Nostrand Park

How will Atlantic Yards Affect Crown Heights?

Now that it seems that Atlantic Yards is pretty much a done deal, we were curious what folks think might be the spillover effects, if any, on Crown Heights. Interestingly, during last year's local city council elections, almost all of the candidates for Crown Heights' 36th district - a district located at the bookend of Atlantic Yards - said that they were in favor of the project.  The candidates for the 35th district - which covers not only parts of Crown Heights but also the heart of the A...

Sue Rock Originals in Danger of Closing

We just got word that local non-profit, Sue Rock Originals, is in danger of closing. For five years, Sue Rock Originals has pursued a higher mission -to support and encourage women who leave the cycle of abuse by providing them with new clothes and an opportunity for self-sufficiency. Tirelessly we have donated handcrafted items to women and their families living in domestic violence shelters throughout New York City. If we are unable to raise $25,000 in the next month we will have to close...

Restaurant Openings This Week- Dutch Boy Burger and Basil Pizza & Wine Bar

Just a heads up for our local foodies- I Love Franklin Avenue reports (via an article in Time Out New York) that new Dutch Boy Burger will be opening this week.  Additionally, the Crown Heights News blog reports that the new pizza and wine bar, Basil, will open today. We called the restaurant to confirm, but just got a voice message.  Given the Jewish Sabbath, we are curious what the days and hours of operation will be.  In any event, the menu for Basil is now available on CHN's website, so chec...

What Goes Up – 600 St. Marks Avenue

Spotted construction activity at 600 St. Marks recently. Seems like balconies are going up.  A little bit of digging around with our shovel called Google revealed that the previous owners had apparently been caught up with a mortgage fraud scandal involving the building.   Then, it was burned down by an arsonist during a slew of arsons in 2006. Hopefully this building will see a lot less controversy in its new life.  Welcome back.

Toni Morrison and the National Black Writer’s Conference Coming to Medgar Evers

ALL ARE WELCOMED TO ATTEND! Tenth National Black Writers Conference THEME:  "And Then We Heard the Thunder: Black Writers Reconstructing Memories and Lighting the Way" Thursday, March 25 – Sunday, March 28, 2010 Toni Morrison Nobel Prize winning author Honorary Chair Honorees- Amiri Baraka, Author & Poet Kamau Braithwaite, Educator & Historian – Professor, New York University Dr. Edison O. Jackson, former President, Medgar Evers College, CUNY Confirmed Participants...

As Neighborhood Gentrifies, Local Bodega Gets an Upgrade

Not sure what bodega folks frequent, but as some may have noticed, the bodega on the southeast corner Sterling Place and Nostrand Avenue has recently undergone a complete overhaul.  When I asked the owner about what motivated the change, he responded quite frankly “Because the neighborhood changed.  Used to be hustlers and drug dealers.  But now is different.  When the neighborhood changes, we change.” Then, as if on cue - two white patrons stepped into the establishment. Of course the neigh...

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...

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.

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...