On Dec. 3, 2011, a benefit – reunion was held at The Red Lotus Room in Brooklyn – to help raise funds to help secure a permanent home for The Starlite Lounge.

The video above is from that wonderful night!!!

The Starlite Lounge Family, Management, Staff & Owners -  in conjunction with the filmmakers of the documentary on Starlite – We Came To Sweat – hosted an amazing event full of performances, karaoke, a delicious buffet..,

Guest Deee-Jay Lady Miss Kier started the dance floor pumping & the Legendary Starlite DJ’s, Carlos Sanchez, Donna Edwards and others kept it moving all nite long!!

Now, Starlite Project: Seeking archival material from the community!

If you or someone you know has photographs or video from the inside or outside of the Starlite, or imagery of the neighborhood from a different time we would like to offer you credit in the film or monetary compensation for your efforts to dig them out of storage or where ever they may be.

Please call Kate @ 212-363-0166 or

Email us at: thestarliteproject@gmail.com

INFO ON STARLITE LOUNGE

“The historic Starlite Lounge- the oldest black-owned gay bar in Brooklyn was founded on a principle of non-discrimination in 1959, in Crown Heights Brooklyn.

For over five decades, from civil rights to gay liberation to AIDS activism, the Starlite Lounge has been a a cherished meeting place for social change, for all people from all walks of lie.

And sadly, in 2010, Starlite Lounge was victim to the negative change of rapid gentrification in central Brooklyn. They were pushed out of their Nostrand Ave. location by a new landlord who wanted to carter to the “new” people moving into the community.”

doYouRemember

Brooklyn Girl Film Festival -

On Thursday, March 29th @ 5 PM, Launchpad kicks off  the Brooklyn Girl Film Festival’s first annual, 3 day festival & reception!

Launchpad is located at 721 Franklin Ave.,  between Sterling Pl. & Park Pl, 646-494-7211.

Take the 2,3,4, 5 or S subway to Franklin Ave. and walk 3 blocks North of Eastern Parkway.

The festival is the brainchild of filmmaker April Mosqus, who’s goal is to: “to showcase the work of women filmmakers from around the globe.

Whether their work is a serious documentary or a lighthearted comedy, Brooklyn Girl Film Festival seeks to empower women and their unique and relevant interpretation of the world around them and strengthen the community of women filmmakers.”

Besides showing a wonderful variety of short films, feature films and documentaries, there will also be guest speakers from the film industry.

Amy Greenlaw – a film- marketing and social network guru, who will show you how to execute a DIY Marketing campaign.

Filmmaker Leah Meyerhoff – will lead a discussion about her journey from short filmmaker of the award-winning “Twitch” to feature film director on her DIY labor of love film, “Unicorns.”

Frances Lozada – the Master of Ceremonies -  is an accomplished Television, Film & Stage Actor and Producer.

Frances is also the founder of the Cinema Night Film Series.

Tickets and more information on The Brooklyn Girl Film Festival, can be found here.

"The Hole" - The Curious Case Of 341 Eastern Parkway

341 Eastern Parkway aka “The Hole” – brilliantly named by Nick at ILFA - is a very curious case of  “gentrification” and development opposed to community revitalization.

“The Hole” is a vacant, 14,000 foot lot, at the bustling, NE corner of Franklin Ave. and Eastern Parkway – a long time commercial district in the community – that is seeing a recent burst of commercial revitalization in the last few years.

“The Hole” has an interesting history, as it was hoped to be, the grande, visual symbol of  “gentrification” in a “changing” Crown Height’s, by some in the real estate and business crowd.

In 2007, Brownstoner reported that,  architect Gene Kaufman  promised to: “build a new corner,  8-story, steel-framed,  residential condominium building – with retail on the ground floor, containing 80,000 square feet and 61 apartments.”

That plan fizzled, along with the economy.

For 3 years, nothing happened, besides Crow Hill’s lovely mural painting project that enlisted local artist and children to beautify the ugly wooden fence surrounding  “The Hole”.

Yet, it’s neighbor, Fisher’s  Supermarket – the small Mom & Pop like grocery store that’s been at 805 Franklin Ave. for 28 years -  managed to under go a total build out in 2011.

It was renamed Bob & Betty’s, in honor of owner Tony Fisher’s parents who opened the original Fisher’s on Washington Ave.

Perhaps it’s truly about revitalizing a community and it’s existing resources?

Rather than the complete overhaul and the displacement that usually accompanies “gentrification”.

Once again, there’s talk that “The Hole” is back on the market.

In Nov. 2011, according to Crain’s NY, Ofer Cohen, president of the Brokerage firm, TerraCRG Commercial Realty Group, was retained to exclusively market the site.

It was boosted that:  “This is a viable site for either condo or rental development, noted Mr. Cohen.  

Rents would fetch $42 to $45 per square foot, while a condo could get $575 to $600 per square foot depending on when the project launches, according to Brendan Aguayo, a residential broker.”

Sounds swell if you make in the mid six figures, but Crown Heights is an economically diverse community.  And apparently, Mr. Cohen’s vision may have been a little off as he is no longer the exclusive broker.

Yesterday, Pinnacle Realty, has two huge billboards listing their broker, David Junik, as the one to call for information about obtaining 341 Eastern Parkway.

Yes, 341 Eastern Parkway is a very curious case indeed.

“The Hole” sits at the busy intersection of the bustling and growing commercial strip of Franklin Ave., yet no investor seems to be able to close the deal on this piece of  “prime real estate”.

Perhaps their vision needs to be revised?

What do you think should be built at 341 Eastern Parkway?  And why?

“What Does A Just Crown Heights Look Like To You?”

We would like to hear from you!

Come meet your neighbors and discuss the various issues on Sunday March 18, 2012 @ Five Myles Gallery, 558 St. Johns Pl,  from 4PM to 7PM.

On February 29^th,  a small, diverse group of Crown Heights residents met at Brower Park Library to discuss how to build on the energy of the OWS (Occupy Wall Street)  movement to organize and effect positive change right here in our community.

This Sunday’s meeting will focus on building towards solutions to issues in the following areas:

1. Housing
2. Jobs & Economy
3. Education
4. Cleaner streets
5. Programming for youth
6. Community gardens and parks
7. Programming for youth
8. Bus/Subway: better transportation

Occupy Wall Street's 1st Brooklyn General Assembly - Franklin Ave

Occupy Wall Street – which began on Oct. 17, 2011,  is a self – pro-claimed -

“leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions”.

Agree with their stance or not, the movement has been picking up international steam, sparking similar movements across the globe.

And tonight, Oct. 20, 2011 @ 7PM @ 613 Franklin Ave., in Crown Heights, Brooklyn - OWS is having their first ever:

Occupy Brooklyn General Assembly

“Come one, come all to the next General Assembly of Occupy Brooklyn.

We would like for these meetings to be representative of the Brooklyn community at large, so we hope that people all of backgrounds living anywhere in Brooklyn will come out.

A team appointed at the first GA has identified a location and time and has offered a proposed agenda.

At the GA, all members will be able to propose further agenda items, and vote on a final agenda at the beginning of the meeting.”

Proposed Agenda:

1. -Basics of the GA, why and how this is participatory
2. -Finalize Agenda
3. -Brief Announcements and Check-ins about what work is already being done in Brooklyn
4. -Relationship to OWS
5. -Should we occupy?
6. -Possible direct actions
7. -Identify working groups
8. -Divide into working groups

Great news!!  A few months after Nostrand Park launched the first ever Nostrand Avenue clean-up, Council woman Letitia James is taking up the charge to clean-up and beautify Nostrand Avenue.  According to the Brooklyn Eagle:

“The day will include graffiti removal, store front cleaning, garbage removal and street tree care. NYC Community Clean Up, a not-for-profit organization, will provide these services, except for street tree care, at no cost to the merchants and residents. Prospect Heights Street Tree Task Force will be responsible for the tree care which will include soil aeration, mulching and pruning. The Crown Heights Mediation Center conceived of the “clean-up day” as a way to support new and existing businesses on Nostrand Ave.

This will be the first partnership between New York City Community Clean-Up, Prospect Heights Street Tree Task Force and IKOKO Inc. (IKOKO is providing outreach and meeting space on Saturday), in which store-fronts will be encouraged to work together and revitalize an already vital merchant’s block.”

Looks like spring cleaning does not just have to take place in the spring!

This sounds fun …

Local freelance journalist and videographer made this exceptional video montage of the recent Franklin Avenue Kids Day.

Franklin Kids Day 2011 from Aulistar Mark on Vimeo.

Copyright - Anderson Zaca

Brooklyn Photo Salon and The ARTGROUPIENATION

Present BLOCK PARTY – SOUL OF SUMMER ART EXHIBITION – An exhibition by Anderson Zaca
Celebrating New Yorkers across race and class, sharing regional pride from different neighborhoods.

Anderson Zaca: Block Party Soul Of Summer Art Exhibition

Opening Reception
Thursday, August 4, 2011 from 6:00PM to 9:00PM
Exhibition through August 2011
1158DEAN Gallery – 1158Dean Street, Brooklyn | NY 11216

Closing Reception
Saturday, August 20, 2011 from 5:00PM to 10:00PM
Walt Shamel Community Garden
1093-95 Dean Street, Brooklyn | NY 11216