Things to do with your children free of charge.

Brooklyn's Children Museum

 

We all know as parents, how hard it is financially to take your children out. When my kids were growing up, i always looked for free activities to do with the children. I do the same thing with the grandchildren. you know what they say"the most beautiful things are free" with that been said, i have a few free places  to take your children to among so many in New York City. 

1. Brooklyn's Children Museum:  Free every third Thursday of the month 4-7 and the weekend of every month.  http://whatsupnewyork411.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-brooklyn-childrens-museum-said-to.html
2. Children Museum of Manhattan: Free every Friday of the month 5-8 pm http://www.cmom.org/
3. Museum of the Moving Image: Free for kids under 3 and free Fridays5-8 pm http://www.movingimage.us/
4. New York Hall of Science: Free Fridays, 2-5 pm and Sunday 10-11 am. Sept.-Junehttp://www.nysci.org/
5. Theater at the Museum of Modern Art.  Free film tickets- Friday 4-8 pm, Screening always free for kids under 16.http://www.moma.org/

                                                                                                                        

Jamel Shabazz from Brooklyn

He picked up the camera at the young age of 15 yrs old, a 110 Kodak Instamatic and stared to document family and friends.  Jamel was inspired by photographers like Leonard Freed and James Van Der Zee.   Jamel was marveled with their documentation of the African American Community.

Jamel purchased a Canon AE-1 camera and embarked upon a 35 yr journey documenting various culture and people, building a massive body of work, from Fashion, Documentary and fine arts. His camera led him to what would become a remarkable chronicle of the early years of hip hop style, complete with swaggering B-Boys rocking shell-toe Adidas sneakers, fuzzy Kangol caps and thick black Cazal glasses.

Jamel Shabazz was born in the 1960'2 in Brooklyn, New York. He is a Documentary Photographer. He gain recognition through his various books, exhibitions and editorial magazine work.

His photograph have appeared in the 2007 documentary film Planet B-Boy, and such exhibition as the 2008 "Street Art Street Life: From the 1950's to now" in the Bronx Museum of the Arts and as the album cover Art for the 2011 hip hop album undun by the Roots. 

Shabazz also appeared in the Cheryl Dunn 2010 documentary Everybody Street, about photographers who used New York City Street life as a major subject in their work.  

In 2008 curator Shantrelle Lewis paid homage to Shabazz with "The Shout Out: A lonely Crusade,Homage to Jamel Shabazz.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jamel-Shabazz/16841597946

Park Slope, in the most popular borough Brooklyn!!

Park Slope is at the Western part of Brooklyn, most popular borough.  It's bounded by Prospect Park West to the East, Fourth Ave to West,  Flatbush Ave to the North, and Prospect Expressway to South.

The neighborhood takes it's name from it's location on the Western Slope of neighboring Prospect Park, Fifth Ave and Seventh Ave are it's primary commercial streets, while its east-west side streets are populated by many historic Brownstones. 

Park Slope features:

• Historic Buildings
• Top Rated Restaurant
• Bars
• Shops

As well as proximity of 

• Prospect Park
• The Brooklyn Academy of Music
• The Brooklyn Botanical Garden
• The Brooklyn Museum
• The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
• Central Library

It was named one of the "Greatest Neighborhood in America" by the American Planning Association in 2007, for its Architectural and Historical features and its diverse mix of residents and business, all of which are supporters and preserve by its active involved Citizenry.

In Dec 2006, Natural Home Magazine named Park Slope one of America's TEN best Neighborhoods based on CRITERIA including:

• Parks
• Green Spaces
• Neighborhood Gathering Spaces
• Farmer's Market
• Community Gardens
• Public transportation
• Locally owned businesses.

Baseball has played a prominent role in the history of Park Slope area.  From 1879-1889, the Brooklyn Atlantic's (later became the Dodgers) played at Washington Park on 5th Ave, between 3rd & 4th Streets.  When the park was destroyed by a fire, the team moved to their part time home in Ridgewood Queens and then to a park in East New York.  In 1898 the "NEW" Washington Park was built between Third and Fourth   Ave and between First and Third Streets near the Gowanus Canal.  The team, by this point known as the Dodgers, played to an ever growing fan base at this location.  By the end  of the 1912 season, it was clear that the team had outgrown the field and the neighborhood.  

The team owner Charles Ebbetts moved the team to his Ebbetts Field Stadium in Flatbush for the beginning of the 1913 Season. The team went on to have historic cross town rivalries with both the New York Giants and New York Yankees. 

Park Slope was home to notable residents such as:

• Actor Laurence Fishburne
• Actor John Turturro
• Actress Kelly McGillis
• Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal
• Actress Keri Russell
• Rapper Foxy Brown
• Musician Jim Black
• Artist Jean-Michel Basquiat  

And many more.

Hot Spot for Dining in Park Slope.

Grand Army Plaza

Here are a few spots at Park Slope Dining and Restaurants. 

1. Scottadito Osteria Toscana. 788-A Union Streets, (718)-636-4800. (Italian and Seafood).

Serves regular menu and dinner specials. Saturday and Sunday  Brunch with unlimited Mimosas and Champagne. http://scottadito.com/                                                                      
      

      2.  Bonnie's Grill: 278 5th ave. (718)-369-9527

From appetizers, Sandwiches and Specials. Best Burger in town.

This Green Wall and Retro tiles and decor is a great place to catch a Burger. 

http://bonniesgrill.com/

       3. Bogota Latin Bistro: 141 5th Ave. (718)-230-3805

A celebration of the Foods and Drinks of Colombia and Latin America.

Latin America, Vegetarian and Gluten-Free.

http://bogotabistro.com/

       4. Park Slope ChipShop: 383 5th Ave. (718)-832-7701

British, Fish & Chips. http://www.chipshopnyc.com/

       5. Jpan: 287 5th Ave (718)-788-2880

                          Sushi Bar, Japanese.

For more Restaurant in Park Slope, click on the link.http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=park+slope&find_loc=New+York%2C+NY+10003&ns=1#find_desc=restaurant+in+park+slope+Brooklyn&find_loc=New+York,+NY+10011&l=p:NY:New_York:Brooklyn:Park_Slope&show_filters=1

Our "Take it back Tuesday" goes to Laurence Fishburne

Laurence John Fishburne is a Film and Stage Actor, Playwright, Director and Pr Mr. Fishburne was best known for his role on as Ike Turner in Tina Tuner's Biopic What Love Got To Do With It. 

Laurence Fishburne is the First African American to portray Othello in a motion picture by a Major Studio when he appeared  in Oliver Park's 1995 film adaption of the Shakespeare play. He also played Dr. Raymond Langston on  CBS CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

Mr. Fishburne has won a Tony Award for a Best Featured Actor in a play and a Emmy for a Drama Series Guest Actor.

Laurence Fishburne career stems from the 1970's, which he starred in 

• Mod Squad
• ABC Soap Opera One Life To Live
• Good Times
• Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse.

In the 80's he appeared in 

• Small Role in the Color Purple
• The Cotton Club
• Pee Wee's Play House
• Mash
• Short Eyes
• Death Wish 2
• Nightmare on Elm Street
• Quick Silver
• Spike Lee's School Daze

In the 1990's he appeared and or starred

• King of New York
• Boyz n the Hood
• Deep Cover

He performed in August Wilson Play Two Trains running.

In 1993 he received his first nomination for his portrayal of Ike Turner in What Love Got To Do With It.

In the 2000's he appeared of starred in 

• Osmosis
• The Matrix Reloaded
• The Matrix Revolution
• The Spooks
• Mission: Impossible

In 2006 he appeared with Angela Bassett in a Pasadena Playhouse Production of August Wilson Fences.

He provided voice for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the voice of Silver Surfer in 2007 film Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer among other film and movies. 

This Actor was born on July 30, 1961 at Augusta, Georgia. Fishburne's mother Hallie Bell a Junior High School Mathematics and Science Teacher, his father Laurence Fishburne Jr a Juvenile Correction Officer. 

After his parents divorced at young age, his mother moved him to Park slope, Brooklyn New York where he was raised.  Fishburne attended Lincoln Square Academy, which closed in the 1980's.