Brokelyn » Park Slope

Starving artists: Feed your own for the holidays

Jonathan Berk — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 12:33:41 +0000

Will blog for drinks.

There’s no shortage of worthy ways to be charitable this time of year, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another that says “Made for BK” quite like this. Open Source, a Park Slope gallery/creative space, is looking for a few good cooks to staff its Open Source Food Kitchen every night in December. For a fourth year, the gallery’s running its month-long free kitchen where a volunteer comes in each night, whips up a meal, and 15-20 starving artists dig in. The site says fellow artists usually don the chef hat, but really, anybody’s welcome to come in and cook.

Requirements for the one-night gig are pretty few: Meals are served between 7 and 9pm and you should plan on something easy to serve, like a “one-pot meal — either a soup or stew which can be served in bowls with bread on the side.” Open Source provides the cookware and utensils and will help with logistics. All you do, they say, is “supply the love” (and, um, the food, lest you want an overly expressive uprising on your hands).

If you’re at all culinarily-inclined, this seems like a cool way to give a little back this holiday season. Also, there seems occasionally to be wine and beer-laden late-night convos. Now, if you’re one of those who’s reading this salivating, rather than planning your menu, the meal is open anyone, but seating is limited to first-come, first-served.

Sign up soon, charitable chefs, because shifts are disappearing fast (the actual holidays at the end of the month are still free, though). And while you’re checking it out, you might as well look at all that art stuff Open Source does the rest of the year.

Open Source Gallery, 306 17th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves., Park Slope.

New Park Slope bike patrol offering free escorts home

Tim Donnelly — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:54:57 +0000

Artist's rendering of BK Bike Patrol

People are stepping up like crazy to fight back against the sex attacks on women in Park Slope. First came free self-defense classes, and now, Brooklyn bikers are trying to make the streets safer on their own. The Daily News reports on a group of 10 pedalers who have started the Brooklyn Bike Patrol to keep an eye on the streets of the Slope and Prospect Heights from 8pm-midnight and provide escorts home for anyone who needs it. ”The cops can’t be everywhere,” founder Jay Ruiz told the paper. “Just give us a call and we’ll have someone there.” To take Ruiz up on that, call him at 718.744.7592.

Kick back at the night: free self-defense classes for women

Tim Donnelly — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:17:08 +0000

Reading about some of the nasty attacks against women in the Slope lately can make you nostalgic for when all you worried about was containing sidewalk stroller rage, especially when the cops don’t seem to be much help. But thanks to the internet and People Who Actually Give a Damn, you can do something about it! FiPS reports that after an online petition, Councilwoman Sara González is pairing with non-profit Center for Anti-Violence Education and fitness program Crossfit718 to provide free self-defense classes for women starting tomorrow.

Classes with CrossFit718 (712 5th Avenue) begin Saturday at 1pm . Space is limited so call CrossFit at 718.768.0090 to reserve a space.

Classes with the Center for Anti-Violence Education begin Sept. 20 at 6pm at PS10 (511 Seventh Ave.)

In the meantime, FiPS says you can contact the Office of Councilwoman Sara M. González at 718.439.9012 or sgonzalez@council.nyc.gov with any questions or for a complete calendar of free classes.

A Taste of Fifth is a cheap eats paradise

Thomas Sullivan — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:33:36 +0000

Non-fried curry puff from Sky Ice, a newcomer to Taste of Fifth this year.

Park Slope, in all of its fancy pants glory, isn’t exactly a cheap-eats haven, but on Sept. 15th many of the restaurants on the neighborhood’s Fifth Avenue strip will become oh-so-briefly affordable (or more so!). A Taste of Fifth Ave, running from 6-8pm, allows those with multiple stomachs (you mean you don’t have one just for desserts?) to sample a variety of dishes spanning numerous cuisines. Each of the 18 participating restaurant will offer a $5 food or drink special, though the folks at the Fifth Avenue BID also hint that free samples are not out of the question.

Event sponsor Google Places will also be set up at Fifth and 1st Street to give out free food tickets, but only for the first 150 customers. Participating restaurants include everything from the much praised Northern Thai ice cream shop Sky Ice to M&S Prime Meats and its extensive selection of meat-y Italian treats (pork snack?). Check out the full details here and start your plan of attack now!

Participating restaurants:

El Viejo Yayo – 36 5th Avenue
Sky Ice – 63 5th Avenue
Juice Masters – 77 5th Avenue
Los Pollitos – 148 5th Avenue
Kiku – 177 5th Avenue
LOBO – 188 5th Avenue
200 Fifth – 200 5th Avenue
Comida – 230 5th Avenue
Aunt Suzies – 247 5th Avenue
Trois Pammes Patisserie – 260 5th Avenue
Baluchis – 310 5th Avenue
M and S Prime Meats – 312 5th Avenue
El Sito Boriquen – 341 5th Avenue
Colombia – 376 5th Avenue
Coco Roco – 392 5th Avenue
Tacos Nuevo Mexico – 491 5th Avenue
Grills Delight and Juice Bar – 587 5th Avenue
Has-Beans – 620 5th Avenue

Follow Thomas: @versayce.

Craigslist freebie of the day: PS2 with games and guitars

Jonathan Berk — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 15:57:01 +0000

This one needs no selling on our part. A Craigslist poster near Prospect Park has a completely functional, utterly free Play Station 2, with multiple games and two Guitar Hero/Rock Band guitars he or she has “been meaning to get rid of forever.” The listed games include Guitar Hero I and II, Rock Band, several editions of Grand Theft Auto and various sports games. Pick-up must happen today, Friday, Dec. 24, before 5 p.m… somewhere on Prospect Park West. See the listing for all games and details. Act fast on this one to get it under your beloved gamer’s tree.

Cheapest dry-cleaners in Park Slope? Anyone?

Jonathan Berk — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:40:39 +0000

When a reader asks for tips on the cheapest way to do this or that around town, we like to open it up to everyone. There are always a few of you with some great ideas on throwing that cheap dance party, and all the neighborly helpfulness makes everyone feel good. Well, today, we came across a request for cheap services we couldn’t resist, and it wasn’t even directed here. FiPS sent out a call from a reader looking for the cheapest dry-cleaners in Park Slope: “I’m broke, but I don’t want to be dirty! Any ideas?” The dirty brokester’s call has gone unanswered so far, so we put it to you to help her out: Any suggestions for cheap dry-cleaners in the Slope? Comment away.

via FiPS

The freshest raffle prize yet: $60 at Green Kitchen

Lauren Cannon — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:01:28 +0000

So we’ve taken care of decadent, meaty, succulent… anyone for some greens on their raffle-won menu? It’s easy to pledge a new healthy diet, but footing the bill for that local, organic, free-range goodness—that can prove a deal-breaker when it comes to turning over a new leaf. And there lies the appeal of Green Kitchen, the brand new Park Slope fresh-eats spot where $60 from the RAFFLE OF THE CENTURY will bring in quite a haul.

Just off bustling Fifth Ave. and 9th St., Green Kitchen was opened this month by Park Slope Diner owner Mike Condoulis as an alternative to the less healthy fare served up nearby. The new restaurant’s menu includes everything from home-style burgers ($7.50) to seared salmon steak over arugula ($13) to the eye-catching, taste-bud-teasing strawberry and mozzarella salad ($8).

And to prove his commitment to keeping things fresh, Condoulis is posting daily deals and specials on the restaurant’s Twitter page, and he’s updating the Green Kitchen blog regularly with new tidbits on healthy eating. But don’t take his blog’s word for it. Win the $60 and taste for yourself.

The First Annual Brokelyn Charity Ball will be held June 10 from 7 to 11 at at Night Owl in Williamsburg, 160 N. 4th St. at Bedford Ave. Coming? Let us know by RSVPing in the Facebook page, where you can also see all the other fine prizes.

Free tonight: true tales on tap

Beth Hoyt — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:59:50 +0000

So, storytelling is becoming all the rage. The Moth, Risk, Stripped Stories, True Stories at the Tank… if you haven’t heard of all this, it’s like stand-up, but not always funny. There are almost always laughs, though, usually some fascinating twists and turns, and at the end of the story, you might actually—hopefully—take something with you. This is why I love storytelling. I also happen to love The Sackett (661 Sackett St. at Fourth Ave.) which is where I’m now hosting my own free storytelling event, every other Wednesday at 8 p.m. It’s called The NutSackett, and there’s one happening tonight. The theme: revelation, with six awesome stories lined up. Also, since the place is a bar, you get to drink too, and order in some food from nearby places. So, I hope to see you there. I’ll buy you a drink*.

*The stories are all true. This statement is not.

Tonight, taco-eating contest in the Slope

Jonathan Berk — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:07:13 +0000

A Texas taco contest. Photo by Armando Rayo.

It’s not quite hot dogs in Coney Island, but tacos in Park Slope has a certain authentic grit to it, don’t you think? Besides, face-stuffing is face-stuffing, which is what we hope to see tonight at Barrio‘s first annual taco-eating contest. The guacamole will fly at 7 p.m. when contestants race to clean their surely-overflowing plates. The prize is a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant. You can still sign up, but call ahead at 718-965-4000. The entrance fee is $19, which seems steep, until you consider that you probably won’t want to eat again until Saturday morning. And it’s an even better deal than Dine in Brooklyn. Competitors, show up by 6:45.

Barrio, 210 Seventh Ave. at 3rd St., 718-965-4000

Bar of the Day: Pacific Standard

Tim Donnelly — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:49:56 +0000

This is the latest entry in our series on the venues featured in the Brokelyn Beer Book. Pacific Standard in Park Slope is the bar for all your indoor, rainy-weekend needs: big-screen basketball, board games, Sunday night pub quiz.

PACIFIC STANDARD
www.pacificstandardbrooklyn.com
82 4th Ave., between Bergen & St. Marks, Park Slope, 718-858-1951

What it is: Diversion-heavy bar, heavy on the West Coast microbrews and cask ales, also host to trivia nights, poetry readings and other special events.
Why we love it: Impressively curated selection of beers without astronomical prices. Plus they have a library in the back, a pinball machine and an ample supply of board games to prevent you from ever getting bored. Have you tried drunk Battleship?
Who to bring: Your smartest friends for Sunday trivia night, sports fans (big screen in the back for games), people who like to savor beer more than chug it.
What to order: Beers on tap rotate frequently, but our favorites right now include the Rogue Dead Guy Ale, which you can use to taunt your Battleship opponent.
Pacific Standard fun fact: The bar has become somewhat of a gathering ground for California ex-pats, which there are quite a few of around here.