Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Lots going on today, on Fifth!

Halloween Parade: 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. The Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID is a proud sponsor!

Trick or Treats: Of course, Fifth Avenue’s stores, bars and restaurants are popular and SAFE places for children to Trick-or-Treat. Don’t forget to stop by the future home of The Oyster Bar (Fifth Avenue between Garfield and Carroll) to get some treats and meet the owners. Oh, and we just learned that Miss Brooklyn will be on hand to help give the treats out!

And, for adults who are free on Halloween:

Skylark (477 Fifth Avenue): Halloween Weekend Party, Candy, Nightly costume contests with bar tab prizes, $4 screw drivers, $5 dark+stormies, $6 hot cider with whiskey or rum, and $10 20oz cold Cider bottles. Free!

Camelia (499 Fifth Avenue): Halloween Party at Camelia, 7pm to 12am

$5 sangria, $5 margaritas and a DJ from 9pm to midnight, costume contest. First place walks away with a $75 gift certificate and 2nd place takes home a $50 gift certificate. Make your reservations by calling 718-499-0002. Free!

Freddy's Bar (627 Fifth Avenue): Freddy's Halloween Extravaganza 8pm

Costume contest, prizes and giveaways, bands begin playing at 8pm and don’t stop until the wee hours of the morning. Free!

The Gate (321 Fifth Avenue): Halloween/Day of the Dead Celebration

Come in costume for food and a special draught lineup inspired by and including ingredients from some of their favorite horror themes and specialty Mexican brewing recipes.

Union Hall (702 Union Street): Dionne Werewolf with Special Guests 9pm 

A full band of werewolves covering Dionne Warwick’s greatest hits.

Canvas (348 6th Street): First annual Halloween Party, 8pm - 12. Diablos Blood Sangria, Pumpkin Ale and Black Velvet Drink Specials, Costume Contest. Hosted by Brooklyn's own JPiz.

Bogota Latin Bistro (141 Fifth Avenue) : Offering a complimentary Mojito for anyone dining on Halloween Night in a costume! 

Interview: Welcome Canvas!

We hadn't had a chance, yet, to welcome Canvas (348 6th Street near Fifth Avenue) to the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID:

1. Welcome to Fifth Avenue! We are excited to have you! Since you just opened, tell us a little about Canvas.

Thank you, I am excited to be here! Canvas Wine Bar and Art Gallery has been a vision I've had for many years. The space, itself, is an artistic expression- from the many layers of paint on the walls, custom ceiling, over to the handmade bar in the center. I was able to bring together two of my passions, Art and great Food and Wine. Coming from a family of  Italian immigrants and being the first born American, I developed a great love for food and wine. At Canvas we offer Organic salads, mini paninis, appetizers, a delicious 5-cheese Frutta e Formaggio- and much more. I have put together a list of Wines from around the world, ranging from a Tuscan Rubio to a French Bourgogne. 

2. How has it been going, so far? 

It's been great ! Everyone has been very supportive of Canvas and business has been growing every day.

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

Well, being a Brooklyn native born and raised here, I couldn't have opened anywhere else in the world. I feel Fifth Avenue is the perfect spot, with the eclectic row of restaurants ranging from Chip Shop to Blue Ribbon, hopefully Canvas can add its own personality to the mix .

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

Yes, October 29th we will be supporting CHiPS and donating 15% of sales to this wonderful local charity that does great work helping feed and house single moms in need. On October 31st we will be hosting our first annual Halloween Party and on November 15th I will also be having an art show displaying some of my new work and live music. 

I'm also planning a mural in the near future, incorporating Canvas, Chip Shop, and Corner Burger Restaurants on 6th Street and 5th Ave. Stay tuned.

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

There are so many great spots to name on Fifth, but a few of my favorites are Chip Shop, D' Jour Bakery, and Backyard. Being a huge comic book fan my whole life, I can't forget to add Galaxy collectibles; one of my favorite store fronts on 5th ave!  

www.facebook.com/canvas.parkslope 

The Oyster Bar Celebrates Halloween

We received this message from gang at The Grand Central Oyster Bar, yesterday:

Happy Halloween, All! The Grand Central Oyster Bar Brooklyn will open in several weeks at 254 Fifth Avenue in Park Slope. But even though we have yet to open, we still want to celebrate Halloween with you. All of your goblins and ghouls, witches and warlocks, princesses and Super Heroes are invited to visit us for a special trick or treat session at the restaurant anytime between 2:30-5:00 pm on Thursday afternoon, October 31.  We even have a treat for the parents!
We hope to see many of you on Halloween, and of course we hope that you'll stop the restaurant after we open for business. 

You heard it here, first, Park Slope. Drop by The Oyster Bar on Halloween Night!

This Week's Adult Halloween Activities

Sure, Halloween is a holiday for kids (costumes, candy, awesome cartoon TV specials). But that doesn't mean that adults can't get in on the party, right?

Here are some of the fun ADULT Halloween activities taking place on Fifth this week. A big thanks to Park Slope Stoop and South Slope News for rounding a lot of this information up!

We'll update this post as we find out more!

Tuesday, October 29th

The Black Horse Pub (568 5th Avenue at 16th Street): Trivia Armageddon Halloween Costume Contest, 8pm to 9:30pm  $2

Wednesday, October 30th

Mezini (492 Fifth Avenue): Halloween at Mezini, Wednesday, October 30 and Thursday, October 31
Scary cocktails, prizes for the best costumes on both nights. Free!

Thursday, October 31st

Skylark (477 Fifth Avenue): Halloween Weekend Party, Candy, Nightly costume contests with bar tab prizes, $4 screw drivers, $5 dark+stormies, $6 hot cider with whiskey or rum, and $10 20oz cold Cider bottles. Free!

Camelia (499 Fifth Avenue): Halloween Party at Camelia, 7pm to 12am
$5 sangria, $5 margaritas and a DJ from 9pm to midnight, costume contest. First place walks away with a $75 gift certificate and 2nd place takes home a $50 gift certificate. Make your reservations by calling 718-499-0002. Free!

Freddy's Bar (627 Fifth Avenue): Freddy's Halloween Extravaganza 8pm
Costume contest, prizes and giveaways, bands begin playing at 8pm and don’t stop until the wee hours of the morning. Free!

The Gate (321 Fifth Avenue): Halloween/Day of the Dead Celebration
Come in costume for food and a special draught lineup inspired by and including ingredients from some of their favorite horror themes and specialty Mexican brewing recipes.

Union Hall (702 Union Street): Dionne Werewolf with Special Guests 9pm 
A full band of werewolves covering Dionne Warwick’s greatest hits.

Canvas (348 6th Street): First annual Halloween Party, 8pm - 12. Diablos Blood Sangria, Pumpkin Ale and Black Velvet Drink Specials, Costume Contest. Hosted by Brooklyn's own JPiz.

Bogota Latin Bistro (141 Fifth Avenue) : Offering a complimentary Mojito for anyone dining on Halloween Night in a costume! 

Saturday, November 2nd

The Monro Pub (481 Fifth Avenue): 2nd Annual Halloween Party 10pm 
They’ll be a costume contest at 2am, “scary drinks,” and prizes. Free!

Friday News Round-Up

Prospect Park Announces That Only Portions of Park Will Be Closed Friday [South Slope News]

Seasonal Bites: Pumpkin Pie Frozen Yogurt at Culture [Park Slope Stoop]

A Very Solid Taco at Fatty Daddy on Ninth Street [Here's Park Slope]

And, don't forget Vintage Vogue and Vinyl's Fall/Halloween Sale at Beauty Bar and, for the kids, the Haunted Halloween Carnival.

Have a great weekend!

President Obama Landing in Prospect Park Tomorrow

Warning:

According to Gothamist and Park Slope Stoop, President Obama will be landing in Prospect Park on Friday as a part of his visit to a Brooklyn school. Expect traffic, sudden road closures and maybe even a temporary full-park closure. Check out the articles, above, for more details, as they emerge.

Photo via Park Slope Stoop

Halloween Parade: Just 8 Days Away!

It's hard to believe that it has been almost two years since the last Park Slope Halloween Parade (as you will recall, Hurricane Sandy lead to the cancellation of the 2012 parade). We're getting excited and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue BID is really pleased to be a sponsor!

Here are some photos we took from 2011. Enjoy and get ready!

Happy Hat Back Day!

Our friends at Goorin Brothers (195 b Fifth Avenue) are starting a great, two-week program today that we thought you would be interested in.

Simply bring in your previously-owned Goorin Brothers hat and receive 15% off the purchase of a new one! The used hats will be donated to charity and you'll walk out of the store with a fresh, new lid!

The program runs through November 5th. Take advantage of it before it's too late!

Interview: Acme Wines and Spirits

Acme Wines and Spirits opened just a few short months ago and have been generating a lot of buzz in the south side of Fifth Avenue. We thought we would take a few moments to welcome them to the avenue and to see how things are going:

1. Welcome to Fifth Avenue! We are excited to have you! Since you just opened, tell us a little about your store. Our primary focus at Acme Wines and Spirits is on smaller production wines and artisanal spirits, but with an emphasis on finding good values.  We know that if you work with the right importers and distributors, it is totally possible to find interesting wines at prices for every day drinking.  75% of all our wines are priced under $20 and we have an entire section devoted to wines at $13 and under.

2. How has it been going, so far? The community has been super receptive.  The neighborhood was super thirsty, if you will, for a store like ours.  We've tried to find something for everyone and we are excited to introduce our customers to new things.

3. What attracted you to open on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope? I am a resident of Park Slope and live just a couple blocks from the store and I walk these blocks every day.  You can see that Fifth, south of 9th Street, is changing pretty quickly and we needed to be part of that change.

4. Do you have any interesting events or regular happenings at your store that you would like to promote? Absolutely.  We do tastings once a week, generally on Friday evenings or Saturday afternoons.  The tastings are posted on our website, www.acmewinesandspirits.com and anyone who would like to be on the email list to hear about our events can contact us at donald@acmewinesandspirits.com.

5. We know you are new to the neighborhood, but do you have any favorite places to eat, drink or shop on Fifth? There is so much that is exciting on Fifth Avenue now, it's hard to narrow it down.  We love what have become institutions on Fifth, like Stone Park and Al di La, but we also think there are some great things happening down this end - like cocktails at Skylark or Monro, amazing Mexican at Nuevo Mexico, super fun Side Car and Prospect, and a late night sausage and beer snack at Der Kommissar.

Photo via South Slope News

News Round-Up

Ghost Signage Uncovered on Fifth Avenue [Here's Park Slope ]

Now Closed: Jackie's Fifth Amendment [Park Slope Stoop]

Four Local Favorites Take Home Village Voice Best-Of Awards [South Slope News

Going up! Park Slope historic district could get bigger — and much taller [Brooklyn Paper]

Also, don't forget about the Fall Civic Sweep and Gowanus Open Studios events this weekend!

Gowanus Open Studios 2013

For one weekend every year, artists in Gowanus open their studios to the public and share their amazing works with their neighbors. This year, that special weekend starts this Friday, October 18th. 

Gowanus Open Studios 2013 will feature events and include works from over 200 artists in studios throughout the neighborhood, including our own Ground Floor Gallery!

Check it out!

Prepare for the Zombie Apocalypse!

Let's face it, the Zombie Apocalypse is GOING to happen some day. We all know it. Just watch television, read books and go online. All the evidence is there. So, why not be prepared?

Our good friends at Park Slope Academy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can give you the skills you need to survive. Just drop by their Fifth Avenue location (between 13th and 14th Street) on Wednesday, October 30th from 7 pm till 8:30 pm and learn to deflect the hungry swarms of brain-eaters like a boss.

We'll see you there!

Vintage Vogue and Vinyl's Fall/Halloween Sale

On Saturday, October 26th, drop by Beauty Bar (249 Fifth Avenue) between 2 and 6pm for the Vintage Vogue and Vinyl’s Fall/Halloween Sale. Get yourself a costume,  listen to some head-nodding beats, grab a cocktail and upgrade your hair and nails all in one spot !

- Out of My Mind Vintage will be rolling out a huge Fall and Winter collection that includes denim, suede, leather and plaid from the likes of Levis, Wrangler, Levin and Gitano (pieces between $5-75), plus tons of accessories.

-Stylist Zulieka Acosta will be ready to transform your hair into this season’s hottest trends. Going to a Halloween party that night? Come dressed in your costume and  Lady Z will work her magic to finish off your look!

- Gregorious will be spinning tunes and will have crates of his well-curated collection of LPs and 45s.

-Nail expert Mollie Miller will have a wide selection of colors and designs to choose from, whether you are preparing for Halloween or a night out on the town. Designs start at $15.

-Beauty Bar's staff will be on hand with happy hour specials and seasonal cocktails like a Maple Old Fashioned or a Winter Julep for $6.

 Entrance to the event is free.

Columbus Day

Today is Columbus Day! With public schools closed, no postal delivery and many city services on weekend/holiday schedule, today is the perfect day to come on down to Fifth Avenue and explore our stores, bars and restaurants!

 See you there!

News Round-Up

Soup, Hot Chocolate and A Gluten-Free Cafe Move Into Seasonal Park Slope Spots [Park Slope Stoop]

One Month After Renovation Sign Appears La Dolce Still Closed [South Slope News]

Open For Business: Teddy 2.0, 202 5th Avenue [Here's Park Slope]

Brooklyn Home Prices Set 10-Year Record [Brownstoner]

Photo (above): the gang from Backyard cooking up some eats at the Park Slope Civic Council's Food for Thought event this week. For more photos of Fifth Avenue restaurants cooking at Food for Thought for a good cause, click here.

Fall Civic Sweep 2013

The leaves are finally starting to fall off of the trees and the weather is turning cooler, which means it must be time to give Park Slope a little fall sprucing-up before the holiday season.

Next Saturday, October 19th, come down to the sidewalk in front of the Old Stone House/JJ Byrne Playground (5th Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets) between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm (rain or shine) and join the Park Slope Civic Council's Civic Sweep event!

Volunteers will be weeding and mulching street trees, picking up litter, painting over graffiti on lamp posts and more! Also,  bring your unwanted electronics (TVs, computers, and home entertainment equipment) for recycling by the Lower East Side Ecology Center.  There will also be free daffodil bulbs for planting in public areas. Refreshments, tools and supplies will be provided.

Come on down and make a difference for Fifth Avenue and Park Slope. See you there!

The Good Night: October 29th

Our friends at CHiPS (Park Slope Christian Help) have been in the business of helping those in-need for more than 40 years. On October 29th, Park Slope will have a chance to give back to CHiPS by participating in their "The Good Night" event. Just dine out at one of the participating restaurants and 15% of your dinner checks will be donated to CHiPS! It's that simple!

To learn more about the event and CHiPS and to view the list of participating restaurants (including Fifth Avenue's Bogota Latin Bistro and Juventino) click here.

Lindsey Pavao at Freddy's

It's no secret that Freddy's has some of the best live music in the neighborhood. This Saturday, October 12th at 7:00 pm, they have a real treat in store for Park Slope: Lindsey Pavao, a contestant from Season 2 of NBC’s The Voice will make a stop on her full-band tour!

Lindsey has quite an amazing voice, as you can see from this clip from The Voice. Don't miss her performance!

This Week: Food For Thought

Just a reminder that this Wednesday, October 9th, the Park Slope Civic Council will be hosting
Food For Thought at the Prospect Park Picnic House. The event, which will raise funds for the Civic Council's scholarship program, will run from 6:30 - 9:00 pm and will feature delicious food from restaurants around the neighborhood, including Fifth Avenue's Al Di La, Backyard, Stone Park Cafe and Trois Pommes.

Buy your tickets today and make a difference for Park Slope!

News Round-Up

Construction Fence Goes Up At Oyster Bar, Executive Chef Named [Park Slope Stoop]

South Slope Events Spotlight: October 3-6 [South Slope News]

GoogaRiddance! Grass-gouging music fest no longer welcome in P’Park, park officials say [Brooklyn Paper]

And don't forget next week's Food For Thought fundraising event for the Park Slope Civic Council!

October Is OOT Appreciation Month!

Since 2005, our friends at Opera on Tap have held events during the month of October to raise awareness about their programs and to raise funds for their Chapters across the country.  New York City (the founding chapter), is celebrating with a Ladies Night performance at Barbes on Friday night (8 PM) and a fundraiser at a private home (488 10th Street). The $50 Admission at the house party buys you food prepared by Chef Maria Cabezas, drinks and entertainment and lots of Opera on Tap appreciation!

If you can't make the performances, please consider supporting this amazing local institution online.

Happy Ootober, everyone!

Dhaga Salon Cut-A-Thon

Save the Date! 

On Tuesday, October 22nd from 10 am till 8 pm, our friends at Dhaga Salon will be partnering with Sexy Hair in a nationwide cut-a-thon to raise money for Look Good Feel Better, a nonprofit organization that helps more than 50,000 women each year who are undergoing cancer treatments cope with the devastating appearance-related side effects. 

Dhaga Salon has been on Fifth Avenue for over four years and this is their first big charity event. Come on out and support this amazing effort!

Primary Day (Again)

Today is Primary Run-Off Day, as Public Advocate candidates Tish James and Daniel Squadron square off one last time. As you can probably guess, turn-out is likely to be light today. However, the good news is that your vote is more impactful in a low-turnout election.

So, get out there and vote, Park Slope! Make a difference!