May 182012
 

You can "Like" the Middle Eastern Halal Food cart on Facebook. No comment from Facebook if they will add an option to "move a park bench in front of" this page.

“Plain and simple: we need to level the playing field.”

That’s what Justin Brannan, press secretary for Councilman Vincent Gentile, said to us when asked to comment on last week’s developments in the conflict between Bay Ridge’s food carts and brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Councilman Gentile has often been reported as opposing food carts in the BID, and made comments on the issue at the Community Board 10 general meeting in April. We reached out to Brannan, wanting to know what specific proposals the Councilman was offering.

“The mobile food vendors of today should be held to the same standards as any brick and mortar restaurant,” Brannan continued. “To that end, Councilman Gentile co-sponsored and strongly supports Councilman Daniel Garodnick’s proposed legislation which would require mobile food vendors to display letter grades similar to the ones posted in restaurants throughout the city.”

Brannan also highlighted the City’s conflicting laws and regulations, something noted in Community Board 10 chairwoman Joanne Seminara’s report to the board. Continue reading for a statement from the lawyer of an area halal cart, and to learn about the black market for food cart permits…

May 172012
 

Artwork in the Enchanted Florist window during last year's Storefront Artists Walk by Dan Porcella. (Photo courtesy Bay Ridge SAW).

The annual Storefront Artists’ Walk (SAW) – an emerging Bay Ridge tradition – is gearing up for its third year on 5th Avenue.

It all starts on Friday, May 18 – which is tomorrow [!], and according to co-founder John Avelluto, it’s looking even better than the two years before.

We had a chance to briefly speak to Avelluto last week, and he tells us that the Bay Ridge SAW had 60 applicants for this year’s edition. Click Here For More, Including A Map And List Of Stores

May 172012
 

Edgar Degas - Sala de ballet de la Ópera de la Rue Peletier

Starting in September, students at Fort Hamilton High School [8301 Shore Road] will have the opportunity to be future Baryshnikovs, Pavlovas, Ashtons and Fonteyns. In short, they’ll have the chance to dance.

And it all stems from a random conversation in a hair salon, reports Mark Morales for the Daily News. Continue reading »

May 162012
 

Public advocate and mayoral hopeful Bill de Blasio weighed in on the 5th Avenue food cart fight during a recent meeting of the Bay Ridge Democrats – stating that the carts are hurting restaurants on the strip and may have to go, writes Will Bredderman for Brooklyn Daily.

“The fact is right now that the weight of regulation falls on our traditional businesses,” de Blasio reportedly told Bredderman as he exited the meeting. “We need to be careful in regards to where we allow food vendors to be placed.” Continue reading »

May 162012
 

Source: 401K via Flickr

As college tuition continues to climb while student loan debt exceeds one trillion dollars, one local bank has some advice for the parents of small children: Better start saving now.

To further communicate the necessity of squirreling away some salary for your little one’s schooling, Flushing Bank [7102 3rd Ave] held a seminar for parents of the future college-bound at the Bay Ridge Library [7223 Ridge Blvd] on May 11, according to Denise Romano with the Home Reporter. Continue reading »

May 162012
 

Niall Connelly will be performing this Sunday at the Irish Haven.

Remember, our events calendar is now up. There is a lot more on it than just the next nine days – you can see the whole thing here. We’ll post a lot of events that come to our attention, but the best way to make sure an event is listed here is to let us know directly – please email us at info@bayridgeodyssey.com. Be sure to include (1) what and where the event is, (2) what day and time it will be, (3) a description of the event, and (4) if there is an admission cost or age restriction. Include a web site and/or RSVP information, if applicable. Events on this calendar will be included in our nine-day event listing that we publish each Wednesday.

FRIDAY

  • 5th Avenue Storefront Art Walk begins: SAW gives artists the opportunity to work with merchants to create art that has an aesthetic connection to its surroundings. Storefronts along 5th Avenue will exhibit these works, offering the Bay Ridge community a unique opportunity to engage with the visual arts. Runs through June 17th. (5th Avenue from 68th Street to 85th Street)
  • “My Fair Lady” by the Narrows Community Theater: 8pm. Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play and Gabriel Pascal’s motion picture “Pygmalion.” Admission: $20 for adults / $15 seniors, students under 21, children. St. Patrick’s Auditorium (4th Avenue and 97th Street). See our story for more details. Continue reading »

May 152012
 

Photo source: House.gov / Office of Michael Grimm

Yesterday, Congressman Michael Grimm (R-Staten Island) held a press conference with community members and Iraq War veterans at Fort Hamilton to speak out against a Department of Defense plan to eliminate one of New York State’s two National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Teams (WMD-CST), one of which resides at the Bay Ridge army base.

“At a time when New York City remains the number one terror target in the nation, it is completely nonsensical to cut such an essential asset to our safety and security. The 24th National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team located at Fort Hamilton plays a crucial role in assisting our NYPD, first responders, and other agencies in the event high-risk situations. Shutting down NYC’s only CST would be a tremendous loss and could leave our city more vulnerable to attack,” said Rep. Michael Grimm. Continue reading »

May 152012
 

Source: Shore Road Parks Conservancy

As we mentioned earlier in the month, It’s My Park Day will be this coming Saturday, May 19.

Volunteers are invited to help with some spring cleaning in Bay Ridge’s beautiful shore-front parks. Activities will include painting, planting, weeding, sweeping, raking, handling sign-in sheets, tools and refreshments.

According to a press release put out by the Shore Road Parks Conservancy, there are six different meeting points – as well as corresponding times – for anyone looking to lend their park a helping hand:

  • 97th Street Park Entrance (10am to 2pm)
  • 90th Street Gazebo (9am to 12pm)
  • *New waterfront site meeting* by the Flagpole at Shore Rd & 81st St (9am to 12pm)
  • Narrows Botanical Gardens (10am to 1pm)
  • The Flagpole at 81st Street (9am to 12pm)
  • Owl’s Head Park (11am to 2pm)

The plethora of local groups that are slated participate include Adelphi Academy, Arab American Association of NY (AAANY), Asian Community United Society (ACUS), Bay Ridge Food Coop, Bay Ridge Prep, Boy Scouts – St Anselm, Community Board 10, Cornerstone Church at Bay Ridge, East Coast Kruzers, Egyptian American Community Foundation (EACF), First Church of the Brethren, Fontbonne Hall Academy, Fort Hamilton Army Base, Fort Hamilton HS, JROTC & National Honor Society, Gateway Church, The Guild for Exceptional Children (GEC), Moroccan American House Association (MAHA), NIA Community Services, and NY Army National Guard Joint Task Force-Empire Shield.

Sponsors include the City Parks Foundation, Foodtown, Bay Ridge Manor, and the Partnership for Parks.

If you’re interested in more information, please call (347) 723-2555, e-mail the Shore Road Conservancy at info@shoreroadparks.org, or visit nycgovparks.org and shoreroadparks.org.

May 152012
 

Source: @NYC911 via Twitter (h/t to Bensonhurst Bean).

A man who was found dead Sunday in a van near the Verrazano Bridge may have taken his own life. Continue reading »

May 142012
 

Sister Dolores, the principal of the all-girls Fontbonne Hall Academy [9901 Shore Road] may be tough, but there’s nothing she expects of her students that she doesn’t do herself.

According to a recent New York Times article by Michael Winerip, the daily rhythms of Sister Dolores’ dedication include arriving at the Catholic prep school most mornings by 6 a.m. “If lucky, she’s back at her convent in Park Slope by 6 p.m. for supper and prayers.” Continue reading »