Greenpoint Gazette

Page 1

& BUSHWICK

Since 1974

GREENPOINT | WILLIAMSBURG

VOLUME 44 | NUMBER 27

JULY 20, 2017

Two Sections

(718) 422-7400

25¢

Brooklyn Revealed Series Celebrates Summer Solstice on Wildflowers Rooftop North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Holds Reception Atop Broadway Stages By Andy Katz

Special to the Greenpoint Gazette

The North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce marked 2017’s longest day on June 21 with the third event in its Brooklyn Revealed series, a reception held atop the Broadway Stages building where Marni Majorelle’s Kingsland Wildflowers Rooftop projects an eco-friendly compromise in the midst of one of Brooklyn’s most heavily industrialized neighborhoods.

Visitors in the fading light of the summer solstice atop the Broadway Stages Wildflowers Rooftop.

continued on p.6

Brooklyn Eagle photo by Andy Katz

Annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Celebrates 130 Years in Williamsburg Brooklyn’s Take on Southern Italian Tradition Includes the Boat That Returns Beloved Saint By Andy Katz

Special to the Greenpoint Gazette

The row of burly men grimaced, their neck veins bulged and sweat dripped from their foreheads as they strained to raise the 4-ton wood tower that symbolizes a lily. Known as “Giglio,” which means “lily” in Italian, the 85-foothigh tower and the model sailing ship are part of a tradition that dates back to the fifth century, when the Bishop of Nola, Paolino, offered himself as a hostage to North African pirates in exchange for a grieving woman’s son. So impressed was the sultan with Paolino’s selfless act, he permitted the prelate to return to Italy with his countrymen. San Paolino, as he later became styled, arrived home in a ship greeted by women bearing lilies.

BROADWAY STAR SHINES IN ‘NAPOLI, BROOKLYN’: A writer needs a computer (or, if she’s old‐school, a pen and a pad); a photographer needs a camera and film; a painter, canvas and paint. But for an actor, it’s not that simple: She needs an audience. She also needs a thick skin, a sense of humor, stamina and inexhaustible confidence. Elise Kibler, pictured above, currently co‐starring as Vita Muscolino in Meghan Kennedy’s “Napoli, Brooklyn” at the Roundabout at Laura Pels Theatre, would seem to have all four. Discover more about this actress in her interview on page 8 of the Brooklyneagle insert. Photo courtesy of Polk & Company

Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Reverend Msgr. Jamie G. Gigantiello rides the San Paolino tower Giglio. Brooklyn Eagle photo by Andy Katz

continued on p.2

Freddy’s Doggy Fashion Show Attracts Young and Old | See Page 4


22

/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, July 20, 2017 Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Celebrates 130 Years in Williamsburg continued from p. 1

Over the years, San Paolino’s triumphant return was celebrated in Nola with processions of lilies borne first upon wood poles, then platforms with bouquets that grew larger and more elabo-

to mark the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and honor San Paolino di Nola. “I had a lot of friends who were lifters,” said Tim Marsh, pausing to catch his breath during a lift of the ship, or “la barca,” which symbolizes San Paolino’s re-

he explained. “My grandfather was originally from Calabria, so this isn’t too far removed from my own heritage. And I hope to pass this on to my son as part of his heritage.” Williamsburg’s first Giglio procession — or

Capo Louis Cimerelli, center, is congratulated after directing a successful lift and dance.

Suffolk resident Tim Marsh started lifting a couple of years ago inspired by friends, and he quickly fell in love with the culture and community. rate. Brought to South Brooklyn in the 1880s by Nolani immigrants, flowers that originally symbolized purity evolved into the massive Giglio that promenades majestically through the streets of Williamsburg every year

turn. Marsh, who lives in Suffolk County, said listening to his friends’ accounts of the festival, the culture and comradeship shared by the “paranza,” or lifters, piqued his curiosity. “I tried, and I fell in love with the culture,”

Ship Gigli proceeds along North 8th Street.

“dance” as it became known because the tower’s movements coordinate to music played by the live band that rides atop — took place in 1903. Many “paranza” crews —“Giglio boys” in the parlance — go back generations,

their fathers and grandfathers having also lifted. The feast draws many of those who moved away from the old neighborhood for a week of tradition and celebration with friends and family. Lifters are expected to keep their dues up to date. Those with enough experience have the opportunity to apprentice as “capos,” or captains, who guide the Giglio’s dance using canes or walking sticks, often pressing their own backs into the structure’s motion to turn it one way or

another. Every other year a single capo is selected to serve as number one, or “Tutti Capo,” a singular honor that requires he supervise all of the other capos and lieutenants. This year’s number one, Gerard Langone, was hard to catch up with as he raced around the shrinking gap between the two Giglios, his red and blue sequined hat flashing in the sunlight. The most intricate portion of the procession brings the two massive structures into

close proximity right in front of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Festival security crews, mainly composed of East Harlem Giglio lifters whose festival begins in August, joined NYPD community affairs officers in clearing the space between them, waving their arms and pressing the members of the crowd flat against the church facade to make way for the stately procession. continued on p. 3

Brooklyn Eagle photo by Andy Katz


2

Wednesday, March / Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, 20, 2017 Wednesday, April 6,July 2016

3

Tower of San Paolino Giglio works its way in front of Our Lady of Mount Carmel with Rev Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello riding.

Annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Celebrates 130 Years in Williamsburg continued from p. 2

“We’re the only festival in the New World with a boat,” Capo Joe Cicileo explained. “When some of our people travel to Noli [a coastal city in Eastern Liguria] the people there always know about our boat. It’s important to them, because it demonstrates re-

spect for how San Paolino returned to the people.” This year’s boat is new, Cicelio went to say. After modifications to the previous “barca” proved unsuccessful, the feast proceeded using an actual power boat donated by a parishioner, while the new boat was being constructed of wood, fiberglass, plastic and

canvas. Cicelio estimated that with musicians, lieutenants and kids tossing confetti over the gunwales, the barca displaced about 4 tons, or 8,000 lbs. With 94 positions for lifters, that meant each man carried about 85 lbs. “Yeah,” Cicileo grinned. “If you assume everyone’s actually lifting and not goofing off.”

Whack a mole!

Brooklyn Eagle photos by Andy Katz

Corrections & Amplifications

Sparkles and music accompany ship Gigli procession along Havermeyer Street.

Clearing the way in front of Our Lady of Mount Carmel for both Giglios to meet midway.

Last week’s front-page caption on the Angelmobile ribbon-cutting ceremony erroneously identified the clergyman pictured third from left. He should have been identified as Bishop Lawrence C. Provenzano of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island (not Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn). The Greenpoint Gazette regrets the error.


422

/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, July 20,March 2017 30, Wednesday, Wednesday, March 16, 2016 2016

Bow-WOW! Park Slope Goes to the Dogs at Freddy’s Doggy Fashion Show By Mary Frost

*UHHQSRLQW *D]HWWH

A four-legged version of the Pontiff was just one of the splendidly costumed dogs at the Fourth Annual Doggy Fashion Show at Freddy’s Bar in Park Slope on Saturday. Fans packed around the red-carpet entrance to the cat walk, erected conveniently in

front of the iconic dive bar and cheered on their favorite canines as they strutted their stuff. Some dogs wore formalwear including tuxedos, gowns and pearls, while more casual pups dressed imaginatively — there was a skate board rider, a cowdog, a shark and Little Red Riding Hood and other fictional figures.

The fashion show was part of the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID’s Park Slope Summer Strolls, which turn a stretch of Fifth Avenue from 12th to 18th streets into a giant block party, with ping pong, vintage cars, rock climbing and more. Freddy’s judges awarded the first-prize “Xena” trophy to Moose, a golden doodle who

was dressed as a surgeon in a blue gown and cap. Proceeds from beer sales at Freddy’s during the fashion show and after-party, where entertainment was provided by Tony Award-winning actor Michael Cerveris and his band, were donated to the Sean Casey Animal Rescue located at 153 East Third St.

This adorable skateboarder and a half-dozen perky pups lined up to have their photos taken at the Fourth Annual DogŐLJ &ĂƐŚŝŽŶ ^ŚŽǁ Ăƚ &ƌĞĚĚLJ͛Ɛ Ăƌ ŝŶ WĂƌŬ ^ůŽƉĞ ŽŶ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ͘ Eagle photo by Mary Frost

<ŝĚƐ ĐŚĞĞƌ ĂƐ ƚŚĞ ĚŽŐƐ ƐƚƌƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƐƚƵī͘ ƌŽŽŬůLJŶ agle photo by Arthur De Gaeta

This dog rolled into the fashion show on a skateboard and ĐůĂŝŵĞĚ Ă ƉƌŝnjĞ͘ ƌŽŽŬůLJŶ ĂŐůĞ photo by Arthur De Gaeta

PUBLISHED: 48 times per year. SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $25 per year YOUR INFORMATION:

RECIPIENT’S INFORMATION:

Name ____________________________________________________

Name ____________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________

City, State, Zip _____________________________________________

City, State, Zip _____________________________________________

Telephone ________________________________________________

Telephone ________________________________________________

E-mail ____________________________________________________

E-mail ____________________________________________________

Start my gi subscrip on on: _______________________________

Message to the Recipient: __________________________________

__________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

[ ] Check enclosed (Payable to EBrooklyn Media) I authorize EBrooklyn Media to charge my Credit Card [ ] Amex [ ] Visa [ ] Mastercard Credit Card # ___________________________________________ Exp. Date _________________ Security Code ____________

To start subscrip on immediately, call Alice at 718-643-9099, X 107, E-mail alice@brooklyneagle.com or Fax 718-643-9485 16 Court Street | 30th Floor | Brooklyn | NY 11241


2

Wednesday, March / Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, July 20, 2017

5


62

/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, July 20, 2017 Wednesday, April 6, 2016

B’klyn Revealed Series Celebrates Summer Solstice on Wildflowers Rooftop

Project Coordinator for Kingsland Wildflowers Niki Jackson.

Brooklyn Eagle photos by Andy Katz

Alive Structures founder and CEO Marni Marjorelle describes her Wildflowers Rooftop.

restore a roof like this water comes in, insects come in — food comes in — after that birds come in that are both breeding and migratory.” Willis Elkins, program manager of the Newtown Creek Alliance, spoke next, pointing out: “Our organization is interested in finding ways to revitalize the creek from multiple perspectives … We want to have environmental restoration and remediation of these areas, but there is also revitalization of the core business area around Newtown Creek. Pretty much all of the creek is zoned for industrial uses. We’re looking for ways to expand access to the creek that don’t dispose business and also allow for environmental restoration.” continued on p. 7

continued from p. 1

Justin Partridge of NYC Audubon ex‐ plains some of the Wildflowers Rooftop’s ecology.

Newtown Creek Alliance project manager Willis Elkins addresses the audience.

“What we are, in a nutshell,” explained Kingsland Wildflowers Project Coordinator for the NYC Audubon Society Niki Jackson, “is a habitat expansion program. The footprint of this building [Broadway Stages] is being replaced by the roof. We’re creating a habitat for birds, bats, wildflowers, butterflies, bees.” Proposed in 2015 by a partnership of Majorelle’s Alive Structures, Broadway Stages, the NYC Audubon Society, Newtown Creek Alliance and Trout in the Classroom, the rooftop habitat was funded in part by the Greenpoint Environmental Fund, with matching funds from other sources, not to mention interior work to shore up the roofs to bear the weight of the added soil, stone and water by Broadway Stages owner Tony Argento. “Before this roof was done,” Justin Partridge of NYC Audubon explained, “nothing was really using it. When you

Greenpoint Gazette (USPS PP 406)

J.D. Hasty, Publisher jdh@ebrooklynmedia.com

Legal Advertising: Gina Ong gina@ebrooklynmedia.com

Display Advertising: Katrina Ramus kat@ebrooklynmedia.com Telephone: 718-643-9099 Greenpoint Gazette & Advertiser (USPS pending permit # 406) is published weekly except first week of January, first week of July, last week of August, last week of December by EBrooklyn Media, 16 Court Street, 30th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11241. Subscription rate: $25/year. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, New York. POSTMASTER: send address changes to the Greenpoint Gazette, 16 Court Street, 30th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11241.

North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce CEO Elaine Brodsky addresses the audience, while Paul Samulski looks on.

Founded in 1974 by Ralph Carrano & Adelle Haines

NEW BUSINESS FORMATIONS 11206

CJJ FLEET MANAGEMENT LLC

Notice of Formation of CJJ Fleet Management LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/9/17. Office location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 259 Meserole Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206. Purpose: any lawful activity. #151681

11209

NEXCAPITAL DEVELOPMENT LLC

11211

161 MANHATTAN LLC

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: 161 MANHATTAN LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 4/24/2017. NY office location: Kings County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is The LLC, 394 Broadway, Apt 3 Brooklyn, NY, 11211. Purpose/character of LLC: Any Lawful Purpose. #151213

11222

11225

11201

Notice of Formation of Saporta & Menda Real Estate Group LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/19/17. Office location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 33 Nassau Ave., Ste. 44, Brooklyn, NY 11222. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: TSM HOLDINGS, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 4/21/2017. NY office location: Kings County. SSNY has been designated as agent

BRIGUEL MUSIC LLC

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: AGILE GIFT LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 2/7/2017. NY office location: Kings County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is AGILE GIFT LLC, 430 Crown Street Brooklyn, NY, 11225. Purpose/character of LLC: Any Lawful Purpose.

173 Montrose LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 07/30/12. Office: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 173 Montrose Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11206, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE is hereby given that an Order entered by the Civil Court, Kings County on the 12th day of July, 2017, bearing the Index Number NC-000897-17/KI, a copy of which may be examined at the Office of the Clerk located at Civil Court, Kings County, 141 Livingston Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201, grants me (us) the right to: assume the name of (First) LORI (Last) DIOMEDE. My present name is (First) LORRAINE (Last) CALDERON. My present address is 220 DEGRAW STREET, Brooklyn, NY 11231. My place of birth is QUEENS, NY. My date of birth is January 17, 1980.

#151940

#152035

SAPORTA & MENDA REAL ESTATE GROUP LLC

#151675

Nexcapital Development LLC, Arts of Org filed with SSNY on 02/09/17. Office Location: Kings County, SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: The LLC, 110 77th St, Brooklyn NY 11209 . Purpose: to engage in any lawful act.

Notice of Formation of Global Moment LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 6/16/17. Office location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 352 Leonard St., #2R, Brooklyn, NY 11211. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of BriGuel Music LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 06/30/17. Office location: Kings County. Princ. office of LLC: 110 India St., Brooklyn, NY 11222. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Any lawful activity.

#151091

#151492

#151919

GLOBAL MOMENT LLC

AGILE GIFT LLC

#151574

173 MONTROSE LLC

TSM HOLDINGS, LLC

of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The post office address to which the SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her is Alfred R. Paliani, Esq., 110 Livingston Street, Apt PHC Brooklyn, NY, 11201. Purpose/character of LLC: Any Lawful Purpose. #151069

NAME CHANGE NAME CHANGE DIOMEDE


2

Wednesday, March / Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, July 20, 2017

7

Brooklyn Revealed Series Celebrates Summer Solstice on Wildflowers Rooftop

From left: Alive Structures’ Richard Jenkins, Eric Marjorelle and Gretchen Ortiz nearly lost amid the marigolds. Broadway Stages owner Tony Argento. continued from p. 6

Elkins went on to describe the well-known issue of heavy rainfall overwhelming the storm drainage system, causing untreated sewage to flood into the creek. “The more green roofs you have like this — where you can absorb rainwater — benefits Newtown Creek, because it prevents rainwater from flowing into the storm drains and overflowing the creek.” “There are a lot of interesting things going on right now,” Alive Structures

founder and CEO Marni Marjorelle told the audience, “and I just hope we can keep it going and make this a part of Greenpoint’s future … We’re creating jobs, we’re creating opportunities. We need everyone to be a part of it, because who knows if the EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] is even going to exist a year from now?” With that, North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Paul Samulski announced, “Magic hour up on the roof — drinks allowed, but no food!”

A small spherical fountain with water running along the surface of its glass globe, illuminated from within, was the latest addition to the wildflower roof. Originally planned and funded for just under 22,000 square feet, the entire roof now covers more than 32,000 square feet and includes a lower level of the Broadway Stages complex. The largest roof section holds nearly 8 inches of soil, along with paving stones and a web-like irrigation system running underneath

Brooklyn Eagle photo by Andy Katz

the dirt, according to Alive Structure’s Richard Jenkins. Shoring up the interior to bear the additional 50 lbsper-square-foot weight cannot have been easy or cheap for Broadway Stages. “More than $800,000,” Stages owner Tony Argento admitted as he stood in the rapidly fading sunlight, a fluted wine glass in one hand. “Worth your while?” he was asked. Argento paused before spreading his arms wide. “Just look around you,” he said. See page 8 for more photos.

Broadway Stages owner Tony Argento with Monica Holowacz. As the sun finally deigned to set behind the highrises of Manhattan, amber light streaked across the Wildflowers Rooftop. Nearby the Newtown Creek Digester Eggs, clad in futur-

From left: Joan Dougherty and Diana Zelvin.

istic stainless steel and containing some of the nastiest stuff on earth, glowed in an array of colored lights that kept changing from blue to yellow to purple to green, and so on.

Admiring the marigolds in the fading summer sun.

From left: Monica Martinez of Smile Farms with Elaine Brodsky, CEO of North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

We Can Expand Your Reach to New Customers EXPONENTIALLY Using Images and Social Media Along with Our Popular Websites and Blogs. Call us today: 718-422-7410


822

Thursday, July 20,March 2017 30, Wednesday, Wednesday, March 16, 2016 2016

/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

Brooklyn Revealed Series Celebrates Summer Solstice on Wildflowers Rooftop

From left: Claire Francois and Andrew Heine pose on the Wildflowers Rooftop fountain for Alive Structures’ Eric Marjorelle.

NYU LANGONE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES–GREENPOINT

We are in you neighborhood!

At NYU Langone Medical Associates–Greenpoint, we are dedicated to providing high-quality and personalized care to our patients. Our doctors specialize in areas such as internal medicine,pediatrics, allergy, cardiology, ENT, and orthopedic surgery. Our goal is to provide excellent healthcare to those who put their trust in us.

From left: Monica Martinez and Jodi Taggart of Smile Farms, a nonprofit organization that benefits developmentally disabled adults all over the U.S.

We’re bringing together the comprehensive resources, technology, and expertise of NYU Langone with the physicians you’ve come to know in your neighborhood. Allergy Sujan Patel, MD

Internal Medicine/Infectious Disease Dariusz Grabowski, MD

Audiology Clare Villanueva, MD

Nephrology James Chevalier, MD

Cardiology Shuja Qadir, MD; Justyna Watkowska, MD

Neurology Andre Strizhak, MD

ENT Robert Lerch, MD

Ophthalmology Douglas Freely, MD

Gastroenterology Karl Bednarek, MD

Orthopedic Sugery Kirk Campbell, MD

Hematology Oncology Elena Katz, MD

Pediatrics Osvaldo Trigo, MD; David Shipman, MD

Internal Medicine/Endocrinology George Feinbaum, MD; Miroslawa Kudej, MD

Podiatry Barry Herstik, DPM

Internal Medicine Renata Ukowska, MD; Anna Warchol, MD Gary Goldman, MD; Ewa Wierzba, MD

Psychiatry Alina Marek, MD Physical Therapy

934 Manhattan Avenue, Suite A Brooklyn, NY 11222 718.389.8585 nyulangone.org

From left: Debbie Hootam of Investors Bank and Martha Holstein of North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. Brooklyn Eagle photos by Andy Katz


BROOKLYN EAGLE Broadway Star Shines In ‘Napoli, Brooklyn’ SEE PAGE 8

Photo courtesy of Polk & Company

Volume 17, No. 46

Two Sections

THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2017

$1.00


Friends, Friends, Romans, Romans, Countrymen: Countrymen: Park Park Slope’s Slope’s Gallery Gallery Players Players Present Present A A Stellar Stellar ‘Julius ‘Julius Caesar’ Caesar’

Julius Caesar (played by Griffin Sharps, who is standing, center) is about to be assassinated in the Shakespearean tragedy that’s named for him. By Lore Croghan Brooklyn Eagle

Brooklyn now has a “Julius Caesar” of its very own. The Gallery Players in Park Slope are presenting a new rendition of William Shakespeare’s blood-soaked tragedy. There’s no Donald Trump doppelganger playing the title role like there was in the Public Theater’s controversial Shakespeare in the Park production in Manhattan. Nevertheless, Brooklyn’s “Julius Caesar” is stellar — a whirlwind of passion and politics that sweeps you up and carries you away. The Park Slope theater group has compressed the Bard’s famous play, which was probably written in 1599, into 16 high-impact scenes. But don’t misunderstand. This isn’t Shakespeare Lite. It’s the real deal, and it’s powerful stuff. “Julius Caesar” is full of profoundly thought-provoking themes that are relevant to America’s tumultuous political climate. These themes include the danger of resorting to violence to overthrow a nation’s ruler — even when the goals are liberty, freedom and the eradication of tyranny, to paraphrase the rallying cry of Caesar’s nemesis, Brutus. Political repression and civil war are the ruinous consequences, as the play spells out in heart-wrenching detail.

A High-Minded Idealist and a Steely-Hearted Schemer The modern-dress production, which has just opened, is directed by James Dean Palmer. It features skilled young actors in the key roles of the Roman ruler Caesar, the chief conspirators against him, Brutus and Cassius, and Caesar’s avenger Marc Antony. Their youthfulness gives them an extra layer of glamor and charisma.

INSET: David Glover commands the stage as Brutus in the Gallery Players’ new production of “Julius Caesar” in Park Slope. 2 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, July 20, 2017

Griffin Sharps is a magnetic Caesar — a bearded hipster with great tattoos who is by turns imperious, paranoid and seductive. David Glover is an idealistic, impassioned Brutus. His preppy glasses, tweed jacket and thoughtful demeanor suggest a young philosophy professor. Thanks to gender-blind casting, actress Erin Anderson plays Cassius. She’s a steelyhearted schemer who deftly manipulates high-minded Brutus, drawing him into her faction’s plot to assassinate Caesar. Drew Ledbetter does a masterful job as Marc Antony, whose funeral oration for Caesar is one of the most brilliant political speeches in English-language theater. It’s the one that famously begins, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.” During the oration, a seething Roman mob stands in the theater aisles, which is a smart piece of staging. It implicitly turns audience members into mob members, too. There are lots of other smart touches in the production. For example, when the conspirators murder Caesar, they’re wearing white shirts, and so is he. This maximizes the shock value of the realistic-looking blood that is spilled. There are skilled Shakespeareans handling the secondary roles. One of them is Elisha Mudly, who plays Brutus’ wife, Portia. In a scene in which she begs her husband to confide in her about why he’s in a state of high anxiety, her eyes gleam with tears. When she asks him, “Dwell I but in the suburbs of your good pleasure?” the anguish is real. The Gallery Players’ production of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” runs through July 30. Performances are on Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 3 p.m. The group’s theater is at 199 14th St. in Park Slope. Go to bleedingpieceofearth.com for tickets or call OvationTix at 212352-3101. General-admission tickets are $25; tickets for seniors and kids under 12 are $20.

Photos courtesy of the Gallery Players

Titinius (played by Bibi Mama, left) shares a moment with Cassius (played by Erin Anderson) in the Gallery Players’ production of “Julius Caesar.”


Follow @BrooklynDailyEagle On Instagram and See Your World in Photos!

Let’s Connect: Tag @brooklyndailyeagle or hashtag #bkeagle Thursday, July 20, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 3


Our World In Pictures GERMANY — Flamingos Form a Heart: Flamingos stand in their enclosure at Hellabrunn zoo in Munich on Monday. AP Photo/MaƩhias Schrader

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Teen Robotics Specialists Work Together: Wissam Malaeb, 18, left, and Kareem Kawtharani, 17, with Team Lebanon, work on their robot during the FIRST Global Robotics Challenge on Monday. The challenge is an international robotics event with teams from more than 100 countries.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

4 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, July 20, 2017


A Special Section of BROOKLYN EAGLE Publications

INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan

July 20-26, 2017

Good Day Sunshine In Madison, Brooklyn

UM, WHERE? MADISON IS A NEIGHBORHOOD MANY FOLKS CAN’T FIND ON A MAP — BUT they’ve likely heard of James Madison High School, which is located there. It counts Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg among its numerous high-profile alums. The surrounding area is full of fine houses, such as this sunshine-hued stucco residence at 1633 East 27th St. Find out more in EYE ON REAL ESTATE, pages 2-4INB.


Check Out the Brooklyn Neighborhood Where Bernie Sanders,

Their Alma Mater Is James Madison High School; By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

A Brooklyn Version of Spanish-Revival Architecture

Feel the Bern. The most eye-catching houses in the area Sen. Bernie Sanders, the popular but ulti- were built in the 1920s or thereabouts, judging mately unsuccessful contender for the 2016 from certificates of occupancy in city Buildings Democratic Presidential nomination, went to Department records. high school in this Brooklyn neighborThe house designs are a pared-down hood. Brooklyn version of SpanishSo did United States Revival architecture — Sen. Bernie Sanders, seen Supreme Court Justice with stucco exteriors, Ruth Bader Ginsburg at a July 2017 rally supporting the asymmetrical facand Sen. Chuck ades and barrel Affordable Care Act, is one of James Schumer. tiles on their Madison High School’s many A nifty neighroofs, which distinguished alumni. borhood called have minimal AP Photo/John Minchillo Madison is the overhang. home of James Often these Madison High big, standSchool, which alone houses gets considerare on lawns able media attthat slope up ention because from the sideof its astonishing walk. number of highSometimes the profile alumni. facades are partly We would be brick, or completely remiss if we neglected to brick. mention that singer-songOver the years, some of writer Carole King and TV notable these Spanish Revival-style Judge Judy also graduated from the public houses have been enlarged or otherwise high school located at 3787 Bedford Ave. altered. Some have siding on them — but look The neighborhood around the school is great. called Madison. As Brooklyn real-estate afiBig old houses in other architectural styles cionados know, it is a place of great charm, can be found on corner lots in the neighborwith big suburban-style houses with lawns scat- hood. And some eye-catching big, new houses tered among smaller homes and 20th century have been built in Madison. Continued on page 3INB rowhouses.

That’s a fine turret on 3849 Bedford Ave.

INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan

This house looks like it belongs in the suburbs, but it’s located at 3993 Bedford Ave. in Brooklyn’s Madison section. INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan

This classic Madison house can be found at 2905 Quentin Road. INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan 2INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of July 20-26, 2017


Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chuck Schumer Went to High School Neighborhood Is Called Madison Continued from page 2INB There are apartment buildings here and there. Sen. Sanders grew up in one at 1525 East 26th St. near Kings Highway. Two noteworthy Madison houses were built long before the neighborhood was developed. They are Dutch Colonial-style city landmarks, one constructed before the Revolutionary War, the other in 1834. See related story.

Wear Comfy Shoes When You Go Seeking Architectural Eye Candy Madison is located just west of Marine Park. Some people consider Madison to be a part of Sheepshead Bay. “The Neighborhoods of Brooklyn,” an informative book edited by Kenneth T. Jackson and John B. Manbeck, identifies Madison’s boundaries as Ocean Avenue, Kings Highway, Nostrand Avenue, Gerritsen Avenue and Avenue U. It’s a great place spot to stroll and see architectural eye candy. But wear your most comfortable walking shoes. The closest subway station, the Kings Highway stop for the B and Q lines, is an 18-minute walk from East 28th Street, where many of Madison’s prettiest houses can be found. The houses on Avenue P are also especially great-looking, and so are the ones on East 26th Street near the high school. When you need to take a break from your stroll, you can eat baklava at Safir Bakery or have a cabbage roll at Jay & Lloyd’s Kosher Delicatessen. Both eateries are on Avenue U. See brooklyneagle.com for additional photos we snapped during our recent visit to Madison.

This brick house at 2702 Avenue P is across the street from James Madison High School’s athletic field.

Sunshine-colored 2801 Quentin Road is an eye-catcher.

There are many handsome homes in the Madison section of Brooklyn; for instance, 1650 East 28th St. (left) and 1644 East 28th St. (right). INBrooklyn photos by Lore Croghan

Week of July 20-26, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 3INB


Who’s Buying Madison’s Million-Dollar Houses? By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan

Betcha they’ll look fabulous when they’re renovated. Million-dollar houses — some of them in need of TLC — have sold recently in Madison, the neighborhood surrounding high-profile James Madison High School. We gleaned info about the buyers and the prices they paid from city Finance Department records. • In August 2016, Eric Goldberg and Sarah Goldberg paid $1.38 million for 2823 Quentin Road, which is on a 50-by-100foot lot on the corner of East 29th Street. The beautiful Spanish-Revival house’s lawn is overgrown with weeds and tall grasses — but the neighbors should take heart. In May, Sarah Goldberg filed renovation plans with the city Buildings Department for the conversion of the two-family home into a single-family residence. • In October 2016, Liman Kodza paid $1.2 million for 2701 Quentin Road. The stand-alone house is a pared-down SpanishRevival design on a big lot on the corner of East 27th Street. When we passed the house the other day, construction debris was stacked in the side yard and a contractor’s sign was posted. A certificate of occupancy we found in Buildings Department records indicates the house was built in 1925. • In April 2017, Shimon Ovadia and Sierra Ovadia paid $1.09 million for a single-family house at 3830 Bedford Ave. The midblock lot on which its located is 40 by 100 feet in size. Shimon Ovadia recently filed plans with the Buildings Department to enlarge the rear and side of the house. • In March 2017, Lenora Hassoun bought the house at

Houses in the Madison section of Brooklyn are selling for a pretty penny — like 2823 Quentin Road, for instance. 1857 East 24th St. for $989,000. Home improvement is underway. • Margareta Miller and Joseph Goldzal are in the process of building a horizontal extension at 1814 East 28th St., the single-

family house they bought for $935,000 in November 2015. • Sami Alkhabaz bought 2202 Avenue T, a house whose exterior is in less than perfect shape, for $800,000 in June 2015. It is located on the corner of East 22nd Street.

This Dutch-Colonial Farmhouse Is Near James Madison H.S. Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead Housed Hessians During Revolutionary War By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

If these walls could talk, they’d say snide stuff about the Hessian officers who moved in during the Revolutionary War.

This farmhouse, built about 1766, is located on a Brooklyn street a few blocks away from James Madison High School. The white-shingle house, which has a porch with a distinctive Dutch Colonial-style curved roof, is the centerpiece of the Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead. The city landmark also includes a barn and a white picket fence surrounding a vast yard that’s a remnant of the 100-acre farmland that once was part of the property. The neighborhood that grew up around the homestead in the early decades of the 20th century is called Madison. The presentday street address of the long-deceased Hessians’ hangout is 1669 East 22nd St. Three years ago, it was our good fortune to meet the modernday occupant of the house, Stuart Mont, and hear about its extraordinary history. See brooklyneagle.com to read that interview. He and his late wife, Annette Mont, purchased the WyckoffBennett Homestead from the estate of Gertrude Ryder Bennett Williams for $160,000 in 1983, city Finance Department records indicate. It had been designated as a city landmark in 1968. In 2016, Stuart Mont transferred ownership of the property to the Stuart Mont Revocable Trust with Randi Mont and Ira Mont

as trustees, Finance Department records show.

The Elias Hubbard Ryder House Is Another Neighborhood Treasure A second Madison historic home, the Elias Hubbard Ryder House, is Dutch Colonial in its architectural design though it was built in 1834 when America’s colonial days were over. The farmhouse at 1926 East 28th St. has a white-shingle facade and a sloping roof. It was designated as a city landmark in 1976. It’s a surprising sight to people passing down East 28th Street for the first time since it’s sandwiched between 20thcentury semi-attached houses and a line of 20th-century rowhouses. Members of the Ryder family owned the Elias Hubbard Ryder House as recently as 1966, Finance Department records indicate. Currently it belongs to David Hamou, who bought it for $730,000 in 2007, Finance Department records show. Earlier this year, the property was for sale. The most recent asking price was $1.05 million, online postings indicate. Lia Isaac of the Ready Group, the listing agent, recently told Eye on Real Estate that the house is off the market.

The Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead, which was built before the Revolutionary War, is located in the Madison section of Brooklyn. INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan 4INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of July 20-26, 2017


Crown Heights: The Crown Jewel Of Real Estate Investment in Brooklyn By Jonathan Berman, director of investment sales, & Brett Campbell, senior analyst, investment research Special to INBrooklyn

Photos courtesy of Ariel Property Advisors

The Brooklyn real estate investment market is currently transitioning from record sales in 2015, but energy abounds in Crown Heights, where major transformations, copious transportation options and relative affordability have spurred strong demand for multifamily assets by real estate investors. Historically a swanky neighborhood that catered to the elite, Crown Heights has blossomed into an eclectic enclave as diverse as New York City itself. Spanning from Washington Avenue on the west to Ralph Avenue on the east, the region has evolved dramatically over the years, due largely to a constant inflow of residents from other areas of Brooklyn, according to an upcoming Crown Heights Neighborhood Report by Ariel Property Advisors. The neighborhood boasts quintessentially Brooklyn architecture, a reminder of its early 20th century upper-class background. While elegant turn-of-the-century brownstones and pre-war multifamily buildings decorate many of the tree-lined streets, a deluge of modern developments have altered the landscape. In the first six months of 2017, Crown Heights saw 25 transactions totaling $912 million in sales, a 32 percent and 53 percent decrease from the second half of 2016, the report shows. Nevertheless, the neighborhood has been one of the most transactional in New York City. To that end, the region of Crown Heights, Bedford Stuyvesant and Bushwick accounted for 23 percent of all transactions in the 1H17, more than any other region of Brooklyn. Since Crown Heights was initially settled as a residential community for the upper class, building stock is dominated by one-to-threefamily townhouses. After townhouses, multifamily buildings, properties with five or more units account for 27 percent of the total building stock. These two categories comprise over 85 percent of the buildings, reflecting the dominance of the residential asset class, the report shows. Multifamily property prices in Crown Heights mirrored Brooklyn's overall trend, with the average price per square foot in 2016 increasing 19 percent to $357 per square foot

year-over-year. This appreciation is indicative of investors’ confidence in the neighborhood’s growth and stability. While prices have come down this year, they remain significantly above where they were several years ago. Nevertheless, the Brooklyn investment sales market has cooled since 2015, which was a record-setting year for investment sales in New York City. In the first half of 2017 there were 570 transactions totaling $3.58 billion in gross consideration, according to Ariel Property Advisors’ recently released “Multifamily Quarter In Review 2Q 2017.” These figures represent an 8 percent decrease in transactions and an 11 percent drop in dollar volume versus the second half of last year.

Prime Destination For Developers The Brooklyn real estate development market also slowed in the first half of the year, but activity is poised to pick up due to the recent reinstatement of the popular New York state 421-a tax incentive program. From January through June, the borough saw 148 development transactions totaling $1.04 billion, down 12 percent and 41 percent from the second half of 2016. Pricing, meanwhile, remained relatively stagnant with the average price per buildable square foot falling just 5 percent to $249 during the same period. Crown Heights registered 5 transactions totaling $47.9 million, with the average price per buildable square foot falling 16 percent year-over-year to $204. The expiration of the 421-a tax abatement more than a year ago dampened demand for new development projects throughout New York City, with the downturn in Brooklyn particularly pronounced. However, in April, New York state lawmakers revived 421-a, calling it “Affordable New York,” as part of the state’s $163 billion budget. With the return of 421-a, developers are expected to start building some of the projects that were put on hold over the past year. Indeed, developers are planning or currently embarking on large-scale projects, which will add hundreds of units to the housing stock and entice new residents to Crown Heights. Meanwhile, the looming shutdown of the LTrain in 2019 for a 15-month period essentially assures an influx of new residents to Crown Heights in the years ahead as the area has plentiful transportation options. The 2, 3, 4 and 5 trains all pass through the neighborhood, and the

Jonathan Berman, director of investment sales for Ariel Property Advisors

Jonathan Berman, director of investment sales for Ariel Property Advisors

Franklin Avenue Shuttle runs from Prospect Park to Fulton Street. Most areas of Crown Heights closely parallel that within areas of Bushwick along the L-Train, putting it at a strong advantage during this construction period. In addition, Crown Heights’ relatively lower rent should continue to lure new residents. According to an analysis by StreetEasy, Crown Heights has a median asking rent of $2,266, compared to $2,495 in Bushwick, a 9 percent discount.

Looking ahead, while the commercial real estate market in Brooklyn is more uncertain that it has been in recent years, Crown Heights remains a beacon of opportunity. The area’s architectural beauty, wealth of transportation, as well as its close proximity to significant landmarks and amenities — including Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and the Brooklyn Library — should continue to lure residents to the neighborhood, all but guaranteeing a strong commercial real estate market.

Place Your Ad: Call 718-422-7400

Week of July 20-26, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 5INB


--- CROSSWORD ---

(See answers on page 15.)

HOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every colmn, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once. Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: You must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column, or 3x3 box.

See answers on page 15. 6INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of July 20-26, 2017


FACES B T F D EHIND

HE

By Lisa Foodgirl

Special to INBrooklyn

Getting to Know Kitchen at Cobble Hill Once you walk inside Kitchen at Cobble Hill, the modern decor and relaxing jazz music playing in the background give a sense of refreshment and relaxation. The decor for Kitchen is special in that the entire space was designed by home furnishing retailer West Elm’s design service, making it the first restaurant in the country to be styled by the company. Kitchen also features a farm-to-table menu, offering organic grass-fed beef and wild-caught fish. OLGA POTAP, owner and manager of Kitchen originally came to the U.S. to go to school for finance. After graduating, she worked in corporate finance but lost her job during the 2008 financial crisis. After making jewelry for a while, Potap opened a coffee shop named Karloff and saw success. As Karloff continued to grow, Potap says that they eventually added a kitchen and transformed her coffee shop into a full-service restaurant. She soon decided to rebrand the restaurant and teamed up with West Elm for a full renovation of the space. With the restaurant’s new look also came a new name: Kitchen at Cobble Hill. The staff is One of Kitchen’s signature dishes Photo courtesy of Kitchen extremely hospitable and welcoming. MACKENZIE is originally from Columbus, Ohio but says that New York City feels like home now. While working at Kitchen, she has been studying and preparing to go into real estate. GILL is currently studying clinical psychology while working at Kitchen and is very passionate about his studies.  Rocco’s Tacos has added a walk-up window for quick take out if you have no time to sit inside for a full dining experience. The hours of walk-up window differ from normal business hours, but it is a great opportunity for anyone needing an emergency dose of fresh guacamole. Continued on page 8INB

At the walk-up window is STEPHANIE ABREU and ALIDA JIMENEZ. INBrooklyn photo by Bonnie Meeg Week of July 20-26, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 7INB


FACES B T F D EHIND

HE

By Lisa Foodgirl

Special to INBrooklyn

Continued from page 7INB Seven days a week, the energy of Rocco’s Tacos has drawn many of us in and now, the restuarant’s new window for take out will give residents an exciting new way to order.  “Prost!” Brooklyn has its own beer hall — Kings Beer Hall, located at 84 Saint Marks Place. It’s easy to learn to speak German while you’re at the hall, but MIRANDA will tell you that you can find choices from every corner of the world. Kings Beer Hall is like an authentic beer hall with all the trimmings, yet they take care of all your international tastes with both beer and bratwurst! Slide into one of the long tables, you can’t help but revel in the atmosphere. You may never get to use your tickets for your game at the nearby Barclays Center, because you’ll be having too much fun at Kings Beer Hall.

Take a look inside Kings Beer Hall. INBrooklyn photo by Bonnie Meeg

8INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of July 20-26, 2017


SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

HIGHLIGHTS FROM

MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM lands so strange, yet so familiar, so close to home. When: Daily, through July 31, 2017 Where: DUMBO/Manhattan Bridge (Adams Street, Plymouth Street and Anchorage Place)

Calendar Events July 20-26

Hoc Est Quod Video “This Is What I See” An exhibition of beads and sequin work by Nicholas Heller, who uses this traditional Haitian technique to create wall works that express strong social statements. When: Thursday through Sunday, through Aug. 18, 1-6 p.m. Where: Bushwick/Five Myles (558 St. Johns Place)

Arts

Enterprising Machines: Recent Drawings Jessica Gondek “Enterprising Machines” are works inspired by machine aesthetics that reference common tools and domestic utilitarian objects. The digitally printed elements Gondek composes recall blueprints or plans, and create a foundation for the modifcation of the context of these implements. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through July 30, 12-6 p.m. Where: DUMBO/A.I.R Gallery (155 Plymouth St.)

Rob Benavides and Jackie Dunn Smith New works by artists Jackie Dunn Smith and Rob Benavides. When: Wednesday through Monday, 12-8 p.m. Where: Williamsburg/Eight Swords Art Gallery (115 Grand St.) Coney Island Mermaids, 1996-2017 This show represents more than 20 years of work by New York native photographer Luke Ratray. Following the successful debut presentation in 2016 at Urban Folk Art Gallery, Sunny’s Bar is presenting the latest batch of images in this ongoing series. When: Daily, through July 22 Where: Red Hook/Sunny’s Bar (253 Conover St.) Kit & Caboodle Kit & Caboodle. Bric a Brac. Salmagundi. Potpourri. Not from Your Closet. Summer Group exhibitions are a good time to pull together new works, old classics and a variety of pieces by a selection of artists. Works ranging from Alfred Leslie’s extraordinary 1984 watercolor from “100 Views Along the Road” to Baron Von Fancy’s sign-painted slogans bang against each other, creating refreshing (no pun, Neil Winokur) juxtapositions. When: Tuesday through Saturday, through July 28, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Where: DUMBO/Janet Borden, Inc. (91 Water St.)

Hoc Est Quod Video “This Is What I See” will be on exhibit at Five Myles through Aug. 18. Image courtesy of Five Myles Forged Worlds This outdoor photography exhibition showcases work by seven artists whose photographic practices revolve around the physical construction of fictional landscapes. Installed on a fence beneath the Manhattan Bridge, this photo installation invites viewers to take a closer look and perhaps allow themselves to be carried away — if even for a moment — in thoughts and

Bridges This solo exhibition of work by noted Brooklyn-based artist Sam Messer reveals the breadth of Messer’s body of work and includes large-scale paintings of New York City’s iconic bridges, plus portrait drawings and animated videos from Messer’s “Years of the Cock,” composed of one video made daily in response to President Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. While the “Years of the Cock” videos provide trenchant commentary on politics of the moment, for Messer, the bridges have both physical and metaphorical appeal. When: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and Sunday, 12-6 p.m., through Aug. 6, Where: Fort Greene/BRIC House (647 Fulton St.) Next Stop: Second Avenue Subway Tracing nearly 100 years of history, the New York Transit Museum’s newest exhibit explores how the Second Avenue line fits into New Continued on page 10INB

Week of July 20-26, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 9INB


SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

HIGHLIGHTS FROM

MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Week of July 20-26, 2017 ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, you may need to make some modifications to your strategy as a situation continues to evolve. Don’t be afraid of change, as it is necessary to get the job done. TAURUS Apr 21/May 21 It can be difficult to separate facts from the fiction, Taurus. However, you generally are a good lie detector. Put your skills to use to determine if someone is stringing you along. GEMINI May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, some shocking information may find you reeling if you do not stay grounded. Although it comes as a surprise, with some processing you will be able to handle it. CANCER Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, address a potentially mess situation before it gathers too much steam. Communication is all that’s needed to ensure cooler heads ultimately prevail. LEO Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, allow your plans for self-improvement to take center stage, especially true if you have put them on the shelf for some time. Make yourself a priority. VIRGO Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, you don’t tend to be reckless, but even you can surprise others sometimes with your behavior. Let the tongues wag if it means stepping out of your comfort zone. LIBRA Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, take others’ candor with a grain of salt. They might just be blowing off steam and they will appreciate having someone there who listens. SCORPIO Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, you sometimes have a sarcastic sense of humor that makes you loved by some and disliked by others. Explain to the latter group that you mean no harm.

Continued from page 9INB York’s past, present and future transportation landscapes. When: Tuesday through Sunday, through Sept. 3, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday hours, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.) Where: Downtown Brooklyn/New York Transit Museum (Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street) Shifting Perspectives: Photographs of Brooklyn’s Waterfront This exhibition features the work of two dozen photographers whose images crisscross the Brooklyn shoreline, from Newtown Creek to Jamaica Bay. By picturing decades of Brooklyn’s coastal scenery, including its changing industrial and postindustrial environment, the exhibition presents dramatic panoramic vistas, spectacular aerial views, glimpses of popular recreational attractions, particularly in nearby Brooklyn Bridge Park and at Coney Island, and other scenes, including those impacted by natural or manmade forces, as well as by gentrification. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through Sept. 10, 12-5 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Historical Society (55 Water St.) We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965–85 Presenting a diverse group of artists and activists who lived and worked at the intersections of avant-garde art worlds, radical political movements and profound social change, this exhibition features a wide array of work, including conceptual, performance, film and video art, as well as photography, painting, sculpture and printmaking. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through Sept. 17 Where: Prospect Heights/Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway) NY Harbor Scenes Muralist and plein air painter Bill Mensching's oil paintings of high surf, crashing waves and stately vessels will grace the barge's walls When: Thursday, 4-8 p.m., and Saturday, 1-5 p.m., through Oct. 28 When: Red Hook/Waterfront Museum (290 Conover St.)

Books & Readings

SPLAT with Jon Burgerman See what happens when flipping the page of this gleeful picture book gets you — SPLAT — a pie in the face, followed by — SQUISH — an insect sandwich, and — SPLASH — a deluge of water balloons. Bright colors and appealing visual gags add up

Word Bookstore presents a reading of “SPLAT” with Jon Burgerman on Sunday, July 23. Image courtesy of Word Bookstore to a perfect mess — no cleanup necessary. When: Sunday, July 23, 3 p.m. Where: Greenpoint/Word Bookstore (126 Franklin Street) Summer Reading Storytime Join The Brooklyn Public Library for a rollicking good time listening to stories, singing songs, and enjoying the breeze from the water! Brooklyn Heights children’s librarian will read stories from the library’s summer reading list, plus a whole lot more When: Wednesday, July 26, 11 a.m. Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 3

Educational

Journey to the Stars On Thursday nights in July and August, members of the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York will set up highpowered telescopes for stargazing sessions that are free and open to the public. Weather permitting. When: Thursday, July 20, 8 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/Harbor View Lawn NYTM Train Operators Workshop Drop by the Computer Lab to take control of a NYC Subway car and operate it over virtual miles of track, using some incredibly realistic software. Continued on page 11INB

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, a possible breakthrough in your communication levels may open up a whole new world. This can only improve your relationships and help your career. CAPRICORN Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, you’re very good at balancing the elements of your life. This week may be especially challenging as many things come your way in rapid succession. AQUARIUS Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, others may seem sure about their actions even if you feel lost. Don’t put too much stock in it, as everyone copes with self-doubt from time to time. PISCES Feb 19/Mar 20 Some of your beliefs are non-negotiable, Pisces. This can make for some rather heated conversations. But you’re up to the challenge.

10INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of July 20-26, 2017


SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

HIGHLIGHTS FROM

MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Continued from page 10INB When: Saturday and Sunday, July 22-23, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Where: Downtown Brooklyn/ New York Transit Museum (Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street) The Amazing and Incredible History And Future of Brooklyn Animation Before Pixar, “The Simpsons,” WB Looney Tunes, and Walt Disney became synonymous with cartoons, American animation was born and bred in Brooklyn. Join animators John Canemaker and Jennifer Oxley, collector Tommy Stathes and archivist David Kay for a panel exploring the past, present and future of Brooklyn animation, featuring clips from Winsor McCay (“Gertie the Dinosaur”), Fleischer Studios (“Ko-ko the Clown,” “Betty Boop”), 100 Chickens — formerly known as 9 Ate 7 Productions (PEG + CAT), and more. When: Tuesday, July 25, 6:20 – 8 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Historical Society (128 Pierrepont Street) Death & Dharma Led by teachers from the BZC, each session will begin indoors with an insightful discussion that highlights Buddhist teachings on life and death. Afterward, just around sunset, attendees will gather for an outdoor meditation (weather permitting) within Green-Wood Cemetery’s tranquil greenspace. When: Tuesday, July 25, 7-8:30 p.m. Where: Greenwood Heights/Green-Wood Cemetery (500 25th St.)

Family Fun Family Discovery Weekends Hands-on stations throughout the garden’s meadow, woodland and marsh habitats and in the vegetable garden encourage families to explore nature together. When: Saturday, July 22, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Where: Crown Heights/Brooklyn Botanic Garden (990 Washington Ave.) Sing-Along Shabbat Experience Shabbat morning with singing, guitar and musical prayer. Families with 0-5-year-olds, plus siblings and caregivers, participate in a playful setting and form friendships. Followed by challah and grape juice with the Bay Ridge Jewish Center community. When: Saturday, July 22, 10:45-11:45 a.m. Where: Bay Ridge/Bay Ridge Jewish Center (405 81st St.) Jaynthi Moorthy: Parent-Child Workshop Explore art with your child, discover the artists’ process and learn new concepts about art making in this interactive workshop led by Jayanthi Moorthy. Open to kids ages 6 and up. Please RSVP to jmpixel@gmail.com as space and materials are limited. When: Saturday, July 22, 2 p.m. Where: DUMBO/A.I.R Gallery (155 Plymouth Street)

Food & Drink Happy Hours @ MetroTech Featuring double dutch classes in July and cornhole competitions in August. DJs will set the soundtrack for the evenings. Get a glass of wine or a beer outdoors at La Defense and Luciano’s and enjoy the summer evenings in MetroTech. When: Thursdays, 5-7 p.m. Where: MetroTech/Metrotech Commons Smorgasburg Prospect Park More than 100 local and regional food purveyors will gather on Breeze Hill to offer a range of cuisines. When: Sunday, July 23, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Where: Prospect Park

Health Body Combat Martial arts-inspired cardio. Your instructor will lead you through a workout that combines upper and lower body moves using power training, muay thai and karate. When: Friday, July 21, 7 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 6 Salsa Dance/Bachata Dance Classes Free classes. No partner or experience needed. All are welcome. When: Saturday, July 22, 7 p.m. Where: Park Slope/Dance Fever Studio (159 20th St.) Rooftop Yoga The one-hour class will overlook breathtaking views of the New York City skyline and will be led by everyone’s favorite yoga

The Williamsburg Bites Brooklyn Food Tour will take place again on Wednesday, July 26. instructor, Kristin Calabria. Bring your own yoga mat and towel. When: Sunday, July 23, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Where: Greenpoint/Northern Territory (12 Franklin St.) Broadway Dance Set to swinging show tunes, this class is appropriate for anyone who wants a safe, effective and fun workout. Sneakers are a must. A few notes: Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. before each class; children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; all participants must sign a waiver each morning. When: Monday, July 24, 10 a.m. Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 2

Nightlife

Brooklyn Bike Rave Closing Party Bedazzle your bike, put on your craziest outfit, blast some party tunes and be ready for sensory overload at the Brooklyn Bike Rave, a glowtastic night ride along the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Hundreds of cyclists will ride en masse along 7 miles of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway. Starting in Greenpoint, the group will ride through Williamsburg, travel inside the Brooklyn Navy Yard, through DUMBO and Brooklyn Bridge Park and loop back to finish under the iconic Archway under the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO. When: Saturday, July 22, 8 p.m. Where: Greenpoint and other neighborhoods along the Brooklyn waterfront greenway and ending at The Archway in DUMBO

Image courtesy of Like A Local Tours

Jett leads these peaceful Sunday morning walking tours to discover the many birds that call Green-Wood Cemetery home. Locally nesting birds will be incubating eggs or actively raising their first broods. When: Sunday, July 23, 6-7:30 a.m. Where: Greenwood Heights/Green-Wood Cemetery (500 25th St.) Williamsburg Bites Brooklyn Food Tour Discover the cultural delights and delectable bites of Brooklyn on a culinary walking tour of the Williamsburg neighborhood. With a knowledgeable guide, delve into the rich culinary history of the area as you visit iconic institutions to sample tasty treats like homemade ice cream and best pizza in Brooklyn. Pleasure your palate with seven full portion tastings, interspersed with vibrant street art and panoramic vistas of New York's globally renowned skyline. Vegetarian options are also available on this taste bud tantalizing tour. When: Wednesday, July 26, 1 p.m. Where: Williamsburg/Meet at Williamsburg Mini Mall two blocks from the Bedford Avenue L Subway

Theatre & Music

Live at the Archway: Ola Fresca An annual series of free performances and events taking place at the unique setting of the Manhattan Bridge in DUMBO, reflecting the neighborhood’s diversity and commitment to the arts and showcasing a broad variety of musical genres and dance programming. This week’s performance is Ola Fresca. Plus salsa class with Hunter Houde and The Artist Interactive: James Nazarov. When: Thursday, July 20, 6 p.m. Where: DUMBO/The Archway (Water Street & Anchorage Place) Iron Maiden Book of Souls Tour. Catch them at their final stop of their twoyear worldwide tour. When: Friday and Saturday, July 21-22, 7:30 p.m. Where: Downtown Brooklyn/Barclays Center (620 Atlantic Ave.)

Tours Birding in Peace Before our gates open to the general public, birding expert Rob

Week of July 20-26, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 11INB


12INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of July 20-26, 2017


Week of July 20-26, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 13INB


BROOKLYN’S BEST GUIDE TO GOODS & SERVICES ADOPTION

HELP WANTED

REAL ESTATE

Happily married, offering unconditional love, top notch education, secure future to newborn. Expenses paid. Contact Sarah & Roly (646) 3424539. Se habla español! adoptivefamilyNYC@gmail.com.

AIRLINE CAREERS Start Here – Get trained as FAA certified Aviation Technician. Financial aid for qualified students. Job placement assistance. Call AIM for free information, 866-296-7094.

WATERFRONT CABIN SITE 5 AC - $79,900 Tiny unspoiled lake, private woodlands, Utils. Stunning upstate NY location! Terms avail . 888-

ARTS

LEGAL SERVICES

BROOKLYN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS brooklyncenter.com 718-951-4500 2017 Season In Full Swing

AUTO DONATIONS Donate your car to Wheels For Wishes, benefiting Make-AWish. We offer free towing and your donation is 100% tax deductible. Call (855) 376-9474.

COMPUTER/ IT SOLUTIONS MSI NET, INC.

www.msiny.com 718-921-6136 Protecting your investment for over 25 years

FARMING

GOT LAND? Our Hunters will Pay Top $$$ To hunt your land. Call for a Free info packet & Quote. 1-866-309-1507, www.BaseCampLeasing.com.

FURNITURE H&A UPHOLSTERY

146 Montague St., 2nd Fl Brooklyn, NY 11201 718-855-9664 Master Craftsmen

HEALTH SILDENAFIL – Active Chemical in VIAGRA 20mg, 30 Tablets for $35. By Greenstone, a Pfizer Company. Rye Beach Pharmacy- Rye, NY. 914-9670856, Ext 5 – Can FedEx. RyeRx.com; info@ryerx.com.

479-3394.

LEGAL SERVICES

HUDSON VALLEY LAND BARGAINS 5 TO 50 ACRES FROM $49,900! 20 mins from Albany, 2 hrs GW Bridge! Woods, stonewalls, privacy! Terms! 888-905-8847, NewYorkLandandLakes.com.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

DRANOW LAW OFFICES & APPELLATE PRINTING 516-286-2980 www.dranowlaw.com 114 Old Country Rd, Ste 308, Mineola, NY

JP&R ADVERTISING AGENCY

www.jpandr.com, 212-267-6698 We are Legal Notice Experts

JOSHUA ANNENBERG

JOB OPPORTUNITY

212-962-6289, www.annenberglaw.com APPELLATE COUNSEL

SILBERSTEIN, AWAD & MIKLOS, P.C. 877-ASK4SAM www.ask4sam.com Excellence is powerful lawyering

RANDY BOTWINICK

www.randy-botwinick.com Personal Injury Lawyer

MISCELLANEOUS FOR SALE

LESSONS/SCHOOLS

KILL BED BUGS! Buy Harris Bed Bug Killers/ KIT Complete Treatment System. Available: Hardware Stores. The Home Depot, homedepot.com. Try Harris Guaranteed Roach Killers Too!

Join Our Statewide Classified Network

LEGAL SERVICES

14INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of July 20-26, 2017


BROOKLYN’S BEST GUIDE TO GOODS & SERVICES UPHOLSTERY

WANTED

JOB ALERT WANTED: Tall, athletic person to wear huge bird costume at public events. (Don’t worry, no one will recognize you.) Actors welcome, flexible schedule, $20/hour.

Send your info to: applicants@brooklyneagle.com

Photographers & iPhone Users: Send me photos of large delivery trucks getting stuck where they should not be. Blocking traffic to unload, or blocked by illegally parked cars. $20 Starbucks gift card if we use your photo.

Send image to: samhowe@brooklyneagle.com

JOIN BROOKLYN’S BEST GUIDE TO GOODS AND SERVICES.

READY FOR WORK TELL THE WORLD: Writers, bloggers, designers, photographers to tell your story once, or share news of your products and ideas on an ongoing basis. Let us know what you need. If we can help, we'll make a proposal customized to your needs.

Contact info @greatbridgeassociates.com

SUDOKU ANSWERS Continued from page 6

We Can Expand Your Reach To New Customers EXPONENTIALLY Using Images and Social Media Along Call Today! With Our Popular Websites and Blogs 718-422-7400

CROSSWORD ANSWERS Continued from page 6

Join Our Statewide Classified Network Week of July 20-26, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 15INB


16 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of July 20-26 2017


Our World In Pictures WASHINGTON, D.C. — Trump Dons a Cowboy Hat: President Donald Trump tries on a Stetson hat during a “Made in America” product showcase featuring items created in each of the U.S. 50 states, on Monday at the White House. Stetson is based in Garland, Texas. AP Photo/Alex Brandon TORONTO — Performer Dances with Bow: A dancer performs during the opening ceremony of the North American Indigenous Games on Sunday. Mark Blinch/The Canadian Press via AP

Thursday, July 20, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 5


11th Annual Bay Ridge Arab-American Bazaar Brings Families and Fun to Shoreline Park EID Celebration Also Marks End Of Traditional Ramadan Fast By Andy Katz Special to Brooklyn Eagle

The Yemeni band was nowhere to be found when the time came for them to perform in Shoreline Park, but no one seemed to mind. Eyes shielded by her trademark aviator sunglasses, controversial activist and former Arab American Association of New York Executive Director Linda Sarsour took the stage: “I invite all of my brothers and sisters from Yemen to dance and enjoy themselves while we play traditional music and our next act has time to get ready!” And that is just what they did. Young men, arms interlocked, formed rough circles to dance on the grass. A few women joined in, moving in and out of the men’s circle, while other women formed circles of their own, swirling and cavorting to recorded music. The 11th Annual Bay Ridge Arab-American Bazaar was well underway. Arrayed before a stage where Freedom Dakba Group, Zaid Al-ramuni and Fahim Dandan would perform, a wide circle of merchants had the opportunity to share their products. Halal food vendors worked their grills, and the odor of spiced chicken and lamb filled the mild-summer air. “I’m very pleased with the turnout,” Sarsour said later.

Young man in traditional attire with a prominent curved dagger, known as a jambiya.

Admitting she was terrible at crowd tallies, she hedged: “We have at least as many as last year — 2,500 — maybe a few more.” “What can I say,” City Councilmember Carlos Menchaca told the Brooklyn Eagle. “This is a great event. Inclusive, joyful. I never miss it!” “The whole community looks forward to the Bazaar,” said Habib Judeh, Arab American Association of New York vice president. “Everyone pitches in. There is a real spirit going on.” Despite it being a campaign season, overt politicking was discouraged. Sitting politicians and candidates were welcome to partake of the festivities, but not given time for speeches. The only official political activity consisted of a voter registration tent set off to one side of the stage, where volunteers helped residents fill out forms while explaining the regulations. “We wanted to make everyone welcome,” Sarsour said. “So, it seemed best to give partisan politics the day off.” One very visible candidate for the City Council’s 43rd District seat, soon to be vacated by a term-limited Vincent Gentile, was Rev. Khader El-Yateem. The Salaam-Arabic Lutheran Church pastor stood by himself on the grass with an order of freshly cooked falafel. “[My campaign has] more than 3,000 signatures now,” ElYateem said. “I feel there’s a chance for us to demonstrate that people’s voices count; they can be heard, and each one of their votes will matter.” In spite of Facebook page admonitions to the contrary, some celebrants brought flags from their native countries, which they unfurled and waved as they danced. After the Yemeni music finished, Sarsour took to the stage to introduce the new executive director of the Arab American Association of New York, Rama Issa-Ibrahim, who praised her predecessor as “a courageous and outspoken advocate for the Arab Muslim community … I stand by Linda!”

Arab American Association of NY leaders and bazaar organizers, from left: Habib Joudeh, Isam Mualla and current Arab American Association of New York President Dr. Ahmad Jaber.

Salaam-Arabic Lutheran Church Pastor and City Council candidate Rev. Khader El-Yateem with campaign worker Lorraine Speirs. Eagle photos by Andy Katz

Incoming Arab American Association of New York Executive Director Rama Issa-Ibrahim salutes the audience, proclaiming, “I stand with Linda!”

We Can Expand Your Reach To New Customers EXPONENTIALLY Using Images and Social Media Along Call Today! With Our Popular Websites and Blogs 718-422-7400 6 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, July 20, 2017


One Hundred Borough Criminals: A Review of ‘Brooklyn’s Most Wanted’ By John B. Manbeck Special to Brooklyn Eagle

Cover: Elijah Toten

Selecting the most colorful of Brooklyn’s “made men” was not difficult, but reaching for 100 of them can be a challenge. Craig McGuire achieved the goal by searching for every possible criminal activity in the borough and examining in detail the modus operandi of each subject. His detailed, breezy writing style perfectly matches the street patois of the theme. Each individual, 90 percent of whom are male, has a detailed description of their background and the most infamous of his or her crimes. Topics cover murders, extortion, cults, child murderers, corruption, hostages, sex scandals, robbers, serial murders and Walter O’Malley. Some are renowned (Lepke; Gallo; Gambino; Abe Reles, “the canary who couldn’t fly”; and Capone, “the Babe Ruth of organized crime”), while others are obscure. Many are outgrowths of Prohibition, while more recent names, such as politicians Anthony Weiner and Carl Kruger, have been sensationalized. McGuire covers this in his subtitle “Criminals, Crooks and Creeps.” Surprisingly, some of the names do not easily relate to Brooklyn, like Billy the Kid. Others — John Wilkes Booth, for example — are a stretch. Booth’s Brooklyn associations are his performances at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) and a spurious account of a diary left on a train that may be buried in a tunnel under Atlantic Avenue.

Many of the surnames are Italian and Jewish, but there is a sprinkling of Russians, Irish, Polish and Greek felons. McGuire has rated each “perp” on the significance of the crime(s) committed. The most heinous criminal is Albert Fish, labeled “a Brooklyn vampire,” but in reality, a cannibal who outdid Hannibal. While most of the crimes involve violence, others are associated with robbery (Willie “that’s where the money is” Sutton), politics, fraud (selling the Brooklyn Bridge) and simple dishonesty. Very helpful is an “official walking tour” map at the beginning of the book and a legend explaining where some of the more notorious of the crimes occurred at “the crossroads of the underworld.” Unfortunately, no index appears in the volume, but a list of other book references about many of the subjects appears at the end, as well as occasional illustrative mug shots. McGuire’s fulltime job is co-director of an advisory organization, Brooklyn Creative Partners. And I must reveal that once upon a time, he was my journalism student at Kingsborough Community College and has published one other book, “Beyond the Ides: Why March Is the Unluckiest Month of All.” McGuire indicates that he is open to suggestions. I’m certain he could find another 100 by researching other ethnic groups — the Chinese in Sunset Park, the Arabs in Flatbush and the Caribbeans in Canarsie. And then there’s the 1874 kidnapping of 4-year-old Charlie Ross from Germantown outside

Philadelphia that ended with a shootout in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge near the home of Justice Charles Van Brunt. Charlie was never found.

INSET: Brooklyn historian and writer John B. Manbeck Eagle file photo

Thursday, July 20, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 7


‘Anima e Cuore’: An Interview with ‘Napoli, Brooklyn’ Co-Star Elise Kibler By Peter Stamelman Special to Brooklyn Eagle

A writer needs a computer (or, if she’s oldschool, a pen and a pad); a photographer needs a camera and film; a painter, canvas and paint. But for an actor, it’s not that simple: She needs an audience. She also needs a thick skin, a sense of humor, stamina and inexhaustible confidence. Elise Kibler, currently co-starring as Vita Muscolino in Meghan Kennedy’s “Napoli, Brooklyn” at the Roundabout at Laura Pels Theatre, would seem to have all four. Since graduating from NYU, she’s gone on countless, often-times (as with any actor) fruitless auditions. Check the “thick skin” box. In the Playbill for “Napoli, Brooklyn,” Kibler, who plays one of three Italian-American sisters growing up in 1960s Park Slope, describes herself as “a female with brown hair and a strong immune system.” So, check the “sense of humor” box. On Broadway, she’s played three roles in the same production: Becky, Clara and Denise in “The Heidi Chronicles.” Check the “stamina” box. She understudied Tavi Gevinson in “This is Our Youth” — but never went on. Check the “inexhaustible confidence” box. It therefore comes as no surprise that, when asked who her favorite actress is, Kibler immediately answers “Barbara Stanwyck,” an actress who once famously said: “I hate whiners. You have to fight life and make it work for you.” On a recent Sunday, before the 2 o’clock matinee of “Napoli, Brooklyn,” I sat down with Kibler, who lives in Williamsburg, to discuss her career trajectory after graduating from NYU, how she deals with the grind of auditions, her mechanisms for coping with rejection and what keeps her energized and positive. Below are edited excerpts of our conversation. Eagle: Growing up [in Oak Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago], did you always know you wanted to be an actress? Elise Kibler: Yes. My parents signed me up for a community theater program and from the start it felt completely right, completely straightforward. It was immediate; I fell in love with the whole process. It was what I knew I wanted to do with my life. Eagle: Were your parents encouraging? EK: Yes, absolutely! My dad always used to say, “Why not you?” Eagle: Can you remember the first play your parents took you to? EK: “The Phantom of the Opera.” My dad

took me when I was in second grade. It was a big deal. I borrowed a fancy dress from one of my friends and I remember I also borrowed a little muff, because it was winter. And because I was so petrified, I had to sit in my dad’s lap the whole time. But I loved it. Eagle: Are there any photos memorializing that first theater outing that we can use to accompany this interview? EK: [Laughing] There probably are, but you can’t have them! Eagle: How long did it take for you and Jordyn [DiNatale, who plays Francesca Muscolino] and Lili [Kay, who plays the third sister, Tina] to bond — to really feel like you were the Muscolino sisters? EK: We actually have the entire cast to thank for that, because every cast member is so easy to be around that we all bonded. When you like everyone you’re working with, that’s the perfect foundation to allow for trust. And, without giving too much away, the whirlwind nature of the play brings us all together. When

signs — “Kentile Manufacturing Co.” and “Duffy Meats” hanging stage right and center, the unadorned hanging lamps, whose lighting suggests mid-century streetlamps, the backdrop of Eighth Avenue in Brooklyn circa 1960… EK: Well, actually I’m glad you’re describing all that because [the cast doesn’t] actually see it. I mean, we see what’s in front of us, of course, but we don’t really get the full scope that the audience gets. Eagle: Wait, you don’t even see that massive crucifix and the long shadow it casts? EK: You do, but it’s above you so it’s not really in your line of vision. I will say, the music [traditional recordings of Neapolitan folk songs and popular ’50s Italian songs like “Anima Cuore”] feels immersive — and necessary — because most of our scenes are brief and the music fills those breaks. Eagle: How lucky do you feel to be wearing Jane Greenwood’s costumes? EK: Oh my God, we’re so spoiled! She’s the best. Eagle: Let’s talk about a young actor’s life, starting with auditions and landing the next role. Would I be correct in assuming that even while you’re in a play, you’re going out on auditions for the next one? EK: Yes, absolutely, you always continue to audition, as long as it doesn’t conflict with your current commitment.

we went off-book and got into the theater and started running with the material and playing with it — that’s when things got really juicy and creative. Eagle: Had you seen the original Long Wharf production? EK: I had not — and actually, I’m glad I didn’t, because I think it’s good to come in fresh. Eagle: Eugene Lee’s set design is remarkably vivid and detailed: The two prominent

Eagle: How do you manage to juggle learning “sides” for the auditions with maintaining your focus on the play you’re doing? EK: It might seem overwhelming from the outside, but it’s just part of the job in the acting world. You learn to compartmentalize. And it’s a gift, because you’re always hoping you can line up another job on the tail-end of the one you have. Personally, I enjoy it — it makes me feel saturated in the thing I love. The only time it’s tough is when you’re in previews, in which case you’re rehearsing for most of the day and doing the show at night. It’s only under those circumstances that I sometimes find it tough to make space for new information. After the show opens, you get your days back to yourself. Eagle: What has been your experience with casting directors? Anything comparable to Emma Stone’s “Mia” in “La La Land,” where you’ve auditioned while a casting director is taking a phone call? Or ordering out for food? EB: Happily, my experience with casting directors has been almost exclusively positive. There are several really special casting directors

Elise Kibler

Photo courtesy of Polk & Company

here in New York and, generally, the feeling is they want you to succeed and to surprise them. Certain casting directors really make you feel seen as an artist, which in turn inspires you to do your best work for them. Those are casting directors you can’t wait to show your work to. Eagle: What’s your internal mechanism for coping with rejection? EK: Rejection is simply the nature of the game, especially when you’re starting out. If being rejected overwhelmingly more often than being accepted is your nightmare, then acting is not the job for you! Over time, you figure out how to best take care of yourself. For me, that means long walks after auditions. In terms of coping with negative feedback specifically, it’s different, of course, for everyone, but maybe it’s about hearing your own voice stronger than anyone else’s. Eagle: You know that classic Harold ArlenJohnny Mercer song “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive”? You seem to have it in your DNA. How do you manage it? EK: I love my job! I don’t think this is particular to acting. When you love something, you take the bad with the good because the good is incomparable. Also, it’s important to surround yourself with a community of people who believe in you and who you believe in. And when things get tough you lean on them. Really hard. Eagle: Last question: I know that Tavi Gevinson is also from Oak Park... EK: Yup, we grew up together! Eagle: Is it difficult when you and Tavi — or any friend — are up for the same part? EK: Of course, you can’t help but have competitive feelings, but if the person is really a friend, you’re on the same team. Whenever a friend books something, one of my buddies always says, “It was one of us!” That kind of sums it up for me also. Like, it’s all in the family, your turn is coming! There’s a dear friend I went to school with who I now see at auditions all the time. We always say, “If it ain’t me, make it her!” Eagle: I’m impressed; are you always able to be so upbeat? EK: Well, no... because sometimes, yeah, it does just suck, but that’s OK, too. You use it as fuel for the next one. Stanwyck could not have said it better. “Napoli, Brooklyn” runs through Sept. 3 at the Roundabout at Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre. For schedule and ticket information, visit roundabouttheatre.org.

Company of “Brooklyn, Napoli” 8 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, July 20, 2017

Photo by Joan Marcus

INSET: Elise Kibler, Lilli Kay and Jordyn DiNatale (left to right.) Photo by Joan Marcus


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.