Happy Anniversary to my House!

Two years ago today was one of the best days of my life – we bought our home in Bay Ridge. We still love our house and think it was one of our best purchases.

Today we are having friends over for a house party/hurricane party.

Keep safe everyone!

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Hurricane in Brooklyn

Everyone has been chit-chatting about the hurricane.  The news people seem to be enjoying the excitement of the hurricane. We’re just outside the evacuation area in Brooklyn so no one is too worried.

We stocked up on water, moved the deck furniture and loaded the cars with gas.

This morning, we drove over to my friend’s parents home, got groceries for them and helped them secure their furniture as well.

I spent some great summers in Long Island and I had everyone I know put a bucket of water in their bathroom just in case.

Lee is on emergency response and said the eye of the storm is expected more on Sunday morning than it is on Saturday.

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Crafting and Getting Ready for Sept.

I will be back later today with an update for all my teacher friends who are decorating their classrooms. I’ve been crafting like crazy and I have some cool things to show you!

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Truth

I ran into some relatives of mine tonight in NYC.  They don’t live in NYC so that made it very surprising. They asked me some very interesting questions about my family. And I was completely honest.

Leon was shocked at what they asked because they hadn’t seen me in years! They saw Lee’s face and explained that someone in my family had told them some things that they knew wasn’t true and that’s why they asked.  I wasn’t hurt by what they said because I’m used to my brother being a jerk. Lee has brothers that act like family so he doesn’t understand AND FOR THAT I am so grateful to God.

What surprised me most tonight though is that normally I would make excuses for them or try to change the subject, but not today.  It is what it is…… so there isn’t a reason to not say the truth.

We drove back to Brooklyn and I was singing out the window because the truth is out there.   8D

Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

18th Avenue Feast 2011 CANCELLED

FOR 2012 – THE FESTA OR FEAST OF SAINT ROSALIE IS ON. (Some call it the Italian Bensonhurst Brooklyn Feast)

The Santa Rosalia Feast or otherwise known as the 18th Avenue Feast is on. It has not been cancelled.

August  24 to Sept. 3rd on 18th Avenue between 67th to 75th streets!  Come celebrate!

The 2011 Feast of Santa Rosalia is off – it has  been cancelled because:

I AM SAD TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE WILL BE NO FEAST THIS YEAR…WHICH MEANS NEVER AGAIN ON 18TH AVE WILL THERE BE A FEAST OF SANTA ROSALIA….IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE THAT SAID THE FEAST IS ON…IT GOT ITS INFORMATION FROM THE MAYORS OFFICE….YES ALL THE PERMITS ARE ISSUED…BUT THERE IS NOW NO TIME TO GET 150 VENDORS, ENTERTAINERS ETC TO MAKE THE FEAST HAPPEN…AND THE SOCIETY HEADS ARE JUST FED UP AND TIRED…I AM SO SORRY FOR ALL OF US BUT THE FEAST OF SANTA ROSALIA/18TH AVE FEAST IS NO MORE….I COULD GO ON WITH ALL THE REASONS…BUT AT THIS POINT IT DOESNT MATTER ANYMORE…ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AS PER THE SOCIETY…..SADLY ANOTHER BROOKLYN/BENSONHURST TRADITION DIES..ALONG WITH THE 13 AVE FEAST, THE HARWAY AVE FEAST , THE AVE U FEAST, THE 20TH AVE FEAST ETC….SO SORRY FOR US ALL…JOEFOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR HOPES UP….I AM SAD TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE WILL BE NO FEAST THIS YEAR…WHICH MEANS NEVER AGAIN ON 18TH AVE WILL THERE BE A FEAST OF SANTA ROSALIA….IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE THAT SAID THE FEAST IS ON…IT GOT ITS INFORMATION FROM THE MAYORS OFFICE….YES ALL THE PERMITS ARE ISSUED…BUT THERE IS NOW NO TIME TO GET 250 VENDORS, ENTERTAINERS ETC TO MAKE THE FEAST HAPPEN…AND THE SOCIETY HEADS ARE JUST FED UP AND TIRED…I AM SO SORRY FOR ALL OF US BUT THE FEAST OF SANTA ROSALIA/18TH AVE FEAST IS NO MORE….I COULD GO ON WITH ALL THE REASONS…BUT AT THIS POINT IT DOESNT MATTER ANYMORE…ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AS PER THE SOCIETY…..SADLY ANOTHER BROOKLYN/BENSONHURST TRADITION DIES..ALONG WITH THE 13 AVE FEAST, THE HARWAY AVE FEAST , THE AVE U FEAST, THE 20TH AVE FEAST ETC….SO SORRY FOR US ALL.

(From Joe DeMarco at the St. Rosalia Society)

The Feast of St. Rosalia or better known by Brooklynites as the 18th Avenue Feast was suppose to take place from August 25th to September 4th. It’s on 18th Avenue from 68th to 75th Street in Bensonhurst. St. Rosalia is the patron saint of Palermo

Topics: Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

The 18th Avenue Feast is ON FOR 2012 – BEGINS 8/23/12

Click here for New 2012 Information for those who may have hit an old page.

 For Current Information on the 2010 Italian Feast on 18th Avenue in Brooklyn CLICK HERE

I AM SAD TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE WILL BE NO FEAST THIS YEAR…WHICH MEANS NEVER AGAIN ON 18TH AVE WILL THERE BE A FEAST OF SANTA ROSALIA….IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE THAT SAID THE FEAST IS ON…IT GOT ITS INFORMATION FROM THE MAYORS OFFICE….YES ALL THE PERMITS ARE ISSUED…BUT THERE IS NOW NO TIME TO GET 250 VENDORS, ENTERTAINERS ETC TO MAKE THE FEAST HAPPEN…AND THE SOCIETY HEADS ARE JUST FED UP AND TIRED…I AM SO SORRY FOR ALL OF US BUT THE FEAST OF SANTA ROSALIA/18TH AVE FEAST IS NO MORE….I COULD GO ON WITH ALL THE REASONS…BUT AT THIS POINT IT DOESNT MATTER ANYMORE…ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AS PER THE SOCIETY…..SADLY ANOTHER BROOKLYN/BENSONHURST TRADITION DIES..ALONG WITH THE 13 AVE FEAST, THE HARWAY AVE FEAST , THE AVE U FEAST, THE 20TH AVE FEAST ETC….SO SORRY FOR US ALL…JOEFOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THEIR HOPES UP….I AM SAD TO INFORM YOU THAT THERE WILL BE NO FEAST THIS YEAR…WHICH MEANS NEVER AGAIN ON 18TH AVE WILL THERE BE A FEAST OF SANTA ROSALIA….IF YOU READ THE ARTICLE THAT SAID THE FEAST IS ON…IT GOT ITS INFORMATION FROM THE MAYORS OFFICE….YES ALL THE PERMITS ARE ISSUED…BUT THERE IS NOW NO TIME TO GET 250 VENDORS, ENTERTAINERS ETC TO MAKE THE FEAST HAPPEN…AND THE SOCIETY HEADS ARE JUST FED UP AND TIRED…I AM SO SORRY FOR ALL OF US BUT THE FEAST OF SANTA ROSALIA/18TH AVE FEAST IS NO MORE….I COULD GO ON WITH ALL THE REASONS…BUT AT THIS POINT IT DOESNT MATTER ANYMORE…ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN AS PER THE SOCIETY…..SADLY ANOTHER BROOKLYN/BENSONHURST TRADITION DIES..ALONG WITH THE 13 AVE FEAST, THE HARWAY AVE FEAST , THE AVE U FEAST, THE 20TH AVE FEAST ETC….SO SORRY FOR US ALL.

(From Joe DeMarco at the St. Rosalia Society)

The Feast of St. Rosalia or better known by Brooklynites as the 18th Avenue Feast would have taken place from August 25th to September 4th if it wasn’t cancelled.

Festa di Santa Rosalia was always celebrated starting the last Thursday of August until the first Sunday night in September. During the weeknights the festival wasn’t loud and crazy (see here). The best nights to go are either Friday or Saturday night of either weekend. Everyone shows up on those days around 8:30 and it’s absolutely crazy by 9:00 pm. Even the radio stations came out on the busy weekends to be part of the action.

Last year, 72nd Street and 18th Avenue was the best place to be because of the great live musicand djs (Pulse 87) too. Angelo Venuto was on 75th Street on the last Friday night and he was fantastic.  Last year was the first time I saw the Venuto Girls (Concetta and Maria) The schedule for this year isn’t out yet, but you can see last year’s here.  I love how everyone still comes back to meet up and celebrate together. A friend of mine who used to live in Brooklyn and recently moved to Florida just told me he is coming back for the 18th Avenue Feast.

Every July and August, people keep asking me, “When is the 18th Avenue Italian Festival in Brooklyn?” or When is the Feast of Saint Rosalie on 18th Avenue happening in August or September? When I run into former Brooklynites who have relocated to Staten Island or NJ they will always say “When is the Feast in Brooklyn?”

This was the best Italian Feast in Brooklyn. Many people come for the festival atmosphere and great food – sausage and peppers, calzones, zeppoles,  cannoli’s and fried oreos. Everyone loves sausage and peppers from Lucy’s!  There are rides, games and a lot of entertainment. Although the Jersey Shore cast will not be there, it will definitely feel like it with so many guidos around!

The feast is run by the Society Santa Rosalia located at 72nd and 18th Avenue and the Merchants of 18th Avenue.

Someone told me that this feast used to go further like to 80th Street, but I don’t remember that for as long as I have been going to it.

I received a few e-mails asking:

*Is the 18th Avenue Feast cancelled? NO WAY – It’s on!

– A street fair permit was obtained for this feast.

– The Feast of St. Rosalie has been going on for 30+ years, why would it be canceled? If I get any news about this, I will post it here. Borough President, Marty Markowitz has the same dates on his summer newsletter (see here: page one on the left)

BTW,  The San Gennaro Festival in Manhattan is from September 15th to the 25th this year.

Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Decorating a Classroom

I love August. The web fills up with so many great ideas from teachers who are excited about creating their classrooms. Oh pinterest how I love thee!

This will be my 18th year of teaching. Just typing that blows me away, not only because the years have gone by so fast. But also because I still feel that SAME excitement towards decorating and setting up a classroom!

I have a color scheme picked out:

Topics: Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Vacation

I found a small rental with a big pool on Craigslist. Lee thought I was crazy to look at Craigslist, but it was one of the best vacations we have had. I e-mailed the owner, paid and we drove out to Long Island. We picked up the keys from the owners friend and the house in Sag Harbor was ours. I’d go and do it over and over again.

. 

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Stores Like Restoration Hardware

I love Restoration Hardware. I like looking through their catalogs and walking through their store. The silk curtains from Restoration Hardware are to die for. I got them at 75% off at Tanger Outlet in Riverhead. A coupon from the outlets made the deal even sweeter!

My best deal from Restoration Hardware was their paint. I bought it at the Restoration Hardware Outlet in Long Island and it was a lot cheaper than Restoration Hardware. $12 a gallon.  The paint is thick and creamy like pudding. I don’t know why, but it is very easy to paint with their paint. My tenant used it in her bedroom and people constantly ask her about the color.

Coupon Code for 20%off at Restoration Hardware

Restoration Hardware is not in Brooklyn so my friends and I were talking about what stores are similiar to Restoration Hardware:

Pottery Barn

Ralph Lauren Home 

Williams Sonoma Home 

Waterworks for fixtures

Antique Hardware 

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Levi Aron

 Riker’s Island

Levi Aron was interviewed by the Daily News. Levi Aron is on suicide watch at Rikers Island.  Aron never said Leibby’s name and referred to the murder as an incident which was an accident because he panicked.  The reporter asked Aron if he wanted to apologize for the the incident. He didn’t say anything, but just nodded.

In the interview, Aron admitted that Leibby went to Monsey, but waiting in the car and did not go into the catering hall for the wedding celebration.

Jennifer McCann, the young attorney hired by Aron’s father was upset with the reporter because Aron is mentally unfit and should not be interviewed.

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Relatives Found Me

 Awhile back, I made Lee a family tree on Geni. Geni is a free site where you can build a family tree. I made mine as well because I thought that I might forget some names over time. Recently, this woman who is related to a relative I listed contacted me. Ann, my third cousin had quite a few stories to tell and filled in quite a bit of things I didn’t know.

This is the fourth time some relatives have found me online, but the first time through Geni.

Geni is a great site where you can invite relatives to your family tree project and ask them to add info onto the family tree. When I was a child, I know I wanted that type of  help with my family tree, but my parents couldn’t remember (or maybe never knew) relatives past my great grandparents.

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »

Save the 18th Avenue Feast! It is Saved! 2012 Confirmed – ON!

The Feast is ON!

The Santa Rosalia Feast or otherwise known as the 18th Avenue Feast is on. It has not been cancelled. 

August  24 to Sept. 3rd on 18th Avenue between 67th to 75th streets!  Come celebrate!

Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »