Nostrand Park

Dutch Boy Burgers on Franklin

The awning for the new burger joint on Franklin Avenue - which we blogged about a while back - went up earlier this week.  And about just as cool as the news of this new awning, is our photographer, Abeni G.'s, photo technique capturing the old time feel of the venue - if we do say so ourselves.  Click image to enlarge.  We didn't speak with the owners (who also own Franklin Park) but undoubtedly the name, "Dutch Boy Burgers" is a homage to the Dutch Boy Paint shop that used to exist in the loca...

Another Snow Day in Crown Heights and NYC Schools are Closed

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer // It's every kid's favorite pastime, a snow day.  Waking up on a weekday during the school year knowing that you can watch cartoons to your hearts content, shower or not shower, and most of all, have no homework for the weekend, has to rank second only actually winning the lottery in terms of childhood dreams. Of course for us adults, the snow may be a bit more more of a hindrance.  Trains may be unpredictable, and if you're dr...

CHRE Focus: Renting in Crown Heights North

Welcome Apartment Dwellers! And to all who have chosen 2010 as the year they declare independence from the room in their parents home for the last 25 years, welcome brave souls. With Spring fast approaching, the time honored hunt begins by those who've left their Tax Preparer's office humming their theme song (Single Ladies by Beyonce / I'm Coming Out by Diana Ross / Moving Out by Billy Joel / Juicy by Notorious B.I.G....your choice), announcing their Manifesto... I'm getting my own p...

Grand Opening of Maynard Affordable Coops this Weekend

NP Update 2/27/10 at 3:39 p.m.: The grand opening is Sunday, February, 28th from 1 – 4 p.m.  And the brokers marketing the building just provided us five reasons you should attend: Subsidized but NO lottery (lottery was already done.) With 47 units still available, this is the LARGEST first-come, first-serve subsidized project in NYC. Named after Joan Maynard, founder of Weeksville Heritage Center, which is four blocks away.  After all, this IS African-American History Month. The C...

The Union of the Unemployed

I recently lost my job. It came as quite a shock after five years of producing a national talk radio show. Budget cutbacks were the reason. Fortunately, I was given a severance package and my health benefits will be paid until the end of April. Soon, I will have to join the millions of others collecting unemployment. Again, I'm probably luckier than most because my wife is working and I'll be able to qualify for her health plan. It's not as good as mine was, but it's certainly better than nothin...

Landlord & Tenants’ Rights: A Primer for the Public

LANDLORD & TENANTS’ RIGHTS: A Primer for the Public MARCH 1, 2010 – 6-8 p.m. The Brooklyn Bar Association's Meeting Hall On Monday March 1st, 2010 the Brooklyn Bar Association in conjunction with The Brooklyn Bar Association Foundation, Inc.,The Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyer's Project, Inc., and the Brooklyn Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service will present a panel discussing Landlord and Tenants' Rights in New York.  This workshop is intended as a primer for those i...

Crown Heights’ Art Scene – Revisited

We’ve talked about it before, but just wanted to give you 4 new exciting updates on the art scene in our neighborhood: 1) Contemporary African Art Gallery Opening - We've profiled them before, but it is now official.   The first contemporary African art gallery to be located in Crown Heights - 1158Dean Art Gallery - will be having its grand opening this weekend! The mission of 1158Dean is to promote and support art and artists from across the African diaspora.  Billing themse...

Ebbets Field Oral History Project

If you were around during the hey day of Ebbets Field in Crown Heights, the Brooklyn Historical Society wants to hear from you.  As recently published in the Brooklyn Eagle, BHS has commissioned an oral history project of the legendary field where Jackie Robinson integrated baseball. For more details, check out the Brooklyn Eagle.

East of Nostrand

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer // All Photos: Shawn Rosvold

Harmony – New Album from Hasidic Hip-Hop Artist DeScribe

We came across this teaser on Jewilicious the other day: It's certainly striking to encounter a Hasidic rap artist; but if you were to see the unique cultural blend anywhere, it makes sense that it would happen here in Crown Heights.  After all,  Crown Heights is home to the likes of Matisyahu (the Hasidic reggae artist) and Yosef Abrahamson (an African-American Hasidic Jew).  Additionally hip-hop has been multi-cultural from its inception, bringing together African American, Puerto Rican...