Greenpoint Gazette

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GREENPOINT | WILLIAMSBURG

VOLUME 44 | NUMBER 24

JUNE 22, 2017

Two Sections

(718) 422-7400

25¢

It’s Time to Dump ‘Racist’ Law Banning Dancing, Says Espinal By Scott Enman

Greenpoint Gazette

Prior to the Consumer Affairs Committee hearing, Councilmember Rafael Espinal hosted a press conference on the steps of City Hall Photo courtesy of Councilmember Espinal’s office calling for a repeal of the cabaret law and the implementation of an Office of Nightlife.

If New York wants to retain its title as The City That Never Sleeps, then several sweeping changes need to be made, according to city Councilmember Rafael Espinal. Hundreds of nightlife advocates, business owners and artists joined Espinal at a Consumer Affairs Committee hearing on Monday to voice their opposition to an antiquated and draconian rule known as the “Cabaret Law.” The Cabaret Law states that people can only dance in venues that possess a cabaret license, but these certificates are extremely difficult to obtain. continued on p.2

Brooklyn Eagle photo by Andy Katz

BROOKLYN’S BANGON!NYC Throws 3‐Day Music Festival in the Pennsylvania Woods: Above: Lee Burridge at the ZERO Air Stage. See Brooklyn Eagle insert Photo: Chris Lazzaro / Freedom Film LLC page 11.

FIRST-EVER NYC COFFEE & TEA EXPO GOES ICY TO BEAT THE HEAT: The first ever “Coffee & Tea Festival NYC: Iced” took over the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint, bringing exhibitors representing dozens of small‐ and large‐scale brews with monikers such as Serendipi Tea, Subtle Tea, Café Grumpy and Tea Pigs indoors from the early OPINION: Applause for NYC Ferry, But Time To Extend Service Even More: summer heat to demonstrate iced versions of their signature beverages. Above: Visitors Above: Passengers on board a NYC Ferry watch as the boat departs Sunset Park for AP Photo by Mark Lenahan Rockaway on May 1. See Brooklyn Eagle insert page 4. received samples of Legendary Leaf black tea. See page 3.

‘Williamsburg Wine Bash’ at Brooklyn Bowl Will Help Build Local Community Center | PG. 5 BEE INSERT


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It’s Time to Dump ‘Racist’ Law Banning Dancing, Says Espinal continued from p. 1

The law, which was created in 1926, prohibits dancing by three or more people in any “room, place or space in the city,” to which the public may gain admission and includes “musical entertainment, singing, dancing or other form[s] of amusement.” “I am extremely pleased with yesterday’s Consumer Affairs Committee hearing,” Espinal told the Greenpoint Gazette. “Over 200 people — from artists to musicians, business owners, labor unions, employees and everyone in between — came out to support the preservation of NYC’s iconic nightlife scene and reject the idea that dancing should be illegal. “This Wednesday, I am officially introducing a bill to repeal the historically racist and arbitrarily enforced cabaret law and I look forward to continuing to engage the community as we proceed.” Espinal was joined by city Councilmembers Stephen Levin, Corey Johnson, Antonio Reynoso, Rory Lancman and Karen Kozlowitz. In addition to repealing the law, Espinal wants to create an Office of Nightlife, which would be led by a “night mayor.” The new position’s responsibilities would include regulating the nightlife industry, helping DIY venues stay open and creating a safer partying environment. According to NYC Artist Coalition, an organization that “[protects] community spaces,” the Cabaret Law was created and used to break up underground black institutions at the height of the Harlem Renaissance and it was reinforced by

Rudy Giuliani in the ‘90s to target gay and lesbian bars. “The Cabaret Law, with its infamous racist and homophobic history, has horrible effects to this day,” wrote NYC Artist Coalition in a statement. “We appreciate New York City Council for opening a space to debate this issue. Social dancing is not a crime. We advocate for the safety and preservation of informal cultural spaces, such as DIY music venues.

“The Cabaret Law is currently used to criminalize such spaces and it forces our communities underground and into unsafe environments.” Using data from the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs, NYC Artist Coalition created a map identifying every venue in the entire city that possesses a cabaret license. The map reveals that only 17 Brooklyn venues can legally have people dancing inside.

Lindsay Greene, a representative from Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office, said that only 97 venues in the five boroughs possess the license. If one chooses to let loose in all but 17 Brooklyn venues, the establishment could theoretically be shut down or fined, as has been the case on numerous occasions. At the hearing, several business owners described a task force resembling a SWAT team that routinely comes into ven-

ues on their most anticipated nights to shut it down and hand out cabaret citations. One venue owner, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, said that when the task force showed up at his venue, “I thought they found El Chapo hidden in my bar.” The citations can cost owners thousands of dollars in fines, booking fees and reimbursement of ticket sales. Councilmember Reynoso cited the example of the famed

Williamsburg DIY venue Zebulon, which was forced to shutter due to fines and relocate to Los Angeles. Shira Gans, a member of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, said that the de Blasio administration is committed to helping the nightlife community. In April, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce hosted an event at Brooklyn Bowl that released the results of a study studying the economic impact study of music in New York City. The study revealed that the music industry supports roughly 60,000 jobs, accounts for $5 billion in wages and creates $21 billion in total economic output for the city. In 2015, New York’s concert tickets accounted for $5.4 million, which was more than Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago combined. “The Cabaret Law is a law that is arbitrarily enforced on minority populations and small businesses in order to shut them down as a neighborhood gentrifies,” said Rachel Nelson, a small business owner. “It must be repealed or we’ll end up with only chain stores and condos, a formula that actually ruins the vibrancy of a city that relies on tourism and innovaNew York City has only 88 venues where people can legally dance thanks to an antiquated and draconian New York City tors to drive everylaw known as the “Cabaret Law.” Several groups and local councilmembers are fighting for New Yorkers’ right to dance, thing from retail to Photos by Mark Cole real estate prices.” calling for the law to be repealed

Hundreds of nightlife advocates, business owners and artists joined city Councilmember Espinal at a Consumer Affairs Committee hearing on Monday to voice their opposition to an antiquated and draconian rule known as the “Cabaret Law.”


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First-Ever NYC Coffee & Tea Expo Goes Icy to Beat the Heat

Representatives of Wandering Bear Coffee introduce patrons to their brand. By Andy Katz Special to the Greenpoint Gazette

Visitors received samples of Legendary Leaf black tea.

Serendipi Tea representatives give out free samples.

“I used to drink coffee,” said Emmanual Denose, “but I switched to tea a few years ago. She drinks coffee,” he added,

pointing to his companion Shanice Lawrence. They were both in the right place. The first ever “Coffee & Tea Festival NYC: Iced”

took over the Brooklyn Expo Center in Greenpoint last Sunday, bringing exhibitors representing dozens of small- and large- scale brews with monikers such

as Serendipi Tea, Subtle Tea, Café Grumpy and Tea Pigs indoors from the early summer heat to demonstrate iced versions of their signature beverages.

Brooklyn Eagle photos by Andy Katz


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The Brooklyn Mirage Reveals Massive Opening Party Lineup Contentious Nightclub to Open July 1 By Scott Enman

Greenpoint Gazette

The infamous East Williamsburg club The Brooklyn Mirage announced last week that it would be hosting its opening party on July 1. Artists on the bill for the outdoor venue’s holiday weekend bash include Berlinbased duo Tale of Us, Stephan Bodzin and Recondite. The Brooklyn Mirage is run out of an industrial lot at 140 Stewart Ave. and is operated by Zurich-based entertainment company Cityfox. The club encompasses an outdoor portion of a 6,000person, 80,000-square-foot

complex that also includes indoor and year-round facilities. The outdoor space is 12,000 square feet. The entire compound is known as Avant Gardner. Cityfox announced an additional four parties spread out over the course of the summer with dates on July 23, Aug. 5, Sept. 9 and Sept. 30. DJs performing at those parties include Ame, Adriatique, Martin Buttrich and Mano Le Tough, among others. The venue has lived up to its name as a mirage over the years, appearing and disappearing unexpectedly for a host of reasons.

Cityfox founder Billy Bildstein has attempted to open The Brooklyn Mirage since spring 2016, but it was shut down on several occasions for safety and fire code violations and for selling alcohol without a liquor license. Cityfox is the same business that attempted to throw a massive rave on Halloween in 2015 inside the NuHart Plastics Factory, a deserted Greenpoint warehouse filled with toxic waste that is partially a Superfund site. That event was shut down after Cityfox sold 6,000 tickets for a space cleared for only 3,500 people. Authorities also canceled the party because there were combustible substances and

hazardous materials on-site. Following a long struggle with local law enforcement, Community Board 1 and a series of botched raves, however, the club seems to be on the right track to reopening permanently after the New York State Liquor Authority granted the venue a full liquor license in April. The venue’s hours of operation will be 2 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. “We are excited,” Cityfox Marketing Director Simar Singh told the Greenpoint Gazette in April. “For the last many months, our team has worked hard to meet requirements and requests of all agencies and local officials while demonstrating our commitment to safety and the

community. “We’ll continue the same until doors open and always afterwards.” Cityfox announced a $47.2-million plan in February to expand the space to include two year-round indoor venues dubbed The Great Hall and The Kings Hall. In addition to hosting the world’s top underground DJs, The Brooklyn Mirage will host movie screenings, fashions shows and art events. It will be adorned with street murals and roughly 15,000 plants. Food options will include

a series of Brooklyn vendors serving tacos, pizza and German street food. “We look forward to providing hundreds of jobs, increased local economic activity and a unique space to host a wide variety of events for Brooklyn,” Singh told the Gazette. “We hope to become an indelible contribution to the thriving cultural landscape of New York City.” To purchase tickets and to see a full lineup for each of The Brooklyn Mirage’s events, go to residentadvisor.net/pro moter.aspx?id=15510.

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A view of the the Brooklyn Mirage club and its patrons last summer.

NEW BUSINESS FORMATIONS 11218

QUADSTAR REALTY LLC

Notice of Formation of Quadstar Realty LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 4/25/17. Office location: Kings County. Princ. bus. addr.: 159 20th St., #1B-57, Brooklyn, NY 11232. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: Chester P. Lustgarten, Esq., 81 Chester Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11218. Purpose: any lawful activity. #150796

11201

NO SMALL PLAN LLC

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: NO SMALL PLAN LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 5/9/2017. 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 No Small Plan Llc, 165 Court Street, Suite 210 Brooklyn, NY, 11201. Purpose/character of LLC: Any Lawful Purpose. #150738

TSM HOLDINGS, LLC 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 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

11206

11209

NEXCAPITAL DEVELOPMENT LLC

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. #151091

11210

ZAIDYS LIVINGSTON MANAGING MEMBER LLC

Notice of Formation of 328 Atlantic Avenue Holdings LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 5/24/17. Office location: Kings County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o The LLC, 105 Central Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206. Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Zaidys Livingston Managing Member LLC amended to Zaidys Edgewater Managing Member LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 11/9/16. 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, 1465A Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11210. Purpose: any lawful activity.

#150878

#150876

328 ATLANTIC AVENUE HOLDINGS 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

11220

ASHANI RIVERS LLC

ASHANI RIVERS LLC. Art. of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY(SSNY) on 1/13/17. NY office location: Kings Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process against the LLC served upon him/her to Ashani Rivers, 4600 9th Avenue Apt 504 Brooklyn, NY, 11220. Any Lawful Purpose. #149619

11226

11231

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: LEGACY CONSTRUCTION & CARPENTRY NYC, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 1/6/2017. 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 Legacy Construction & Carpentry NYC, LLC, 251 E 29th St, Apt 5l Brooklyn, NY, 11226. Purpose/ character of LLC: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of formation of limited liability company (LLC). Name: DOUBLE DRAGON COACHING, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 5/26/2017. 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 Justin Shaddix, 115 4th Place, #3C Brooklyn, NY, 11231. Purpose/character of LLC: Any Lawful Purpose.

#150321

#150933

LEGACY CONSTRUCTION & CARPENTRY NYC, LLC

DOUBLE DRAGON COACHING, LLC

FOR CHANGES OF NAME PLEASE CALL KATRINA, 718‐643‐9099, EXT 103


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Report from the Northside: Innovation Festival Rocks Greenpoint & Williamsburg By A.P. Smith Special to the Greenpoint Gazette This year’s Northside Festival is bigger and better than ever. Kicking off with Northside Innovation, three days of panels and discussions covering technology and entrepreneurship, the festival integrated the new luxury hotels The William Vale and The Williamsburg Hotel to host events alongside The Wythe. Furthermore, Northside Innovation expanded its curatorial roster, including “You Are Fake News: Truth, Lies, and Politics in the Age of Trump,” a two-day event focused on making sense of journalism and media in 2017, produced by The Intercept and BuzzFeed News. The TNT Content Stage at The Williamsburg Hotel featured discussions on topics ranging from improv and the “state of play” to “how do we get people to like VR?” Notable speakers include futurist Jason Silva and filmmaker Mary Harron, to name just a couple. Programming at The Wythe hotel Fortune Venture stage included an eloquent chat with Kathryn Minshew, author of “The New Rules of Work” and also featured a fireside with Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. senator for New York.

American stock photography company Shutterstock helmed a Masterclass Stage focusing on practical, tactical insights and lessons from designers, developers, and creatives. One of my favorites of the week’s events included a demo at The Shutterstock Stage from Jay Van Buren, co-founder of Membit, a unique Augmented Reality product with a patented Human Positioning System. Van Buren spoke about the interaction between people and places, saying that places make us who we are. “I was here,” he said, speaking to a very fundamental need to connect with a location. The Mimbit product itself is integrating virtual art and surprises throughout the festival, truly merging the physical and virtual world in a groundbreaking fashion. Other highlights included a presentation from David Shing, AOL’s digital prophet, who spoke adamantly about the art of storytelling and the importance of using technology to emotionally connect with each other. “People just want to be told stories,” Shing said to an over-capacity crowd at The Wythe hotel ballroom. “Stuff that sells to the heart and makes sense to the mind.”

Photos courtesy of A.P. Smith

Surely, there were panels and discussions that focused more on startup culture and fundraising, including that Wednesday’s panel on early stage capital featuring VC Anthony Pompliano who spoke to a seemingly ubiquitous idea of the startup world when he said, “I don’t bet on tech, I bet on people.” Trite? Yes, perhaps. Though he backed himself and elaborated to say that Uber wouldn’t have happened without their initial core team. “You can’t give someone a piece of paper that explains if you push a button a car shows up and make them a millionaire.” All in all, the first two days of Northside Innovation was very impressive: heavy

hitters, robust schedule, beautiful venues… It’s difficult to say how much of this growth and improvement over years prior is the result of partners like TNT, Shutterstock, Fortune, and BuzzFeed, but it doesn’t really matter. If there’s one thing I’ve taken away from the program it’s that storytelling is the core of all media and medium…. Whether it’s a 6second snap or a 360-degree VR experience, the story, the message comes first. And Northside Innovation certainly succeeded there. Northside Innovation continued the next day across multiple venues and the larger Northside Festival continued with music events and a Bedford Avenue block party through the weekend.


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BROOKLYN EAGLE

SEE PAGE 11

Volume 17, No. 43

Two Sections

THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 2017

$1.00

Photo: Julian Cassady

B’klyn’s BangOn!NYC Throws Three-Day Music Festival


Smooth-Talking Villain Richard III Reigns Over Carroll Park Smith Street Stage Offers Free Outdoor Shakespeare Through June 25 By Lore Croghan Brooklyn Eagle

weapon is his silver-tongued persuasiveness. When he decides to marry — for the sake of political expedi-

He’s the villain everybody loves to hate — the hunchback with a dark heart, Richard III. Now here he comes, in all his conniving glory, to a park in Carroll Gardens. Smith Street Stage is continuing its tradition of offering free outdoor Shakespeare with a modern-dress production of “Richard III” directed by Jonathan Hopkins, the theater group’s executive director. It’s great stuff. William Shakespeare wrote this tragedy about the evil seed of the House of York in the early 1590s. It was the playwright’s first huge success. In the production in Carroll Park, Michael Hanson is pitchperfect in the title role of the twisted, charismatic Richard. He becomes the king of England and holds onto the throne for a while by arranging the murders of relatives, rivals and friends. Richard is the schemer-in-chief in a hellish realm where double-dealing and death are tools for attaining political power.

Smith Street Stage presents Shakespeare’s “Richard III” through June 25 at Carroll Park. It is on the corner of Smith and Carroll streets in Carroll Gardens. The play is free. No tickets are required. The performances take place on Wednesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. Plan to arrive a half-hour earlier to find a place to sit. It’s a good idea to bring lawn chairs and blankets because only a few rows of chairs are set up. See SmithStreetStage.org for additional info.

A Fake Smile and Silver-Tongued Persuasiveness He’s the embodiment of Hamlet’s famous observation “that one may smile, and smile, and be a villain.” Hanson plays Richard with a big, fake grin that helps him fool other characters about his foul intentions. But with the audience, he’s completely candid. In a monologue that opens the play, Richard steps away from his brother King Edward IV (played just right by Justin Crowley) and the king’s court for a heart-to-heart talk with the audience. Richard, who hates the gentle peacetime that has descended upon England, was born deformed. He is so lame and misshapen “that dogs bark at me as I halt by them,” he confides. Hanson limps down a narrow aisle that puts audience members’ faces just inches away from his and explains, “I am determined to prove a villain.” At this point in the evening, the sun hasn’t set. In the light of day, he’s looking us right in the eye. Instantly, we are his co-conspirators, like it or not. And far beyond that beaming false smile, Richard’s great

INSET: Michael Hanson, in the title role in Smith Street Stage’s production of “Richard III,” shares a moment with the Duke of Buckingham, who is played by Katie Willmorth, with champagne glass in hand. FAR RIGHT: Richard III (played by Michael Hanson) is ready for battle.

Chloe Ross, the child wearing a crown, plays Prince Edward. Michael Hanson, at right, is Richard III. 2 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, June 22, 2017

of casting women in male Shakespeare roles. Katie Willmorth gives an especially noteworthy performance as the Duke of Buckingham, who is Richard’s chief co-conspirator. She’s riveting as a tough girl who matches Richard in his skills as a smooth-talking politician. When the mayor of London comes for a visit, Buckingham coaxes a seemingly reluctant Richard — who’s holding a prayer book in a pretense of piety, which was Buckingham’s idea — to accept the crown. Also, actress Nowani Rattray plays Richmond, who becomes King Henry VII. She’s a radiant young hero wielding a flashing sword. It is she who meets Richard on the field of battle, and slays him. No lesser mortal would be up to the task.

ency and not love, of course — the target of his amorous campaign, Lady Anne (played superbly by Raquel Chavez), hurls insults at him. She should hate him. He killed both her father-in-law — who was King Henry VI — and her husband, Prince Edward. But our Richard has such a way with words. He offers to stab himself to prove his devotion to Anne. He conjures up instant tears of false repentance to shed over her father-in-law’s corpse, which is lying nearby. Once it’s clear Richard has reeled her in, and she has stepped out of earshot, he turns to the audience and urges us to applaud him for his skillfulness in wooing the grieving widow.

Actresses Shine in Several Male Roles The many other excellent performers in the cast of “Richard III” include Kate Ross as Henry VI’s widow, Queen Margaret. She’s a fierce harridan whose eyes glaze with furious tears as she rains ominous curses on Richard and the members of his brother Edward IV’s court. Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy is a magnificent and haughty Queen Elizabeth, Edward IV’s wife. Brendan Cataldo is touching as Richard and Edward’s wrongly imprisoned brother, the Duke of Clarence, who is murdered in the Tower. With “Richard III,” Smith Street Stage continues its practice

Justin Crowley plays King Edward IV and Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy is Queen Elizabeth.

Photos by Chris Montgomery


Thursday, June 22, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 3


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uest Editorial Opinion

Applause for NYC Ferry, But Time to Extend Service Even More By Raanan Geberer Special to Brooklyn Eagle

The NYC Ferry is finally here. From Rockaway to Williamsburg, from Bay Ridge to Astoria, people have hailed it as a new, comfortable way to get from Brooklyn and Queens to Manhattan. With the looming temporary shutdown of the L train in 2019, which will basically knock out mass transit between North Williamsburg/Greenpoint and Manhattan for 15 months starting in April 2019, ferry service is more important than ever — and it’s encouraging that the new ferry has separate stops at South Williamsburg, North Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Some people, however, feel they’ve been left out, and one well-publicized example involves many residents of Coney Island, Gravesend and nearby areas. For at least 10 years, including during the planning process for the current ferry services, the idea of a ferry stop in Coney Island has been avidly discussed by politicians, community groups and others. In 2015, the Coney Island Blog polled its readers on whether they wanted the boats to come to Coney. Forty-two readers said they would support a ferry terminating at Coney Island Creek, 208 people wanted a ferry terminating at the beach area and only four people didn’t want one at all. The idea of ferries to Coney Island isn’t really a new idea. From the 19th century until the 1930s, the Iron Steamboat Company ran ferries from various Manhattan locations, first to its own pier, the Iron Pier and later to Steeplechase Pier. Today’s ferryboats are certainly faster than the old paddle-wheelers used back then. Jennifer Thorpe-Moscon, president of Southern Brooklyn Democrats, told this writer that “Coney Island is exponentially growing” with rising numbers of visitors and amusement attractions, and that getting more people to Coney in the summer is a priority. She also said that ferry service will also benefit residents of nearby residential communities, especially on the weekends when MTA New York City Transit often curtails or detours subway service, making it somewhat unreliable. “We have four trains that go to Coney Island — the F, the D, the N and the Q. The D and the N frequently run on each other’s tracks, and the F often skips stops along the way,” ThorpeMoscon said. Public officials from the area also have given their support to the idea. Councilmember Mark Treyger (D-Coney Island/Gravesend), for example, has said that he is expecting a million or more visitors this summer, and the new ferry plan helps some waterfront neighborhoods at the expense of others. This writer agrees with the idea of a ferry stop in Coney Island. Bay Ridge was recently added to the initial route, so why not Coney? Experts have said that rough waters preclude using Steeplechase Pier as a ferry location, and a Sea Gate terminal would serve too few riders. But I’m sure the proponents of ferry service can come up with engineers and planners of their own, and I’m interested in what they have to say. One thing is certain — the conditions that led to the decline of Coney Island in the 1950s and ’60s no longer exist. The coming of the Brooklyn Cyclones and Luna Park are merely one symptom of an overall growth in the area. Especially with the on-and-off weekend repairs to the various subway routes, a ferry stop could only be a welcome addition to the amusement area’s transit mix. It would help Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Gravesend commuters who prefer not to deal with the hassle of a rush-hour subway ride as well.

4 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, June 22, 2017

A ferry stop may help welcome more people to Coney Island’s many attractions, like the Winder Wheeel (above) and expansive beach (below). Eagle file photos by Lore Croghan


Williamsburg Wine Bash at Brooklyn Bowl Will Help Build Local Community, Cultural Center of the neighborhood’s best restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries.

About The Firehouse

— Information from the Firehouse North Brooklyn Community Center

e Firehouse

The Firehouse team has been raising money to convert the historic engine house on Wythe Avenue and North Eighth Street into a community a cultural center, which will, in part, be a Williamsburg version of the 92nd Street Y. The first of its kind in North Brooklyn, this hub will provide a unique space dedicated for innovative arts programming, topical forums and community space. With Vice Media as one of its programming partners, it will also be home to People’s Firehouse Inc and NAG, two significant neighborhood social justice organization that offer resident advocacy and services. For more information about the Firehouse, visit thefirehousebk.org/. Tickets are available at Eventbrite or email diana@thefirehousebk.org.

Courtesy of Th

Brooklyn’s first large-scale wine auction and tasting event is coming to Brooklyn Bowl on June 26 from 6-9 p.m. The Williamsburg Wine Bash — a fundraiser to help turn a closed local firehouse into a community and cultural center — will feature tastes from 60 prestigious wineries curated by Sherry-Lehmann wines, food from renowned North Brooklyn restaurants and an auction of rare wines led by Kevin Zraly, founder of the Windows on the World Wine School. General admission to the Williamsburg Wine Bash is $200 a person. Discounted tickets are available for early purchasers. Proceeds will go to support The Firehouse — a project to convert former Engine Company 212 in Williamsburg into a community and cultural center. “We could not think of a better way to support the Firehouse project than bringing together some of the greatest leaders in food and wine that Brooklyn has to offer for an unforgettable night at Brooklyn Bowl,’ said Firehouse board chair Del Teague. “It’s not often that you can have so much fun and support a worthy cause — all at the same time. The North Brooklyn community deeply appreciates the support of Sherry-Lehmann, Brooklyn Bowl, and all of the participating local restaurants to help build our community and cultural center.” The Firehouse also hosts Brooklyn’s annual Taste Williamsburg Greenpoint event, a block-party-style tasting event attended by thousands of New Yorkers and other visitors that features sample tastes from more than 40

Dozens of residents from North Brooklyn and beyond gathered in February 2017 at the loft of artist Ellen Harvey (left) to celebrate the restoration process of the decommissioned historic Firehouse Engine Co. 212 that will soon be a public artist space dubbed the Firehouse North Brooklyn Community Center. Eagle file photo by Cody Brooks Thursday, June 22, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 5


Our World In Pictures ARGENTINA — Government Revises Pension Plan: A man holds a sign that reads, “No to the suspension of pensions," during a demonstration after the government cut disability payments to some beneficiaries in Buenos Aires on Thursday. According to local reports, the government decided late Thursday to reverse the cutting off of tens of thousands of disability pensioners and said there will be instead a case-by-case review of who doesn’t meet requirements. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko

SOUTH KOREA — Cooling Off: A girl runs through a public water fountain in Seoul on Friday. A heat wave warning was issued in Seoul as temperatures soared above 90 AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon degrees.

6 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, June 22, 2017


A Special Section of BROOKLYN EAGLE Publications

June 22-28, 2017

Historic Homes on the Hill

THE HILL — THAT’S WHAT 19TH-CENTURY BROOKLYNITES CALLED BEAUTIFUL, ARCHITECTURALLY ECLECTIC CLINTON HILL. IT’S FULL OF ROMANESQUE REVIVALstyle houses (above, left) and impeccable brownstones (above, right). Today, actor Adrian Grenier calls it home (his house is below, left). So does A-list couple Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis (their house is below, right). Read about eye-catching neighborhood houses and recent neighborhood home sales in EYE ON REAL ESTATE, pages 7-9INB. INBrooklyn photos by Lore Croghan


2INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of June 22-28, 2017


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By Lisa Foodgirl

Special to INBrooklyn

A Friendly Danish Invasion of Brooklyn, & the Johnny Appleseed Of NY Rose Gardens

At roughly 5 p.m. on a recent afternoon, two servers and a bartender eagerly waited for the evening rush of diners that would come to Bornholm for dinner. Tucked neatly at 138 Smith St., among local shops between Bergen and Dean streets, is a genuine Danish restaurant named for a beloved, small island off the mainland. The flag of Denmark flows freely in the breeze by the restaurant entrance. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by the fresh scent of homemade bread. Tempting, fresh Danishes sit near the door in a display case on the edge of the bar top. The menu covers all meal periods of the day, from breakfast to Bornholm owners LONE (left) and dinner, with many CLAUDI KOFOD. of the options listed in the Danish language. But Bornholm’s charm goes beyond food: there’s a delightful friendliness among the staff (a Danish trait, as we have come to learn) and the diversity of their activities outside of work is inspiring. “My free time? I tend my rose garden for my wife, play chess and drink too much,” says Executive Chef TIM DUGAN, 35. Dugan, before becoming involved with restaurants as a chef, once professionally tended rose gardens and still makes a point to grow roses as a hobby. Dugan notes that since he has gotten married, has moved five times around New York City and left behind a rose garden in each location, as if leaving permanent fingerprints around the city. His knowledge of roses comes from his experience as a Boy Scout in his hometown of Washingtonville, New York. As guests dine in Bornholm, perhaps they may have a server by the name of VICTOR KAMARA, 26, who has played professional soccer overseas. Kamara has played on first- and seconddivision teams for Belgium, Italy and Portugal, but had to take a break due to an injury. However, lately he has begun training and practicing again and hopes to get back into soccer in August or September. Continued on page 4INB

Diners enjoy the outside seating.

Photos courtesy of Bornholm

Week of June 22-28, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 3INB


FACES B T F D EHIND

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By Lisa Foodgirl

Special to INBrooklyn

Bornholm is located at 138 Smith St. Photo courtesy of Bornholm

Sous Chef Who Loves Gardens Is Also World’s Best Composter Continued from page 3INB The bartender, MALLEY CHERTKOV, 20, attends Wellesley College, an all-women’s college located outside Boston. Chertkov is currently in New York City for an internship and works at the Urban Justice Center, helping those who face eviction in New York City apartments. She spoke passionately about the Urban Justice Center and how it can help stall the stark possibility of homelessness for someone who is facing eviction. She had much to say about the center making sure that landlords treat their tenants justly and offer a clean space that is well maintained at low incoming housing buildings. Part of Bornholm’s charm is the garden in the back that offers outside seating for its guests. But, more important, the garden that grows in the back is all thanks to Sous Chef NICK MAJEWSKI, 27, who tends the garden and is in charge of the composting for the restaurant. “We compost all of our vegetables, but we don’t do any of the meats,” Dugan notes. “Nick has been my sous chef for four years.” Chefs Dugan and Majewski once helped open restaurants together, and together they helped open Bornholm. Dugan, once a chef who would go from restaurant to restaurant every year, helping restaurant owners open the store and get off on the right foot, has mentioned that he wants to stay with Bornholm, even though the restaurant is approaching its first year anniversary and its opening has been successful. “For a while, all I did was open up restaurants for other people, so I would stick around for a year and then go on to my next restaurant. This is my fifth or six restaurant, but I like it so I’m staying,” Dugan says, as he reminisces his past year at Bornholm. “The front-of-house servers are great and besides that, the Danish style of food is great … they treat their food with a lot of respect. They don’t do a whole lot to it. A carrot is allowed to be a carrot, it doesn’t have to be pureed, or have all this stuff added to it, it can just be a carrot on the plate.”

Friendly faces among the staff at Bornholm: SAWYER DALY, ANNELISE NIELSSEN, MALLEY CHERTKOV and ALEXANDER BLOOM (left to right). Photo by Will Hasty 4INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of June 22-28, 2017


FACES B T F D EHIND

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By Lisa Foodgirl

Special to INBrooklyn

PLACE YOUR AD TODAY: CALL BONNIE & WILL AT 718-422-7400

Diwan Grill, the Grand Staircase to an Indian Palace As soon as a guest walks into Diwan Grill, the rich spices of authentic Indian food fill the air. A shining chandelier hangs from the ceiling, and one can see linen napkins waiting on the table. The tiny, quaint restaurant is kept dimly lit, with dark hardwood tables and black leather-like chairs lining the walls. NARINDER KUMAR, the owner and manager of Diwan Grill, is filled with passion for his Indian culture and his Indian food. He explains that Diwan is an Indian word referring to a “grand staircase that leads up to a giant palace.” “Guests should feel like they are eating within a palace,” he tells me as he stresses that the utmost importance about his food is quality, not Diwan Grill owner NARINDER quantity. KUMAR and Executive Chef AMAR Kumar is proud SINGH check out a recent copy of of this new addi- the Brooklyn Eagle Weekly Magtion to the impres- azine. Photo by Lisa Foodgirl sive and varied Brooklyn dining scene. Executive Chef AMAR SINGH also expresses pride in his work. “We put ingredients on top so our guests can see them and taste more flavor, “ he adds. Without the least bit of restraint or hesitation, he proclaims, “What we do here, nobody else does. We are so proud of our ancient cuisine, time-tested and so healthy for humans.” “With a dream in our eyes and with passion in our hearts, Narinder and I have set up our first restaurant … in Brooklyn,” Singh says. “We came to America with hardly anything. We had big dreams and dreaming big is not wrong. Everyone does so sometimes, but what differentiates a success from a dreamer is taking action, insisting on quality and … [here he grasps for the English word] persevering against all odds.”

Diners enjoy the atmosphere and food at Diwan Grill.

Photo by Bonnie Meeg

Week of June 22-28, 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/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of June 22-28, 2017


Joseph Steele’s 1840s Frame House and Other Clinton Hill Eye Candy

These Queen Anne-style rowhouses are at 301-305 Washington Ave. in Clinton Hill. They were built in 1880.

This fine survivor from the 1840s is 200 Lafayette Ave., AKA the Joseph Steele House, in Clinton Hill. INBrooklyn photos by Lore Croghan

By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

I’m Still Standing, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, as Elton John would say. There’s a fine frame house built around 1845 — which can be found right at a busy intersection in Clinton Hill. Joseph Steele House, as history-loving Brooklynites call it in honor of its original owner, is located at 200 Lafayette Ave. It’s made of yellow-painted clapboard and has an octagonal cupola. It was designated as an individual city landmark in 1968. This suburban mansion — in those days, this spot was in the suburbs — is largely a Greek Revival design. There are also touches of Italianate architectural style, which was a new thing in Brooklyn construction in the 1840s. According to a city Landmarks Preservation Commission designation report about 200 Lafayette Ave., R.N. Skinner bought it in 1903. The eye-catching house still belongs to the Skinner family, online records indicate. Clinton Hill is full of eye candy. See brooklyneagle.com for additional photos of buildings that make a visit to the neighborhood very worthwhile — plus pix of artworks in the Pratt Sculpture Park, which is open to the public. By the way, the Pratt Institute is located at 200 Willoughby Ave.

“Lions at the Gate,” by Wendy Klemperer, is in the Pratt Sculpture Park in Clinton Hill.

This 1880s-vintage house at 404 Washington Ave., which was designed by Mercein Thomas, is Clinton Hill architectural eye candy. Week of June 22-28, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 7INB


A Glimpse at Adrian Grenier’s Clinton Hill Houses

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Environmentally conscious actor Adrian Grenier owns the semi-attached Victorian house on the right, which is on Grand Avenue in Clinton Hill. INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

Adrian Grenier was ahead of his time with the solar roof. The “Entourage” star got a lot of press a decade ago when he installed solar panels on the roof of his Clinton Hill Historic District home at 430 Grand Ave. and used recycled denim as eco-friendly insulation. In recent strolls around Brooklyn, we’ve seen rooftop solar panels on homes in neighborhoods from Ditmas Park to Flatlands to the Georgetown section of Bergen Beach. But back when Grenier stepped up, going solar in our borough was a big deal. By the way, the environmentally conscious actor and his mother Karesse Grenier have owned the Grand Avenue house since 2005, when they purchased it for $999,000, city Finance Department records indicate. The landmarked Victorian house is lovely to look at. It’s powderblue and has a mansard roof and a porch.

Ongoing Renovation at His Other Clinton Hill House Grenier and his mother own a second Clinton Hill Historic District house, 112 Gates Ave., which is being renovated. They bought the landmarked property for $2.085 million in December 2014, Finance Department records indicate. The Italianate-style brownstone was constructed around 1866 by Brooklyn builder John Funk, the city Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation report about the Clinton Hill Historic District says. The back of the house, which is visible from Cambridge Place, was tightly wrapped in plastic when we walked by the other day.

INSET: Actor Adrian Grenier, shown in this June 2017 photo, owns two Clinton Hill houses with his mother, Karesse Grenier. Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

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A Glimpse at Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis’ Clinton Hill House Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

A-list couple Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis, shown here at the June 2017 Tony Awards, apparently live in Clinton Hill. By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

Olivia Wilde and Jason Sudeikis apparently own this Clinton Hill mansion.

INBrooklyn photo by Lore Croghan

A Buyer with a Beverly Hills Accountant Is New Owner of 580 Washington Ave. in Clinton Hill By Lore Croghan INBrooklyn

Welcome to the neighborhood, whoever you are. A trust set up by a Beverly Hills accountant paid $3.125 million for a Clinton Hill brownstone, 580 Washington Ave., city Finance Department records indicate. Actors, musicians and sports figures often buy real estate through trusts, with the involvement of their California-based agents or accountants. Of course, it’s possible the new owner of the Washington Avenue brownstone is simply somebody who doesn’t want his or her name in property records that are available to the public. The purchase was made through The Cabbage Industries Trust, with a Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills address in care of accountant Mark Kaplan. The trustee who signed the deed is Manhattan real-estate lawyer Robert Frankel. An old online posting says 580 Washington Ave. is 23 feet wide and has seven mantelpieces and original wood floors plus updates such as central air-conditioning. The asking price had been $3 million. By the way, The Cabbage Industries Trust just sold a condo at 70 Washington St. — that’s Street, not Avenue, and the neighborhood is DUMBO — for $1.475 million, Finance Department records show. The trust had purchased the DUMBO apartment for $1.065 million in 2013. But back to the trust’s Clinton Hill brownstone purchase. On the block where it’s located, which is Washington Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street, two other townhouses are in contract: • Directly next door, 582 Washington Ave. had been on the market for a $3 million asking price, according to a posting

by Corcoran Group’s Shakti C’Ganti, who has the listing. This house last changed hands in 2014, when Yitzchak David Manaster and Jennifer Griffee purchased it for $2.35 million, Finance Department records indicate. • The second house that’s in contract is 574 Washington Ave., which had been on the market for a $1.999 million asking price, according to a posting by Keller Williams’ Carson Alexander, who has the listing. The outside of the building has been scored and is ready to have a brownstone façade applied to it. Various members of the Cuffee family have owned 574 Washington Ave. since 1967, Finance Department records show. Here are some other recent Clinton Hill home sales. We gleaned the prices and buyer names from Finance Department records: • Alexander Desjardins and Elizabeth Desjardins paid $3.089 million for 303 Vanderbilt Ave. The sellers, Timothy Cassidy and Quinn Sweeney, had purchased the house for $1.705 million in 2012. The neo-Grec rowhouse was constructed in 1877 by developerbuilder Benjamin Linikin, the city Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation report about the Clinton Hill Historic District says. • An LLC with Zachary Stern as member bought 186 Clinton Ave. for $2.6 million. Stern is the director of finance, asset management and acquisitions at the Brooklyn Home Company, a family-run custom home builder. The Clinton Avenue property has an important pedigree: It’s half of a double house that was designed in the early 1890s by Montrose Morris, Brooklyn’s star architect of the late 19th century. • Jason Miller and Erin Pollard paid $1.975 million for a brownstone at 370 Grand Ave. • An LLC with Alexander Grunhut as member bought 498 Clinton Ave. for $1.65 million.

Long live the Gold Coast. That’s what a seven-block stretch of Clinton Avenue in Clinton Hill was called in the late 19th and early 20th centuries because oil tycoon Charles Pratt and lots of other mega-rich people built mansions there. The architectural eye candy they left as their legacy is a visual delight for preservationists and real-estate nerds. One of the niftiest Gold Coast houses is 405 Clinton Ave. It apparently belongs to actress Olivia Wilde, who’s currently starring on Broadway in “1984,” and “Saturday Night Live” alum Jason Sudeikis. Two trusts purchased the house for $6.5 million in November 2014, city Finance Department records show. The trustees who signed the deed, Eric Binder and Mark Landesman, were also the trustees for the couple’s purchase of a Meatpacking District condo. That apartment was sold right around the time of the Clinton Avenue house purchase. Also, Binder is the registered agent for various corporations of which Wilde is the president. Anyway. About 405 Clinton Ave. The landmarked mansion is made of deep-red Roman brick, trimmed with brownstone and set on a rock-faced stone base. It has a huge porch. The house, which is a combination of Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne styles, was designed in 1889 by William Tubby. He was a big-deal architect in his day. It was built for Charles Adolph Schieren, who was one of the last mayors of Brooklyn. The city Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation report about the Clinton Hill Historic District calls the stunning home “an extraordinarily bold architectural statement.” By the way, another important mansion designed by Tubby is just up the street at 241 Clinton Ave. That property has belonged since 1936 to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn or an affiliated entity, Finance Department documents show. The house was conveyed by deed to the diocese by Mary Seymour Pratt, Finance Department records indicate. It is now the official residence of the Bishop of Brooklyn, online sources say.

Week of June 22-28, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 9INB


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MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Week of June 22-28, 2017 ARIES — Mar 21/Apr 20 You may find yourself easily annoyed this week, Aries. Surround yourself with positive people so you're not pulled into the doldrums. You will snap out of this funk. TAURUS — Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, when others call on you to police a situation, you might be stuck between doing the right thing and taking the side of a friend. Do your best to remain impartial. GEMINI — May 22/Jun 21 The last few weeks have been good for you, Gemini. Others have had the chance to see what you are capable of accomplishing, and your confidence and ego are soaring as a result. CANCER — Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, you may be called on to host family or friends and will have to arrange all of those details. Recognize your strengths and delegate what you can't handle. LEO — Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, if you have been hesitant about being in the spotlight, times are about to change. There are no more excuses this week. Dive head first into everything. VIRGO — Aug 24/Sept 22 It's time to pull your head out of the clouds and get back to business, Virgo. The real world is beckoning, so get your mind straight and return to form. LIBRA — Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, when speaking with others, take a more serious tone than you are used to. You don't want to come off as if this is just a big joke. Something important is happening. SCORPIO — Oct 24/Nov 22 Consider listening rather than gossiping about others, Scorpio. Sit back and enjoy the conversation as it unfolds around you. You might be surprised by what you hear.

Calendar Events June 22-28 Arts S.B. Walker: Walden Walker’s photographs illustrate the way this once pristine landscape is now viewed and used. Using a large format camera, Walker captures both the grandeur and the cotidian 100 years after Thoreau. When: Tuesday through Saturday, through June 23, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Where: DUMBO/Janet Borden, Inc (91 Water St.) Breathing Space A solo exhibition by Shanee Epstein. When: Thursday through Sunday, through June 25, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Where: Park Slope/440 Gallery (440 Sixth Ave.) Multilocational See multilocational artworks by Natalia Nakazawa and Cecile Chong. Multilocational is defined as “of, pertaining to, or being present in more than one location.” It subtly plays on the words multicultural or multinational, or “of mixed ancestry or residence.” When: Fridays, through June 25, 3-6 p.m. Where: Park Slope/Old Stone House (336 Third St.) Andrew Snyder: 9 Meditations A performative installation, “9 Meditations” pays tribute to the tradition of demonstration by way of performance. There is a long history of demonstration in the crafts — whether weaving, smithing, or throwing — as a performance that shows the mastery of the craftsman’s skill. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through July 15, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Where: Park Slope/Open Source Gallery (306 17th St.) Chairs Missing A solo exhibition of paintings by Munro Galloway.

“S.B. Walker: Walden” will be on exhibit through June 23 at Janet Borden. Image courtesy of the artist When: Thursday through Sunday, through July 16, 1-6 p.m. Where: Bushwick/Studio 10 (56 Bogart St.) Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern This exhibit takes a new look at how the renowned modernist artist proclaimed her progressive, independent lifestyle through a self-crafted public persona, including her clothing and the way she posed for the camera. The exhibition expands our understanding of O’Keeffe by focusing on her wardrobe, shown for the first time alongside key paintings and photographs. It confirms and explores her determination to be in charge of how the world understood her identity and artistic values. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through July 23, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Thursdays, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.) Where: Prospect Heights/Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway) 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 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) Continued on page 11INB

SAGITTARIUS — Nov 23/Dec 21 People around you may seem extra passionate about their beliefs this week, Sagittarius. But you can still take things lightly if those same fires are not stoked in you. CAPRICORN — Dec 22/Jan 20 This week you may pick up some skills you never thought possible, Capricorn. It may be computer-related, or you may even begin to learn a foreign language. AQUARIUS — Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, you may finally arrive at a destination only to discover you really didn't want to go to this place after all. Sometimes, you learn through discovery. PISCES — Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, get outside and enjoy the fresh air as much as possible. The great outdoors can provide a welcome respite from the daily grind. 10INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of June 22-28, 2017


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MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Continued from page 10INB Truman Capote’s Brooklyn: The Lost Photographs of David Attie In the spring of 1958, a young photographer named David Attie was led through the streets of Brooklyn Heights and to the Brooklyn waterfront by an unexpected guide: 33-year-old Truman Capote. The images Attie took that day were to illustrate Capote’s essay for Holiday magazine about his life in Brooklyn. Decades later, these largely unseen photographs are being exhibited for the first time. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through July 31, 12-5 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Historical Society (128 Pierrepont 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 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)

some incredibly realistic software. When: Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Continued on page 12INB

Infinite Blue The works of art in “Infinite Blue” feature blue in all its variety — a fascinating strand of visual poetry running from ancient times to the present day. In cultures dating back thousands of years, blue — the color of the skies — has often been associated with the spiritual, but also signifies power, status and beauty. The spiritual and material aspects of blue combine to tell us stories about global history, cultural values, technological innovation and international commerce. When: Wednesday through Sunday, through Nov. 5, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Thursdays, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Where: Prospect Heights/Brooklyn Museum (200 Eastern Parkway)

Books & Readings 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. The Brooklyn Heights children’s librarian will read stories from the library’s summer reading list, plus a whole lot more. When: Wednesday, June 28, 11 a.m. Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/Pier 3

Educational “Andrew Snyder: 9 Meditations” will be on exhibit at Open Source Gallery through July 15. Image courtesy of the artist

NYTM Train Operators Workshop Drop by the computer lab to take control of a New York City Subway car and operate it over virtual miles of track, using

Week of June 22-28, 2017 • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • 11INB


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MYBROOKLYNCALENDAR.COM Continued from page 11INB Where: Downtown Brooklyn/New York Transit Museum (Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street) Who is Muslim? With immigration from Muslim-majority countries dominating U.S. news, the narrative of who is Muslim in America has become increasingly fraught. Led by New York University Chaplain Imam Khalid Latif, a panel of Muslim men and women living in America challenge stereotypes, highlight alternative narratives and share their hopes for America’s evolution. When: Wednesday, June 28, 6:30-8 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Heights/Brooklyn Historical Society (128 Pierrepont St.)

Family Fun 14th Annual Children’s Sports & Fitness Expo The Children’s Sports & Fitness Expo is a full day of exercise, sports, fitness and fun. During the event, children are engaged in more than 20 sports and nutrition activities, free of charge. Activities include fencing, golf, tennis, archery, double dutch, soccer and much more. When: Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Where: Prospect Lefferts Gardens/P.S. 92 (601 Parkside Ave.) Puppetry Arts Festival of Brooklyn Great for kids of all ages, rain or shine, this event will host puppet-based crafts, games and activities as well as tons of giveaways. Free puppet shows take place all day featuring Brooklyn’s very own Tuffy Tiger. When: Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The Brooklyn Historical Society will host “Who is Muslim?” on Wednesday, June 28. Where: Park Slope/Fourth Street and Fifth Avenue (adjacent to the Old Stone House) NYSoM SuperHERO Carnival Come celebrate summer in BedfordStuyvesant with a day of fun that includes superhero games, activities and prizes, cooking demonstrations, fresh food and artisan market, face painting and tattoos. See guest appearances by Marvel & DC heroes/villains.

When: Saturday, June 24, 2-6 p.m. Where: Bedford Stuyvesant/Monroe Street between Throop Avenue and Marcus Garvey Boulevard Kids Drawing and Poetry Workshop Kids can join artist Jesse Chun for a workshop on drawing, poetry and combining the two. When: Saturday, June 24, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park/99 Plymouth St.

Collage courtesy of Brooklyn Historical Society

School’s Out for Summer Playdate: Family Concert ft. the Music of David Bowie The Rock and Roll Playhouse and Mommy Nearest are thrilled to collaborate on the ultimate School’s Out for Summer Playdate with a family concert featuring the music of rock and roll legend David Bowie. When: Sunday, June 25, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Where: Williamsburg/Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Ave.)

12INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Brooklyn Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of June 22-28, 2017


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16INB • INBROOKLYN — A Special Section of Brooklyn Daily Eagle/Heights Press/Brooklyn Record/Bay Ridge Eagle/Greenpoint Gazette • Week of June 22-28, 2017


Our World In Pictures ENGLAND — Remembering Fire Victims: People write messages on a wall for the victims and in support for those affected by the massive fire in Grenfell Towe in London on Thursday. A massive fire raced through the 24-story high-rise apartment building in west London last week. AP Photo/Alastair Grant

LIBYA — Boats Rescue Migrants: Migrants and refugees stand on the deck of a rescue vessel after being rescued by Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms workers on the Mediterranean Sea on Friday. The Spanish aid organization rescued more than 600 migrants who were attempting the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea to Europe in packed boats from AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti Libya.

Thursday, June 22, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 7


71st Annual Tony Awards Honor Broadway’s Best & Brightest By Andy Katz Special to Brooklyn Eagle

Winners of the 2017 Tony Awards — celebrating the best of Broadway musical, comedy and drama — braved near triple digit temperatures traveling from the awards venue at Radio City Music Hall to the nearby venerable Lambs Theater Club, which served as an impromptu winners’ circle and media center, to share their feelings with the press and public. Reactions varied as first-time winner for lighting design Bradley King kissed his trophy. “I don’t know what it means,” King told BroadwayWorld.com. “It’s just overwhelming. When we started this [“Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”] five years ago, none of us thought we’d ever be here!” At the other end of the spectrum, veteran Broadway star Bette Midler, awarded Best Actress in a Musical for the revival of “Hello, Dolly!” marched confidently across the red carpet, eschewing directions from the show publicists, moving with poise and precision well in advance of paparazzi requests. “It’s a little scary to get on those steps and hope you don’t trip,” Cynthia Nixon, winner of the Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for “Lillian Hellman’s Little Foxes,” told Playbill’s Olivia Clement. “Surreal,” declared Michael Aronov, the winner of the Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for “Oslo,” moments later. “I mean, my dad kissed my hand.”

8 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, June 22, 2017

“Not a word!” songwriter Benj Pasek of “Dear Evan Hansen” insisted before cutting loose with howls of sheer delight as his writing partner Justin Paul looked on and laughed. Another “Dear Evan Hansen” winner, actress Rachel Bay Jones, also a first-timer, could scarcely contain her joy, giggling delightedly as cameras flashed in her direction. Hitting a more serious note on a night that was relatively apolitical, “Indecent” director Rebecca Taichman spoke out against cutting National Education Association funds: “If you want to decimate culture,” she told Variety while clutching her trophy, “and dialogue and empathy and community, then that [cutting arts funding] would be the way to do it!” With nine nominations totaling six Tony Awards, “Dear Evan Hansen” was the night’s favorite. Originally produced off-Broadway, the musical, with songs co-written by winners Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, follows the travails of its shy, disaffected eponymous main character Evan Hansen (played by first-time Tony winner Ben Platt), after a misunderstanding about the circumstances of an acquaintance’s suicide propels him into the risky dimension of instant social media celebrity. Other big winners of the evening were “Hello, Dolly!” with four awards, including the Award for Best Revival of a Musical and the Award for Best Actress, Bette Midler; “Oslo,” a dramatic rendition of the famed Oslo Accords; and a revival of Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes.”

ABOVE: Ben Platt with his award for “Dear Evan Hansen.” INSET: Cynthia Nixon with her Tony Award for Best Actress for her role in Lillian Hellman’s “The Little Foxes.” Eagle photos by Andy Katz


Scenes from the 2017 Coney Island Mermaid Parade

The 2017 Coney Island Mermaid Parade brought out its typical cast of colorful characters this weekend, who marched loudly and proudly despite inclement weather. For more coverage of the parade, see brooklyneagle.com! Photos by Tom Hilton

Thursday, June 22, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 9


A Lacrosse Team Grows in Brooklyn By Scott Enman Brooklyn Eagle

Brooklyn Bridge Park is known for its incredible views, luscious lawns and state-of-the-art athletic facilities, but it may soon be recognized for a group of boys who are revolutionizing a traditionally suburban sport in Brooklyn. A visitor from another planet, or even a different part of the country, might be baffled and possibly even scared by the violent game where players twirl sticks — some as long as 6 feet — with baskets on the end. Throwing a ball as hard as a rock, audiences sit entranced as teams jab, poke and hit each other, patiently waiting for the smallest hole to penetrate the crease. What could be mistaken for a tribal ritual is actually North America’s oldest game and the fastest sport on two feet: Lacrosse. This pastime, steeped in tradition, was originally a Native American war game played between opposing tribes with as many as 1,000 players from rival villages participating. Each game would last for days with the goals situated as far as 6 miles apart, and it A U11 Select Team was not unusual for players to player evades a perish over the course of a sindefender while gle match. Nowadays, while the game is carefully cradling less barbaric, it still preserves its the ball in competitive nature. his stick. Lacrosse — a stereotypical tony sport reserved for the affluent suburbs of Long Island, N.J. and Maryland — is growing rapidly and experiencing an increase in popularity in Brooklyn and beyond thanks to the Brooklyn Lacrosse Club. “What’s cool is you’re seeing more and more organizations starting up, whereas 10 years ago if I saw a kid with a lacrosse stick on the subway, I would stop him and ask, ‘Where do you play?’” said Brooklyn Lacrosse Club Director Joseph Nocella. “In the last five years, through us and lots of other organizations too, I see lacrosse sticks more and more on the subway. There’s more and more of a culture that you’re starting to see seep into the city.” Brooklyn Lacrosse Club, which draws kids from all backgrounds, is a quintessential reflection of the borough. “What we tried to do was create an organization that looks like Brooklyn, that draws in people from all walks in life in an inclusive way,” said Nocella. “I always like to think that in any team picture we take, it’s exactly right, that’s us.” Attracting players from Brooklyn Heights to Brownsville, Canarsie to Coney Island, the organization gives kids the ability to forge friendships that they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to form without lacrosse. “We have some private school kids from Brooklyn Heights and we have some public school kids from East New York and Brownsville,” said Nocella. “Those kids are all smashed together on these teams and they become friends and socially it’s incredible.” Within Brooklyn Lacrosse Club, a particular group of boys known as the U11 Select Team is beating traditional powerhouses across the tri-state area and putting the sport on the map for

the borough. The organization, formed in 2012, has 12 teams for boys and girls ranging from pre-K through 12th grade. The squads include U8, U10, U12, U14 and U19 for both sexes and a co-ed U6 peewee team and the U11 Select Team. “We have kids out there that are brand new to the sport,” said head coach of the U11 Select Team Seth Basham. “This is something that they’ve never seen before and they’re like, ‘What is that? I want to play that.’ “We get kids coming from all different directions; some from the housing projects, for example, where we practice on Wednesdays.” “I’ve seen absolutely amazing growth for my son,” added Jordana Kenny, a parent who has three kids in the program. “Take the sport away for a second; the friendships he has built with children that he would not have met otherwise from different parts of the city has been amazing.” The U11 Select Team can be found practicing as many as four times a week at Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park or on the handball courts of the borough’s public housing complexes playing “wall ball.” As locals peer on in awe at the alien-like game, some venture over to their practice to inquire, touch and feel the equipment. Brooklyn Lacrosse Club’s mission statement, according to its website, is “To grow the sport of lacrosse in Brooklyn, emphasizing fundamentals, teamwork, respect and Brooklyn … Through the sport of lacrosse, we strive to open up endless opportunities for the youth of Brooklyn.” “We felt that it was a sport that didn’t have a lot of traction in cities and in urban areas and we felt that the reasons were the cost of the sport, the logistics of the sport and the perception of the sport,” said Nocella. “So we designed an organization that dealt with removing those barriers.” He added, “There’s never a kid that is turned away because [he or she] can’t pay.” With the introduction of lacrosse in Brooklyn, kids now have an alternative to baseball that requires more running and athleticism. “It’s the fastest sport on two feet,” said Seth. “People love speed, action and the opportunity to get out on the field. Field sports in general in Brooklyn have come a long way. Lacrosse brings elements together that are quick and attractive to kids who want speed and action on the field.” “There’s an athleticism required in lacrosse that’s not required in baseball that has particular appeal to the times in which we live,” added Andrew Cotto, whose son Julian plays on the select team. “I see the sport blossoming. I can see Brooklyn becoming a place known for lacrosse like Maryland is known for lacrosse.” He added, “It works so well because of the exertion and mental focus that is required of it. It seems to be a nice fit for city kids, contemporary city kids, new-school Brooklyn kids.” For the kids themselves, they each love the sport for different reasons. “I’ve been holding a lacrosse stick since I could walk,” said

Jackson from the U11 Select Team looks on determinedly through his helmet. Photos by Melina Mackall Lucas Basham, 11. “I’m a small kid and I like running around, especially with much bigger kids. Small kids can do just as much as the bigger kids.” “I like the physical part about the sport: Checking,” added Julian Cotto, 10. The majority of the coaches at Brooklyn Lacrosse Club are all volunteers, donating their time for the growth of the game. The U11 Select Team has seasons in both the spring and fall. It competes at the highest level, entering tournaments across the region and defeating traditional powerhouses like Montclair in N.J. “They’re beating teams that used to beat them handedly,” said Andrew Cotto. “Now the kids from Brooklyn are coming out to Westchester and no one’s laughing anymore.” A highlight from the team’s season thus far was when the players and parents travelled to Foxborough, Massachusetts on Memorial Day weekend to watch the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Final Four at Gillette Stadium. Nocella and his counterparts at other New York City-based lacrosse organizations, like the Brooklyn Crescents, have ambitious goals for the sport, hoping to create a citywide lacrosse league as early as next spring. And as the sport continues to grow in Brooklyn and beyond, the borough could soon become a hotspot for recruitment, drawing scouts from the game’s top colleges. In the meantime, people may still stop in their tracks when they see lacrosse being played, but as more kids learn about the sport and as additional opportunities to play become available, do not be surprised to see more lacrosse sticks than baseball gloves on the subway. “It’s such a unique sport and I love helping grow the passion for it,” said Lucas. “Every town should have a lacrosse club if the sport is going to grow. It has a big future around here.”

A defender from Brooklyn Lacrosse Club sporting a long pole attempts to win the ball back from the opposition. The Brooklyn Lacrosse Club’s U11 Select Team poses for a photo at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6. 10 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, June 22, 2017


Brooklyn’s BangOn!NYC Throws 3-Day Music Festival in the Pennsylvania Woods

Earth Stage designed by Rhizome & The Reliquarium. By Scott Enman Brooklyn Eagle

From the warehouses of Williamsburg to the pastures of Pennsylvania, BangOn!NYC has established itself as a staple of the Brooklyn music scene, having thrown many legendary parties. The event production company prides itself on not only bringing in a stellar lineup of artists, but also on creating an immersive, interactive and innovative experience for its guests. Brooklynites have always known that the company is capable of throwing a remarkable warehouse party, but a three-day festival in the boondocks of Pennsylvania? That was a tall task, but one that BangOn!NYC passed with flying colors. On a beautiful Memorial Day weekend, thousands of revelers gathered in the woods of The Keystone State to attend Elements Lakewood, BangOn!NYC’s inaugural three-day camping festival. The debauchery-filled celebration, which took place just miles away from the original site of Woodstock, boasted four stages, large-scale art installations, fire breathers and the world’s top DJs. Partygoers decked themselves out in elaborate costumes and were treated to lively beats and over-the-top performances. Meandering throughout the grounds, festival-goers encountered sculptures, light shows, art cars, rides, circus performances and exotic vendors. In a market overly saturated with pop-up parties, BangOn!NYC is a breath of fresh air. The company’s parties consistently push boundaries and are reminiscent of Burning Man. “We like to think of Elements as a reflection of the melting pot that is New York City, and have a combination of many different forms of entertainment and art that you won't find in a single place,” BangOn!NYC Co-Founder Brett Herman told the Brooklyn Eagle. The company's slogan is "Performance art and booze baccha-

INSET: Lee Burridge at the ZERO Air Stage.

Photo: Chris Lazzaro / Freedom Film LLC

Photo: Chris Lazzaro / Freedom Film LLC

nalias like you've never seen before.” The Elements brand is uniquely Brooklyn grown and independently run, and its curators are consistently striving to incorporate local artists and vendors. “BangOn!NYC has grown from 300-person rooftop events to 5,000-person warehouse parties in Brooklyn, and most of our friends and collaborators live here and create various forms of art in this awesome community,” said BangOn!NYC Co-Founder Timothy Monkiewicz. Driving to the festival, people from Brooklyn and beyond carpooled and rode up in hippie buses reminiscent of Woodstock. The festival featured four stages, each themed with a different element. The Fire Stage was a musical inferno complete with fire breathers, fireworks and huts with blazes burning from the roof. The Water Stage, located on a lake, was adorned with buoys, fishing nets and oars and featured a pirate ship roaming the waters with a cast of dancing buccaneers. The Earth Stage, ornamented with two wolf heads howling at the moon, was placed in a verdant meadow. The Air Stage, located in the woods, featured neon art installations and warm lighting. Revelers grooved on a muddy dance floor under the trees surrounded by a cool dampness. In the corner of the forest was a cocktail bar with tree stumps for seats. Speaking about what makes Elements Lakewood unique from other parties, BangOn!NYC’s Director of Operations Kelly Smith cited the festival’s collaborative element. “Very early on, we encouraged people to come up with something, encouraging that type of creativity and that type of participation,” Kelly told the Eagle. “There were just so many people who brought so much to the festival. “Whether it was live painting, body painting or theme camps offering Elements pins, there was just so many different things and I think everyone gave it their all.” BangOn!NYC will host its annual Elements Music and Arts Festival in August, which was held outside of the abandoned Red Hook Grain Terminal the previous two years. The location for this year’s edition has yet to be announced.

Lost in the lights.

Photo: Julian Cassady

Thursday, June 22, 2017 • Brooklyn Eagle • 11


12 • Brooklyn Eagle • Thursday, June 22, 2017


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