A blog about Kensington, Brooklyn.
Send news, tips, gossip, and rants to kensingtonprospect [at] gmail.com.
Monday, September 6th, 2010
Here’s a reason to appreciate Kensington, and Brooklyn: The local Orthodox Jewish community lending a hand to the local Pakistani community’s efforts to gather money and food for Pakistani flood victims.
Friday, September 3rd, 2010
A few neighbors have been complaining about the lack of enforcement of parking regulations on the Kensington side of Coney Island Avenue, and are starting to wonder if it might be due to us being the far eastern border. We’ll contact the precinct to follow up, but here is a summary, as one of them puts it:
The auto shops between Cortelyou and Avenue C continually park and repair cars on the sidewalk. The meters are always broken and filled with unlicensed and unregistered cars. The No Standing zone outside of 740 CIA near Cortelyou is filled every afternoon and often with double and triple parked cars. All this creates a traffic nightmare and presents a danger to pedestrians, many of them seniors, trying to get to the supermarket. Police efforts in response to earlier complaints have been non-existent. Does any of this have to do with the fact that we are at the wrong end of the 66 precinct?
Friday, September 3rd, 2010
Naomi Donabedian emails:
If you are near Brooklyn on Monday Sept 6th I would love to have you come down and check us out. The master composter (you wouldn’t believe how many awesome people are in on this project) and I will be digging and sifting to create fresh plots to plant in. Come learn how we are remediating Brooklyn’s deadly soil to grow great big vegetables for the community. Lend a hand, or a shovel if you have one.
There will be future volunteer opportunities. We will have more plots for people to grow their own vegetables if you choose to volunteer with us. Let me know if this stuff excites you or if the thought of dirt and labor makes you want to lock the door and crank the AC. Please spread the word with other gardening inclined folks too!
Digging, Sifting and Soil Remediation Round 4
Monday September 6th
9am – 4 pm
at Prospect Farm, 1194 Prospcet Ave btwn Vanderbilt and Seeley Sts.
You can join their Google Group for weekly/daily updates, like them on Facebook, or just email ProspectFarmbk@gmail.com to get in touch.
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
The Brooklyn Eagle answers a question about areas with most Caribbean-Americans in Brooklyn, and Kensington makes the list.
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
One of our neighbor (who asked to remain nameless for fear of retaliation against her mail (!)) should be commended for taking on the notorious Kensington Post Office, which serves the 11218 zip code, and doing it in a manner that will hopefully lead to mail and packages being delivered as addressed!
If you’ve had trouble with undelivered mail, here’s her advice:
Several months ago, I asked you to send me your concerns regarding mail delivery in 11218. At that time, I collected 25 separate complaints. Over the last 8 weeks, I have patiently worked my way through the system, trying to find an advocate to help us. Now, it seems my patience has been rewarded, as folks from USPS Consumer Affairs have called a meeting at our local post office to further discuss these complaints with the manager.
[At the meeting on August 25th ] In attendance were:
Alan Dubrow, Chairman of Community Board 12 and Heather, a member of the Albemarle Neighborhood Association, both of whom represent our neighborhood on the USPS Community Advisory Council of the Brooklyn Postmaster
Andrea Burrows and Archie Warner, who work in the Consumer Affairs Office of the Brooklyn Postmaster
Kensington Station Manager Mike Scalise
We discussed the delivery issues in our area. Everyone agrees that there are problems, and the Post Office officials seem sincere in their commitment to make improvements. The best thing any of us can do is report problems as they happen, since unknown issues can’t be addressed.
If you experience problems (no delivery on a particular day; lost packages; etc.), here are some options:
1. Call the local post office and speak to Mike Scalise. He gave me three numbers to use:
• 718-436-0164
• 718-436-1082
• 718-686-72932. Send an email to our neighbor Heather, who has set up a separate account to gather information regarding post office issues in 11218. Heather compiles the data and forwards it to the Brooklyn Postmaster’s office on a regular basis. She requests that when you write you are as detailed as possible, describing the issue, the date/time, and your delivery address. The email address is: kensingtonpohelp@aol.com
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010
From Stacy Dedring, President of the East 4th Street Community Garden and Master Composter:
On Saturday Sept. 11th, I will be teaching a worm bin workshop at the East 4th Street Community Garden, and all are welcome!
When:
Saturday, September 11th at 9 a.m. (lasting approx. 1 hour)
Rain date – Sunday the 12th at 10 a.m.
Where:
East 4th Street Community Garden
171 East 4th Street (between Caton and Ft. Hamilton)
What to bring:
Your love of all things squirmy wormy!
She also sends on links to more info on worm bins and to a the garden’s events calendar.
Monday, August 30th, 2010
A member of KWF’s organizing committee sends this request: Looking for local musicians, dancers and artisans with diverse cultural influences for the KWF. For more information please contact:
kworldsfair@gmail.com or call (646) 450–3515.
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Jole asked our councilmember Brad Lander what he thought about turning the newly widened sidewalks in front of Walgreens into a plaza. Here is his response:
Thanks so much for this great idea. My office was very pleased to work with DOT on the widening of the sidewalk to promote pedestrian safety, and we would be very happy to work with the community on the idea of adding benches, street trees, and/or other features that would help transform this into a plaza. As we have discussed, Kensington needs additional open and community space — and while this one isn’t that big, it is very well located right in the heart of the community.
We will reach out to the relevant City agencies to begin exploring this opportunity. It is likely, of course, that we will encounter some obstacles along the way. But we look very forward to working with you, Kensington Prospect readers, and other Kensington community members to try to make it reality.
Thank you! Now, dear neighbors – how about sharing some ideas?
Thursday, August 26th, 2010
The local blogger who writes Cantaloupe Alone sings the praises of a certain sweet found at the Marysienka Deli, on Church between E3rd and 4th:
I was hoping for something like the ocean in candy form, even if that would be pukescent. What I found was rum flavored candy that tastedremarkably like a sweeter egg nog, very near bubble gum flavor with a peanut finish. The texture is crispy on the outside and butterfingeryon the inside. Its good, and its the closest thing I’m getting to lobster this summer! Good job Poland creating a Christmas flavored seafood themed candy. I will seek your lobster candy from now on along side your cold cuts.
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010
From Craigslist, a romantic miss posted by a 35 year-old guy at the Oak and Iris:
We laughed about the guy who was giving someone on his phone our positions..Turned out he was a furnace guy “not as exciting” as if it were a cop… I made some lame exit joke, but we were both having a smoke and I wanted to say hi but chickened out.
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
Thanks to NYC Department of Transportation, Kensington finally has the perfect space for a plaza – that cement bump out in front of Walgreens. Centrally located close McDonald and Church avenues which just happens to be the crossroads of the neighborhood, it’s a great place to people watch and see the sun set over the New Express Pharmacy diagonally across the street.
If you happen to hang out there for a while, you will notice that people from the B35 bus stop here, people coming out from the F train, the men dressed in their spiffy white Ramadan aprons hang out there, the women and men doing vegetable shopping at the corner green grocer, New McDonald’s Fruits and the Bangladeshi store (DESH BANGLA GROCERY, selling”Hallal meat, fresh frozen & alive fish” according to the sign) on Beverley.
Denny’s and Walgreens customers are all there from 5:30pm to dusk. The action at this corner is as close to the Italian passeggiata, the ritual evening stroll of the neighborhood, walking around, chatting and showing oneself off as Kensington’s got. What’s missing is the decor to set the stage.
With some help from Brad Lander’s office, Community Board 12′s Parks committee, and NYC Parks & Rec Department, we too could have the stage set to match the action: brick pavers on the ground, a perimeter planting of trees, benches, and low-level Bishop Crook lighting.
There’s a small plaza like this in Ridgewood, Brooklyn well-used day and evening. There is also a similar triangle at Bleecker and Carmine streets just off Sixth Avenue, in the West Village, Manhattan @ W. 4th Street stop of the A/F)–although that has a fountain too. It fact it’s a fairly standard Parks Dept plaza. Here’s a picture of the one in Ridgewood:
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
First reviews are in – according to Beth:
I went in there Saturday morning for a danish and a coffee. Danish was tasty, I felt like the coffee was standard diner level (aka not my favorite but drinkable!).
Sunday evening I got a California Wrap – nomnomnom! So good. Plus, I felt all benevolent for patronizing a new business in our neighborhood. The service is GREAT, everyone was really friendly. Even though there are only about 4-5 tables I would feel comfy plopping down to eat my food right there.
Also, the posted hours are 6-8 but I was told the stayed open later both Saturday and Sunday.
Go, eat, and support!
Soho Cafe & Grill, 215 Church Avenue; Tel: (718) 436-8800
Monday, August 23rd, 2010
From Gabriella Friedlander:
Chabad Lubavitch of Kensington hosted its 4th annual camp banquet on Sunday, August 15, 2010 at its Gan Israel Day Camp location on Ocean Parkway. Chabad Lubavitch of Kensington is a Brooklyn branch of international Chabad that unites over 5,000 Jewish families of New York’s Russian immigrant community. Rabbi Moshe Chaim and Doba Levin have opened their hearts and home to thousands of immigrants from the former Soviet Union, as well as American and Israeli Jews. The Gan Israel summer day camp is but one of Chabad of Kensington’s many programs and activities that assists thousands of Russian Jewish immigrants and their young families building new lives in New York.
The organization invited Councilmember Brad Lander to be the Guest of Honor at the Grand Banquet. Mr. Lander represents Kensington, Borough Park, and other Brooklyn neighborhoods in the City Counil.
The theme of Gan Israel Day Camp this year was education. Chabad Lubavitch of Kensington provides a wide array of Jewish educational and social programs. Rabbi Yehuda Levin, Assistant Director, in his introduction of Councilmember Lander, referred to the Lubavitser Rebbe’s correspondence with US Presidents regarding the importance of education. He also rephrased Former US President, Jimmy Carter’s quote that “education is one of the noblest enterprises a person or a society can undertake”. Rabbi Levin mentioned that Mr. Lander, in his capacity as councilman, has fought very hard for day care and after school programs against the heavy budget cuts. The councilmember works closely with parent leaders throughout the district, in both public and private schools (including yeshivas) in a wide range of efforts to help parents and educators improve their schools.Councilmember Lander is a graduate with honors of the University of Chicago and of University College London, and of Pratt Institute, with a Masters in City Planning. Mr. Lander has been teaching graduate school classes in urban planning, affordable housing, and public policy at Pratt Institute since 1999. Brad and his wife Meg are active in their children’s school, PS 107 in Brooklyn.
Councilmember Brad Lander was honored to accept the invitation of being the guest of honor at the banquet. At the event, he presented the organization with an official New York City proclamation for its distinguished contributions and service to the community, both within the borough of Brooklyn and throughout New York City.
The Councilman talked with the children at the banquet, and asked them what they learned during summer camp. Referring to the answer of one of the children, that she learned the blessings to be recited upon thunder and lightning, the councilman expressed that we honor God’s presence when we say a blessing, and that we work to see and bless God’s presence is everything in the world around us. Lander thanked Chabad of Kensington, the rabbis, teachers, parents, and kids for their work to learn and teach together, and he pledged the Council’s ongoing support for the education of our young people.
In the photo:
Rabbi Moshe Chaim Levin, Director Chabad of Kensington
Councilmember Brad Lander
Rabbi Chaim Levin, Assistant Director Chabad of Kensington
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Saturday, August 21st, 2010
Three rapes in the 66th Precinct from July 26 through August 8 prompted this reporter to email it to find out what happened and where. The rapes, or attempted, of these 18 to 30 yr-old women were all among “acquaintances,” Deputy Inspector John Sprague said in a phone call to this reporter. Had the rapists been strangers to the women, the 66th Precinct would immediately have put out drawings of these men and plastered them all over the precinct.
Fortunately none of these rapes occurred in Kensington, but all turned on the action/reaction of ex or current boyfriends. One woman met a man at a bar and invited him home. Not a problem until her former boyfriend got wind of her evening. At which point, she changed her story, now claiming her evening’s playmate raped her.
Also in the same two-week period, the 66th reported 9 felonious assaults and 6 robberies. Despite these weekly variations in stats, Commanding Officer Sprague said the overall crime rate in the 66th was down 9% for the year in all categories, while felonious assault has been flat for the year.
Be that as it may, one assault occurred late at night at Cortelyou and Coney Island Avenue, when two men got into a fight over batteries. Another, a robbery, occurred at 6:30 P.M. when a 14 yr-old was accosted and forced to turn over his cell phone. The 18 yr-old robber has since been arrested.
D.I. Sprague emphasized that paying careful attention to one’s surroundings is the best way to protect oneself, especially when leaving the subway. Too often, he said, as people walk home, they get comfortable and allow themselves to be distracted by texting or phone calls. Be aware of your situation: watch the reflections in shop windows. If you think you’re being followed, walk into a local store—or anywhere where there are people—to stop your pursuer. Or, you could use your cell as a prop. Talk loudly, say you’re right downstairs; wave a big hello to someone in a nearby apartment, or dial 911.
At the September 16 Police Community Council Meeting, D.I. Sprague said, Police Officer Jimmy Vaughn will show people how to protect themselves on the street.
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Friday, August 20th, 2010
Kensington is not known for having many playgrounds or much public space for neighbors to get together. It makes it even more important that what we have is as well designed as can possibly be, and welcoming to all residents.
When our councilmember Brad Lander announced that Dome Playground has been allocated resources for capital improvements ($650,000 recently approved in the NYC budget with an additional $300,000 from the Boro President Marty Markowitz), Jole and I thought it needed to have as much public input as we could help muster.
Jole Carliner contacted Project for Public Spaces who helped to come up with a survey to better understand how the playground is used, and what could be improved. Then – with amazing dedication, she went out and asked folks to fill out the surveys and so far we have over 60 responses from people using the playground. But we’d like to do better than that.
Even if you don’t regularly use the playground, do take a few seconds and tells us why. And if you do go to the playground – say hi to Jole, who’ll be asking folks to fill out the questionnaires on the spot.
UPDATE: We believe it is working as should now. Here is the link, and thanks again! https://spreadsheets3.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGI5VnlaQ2RnRXEzdU5VYlRybU95dlE6MQ
More information on Dome Playground here.
Friday, August 20th, 2010
This 570 Ocean Parkway coop studio made it to the Brownstoner’s coop of the day. Asking price $110,000 (it is between Ditmas and 18th Avenue): 
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Friday, August 20th, 2010
Please save the date – October 24th – for Kensington World’s Fair – an afternoon of celebrating the amazing diversity of Kensington. In front of PS230 on Albemarle Road. For more information and volunteer opportunities, please contact kworldsfair@gmail.com.
Friday, August 20th, 2010
The cancelled singalong made the Daily News the other day, and left us wondering about the sad state parenting (or lack thereof) that results in kids littering, tagging playgrounds, and schools and libraries having to hire security gards to keep them in check. Our neighborhood being no exception.
Is it a sense of entitlement? Ignorance? A mix? How much is poor parenting and how much responsibility do we take as a community for letting our younger residents run wild?
Friday, August 20th, 2010
Vouton, here 2 years from French speaking West Africa, takes a break.
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Thursday, August 19th, 2010
We posted about the sorry state of the “Caton Greenway” just a couple of days ago, and this morning it was all cleaned up, bagged in orange garbage bags! Thank you!
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Spending a Saturday in Kensington and Windsor terrace, Brooklyn the Borough share their impressions and favorite spots to eat:
For a good breakfast that’s light on your wallet, start your day at Faros Restaurant, right by the Church Avenue F/G train stop. Like most diners, their menu is extensive, with more than 30 options for omelette fillings and a dozen different ways to have your Belgian waffles. For only $7.25, the Greek omelette is stuffed to the max with gyro meat, feta cheese, and spinach, and the fluffy pancakes come with your choice of fresh fruit, which they generously pile on top. But our favorite part? The bacon. It’s nice and crisp, not chewy, just how we like it.
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Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
As if there were not enough reasons already to stop by Shenaningans on Caton off Coney once every so often, here is another – the folks over there are thinking about making watching college football on Saturdays a bit bigger of a deal. Got questions? Ask for Shaun (he should be behind the bar) next time you’re in there.
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
Walking down along the path (on the east side of the expressway) that connects Caton and Ocean Parkway is a study in abandonment. I have not had the chance to look into greater detail in who’s responsible for mowing down the waist high grass and weeds that grow with abundance, or to clean up loads, and loads of dumped trash, but someone should – and soon. (Anyone noticed the missing link – the lack of a crossing across Church Avenue to connect the paths?)
There’s a blue camping chair out by the railings – wondering who’d like to hang out in a spot like that.
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
Summer Reading Closing Party featuring the ever popular Bubbles the Clown
Friday, August 20, 4:00 p.m.
Free fun — come early for free books
Windsor Terrace Library, 160 East 5th Street, 718-686-9707
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Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
NY Times tracks down New Yorks oldest residents, and one of them – Evelyn Kozak – grew up at 2816 Farragut Road over in Flatbush and has now moved back to live with family in Kensington:
Since Evelyn Kozak was born on the Lower East Side on Aug. 14, 1899, she has outlived two husbands and survived the Spanish flu and two strokes. She ran a boardinghouse in Miami until she was 90 and avidly played Scrabble until she was 95. In January, she moved in with a granddaughter — and eight great-grandchildren under 13 — in the Kensington section of Brooklyn, where she gets manicures, gives precise instructions on how to prepare her breakfast, and recently asked relatives to survey the planet for older eligible bachelors.
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Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
The new computer repair place on Fort Hamilton opened last week. They were promoting it by trying to raffle tickets at the Greenwood playground on Friday, $7 for a chance to get a new computer, or for $3 a ticket you could try your luck in getting a refurbished one.
We were excited to learn that something was happening in the old De Blasio spot, but obviously not a restaurant. The internet cafe concept they have in mind is that of the 90s, not of the more current – “we’ll give you a lounge with wi-fi, bring your laptop, buy a cup of expensive coffee and linger” kind. The main business is clearly computer repairs. Not exactly clear who they cater to, but Mr Rodriguez may be a computer whiz extraordinaire, and we just don’t know it. Anyone used them?
Internet access is $5.00 per half hour, and they also sell coffee, frappes, donuts, and bagels. Currently open 9am-9pm daily. [Price corrected, per Wendy in the comments section.]
2907 Fort Hamilton Parkway (between E. 4th and E. 3rd), 347- 763-2686
Monday, August 16th, 2010
Or brunch or breakfast. This Saturday at 6 a.m. the Soho Café & Grill opens for business. At last, all systems are go. See you there. (215 Church Avenue; Tel: (718) 436-8800)
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