Leaf Collection at the E. 4th Street Community Garden

Some call leaves "tree litter." You can too if you like! I suppose they could also be called soil if your clock is a fast one and you're thinking a few years ahead. If you are of that disposition then you might like to know that the E. 4th St. is encouraging you to bring your rakings over to their NYC leaf initiative heap. Information below. The E. 4th St. garden is East of Ft. Hamilton Parkway in Kensington.

East 4th street community garden is a designated drop off point for leaf recycling as part the the NYC leaves initiative. We invite you to bring us your bagged leaves during the dates and times posted below. Please use clear plastic or brown paper bags. No branches, twigs or trash.

Sunday 11/14: 12pm-2pm

Saturday 11/20: 11am-1pm
Sunday 11/21: 12pm-2pm

Saturday 11/27: 11am-1pm
Sunday 11/28: 12pm-2pm

Around Kensington

A few practical matters: A lot has been going on around Kensington; jazz concerts in the E. 4th St. garden, a new wing of Jaya Yoga recently opened, and more is to come soon. In particular I'm looking forward to the Sean Casey Halloween Party on Oct 31 from 12 - 5, and the Kensington World's Fair, this Sunday Oct. 24 from 11-4 featuring live music, dance and food from around the world.

marks the spot

Heard before seen. The crow found itself a fairly pristine perch atop the finial of The Immaculate Heart of Mary's steeple. This crow's mate, stationed on the rim of a large black satellite dish across E. 4th, seemed to watch in awe. Why it didn't join the other up there on the cross I couldn't say. Perhaps it was crow politics, or maybe the dish crow was too maculate for the position, although beyond a doubt is was not as spotty as a starling.

I was glad to learn that crows are gaining numbers these days, having recovered from the West Nile Virus. A few years ago I was wondering why I never saw any here.

blooms already!

Took a walk over towards Kensington last weekend to visit the critters at the Hamilton Doghouse. We walked two dogs named Owen and Abe while my kids bickered over who would hold the leash. On the way back we walked the path that goes along the Expressway and found two trees spangled with a few small pink flowers, the still hunkered in buds, in their alternate/alternate arrangement, looking much like a rambling embroidery stitch my grandmother Mary K would know the name of.

My mother, visiting from out of town, admired the backs of the houses, she thought it must be nice to have so much sun coming through the windows. But on the other hand, there's the non-stop roar of the expressway.

Country in the City

It may not look like much to some, but The Kensington Stable on E. 8th and Caton Avenue adds immeasurable value to this part of Brooklyn. It adds horses. There was another stable across the street before this construction site, which I understand earned a stop work order, replaced it. Info on preserving the stable available here.

Hair Fashions by Lin

How much longer will this salon on MacDonald Ave look like this? It's annoying not to see the complete sign, the palette painted on the left is covered by the realtor's ad. Do people really want perfect computer generated lettering when the fallibility of the human hand can create something as beautiful as this? I guess it comes down to how much time people have to spend creating something, which isn't much when the cost of living is so high. And that's one reason why things made today look, um, like they do.

Slot Car Sign Long Gone