Greenpoint Gazette

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GREENPOINT | WILLIAMSBURG

VOLUME 45 | NUMBER 37

OCTOBER 5, 2017

Two Sections

(718) 422-7400

25¢

Good Day Sunshine on Driggs Avenue in Greenpoint

Get out and enjoy the sunshine while the weather’s still great. That’s what folks are doing on Driggs Avenue in Greenpoint. See brooklyneagle.com for more photos of the neighborhood.

Brooklyn Eagle photo by Lore Croghan

Thousands Flock to Jamie Jones’ Paradise Party

Brooklyn Museum to Host David Bowie Exhibition Ravers descended on East Williamsburg for “Paradise,” the highly anticipated party from renowned Welsh DJ and producer Image courtesy of the artist and Open Source Gallery Jamie Jones. Pictured: Jaime Jones plays back‐to‐back with Dubfire. See page 3.

The Brooklyn Museum will be the final stop on the world tour of the exhibition “David Bowie Is,” which was organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Pictured above: Rock star David Bowie attends an awards show in this June 5, 2007 file photo taken in New York. See page 4. AP Photo by Steven Chernin

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/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, October April 5, 2017 Wednesday, 6, 2016

Retail Tactics: Brooklyn Delivery Firm Aligns With Wal-Mart Associated Press Wal-Mart is sharpening its same-day delivery skills through the acquisition of a small, New York City company.

Wal-Mart said Tuesday that Parcel, with a warehouse in Brooklyn, has learned to deftly navigate densely populated areas and get groceries to customers fast. That last

leg is key for all retailers in a transformed landscape where the ability to deliver at speed and with low costs brings tremendous advantages in fending off competitors like Amazon.com. In recent weeks, politicians and community leaders like Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President

and CEO Andrew Hoan, have made pushes to bring Amazon’s proposed headquarters to the borough.

Three years ago, Amazon surpassed Wal-Mart as the most valuable retailer in the U.S. and this year it acquired Whole Foods Market, the Greenpoint Gazette reported in a Sept. 14 article.

The announcement comes

just a few days after WalMart Stores Inc. introduced higher-end, online groceries that are aimed at younger urbanites. Parcel will deliver fresh and frozen groceries from Wal-Mart and its company, Jet.com, as well as general merchandise. Wal-Mart purchased online retailer Jet for more than $3 billion last year.

Wal-Mart’s focus on fast, local delivery shows how priorities have shifted for major retailers as they travel to shoppers’ homes, rather than the other way around.

Nate Faust, senior vice president of Wal-Mart’s U.S. eCommerce supply chain, said in a company release that Parcel already has partnerships with several meal

kit, grocery and e-commerce companies, and has delivered more than 1 million meals in the past two years. Wal-Mart plans to grow that base.

Wal-Mart is not saying how much it paid for Parcel, other than that it was smaller than a number of acquisitions it’s made in the past year. The transaction closed last Friday.

Brooklyn Court Fines Drug Company $260M For Selling Misbranded Cancer Drugs

By Rob Abruzzese Greenpoint Gazette

One of the nation’s largest wholesale drug companies pled guilty in Brooklyn’s Federal Court Wednesday morning to illegally distributing misbranded drugs and for failing to register with the Food and Drug Administration. It agreed to pay a fine of $260 million.

AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group (ABSG) pled

guilty to the charges in front of U.S. District Court Judge Nina Gershon.

According to court documents, two of ABSG’s Alabama-based subsidiaries, Medical Initiatives Inc. and Oncology Supply Company, prepared syringes with pre-filled and mislabeled oncology supportive care drugs. The syringes were then shipped all over the country to oncology centers to cancer patients undergoing

chemotherapy. Thirty-seven of those centers are located in the Eastern District of New York, which includes Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island.

“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates our commitment to investigating and holding accountable any pharmaceutical company that fails to ensure the health and safety of the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Rohde. “This office will continue to work actively with

the FDA to ensure that those responsible for America’s drug supply scrupulously comply with the law and provide safe products that doctors and patients can trust.”

According to prosecutors, to prepare the syringes, the ABSG subsidiary companies removed FDA-approved drugs from their original glass vials and then repackaged them into smaller plastic syringes and sold the excess “overfill.”

Chamber of Commerce Meets with City Leaders

By Paula Katinas Greenpoint Gazette

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce has traveled over the years to Washington, D.C. and to Albany to meet with influential lawmakers at the federal and state levels to promote the borough’s economic agenda. But until this year, the Chamber had not organized a delegation to go to City Hall to talk up Brooklyn businesses.

That changed on Sept. 27, when Chamber President and CEO Andrew Hoan and Chairwoman Denise Arbesu led a delegation of more than 50 members for the organization’s inaugural City Legislative Visit.

It was the first such visit in the Chamber’s nearly 100-year history.

Sponsored by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, the City Legislative Visit gave Chamber members the chance to meet with key officials in city government, like Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Comptroller Scott Stringer and Public Advocate Letitia James, as well as officials in the de Blasio administration, to discuss

ways to help Brooklyn’s economy grow and prosper.

The de Blasio administration officials who sat down with the Chamber included Lindsay Greene, of the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development; Jon Paul Lupo, of the Office of City Legislative Affairs; and Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Gregg Bishop.

The Chamber also met with members of the City Council’s Brooklyn delegation.

Hoan and Arbesu presented the Chamber’s Legislative Agenda, a document containing numerous items the organization would like to see the city take action on.

“It’s an exciting time in Brooklyn, but with economic growth comes many challenges,” Arbesu and Hoan wrote in a message published in the Legislative Agenda. “We believe the borough’s economy and growth can be adapted to provide equitable opportunity for all Brooklynites.”

Among the items on the chamber’s Legislative Agenda: expand “buy local” campaigns to promote small businesses;

provide rent subsidies for small business owners, implement commercial zoning protections; provide resources to help small businesses adapt to change; and offer tax credits to landlords who provide long-term leases to commercial tenants.

“The City Legislative Agenda’s primary purpose is to promote Brooklyn as the best place to do business,” Arbesu and Hoan wrote in their message.

A highlight of the visit was Brooklyn Night, a party in which the Chamber invites city officials to come and taste many of the tasty treats prepared by the borough’s business owners.

The fun-filed event, which took place at the Barleycorn Craft Bar & Grill, drew a large and lively crowd.

At the party, Mark-Viverito presented Hoan and Arbesu with a City Council proclamation.

The Chamber has long enjoyed a close working relationship with elected officials at all levels of government.

In March, the Chamber sent its largest contingent ever, more than 90 members, up to the state Capitol in Albany to meet with lawmakers and representatives

of the Cuomo Administration as crucial state budget negotiations got underway prior to the adoption of the state budget.

During the Albany visit, Chamber members met with virtually every member of the Brooklyn delegations to the state Senate and State Assembly.

With 21 members, the assembly’s Brooklyn delegation is the largest in that legislative body.

Assemblymember Joseph Lentol (D-North Brooklyn) is the chairman of the Brooklyn delegation. There are six state senators representing the borough.

The Chamber, which was founded in 1918, is the largest chamber of commerce in New York state, according to Hoan, who became the organization’s leader in December 2016. The organization has more than 2,100 members, from large corporations to mom and pop stores.

Headquartered at 335 Adams St. in Downtown Brooklyn, the Chamber offers assistance to businesses large and small, promotes the borough nationally and internationally as a great place to do business and serves as a voice for the business community.

This was all allegedly done in unclean and unsterile environments that resulted in particles and foreign matter to contaminate the drugs, prosecutors said. Employees even termed these contaminants “floaters,” according to court documents.

ABSG did not register with FDA to avoid regulatory oversight. As a result, it told customers and state agencies that it was a state-regulated pharmacy and claimed they were in compliance with all state pharmacy laws. This was in an attempt to exploit a loophole provided for legitimate pharmacies, not manufacturers or re-packagers of drugs, ac-

cording to prosecutors.

ABSG has agreed to pay a criminal fine of $208 million and it will give up another $52 million in criminal forfeiture. It has also agreed with the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch to maintain a compliance and ethics program that is designed to increase accountability of corporate board members.

Rohde explained that the Department of Justice Consumer Protection Branch, the FDA Office of the Chief Counsel and the Alabama Board of Pharmacy assisted her to prosecute the drug company.

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NEW BUSINESS FORMATIONS 11226

ITAL ROOTS LLC

City Council Speaker Melissa Mark‐Viverito (left) is joined by Councilmembers Vincent Gentile and Alan Maisel (right) as she presents a City Council proclamation to Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Denise Arbesu (second the left) and President and CEO Andrew Hoan (center).

Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: ITAL ROOTS LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 9/20/2017. 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 Ital Roots, 220 East 31st St, Bsmt Brooklyn, NY, 11226. Purpose/character of LLC: Any Lawful Purpose. #153849

11228

A GUILDED WEDDING, LLC

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: A GUILDED WEDDING, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 9/8/2017. 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 C/O United States Corporation Agents, Inc.,7014 13th Avenue, Suite 202 Brooklyn, NY, 11228. Pur-

pose/character of LLC: Any Lawful Purpose. #153975

11231

277 RED HOOK LLC

Notice of Formation of a Limited Liability Company ( LLC) Name: 277 Red Hook LLC Articles of Organization filed by the Department of State of New York on: 05/08/2017 Office location: County of Kings Purpose: any and all lawful activities Secretary of State of New York (SSNY ) is designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to: 277 Van Brunt Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 #153649

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Wednesday, March / Williamsburg / Bushwick

Thursday, October 5, 2017

3

In industrial Brooklyn, Thousands Flock to Jamie Jones’ Paradise Party at Brooklyn Mirage

The Brooklyn Mirage, a colossal music venue in East Williamsburg, has slowly but surely become a staple of Brooklyn’s underground music scene.

By Scott Enman Greenpoint Gazette

Everyone has his or her own definition of paradise.

Merriam-Webster defines it as “a place or state of bliss, felicity or delight.”

For some, the term may evoke images of whitesanded beaches on a remote island.

For others, verdant meadows in the countryside may come to mind.

But for the thousands of young adults who thronged to The Brooklyn Mirage on Saturday, Sept. 23, the word took on a whole different meaning.

Ravers descended on East Williamsburg for “Paradise,” the highly anticipated party from renowned Welsh DJ and producer Jamie Jones.

Making its New York City debut, the Ibiza-born bash brought everything revelers have come to expect from the famous party series, namely an excellent lineup of DJs, extravagant decorations and debauchery that extends well into the next day.

From the Party Capital of the World to the City That Never Sleeps, Jamie Jones’ events never disappoint, and Saturday was no exception.

“We’ve had a chance to recover and want to say: What. A. Party. A huge thank you to all who made this sold-out event so special and such fun,” read a

post from The Brooklyn Mirage’s Facebook page.

“To each and every artist on both stages, to the entire [Paradise] team, our tireless staff, and, of course, to all of you: The vibe and energy was off the charts.”

In addition to Jamie Jones, other artists on the bill included Dubfire, Tiga, Honey Dijon, Doc Martin, Nathan Barato and David Berrie.

Surrounded by scrapyards, warehouses and truck depots, The Brooklyn Mirage, bordered by a metal fence, conforms to the area’s industrial vibes. From the exterior, the unassuming club looks like

Paradise is considered one of the best parties in Ibiza for its excellent lineup of DJs, extravagant decorations and de‐ bauchery‐filled nights that extend well into the next day. a gated compound.

With the faint odor of Newtown Creek in the breeze and the rumble of forklifts in the distance,

pedestrians might never know there is a hip venue in front of them were it not for the swaying of palm fronds and the slight vibrations

from the bassline in the air.

Once inside, the club, which has slowly but surely become a staple of Brooklyn’s underground music scene, boasts a lush oasis of tropical florae.

The seemingly endless labyrinth of corridors, staircases and nooks brings surprises at every turn.

On Saturday, the colossal space featured two stages, one reserved for New York’s local talent and the other for the headlining DJs. For as far as the eye could see, bodies swayed side to side as they were covered in warm reds and

Jamie Jones (background) shares an intimate moment with Dubfire on Saturday during their two‐hour back‐to‐back ‘90s house set.

Photos by @aLIVEcoverage

cool blues.

Like a nation-state, The Brooklyn Mirage uses its own payment system within its walls. Attendees linked their credit cards to wristbands, which could be used at the bar to pay for drinks.

The unique procedure saved time for guests and kept people moving fluidly so that they could dance more and wait less.

Montreal-based DJ and producer Tiga properly warmed up the dance floor with an eclectic selection of tunes.

Jamie Jones and Dubfire’s individual sets were both stellar. Dubfire leaned more towards techno, while the Welshman favored his signature tech vibes.

The iconic duo ended the night with a two-hour, backto-back session that promised ‘90s house tunes. While the classics set was certainly a welcomed change to the predominately tech house sets before, it felt forced and a bit unnatural for the pair.

Nevertheless, people stayed until the end, begging for “one more song” as the lights came on at 4:30 a.m.

Some brave souls, at the venue since 4 p.m., made their way to the exits.

There was an eerie silence in the air as revelers processed what was indeed an unforgettable experience, a slice of paradise in the heart of Brooklyn.

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Thursday, October 5, 2017 Wednesday, March 30, Wednesday, March 16, 2016 2016

/ Williamsburg / Bushwick

Brooklyn Museum to Host David Bowie Exhibition

Greenpoint Gazette

The Brooklyn Museum will be the final stop on the world tour of the exhibition “David Bowie Is,” which was organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The exhibit, which will be in Brooklyn from March 2, 2018 to July 15, is a retrospective of the late rock star Bowie’s five-decade career.

On display will be more than 60 stage costumes, including the famed Ziggy

Stardust body suits; excerpts from films, videos and live performances ranging from his movie “The Man Who Fell to Earth” to the video for “Let’s Dance”; handwritten set lists for Bowie’s concerts; and musical scores and

diary entries that detail the evolution of his creative ideas.

As part of the exhibition, Sennheiser is presenting an audio experience through its AMBEO® 3D audio technology. As in previous stops

on the “David Bowie Is” tour around the world, the company’s technologies will be used for all audio elements -- including its wireless systems, headphones and Neumann loudspeakers.

David Bowie grew up in the suburbs of London. He played in rock bands since the early ‘60s, but it wasn’t until he adopted an androgynous, otherworldly stage persona in 1969-70 that he became a star. In 1972, his album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars” introduced

LEFT: Volunteers helping with the search and rescue efforts of earthquake vic‐ tims take a rest at a nearby coffeeshop displaying sten‐ cil depicting rock star David Bowie, in the Condesa neigh‐ borhood in Mexico City, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017.

The magnitude 7.1 earth‐ quake has stunned central Mexico, killing more than 200 people as buildings col‐ lapsed in plumes of dust.

AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

his alter ego, a bisexual rock star who acts as a messenger for extraterrestrial beings.

After Bowie abandoned the Ziggy Stardust image a few years later, he adopted a soul-based sound and continued to have hits, such as “Fame” and “The Young Americans.” His hit song “Let’s Dance,” in 1983, presented him at the peak of his commercial success. He left England in 1974 to settle in America.

The Brooklyn presentation is organized by Matthew Yokobosky, director of exhibition design for the Brooklyn Museum, with the lead sponsorship of Spotify. “With mainstream appeal and yet an avant-garde heart, David Bowie was one of the most original artists of our times. He challenged the status quo and continually took us on new musical explorations with his forwardthinking and groundbreaking presentations,” said Yokobosky.

Member tickets go on sale Nov. 8, and standard tickets go on sale Nov. 15. For ticket information, visit www.brooklynmuseum.org or https://www. showclix.com/event/david bowie-is

Introducing

newyork-presbyterian

brooklyn methodist hospital.

We’re bringing the people of Brooklyn the type of care that comes from being part of NewYork-Presbyterian.

We’ve expanded our services and added more world-class specialists from Weill Cornell Medicine.

They join the skilled doctors already here serving the community. Learn more at nyp.org/brooklyn

BROOKLYN EAGLE

Spicing Things Up at Chile Pepper Festival

SHAQUANDA (LEFT) AND MEGAN OFFERED SAMPLES OF A BAY RIDGE-BASED HABANERO/SCOTCH BONNET MIXED SAUCE AT THE 25TH ANNUAL Eagle photo by Andy Katz Chile Pepper Festival held at Brooklyn Botanic Garden this past weekend. See pages 2-3.

Volume 18, No. 8

Two Sections

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2017

$1.00

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Holds 25th Annual Chile Pepper Festival

V i e w o f C h e r r y E s p l an ad i n g s t ag e . Eagle p h o t o s b y

e f ac -

A n d y K a tz

This Year, Chocolate and Confection Vendors Are Given Place of Honor by Stage on Cherry Esplanade

By Andy Katz Special to Brooklyn Eagle

“Just how hot is that one?” is the question one hears most frequently along the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Cherry Esplanade during the Garden’s 25th annual Chile Pepper Festival.

“Just how hot do you want it?” is the commonest reply.

The day couldn’t be more perfect — a bright, clear October weekend of the sort that for decades has led New Yorkers to insist that early autumn is the best time to visit the Big Apple.

This year’s festival brought nearly 50 food vendors, many of the them Brooklyn-based, into the Garden’s Cherry Esplanade, their stalls arrayed before the stage where Red Baraat, Battle of Santiago, Ladama and Lost Bayou Ramblers perform.

This year’s producers were divided. The dozen or so that specialize in spiced chocolates and other combinations of hot and sweet occupied the Esplanade’s south

2 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, October 5, 2017

end, where a sign proclaimed, “Chocolate Debauchery” and promised “Hot Chocolate Tastings” until 6 p.m.

“This is the first time the confectioners have been put together in one section,” Sarah Meyer of Plainview’s Little Bird, Curious Confections, explained. Asked if it paid off, she nodded. “We’re doing great this year. This is our fourth time here, but this year is going exceptionally well!”

Nearby Laurie & Sons offered Chile-Chocolate Mallowmars and a Morrocon-spiced Chocolate and Toffee Crumble. Jo Mart Chocolates passed out samples of its Allstar Firecracker — which include chipotle and habanero — in order to better illustrate its phrase: “Life Tastes Better With Chocolate.”

“This is by far the coolest and best event in Brooklyn,” Jon Payson, founder of Park Slope’s The Chocolate Room, insisted as he stirred the Room’s signature hot chile chocolate drink in a large, heated crock.

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“We developed both of our chile products specifically for this festival.”

The Chocolate Room hummed as a family affair with Payson’s niece, two daughters and a friend of the family manning the stall, which boasted one of the longest lines early in the festival day.

“This marks the change in season for us,” Payson added, noting that spicy chocolate dishes are more popular in cooler weather, a contrast to their savory counterparts, which are typically associated with warmer climes.

Rounding out the spiced chocolate and hot honey vendors were ice cream makers who had managed to blend chiles into their frosty convections.

“Do you have vanilla?” a customer asked one of the Oddfellows Ice Cream servers.

The answer was no. Oddfellows, with locations in Williamsburg and Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, presented instead a habanero-infused sorbet sprinkled with crispy chiles that chill the tongue while setting tastebuds ablaze — no small achievement from a vendor that has mastered the Chorizo Caramel Swirl and Foie Gras.

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“This began as performance,” chile fest rookie Shaquanda Coco Mulatta recounted, while offering passersby samples of Shaquanda’s Hot Pepper Sauce. The sauce was developed by Shaquanda after she was invited to participate in Bushwig, which is billed as “Brooklyn’s biggest drag festival,” in 2013. It’s now produced in large scale in Bay Ridge.

Small Axe Peppers presented its The Bronx and Queens Hot Sauces, made with peppers grown in NYC community gardens. All proceeds from sales at the Chile Fest were earmarked for Puerto Rico hurricane relief.

Zia Green Chile Pepper Company principal Elliott Anderson loaded the last of their Hatch chile peppers into a gas-powered chile pepper roaster before setting the flame and spinning it around like a drum filled with raffle tickets.

“This is our second year,” Anderson said. “Last year they wouldn’t let us use the roaster out concern for it being a fire hazard.”

After the pale green peppers were darkened, Anderson packed them into gallon-size plastic bags, where they steamed, their flavors deepening, enriching, before a few simple ingredients were added to finish the product, which can be found at Dean & Deluca, Whole Foods and William Vale.

Introducing

newyork-presbyterian

brooklyn methodist hospital.

We’re bringing the people of Brooklyn the type of care that comes from being part of NewYork-Presbyterian.

We’ve expanded our services and added more world-class specialists from Weill Cornell Medicine.

They join the skilled doctors already here serving the community. Learn more at nyp.org/brooklyn T:7”

Thursday, October 5, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 3

NYBM4171_BrooklynMethodist_Announcement_Ad_10x7_composite_FINAL. Composite

St. Nicholas Home in Bay Ridge Holds 35th Annual Garden Party would expect from a loving family.”

The residents of the home are provided with On Friday, Sept. 22, the St. Nicholas Home, a meals, housekeeping, security and various social nonprofit interdenominational residence for seniors activities. “It’s a struggle to keep our residents within Bay Ridge, hosted a well-attended gala to help in our walls based on the fact that government assisraise funds for the home located at 435 Ovington tance is only giving us $40 a day,” Mafoud said.

“So if it wasn’t for the people under this tent, if it Ave. The beautiful early fall evening brought out a number of elected officials, civic leaders and mem- wasn’t for all of you donating generously and other members of our community who do that, we bers of the clergy. would not be in business today. It’s a Distinguished attendees included struggle from day to day, month City Councilmember Vincent proto month, year to year to pro Gentile; Brooklyn Republiaddvide for these people,” add can Party Chairman Ted ing, “but if you continue to Ghorra; Republican City be with us, we will concon Council nominee John tinue to be with you.”

Quaglione and his wife Gentile said the garden Kerry; Penny Santo, party was like a class representing Assemreunion. “The fact that blymember Felix Ortiz; we’re all here tonight rere Phillipa Morrish, wife flects how anchored we are of the late community in the community… and leader Larry Morrish; S t. Nicholas H ome C hairman E dward Mathe St. Nicholas Home Zoe Koutsoupakis, foud with S t. Nicholas H ome board memfills such a great need in group director and seber and ev ent organizer Aida Nicolaou. our community for older nior vice president of adults,” said Gentile.

Signature Bank; Ralph “Although this is my last year as the Succar, president of the Bay Ridge city councilman, I will make it my Community Council; Joe Avigduty to pass it on to the next none, president of the Salaam councilmember, whoever Club of New York; George that might be, that their Jalinos, former president duty will be to keep the of the Salaam Club; the St. Nicholas Home in Rev. Antoine Rizk of their budget each and the Church of the Virgin every year.”

Mary; and Rev. Khader Quaglione agreed with El-Yateem of the Salam Gentile and said that he Arabic Lutheran Church and Gentile have worked in Bay Ridge. together over the years Edward Mafoud, owner in different capacities, of Damascus Bakeries Brookly n R epublican Party C hairman and that if he is elected and chairman of the St. Ted G horra and Bay R idge C ommunity to the City Council he Nicholas Home board C ouncil President R alph S uccar. adwill heed Gentile’s ad of directors, welcomed vice and “stand with St. guests, thanked everyone for supporting the home and called the event a labor Nicholas as a friend and as a partner as he [Gentile] has done for so many years.” of love.

The St. Nicholas Home opened its doors in “Everything that’s been done for this home in the last 35 years has been done with the thought of 1982. It was the dream of the late Rt. Rev. Gregcharity and of helping others,” he said. The event ory Abboud of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox was organized by Mafoud and St. Nicholas Home Cathedral on State Street to build a residence for elderly people in the Arab-American community. board member Aida Nicolaou.

Mafoud said the seniors living at the home expe- Abboud died in 1978, but not before he signed the rience a sense of family and friendship. “For many contract to purchase the old Bay Ridge Hospital. of the people in our home, we are all they have,” Along with the help of community leaders Richard said Mafoud. “We have 70 residents living at the and Florence Zarick, the property was secured and St. Nicholas Home. We provide everything that you Abboud’s dream became a reality.

By John Alexander Brooklyn Eagle

The old Bay Ridge Hospital building was ultimately renovated into a 74-bed facility to serve the community at large. Today, St. Nicholas feels more like a hotel for seniors than an adult home, and its board of directors includes some of the most distinguished and civic minded members of the community, including doctors, lawyers and clergy.

Mafoud said that St. Nicholas provides its residents with all of the comforts of home while keeping them active and entertained.

“Whether it’s singing or dancing, we get them out and on their feet,” said Mafoud. “We do everything so that they can age gracefully and with dig-E v ely n S hamoun dances with D r. Nidal Khoury . nity.”

From left John Alexander alph Succar George Jalinos Joseph akim ev. Khader l Ya teem dward Mafoud and Aida Nicolaou.

Eagle photos by Arthur e Gaeta

From left John uaglione alph Succar

illiam Fahy John Alexander and George Jalinos.

From left dward Mafoud chairman of the St. Nicholas ome Aida Nicolaou St. Nicholas ome From left ev. Khader l Yateem alph Succar oe Koutsoupakis Monika Buono George Jalinos and board member and event organizer Kerry uaglione and City Council nominee John uaglione.

John Alexander.

4 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, October 5, 2017

A Special Section of BROOKLYN EAGLE Publications

October 5-11, 2017

Terrace on the Park Unveils $9M Makeover

NOT EXACTLY “IN BROOKLYN,” BUT LOVED BY GENERATIONS OF BROOKLYNITES, TERRACE ON THE PARK WAS DESIGNED AS A “BIG T” BY THE PORT AUTHORITY for the 1964 World’s Fair, with the “T” representing Transportation. Turned into a world-class catering venue, the Terrace has recently undergone a $9 million renovation ... and one of the owners is a Brooklyn businessman who owns the iconic Bridgeview Diner in Bay Ridge. See page 4INB. INBrooklyn photo by Andy Katz

Brooklyn-Raised Dino Angelo Luciano Wins

By John Alexander INBrooklyn

Displaying passion, dedication and drive, Dino Angelo Luciano has won the “MasterChef” challenge. According to the show’s judges, nobody has come so far and done so much as Luciano. He was presented with the $250,000 prize and the coveted MasterChef trophy.

Luciano’s unique preparations of a squid ink pasta appetizer, lamb chop entree and tiramisu dessert impressed the judges, who said that Luciano puts his soul on a plate with each of his unorthodox recipes.

Upon learning of his victory, Luciano shouted, “Mommy, I did it! I did it, Ma!” adding, “I know my mother’s proud of me.

That’s all that matters.” With his mother and father in the audience, the exceedingly personable Luciano was beaming. He called the win “the ticket to the beginning of my life.”

The Brooklyn Eagle, INBrooklyn’s sister publication, first interviewed the colorful and multitalented Luciano, who was born in California and raised in Bensonhurst, at the end of June. He was just beginning his journey as a contestant on season eight of “MasterChef,” FOX’s popular weekly television cooking competition hosted by Chef Gordon Ramsay with judges Christina Tosi and Chef Aaron Sanchez.

Luciano was a standout contestant then, and has since become a breakout star in the making, thanks to his charming personality, respectful demeanor and thick Brooklyn accent.

While he takes his cooking seriously, he has displayed a crackling sense of humor and proven himself to be a true student of the culinary arts. He beat out Eboni Henry and Jason Wang in the heated competition.

The personable Luciano is now also known for his catch phrase “Baby Doll.” He has also been referred to online as the “culinary Johnny Depp,” thanks to his edgy good looks and charismatic demeanor.

Former “MasterChef” judge Joe Bastianich joined Ramsay, Tosi and Sanchez for the finale. He said that he detected a “glimpse of genius” in Luciano adding, “He cooks from the heart.”

Just a few days before winning the competition, Luciano took the time to update INBrooklyn on what has transpired in his life since the show began, and what lies ahead for him.

INBrooklyn: What an amazing journey you’ve been on! The first time we talked, the show was just starting. How have things

INSET: Dino Luciano puts the finishing touches on his dish during the competition.

Photo courtesy of FOX

changed for you since then?

Luciano: Oh my God. Where do I start? I guess out of all the things I can pick to talk about, I’d say my ma. She already knows the results of how the show is going to end, but every week she gets into it, like she’s watching it for the first time. Just being able to hear feedback from her, and just understanding that I’m doing something to make my ma proud of me is probably the best feeling in the world. It just keeps me growing stronger and stronger.

When I’m with my ma in the kitchen, it’s completely different from how I am in the competition. She’s seeing another side of me. And the positive feedback from her keeps me inspired to just go out there and do my best to inspire people to live their dreams. My mother’s proud of me, so everything’s complete in my world.

INBrooklyn: It was very moving to see your mother appear with you on the show in one of the recent episodes. How much did that mean to you to have her there?

Luciano: Oh my God, baby doll, there’s a whole story behind that, actually.

When I was a kid, my mother and I used to watch “Emeril Live,” Emeril Lagasse’s show on the Food Network. And I used to promise her that when I got older I would take her to one of those “Emeril Live” shows. I made big promises to my mother, including buying her a giant mansion with an elevator in it, which I still hope to do.

But one of those promises was to take her to one the live tapings of “Emeril Live,” and maybe be one those people who try his food. But the show was canceled and that never happened. We kind of forgot about it and it lay by the wayside.

But now I was able to get my mother on a show she watches, which has always been a dream of mine. But she also was able to take part in the show, be a part of the production and be on TV. And that’s always been her dream, and it’s bigger than being on “Emeril Live.” She got to be a part of a show her son is thriving on. That moment right there, when she came out, I told the producer, I told everybody, “My life is complete, I could literally die tomorrow and I would be the happiest man ever.”

INBrooklyn: And thanks to you, she got to meet Gordon Ramsay.

Luciano: (Luciano laughs) Yeah, and what was even better is that Gordon Ramsay got to meet her.

INBrooklyn: What have you learned from your experience on “MasterChef”? What have you taken away from the show so far?

Continued on page 3INB

2INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of October 5-11, 2017

‘MasterChef,’ Shines on Worldwide Stage

ABOVE: Dino Angelo Luciano concentrates on his recipe during heated competition. INSET: Luciano proudly displays the perfect tortellini.

Photos courtesy of FOX Continued from page 2INB Luciano: I would say that before this whole thing, I was a family cook. You know, I worked for the “Italian army” in the family, as my grandmother used to call it. So I was the chef. I was the guy who wasn’t going out to play with all the other kids. I was the one who had to stay home and learn the recipes. And every time I cooked, it was always family style. It was a big bunch of food in big pots. You would pass it around the dinner table and everybody would scoop some up themselves. So that’s pretty much how my plating went. It wasn’t ever really elegant, it wasn’t beautiful, it was just a plate full of food. As delicious as it was, it didn’t have any style.

What they taught me on the show is how to eat with your eyes first, which is something I had never heard before. I learned how to refine myself. My biggest takeaway was the word refinement, and to translate my food into art.

INBrooklyn: Tell me about your famous cannoli that you prepared on the show — an old family recipe?

Luciano: I actually have a vegan and gluten-free cannoli recipe that you can eat a billion of them and never gain a pound. I’m obsessed with cannoli. I’m vegan now. (Laughs) When I used to eat cannoli, my ass would jiggle for a week.

phone. I’ll hear from Jeff about once every two weeks. Eboni and I were just texting this morning. And I talked to Caitlin [Jones] just the other day. She’s doing her whole fitness program. She’s a very busy girl in the fitness world.

Jennifer [Williams] and I are best friends.

She’s a sweetheart. I love her whole family.

INBrooklyn: It was a great cast.

You all seemed to get along really well.

Luciano: Yeah, that was the cool thing. Nobody hated each other. It was hard for us to treat it all as a competition. It was hard for us to be rivals. We were more like friends. It was like a collective culinary school. We all learned from each other.

INBrooklyn: Have you been back to Brooklyn since taping the series?

Luciano: I have not. I feel bad. I’m trying to get back as soon as possible.

October and November are very busy for me, but I have an open window in December.

I hope to be back in Brooklyn by then.

INBrooklyn: You talked about opening a pastry shop on the show.

Luciano: Yeah, I want to open a pastry shop called “The Fat Cannoli.” I just think it’s kind of a cool name. I always make really fat cannoli.

INBrooklyn: Have you kept in touch with Gordon Ramsay since the series finished shooting?

Luciano: No, he’s a very busy man. I really haven’t been able to speak to him. I’ve run into Chef Aaron a few times. He’s a really cool guy. He was at his restaurant Johnny Sanchez. I’ve seen him a few times around town. He’s down-to-earth. He’s a friend’s friend to the chefs. You can really relate to him.

INBrooklyn: What was the most challenging thing you had to cook on the show?

Luciano: I would have to say the lava cake. [Luciano had a tough time creating the perfect lava cake and lost a challenge as a result].

That was completely foreign to me. I didn’t really start baking until the show. I had a few basic baking skills but I pretty much went in there as an amateur. It was probably my scariest moment on the show and the thing I felt the most ashamed about. All I ever wanted to do was to show the judges that I can come through and perform for them and that was a failure for me.

INBrooklyn: Have you formed friendships with any of the contestants on the show?

Luciano: Oh, all of them, every single one of them. I’m going to Danny’s wedding [Daniel Pontes-Macedo] in October. Jason [Wang] and I talk every other day on the Week of October 5-11, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 3INB

Terrace on The Park Unveils $9M Makeover

Pictured: Terrace on the Park General Manager Bruno Marques looks out from an upper floor window.

Landmark Flushing Meadows Venue Has a Brooklyn Connection

By John Alexander

Special to INBrooklyn

Brooklyn residents who have ventured across the county line to visit the majestic Terrace on the Park, overlooking one of the most beautiful sections of Queens may be pleased to know a couple of things. A recent $9 million renovation has made Terrace on the Park a state-of-the-art facility, and one of the owners is also the owner of one of the most popular diners in Bay Ridge, The Bridgeview Diner.

Terrace on the Park is among the city’s most desirable venues for weddings, corporate events and parties for all occasions. On Wednesday, the grand unveiling was held for VIPs and members of the media. A guided tour of the breathtaking facility was part of the program to introduce the renovations.

The Terrace is operated under long-term concession from the New York City Parks Department to the venue’s co-managing partners George Makkos and Dimitrios Kaloidis. Kaloidis also owns Bay

Ridge’s Bridgeview Diner on 90th Street and Third Avenue.

Originally constructed as a restaurant and heliport for the 1964 World’s Fair, Terrace on the Park has been called a marvel of mod-

ernist design, with its signature T-shaped towers soaring 120 feet above the former fairgrounds, now Flushing Meadows Park.

Attendees learned that when the Beatles made their historic U.S. debut at Shea Stadium in 1965, they landed on the Terrace’s rooftop helipad. And during the 1980s, Madonna worked as an elevator operator at the Terrace.

Since 1964, every incumbent New York City mayor has visited the Terrace on the Park, along with presidents, prime ministers and monarchs.

The new improvements include restoration and redesign work in almost every part of the venue, including floors and carpeting. The Penthouse, famed for its sweeping 360-degree vistas, now boasts new height-enhancing ceilings and handcrafted plaster panels, custom-built bars and LED lighting.

Renovations to the Grand Ballroom range from new zebrawood panels along with LED lighting that can be programmed for a number of settings and special effects.

General manager Bruno Marques, who has been at the Terrace

for 11 years, welcomed guests at the luncheon and talked about the renovation the Terrace has undergone during the last five years. He explained the logistics involved in renovating while keeping the venue open and active for the entire period.

“It’s not just one person, it’s a whole bunch of us that really put together what we do here to make everything better and every client happier on their special day,” said Marques.

“Whether it be a social event or a corporate event, any event that we have here is a special event in somebody ’s life and others lives as well.”

Helping make the new venue even more noteworthy is executive chef Jose Cerqueira, a former competitor on the Food Network’s “Iron Chef,” who heads up an internationally trained kitchen staff. .“The outside deck we worked feverishly to complete before the busy season started included 12,000 square feet of Unilock pavers that had to be laid out with 5,000 square cubic yards of gravel,” said Marques.

The $9 million enhancement was undertaken to freshen up the facility and keep it competitive with other venues. “We have something that a lot of catering halls do not have,” said Marques. “We have those stunning unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline, the Unisphere, Arthur Ashe Stadium, the Hall of Science, the New York State Pavilion, the New York Museum. It’s just unparalleled. If you come here at night, that skyline is just breathtaking.”

Continued on page 5INB

INSET, FROM LEFT: George Catsounis, Brooklyn Eagle Senior Editor John Alexander, Terrace on the Park Catering Director Jennifer Jolly, INBrooklyn Account Executives Katarzyna Ramus and Bonita Meeg and Terrace on the Park General Manager Bruno Marques.

INBrooklyn photos by Andy Katz

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4INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of October 5-11, 2017

Continued from page 4INB Catering and sales director Jennifer Jolly, who’s been at the Terrace for 3 1/2 years, said, “I really have to give it up to Bruno, our general manager. His enthusiasm and work ethic has trickled down to the department and made us all want to do a better job. He’s supportive and motivating and I owe a lot of my success to his guidance and leadership.”

Marques said that the three main amenities that make a venue like the Terrace successful are service, ambiance and food. “If you have all three of those and they all work in sync, then you have nothing to be ashamed of, and you have everything to be proud of,” he added.

Flushing Meadows Corona Park administrator Janice Melnick congratulated the Terrace on the Park team for doing a remarkable job. “We are so lucky to have this world-class catering facility in this park. It brings so many visitors to the park who might not otherwise come here. There is no better view anywhere in the borough or in the city than right here at Terrace on the Park,” said Melnick.

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: Cutting the ribbon, from left, are Eleni Thermos, Demetrios Kalloidis, George Makkos, Janice Melnick and Bruno Marques; A look inside the Terrace on the Park; A view of the Queens Museum from the roof of Terrace on the Park.

INBrooklyn photos by Andy Katz

Week of October 5-11, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 5INB

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MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Calendar Events October 5-11

Art 10,000 Mantras This is Meg Hitchcock’s third solo exhibition with Studio 10. In her pieces, carefully cut letters and burn marks repeat mantras and other texts through grid formations and subtle patterns.

These iterate various liturgical themes: repentance through repetition, self-mortification through cutting and purification with fire and incense.

When: Thursday-Sunday, through Oct. 8, 1-6 p.m.

Where: Bedford Stuyvesant/Studio 10 (56 Bogart St.) Being Well: In Search of Utopia?

A contemporary art exhibit curated by Kathryn Gressel featuring participating artists Zoey Hart, Leslie Kerby, Anthony Heinz May, Carolyn Monastra, Shana Moulton, Carmen Papalia, Shervone Neckles, Jenna Spevack, Tattfoo Tan and Jody Wood.

When: Friday-Sunday, through Oct. 8, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Where: Park Slope/The Old Stone House (336 Third St.) Migration Maura Sheehan brings a flock of balancing birds to create a tableau vivant, or living picture.

When: Thursday-Saturday, through Oct. 8, 1-6 p.m.

Where: Crown Heights/FiveMyles (558 St. Johns Place) Joan Snitzer’s Chromophore “Chromophore” highlights the developments in Joan Snitzer’s work during the last two years. In these new paintings, Snitzer looks back at the painted subjects of 20th century abstraction to explore how they can function in a contemporary context.

When: Wednesday-Sunday, through Oct. 8, 12-6 p.m.

Where: DUMBO/A.I.R. Gallery (155 Plymouth St.) The Fire Theory: Ice The Fire Theory presents “Ice,” an exhibition, residency and collaborative project curated by Omar López-Chahoud. Currently, racism and xenophobia limits the immigration that has made this country great, endangers immigrants and makes the path to citizenship inaccessible. I.C.E is the U.S. agency that is responsible for the border control, trade, immigration, deportation pro-

grams and, as its name indicates, it generates a situation of freezing, a standby between families and friends on both sides of the border.

When: Wednesday-Saturday, through Oct. 13, 2-7 p.m.

Where: Park Slope/Open Source Gallery (306 17th St.) Material Matters Innovations in clay, glass, wood and metal.

When: Saturday and Sunday, through Oct. 15, 1-6 p.m.

Where: Red Hook/BWAC (499 Van Brunt St.) 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: Thursdays and Saturdays, through Oct. 28; Thursdays, 48 p.m.; Saturdays, 1-5 p.m.

Where: Red Hook/Waterfront Museum (290 Conover St.) Julia Oldham: How to Escape a Black Hole A stimulating and immersive video installation. This hallucinatory guided tour into a philosophically fraught region of space time is part physics lesson, part voyage toward destruction.

When: Tuesday-Sunday, through Oct. 29; Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sunday, 12-6 p.m.

Where: Fort Greene/Project Room at BRIC House (647 Fulton St.) Beyond-Beyond Ron Baron’s expansive installation of nearly 100 pairs of life-size cast ceramic shoes. Although each pair is small in comparison to the gallery’s vast space, their combined poetic and ghostly presences fill the significant void and evoke all that is missing.

When: Wednesday-Sunday, through Nov. 5, 12-6 p.m.

Where: DUMBO/Smack Mellon (92 Plymouth St.) My Shot: Portraits from Hamilton “Hamilton” features a cast of revolutionaries. Night after night, this band of young rebels raise their voices to the darkness in an inspiring uprising of song and spirit. They are at once our history and our future, inciting rebellion and leading the way to change. Josh Lehrer captured their portraits using antique cameras and lenses.

When: Tuesday-Saturday, through Nov. 22 (Tuesday-Friday, 126 p.m.; Saturday, 12-4 p.m.)

Where: DUMBO/United Photo Industries Gallery (16 Main St., Gallery B) The Means of a Ready Escape: Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Prospect Park has never been simply an escape from the city, but a fundamental part of it. This exhibition highlights the 150year social history of Brooklyn’s backyard. Featuring more than 150 artifacts and documents, it tells the story of the 585 acres of forest, field and swamp that Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux transformed into an urban oasis, and how the Park has sustained generations of Brooklynites throughout the borough’s many eras of change.

When: Wednesdays-Sundays, through July 2018 Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Historical Society (128 Pierrepont St.)

Books & Readings

Arts of Korea with Doryun Chong and Byron Kim Celebrate “Arts of Korea” with a conversation between Doryun Chong, chief curator of Hong Kong’s M+ Museum; and artist Byron Kim. When: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 6 p.m.

Where: Crown Heights/Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway) Magnetic City: Touring New York with Justin Davidson As New York Magazine’s architecture critic, Justin Davidson has a singularly sharp perspective on New York City. Using his recent book “Magnetic City: A Walking Companion to New York” as a guide, he shares his takes on his favorite neighborhoods and how the ever-changing city shapes the lives of its inhabitants.

When: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Historical Society (128 Pierrepont St.)

Educational

Criminalizing Poverty, Community Organizations and Fighting Back Join the Brooklyn Community Bail Fund in a discussion about how community organizations are fighting back against the criminalization of poverty in New York City.

When: Thursday, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Historical Society (128 Pierrepont St.) Continued on page 7INB 6INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of October 5-11, 2017

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MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Continued from page 6INB NYTM Train Operators Workshop Drop by the computer lab to take control of a New York City subway car and operate it across virtual miles of track, using some incredibly realistic software.

When: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 7-8, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Where: Downtown Brooklyn/New York Transit Museum (Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street)

Family Fun Kiddush in the Hut Enjoy the congeniality of the Bay Ridge Jewish Center community as members celebrate Sukkot with lulav, etrog and special prayers. Come back for Shabbat Services at 6:30 for more celebration.

When: Thursday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m.

Where: Bay Ridge/Bay Ridge Jewish Center (405 81st St.) Fear the Riff Expo A leading lineup of both emerging and established companies.

Vendors like Ernie Ball, Roland, PRS Guitars and Boss will be a part of the show.

When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

Where: Greenpoint/Brooklyn Expo Center (72 Noble St.) Ed Center Open Hours The Ed Center is open for free drop-in hours four afternoons each week. Get to know Brooklyn Bridge Park with its 250-gallon aquarium filled with critters from the East River, plus a 10foot-scale model of Brooklyn Bridge Park, crafts, a reading corner and much more.

When: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2-5 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays, 1-5 p.m.)

Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/Environmental Education Center Story and Play Hear wonderful stories, play with toys and make new friends at this fun and informal program.

When: Monday, Oct. 9, 10-11 a.m.

Where: Grand Army Plaza/Central Library (10 Grand Army Plaza) Mario the Maker Magician Mario the Maker Magician brings his original magic and DIY robotics show to Brooklyn with a special guest appearance by Chile’s Enzo Nelis in Enzo’s first ever U.S. performance.

When: Sunday, Oct. 8, 4 p.m.

Where: Fort Greene//Brooklyn Music School Playhouse (126 St. Felix St.)

Film

The Brooklyn Music School Playhouse presents Mario the Maker Magician on Sunday, Oct. 8. Image courtesy of the artist

Health

NYRR Open Run at Pier 6 Whether you’re a first-time runner, a seasoned marathoner, or you prefer to walk, you’re welcome to come along. No need to register in advance; sign-in takes place onsite. NYRR Open Runs are open to all ages. Strollers and dogs on leashes welcome.

When: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.

Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park Metal Yoga Move and breathe while listening to your favorite bands. Salute to the moon and connect to the dead, raise your metal mantras and offer your practice to the darkness; and, most importantly, have some fun during your practice. The intention of the practice Continued on page 8INB

Silent Film, Sherlock Jr. See the silent 1924 Buster Keaton slapstick feature, plus two shorts: “Coney Island” (1917) and “The Play House” (1921), with live piano accompaniment by Bernie Anderson.

When: Sunday, Oct. 8, 12:30 p.m.

Where: Grand Army Plaza/Central Library (10 Grand Army Plaza)

Food & Drink Sip. Shop. Eat Food, style and drinks intersect at the Collective Pop-Up Market. A curated selection of individual vendors’ vintage clothing, art, home goods, fashion designers, handmade beauty products, organic candles, photography, collectibles and more.

Fresh food and desserts from local food vendors.

When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 12-6 p.m.

Where: Williamsburg/106 North Third St. Smorgasburg Prospect Park More than 100 local and regional food purveyors will gather on Breeze Hill to offer a range of cuisines.

When: Sunday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Where: Prospect Park Bartel-Pritchard Square Greenmarket Nestled inside Prospect Park’s tree-shaded southwest corner, this much-loved weekday market is where South Slope and Windsor Terrace residents stock up on locally grown staples.

The offerings range from a selection of vegetables, fruits, baked goods, plants and flowers to fresh-caught fish and organic baked goods.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 11, 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Prospect Park Week of October 5-11, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 7INB

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MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Continued from page 7INB is to be grounding and at the same time uplifting for your spirit by enjoying your favorite music.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 11, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Bushwick/The Cobra Club (6 Wyckoff Ave.)

Nightlife

myths surrounding the legendary premiere of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring,” “Ballet du Nord” Director Olivier Dubois collaborates with the mother of contemporary African dance, Germaine Acogny.

When: Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 5-7, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Fort Greene/BAM Fishman (321 Ashland Place)

Metropolis Burlesque A night of nerdy burlesque, featuring acts from Tiny Dee, Mary Cyn and Petite Renard, hosted

by Moe Cheezmo.

When: Thursday, Oct. 5, 8-10 p.m.

Where: Crown Heights/Anyone Comics (1216 Union St.)

Crossing Poet Walt Whitman’s personal experience caring for Union soldiers in a Civil War field hospital sets the stage for composer/librettist Matthew Aucoin’s critically acclaimed and resonant opera.

When: Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 5-8, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Fort Greene/BAM Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Ave.)

Tell Me Where it Hurts Stand-up comedians share the most humiliating stories of their lives in this touring comedy show.

Come see the best local comedians tell their most cringe-worthy tales in a unique blend of stand-up and storytelling — Ryan Donahue, Sally Ann Hall, Ryan Schutt, Dan Perlman, Kristin Seltman, Liz Barrett, Jullie Kottakis and Dusty York.

When: Monday, Oct. 9, 9-11 p.m.

Where: Bushwick/The Cobra Club (6 Wyckoff Ave.)

Oktoberfest Two days of festive musical performances, crafts and themed food offerings transform the Manhattan Bridge Archway into a traditional German “beer hall.”

When: Friday-Saturday, Oct. 6-7 (Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, 1-10 p.m.)

Where: DUMBO/The Archway (Water Street and Anchorage Place)

Theatre & Music

Mon élue noire (My Black Chosen One): Sacre #2 In his ongoing exploration of all truths and

The Intimacy Effect by Jeff Tabnick This play weaves in and out of thoughts and actions, the past, the present and the future to explore the porous border between one person and another.

When: Thursday-Saturday, through Oct. 14, 8 p.m.

Where: Williamsburg/Vital Joint (109 Meseole St.) Continued on page 9INB

8INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of October 5-11, 2017

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MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Week of October 5-11, 2017 ARIES — Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, it may seem like you have long been preparing for a big event. Now is your chance to finally take action. Try to do something proactive this week. You are ready to move forward.

TAURUS — Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, reality is setting in this week, and you realize just how much you need to catch up on. There is no more room for procrastination. It is time to get busy.

GEMINI — May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, an attitude about a particular relationship is changing, and you may need to go with the flow. This may result in some self-doubt, but you can make it through.

BAM Harvey Theater presents “Richard III” through Oct. 14.

Image courtesy of BAM

Continued from page 8INB Richard III This full-throttle adaptation is set in a mud-splattered arena, designed by Jan Pappelbaum, where glitter falls from the sky as a club-footed sociopath stalks the stage. Playwright Marius von Mayenburg replaces Shakespeare’s poetic pentameter with forthright prose and Lars Eidinger portrays the antihero as part rock star, part ghoulish comedian.

When: Through Oct. 14, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Fort Greene/BAM Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St.)

excitement of Boobyland with its Donkey Machine to the eerie glow of undersea where the whale lives. For ages 3 and up.

When: Saturday-Sunday, through Dec.17, 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Where: Park Slope/Puppetworks (338 Sixth Ave.)

2017 Dumbo Dance Festival Dance lovers will experience a veritable cornucopia of the best of contemporary dance. Please see website: whitewavedance.com for times and performances.

When: Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 5-8 Where: DUMBO/GelseyKirkland Art Center (29 Jay St.)

Tours

Love in the ’90s Tour Blackstreet featuring Teddy Riley and Dave Hollister. Joining Blackstreet are RL of Next, Syleena Johnson and Soul for Real.

When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m.

Where: Flatbush/Kings Theatre (1027 Flatbush Ave.) Pinocchio Adapted by Puppetworks’ Artistic Director Nicolas Coppola, “Pinocchio” features traditional hand-carved wooden marionettes, an original song score, the Blue Fairy and a live actor as Stromboli the Puppet Master. Six colorful scenes range from the

Bargemusic Visit Bargemusic for free neighborhood family concerts. This one-hour performance includes a Q&A session with the musicians.

When: Sunday, Oct. 8, 4 p.m.

Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/Bargemusic

Gay Greenwood Green-Wood Cemetery celebrates LGBT History Month with a special trolley tour illuminating permanent residents who have made a lasting impact on American culture in the 19th and 20th centuries.

When: Saturday, Oct. 7, 12-2 p.m.

Where: Greenwood Heights/Green-Wood Cemetery (500 25th St.) Sunday Funday: A Boozy Brooklyn Tasting Tour Stroll around New York’s trendiest borough and soak up the best of Brooklyn. With a local leading the way, the itinerary covers New Yorker-approved destinations and skips the rest, so attendees can absorb all this vibrant and eclectic neighborhood’s charm and energy without missing a beat. Check out the old industrial buildings of historic Brewer’s Row, pop by Artists & Fleas to see what treasures are on offer, enjoy a unique guided hot sauce tasting and take in the gorgeous New York City skyline view on the waterfront When: Sunday, Oct. 8, 1:30-4:30 p.m.

Where: Williamsburg/Meeting Spot-Williamsburg Mini Mall (218 Bedford Ave.)

CANCER — Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, shifting circumstances at work may leave you a little confused. Reassess your situation and come up with a new plan.

Work collectively toward the goal.

LEO — Jul 23/Aug 23 Your inspiration comes from a blend of methodical planning as well as clever inspiration, Leo. The results will be exceptional if you keep at it.

VIRGO — Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, even if you step out of your comfort zone, you will not venture too far. That is fine by you since you tend to be a creature of habit. Just expand your reach a little bit.

LIBRA — Sept 23/Oct 23 Your friendly attitude can be just what others need in the week ahead, Libra. They simply cannot resist your charms, and you can help them to settle down.

SCORPIO — Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, recognition is coming your way.

Embrace the attention and recognize that it is not unfounded. You earned the praise about to be heaped on you.

SAGITTARIUS — Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, you may head in one direction only to find that you might have been better off going elsewhere. Eventually you will get your bearings.

CAPRICORN — Dec 22/Jan 20 Take a risk at work, Capricorn. If you consistently sit in the shadows, then you won’t ever get ahead. Try a few things to make an impact without generating big waves.

Puppetworks presents “Pinocchio” through Dec. 17.

Image courtesy of Puppetworks

FALL SPECIALS on Windows • Gutters/Leaders Siding

AQUARIUS — Jan 21/Feb 18 Making decisions this week requires little effort on your part, Aquarius. That’s because all of your stress has melted away in the last few days and things are relatively easy.

PISCES — Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, even though everything seems predictable right now, things are about to get a little backwards in the next few days.

Week of October 5-11, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 9INB

Global Citizen Fest Celebrates $30 Billion Worth of Commitments This Year

By Angelica Hill

Special to INBrook

On a recent Saturday, more than 60,000 diplomats, dancers, artists, activists and New Yorkers came together on the Great Lawn of Central Park to attend the 2017 Global Citizen Festival

concert. This year, 13,026,243 actions were taken and $30 billion worth of commitments were made in support of Global Citizen’s many humanitarian efforts across the globe.

It was a night of celebration that encouraged more actions to be taken, and more pledges

G reen D ay gets the crowd going by performing many of their well- lov ed hits.

C ourtesy of G etty I mages

made to help improve the world, not just for those in turmoil, but for everyone. The concert headlined world-renowned artists, Oscar-winning actors, passionate activists, members of the United Nations and members of governments from across the globe.

The event was sponsored by HP Inc., T-Mobile, Cadillac, Citi, Johnson & Johnson, iHeartRadio and NYC Parks. The concert was timed to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness of the many issues both Global Citizen and the world leaders attending the Assembly are trying to address.

Of the 13,026,243 actions taken this year, 2,117,257 were in aid of girls and women to improve their access to education and sexual and physical health. More than 1.8 million actions were taken to improve global health, 2,022,261 in aid of water and sanitation programs and 1,141,853 in aid of world hunger.

The group’s first Global Citizen Festival was in Central Park five years ago, and the group has taken over Central Park at the end of September for this festival every year since. Global Citizen describes the purpose of these events as “an action-rewarded, awareness-driven free music festival where fans engage with causes in order to win tickets.” This year, Global Citizen held a series of events throughout the week before the festival.

The first of these lead-up events was Global Citizen Live at The Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in Greenwich Village on Sept. 18.

This event sought to spread awareness of the many key issues the world is currently facing and Global Citizen is trying to address.

Global Citizen Poster

Courtesy of Global Citizen

These include hunger, nuclear threats and the sexual abuse of women in many societies. The night featured the presentation of the Second Annual George Harrison Global Citizen Award to Annie Lennox.

This event was followed on Sept. 19 by Movement Makers, a series of panels with 18 inspirational activists giving TED-style talks covering a range of topics from the arts, politics, social good, marketing and behavioral science. Bob Bland, co-founder and co-chair of the Women’s March, spoke about feminism in the modern age; Michael Klosson, vice president of policy and humanitarian response at Save the Children, spoke about Save the Children’s partnerships with GirlUp, Johnson & Johnson and the U.N. Foundation; and Muzoon Al-Mellehan, a Syrian refugee and activist who has been called “Syrian Malala,” spoke about her personal experiences as a refugee and the desperate need for education for girls and women. Other speakers included Sophie Trudeau, Marc Pritchard and Charles Blow.

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F rom around 2 p.m., people crowded into the o the es l e ger to get a good v iew of the stage.

INBrooklyn photo by Angelica H ill

S p e c i al g u e s t s an d V I P s r e l ax

b ac k s t ag e w i t h t h e i r f r i e n d s an d f am

ilie s .

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Stevie onder takes a knee on stage s h o w in g h is s u p p o r t fo r N F L p la y er Colin Kaepernick s actions and the ght against police brutality. mage via Michael Kovac/Getty

Global Citizen o ers event merchandise.

The Lumineers bring a calm and happy tone to the festival celebrations

Global Citizen Fest

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At Global Citizen’s previous festivals, recognizable artists and officials such as Rihanna, Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Jay-Z, Pearl Jam, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, The Black Keys, Band of Horses and other big names have appeared.

This year was no different, with former first lady Michelle Obama and the President of France Emmanuel Macron sending video messages, and celebrities like Hugh Jackman, Dianna Agron, Andra Day, Whoopi Goldberg and Pharrell Williams making appearances and speaking out about world issues such as hunger, women’s rights and AIDS. Williams performed alongside

The Killers perform as one of the rst acts.

INBrooklyn p h o t o b y A n g e l i c a H i l l

Stevie Wonder, who took a knee onstage a few minutes after entering, showing his support for NFL player Colin Kaepernick’s actions and the fight against police brutality toward African Americans. He said he was “taking a knee for America” before he “served” the audience his “musical meal.”

When asked how he felt the night went, Michael Sheldrick, vice president of global policy and government affairs at Global Citizen said, "From my perspective, it was one of our most impactful campaigns, with 1.6 million actions being taken by Global Citizens, which led to commitments worth $3.2 billion. If these pledges are all delivered, they are set to affect the lives of 221 million people.

INBrooklyn p h o t o b y A n g e l i c a H i l l

“It was reassuring to see throughout the evening 28 members of Congress from both sides of the aisle highlight their support for fully funding American foreign aid.” He said he felt this bipartisan demonstration “sends a very strong signal to the Trump administration that Congress understands that America’s leadership is vital for America and the world.”

That night, the Empire State Build- Matthew ycroft on the far left the permanent representative ing glowed red and o f t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s i n N e w Y o r k , a n d white in support of other prominent diplomats and politicians speak at the event.

INBrooklyn p h o t o b y A n g e l i c a H i l l the event.

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Demolition of Our Bridge to Queens: Making Way for a New Century

Construction workers watch as the old Kosciuszko Bridge is destroyed. Eagle photo by Paul Frangipane

The old Kosciuszko Bridge is imploded. The eastbound span of the new Kosciuszko Bridge opened in April. The second span is scheduled to be finished by 2020.

AP Photo/Michael Noble Jr. Onlookers watch as the Kosciuszko Bridge is demolished.

By Paul Frangipane

AP Photo/Michael Noble Jr.

Special to the Brooklyn Eagle

New York Y Go Gov. Andrew Cuomo announces that the new Kosciuszko Bridge i open to traffic again after the old bridge was imploded on Sunday.

AP Photo/Michael Noble Jr.

The Brooklyn side of t h e Kosciuszko Bridge after its implosion. More than 900 explosives brought down the 20 remaining steel truss spans.

AP Photo/Michael Noble Jr.

A span of the bridge is carried on a barge.

Eagle photo by Liliana Bernal

l photo by Liliana Bernal

The original 78-year-old span of the Kosciuszko Bridge felled Sunday morning, sending a loud bang and gray smoke into the air as spectators cheered and photographed the controlled implosion.

The Brooklyn Eagle caught video footage of the pre-World War II bridge falling while spectators around the camera watched in celebration. For the demolition video, go to brooklyneagle.com.

Three horn blasts wailed into the morning before the historic bridge was engulfed in smoke in seconds and its destruction was met with applause and the smell of explosives.

Thee former bridge’s main span was lowered onto the creek on July 25 and 26 and shipped out to a recycling facility, leaving a gaping hole next to the bridge’s new span for months.

The rusty remaining 22 million pounds of steel that were brought down in Sunday’s implosion were collected and sent to be recycled as scrap metal, according to a statement.

The work is part of the $873 million project to replace the often traffic-plagued bridge with two new cable-stayed bridges, carrying traffic in opposing directions.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo opened the first span in April, which will carry three lanes of traffic in two directions until the new span is completed in 2019.

The new bridges will provide five Queensbound traffic lanes and four Brooklyn-bound lanes with a 20-foot-wide walkway over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

“The new Kosciuszko Bridge is a triumph, showing the world that New York is meeting big challenges and getting things done, rejuvenating our transportation infrastructure and supporting economic growth,” Cuomo said in the statement.

The bridge’s demolition was pushed back multiple times for both the first and second phases of its destruction.

Thursday, October 5, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 5

STOOP-PENDOUS

By Jenny Powers Special to the Brooklyn Eagle

It’s 7:30 a.m. on a Thursday morning in Clinton Hill and the neighborhood is alive and buzzing with activity. Some people are sneaking in a quick jog before heading to the office, while others are already dressed, briefcase in hand, making their way to the train. Dogs bark at one another, motorcycles whiz by, skateboards thud against the cracked sidewalks and the urban sounds of car alarms and cabbies honking all dull the sound of the birds chirping in nearby trees.

A noisy garbage truck comes to a screeching halt in front of 453 Washington Ave. and a sanitation worker jumps off the back, ready to collect the trashcans and dump their crude contents into the mouth of the compactor. Suddenly, his partner, who is behind the wheel, begins silently but energetically waving at him, beckoning him toward the cab of the truck. The driver presses his finger to his lips, shushing the man librarian-style, motioning him to get back on the truck and abandon the task at hand.

The man, a bit confused, stops in mid-action and then turns around to see 21 people sitting silently with their eyes closed on a wide brownstone stoop just a few feet in front of him. He abruptly turns and tiptoes backward to the truck, the way someone might leave a sleeping baby’s room so as not to wake it. He leaves the trash behind to pick up later.

“Thank you, guys. Have a good morning,” sings out resident Danielle Fazzolari, who is sitting, posture-perfect on a brown, vintage suitcase, guiding a morning meditation on the front stoop of the building she’s called home for nearly two years.

The stoop is laden with colorful fabric runners and is book-ended with the recent arrival of new, handmade wooden benches sourced from Craig’s List. The group on this stoop is what New York is all about — diversity. Black, white, Asian, young and young at heart, gay, straight, married, single, corporate types, retirees, entrepreneurs and educators; yet despite all their differences, it’s what they have in common that draws them together on Thursday mornings. They all live on the same block and they all come to Fazzolari’s weekly meditation to add a bit of Zen to their morning.

6 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, October 5, 2017

Among the group is Ava, the spunky preschooler who admits it’s hard to keep still sometimes, and her real estate broker mom Betty, who live right across the street; there’s Jenny and John Longo, the owners of the local bar/restaurant Dean Street, with their fifth-grader Sophia and her friend; there’s Miguel Pena, former architecture student-turned creative fashion director who recently moved from the block to Williamsburg but still carves out time to join his former neighbors on the stoop when he can with his lapdog Chewie. There’s longtime couple Sonja Jackson and Evelyn Whitaker, the block matriarchs who have lived here since the ’90s and are now both enjoying retired life from their executive positions at CUNY. Although a city stoop is probably the last place you’d think to sit and meditate, Fazzolari, a certified mediation teacher at MNDFL, says it makes perfect sense.

“It was really important to make it accessible and not intimidating in any way. I didn't want there to be any walls, any doors, just an open space for people to just walk up to and decide to join us if they wanted. The sessions are free, no RSVPS are needed, everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary.”

It all began on an unseasonably warm November day when Fazzolari left MNDFL in Williamsburg, where she was training at the time, and slowly rode home on her hybrid bike. Savoring the 67-degree weather, she made her way to her Clinton Hill walk-up, reflecting on how grateful she was to be alive to witness a woman get elected to the highest office in the nation for the first time in America’s history.

She dropped her bike at home and rushed over to Dean Street restaurant to watch the election coverage and celebrate.

“I was so sure that Hillary was going to win,” she recalls. But as the evening passed, it was becoming more and more clear that Donald Trump was going to become the 45th president of the U.S. “I remember sitting on my bar stool and closing my eyes, amongst a packed and loud restaurant and silently sending Metta, loving kindness phrases, out into the world. When it was official, and Trump won, my heart sunk and I was just in disbelief. I was silent, and felt a wave of sadness come over me.

My heart ached,” shares Fazzolari.

The next morning, like those before it, Fazzolari woke up and watched the sunrise. “It was the same sun, but it looked and felt completely different that day. I sat there, feeling alone and confused, but I quickly got up, got dressed and went to Primrose, our local coffee shop, to work from there for the day. I just needed to get out of the house and be around people.

“I couldn't work, though. It was impossible to concentrate. As I sat there I thought, ‘What could I do for people? What part can I play in bringing the community together?’ I was in the middle of my five-month meditation teacher training and so I decided I would host a free-guided meditation class on my stoop. Anyone and everyone was welcome,” Fazzolari says.

The next day she took action and sent off an email to the 70 members of the Wa-Greene Avenue Block Association that she belonged to that read: To My Dear Neighbors: I woke up yesterday feeling like I was in a different country. The air and the energy were unrecognizable. I had no words, and just two questions...

"How did this happen?" and "What now?"

I don't have the answers, but I strongly believe in unity and togetherness. So, let's regroup together, find some quiet space in our hearts ... and give ourselves what we need to move forward. This happened, and it's real, so now we have a choice — on how to show up for ourselves, and for each other.

I will be hosting a free short 20-minute guided meditation (no experience required, all are welcome) on my stoop tomorrow morning. (Friday, 11/10) at 7:30 a.m.

The next morning was so cold, Fazzolari figured no one would show up, but she set up little portable heaters on the stoop just in case anyone was brave enough. Seven people came to her surprise, and bundled in hats, scarves and gloves, together they meditated.

“It was one of the most joyful times in my life, just being with my neighbors and coming together in such a difficult

time. The act was simple, but the feelings were powerful. We all talked afterward and someone said, ‘Can we do this again?’ This was originally a one-time thing, but that's when I realized the incredible beauty and power in the combination of community and mindfulness. So that Friday morning turned out to be the beginning of this movement, and the founding of what we now refer to as Stoop Meditation.”

Weekly sessions continued on the stoop, but as temperatures dipped down and Fazzolari’s tiny space heaters were no longer doing the trick, she realized it was time to go on hiatus until summer.

The new season kicked off June 1, and classes will continue for as long as the weather permits.

“We're a close-knit block, and on a daily basis we just look out for one another, that's what we really do. Whether someone's basement floods, or someone's sick or needs something from the store, we're all there to help each other. It's also such a blast, walking outside of your apartment every day and knowing everyone who's passing by. In this day and age, your family usually lives far away, so it's your neighbors that can really become an extension of your family.

“The stoop has really become the central meeting point recently, from Stoop Meditation, to weekly drinks, to having breakfast out there.

There's something so simple and beautiful about getting to know your neighbors, it can really change your life; it has for me. It's feels like the purest kind of joy. This community initiative exists for the community.

“That’s what Stoop Meditation is all about — welcoming everyone and any anyone,” Fazzolari says, beaming.

Stoop Meditation is offered every Thursday at 7:30 a.m., except in cases of rain, and all are welcome to join.

For updates, visit http:// bit.ly/2wP631W.

Eagle photos by Liliana Bernal

How One Brooklyn Woman Is Uniting Her Community Right from Her Own Stoop

Thursday, October 5, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 7

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