Boxing Rat Takes on Brannan in Dyker Heights

Our local papers won’t tell you about Community Board 10’s Override or talk about those who disagree with formation of the  Third Avenue BID. (See here)

Yet, one local reporter wrote about rats in Dyker Heights. See here  (Yes, this is a story!)

Everyone who has been near the park has seen the sign. Many people don’t bring their dogs there because of it.

Councilman Brannan told residents: “These rats don’t stand a chance against us!’   

The long-term park inhabitant, Boxing Rat isn’t going down. “Brannan didn’t know we were here for a long time, so we will just hide in a better spot.”

Boxing Rat is used with permission by: TeaAndInk

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Snakebite Shot at Status Q Billards in Bay Ridge

Snakebite shot = honey whisky and lime juice 

Status Q Billards is at 8218 3rd Avenue – see pics here   

Yes we go here – no, I am not good.

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Vote for Two Bay Ridge Businesses

Two Bay Ridge Businesses have been nominated for Best of Brooklyn Awards.  Let’s help them win!

The two businesses are Bay Ridge Bakery and Cocoa Grinder.

Vote for them here.  You need to enter an email address.  

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Joe Borelli’s Anti-de Blasio Swag is Amazing

Councilman Joe Borelli is running for Public Advocate. His anti- de Blasio sway is amazing.   

For a  donation of $30, you can get the shirt above. Comes in black as well. 

See here

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Dog Wash at Sean Casey Animal Rescue 8/3

On Saturday, August 3rd from 10:00 AM — 2:00 PM, there will be a dog wash at SEAN CASEY ANIMAL RESCUE at 153 E 3rd Street in Brooklyn.

The dog wash is a $25 donation and all proceeds will benefit Sean Casey Animal Rescue.  

If you would like to avoid the lines for the dog wash, you can get a fast pass here. 

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Knight Flag Football for Boys and Girls

Dyker Heights Athletic Association has flag football registration open for boys and girls ages 5-15.  They will be at the Summer Stroll tonight in Bay Ridge (they have the free face-painting for kids).

They play at the field next to VA Hospital on Poly Place and the field on 17th and Shore.

They children are divided into 3 age groups. They play at various times between 12-4 on Saturdays and Sundays. Flag football is a non-contact sport.

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Fun Fall Events in Bay Ridge 2019

Monday, September 2nd

Labor Day in Prospect Park – see activities

Friday, September 6th

1) The Fort Hamilton Army Base will have a Cigar and Whiskey Night on 9/6/19 from  6 pm – 8 pm at  207 Sterling Drive in Brooklyn Google Map Etched glass and Cigar Cutter provided by First Command. Limited amount. First come, first serve.   

2) Xaverian High School is also having Cigar Night on the same night.  Info here

Saturday, September 7th

1) Mid-Autumn Festival Drawing Contest for Children: 2-6 pm at Leif Ericson Park. Free.

2) Concert in Shore Road Park at 2:00 pm.  (79th Street and Shore Road). Free

3) Rhapsody Players at St. Mary’s Church Hall 7:30 pm.

4) Movie in Bensonhurst Park:  Secret Life of Pets 2    7:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m. Free.

Sunday, September 8th 

Brooklyn Army Terminal Block Party! It’s Free to go and walk around. We went last year and it was great! Sunday, September 8th   12 pm – 6 pm. Free Brooklyn Army Terminal t-shirts and baseball hats for the first 250 attendees!

Local Food Vendors & Beer and Wine Garden (local breweries)

Art Gallery and Local Artisan Marketplace

Live Music and Dance Performances 

Guided Yoga

Fun Children’s Activities – kite-making & face-painting 

Outdoor Rock Wall

Tuesday, September 10th

Head over Heels Band is playing at Shore Road Park at 7:00 pm. Bring your chair or a blanket to sit on. Free

Friday, September 13th

San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy begins 9/13 – 9/23: see schedule here

Saturday, September 14th

Car show at Our Lady of Angels on 73rd Street from 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.

IPA Fest at the Brooklyn EXPO Center  72 Noble Street Brooklyn

IPA Fest (IPA stands for India Pale Ale – it’s a hoppy style of beer that is pale instead of dark like Guinness)

Sunday, September 15th

Chris Hoban Run at Xaverian High School – info and signup here. Free to watch (it’s always the most beautiful day of the year)

Thursday, September 19th

Greek Festival in Bay Ridge at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church begins. Ridge Boulevard between 84th and 86th Streets  9/19 – 9/22. 

Friday, September 20th

Greek Festival in Bay Ridge at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church – Ridge Boulevard between 84th and 86th Streets  9/19 – 9/22

Saturday, September 21st

1) Pet Adoption outside of Councilman Brannan’s Office – 8203 – 3rd Avenue

2) Fort Hamilton Army Base Oktober Brew Fest, authentic German food, rides, a pumpkin patch and the pool if the weather s good.  Contests: Keg Toss, Stein Hoist, Bratwurst Eating Contest and >Best Dressed Dirndl and Lederhosen.  Register here

3) Annual Cancer Can’t Kill Love Event at the Gjoa Club at 2:00 pm.  Money raised goes to Sloan Kettering Hospital

4) Norwegian Christian Home Fall fall at 1250 – 67th Street 10:00 am – 5:00 pm.

5) Greek Festival in Bay Ridge at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church – Ridge Boulevard between 84th and 86th Streets  9/19 – 9/22   

6) Hispanic Heritage Celebration at FIAO – Free – RSVP to [email protected]

7)   Great Irish Fair in Coney Island  Tickets here

The Great Irish Fair is on Saturday, September 21 at the Fort Amphitheater in Coney Island. Tickets are $20 and you can buy them at the entrance.

Sunday, September 22nd

1) Pet Mobile Adoption Truck will be outside of  Vinny’s Pet Store 451 Bay Ridge Avenue from 12 PM – 4 PM

2) Greek Festival in Bay Ridge at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church – Ridge Boulevard between 84th and 86th Streets  

September, September 28th

1) The Ragamuffin Day Parade  – Parade begins at 1:00 from 76th Street to 92nd Street on 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge (Registration and Costume Judging is earlier). Free

2) Pet Adoption Truck will be outside of St. Philips Church 1072 – 80th Street. 11AM – 3PM

3) Hoops Fest at Aviator – $10 tickets (more for the events)

4)  National Lighthouse Museum Fest 12:00 – 6:00 pm (it’s a great Fall festival….and I don’t like Staten Island). Cost: $3 per person; Soup Contest from 12 pm – 2 pm……$ 5 per person. There is no onsite parking, but we found parking easily. The soup is really good!

Sunday, September 29th

1) 3rd Avenue Festival –  9/29  is the 3rd Avenue Festival  from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm on 69th Street to 94th Street in Bay Ridge. 

2) The Atlantic Antic Festival is from 12pm to 6pm

3) Boo at the Zoo – ongoing until Halloween

Staten Island events:

1) Staten Island Car Show 9:00 – 3:00 pm.

2) Snug Harbor Ghost Tour  $10

Saturday, October 5th

Sunday, October 6th

Walk to end bullying in Staten Island – by Danny Fitzpatrick’s Angel Network – info here

Saturday, October 12th

1) Christopher Columbus Parade in Brooklyn – info here

2) Green Meadow Pumpkin Patch at Aviator $9 (includes pumpkin, visit with animals, hayride, kid-friendly haunted house, giant wagon slide  Get ticket online

 

Sunday, October 13th

The Fall Harvest Festival by the Narrows Botanical Garden will take place on Sunday, October 13, 2019 from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm in Shore Road Park (70th Street and Shore Road)  

• Talented Crafters and Artisans will be selling their items

• The Great Pumpkin Patch sponsored by Three Guys from Brooklyn 

• The Annual Canine Costume Contest

Saturday, October 19th

1.Schnitzel Haus Hunter Mountain Oktoberfest Trip 

2) Green Meadow Pumpkin Patch at Aviator $9 (includes pumpkin, visit with animals, hayride, kid-friendly haunted house, giant wagon slide  Get ticket online

3) NYCRuns Brooklyn Marathon and Half Marathon – starts at: 7:00 AM at the Brooklyn Museum. Register here

Sunday October 20th

Sean Casey Animal Rescue’s 12th Annual Howl-o-ween Bark Block Party is on Sunday, October 20th from 12:00 – 5:00 pm. Everyone is invited to attend the fun, family-friendly party that spans the entire block on which the Rescue is located. Admission is free!  Enjoy games, contests, prizes & activities for kids and pups alike. Face painting and tattoos at the Goblins & Ghouls parlor.

 

 

 

Saturday, October 25th

 

1) Mama Rao’s Halloween Party – $60 a person

 

2) City Tech’s GRAVESEND INN Haunted House at Voorhees Theatre, 186 Jay Street opens. (Too scary for small children)

 2019 SCHEDULE:

Friday 10/25 5 to 9pm

Saturday 10/26 12 to 4pm and 5 to 9pm

 

 

Sunday 10/27 12 to 4pm and 5 to 9pm

Monday 10/28 5 to 9pm

Tuesday 10/29 5 to 9pm

Wednesday 10/30 10am to 3pm 5 to 9pm

Thursday 10/31 10am to 3pm and 5 to 9pm

Tickets are $10 general admission,

Sunday October 26th

 

1. Halloween at Green Meadows Farm at Aviator – info here

 

 

 

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Pilo Arts Hair Salon Deal

Pilo Arts Hair Salon has a deal on Groupon.

• $24 for a Haircut, Blowout & Style, and Shampoo & Condition($49 value)
• $75 for a Haircut, Full Highlights, Blowout & Style, and Shampoo & Condition ($186 value)
• $27 for One Process Touch-Up and Shampoo & Condition ($67 value)
• $18 for One Blowout, Style, and Shampoo & Condition ($30 value)

Open Wednesday–Sunday.   

Pilo Arts is at 8412 3rd Avenue.

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CCD (or PSR) in Bay Ridge – First Holy Communion

When we went to school, public school students attended CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) classes on Wednesday afternoon and we got out early. 

Now some churches call CCD -> PSR (Parish School of Religion) – that’s probably why you couldn’t find it online.

Steps:

1. First pick a parish. You can pick where you want to go and that can be your parish. I know you thought about St. Andrews, but check out St. Pats. 
2. You bring the child’s baptismal certificate to the rector, fill out the paperwork and pay the registration fee. If your child went to class at another school and you are transferring, bring transfer papers (you get them from the PSR office at the other school. 
3. Kindergarten is optional, but you need to go by first grade in order to make Holy Communion in 2nd grade. If not, then your child has to make Holy Communion in 3rd grade.

Churches

1) St. Patrick’s Church 9511-4th Avenue 718-238-2600 Coordinator: Marilee Fitzgerald 

Meets: 

• Grades 2 or 8 (receiving sacraments): Twice a month – two Sundays or one Sunday & one Wednesday afternoon.
• Grades 1 and 3-7: Just one Sunday a month- after the family mass at 9:30 am  until 12:30 pm.

Cost: $70

Communion Date: First 2 Saturdays in May 

Children per Class:  10-12

Has Special Needs Class: Yes

2) St. Anselm’s Church 356-82nd Street   718-745-0077  Press 2- Brother Robert Duffy

Meets: Sundays 8:30 am to 9:50 am followed by attendance at the 10:00 am Mass. See schedule and details

Cost: $110

Communion Date: 

Confirmation Date: Saturday, November

Has Special Needs Class: 

3) St. Andrew’s Church 6713 Ridge Boulevard  718-680-1010 Press 0  Coordinator:Ann Smith

Meets:

• Grade 1-5: Thursday 3:45 – 5:15 pm or Saturday 10-11:30 am
• Grade 2:  Sunday 9:30 – 10:45 am
• Grade 6-8: Friday 7 -8:30 pm

Cost: $80  

Communion Date: First Communion Mass Celebrations at 5pm, 9am, 11am and 12:30pm on weekends of:
last 2 weeks of April/beginning of May

Children per Class: 

Has Special Needs Class:

4) St. Ephrem’s Church 929 Bay Ridge Pkwy Brooklyn 11228  718-745-7486

Meets: Wednesday afternoon classes for grades 1 through 7.

Cost:

Communion Date: It is always the 1st and 2nd weekend in May.

Children per Class:

Has Special Needs Class:

5) Our Lady of Angels (OLA) 7320 – 4th Avenue  718-748-6553  Coordinator: Ann O’Brien  [email protected]

Meets:  Sunday 9:00 am – 10:20 am (grades 1-8) including attendance at the Mass at 10:30 AM 

Cost: $75-$150

Communion Date:  Sunday, May ___  at  9 am or 12:00 pm

Children per Class:  18-22 students

Has Special Needs Class: YES, they have a special education teacher.

6) St. Anthanasius Church 2154 – 61st Street    718- 331-8811   Rectory: 236-0124

Meets: information

• Grades 1, 2, 3 and Resource: Saturdays, 10:30 am until 12:00 pm
• Grade 4, 5, 6 and 7: Wednesday 4-5:30 OR Saturdays, 9:00 am until 10:15 am
• Grade 8 students go for 6 weeks before Confirmation.

Cost: $120 

Communion Date: April – the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week in April 

Children per Class: 25 or 26  (Saturday classes have less students)

Has Special Needs Class:  YES

7) Regina Pacis Church 1230 – 65th Street  718-236-0909   [email protected] Coordinator:Jackie

Meets: Class is at 9:00 AM and must attend the mass at 10:00  (September 20th first class -orientation for parents is on Sept 19th) 

You can register for class at the rectory M-Saturday.

Cost: $100

Communion Date: 

Has Special Needs Class:YES

8)  St. Finbar

Meets: For students in grade K -8

Cost: 

Communion Date:

Children per Class: average class size is 12 children

Has Special Needs Class: YES

9) St. Francis Cabrini 1562 – 86th Street Coordinator: Marie Nitti- 718-236-9165

Meets: All classes (K-7) are held on Sunday 9:15 am – 11:00 am after the family Mass

Cost: $75 for the class plus $150 for the Communion Class (activity fee, pictures and video)

Communion Date:

Children per Class: average class size is 12 children

Has Special Needs Class: YES

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OLA Antique Car Show – September 14, 2019

I am posting this early because I know a reader of this blog LOVES this car show.

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Why Doesn’t John Alexander Want Bay Ridge to Know That Everyone Doesn’t Want a BID?

John Alexander, senior editor of the Brooklyn Reporter, wrote a one-sided article about the formation of the Bay Ridge BID.  Alexander was at the meeting where some great merchants expressed dissatisfaction with forming a BID.

I don’t understand why Mr. Alexander doesn’t think it is important for Bay Ridge to know the entire story.  Who is benefiting from this type of news?  John Alexander must not be aware of the NO 3rd Avenue BID group.

Some  3rd Avenue shop owners questioned why the BID will need $45,000 each month ($540,000 for the year).  The merchants were told that they can’t get the full budget breakdown until after the BID is created.   The BIDs Assessment will be added to the property tax owner. Those who rent stores will have their rent raised to cover these costs.

The merchants questioned the $240,000 for the administration cost of the BID.  No one should be expected to work for free, but expenses need to be transparent.  If there are merchants willing to take on those jobs, the administration fee could be reduced.

The Steering Group should be able to provide a monthly breakdown of fees, as some members have been part of the Merchants Group for years and know how much money is needed. 

Other questions were asked and the steering committee said here that they would post them on social media, but they haven’t yet. One merchant shared about the strange things that happened at the meeting in the comments here (other merchants politely expressed their opposition to the BID on other social media).

The morning meeting for the BID was shown on the Merchants Facebook page – see here. 

Perch Advisors shared the evening meeting on Instagram  and remarked that it was “amazing community turnout.”  If  the BID was three blocks long, that would be a good turnout. The proposed BID is 30 blocks long, so this is a low turnout, especially since the Steering Committee is also in the picture. 

I talked with 22 merchants over the past few weeks. Some of them didn’t know what I was talking about when I mentioned the BID.  I thought they just didn’t want to talk about it, but they might not know because the letters where sent out to the property owners. 

Councilman Brannan funded the exploration for a BID because some merchants are not cleaning the area in front of their stores and he had to hire cleaners to keep 3rd Avenue looking nice. Many merchants keep their areas clean, but some don’t. Brannan also funded extra pickups for the corner garbage, whereas the Fifth Avenue BID takes care of that on their avenue.

Senator Andrew Gounardes should meet with the BID.  It appears the Merchants have some problems and some of them have solutions too. We haven’t seen the senator call the business owners together and speak with them (he may have, but we are sure there would be a picture if he did).  Rather than force a BID on some great merchants, why not talk to them about what they need?  

We want the Merchants to do well in Bay Ridge. We don’t want 3rd Avenue to look like 5th Avenue. Fifth Avenue has a BID and we haven’t seen any improvement in the avenue.

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The Problem with Andrew Gounardes’ Surveys

Senator Andrew Gounardes sent Paula Katinas the picture above so she would print an article about him.  But even Paula Katinas must ask herself: “How many times is Andrew going to survey people at the train about the train?  In February, Katinas did a similar story:

In January this year, Justin Brannan and Corey Johnson beat Gounardes to the story when they surveyed subway riders. Did you notice they looked sad in the picture?

On any day, at any time, you can tell if the subway is working by searching for #MTA and you can hear from NY’ers on how the subway is working. Also MTAMood can be checked. But everyone knows the train is still broke….so why do they keep surveying people about it?   

Instead of helping the 3rd Avenue Merchants, Gounardes was at the train station this morning:

Outside the 20th Avenue station, Gounardes and friends gathered. Who is on 20th Avenue to hear them?  #FixTheSubway and stop the nonsense of taking pictures.

While Paula Katinas likes these easy stories, we know this is what hurts our community because NOTHING is getting done.  Seven months in and Gounardes has not shared his office address …why? 

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