Flatbush CommUNITY Garden, located at the end of Albemarle and E 16th St in Ditmas Park, is holding a Winterfest fundraiser at Sycamore on Sunday, February 19. Stop by to have a drink, enter a raffle full of local prizes, and to learn more about the garden:
Come for drinks specials, delicious baked goods, pick up some seed bombs or a coupon book to support our garden, and win a raffle prize! We can also tell you more about the garden, as we expect to have spaces for next spring.
Amazing prizes are donated by your favorite local businesses: Qathra, Pilates on Rugby, TB Ackerson, Purple Yam, Brooklyn Banya Russian Baths, Latin Fever Dance Studios, the Castello Plan and the Farm on Adderley.
Coming up this month at the Flatbush YMCA (1410 Flatbush Ave): there’s a legal counseling event going on right now, a coat drive on Thursday, and a job fair toward the end of the month. For more information, call 718-469-8100 or email flatbush@ymcanyc.org.
This weekend, see the play In the Voice of Our Mothers at the East Midwood Jewish Center:
Intimate, powerful, and personal narratives of our Biblical matriarchs, told vividly as imagined by renowned playwright and director Carol Fox Prescott. Although based on Sacred Texts, the play transcends its setting while its characters become Everywoman, talking with her neighbors, confiding in her friends about real life challenges and day to day living. Sarah may be sharing her shifting feelings for Abraham and Isaac, and yes, even God, but she could just as easily be a woman of today, talking about her beloved—because life as we know it, with all of its subtleties and complications, happens again and again and again.
In The Voice of Our Mothers
East Midwood Jewish Center, 1625 Ocean Ave (between Aves K&L)
Saturday, January 28, 7:30pm
$20 in advance, $25 at the door
Reservations: 718-338-3800 or by email info@emjc.org
The East Midwood Jewish Center is hosting a special Shabbat in The Round event this Friday, January 20 at 6pm:
The service is very lively, interactive and musical, and will be led by our own local, Cantor Sam Levine and Rabbi Alvin Kass.
Services will be followed by a Kosher Indian smorgasbord prepared by amazing Southern Indian restaurant Tiffin Wallah with an exotic offering of foods.
All are welcome–families, singles, grandparents, etc.–and the cost is $20 per person, $10 for students, and kids 12 and under are free.
Shabbat in The Round
Friday, January 20, 6pm meet-up, 6:30pm service East Midwood Jewish Center
1625 Ocean Ave (between Aves K & L)
RSVP: 718-338-3800, info@emjc.org
The Kings Bay Y is located just down Nostrand Avenue, and they host a variety of programs and events. One upcoming meeting is of the Caregiver’s Support Group, where people can receive support, knowledge, and insight from other caregivers in a supportive environment.
Caregiver’s Support Group
January 9th, 1-2:30pm
Kings Bay YM-YWHA, 3495 Nostrand Ave
718-648-7703, info@kingsbayy.org
Mulchfest, the annual Christmas tree recycling event from the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, the New York City Department of Sanitation, and GreeNYC, is taking place on Saturday and Sunday, January 7 and 8, 2012.
The closest sites for us is at Park Circle (the circle at Coney Island Ave and Parkside) and at Marine Park (Avenue U & East 33rd Street), and both are sites where they will be chipping the trees. You can drop off your tree, and bring home a bag of mulch–if you don’t have a yard that needs it, consider laying down the wood chips around a new street tree.
The East Midwood Jewish Center (EMJC) is holding a Hanukkah celebration on Sunday, December 18, from 11am to 2pm. There’s a latke cook-off and a dreidel-making competition!
There’s going to be the annual latke-making challenge. If you have a great recipe and want to go up against other cooks, contact info@emjc.org. The competing latkes will be served at 12:00.
There’ll also be music, singing, and art activities. Families are also invited to participate in a dreidel-making exhibit and competition. Help your child, grandchild, or other young person create a home-made dreidel that’s bursting with creativity. The dreidel does not have to spin, but it must contain the four correct letters placed in the right order. All entries must be brought to EMJC by 12:30. Judges will announce the winners at 1:30. Top prize is $100, with other prizes as well. Contact roomj@emjc.org for more details.
East Midwood Jewish Center
Hanukkah Celebration
Sunday, December 18, 11am to 2pm
1625 Ocean Ave, between Avenues K & L
Join neighbors at the East Midwood Jewish Center to celebrate “oneness” on the awesome date of 11/11/11:
Meet & Greet at 6pm, Shabbat Service in the round at 6:30 led by Cantor Sam Levine, followed by a festive light meal. You’ll enjoy a lively evening filled with song, conversation, friends, new & old. We look forward to welcoming one and all–singles, couples, and families. FREE
The Midwood Development Corporation is among the sponsors of a web class for businesses looking to improve their internet presence. The event is next Thursday, November 10 at Brooklyn Borough Hall. Email BRN@middev.org for more information or to register.
The 70th Precinct Community Council Meeting will be held tonight, Wednesday, October 26 at 7:30pm at 175 Lawrence Avenue (between Ocean Parkway and Seton Place). If you have any questions or concerns for our neighborhood officers, this is a great forum to present them.
Any questions, please contact the 70th Precinct Community Affairs Office at 718-851-5557.
This Friday, the East Midwood Jewish Center (EMJC) is hosting a unique Shabbat service. An authentic Cuban dinner will be prepared by Dr. Ricardo Barreras of Pilar Cuban Eatery in Clinton Hill, prepared in the EMJC kitchen:
You’ll enjoy a lively family friendly, interactive evening filled with friends, conversation, song, and an authentic Kosher Cuban Dinner, come taste the flavors of Cuban cuisine and imagine a delicious shana haba’a be Havana.
You won’t want to miss this special evening and unique opportunity to sample scrumptious delicacies prepared by a NY Times reviewed chef. We hope you can join us.
Cuban Kosher Dinner & Shabbat
East Midwood Jewish Center, 1625 Ocean Avenue
Friday, October 28, 6pm
Adults $25, 12 & under $7
RSVP today by calling 718-338-3800
If you’re home this afternoon, you will possibly hear mass singing in the streets. Today is Simchas Torah, which marks the end of an annual cycle of public Torah readings, and is often the only time of the year when Torah scrolls are taken out. This is a joyful holiday, observed with singing and dancing with the Torah, which may spill out of the synagogue into the streets.
Thanks to C.I.S. Publishers for permission to use this page from The Joys of Simchas Torah, which is available for sale at Amazing Savings on Ave M.
The East Midwood Jewish Center invites current and new members to celebrate Sukkot (the Midwood Blog has an explanation of the holiday, using a coloring book as a reference) in their Sanctuary this weekend:
Please join us for a fabulous progressive Sukkot event in our Sanctuary and beautiful and welcoming Sukkah this Saturday evening, for Havdalah, music, dance, food, in the warmth of the Sukkah with friends, family, and community.
We would love to grow our membership and “Sukkot Moondance, Havdalah Under The Stars” is a wonderful way to showcase our warm, vibrant, and caring congregation. We look forward to meeting you.
East Midwood Jewish Center
1625 Ocean Avenue (between Aves K&L)
Saturday, October 15 *FREE
Services begin at 6:15pm
Sukkos is a Jewish holiday that starts tomorrow evening at sundown. If you have eyes and live in the area, you’ve probably figured out that it involves structures called sukkahs. The holiday name comes from the plural of sukkah, which are walled booths covered by plant materials and resemble the housing the Israelites had while wandering the desert for 40 years.
The holiday is agricultural in origin, and many celebrations involve stunts with water, although this one seems to involve fire:
As a result of Sukkos’s origins, many decorations and supplications involve fruits and plants.
Observant families are required to eat meals in the sukkahs, but some choose to live in them during the holiday, as well. This requirement is waived if it rains. If you’re wondering what apartment dwellers do during Sukkos, this is your lucky day because I had that exact qutestion. They have several options. They can visit relatives who have sukkahs, or pay to use a communal sukkah their apartment building or synagogue put together.
Only the first day of the holiday is supposed to be observed like the sabbath (no electricity, business, etc), though many businesses will have reduced or no hours for the next week as a result. We thank C.I.S. Publishers for letting us use their illustrations with permission, and if you desire to purchase Sukkos is Coming or other religious coloring books, stop by Amazing Savings on Ave M.
These classes are invaluable training for parents, babysitters and maybe all humans over the age of 12:
Accidents are never planned – BE PREPARED!
* Would you know what to do if your infant/child is choking?
* What do you do if your infant or child or a family member stops breathing?
* Would you know what to do in the event of an allergic reaction?
* Do you need certification for your job? Receive certification on the new American Heart Association 2010/2011 CPR guidelines.
* Learn Hands (compression) only CPR
Non certification: $70
AHA 2 year Infant/Child/Adult with AED Certification $85
All classes also discuss prevention, recognition and treatment of first aid emergencies.
Classes available en Espanol also!
Infant/Child/Adult CPR class
Sunday, October 16, 4-6:30/7pm with Certification
Midwood Martial Arts & Family Fitness Center
1302 Ave. H at Argyle Rd
To register call Baby Be Safe at 888-SAFE-557 (723-3557) or email Laurie@babybesafe.com.
The East Midwood Jewish Center (EMJC) is offering high holiday services for kids on Yom Kippur. From Audrey Korelstein, Director of Youth & Family Education at EMJC:
We’ll create a space for younger kids to quietly play so their adults are able to continue to worship in the Sanctuary. We’ll also provide a very simple lunch for those kids. It’s not a drop-off arrangement, however. One family member needs to remain with the child/ren.
All the youth programs begin at 10:30 and go about an hour and a half. These programs are free (although a donation to EMJC after the holidays would be gratefully accepted).
A ticket is required to attend services in the Sanctuary.
Friday, October 7
Mincha: 2:00pm
Kol Nidre: 6:00pm
Candle Lighting: 6:11pm
Saturday, October 8
Yizkor Morning Services 9:00am
Holiday Ends: 7:08pm
Break The Fast: 7:09pm
Say Goodnight, Gracie will be performed on Sunday, October 30th at 2 pm at the Walt Whitman theater – tickets are $30, with $5 discounts available, as well as possible free tickets for Brooklyn College ID holders.
Alan Safier stars as George Burns in this Tony Award-nominated solo tour-de-force about one of the great comedians of the 20th century, a man who laughingly lived and loved each day for all it had to offer, until he finally went “gently into that good night” to forever reunite with his beloved Gracie.
The 66th Precinct had its first community council meeting after the summer break recently, and though it was a busy summer, Precinct Commander John J. Sprague said the community came together to help each other. Jole has the full details at the Kensington Prospect.
These meetings are open to the public, and are a good way to hear what’s going on the the precinct and voice any questions or concerns you might have. The October meeting for the 66th has been cancelled, but D.I. Sprague will be on hand at an Albemarle Neighborhood Association meeting on October 27 at 7pm.
Or, if you’re in the portion of the neighborhood that’s covered by the 70th Precinct, their community council meetings are usually held on the last Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm at the United Cerebral Palsy of New York City’s Community Room at 175 Lawrence Street (between Ocean Pkwy and Seton Pl). The next meeting is on October 26.
