Haunted Halloween Carnival

October begins tomorrow so, naturally, our thoughts turn from the lazy days of summer to Halloween (even though the weather forecast predicts summer temps through the end of the week). Of course, the annual Halloween Parade takes place on the 31st (see you there). A few days earlier on the 26th, though, don't forget to check out the family fun at the Haunted Halloween Carnival!

The event is being produced by our neighbors at Puppetry Arts at the 1st Street Recreation Center (PS 372). There will be games, snacks, a bounce house and more!

For more information, go to Puppetryarts.org

News Round-Up

WalkNYC Wayfinding Kiosk Installed on Prospect Park West [South Slope News]

Residents Throw Stones at Methodist's Glass House [Brooklyn Paper]

Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope Dedicates New Torah for 150th Anniversary [News 12]

Brooklyn Park Gets Green Makeover to Solve Ongoing Flooding Problem [NY1]

Also, don't forget to buy your tickets to the Park Slope Civic Council Food for Thought event, coming up on October 9th! 

Jura Scotch Tasting at Aperitivo

Another great event is happening early next month at Aperitivo (279 Fifth Avenue). On Wednesday, October 9th at 7:30 pm, enjoy a tasting flight of Jura's scotches presented by Master Distiller Willie Tait. 

Scotches will be paired with delectable bites created by Chef / Owner Mario DiBiase.

$45 per person (does not include tax or gratuity)
Wednesday, October 9th 2013 - 7:30pm

The following Jura Products will be a part of the tasting :

Jura Prophecy: Gold (Best in Class), International Wine & Spirits Competition 2010
Jura Diurachs' Own 16YO: Gold (Best in Class), International Wine & Spirits Competition 2010
Jura Superstition: Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009
Jura Origin 10YO: Silver, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2010

Interested? Email Aperitivocafe@gmail.com or call (718) 369-1123 and get your scotch on!

Halloween Parade 2013

It's hard to believe that it is already time to think about Halloween! Actually, it's not that hard to believe when you consider that the BID just ordered their holiday lights and tree. Where has the time gone?

Anyway, on Thursday, October 31 at 6:30 pm, meet up at 14th Street and Fifth Avenue for this year's literary-themed procession - To Boo or Not to Boo. The route will take Park Slope's scariest ghouls and goblins north along 7th Avenue, left down 3rd Street and end at The Old Stone House & Washington Park.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Windsor Terrace and Park Slope Art Tour

Coming up next month over the Columbus Day weekend (October 12 - 14, from Noon to 6 pm), artists and photographers from throughout the Park Slope-Windsor Terrace area will invite the general public to visit their studios.

Expect to see a wide range of art, including works done on paper, canvas, and wood and a lot of pieces will be for sale! Decorate your home or do some early holiday shopping for that someone special.

Most of the studios are not directly near Fifth Avenue, but if you save the date and plan ahead, you can drop by the stores, bars and restaurants on Fifth after a busy day of art browsing.

For more information on the tour and the participating artists, go to parkslopewindsorterraceartists.wordpress.com

Barclays Center: One Year

This week is the one year anniversary of the opening of the Barclays Center. Wow, that went fast, didn't it? 

According to their website, more than 2 million people have attended events at the arena since opening day. Sure, there have been some issues of crowd-control and traffic, but overall the arena seems to be a tremendous asset for Brooklyn (and Fifth Avenue businesses).

They have a great line-up of shows planned this week, as part of the celebration. Don't miss it!

Happy Anniversary, Barclays Center!

News Round-up

Have a great weekend!

The Chocolate Room Signs Lease on Current Mega Glass Space [Park Slope Stoop]

Photo Flashbacks: The Avon Theatre [South Slope News]

Two Boutiques Merging [Here's Park Slope]

Slimed! P’Park lovers say Nickelodeon kid fest has no place in Brooklyn’s backyard [Brooklyn Paper]

Participatory Budgeting 2013

For the third year in a row, City Council Member Brad Lander is leading a participatory budgeting effort to help decide how $1 million should be spent in his district.

Do you have an idea on how some of that money can be spent? Maybe some improvements to Fifth Avenue? Upgrades to our locals schools or the library? You can share them with Council Member Lander now via email (lander@council.nyc.gov) or call his office at (718) 499-1090.

Or, better yet, drop by one of the planned "Neighborhood Assemblies" in October to discuss them (starting October 7th). The full schedule and more information is available here.

End of the Summer of Riesling

In case you didn't know from the freezing morning temperatures, summer is over. Well, almost over. And with it ends Terroir's (284 Fifth Avenue) Summer of Riesling.

In fact, tonight is their last wine dinner of the summer. At 7pm, Dave Whiting, the winemaker behind Red Newt Cellars, will be joined by John Martini, owner of Anthony Road Wine Company, for a hearty four-course meal paired with eight of their Rieslings to celebrate the beginning of the new season.

Guests can expect ribollita, roasted loin of pork, olive oil cake and more, served with a variety of the Finger Lakes wineries' Rieslings.

Tickets are $59 and all-inclusive, and are available for purchase here.

Brooklyn Book Festival on Fifth

This Sunday, September 22nd from 10 am to 6 pm, don't miss the annual Brooklyn Book Festival at Borough Hall.

Although the main event of the festival takes place in Downtown Brooklyn,  Fifth Avenue BID businesses/organizations will play a role in this week's festival Bookend Events. Check them out, below:

Wednesday, September 18
Soft Shadows: A Celebration of the Short Story. Gregory Spatz, Dawn Raffel, and Ron Parsans will read and discuss their work and their favorite short stories. Audience members will be invited to share the first paragraph of their favorite short fiction (open mic style).

Location: The Old Stone House of Park Slope, 336 Third St. (btw. 4th and 5th Ave.)

Time: 8:00 PM

Price: Free

Sunday, September 22

Blondes, Screwing, and Insanity. Join comedians and debut authors Mindy Raf (The Symptoms of My Insanity), Ophira Eisenberg (Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy) and Selena Coppock (The New Rules for Blondes) for a night of stand-up, storytelling, music, and special “story behind the story” panel about how comedy gets from the stage to the page. 

Location: Union Hall, 702 Union St. (5th and 6th Ave.) 

Time: Doors open at 7:30; Show at 8 PM

Price: $5

A full list of Brooklyn Book Festival and Bookened events is available at brooklynbookfestival.org/BBF/Home .

Food For Thought

Our friends at the Park Slope Civic Council have done a lot of good for the community, from organizing clean-ups to advocating for historic preservation. On October 9th, we all have a chance to give back to their all-volunteer organization while enjoying some delicious food from local restaurants.

Food For Thought, which will run from 6:30 - 9:00 pm at the Prospect Park Picnic House, is the Civic Council's annual event which aims to raise funding for their scholarship program. Each year, the Civic Council awards three education scholarships to outstanding high school seniors graduating from each of the Secondary Schools at John Jay High School who exhibit exceptional commitment to community service. Last year, the event raised approximately $15,000, which helped expand the scholarship program, increasing each award from $1,000 to $1,500.

There will be lots of food from local restaurants, including Fifth Avenue's Al Di La, Backyard, Stone Park Cafe and Trois Pommes, as well as cocktails, friends and a very important cause to raise money for.

Buy your tickets today and make a difference!

Yom Kippur 2013

To our Jewish friends and neighbors of the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID, 

We wish you an easy fast this Yom Kippur!

Odd Twin Closing

As we mentioned recently, owner Francesca Neville is about to welcome her second child into this world in October. With a baby on the way, she has chosen to make a change in her life and become a full-time mom, which means that her amazing Fifth Avenue vintage shop, Odd Twin, will be closing in just two weeks!

So, while we will be sad to see Odd Twin go, we are certainly happy for Francesca. In addition, fans of vintage clothing and antiques will win big over the next two weeks:

-30%-50% off everything in the store!
-everything is for sale!
-bargains if you are buying in bulk!

Drop by Odd Twin (164 Fifth Avenue) and grab the good stuff before it's gone!

New Bicycle Racks On The Way

If you ride your bike in the neighborhood, you know that the available bike racks can be a bit overcrowded. Basically, it's the same complaint that drivers have while looking for a parking space near Fifth (I guess that means we're really popular).

Not to worry, though. Park Slope Stoop is reporting that the NYC Department of Transportation is working to transform 30 of the now unused parking meter poles into bicycle racks, as part of a program that will transform around 12,000 meters into bike racks citywide.

Look for them to start popping up along the BID this week.

Here is the original post from Park Slope Stoop.

Never Forget

- Photo taken June 2013 by Mark Caserta

Primary Day 2013

Today is Primary Day! Please make sure to get out and vote!

Are you still trying to decide who to vote for? Here is a great website to help you compare the Democrat and Republican candidates running in the primaries.

Interview : Eleven Consignment Boutique

Fifth Avenue continues to grow as a Mecca for vintage/consignment shoppers. A bunch of great new stores recently opened up in the north end of the BID. Last week, we took a few moments to officially welcome the staff from Eleven Consignment Boutique and talk about how things are going:

1. Tell us a little about your store.

Eleven Consignment Boutique began when the owner steered his thrift store knowledge toward the high end luxury consignment concept. He opened the flagship store (with amazing window displays) in Manhattan’s East Village in December, 2010. When he took on a partner, who’s BFA in Art and trendy style complemented his concepts, they were ready to expand. This fast growing company acquired a second location in Park Slope, Brooklyn in March, 2013. From Chanel and Hermes to smaller, more affordable, second hand items; there is something for everyone’s price point. Eleven prides themselves on close attention to all their customers and consignees and provide personal concierge services to those who request it.

2. How is it going so far?

Great! The area is the perfect spot for us. Everyone who walks in is so happy we are here now. They really have been waiting for us, so many of our NYC shoppers and consigners live in the area and have begged us for years to come to Brooklyn, so now here we are. We even plan our 3rd shop, which may also be in Brooklyn, even though it was planed for Manhattan.

3. Any interesting events or regular happenings at your store that you would like to promote?

Yes! We just hosted a big ladies night out event with Chanel wine and cupcakes. It went great!

5. We know you are new to the neighborhood, but do you have any favorite places to eat, drink or shop on Fifth?

We love Benchmark. Marc Murphy is where the owners first met at his restaurant in NYC so all of his restaurants hold a great sentimental value to us.

Eleven Consignment Boutique

180 1st Ave NY,NY
Tell- 212 -260 2742

70 5th Ave BK,NY
Tell - 718-399-7767

www.elevenconsignmentboutique.net

News Round-Up

Open For Business: Mavi Jeans [Here's Park Slope]

Dean Street to Close for Atlantic Yards Work on September 9 [Park Slope Stoop]

Dining Deals Spotlight: 2 Taco Tuesday at Camelia [South Slope News]

Planning a New Silicon Valley in the Heart of Brooklyn [Wired]

Tonight: Last Night of Dancing This Summer

Tonight:  Join Rolie Polie Guacamole (5:30 in front of the Old Stone House) and Tara O'Grady (7:00 at 4th Street and 5th Avenue) for one last blast of summer fun. Be there and bring your dancing shoes!

Shanah Tovah

- from the merchants of Fifth Avenue and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID.

This Thursday: Last Night of Dancing

The final night of Dancing Under the Stars is nearly here. This Thursday, September 5th, join Rolie Polie Guacamole (5:30 in front of the Old Stone House) and Tara O'Grady (7:00 at 4th Street and 5th Avenue) for one last blast of summer fun. Be there and bring your dancing shoes!

Watch the video, above, for a sample of Tara's toe-tapping tunes.

Interview: Cat Foley of Enz's Park Slope

We were sad to see Dr. Brendan' close on Fifth Avenue this past spring (lord knows we needed new batteries for our iPhones), but at the same time,  we were excited to see Enz's pop up in their 171 Fifth Avenue space so quickly. We thought we would take a few minutes to welcome them to Fifth Avenue. Below is an interview with co-owner Cat Foley:

1. Welcome to Fifth Avenue! Since you just opened, tell us a little about your store. 

Hi! Enz's is a rockabilly and pin up store. This is the newest location, but the store has been around since 1978. We sell mainly dresses, but we carry everything from baby rompers to burlesque outfits. 

2. How has it been going, so far? 

Very well, the neighborhood has been very welcoming and interested in what we are bringing to Park Slope.

3. What attracted you to open on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope? 

Besides being a shopping street, Park Slope is a very cool neighborhood. It's not overhyped... Yet. It has a small town feel too. 

4. Do you have any interesting events or regular happenings at your store that you would like to promote? 

Once we get going, we're going to be hosting private shopping events with pinup hair and makeup tutorials. 

5. We know you are new to the neighborhood, but do you have any favorite places to eat, drink or shop on Fifth? 

Ha! All our neighbors of course, Burger Bistro, Caramello, Brooklyn Crepe, Goorin Bros, and Guvnors. 

Happy Labor Day!

- from the merchants of Fifth Avenue and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID.

Enjoy your day!