The Q at Parkside

(for those for whom the Parkside Q is their hometrain)

News and Nonsense from the Brooklyn neighborhood of Lefferts and environs, or more specifically a neighborhood once known as Melrose Park. Sometimes called Lefferts Gardens. Or Prospect-Lefferts Gardens. Or PLG. Or North Flatbush. Or Caledonia (west of Ocean). Or West Pigtown. Across From Park Slope. Under Crown Heights. Near Drummer's Grove. The Side of the Park With the McDonalds. Jackie Robinson Town. Home of Lefferts Manor. West Wingate. Near Kings County Hospital. Or if you're coming from the airport in taxi, maybe just Flatbush is best.

Friday, June 21, 2019

Gee, Officer Krupke - Krup YOU!

For residents of a certain block in Lefferts Gardens/PLG/Flatbush/Central Brooklyn, June of 2019 will be remembered for the day that Hollywood came calling. Steven Spielberg's update of West Side Story is shooting right here right now. Want proof? A neighbor shot these pics just this morning. And yes, Officer Krupke gets his own dressing room. Are they shooting that most deliriously delightful of songs? Head on out and don't forget to send the Q pictures!



And if you've never seen this hilarious episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, you can watch the highlights reel here.

 

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Honoring Lamuel Stanislaus (and Hell, Zell way to CRUSH it!)

It's not that I don't THINK about blog-posting every day. I do, I do. And yet, at this busy time of the work and school year, I find myself feeling guilty for indulging my hobby. For instance, so much to say about the changing of rent regulations. Like, watching our newly elected State Senator absolutely crush it...I mean, taking the lead after only days in office, to help sponsor and deliver some of the most important tenant protections in decades. Big, big stuff. Hope you've been following. More on Zell Myrie when I finally get a chance to sit down with him. Thank the Lord we chose the right candidate in that race.

In the meantime, how cool is it to learn about a guy who you probably never met, who did so much for Flatbush and the Grenadian specifically and Caribbean community generally, getting a street named after him and all that? Thx be to Liat Weinstein at the ever-amazing BKLYNR for this delightful and informative read.


Photo and story by Liat Weinstein in BKLYNR


Lamuel used to lay awake at night wondering whether he could pay a $99 a month mortgage for a brick row house situated on Rutland Rd. between Flatbush and Bedford Avenues, his son Eugene Stanislaus remembered.

On Saturday, June 15, 65 years after Lamuel A. Stanislaus purchased the home that kept him up at night, the corner of Flatbush Ave. and Rutland Rd. in Prospect Lefferts was renamed in honor of his contributions to the Caribbean-American community of central Brooklyn. The renaming ceremony brought together family, community members and elected officials to celebrate Stanislaus’ career as a Grenadian diplomat and dentist and featured speeches by those close to him.

Stanislaus’ legacy remains scattered across Brooklyn— through his work on the West Indian Day Parade, an annual celebration of Caribbean culture that draws more than two million participants to Eastern Parkway, and Brooklyn Heights Dental, a family practice he founded in 1956. Yet Stanislaus is most often remembered as an emissary of Grenadian culture in his role as Permanent Representative of Grenada to the United Nations, a position he held from 1985-1990 and again from 1996-2004.

“We grew up on this block, this is where we were raised, with just a terrific father and a terrific mother, always emphasized family and giving all the glory to God was also part of his mantra,” Eugene Stanislaus said. “He was always very active in Caribbean-American politics and he was one of the original founders of the West Indian Day Carnival […] He was involved from the very beginning, organizing the police to come and oversee and the event, and was the first one to attract the politicians to come to the event.”

And as Paul Harvey might say, here's THE REST OF THE STORY.

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Two Ears In the 'Bush Is Worth One In Manhattan

You can roll out of bed for this one. Music all over the hood. A festival for the rest of us, if by rest of us you mean homebody.

PLG Arts presents the third annual PLG Arts Music Festival 2019, a weeklong event June 15-22. The schedule features over 50 prominent and upcoming New York musicians in 12 locations throughout Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, a Brooklyn neighborhood that is home to many artists. Performances and events include Dawn Drake & ZapOte at Parkside Plaza; Axiom Addicts at Maple Street Block Party; Rho & the Nomads at Toast; Gabe Globus-Hoenich holding a drum workshop for children at Greenlight Bookstore; Sivan Arbel at Salem’s Hour; Pointless Forest and the Curtis/Sperazza/Garabedian trio at The Owl Music Parlor; Monday night jazz jam at Erv’s; Rafael Rosa at Drink Wine & Spirits; Kazemde George at Salem’s Hour jam session; Dayeon Seok Group at Bar Bayeux; Noah Garabedian at The Nest jam session at Bluebird; Improvisers Pool at Soup and Sound; Tavche Gravche and Reggie Chapman at Bar Bayeux; Choiroke karaoke and People of Earth Salsa Band at Brooklyn Commons; Shelly Thomas Duo at a landmark private home; and Aaron Burnett and the Big Machine at Toast.







Friday, June 7, 2019

Big Night Out On the Flabenue - Next Wednesday the 12th

TIX HERE

Parkside Empire EAT, DRINK and BE GIVING | Fundraising Event

TASTE & SIP the vibrant culture of Flatbush Avenue!

MIX AND MINGLE under the Brooklyn sky.

DISCOVER what makes Prospect Lefferts Garden one of Brooklyn's hottest neighborhoods

Your purchase comes with unlimited food and drinks provided by local vendors.

PLUS Enter to win raffle prizes generously provided by shops and restaurants along Flatbush Avenue.

Flavors of Flatbush participating stores and partners are: Bluebird Brooklyn, JusFishy Restaurant, Scoops, Brooklyn Perks, Errol's Bakery & Catering, J & J Delicious Cakes, Cinnamon Girl Bakery, Ix Restaurant NYC, Taqueria El Patron Mexican Grill, King Of Tandoor, Hype Kitchen, Trixies Pet Food, Pumpkin, Tafari Tribe, Tracie with Style Hair Studio, IGoFix, Awesome Brooklyn, Les' Blooms Floral, Bonafini Restaurant, DR Cuts,The Parkside Plaza, PLGNA Prospect Lefferts Gardens Neighborhood Association, Drink PLG Wine & Spirits, Brooklyn Beer & Soda, Erv's, First Class Liquors Inc.,

The Parkside Empire | Flatbush Avenue Merchants Association beautifies, organizes, and promotes small businesses along the Flatbush Avenue commercial corridor between Parkside Avenue and Empire Boulevard. Money raised will go toward Parkside Empire Annual Street Festival, the avenue’s yearly holiday street lighting, small business support and marketing, local shopping guides, and more.

SPECIAL THANKS to our sponsors: IMPACCT Brooklyn, Assemblywoman Diana Richardson, Council Member Mathieu Eugene, The Parkline, and BKLYN Commons.

FAQs

Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?

All Attendees must be over the age of 21.

What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Take the B, Q, or Shuttle Train to the Prospect Park stop, the event is directly across the street. Street parking is also available.

How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Please call 347.236.0981 or email parksideempire@gmail.com for additional information.

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

PLG Arts - Stuff-a-Plenty In June

Wish I wasn't so busy at work...I could say something cute or annoying about all these great events. But you know what? Screw that. Support these fun thangs and check out the poster for the PLG Music Festival. You heard right.

Wednesday, June 5 - 5-8pm @ New Bridges Elementary/PS 532Live Here, Learn Here: Friends of District 17 Community Night Out
Details here! If you can't make it, but believe we as a community need to invest in our local District 17 public schools, consider donating here.
*
Saturday, June 8 - 11am-2pm @ The Nethermead/Prospect Park
Trail Blazers & PLGNA's Family Picnic!
RSVP/More details here and here.
Bubbles, s'mores, crafts, relay races, and much much more!
(Want to relive your summer camps days but don't have kids? Please consider volunteering - sign up here or shoot us an email! It's a light, but very fun, lift!)*
Wednesday, June 12 - 7-10pm @ BKLYN Commons
Flavors of FlatbushJoin the Parkside Empire - Flatbush Avenue Merchants Association and support and celebrate our local businesses! Unlimited food and drink and raffle prizes provided by Flatbush Avenue vendors.


Buy your tickets here.

Speaking of local businesses, please sign and share our petition as a show of support for Scoops! Negotiations are ongoing, but our fingers are crossed that Tony can stay in his current spot on Flatbush for years to come!

We look forward to seeing you at any or all of these upcoming events! 
Stay tuned for more! 

The PLGNA Board:
Brenda Edwards 
Cheryl Sealey 
Nelson Simon
Virginia Bechtold 
Calista DeJesus
Deborah Mutnick
Candace Edwards
Rashida Sykes
&
Bob Thomason - Board Member Emeritus