Secret Agents

I finally had my 'family visit' at Little Joe's school. The 'family visit' is where you either invite all 18 pre-schoolers into your home and share a bit of your day to day life with them, or you take a taste of your life into their school. Not having the nerves, patience or stamina to do the former, I did the latter. As part of my personal artwork is dressing up and photographing myself as other people, I decided to bring in a bunch of props and turn my son's classmates into 'secret agents' - photograph them in the disguise of their choosing and then make them 'secret agent' badges with their pictures inside. By far, the pop out googly eyes were the most popular. It was kinda crazy but mostly fun. Pictured above are some of my faves.

Gospel Extravaganza

When Big Joe and I first happened upon this massive three story ad we were stunned. Who are these guys? Are they for real? Is this seriously advertising a church? What does that huge diamond have to do with God? Or Wal-mart for that matter? Or is all that bling just there to reel the youth into church? One thing's for sure, I needed to know more.

According to James Hall's website:

The youngest of seven children, Hall- who can play piano by ear-was born and raised in Brooklyn, the son of a jazz musician. Seeing his keen musical talent and striking soprano range, his mother, a trained pianist, enrolled him in classical training and at the age of five, put him up to sing solos in church, where he was as "Master James Hall".

So strong was attraction that as a young boy he would beg his mother to take him to church choir anniversaries and while browsing through record stores, would affix his eyes to anything with a choir on it and ask her to buy it for him. He became hopelessly hooked when-at the age of nine-his mother took him to see the Hawkins Family and James Cleveland in concert.

And then I saw this fantastic video on youtube of James Hall Worship and Praise on 'Superfest 07', which, unfortunately I'm not able to embed into this blog, but you've got to see it for yourself. If only for the outfits. Here's another video of them live at Lincoln Center that's not quite as flashy but still quite fab:



All of which just makes it clear I'd been going to the wrong sort of church all those years when I was growing up. Incense and stoic latin intoning priests simply don't hold a candle to this. And yes, the Citadel of Praise and Worship is a real church, currently in a temporary space at 1313 Bedford on the corner of Atlantic.

Eating Better and Locally With CSAs

I love to eat. I love to cook. But finding decent affordable groceries is a constant challenge. We belong to the Park Slope Food Coop, which despite its shortcomings is a godsend. Only it's a distant godsend. For most of my time in New York, I chose my subsequent apartments based on whether they were in walking distance of the co-op. When I met Big Joe, he'd already bought a place in Bed-Stuy so this became my home. And I'm happy here. Except when it comes to buying groceries.

Big Joe, an avid cyclist, instilled in me a passion for biking within a year of us dating. I biked to and from work in Tribeca from my previous home in Prospect Heights. I even biked in a Critical Mass ride when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant. But then I had Little Joe and my fear of biking in the city returned twofold. My son just seems so vulnerable in that bike seat, and there are so many bad drivers out there. I'm fine when the three of us bike together but on a bike on my own with my son I feel like we bull's eyes painted on our backs. It's a 35 minute bike ride to the co-op and we purchased an Xtracycle last year expressly for the purpose of me being able to bike to the co-op with my kid and get a full load of groceries. I have yet to ride it.

So then there's option B - take the subway. However there's only so many groceries one can carry via the subway. Which means many more trips. Besides, the subway mostly links Brooklyn to Manhattan, instead of enabling Brooklynites to travel around their own borough, and the bus is too damn slow and unreliable. By subway the commute is an hour each way - longer on weekends. And a car service is out of the question, budget wise.

For my family's health and the health of the planet, I believe in eating locally and organically. Food Dimensions, our local grocery store, despite having more and more organic options, is limited. And expensive. So when I can't make it to the co-op, I end up going to a combination of Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Mr. Kiwi's to get our weekly groceries, which is both costly and time consuming.

A couple of years ago we joined a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Williamsburg but found that having to pick up our weekly share over there just as frustrating. Plus the weeks that we missed because we were out of town meant we ending up losing money.

Today I got an email about "My Farm Share" which delivers a box of CSA veggies right to your door. For $30/week you get a box of organic locally grown (Westchester, NY) vegetables that according to their website, should feed 1-2 adults or a family of four with small children (although I don't understand how a family of four equals the appetite of one adult). Fruit and eggs cost extra. It's $600 up front for just veggies. At any rate, it sounds wonderful.

For a more inexpensive option, try the Bed-Stuy CSA. They don't deliver, but you can pick up your box of veggies from the Magnolia Tree Earth Center at 677 Lafayette Ave between Marcy and Tompkins. Apparently they are hoping to have a second pick-up location on the Eastern end of Bed-Stuy for this year. Share cost is based on household income ($550 up front for veggies only, for those who make $25,000 and up), plus they offer half shares and have a payment plan for those on food stamps. And they make a point of supporting local farmers of colour. Strangely, for reasons I don't understand, they have two websites. So you can also find a variation of their info here.

Both CSAs start in Mid-June for 20-22 weeks. Sign up now!

For another local option there's the Kalabash Food Co-op which is run out of the 123 Community Space at 123 Tompkins Ave. (between Vernon and Myrtle.) They are only open Saturdays from 9:30am-6pm. Apparently, unlike the PS Food Co-op, non-members may shop there too. I have no idea what their prices are like. However, they are currently accepting new members. Contact kalabashfood[at]yahoo.com for more information.

Message of the Day - LOVE

LOVE NEVER FAILETH

Whatever Gets You thru the Night

I like the stark simplicity of this cross, even though it looks like someone could actually be crucified upon it.

I Heart Allah. Say it loud, say it proud.

This wonderful rusty sign adorning this facade looks like it could double as a saloon in a western.

A.A members believe in a higher power, whatever or whoever that may be. This lovely handmade sign makes me think of a preschool - it has that same welcoming homey quality.

While this person hasn't quite decided yet. Hey wait, that's my house.

Animal Art

The best murals of sweet innocent animals are on the facades of the buildings where they're killed. Blood runs in trails along the pavement and the smell of rotting flesh fills the air. Now that's Art.

Lost Dog: Crusher the Chihuahua

Posted on the corner of Broadway and Myrtle. Keep your eyes peeled for a teeny dog with a killer name.

Local of the Month: Andy "sweatbox" L.

are you hungry for a new experience

So I just happened upon this fellow Bed-Stuyer's reviews on Yelp.com. Andy L. appears to be a Bed-Stuy native, and he actually eats, drinks, and parties at the restaurants, bars, and clubs I photograph and wonder about. He talks about the dry cleaner who almost ruined his sister's wedding, his favourite auto mechanic for when the wind blew the door off his truck, the woman at his favourite pizza place who always says 'no problem, baby' when he calls to order a 'pie' , and a short and sweet review of Home Depot, "Fuck Home Depot."

I can show what places look like on the outside, but Andy can open the door and take you inside. Brilliant, funny reviews from someone who knows. Check his list of the 20 places of note in Bed-Stuy here. Then check out his other 80 reviews of Bed-Stuy places and beyond. I love this guy.

Doodles at Large

I love these images that look like the kind of thing you might find scribbled on the cover of a phone book in a public phone booth (back in the day when people used phone books and public phones). But here they are on a much bigger scale and the last two in a more permanent medium.

To Tree or Not To Tree

STOP
DO NOT DO ANY WORK HERE BEFORE YOU SEE THE OWNER AT _____.
NO TREE IS TO BE PLANTED HERE AS PER COMMUNITY BOARD NO.3.

We Bed-Stuyers feel very strongly about our trees. Some are adamantly against the pesky things, like the person above, who's probably concerned about the roots affecting their plumbing. Which does sometimes happen. But the fact that they feel the need to put up this sign with the wire netting, means that someone on their block is just as determined to plant one there.

This tree looks like it has a nasty case of ingrown cement blocks. Which, despite the owner's efforts to dress it up with the surrounding red and grey bricks, remains an unwieldy eyesore.

And this creative tree owner, seems to be defending it against doggie defecators and urinators, and locking their chrome fence to the tree itself. Although I wonder if this fence does its job. For it can easily be peed through. But I commend them for their efforts and such pretty ones too.

Dog urine, contrary to our neighbour's belief, is NOT good for growing trees. And he just laughs as he takes his dog out to water our tree with a golden shower, while I look on in horror. Although creative people ourselves, we have yet to construct a doggie deterrent for our young sapling, plus I live in fear that a car will simply mow it down one day. Last spring I planted daffodils around the base of our tree which were regularly plucked by passing strangers as soon as they bloomed. This year they've attempted to come back but their budding shoots have gotten trampled by people or dogs perhaps both, and they are now most definitely dead.

But I'm no good with constructing fences - unless I made one out of cardboard and string which would do no good whatsoever. And Big Joe is already overstressed with work and a hundred and one other projects. After Big Joe went around our block advocating for trees, our pit bull owner neighbour, requested a tree from the city as did two other neighbours to the right of us. That was four years ago. And still no trees. I think the daffodil plucking just shows how desperately we and our neighbours yearn for flowers and greenery.

Handyman!

This is the best ad copy ever. I wish everyone could say this about their work - super friendly, super neat, knows what he's doing. Says it all. We don't even need a handyman, but I want to hire this guy just based on his great sign.
Don't you?

Postcard from New Mexico 2009

Typical New Mexican spring weather, changing from heavy snow and hailstorms to warm glorious sunshine within a fifteen minute timespan.

We've returned from our trip, saturated with open skies and clean air, stuffed with green chiles, and a trifle jet-lagged, with Little Joe thoroughly and happily spoiled by his grandparents (he now has enough store-bought and Grandpa Joe-made toys to last him until he starts high school). Regular Bed-Stuy Banana programming returns Monday (maybe even tomorrow depending on my energy).

Bed-Stuy Architectural Digest - 11 - Doors

I like the combination of the bars on the door and the "No Loitering!" sign below.

I know, I know, this is a gate, not a door. But check out the pattern that someone painstakingly cut out of the metal.

This gorgeous door adorns the Elim Church.

I'm always fascinated by brownstones where the stoop has been removed but the doorway remains, leaving that exit looking rather precarious.

It's Not Trinidad, But We Like It

We are heading on to New Mexico for our annual visit to Grandma Joe and Grandpa Joe. Bed-Stuy Banana will be published on a reduced holiday schedule. Regular posting to resume in roughly two weeks. Happy Spring!

Bed-Stuy Architectural Digest - 10 - Windows

Love these old tin awnings over the second floor windows.

This place with its wrecked blinds looks haunted.

I'm partial to the green tile and brick decoration as well as the stacked thick square glass - I know this type of window glass has a name but I can't remember what it is. Anyone?

Unusual stained glass windows at the Shiloh Baptist Church.

Not only does this building have interesting windows but architectural blinds to match.

Easter Tree and Hats

This afternoon, a well meaning group of men and women came to our house to give us, "a personal invitation to the anniversary of the death of our saviour." It took me a minute to figure out what they were talking about.

But then again, I'd rather focus on the easter hat and easter egg part of this upcoming holiday. Oh yes, and let's not forget the chocolate. In fact, let's just focus on the chocolate.

Second Annual Safe Neighborhood Summit

Audre Lorde, a self described "a black-lesbian feminist mother lover poet."

Darlinda Just Darlinda notified me about this upcoming event taking place at Bed-Stuy's Restoration Plaza. From the Audre Lorde Project:

When: Saturday, April 25, 2009 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Where: Restoration Plaza
1368 Fulton St, Between Brooklyn & New York Aves
A to Nostrand, C to Kingston-Throop, B44, B43, B25

The Safe OUTside the System Collective of the Audre Lorde Project is proud to host the Second Annual Safe Neighborhood Summit, the most significant annual event for the S.O.S. Collective's Safe Neighborhood Campaign, which works directly with the local community to prevent and intervene in anti-LGBTSTGNC violence without relying on the police. Last year's Safe Neighborhood Summit inspired and educate over 80 Central Brooklyn Community members on how to prevent and intervene in violence with free workshops, performances, and speakers. We hope to continue the tradition this year.

On April 25th, 2009 the Safe OUTside the System Collective, the anti-violence initiative of the Audre Lorde Project, will be hosting a Safe Neighborhood Summit to highlight and expand the measurable gains the Safe Neighborhood Campaign has achieved since its inception last year. Since 2005 the S.O.S. Collective has developed strategies to reduce violence against our community members without relying on law enforcement. Recognizing our own experiences of police brutality and the experiences of our family members and allies, we use community-based alternatives to law enforcement to prevent and intervene in violence. We created the Safe Neighborhood Campaign to address an increasing amount of harassment and violence that our community members are facing. Though we're always seeking new Safe Spaces, we're very proud of the organizations, businesses, faith based institutions, and schools who have designated their institutions as Safe Spaces, which pledge to intervene in and prevent anti-LGBTSTGNC harassment or violence on their premises. Some Safe Spaces have also agreed to be Safe Havens that provide sanctuary to community members escaping violence. Each of the current Safe Spaces and Safe Havens is one measurable step nearer to the achievable dream of a violence-free community, and we are very grateful for their participation.

The summit, our effort to showcase and expand the Safe Neighborhood Campaign, will include speakers, workshops on preventing violence and challenging police violence, and community strategy sessions. This summit will be a place where community leaders will gather to take a stand against violence against LGBTSTGNC (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two-Spirit, Trans, and Gender Non-Conforming) People of Color, with LGBTSTGNC community members. We invite you to join in remembering all who have survived and those we've lost to violence in our communities, and strategize on how to prevent future violence. After the summit, we will continue to work collaboratively with the Safe Spaces on how to prevent and intervene in anti-LGBTSTGNC violence without relying on law enforcement.

To register, go to their website.