Hey Neighbors -
Happy Saturday. Welcome, new readers, and thank you to everyone who mentioned Ward 6 in your newsletter (you know who you are!). Every bit helps to get the word out about this grassroots community newsletter.
Please consider becoming a supporting member to keep me employed and Ward 6 alive! 🌠
Who is going to see the film You Can See Everything this weekend about Elizabeth Holmes’ last three weeks or so before going to prison? The reactions have been insane: “mind-boggling,” “batshit crazy,” “so much to unpack;”“best movie of the decade!” I spent months working on a 60 Minutes story about her, and I’m still intrigued.
I really, truly, absolutely thought I wouldn’t be writing about the Kelly Clarkson-Art of Play dustup, a week after it first went down. But the story still has legs, and everywhere I went, no matter the audience, people were talking about it, and with strong emotions. There’s plenty more in this week’s post, if this isn’t your jam.
Post#56: Early voting is a week away- I got you covered; Games People Play: The Kelly Clarkson Dustup; Ice Cream Party at Farmacy; Everything you need to know from last week’s community board meeting, from a new e-bike charging station coming to Court St to neighborly complaints about Light Switch, and maybe, just maybe, the best holiday gift: the opening of the Carroll Gardens Library and so much more.
VOTE!
Early voting starts on October 24th through November 1. You can now check the Community Board 6’s (CB6) new iPhone app (Android version is next) for poll site and ballot information. CB6’s District Manager, Mike Racioppo, designed the new app and is looking for feedback ([email protected]).
The independent, non-profit publication New York Focus has a terrific voting/election guide that answers just about every question. Indivisible (leans left) is holding a virtual meeting on the Charter Amendments on the ballot. Here’s League of Women Voters’ take. I still need to tackle them.
And if you’re feeling the need to take to the streets with your fellow Brooklynites ahead of the midterms, there is a No King Early Voting march TODAY @ TD Bank 210-212 Prospect Park Southwest, from 2:00 - 4:00 PM, where you can also pick up materials “on how to protect and defend our elections.”
GAMES PEOPLE PLAY: THE KELLY CLARKSON DUSTUP
As I mentioned, I naively assumed that by the time I got around to writing this post, the Clarkson-Art of Play dustup would be long over. Partly because I only glanced at her original text, and it never occurred to me that it was about anything more than a popular celebrity making a cool trek to Brooklyn to visit our one-of-a-kind game store/magic show venue.
Full disclosure, I’m a fan of Art of Play. I’m not much of a game person, but the few times I’ve visited the Atlantic Ave store, I wish I was. The employees are nice (who could be anything but nice if you work in a game store) and encourage shoppers to touch the merchandise, which is unusual, especially for a store with some crazy-expensive items (not including Molly). As a non-gamer, I bought this incredible print that Art of Play owners commissioned Parisian artist Jeremy Schneider to design.
Rather than the coverage of Clarkson’s visit to Art of Play subsiding, as I surely expected, it only got more intense. I couldn’t escape it. A neighbor/tipster sent me Page Six, and then People.com with this text message: “Did you see Kelly Clarkson called out Art of Play on Atlantic Ave for the way she says she was treated? I’m not sure you’d want to cover this in Ward 6, but I thought I’d share…”
And everywhere I went, someone brought it up, and big emotions ensued.
So I did what any responsible journalist would do: I finally read the text Clarkson reportedly sent about 15 minutes after the incident. I watched as every news outlet and just about every medium, including, of course, social media, blew up. I even watched the entire Pablo Torres Finds Out show and, along with the hosts, scrutinized every second of the store’s security camera.
Source: Pablo Torres FInds Out - security camera from AOP with Clarkson in yellow; Molly the bird
When I saw New Yorker cartoonist Ellis Rosen publish his take, I assumed we had reached peak coverage. Even if we hadn’t, which we didn’t, I knew Ward 6 didn’t have to cover the story; I could just enjoy everyone else’s.
I’ll admit, I underestimated Clarkson’s fan base. It wasn’t until I asked a 200+ member WhatsApp group I’m in why this thing blew up the way it did that it hit me.
“She’s a well-liked, popular celebrity who shared a bad experience. What’s surprising about people being interested?” Hmmm.
I get that no one wants to feel slighted or worse, insulted as a customer, so I don’t want to dismiss how Clarkson felt. However, posting to her millions of fans about what seems like a misunderstanding about a small game shop in Brooklyn doesn’t seem like the most effective way to communicate and use your platform. Why not pick up the phone, explain/yell how you felt, and accept an apology?
BK-based company and Ward 6 sponsor
DESIGN THE 2027 BROOKLYN PIN!
Stumbled on this cool design contest from the BK Boro President’s office with Arts Ambassador Colm Dillane: design the 2027 BK pin. Open to all ages—submissions due: Dec. 6, 2026.
SO MANY FB-NEXTDOOR-REDDIT…GROUPS, SO LITTLE TIME
Helpful items I saw this week:
Warning: Fentanyl drug containers spotted at Carroll Park
A Carroll Gardens counselor is starting a support group for new parents: M - 1130-1:00 PM| [email protected]
COMMUNITY BOARD 6: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Highlights from Wednesday’s full CB6 board meeting:
Red Hook is getting its third indoor pickleball club! Opening day is TBA, but it’s at the south end of Clinton St., near the Red Hook soccer fields, and will offer Japanese-inspired food.
In January, I wrote about Velto when it opened in the former Tesla building just blocks from Red Hook Pickleball Club, also on Van Brunt St. If you play Pickle, you probably know PKLYN Pickleball Club in Gowanus, not that far from the new place.
As I’ve reported before, the Carroll Gardens Library is scheduled to open in early December, assuming the elevator and IT work are complete. Assemblymember Simon and State Senator Gounardes took to social media this week to announce the library’s opening, which I take as a good sign.
The remaining elevator and IT work, though, gave me pause until I read this in the CG Times.
“There is still some work to be done, most notably the installation of a new elevator, but officials say they have no concerns about hitting the reopening date. All remaining work, including the elevator, falls under the control and budget of the BPL—in contrast to the majority of the three-plus-year renovation, which was handled by the New York City Department of Design and Construction.”
A Carroll Gardens resident asked CB6 for help, alleging that the new cafe/bar Light Switch on Court St. is hosting a lot of noisy events. He said he’s tried numerous times over email to get CB6 to help, but to no avail. Light Switch had no comment.
The Department of Transportation plans to install a public E-bike charging station in front of Dunkin on Court St., where the EV charger used to be pre-bike lane. This is part of DOT’s effort to reduce the dangers of charging lithium-ion batteries in homes or other confined spaces. NYC is partnering with a private battery rental company that swaps dead batteries for charged ones.
While anyone can use this e-bike battery program, it’s not designed for every type of battery. “We skewed this toward supporting delivery workers and the primary type of bike they use,” said CB6.
DOT
Personally, the Court St. location seems like an odd choice, given that most delivery workers congregate closer to Atlantic Ave, where two burger joints, dumpling takeout, Chipotle, and Daily Provisions are located. This would also align better with DOT’s goals of prioritizing locations “where the most deliveries are taking place and took into account congregation, clear path, fire safety, and appearance issues.”
CB6 Chairperson Eric McClure told Ward 6 that since the board already voted in favor of DOT’s plan, contact DOT if you have any concerns/ideas. However, the DOT site says it’s no longer accepting feedback.
DOT is still collecting public comments on the Bergen/Dean bike boulevard program. Watch for information about November public meetings.
IN OTHER BK NEWS AND BEYOND
Curbed: Nothing Can Stop Gowanus: “It’s still a patchwork of brownfields, laden with coal tar and chemical solvents. Is it really a good idea to dig up, cart out, and cap toxic muck as an influx of new residents move in? Artists may have loved the old Gowanus, reeking green canal and all, but who would pay luxury rents to live in the new one?”
Bloomberg/OffBall: When I tell you flag football is everywhere, I mean that flag football is everywhere. Amanda Mull wrote about how the fastest growing sport (for high school girls) is turning into its own economy, thanks to the NFL and colleges who are sponsoring teams. I have at least five years of eligibility, and patellar tendinitis. Who wants me?
For readers who love online shopping. Legislation targeting last-mile delivery facilities.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Today - Sunday, 12- 6:00 PM | the 30th Annual Gowanus Open Studios. If you missed RH’s Open Studios last weekend or just love art or are art-curious, come check this out. It’s also fun to see where the artists produce their magic. Get a sneak peek of the soon-to-open artist and music venue, Judgy Baby, located in the 1908 Montauk Paint Co buildings. BK Paper. (Rey Smith’s studio last year - Bond/Degraw)
Gowanus Open Studios ‘25: Ray Smith’s Bond St. studio/home (source: ward 6)
Today! 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Merchants of Smith Street Makers and Neighbors Fair
Today! Oct 17th 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | “Boerum Hill residents host musicians who are on tour and take a night off from playing in a bar or club to play in my living room. This is a great way to hear music, meet the artist, hang with your neighbors, and eat some of my homemade chocolate cake.” Address provided after you reserve your seats. $20
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 5:00 - 7:00 PM | Another terrific story from Carroll Gardens’ Andrea Strong: The Chestnut is Coming Back One Scoop at a Time about an effort to bring chestnut trees back from near extinction with the help of Adirondack Creamery. Join Brooklyn Farmacy for a taste of Chestnut Spice, Chestnog and Chestnut Creme at its ice cream party, 513 Henry St.
Wednesday, Oct. 21st, 10:00 AM Brooklyn Marine Terminal Task Force meeting #8 Atlantic Basin. For Task Force members to ask questions and the public to observe. Zoom. Another terrible time to hold a public meeting.
Tuesday, Oct. 27th, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM | In-person one-on-one sessions with members of the BMT project team where you’ll get a chance to ask questions about the controversial redevelopment project. 110 West 9th St, Brooklyn. Register here.
Thursday, Oct. 22, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM | DOT BQE renovation/repair virtual meeting #2. nyc.gov/bqe & Oct 29th, 6:0o pm - 8:00 PM, in-person meeting.
Thanks for reading! JLH