I smirk at my wife across the table, as our waitress presents us with a tray containing an eclectic collection of colorful vintage drinking glasses. They asked us each to choose one for our complimentary welcome toast. I like a little bit of interactive theatre with my meal, as long as it doesn’t come at […]
Main Content
Featured Stories
“Exploring Abstraction”: A Community Collaboration
Explore the latest exhibit from Park Slope Windsor Terrace Artists in partnership with ShapeShifter Lab. Artistic endeavors exist on every corner of Park Slope, but even longtime residents may not be fully aware of the vast array of creative collaborations within our neighborhood. However, “Exploring Abstraction” is one art exhibit you won’t want to miss […]
The Reader Crossword
Recent Stories
Open Studios Showcases Gowanus: A Neighborhood’s Changing Identity
By: Lauren Hartley and Jaylen Green NEW YORK — Blue balloons wrapped door handles across Gowanus Saturday and Sunday, signaling to the public that they could enter to view work created by local artists. Gowanus, a neighborhood known for its converted industrial buildings turned art spaces, hosted its 28th year of Open Studios, where hundreds […]
Making the Tough Call
A lesson on leaning in and learning from our mistakes questioning our assumptions about others’ lived experience is one of the way we can try to learn more the world around us. After this author was faced with a difficult choice in her work as an Attorney, she looks back on her decision in a new light.
Chat with Marty
If you’ve walked down 7th Avenue in the past month, you’ve likely seen lines wrapped around a colorful storefront. Inside, old newspaper clippings pay homage to the restaurant’s humble origins as a pushcart while the decor emulates a taqueria you might find in LA. In the window, a woman hand presses corn tortillas as burritos […]
We Are Going to Lose Entire Generations of New Yorkers
By Lauren Hartley NEW YORK — The morning of Saturday, Sept. 21 Sen. Zellnor Myrie joined New Yorkers United for Child Care for a Town Hall with parents at a Park Slope playground. While kids stumbled across the fall-proof rubber playground surface, parents had the chance to share their experiences and concerns about raising kids in New […]
Park Slope Cats
An unprecedented number of unhoused animals are returning to shelters across Brooklyn. Avid animal rescuers like Maddy Samaddar-Johnson, are working to combat this issue through localized and collaborative groups within the Park Slope community.
What Happens when you Binge Bridgerton
The popular show set in the Regency era is bound to lure viewers with beautiful costumes, elaborate sets, and fantasies of desire. For this author, one fantasy sparked by the show rises above the rest, and it’s one that would drastically alter one aspect of motherhood. .
Slope Survey: Maddy Samaddar Johnson
An architect, landscape architect, and urban planner, Maddy Samaddar Johnson has called Park Slope home for many years, and she is passionate about finding homes for all the furry friends in the neighborhood.
Chat with Nasim
Fascinated by the food scene in New York City in the 80’s, Nasim Alikhani dreamed of opening her own restaurant. After years of honing her skills and overcoming obstacles, Chef Alikhani now serves authentic Persian cuisine with her own unique modern twist at Sofreh restaurant and Sofreh Cafe. Nasim Alikhani is the James Beard nominated […]
Everyone Makes Mistakes
Fields, courts, and stadiums swell with emotions from high-intensity moments, and athletes often crack under the pressure. What if we set our fear aside and embraced inevitable failures on our paths to success? We may be surprised by the opportunities that appear by removing perfection from the playbook of life.
Dog Day Afternoon
Although the menu features a contentious rivalry of hot dog styles, Dog Day Afternoon offers a selection to satisfy even the vegan in the bunch. The restaurant’s decor and atmosphere welcomes film buffs, gamers, and hot dog fanatics alike to enjoy the classic hand-held meal together under the same roof.
Groundcycle
When Vivian Lin learned about the composting process and how food scraps and organic waste could be used as a resource to add nutrients to the soil, she instantly channeled her energy into learning ways to close the gaps of food waste in her community. Within weeks, she shifted her career as a professional architect […]
Song of the Summer(s)
Music possesses the power to carry memories in melodies. Turn up your speakers and step into the soundscape of writer Nicole C. Kear’s curated playlist of warm-weather tunes, selected from her own scrapbook discography. In the same way that soda tastes better on an airplane, songs sound better in summer. There’s a song for every […]
Slope Survey: Matt Garrison
The Slope Survey for its 31st installment, this time with Park Slope resident and musician/entrepreneur Matt Garrison. Born on June 2, 1970, in New York, Matthew Garrison, son of Jimmy Garrison (John Coltrane’s bassist), immersed himself in a vibrant artistic community during his early years. After his father’s death, the family moved to Rome, where […]
The Bunny of Park Slope
I see the bunny on a Tuesday morning just past the park’s entrance on 9th street and Prospect Park West. He’s heading toward the playground but takes a sharp left and continues on through the traffic of people and bicycles. I can’t keep up with him.
Bean Sprouts, Basil, and a Bounty of Broths
For the Spring edition of the paper, I am featuring the bright, crisp, sweet and tangy flavors of Vietnam, and my favorite neighborhood Pho spot, Ha Noi.
The Power of Huddles
When you watch or play team sports you will undoubtedly experience “the huddle”. These are the times when groups of athletes on the same team come together, with or without their coach, often during time outs or other breaks in the action. If you’ve never played a team sport you might have no idea what happens during these huddles. And, if you’ve played tons of sports you might take huddles for granted. Huddles are vital in sport, and in life.
Green Space & The City
In a densely populated city like NYC, green spaces are a limited resource. Sera Rogue wants to change that by cultivating green spaces through her sustainable landscape design and holistic gardening studio, Red Fern Brooklyn. Rogue and her team create and install custom-designed gardens to fit your unique needs. By using an ecologically-conscious approach, Red […]
The Heart of Brooklyn: Park Slope Farmers Market
Open all weekends in all weather, the Grand Army farmer’s market is a neighborhood institution. GrowNYC Greenmarket Director and Park Slope resident Liz Carollo talks about why the Grand Army location is “the heart of Brooklyn” and offers advice for new customers and regulars.
Bernice
Plants are one of those things that everyone, everywhere, agrees are good for you. Like exercise or deep breathing, there seems to be no end to the benefit plants offer. Topping the list: they give you oxygen. Could there be a more life-sustaining benefit? And yet . . . Plants are so boring. Like exercise […]
The Regina Opera’s Cavalleria Rusticana
The most under-rated arts venue in Brooklyn continued their 54th season of classical Italian opera with a free performance of Cavalleria Rusticana this Tuesday evening, February 27th. The production runs March 2-10th.
Slope Survey: Jon Glaser
The Slope Survey returns for it’s 30th installment Jon Glaser is an actor and writer who created, co-wrote and starred in the TV shows Delocated, Neon Joe Werewolf Hunter, and Jon Glaser Loves Gear. Most people recognize him as Councilman Jamm from Parks and Recreation and/or Laird from Girls. An Emmy winning/multiple Emmy nominated TV […]
Balancing King Winter in Brooklyn
Now that winter is upon us, we must learn to tell the truth. Instead of a still photo shot of rain falling onto a green bush of ivy, winter in Brooklyn pushes us inward forcing us to have a reckoning with ourselves. In the bustle of the holiday season, in the line at the grocery […]
The Big Picture: Whose Vision for a Community Should Be Realized?
The Big Picture: Whose Vision for a Community Should Be Realized?
Retour au Début: A long overdue review of Olivier Bistro
There is a bias in food writing toward featuring the new, the novel, and the trendy. It is important to draw attention to established places where chefs are trying out new things, or striving to elevate and reimagine cuisine. I could argue that this place was the first neighborhood spot that made me realize how […]
A New Joint in Town for the Creative Soul
The ShapeShifter Lab now occupies the former location of the Tea Lounge, a Park Slope landmark. In the new space, they’ve continued to grow their business with yoga and dance offerings. They also have a professional music and entertainment space that almost always has something going on. You can also come by for your coffee or tea hit in their lounge, open daily.
Pottery Is Back in Park Slope Like It Never Left
A dozen wheels punctuated with orange clothes and mats stretched out in front of a long slab of wood, like a spinning Last Supper set-up. I picked a spot at the end to avoid breaking up couples who attended together. After grabbing clay from a repurposed trash bin, I threw the clay around in my […]
Snow Boots, Me and Chat GPT
There have been many drawbacks to being a writer but a brand-new one, specific to the particular moment in time, is this: at every holiday gathering, an extended family member is sure to tell you that soon, AI will take your job
Reader Recommendation: Our Favorite Coffee Shops
Coffee shops are the cornerstones of a metropolitan life, but not all coffee shops are the same. For me, I have coffee shops that require a perfectly distanced walk to wake me up alongside a cappuccino. I have a spot for decadent pastries like burnt cheesecake and drippy cinnamon buns, perfect to dig into once […]
Slope Survey: Ed Pilkington
Ed Pilkington is the chief reporter of the Guardian in the US. He’s worked for the Guardian for more years than he cares to mention, initially in London where he was a general news reporter and then became an editor, running the newspaper’s international news and domestic news coverage. He’s the author of Beyond the […]
The Big Picture
The unique view of the Umpire.
My Brooklyn Doula
I first meet the Anna Carapetyan on the phone, although, I’m pretty sure we were either related, married, or ruling a huge country in a past lifetime, sans colonialism. She is a Brooklyn Doula, I am a writer, and we have a lot in common, and I mean A LOT. For starters, we are both […]
A Burger for the Ages
In Red Hook, there is no shortage of seafood and beer in the neighborhood, and one could write an article dedicated to the various perfect ways to spend an afternoon in the dockside enclave. However, today I am not here to talk about the dives, or the crabs, or the breweries. Today I am here […]
The Ripped Bodice and the Power of Reclaimed Femininity
It’s Portlandia’s Women and Women First but this one seems a bit more pink, a lot more inclusive, and all about love and community. By now you’ve heard about them, read about them, joined one of their book clubs, or at least been stopped in your tracks by our lovely new pink neighbor on 5th Avenue. The […]
It’s A Wonderful Life
Nothing compares to the classic gift of a beautiful fresh flower bouquet. Whether for a birthday, anniversary, or “just because” flowers are a sure way to brighten up a room and bring a smile to your face. No one in Brooklyn knows this better than at Zuzu’s Petals flower shop.
Dispatches from Babyville
No Slouch: A Middle School Story My youngest child, Terza, is starting middle school this fall. And I am thinking about socks. Slouch socks. E.G. Smith slouch socks. If you entered puberty in the mid-80s as I did, these words will catapult you back in time and place — like Proust’s madeleine, only instead of […]
Slope Survey: Michael Hearst
The Slope Survey returns for its 28th installment, this time with resident and writer/performer Michael Hearst. Michael Hearst is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, and writer. His most recent project is a four-part book series, each book geared toward a grand theme: Unusual Creatures, Extraordinary People, Curious Constructions, and Unconventional Vehicles. Each book includes a companion album, […]
Tales of the Night Watchman: Shovel Man Part 3
Tale of the Night Watchman is the story of three baristas and a city full of monsters. It’s the nail-scratching conclusion of Tale of the Night Watchman: “Shovel Man”.
I Needed the World I was Creating
Our interview with Ann Napolitano on the research and real-life events that inspired her new novel, Hello Beautiful.
Aging Backward with Brooklyn
Everyone dreams of living in Brooklyn at some point in their lives. If someone says this isn’t true, they’re lying. The brownstone brick, the tree lines streets, and the tin roofs of coffee shops evoke a sense of wonder.
He Who Controls the Spices
There are two prevailing theories on the best way to handle the Summer heat, and while some if us are gearing up for an expensive summer besides our window-AC unites, many are keen ti embrace the heat. Our review of Park Slope’s latest culinary triumph, Masalawala & Sons.
Sky Transmissions: Astrological Wisdom for Venus Retrograde
“There ain’t no answer. There ain’t gonna be any answer. There never has been an answer. That’s the answer.”— Gertrude SteinAstrology is a powerful tool for predicting major life events and choosing when to take action. Thinking about romance? Applying for a new job? There’s a right time for all those things, and Astrology can […]
The Tiny Delights of Summer in the City
My fellow Brooklynites, all you fine folk who are not sunbathing in the Hamptons or frolicking at the Jersey Shore at present, I offer to you an assortment of summer city delights hiding in plain sight.
You Don’t Mess with the Ump
Any parent with a child involved in sports these days knows there is a shortage of officials, referees, umpires, etc. School, recreational, and travel/club leagues across the country are canceling games and shrinking tournaments because they cannot find the officials the need. Demand is high, and growing, after the COVID19 pandemic “sidelined” most sports. But, […]
Slope Survey: Tami Sagher
The Slope Survey returns for its 27th installment, this time with Park Slope resident and writer/performer Tami Sagher
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Family Money
An interview with Jenny Jackson on the events that inspired her debut novel, Pineapple Street.
The Invisibility of the Brooklyn Mother
It’s as if once motherhood erupts out of us, we are unseen. The world looks away as it asks us to nurture and inspire, just not in the way we used to- with out sexuality and our youth-so that we might go unnoticed.
High Tea in the Heights: A Review of Brooklyn High Low
As the weather warms here in Brooklyn, there is no better way to enjoy the beauty of the season than by indulging in the delightful and timeless experience of afternoon tea. Spring in Brooklyn is a time of renewal and growth. The budding flowers and blooming trees paint the city in a breathtaking palette of […]
I’m Guessing I’m Some Kind of “Nimby”, part 2
Being called a NIMBY isn’t the worst thing someone can be called. I was part of a group of Gowanus residents called “NIMBY’s” because we challenged the 2021 Gowanus Neighborhood Rezoning Plan.
Dispatches from Babyville: For the Birds
Almost everything I know about birds I learned from the Bird Study, which is a magical, marvelous unit of study taught in second grade in my children’s elementary school.
Slope Survey: Laura Broadwell
The Slope Survey returns for its 26th installment.
Tales of the Night Watchman: Shovel Man, Part 2
Tales of the Night Watchman is the story of three baristas and a city full of monsters. In “Shovel Man” part 2, the graveyard stirs as two lovebirds find themselves in deep trouble.
Motherhood, Tantrums, and the Refuge of Prospect Park
My middle child, Alma, came on the heels of a miscarriage. Two months after I lost a baby, my daughter appeared on a blurry sonogram screen in a run-down doctor’s office in the heart of Brooklyn. I knew that I would name her Alma, the word for soul in Spanish, the word we say in our home when there’s something deeper than “I love you.” Mi Alma, we say in Spanish, my soul.
Food, Fire & Friendship: Lore
Park Slope’s Lore celebrates the universal appeal of dining together, and it is the perfect sanctuary from the cold this winter.
I’m Guessing I’m Some Kind of “NIMBY” Pt.1
In case you’re wondering what a “NIMBY” is: “NIMBY” stands for “Not In My Back Yard”. The characterization of a NIMBY is someone who opposes a proposed development in their local area, that they would likely support if built somewhere else. Calling someone a NIMBY is usually intended to be an insult; calling someone on their hypocrisy. That’s definitely […]
Listen While You Lounge
If you happen to be trudging down 5th Avenue on an icy night, seeking refuge and a stiff drink to warm your hands and heart, you can’t do better than Honeycomb.
Dispatches from Babyville: The Unexpected Delights of Winter in the City
Every year, sometime between New Year’s and Valentine’s Day, I announce to my family, “Now is the winter of our discontent!” Which is another way of saying, winter in the city has more than its fair share of miseries. What is sometimes more difficult to recall, as the salt-white snow turns pepper- black and the […]
Slope Survey: Phil Chaitman
The Slope Survey returns for its 25th installment.
Reimagining a Used Bookstore
Remarkably, the idea to open a used bookstore in Park Slope was conceived by the founders of Book Thug Nation in only June of this year.
Maeve Higgins Is Using Creativity to Figure Out The World
The Irish comedian and author of Maeve in America is back with a new collection of essays that examine the imperfections of her adopted country— while learning important lessons from the pandemic and showing love for everyone on this train.
Why I Started Another Brooklyn Running Club
At the beginning of 2020, I joined the same club I saw last Wednesday: The Prospect Park Track Club. As someone who prefers to run by himself, I’d avoided running clubs up until then.
Slope Survey: Jacqueline Woodson
Slope Survey: Jacqueline Woodson
‘I Leave it up to You’
On the ground floor of this unassuming building, night after night, Brooklyn’s skilled sushi chefs sculpt and serve the best sushi in the borough.
The Privilege of Choice: Public Schools in New York City
If you haven’t seen the news, the New York City council approved a budget that drastically slashed public schools funds for the 2022-2023 school year. Mayor Adams claims the cuts were necessary due to declining enrollment in the system. But, those of us with vested interest in these schools know the budget has never been adequate. Teachers and parents are suing to force a restoration of funds. The Council and our Comptroller are trying to find other ways to get the money back to our schools.
Dispatches from Babyville: It’s Never Too Cold
Seventeen years ago, I had a baby. This fall, that baby — known in these parts as Primo — is headed off to college. This major life event has triggered plentiful reflection, and even more plentiful worrying. In fact, one of things I’ve realized in my reflecting is that I haven’t stopped worrying in seventeen years.
Over 100 Million Rides
That weekend visit was the first time I remember using a Citi Bike. I inserted my People’s Bank debit card in the large blocky kiosk and quietly swallowed a lump in my throat after agreeing to the $200 dollar hold on my card in case of loss or damages.
Summer Sustainability Guide: Invest in Our Community, Invest in Our Planet – Part 2
Every Summer I look forward to the 5th Ave street fairs for the farmer’s markets, live music, and outdoor eating. These warm Summer days invite us to be fully engaged with our neighborhood— welcoming community commitment and collaboration.
Uncle Skunk’s New EP, Heaven River, Hits the Brooklyn Music Scene
Uncle Skunk’s New EP, Heaven River, Hits the Brooklyn Music Scene
Brooklyn’s Best: Winner
This bakery has thrived during the pandemic, becoming the morning go-to for many Park Slopers in spite of the long lines and cover worries.
Dispatches from Babyville: Dog Days
I am not a “dog person.” I take about as much interest in a dog on the street as I would in a mailbox, or a bus. Depending on its appearance and comportment, I might admire or disdain it, but I would not take any particular pleasure in seeing it and would definitely not feel the urge to touch it.
Amy Touchette: A Candid Approach to Capturing Community
Touchette adores New York City. The visceral energy and the frenetic vibrations; the architecture; the history; the diversity and blending of cultures— the city is a sea of inspiration for visual artists and storytellers to sink into.
Slope Survey: Tony Ward
The Slope Survey returns for its 23rd installment with Park Slope resident and Broadway actor Tony Ward.
Tales of the Night Watchman: Killer Whales Part 3
Tales of the Night Watchman is the story of three baristas and a city full of monsters. In “Killer Whales” Part 3, Night Watchman and Serena come face-to-face with bicycle thief mastermind Killer Claw. Or, uh, is it face-to-claw?
Park Slope Sustainability Guide
Spring is here! On every street, we are beginning to feel the warmth of the sun, the blossoms of tree buds, the songs of birds, and Prospect Park growing green again. We are reminded of the beauty nature brings to our lives! Sadly, springtime also reminds me of our destructive disconnection with nature that’s ultimately […]
Loyalty to Place
After many years here – and anchored by deep ancestral roots – I often wonder how Park Slope will factor into my future.
The Kids Need Coaches
I spent a few hours this week emotionally preparing for the “draft”. It’s not the NFL, NBA, or MLB draft that had me sweating; it was the SFX Youth Sports, 2022 Spring Baseball Season, Grasshopper Division draft.
The Sweet Life
Like half the people you know, my family and I got Covid at Christmas. It was a mild case for all of us, and we’ve made a full recovery. So this isn’t a story about Covid.
Anna Meejin: On Identity, Ancestry, and Finding a Place in American Culture
An invincible nostalgia for an unlived experience is illuminated through Meejin’s art.
Dog Fight
Advocating for a Dog Park in Prospect Park: The Start of a Journey
Why doesn’t Prospect Park have an off-leash dog run? And how do we get one? Let’s find out.
Sterling Records: A New Hub of Music Culture & Community
Head to the newest record store to browse your favorite music, literature, and games, and even discover new favorites amidst the vast collection. With radio shows, backyard events, and other ideas on the horizon, Sterling Records is supplying a hub of culture for Park Slope Residents to explore. A new hub of music culture and […]