always see hanging in the window."

I checked out the Brownstoner post and it's true.  They are selling the mansion for $8.5 million and moving to a penthouse on West Street in Tribeca.

   

This is the listing from Sotheby's: Here is an opportunity to own one of the all time great houses of New York built at the turn of the century. Located on a corner lot directly across from Prospect Park, sunlight fills the grandly proportioned rooms all day long through oversized windows. All of the original wood carving surrounding the windows and mantels as well as the elaborate plaster work on the ceilings remains in tact and in perfect condition.There are fireplaces in all of the public rooms (living, dining and kitchen) as well as in 3 of the 4 master bedrooms.There is a full servant's quarters on the top floor consisting of 4 small bedrooms, a full bath and a large storage room.The original stained and leaded windows exist in the baths and in the large skylight at the top of the grand staircase.Central air-conditioning has been added and there is a large, fully landscaped garden at the rear of the house which is gated and private. This property is simply outstanding in every way.

   

 

Do The Shout Out at the Brooklyn Blogfest

Perhaps the most important aspect of the May 8th Brooklyn Blogfest at the Brooklyn Lyceum is the Shout-Out. That's when the bloggers in the room are asked to go up to the stage and do a shout-out for their blog.

It's a great opportunity to spread the word about your blog.

The Third Annual Brooklyn Blogfest 2008 is an event for bloggers, blog-readers, those interested in Blogging, and those passionate about Brooklyn. It is open to one and all and everyone is warmly welcomed. No need to RSVP or be personally invited.

Date and Time: Thursday May 8th, 2008 at 8 p.m.

Location: The Brooklyn Lyceum. 227 Fourth Avenue at President Street just steps from the R-trains Union Street station.

For cool Blogfest T-shirts: www. cafepress.com/blogfest

More info: Louise Crawford at 718-288-4290 or louise_crawford(at)yahoo(dot)com

What to Expect: Here's the line-up for the program. The show begins at 8 p.m.

Video: Place Matters: Blogging My World by Blue Barn Pictures

Brief Welcome: Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn (Louise Crawford)

Speaker: Creative Times (Eleanor Traubman)

Speaker: Bed-Stuy Blog (Petra S.)

Video: A Walk Around the Blog Promo by Brooklyn Independent Television

Speaker: New York Shitty (Miss Heather)

Speaker: Gowanus Lounge (Robert Guskind)

Speaker: Gersh Kuntzman, editor of The Brooklyn Paper

Video: A Word from WNYC's Brian Lehrer

Speaker: Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers presented by So Good (Heather Johnson)

Speaker: Outside.in, a resource for bloggers who blog about where they live

Video: A Tribute to Brooklyn's Photo Bloggers with music by Brooklyn's Ready Fire Aim  (video produced by Brooklyn Optimist)

Speaker: Bloggers Reach Out: The Brooklyn Blogade presented by Flatbush Gardener

ANNUAL SHOUT-OUT: Your chance to share your blog with the world introduced by Luna Park Gazette

Food and Fun: There will be light refreshments and other goodies from Maria's Mexican Bistro, Red Mango Bakery, Brooklyn Fudge, and beer courtesy of Outside.in

After the presentation there will be plenty of time for conversation, networking, beer and delicious snacks courtesy of Maria's Mexican Bistro, Red Mango Bakery and Brooklyn Fudge.

Many Thanks to Our Blogfest Sponsors: Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, Blue Barn Pictures, Outside.In, Brooklyn Optimist, Gowanus Lounge, Michael Sorgatz, Brit in Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy Blog, Red Mango Bakery, Brooklyn Fudge, Maria's Mexican Bistro, DJ Solo P from Groovalicious and the Community Bookstore.  

Poster designed by Michael Sorgatz.

Hear the Accordian Angels This Saturday

A quartet of accordian players calling themselves the Accordian Angels will be playing at the garden on Sixth Avenue and 15th Street at 2 p.m.

"A garden is a great setting for us," Bob Goldberg, one of the players told me.

They practiced in a front yard on Third Street on Sunday and got quite a response. I wish I'd been here because it sounded like a nice thing to do on a Sunday afternoon.

The Accordion Angels are Bob Goldberg; Carl Riehl; Genevieve Leloup; Mark Nathanson. They are a newly-forned accordion quartet, that bridges the traditional and the post-modern, playing an eclectic and interesting range of musical styles, including Stephen Foster, Leonard Bernstein,  Paolo Conte, Copland, Bizet, Led Zeppelin and Steve Reich

They will be playing at Barbes on May 18th at 7 p.m. and at Le Petit Versailles, a outdoor garden in Manhattan at 346 East Houston Street between Avenues B and C.

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Spiritual Magazine By Kids For Kids Launches

I just got an email about a new Kid's magazine published in Brooklyn focusing on spirituality. It's a non-profit, unaffiliated with any particular faith and 100% ad-free .

KidSpirit Magazine launches nationally this month and features the work of kids from New York and around the country as they focus on a broad range of issues they encounter in their daily lives.

It started in Brooklyn Heights. For over two years a group of kids has been getting together to talk about life's big questions, and now they're sharing what they found in the first-ever spirituality magazine generated by youth.   Through its open submission process, the magazine hopes to garner contributors from all over the country and even the world. Here are the 'tails.   

You can find out more at our website, www.kidspiritmagazine.com.  We're just launching our premiere issue, Roots of Spirit, which engages with complex issues including the relationship between spirituality and food, climate change, and Tai Chi Chuan, and presents aesthetic endeavors like original poetry, book reviews, and more. Each subsequent issue will tackle a theme chosen by the all-kid Editorial Board—upcoming issues include Science and Spirit, Myth and Meaning, Change and Loss, and Competition and Achievement. 

KidSpirit has a dedicated base of young writers, most who fall into the 11-15 age range, who would love to share their thoughts and experiences with you and your readers. We hope that as more people hear about the magazine, KidSpirit will foster a real dialog between today's young people and create a new space for conversation about the role of all kinds of faiths in the lives of the next generation.

Park Slope Monopoly in JJ Byrne Park

Tony Mansour and others turned the recently de-fenced square in JJ Bryne Park into a giant
Monopoly board with Park Slope locations filled into the board. 

Most of the squares are restaurants on Fifth Ave, but the "Community Chest" squares are Park Slope/Brooklyn blogs and websites.  Even OTBKB got a square on the final stretch, though the video goes over that square kinda quickly so you have to keep your eyes open for it. 

By late afternoon Sunday, some of the squares got washed away by some water balloon fights, but most of it is still intact.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wireful/sets/72157604892051756/
pictures above and the video below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GATdIXNCtpA

Did You Run the Brooklyn Half-Marathon?

I'd love to hear how it went. I ran it three years ago and it was one of the peak experiences of my life. Here's what I wrote back in 2005:

As I put on my sneakers this morning, preparing to take another run, I took a long, hard look at those well-worn shoes. My blue and white nylon Sauconys with the small hole in the right toe and the frayed thread around the edges are like old friends. We've been through so much together.

I also put on the official Brooklyn Half-Marathon T-shirt that I got with the New York Road Runners Club registration bag. My race number is already in the special cabinet in the dining room where we put small, special things.

The looming question now is what next. Do I train for the New York marathon or just keep on keeping on with light training three or four times a week. There are shorter races and other half-marathons to do. A friend mentioned a half-marathon in Central Park for women over 40 and there's always the Faster Five course at Jack Rabbit.

I told a stranger with a Caribbean accent I befriended on the course as we turned into the final stretch: "Now that you've done this you can do anything in your life."  She smiled and ran ahead to the finish. I never saw her again.

Brooklyn Library Responds to Criticism of Park Slope Branch on Gowanus Lounge

Dionne Mack Harvin, Executive Director of the Brooklyn Public Library, sent Gowanus Lounge a comment last week in response to their piece about problems at the Prospect Park Branch of the Library. To see the original GL post go here.

I frequently read through the Brooklyn blogs to find out what the diverse communities in Brooklyn are talking about. In reading through the posts here, I wanted to reach out and address the discussion on the Park Slope Branch. Over the past year, we’ve taken several step to improve our library services, including customer service. I understand your concerns and have communicated to the managers at the Park Slope Branch the importance of making our libraries welcoming places for all to enjoy.

We are also in the initial stages of installing a ramp at the Park Slope branch. We recently presented a design to Community Board 6 as well as the Landmarks Commission and are working closely with the City to get this project going. As with all of our renovations, ADA compliance is a necessary component so that people in wheelchairs or with strollers can easily access their Library. We will continue to update our website as the ramp project at Park Slope takes shape. Please continue to support your library - they are wonderful community resources for all Brooklynities.

Wildflower Walk Through Prospect Park on May 10th

This sounds like a nice thing to do next Saturday May 10th:

Steven Clemants, Vice President of Science at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, will lead a Wildflower Walk through Prospect Park, a chance to see and learn about all the flowers we have right here in Brooklyn!

After the walk, come back to Community Bookstore where Steven will sign copies of his field guide, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest.

To join this terrific walk, meet at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 10th in front of the statue of Lafayette at Prospect Park West and 9th Street.

New Poetry Reading Series at Ceol on Smith Street

My friend and fave poet, Michele Madigan Somerville, is starting a brand new poetry reading series at an Irish pub on Smith Street called Ceol.

Come hear two GREAT poets,  Tony Towle and Michele Madigan Somerville, on Wednesday May 7, 2008 at 6:30 pm at Ceol: 191 Smith Street (between Baltic and Warren) 347-643-9911.

Michele writes: "Tony should be the Poet Laureate!  Honestly.  His book, North, was the first poetry collection I ever bought -- @ Books & Co., Madison Ave. in '78, with waitressing money!!"

OTBKB's Weather Report in the Times

It was only a matter of time before the City Section of the New York Times did a story about Bradley Feldman, the man responsible for OTBKB's daily weather report, The Current Weather in Park Slope.

There's  a nice picture of Bradley standing next to his weather tower on the roof of his brownstone. I've never actually met the man though we have emailed each other.

His son is in my daughter's fifth grade class. The family moved here a few years ago from Seattle.

Mr. Feldman brought the station with him when he moved to Brooklyn from Seattle in 2005. Such stations are relatively rare in New York, but common in Seattle, with its abundance of rain and tech geeks. “There were a lot more weather people because the weather is wackier out there,” Mr. Feldman said. “When I was leaving, someone wrote me and said, ‘I see your “For Sale” sign. Does that mean we’re losing the weather station?’

As far as I know there aren't many weather geeks in Brooklyn but I have a feeling that Bradley may start a weather fad. Everyone's gonna want their own weather tower I can just tell.

Photo by Jacob Silberberg for the NY Times

No Words Daily Pix: Photograph by Hugh Crawford

Some Sun for the Brooklyn Flea and Ft. Greene House Tour

I hear there may be some sun this afternoon for the Brooklyn Flea. And don' forget the Fort Greene House Tour.

Brownstoner has been sweating the weather every weekend since opening the Flea.

We'd be lying if we said we weren't just a little bit irked at Mother Nature right now. While precious few rain drops have actually fallen on the Brooklyn Flea during market hours, all four Sundays to date have had the threat of rain and have been unseasonably cold. And it looks like more of the same for this weekend. Argghh! Luckily we have a hearty bunch of vendors who roll with the rain-or-shine punches to get to what's real. The organizers of this year's Fort Greene House Tour must also be watching the weather report closely. Both events happen Sunday. The Flea runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 176 Lafayette Avenue. Closest trains are the C and G to Washington/Clinton. Or you can take any of the number of trains that go to Atlantic Station and make the 10-minute stroll up Lafayette Avenue from there. The house tour is from noon to 5 p.m.; you can pick up your tickets in the BAM Garden at Fulton and Lafayette or at the flea market.

We went last week and it was overcast but we had a good time. Hepcat and his cousins from Baltimore managed to buy a lot in the Flea's photography department, which is near the front.

Reclaimed Home has a lot of cool stuff today. She also has these discoveries of other vendors at the Flea on her blog and some bitching about the dog situation there. Here's an excerpt.

Ama Home debuted at the Brooklyn Flea a couple of weeks ago and they seem to be doing quite well for themselves. Amy and Karen take vintage furniture and modernize it by coating it with vibrant paint colors. Prices are not bad either.

Nightwood’s “reincarnated” furniture isn’t trying to be something it’s not. Myriah Scruggs and Nadia Yaron literally scrap together wood pieces to create functional furnishings. The patchwork look reminds us that not every piece of furniture has to be matched and sanded to perfection to be beautiful. Website not fully functional yet, but here’s a rave about their stuff.

Smartmom: Miley and Teen Spirit Shed Things

Here's this week's Smartmom from the award-winning Brooklyn Paper:

It’s the same old story, isn’t it? The hot “It” girl has a record or film or book or sex video to promote so she poses half naked in a national magazine.

There’s the predictable hue and cry about America’s declining values and the predictable apology. But the record or film or book or sex video goes on to huge success, so the half-naked photo is quickly forgotten.

Not this time. This time, the “It” girl was 15-year-old Miley Cyrus, whose alter ego, Hannah Montana, was supposed to be different. Her “character” is the one who always plays it clean (even as she made millions for Disney).

So why did she do it?

There’s the obvious: Because all of Cyrus’s parent figures — from Disney to her agents to the celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz to Cyrus’s should-know-better superstar father — care more about the fictional Hannah than they do about the real Miley.

Indeed, if you watch the “behind the scenes” footage on the Vanity Fair Web site, you can see Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, chatting amiably with the famous photographer Annie Leibovitz and her staff. Clearly nothing was troubling him at the time.

But after the photos were flashed all over the world, the fingers started pointing.

Disney, which has been milking the Cyrus cash cow for years, blasted Vanity Fair with a statement: “A situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines.”

Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle exploitive?

Indeed, blaming Vanity Fair is like blaming the warden for crime. Anyone who sits for Leibovitz knows the Faustian bargain: Got a record to promote, honey? Take that top off and let’s see if we can help.

Yet many scolds are blaming Miley. But to Smartmom’s way of thinking, Cyrus is the victim in this American Kabuki.

And Smartmom knows because her 16-year-old son, Teen Spirit, just shaved his head.

No, that’s no metaphor. The other night Teen Spirit called and told Hepcat that he shaved his head.

“Not exactly shaved. But my hair is really, really short,” he said.

Smartmom nearly fainted when she saw her firstborn looking like a military recruit. In recent years, Teen Spirit has hid behind his hair like Violet in “The Incredibles.” It’s been his invisibility shield, the sheath that protects him from the world.

But that was then, this is now.

And just as America asked Miley Cyrus, “Why did you do it?!” Smartmom is wondering what could have been going through her son’s mind.

And then she realized that this seemingly self-destructive act made all the sense in the world. Both Teen Spirit and Miley Cyrus are adolescents. Both felt the need to reinvent themselves and show the world that they won’t be defined by their public personas (in Miley’s case, she’s not happy always being Hannah Montana; in Teen Spirit’s case, it was clearly time to throw off the look of the slacker dude who just doesn’t care).

Who can blame either of them for wanting to reinvent themselves? Isn’t that what being an adolescent is all about? Like Miley, Teen Spirit doesn’t want to be a character in “The Smartmom and Hepcat Show” anymore. He wants to write his own sitcom (dramedy or mini-series) and create himself.

And that’s the message of the Vanity Fair pictures: Sure, she’s partly unclothed, but you can’t see anything unchaste.

Smartmom was sorry that Miley chose the pages of Vanity Fair to do her growing up. But then again, teens in Park Slope have to become adults under the skeptical gaze of their Park Slope parents, their budinsky parents’ friends, and their neighbors (that’s like Vanity Fair, right?)

Posing semi-nude for Annie Leibovitz, shaving your head on a whim. What’s the difference? It’s all part of growing up and trying to discover who you really are.

Indeed, Cyrus has nothing to apologize about — except perhaps the half-baked apology she made this week.

“[The] photo shoot was supposed to be ‘artistic,’ and now … I feel so embarrassed,” she said.

Embarrassed? About what? She may not go to high school or live like a normal teen, but Miley Cyrus has every right to play with her inner and outer identity like every other kid.

Change your hair. Change your clothes. Change your persona. Change your mind.

It’s all part of the identity game.

Now, if you want to cast blame, look no further than Disney, Vanity Fair, Annie Leibovitz and Billy Ray...

The Latest Blogfest Details

The Third Annual Brooklyn Blogfest 2008 is an event for bloggers, blog-readers, those interested in Blogging, and those passionate about Brooklyn. It is open to one and all and everyone is warmly welcomed. No need to RSVP or be personally invited.

Date and Time: Thursday May 8th, 2008 at 8 p.m.

Location: The Brooklyn Lyceum. 227 Fourth Avenue at President Street just steps from the R-trains Union Street station.

For cool Blogfest T-shirts: www. cafepress.com/blogfest

More info: Louise Crawford at 718-288-4290 or louise_crawford(at)yahoo(dot)com

What to Expect: Here's the line-up for the program. The show begins at 8 p.m.

Video: Place Matters: Blogging My World by Blue Barn Pictures

Brief Welcome: Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn (Louise Crawford)

Speaker: Creative Times (Eleanor Traubman)

Speaker: Bed-Stuy Blog (Petra S.)

Video: A Walk Around the Blog Promo by Brooklyn Independent Television

Speaker: New York Shitty (Miss Heather)

Speaker: Gowanus Lounge (Robert Guskind)

Speaker: Gersh Kuntzman, editor of The Brooklyn Paper

Video: A Word from WNYC's Brian Lehrer

Speaker: Top Ten Tips for New Bloggers presented by So Good (Heather Johnson)

Speaker: Outside.in, a resource for bloggers who blog about where they live

Video: A Tribute to Brooklyn's Photo Bloggers with music by Brooklyn's Ready Fire Aim  (video produced by Brooklyn Optimist)

Speaker: Bloggers Reach Out: The Brooklyn Blogade presented by Flatbush Gardener

ANNUAL SHOUT-OUT: Your chance to share your blog with the world introduced by Luna Park Gazette

Food and Fun: There will be light refreshments and other goodies from Maria's Mexican Bistro, Red Mango Bakery, Brooklyn Fudge, and beer courtesy of Outside.in

After the presentation there will be plenty of time for networking, beer, delicious snacks courtesy of Maria's Mexican Bistro, Red Mango Bakery and Brooklyn Fudge and conversation.

Many Thanks to Our Blogfest Sponsors: Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn, Blue Barn Pictures, Outside.In, Brooklyn Optimist, Gowanus Lounge, Michael Sorgatz, Brit in Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy Blog, Red Mango Bakery, Brooklyn Fudge, Maria's Mexican Bistro, DJ Solo P from Groovalicious and the Community Bookstore.  

Poster designed by Michael Sorgatz.