Summer Job Ops in the Neighborhood

Brooklyn Academy of Music

If spring has sprung then can summer be far behind? Of course not, so if you are in need of a summer job, the time is now to start the search. And for many the search can start right here in our own backyard at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. BAM announced a large variety of job offerings on their Twitter page. Homeys can apply online for jobs which include building services associate, production supervisor and auxiliary technician.  Internships for the summer and fall are also available.

You might not need a job, but maybe your job does not quite cover your expenses? Well here are some money saving ideas, also local:

•    In Clinton Hill and Fort Greene we are blessed with lots of trendy and, even more important, cheap places to find that perfect something for that perfect mother for this coming Mother’s Day, which is right around the corner (May 12). Check out Dean Street and iCi French Country Kitchen for a great traditional Mother’s day meal for that special mom in your life.

•    Having some trouble with your personal debt? Letitia James, New York City council member announced on her Twitter page a meeting to discuss ways to “Clean Up Your Credit.” The meeting will take place at the Purvis J. Beham School at 419 Waverly Avenue on May 16.

•    Need a new set of shades? You are in luck then, because DC Optics has a $50 off sale on a new pair of transitional lenses.
Summer in the city- it doesn’t have to cost a fortune.

Success Academy Attracts Record Applicants

Kids Learning at Success Academy

New York City is now the home to 18 Success Academy Charter Schools, with six more being planned for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year, and one expected to open in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

This year 12,266 families from New York City applied for only 2,500 places in the 24 schools for this coming fall, making the chances of being accepted only one in five. The lucky 20 percent will be chosen based on a random admissions lottery, which was held last Friday. The winners will be notified by mail, and children who are not immediately accepted will be placed on a waiting list.

The Success Academy charter network was founded by former New York City Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz. According to Success the schools have consistently ranked among the city and state’s best performing public schools. Ninety-seven percent of their students met the math standards and 88 percent the reading standard on last year’s state-wide exams.

Over 40 percent of Harlem’s eligible kindergarteners applied for admission to a Success Academy school. On the Upper West Side the school was just as popular, with 2,560 applications for only 150 seats in grades K through 3: that is a rate of 17 to 1.

Here in Brooklyn it is just as hard to get into a Success Academy school. The Success Academy of Cobble Hill received 1,173 applications for 100 seats in grades K-2, after only opening last year.

Madison Square Club Launches Updated Nets Gymnasium

CEO of Barclays Center Brett Yormark

After two months of renovation, Fort Greene’s Madison Square Boys and Girls Club revealed a wholly updated gymnasium in the style of the Brooklyn Nets. The project was funded together by the Brooklyn Nets and Brett Yormark, CEO of Barclays Center.

Included in the new additions to the Clubhouse, situated in the Navy Yard, were a new scoreboard, custom-made bleachers, and new padding for the walls.

“Yormark was looking for a place to work with,” Shawonda Swain, unit director of the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club said. “They thought we were a good match.”

The gym now closely resembles the actual practice court that the Nets use at their arena. It has the team’s logos and black/white theme.

“Basketball has always been a big part of my life, so I’m delighted to dedicate this beautiful new gym to the kids of the Navy Yard Clubhouse at the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club,” Yormark said. “It’s particularly meaningful to me to reinvest in the young people of Brooklyn and provide them with a positive environment. I hope that when they see the ‘B’ in the Brooklyn Nets logo on the court, they will be inspired to play hard and be a great teammate, as our players do every night.”

The executive director of the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club, Joseph Patuleia said that the renovations will “prove instrumental in empowering the community’s most at-risk youth to live a healthy lifestyle through commitment to physical fitness, and will encourage teamwork and cooperative learning through activities that will occur in our state-of-the-art gymnasium.”

The renovations at the Club represent the first completed project of the Yormark Family Foundation.

Beer for Beasts Returns to Help Our Furry and Feathered Friends

Get ready for a fun festival all in the name of aiding animals: the third annual Beer for Beasts charity event combines some of Brooklyn’s best beers, food and entertainment so that The Humane Society of New York City can continue to give the much needed care to New York’s thousands of otherwise uncared-for animals.

This year the event will be held on Saturday, April 6, at the Bell House, 149 7th Avenue in Brooklyn. The Beer that will be served will include dozens of single-batch handcrafted brewskis made at Brooklyn’s famed Sixpoint Brewery in Red Hook. Many of the boutique beers are collaborations with friends of the brewery. More basic beers from Sixpoint will also be on hand at the event.

Host the event are BeerAdvocate with Sixpoint Brewery. Tickets have been on sale since March 1, and go for $65 per person. Each ticket allows the ticket owner to entrance to one of the two sessions; either 1pm to 5pm or 6pm to 10pm. Beer and food tastings are included in the price of the ticket. Entertainment will be enjoyed by ticket holders on a first come, first served basis.

“Beer for Beasts isn’t just another beer fest,” stated BeerAdvocate founder Todd Alström. “It’s a celebration of things we love and a fundraiser for those that show us unconditional love.”

Mil’s Trills Thrills

Amelia Robinson of Mil’s Trills

Although you missed the first show at the Central Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza, it is not too late to enjoy Mil’s Trills, the entertaining and original band created by Amelia Robinson in 2010.

The next time you can catch this family-friendly musical adventure is on March 6. At 3:30 pm Robinson will perform with a few of her 80 rotating musicians at The Rock Shop on Fourth Avenue between President and Carroll Streets. Amelia plays the electric ukulele and sings “original, quirky and whimsical songs.”

So what exactly is Mil’s Trills? To describe it briefly, it is a “series of live performances introducing grownups with young children to the world of instruments.” Robinson recommends her shows to an audience of babies until 4 years old, with their parents. Parents should bring blankets, shakers and other instruments, and be prepared to play along! Liz Shapiro, also known as ‘ONE-DER Woman” will be on hand to “spread compassion and unity with her lyrical superhero powers.”

The performance at the Rock Shop will be a suggested donation of $15 for each child accompanied by an adult. Additional siblings will set parents back another $5 per.

There are three more upcoming performances of Mil’s Trills in Brooklyn:

• Friday, March 8 at 4pm at the Playroom at Egg in DUMBO, 72 Jay Street. This performance will be a more intimate setting for friends and neighbors of a Mil’s Trills Early Childhood Music Lesson. The children will learn more about musical opposites, dynamics and rhythms through original songs and stories. This performance will cost $20 per child with parent and $5 each sibling.
• Saturday, March 9, at 11am at the Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Avenue in Williamsburg. Park Slope’s very own Rolie Polie Guacamole will also join in. Billed as a “feast of kindie music” tickets for this event are going for only $10 at the door, and $35 for a family of four.
• Sunday, March 10 is the last show in the series. Come to the Hip Tot Music Festival at Littlefield Art & Performance Space, 622 Degraw Street between Third and Fourth Avenues at 12pm. Mil’s Trills is the opener for alex & The Kaleidoscope Band. Tickets cost $8 in advance, $10 at the door for kids and $12 for adults.

Zarsha Leo Adds Glamor to Brooklyn

It makes perfect sense to add one of the latest trendy hot-spots to an area of Brooklyn that has been struggling to change its reputation, so here comes Zarsha Leo to help facilitate that change.

“I believe that Zarsha Leo will be very popular with the older singles crowd in Brooklyn,” ventured Evan Burschkopf, CEO of the trendy, popular bar/restaurant franchise.

Patrons in Brooklyn can expect some delicious restaurant offerings, ingenious mixed drinks never seen before, plus a large selection of beers, wine and standard drinks as well. Customers will be treated to their amazing plasma TVs showing the most up-to-the-minute sports broadcasts from all over the world, making this establishment one of the hottest sports-bar/restaurants around.

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Ideas

It’s Valentine’s Day again – but don’t sweat it if you’ve suddenly realized that you forgot to make plans. Here are some great local ideas that will keep you in sweet with your honey tonight!

1. Lola BKLYN: This is at 387 Myrtle Avenue. It’s a restaurant with a $40 prix-fixe meal that is available from 5-10:30 pm. After 10:30, the real fun begins at the bar.
2.  Chez Oskar: This is located at 211 DeKalb Avenue and it’s a charming French bistro that has a prix-fixe dinner from $50-$70. As an added twist, the restaurant is collaborating with St. Germain to create some special cocktails for this evening.
3. The Brooklyn Museum: Bring some elevated activity to your Valentine’s Day with a gallery visit. The Museum is currently featuring exhibits that include “Love Stinks,” “Art Undressed, “ and “Lovers Stories.” They are also having a chocolate tasting, wine and food in their café and music.
4. Hotel Belleclaire: For a bit more extravagance, you can go into the city tonight and enjoy this hotel, part of the Triumph Hotel collection owned by Shimmie Horn. Enjoy a night of luxury and breakfast for two tomorrow! The hotel is on 250 West 77^th Street and offers a great way to get away for a romantic night.