Young Collectives' Shakespeare Camp In Carroll Gardens: This Summer, Turn Your Kids Into Shakespeare Nerds

Yes, summer is still far away, but it is never too early to plan for summer camp, is it?

For the fourth year in a row,  The New Collectives, a New York City theatre company, is running a one and two week Shakespeare Camp through its education program, The Young Collectives right here in Carroll Gardens.
The Shakespeare Camps will be held at Court Tree Collective  at 371 Court Street between Carroll Street and First Place from July 23rd to August 10th.

From The New Collectives:
The camps use whole-child, cross-arts methods to get kids hooked on the stories of arguably the best story-teller in the English language. The campers write, act, direct, create sets, design costumes, and even throw a few water balloons. By the final performance of both our one-week camp for 7-10 year olds, and our two-week intensive for 5th to 8th graders, we have students begging for more Shakespeare!

Through the generous support of the TYC Scholarship Program, the Collective is able to offer a scholarship valued at $420 to $800 to one camper for the One-Week Shakespeare Camp and one camper for  the Two-Week Shakespeare Camp.
The deadline for the scholarship submission is June 20, 2018. Here is the link to the application form. Don't delay sending it in.

For further information and to register, click here.

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What's The Big Idea?: Young Philosophers Of New York Offers Kids Winter Workshop In Carroll Gardens

 

Young Philosophers of New York is starting an eight week winter workshop for 8 to 11 year olds at Court Tree Collective in Carroll Gardens starting tomorrow, January 11, 2018. There is still time to enroll your child, but don't waste any time.

The Young Philosophers of New York's mission to help children become confident and critical thinkers.

The workshop is entitled What’s the Big Idea? and is led by Dustin Webster, a 5th grade teacher at the Mary McDowell Friends School here in Brooklyn.

From Young Philosophers of New York:

"Kids are full of wonder and big questions about life, and in this introductory course, they will engage with these questions philosophically and creatively. Through inquiry and fun activities, kids will start thinking more deeply about these questions than they would anywhere else. This workshop will include an overview of some of the main topics of philosophy and how they relate to our everyday lives. We’ll ask questions like: What makes us who we are? How do we know what we know? What makes an action right or wrong? What is justice? What makes something beautiful? What is the purpose of school, and more! Each session will include a mix of inquiry discussions, games, activities, and art projects that will not only build critical thinking skills, but will also help students learn rhetoric and what makes some reasons for believing something better than others. This process will also help students develop a variety of cognitive and executive functioning skills. Flexible thinking, perspective taking, organization of thoughts, community building, conversational turn taking, active listening, and empathy are just a few of the areas that engaging in philosophical inquiry strengthens, and it does so through a fun process that comes naturally to kids. This is the workshop for any young, creative student who wants to start thinking philosophically and take on life’s big ideas!"

This workshop meets Thursdays, 4:30-6:00 p.m. at the Court Tree Collective, 371 Court Street, 2nd Floor. The tuition is $300.

Enroll your child in this workshop here.

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This Winter, Learn To Cook Authentic Chinese Food At Court Tree Collective

Amy Ng, who founded Court Tree Collective in Carroll Gardens with her partner Stephen Lipuma in 2013, is starting the new year by hosting two cooking classes "to educated about authentic Chinese food."
The first class, entitled Chinese Clay Pot Rice Cooking , will take place on Saturday, January 20 from 1 to 3 pm.
"Craving an authentic Chinese meal? This one (clay) pot dish is as delicious as it is easy. Steamed chicken and mushrooms marinated in ginger, soy and rice wine. Laid on top of a bed of soft rice with a distinct crunchy rice bottom. Mix it all up and you have a one pot dish! This is for beginners for it’s simplicity and for advanced cooks trying to learn more about authentic Chinese food. ALL STUDENTS WILL TAKE HOME A CHINESE CLAYPOT!"
The class is $75 per person.  Sign up here.

The second class, Chinese Vegetable Exploration, will take place on February 10th, from 5-7.

This wonderful neighborhood gallery is located at 371 Court Street.

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Homestyle Japanese Family Cooking Workshop At Court Tree Collective

This holiday season, let us remember that it is more important to spend time together with loved ones than about finding that perfect gift.
In that spirit, you may want to sign up for Yumi's Homestyle Japanese Family Cooking Workshop at Court Tree Collective on December 18th, 2016 from 12 to 2:30 pm.
We can't think of a lovelier event for the whole family, and the gallery is located at 371 Court Street right here in Carroll Gardens. What could be easier?
Here are the details:

Yumi’s Homestyle Japanese Family Cooking Workshop
Court Tree Collective and Yumi from K-Seaweed present Yumi's Homestyle Japanese Family Cooking Workshop. Do you like Japanese food but never tried to make it at home? Yumi will share how she prepares some of the most popular Japanese dishes at home. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn all the skills needed to make Maki Sushi and Inside-out rolls (non-raw fish ingredients), two kinds of macrobiotic Seaweed Salads and deeply nourishing Miso Soup. You also learn how to source the best ingredients locally and how to work with the sweet and savory ingredients such as konbu & wakame seaweed, miso, soy sauce, mirin, bonito flakes that infuse unique umani flavor. After you have learned how to cook Japanese beautifully, you will be able to sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You will most certainly walk away finding your kitchen a more inspiring place!

The cost is $45 per person or sign up for the $65 parent/child package here.



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Check Out Court Tree Collective's October Events

Court Tree Collective, the small gallery/event space at 371 Court Street between Carroll Street and First Place, continues to curate interesting art exhibits and cooking classes.  If you have not discovered this lovely neighborhood place yet, make sure to check it out.

This month, Court Tree will feature a Kaiseki-style meal inspired by the writings of Murakami presented by Table of Contents Supper Club. The cost is $65. Tickets are available here.

If you are a new parent, you may want to check out this great class which will teach you how to make the best and freshest food for your little one.

Here is more information:

Court Tree Collective and local chef David Siegel present Cooking for your Baby. A hands-on class making delicious and nutritious food. Learn how to develop your little one’s adventurous palate. Being new parents we are super excited to be bringing this to the table. As our daughter’s taste buds change so does ours. It’s a completely new experience and as food lovers it has us intrigued. This is a great opportunity to learn how to make your own baby food. The right way and the healthy way!

A hands-on primer for making delicious and nutritious food from scratch. We will cover everything from purees to finger foods, discussing how to incorporate interesting flavors and textures into your little one’s diet, helping them develop an adventurous palate. Tentative menu: beets and green beans with chia, Moroccan spiced carrots, salmon with red lentil curry and the perfect whole grain porridge for breakfast and beyond.

And don't miss Common Ground, the special photographic exhibit on the work by Court Tree Collective’s co founder Stephen Lipuma. The exhibit will be up from October 15th to October 16th.

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Upcoming Events At Court Tree Collective In Carroll Gardens

Court Tree, the small gallery and event space on the second floor at 371 Court Street continues to host a series of wonderful culinary classes as well as some very interesting art exhibits. Below are three events in June that you may not want to miss.

On June 16, take a Saké Pairing Workshop. It is the first in a series specifically on saké lead by Hannah Kirshner of Sweets & Bitters.  The workshop costs $75.

These days, we know that you can drink red wine with a burger or pair champagne and pizza, but when it comes to sake most people still play it safe and serve it only with Japanese food. In this workshop, we’ll taste six kinds of sake along with snacks to match each. We’ll explore how to pair with flavors or ingredients (not only Japanese ones) not just specific dishes. It’s a great intro to the complex world of sake styles, and an opportunity to expand your palate if you’re already an an aficionado. The best way to learn is by tasting! Hannah Kirshner of Sweets & Bitters will lead each workshop in collaboration with a sake expert (read about her apprenticeship at a sake bar in Japan here). The first workshop, on June 16th, will be with Joto Sake.

The class includes:
-Tasting 6 kinds of sake with food pairings
-Learning what flavors and ingredients pair with each style
-Experimenting with creating your own pairings
-Getting an introduction to sake styles and labeling

 Register here.

On June 30th, from 8-9:30 pm, join local filmmaker Mark Street for "A Train Ride Can Be A Tracking Shot", a live performance with film, video, smoke, mirrors.
The material for the film was shot in far flung locales from Florida to Berlin presented on 16mm and digital video.

(photo credit: Arsenio Pandolfo)

Bos Taurus, featuring the works of Arsenio Pandolfo, is currently on exhibit at Court Tree through June 30th. 

Pandolfo was born in Sant'Arsenio Italy, where he currently resides and works. He studied law at the university Federico ll in Naples. Pandolfo is an autodidact who has found that with his camera he can unveil truths that are missed by our daily visual experience and share them.

The exhibit  is a collaboration of Court Tree with BACAS (Borghi Antichi Cultura Arti Scienze).
The exhibition, the accompanying publication and text are curated by Pietro Costa, founding director of BACAS. This is the first event presented by BACAS, a foundation dedicated to interdisciplinary and multicultural gatherings throughout Southern Italian peninsula.

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Three Great Fall Cooking Events At Court Tree Collective In Carroll Gardens

Celebrate fall with three upcoming cooking classes at Court Tree Collective, the small gallery and event space at 371 Court Street between Carroll Street and First Place right here in Carroll Gardens. 

Learn how to make some great meals, share some great food and meet new.  What could be better?

Chop Happy Pasta Dinner Party

Saturday, September 26 from 5pm to 7pm

$30.00

Jay from Chop Happy is back at Court Tree again with another super fun class. Get your Pasta Party on from appetizer to desert, learn and eat your way through the night!

Menu:
Antipasto and Whipped Ricotta Dip
Pepperoni Ravioli Lasagna
Bacon Marinara and Bucatini
Balsamic Strawberries and Cream
beverages included!

Sign up here!

Apple pie making class with 'A Cheesemonger’s Daughter' Claire Matern

Sunday September 27 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm 

$35.00

Fall in New York State is apple picking season and nothing says fall like apple pie. Claire‘s pie class will walk you through each step of making a pie totally from scratch–no need to ever buy a pre-made crust again when you see how easy it is! From dough making to rolling techniques, making a classic apple filling and emphasis on lattice and crust work, this 2 hour intro class will end on a delicious note as we debrief over a slice fresh from the oven.

Sign up here.

The Galette: Gluten Free Flatbreads with Emily Costa

Saturday, October 10 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

$30.00

In this demo, gluten free aficionado and up and coming chef, Emily Costa, will create a versatile flatbread recipe used three ways. Participants in this demo/food party will walk away with 3 delicious healthy recipes. A great way to impress your family and friends at your next dinner party.

Menu:
Bright Beginning – Pear, Prosciutto & Arugula Galette
Fall Favorite – Butternut Squash, Apple & Gorgonzola Galette
Delightful Dessert – Peach Galette with Lavender Cream

Sign up here

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'Tropical Ghana' At Court Tree Collective This Saturday

Court Tree Collective, the small neighborhood gallery/event space at 371 Court Street between Carroll Street and First Place, continues its series of $25 cooking classes with Tropical Ghana this Saturday. On the menu? "Shrimp Something" and "Plantain Boats".  You can't go wrong with a  cooking class, a meal and a free beverage, all for $25. Don't miss it.
From Court Tree:

Tropical Ghana this Saturday May 30th

3pm - 5pm

"Keeping up with our $25 cooking class schedule. Charles Cann from Tropical Ghana returns to Court Tree with his fourth installment. Charles is an original member of our collective and always brings a great class to the table. As always keeping up with his traditional Ghana roots he brings us two incredible dishes. Shrimp Something and Plantain Boats.

We are please to announce the return of Charles Cann from Tropical Ghana to Court Tree. This time Charles brings two incredible dishes to the table. Shrimp Something and Plantain Boats.

Only $25 with beverages included. Sign up here!Sign up here!

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Court Tree Collective On Court Street To Transform Into "Kar Yee Noodle Shop" For One Night Only

Kar Yee and her grandfather, 1990

photo courtesy of Kar Yee

Kar Yee,  a member of Court Street Collective, will be transforming the small gallery at 371 Court Street into a wonderful Hong Kong-style noodle shop to recreate the smells, tastes and memories of her childhood. For the occasion, she will be offering a simple noodle soup menu.  This event is for one night only.  It's bound to be popular, so sign up early for the special value pack.
Read on for more information

Kar Yee Noodle Shop

Court Street Collective

371 Court Street

November 22 @ 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Hanging red lights
Bustling landscapes
Steamy noodles soups
Herbs and teas
Reaching high on my tippy toesI spent the first 6 years of my life in Hong Kong with my sister and Grandfather. On weekends my Grandfather would take us to the busy and vibrant street markets to eat. The variety of smells from the food vendors would fill the streets. The noodles became my favorite. Elbow to elbow, bowl to bowl, perfect strangers became friends. Sharing the love and appreciation for these simple yet intricate dishes. For myself, the noodle symbolizes comfort, my culture and the lasting memories of my time in Hong Kong. It’s a memory that will last with me forever.

Being the daughter of a Chinese chef, I have always been around food and have been inspired by it from

Noodle Soup Menu:
Crispy pork
wonton and scallion
Shiitake mushroom and tofu

Price
$7 – noodle soup bowl
$2 – chinese vita brand juice & teas
$3 – wine or beer
$10 for a noodle bowl and 2 drinks of choice.

Reserve Your  $10.00 value pack here!



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'Brooklyn English': Classes For Non-Native New Yorkers Begin In Carroll Gardens

Photo courtesy of Don Mount

Long time friend and Carroll Gardener Martha Bordman recently launched  Brooklyn English to provide English language instruction for adults who speak English as their second language and to teach "non-native New Yorkers to cope with life in New York City."
Martha comes with plenty of credentials. She holds a Master’s degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Hunter College and has taught ESL for the New York City Office of Adult Education, Baruch College, New York University, and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

"Brooklyn English" classes will be taught at Court Tree Collective in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn,
371 Court Street, 2nd floor (between Carroll Street and  1st Place)

All lessons are interactive, stimulating and designed to meet each student’s English language needs.
For class schedule and pricing, click here
Other small-group and one-on-one lessons available by request.



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Children's Book Writing Classes at Court Tree Collective

Here is a wonderful after-school workshop for kids that is being held fromMarch 18th to April 29th right here in Carroll Gardens. Brooklyn Book Factory will be hosting a children's book writing class, in which they will learn basic storytelling and illustration in order to create their very own book.
The workshop will take place at Court Tree Collective, a new gallery/event space at 371 Court Street.

The cost is $200.

Here is more information:

Brooklyn Book Factory 's mission is to provide children with the opportunity to visualize and create through inventive storytelling. Students expand their imaginations by not just developing characters but breathing life into them through illustration.
Brooklyn Book Factory's six-class curriculum encourages creative exploration while providing structure for students to complete a full project. At the conclusion of each course, students will enjoy the achievement of having written and illustrated a storybook from beginning to end - which they can also share with friends and family with bound copies or Photoshopped scans!

Join Us For:
A bound copy of your completed work as well as Photoshopped scans for easy online sharing
A personalized sketchbook, pencil case, and drawing utensils
Healthy snacks to fuel your creativity
A reading party to show off your work - friends and family welcome!

Children's Book Writing Classes

at Court Tree Collective

371 Court Street, 2. Floor

Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn

March 18th to April 29th, 

Tuesdays 3:30pm - 6pm

Register here.

Class size is limited, so don't wait too long to register.

****Update****

I just heard from Court Tree Collective that Serena, the instructor of the Children's Book Writing class, will extend a neighborhood discount of 20% discount. The offer expires on March 12th.
The code is: FRIENDSOFCOURTTREEhttp://www.brooklynbookfactory.com/

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Works By Brooklyn-Based Artist Orazio On Display At Joint Neighborhood Shows

 Orazio's paintings on display at Vespa Properties, above,

and at Court Tree Collective, a new gallery/event space. 

TERRAE, a show featuring the works of Brooklyn-based, Italian artist Orazio can currently be seen in two different spaces in the neighborhood. You should most definitely seek out his works and meet the man behind them.
His paintings not only reflect a deep connection to the earth and to his Italian roots, they also combine his many talents and a real passion for his craft.

Born in Benevento, Italy, Orazio became interested in art at a young age. By 13 he apprenticed to a sculptor, then studied sculpture at the Academia di Belle Arti in Rome.
He moved to the United States in 1983.
Besides pursuing art, , Orazio is a sought-after master craftsman in the art of Stucchi Veneziani, a traditional Italian wall finish made of lime and marble dust.
Over time, this ancient craft has provided the artist with new ideas and has filtered into his artwork.

For his Terrae series, Orazio borrows the Stucchi Veneziani technique, building up several different layers on his canvas to create a sculpted surface. He then applies earth pigments mixed with marble dust that he mixes himself. The results are beautiful landscapes that mirror those of Orazio's childhood.

Some of Orazio's more current works can be seen at Vespa Properties, the realty office at 262 Court Street. Vespa's partners, Denver Butson and Pietro Costa, make their space available to artists and writers regularly to stay connected to the community. Orazio's is the seventh show hosted in their offices.  To accommodate some of Orazio's larger works, the brokerage firm has created additional wall space. The paintings will stay up till February 8th.

At the same time, Orazio's earlier work is being shown at Court Tree Collective, a new gallery/event space that opened at 371Court Street just three months ago. The paintings on display here are  part of the artist's Map Series and were inspired by the Galleria della Carta Geographica at the Vatican Museum.

Besides displaying his work, Court Tree Collective will be hosting an Italian cooking demonstration by Orazio this Saturday, December 15th from 2 to 5 PM .  The cost is $50.  Apparently, the artist is quite a chef as well. And I was told he makes his own wine, which he will be serving.


***Update***
After meeting Orazio this past week, he was kind enough to invite me to his studio in Boerum Hill on Sunday.  Below are some of the photos I took during the visit.  The photos don't even come close to conveying the light of the amazing space and of Orazio's art.

Below is a small film on Orazio and his art. It was made by Stephen Lipuma, one of Court Street Collective's partners.

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