A new CG lamp repair shop and a popular park's stinky bathrooms spans generations

Hey neighbors, 

Happy Saturday!  A wee late today, as there is so much to write & share.

Some of you may have seen me on Tueday, the third time working at my neighborhood poll site. 

My original plan was to work one election, in part, because I was curious about election security, which was dominating coverage at the time I signed up.  Why not get a nominal paycheck to experience a sliver of the process? 

The other reason, don’t laugh, is that I’m chronically disappointed with my voting experience. I’m an enthusiastic voter, who never misses an election; however, the experience never meets my expectations. 

Instead of dull, I want to feel giddy, and not just when there is a monumental election.

Think marching bands or a DJ welcoming me outside my polling site, acrobats, children with fresh homemade cookies for sale along with red, white, and blue balloons attached to “vote here” signs, welcoming voters, and celebrating our right to vote. 

While I’m still working on my fantasy election day, I’ve come to look forward to my two days a year when I participate in the process. I reunite with more or less the same group of election workers.  Like old friends of vastly different ages, from different neighborhoods or from down the street, and different life experiences and reasons for showing up to work a 17-hour day. Some it’s patriotism, some it’s financial, some because there was a time when they did not have the right to vote (in the U.S and outside). 

I also meet new neighbors and maybe, get a story idea or two.

Post #42: Lamp shop opens; summer reading list; tasty Cremini’s gets an award; RHFC off to play in the championship today; Brad Lander’s win; those stinky bathrooms at Carroll Park; watch fireworks on nearby boat and other 4th activities; COGE is coming to Brooklyn—join me! W. VA comes to Court St. and some fantastic articles in OTHER BK NEWS

Five Acre Farms is hiring! 10-30 hours per week. Perfect for someone looking to re-enter the workforce. General business admin., operations and marketing. Hybrid. [email protected]

You’ve probably seen Five Acres Farms milk and buttermilk in neighborhood stores. They are a Brooklyn based company committed to keeping farmers farming, and bringing the best local food to more people.

Another job opportunity for PortSide NY: If you can you design two large signs that cover Red Hook history, some interpretation of ships seen from shore, safety info about eating the fish you catch and preparing for floods, please send an email.

I got a tip from two Carroll Gardens’ readers about the Lamp Doctor, a new lamp repair and restoration shop at 135A Huntington St. where Almost Ready Records used to be. 

The shop also sells vintage and antique lamps, all with new wiring, as well as new lampshades, which they will happily help you pick out based on your lamp’s size and style. 

Earlier in the week, I met the owner Carol Romeo, who first opened Lamp Doctor on Coney Island Ave with her late husband 55 years ago. “We hired wedding dressmakers from Bari, Italy, who made beautiful lampshades,” when they first opened.

Carol decided to relocate to Carroll Gardens, when her Midwood landlord sold her building. She said the neighborhood is a good fit, as its a popular area for restoring original fixtures in old building. She also plans to move here in the fall. 

“I started coming here to eat when Frankie’s first opened, and when other new restaurants opened,” she said. “Then I started to come with girlfriends to shop.” 

The Lamp Doctor also helped restore the original lighting at the Harlem Armory, the home of the first Black Regiment of the National Guard, among other large projects.

I often include the month’s top-selling books from Liz’s Book Bar and Books Are Magic. This week, I’m linking to the Not-Ship newsletter by a buddy of mine and data visualization journalist, who collected 49, 2026 summer book recommendations from various publications to see what they reveal. 

Ann Pachette’s new book Whistler, #2 on Book’s are Magic’s June list and #1 on Liz’s Book Bar, is a consistent winner across the 49 summer reading lists, but the rest of Amanda’s discoveries will surprise you.

Cremini’s of Carroll Gardens awarded Snail of Approval by Slow Food: 

Check out Court Street Journal’s article about the restaurant from earlier this year.

A little late to the party…Luke Fortney of the NYT is back with another local recommendation - Smith Street’s The Wingbar, a favorite to watch the World Cup. Interesting FUN FACT, nonetheless:

Nice segue…

Last Saturday, the Red Hook FC, our hometown soccer team, won its playoff game against Osner FC. Tons of supporters showed up, some from as far as Williamsburg and Manhattan, to cheer them on, enjoy free hot dogs and Strong Rope RHFC-branded beer! 

Tonight at 8:30 PM, they take on Renegades FC for the championship game. To watch in person: SUSA Sports Complex - #1 in Central Islip.  Or watch online solo or with other supporters at the BK Football Museum, 351 Van Brunt St.

Sacha Weiss, founder of RHFC, reminded me what a big deal today’s game is for the team (and Brooklyn!), as this is the first time they’ve qualified for the championships. “Winning this game means we are American North Champions,” and the chance to compete in the next Round of 32 (more info here).  

If you want to support the team, check out their cool merch.

Lots of online complaints this week from all sorts and ages about the bathrooms at Carroll Park. Who knew this problem spans generations? I certainly remember avoiding them unless my kiddos were about to pee in their pants (or worse).

If our neighbors can succeed in getting new crosswalks and traffic lights, and get the city to open a new Pre-K school, I’d know we can get clean bathrooms for one of the most popular parks in our community. 

I asked Mike Racioppo, our district manager at CB6, what residents can do. 

I will add: call our CM Shanhana Hanif:  Phone: (718) 499-1090 / [email protected]

You can also try: The Friends of Carroll Park. 

If you wanna go BIG with your bathroom complaint, keep reading for another idea.

Yes, the Mayor announced the formation of COGE, a Commission on Government Efficiency a few months ago with a goal of making NYC bureaucracy work better for residents by “modernizing city government, improving service delivery and strengthening accountability.”  Amen. 

COGE is coming to Brooklyn THIS TUESDAY where you can testify in-person or virtually about how to make the city work better for you and our neighborhoods. 

Never mind that the name comes from DOGE, an awful choice Mr. Mayor for obvious reasons. But in case you need reminding: hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs, retirement accounts, and future job prospects at the whim of a trillionaire, quasi-government employee with no public accountability for his actions.

Not to worry says Mamdani. “Ours is going to be a focus on actually delivering efficiency, not as a byword for cutting services.” More from Mamdani about the name choice.

I digress, back to the hearings. 

Join Ward 6 at Tueday’s hearing (somehow I missed the first Brooklyn hearing), which is called PUBLIC SPACES, but you are allowed to testify about anything related to city government (DOT: bike lanes, EDC’s handling of the BMT redevelopment “vision plan,” dirty public bathrooms, etc…).  The website also says “experts” will speak, but with no information. 

In case you missed it, Brad Lander won by a “landslide (Axios) .” The polls got it right. This time. 

Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, and the Columbia St. Waterfront, Ward 6’s coverage area, voted overwhelmingly for Lander. The only exceptions are part of Red Hook along the waterfront and a district that includes Red Hook East and West, two massive NYCHA complexes, according to CB6’s election map.

However, if you look at the actual number of people who voted for Goldman or Lander in those areas of Red Hook, it’s not a lot. For example, in two of the three districts (51-38 and 51-37), Goldman won by 10 votes out of a combined total of 64 votes. In other words, Goldman won in each district by 5 more votes over Lander. 

Here is Goldman’s concession speech, and a message from Lander:

Congratulations Assembly Member Jo Ann Simon on another HUGE win! And thank you for stopping by my poll site to say “hi” to us workers (she always does this, BTW, not only when she has an election).

Celebrate the Fourth of July fireworks from the Mary A. Whalen docked in Red Hook or watch Sail250 at various places on our waterfront, featuring the largest fleet of tall ships on parade from around the globe.

See Mark Your Calendar for more information from PortSide NewYork about more festivities on July 3rd and 4th.

If you’d rather celebrate our country by volunteering, New York Cares is looking for people to help out on the Fourth of July.

If this is your jam, you never have to leave home: the 10-story, 255 aparments building Majestic complex in Gowanus: “Amenities will include a coworking lounge, private dining room, game room, golf simulator, pet spa, indoor-outdoor fitness center, children’s playroom, package storage facilities, bicycle parking, and a 45-car parking garage. There will also be a landscaped interior courtyard garden, and rooftop terrace equipped with grilling stations, dining areas, and lounge seating.”

Perhaps, a good solution to our ever-expanding, often crowded neighborhoods! 

Go check out “Five Days in West Virginia,” by photographer, David Jacobs and founder of Plant486 gallery in Carroll Gardens. The exhibit,“a portrait of a place-and some of its people–taken over five days in late March,” includes 40 photographs. 

Join David Jacods and actress/podcast host Ilana Levine for a talk about the exhibit, Tuesday, at 7:00 PM, 486 Court St.

The Son I never knew I had (GQ) by Carroll Gardens’ journalist, Mark Healy.

To Build A Global Basketball Empire, Carmelo Anthony went back to Brooklyn (BK Mag.)

Most High Schools No longer need Regents to graduate (Chalkbeat)

Council Member Alexis Aviles calls for a 2-year AI moratorium in NYC schools along with 28 other councilmembers. Majority of City Council Members Urge Mamdani to Pause AI in Schools (NYT)

Erudito Dispensary Brings Silly Nice to Brooklyn’s Col. St. Waterfront (Stupid Dope)

Today! The Red Hook Pool opening day is delayed because a pipe burst on Thursday, as reported by the Red Hook Star-Revue. This is the same issue that kept the pool closed until August last summer. 

Tomorrow, June 28, 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM, Cobble Hill Health Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary at Court St. Bagels. Free coffee!

Tomorrow, June 28th 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM | Yacht Rock Choir, Brooklyn’s Soft Rock and Smooth Soul Community Choir | Gowanus Dredgers, 165 2nd St.

Thursday, July 2, Opening night! Movies with A View: Hamilton @ BBP | Free

Friday July 4, 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM, Class A+B ships up the Hudson, VZ bridge to GW bridge

Thanks for reading! JLH