Little Little

Williamsburg, 2015

Some very clever person has built a site which has kids' activities in the neighborhood (plus other neighborhoods in Brooklyn) listed by day.

It's called Little Little. You can see which classes are free, which have a drop in fee, and which require signing up by the term. Genius.

Weekend

Brooklyn, 2015

We had a great Brooklyn weekend: brunch at Cafe Mogador; a trip to the McCarren Park Pool; dinner at Roman's, and plenty of time in the sprinklers and on the deck.

It definitely has that last-week-of-summer feel around here...on Friday, Axel wrapped up two successful week of camp at Streb and there's one more week until school starts up.

We've been packing adventures into ever inch of the weekend days lately. There's a great buzz around Brooklyn at the moment and I feel so happy to be rooted here in this community. It's kind of amazing that a place that's so rich with adult diversions is also so great for the little guys.

Sizzle

Brooklyn, 2015

Apart from the fact that it's broiling, baking, and unbearably hot here, it's been wonderful to be home and we are indeed straight back into it: work, haircuts, a date to Kings County Imperial, rooftop antics, and a trip to Jacob Riis beach in the Rockaways.

After a time away, it feels really exciting to be back in the city, with so much visual stimulation (even while it is a bit of a culture shock.) So many people, so many things to take in. I think it's a good thing when you are away for long enough that you miss your day to day life; and what a fun, bizarre, and full throttle place Brooklyn is to come home to.

The boys were back in their groove immediately, and seemed very happy to be reunited with their toys and routine, such as it is. My current mood? Sunstruck.

Streb's Moment

Streb via the New Yorker

Axel just had his last class at Streb for the season.

There's a big profile of the choreographer and dance company behind the school in this week's New Yorker, and his teachers Daniel and Jamarius are quoted (plus there's a great embedded video of scenes from a rehearsal.) Almost as cool as Axel's action video from class late last year!

I've said it before but these classes have been among the most amazing, inspiring, creative things I've experienced in New York, which is rare to say for something that's also toddler-appropriate.

Sunday

Brooklyn, 2015

It was finally a proper spring day and we headed to Dumbo to celebrate. This was the first day Oscar's really worn proper shoes and he looks like such an old salt in them! Meanwhile, not a bad view for a playground, is it?

Adventures

Brooklyn, 2015

It was a cold, sleety day so we checked out the New York Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn this morning and then visited some friends in Cobble Hill.

Axel had a blast running through the museum (a decommissioned subway station full of subway cars from 1907 on...) but was a bit perplexed that we never left the station.

Grateful

via Raya Brass Band

One afternoon a few weeks ago, we took the boys (giant stroller and all) to meet a friend at Radegast Beer Hall. There was a great brass band playing and the place was packed with neighborhood people and families. It was a really warm, lovely crowd.

We settled into a booth in the corner, and took turns taking Axel to see the band up close. Back at the table, he settled in with some Peppa while we chatted, but he kept wiggling around to the music, dancing in his seat. "I'm so happy!" he said.

It was probably the cutest thing I've ever heard.

So often, on the weekends especially (and more so in the cold weather, when we are cooped up inside and notice the crumbs on the floor and the gazillion toy cars underfoot and everyone is crying), we get a little frayed around the edges.

But then you have a moment like that, and it's just so crystal clear how very lucky we are. I love that Axel is better and better company, and that he's able to express things like that to us. It makes all my bedraggledness (that's a word, I'm sure of it) worthwhile.

Will is traveling just now and last night it was just me and the fellows. I put them to bed at the usual time, but Axel was still rustling about an hour later. "Are you having trouble sleeping?" I asked. "Yeah," he said, before whispering "I'm in a castle." What a nut.

Timely

Williamsburg, 2014

I loved this story in the Times about the ghost of Sweetwater. When Will and I were first dating that was one of our favorite places; the piece gives such a good snapshot of some of the neighborhood's history.

We haven't been there in a while, but the burgers and cocktails are spot on, ghost or no ghost.

Heaven

Williamsburg, 2014

We took Axel for a walk this morning and stumbled upon this amazing Touch a Truck event.

It was a fundraiser for the mobile library bus the 'Booklyn Shuttle' (care of St. Nick's Alliance.)

Obviously, Axel was in heaven as he got to climb in and out of diggers, a UPS truck, a fire truck, a tow truck, and all manner of heavy lifting equipment.

Decemberists

Williamsburg, 2014

Happened upon The Decemberists' Colin Meloy busking on the corner of Bedford and North 7th to promote the band's new album this morning (a nice way to break up some work...he played 'The Engine Driver', which reminded me of my misspent Williamsburg youth.) There were about 30 people at first, and maybe 150 by the time I left. Very cool!

Reintegration

Williamsburg, 2014

The temperatures dropped by around twenty degrees overnight, a reminder that this autumnal thing is really happening, like it or not. We are getting back into the swing of things in Brooklyn, or trying to.

Somehow a low key weekend at home reminds me of all the projects I've been meaning to get to, work-related and otherwise....