Matt Kaplan and Friend, Mini Max Toys

This Window is a Winner

Two large characters, Lola and Seamus, were seen in December’s window, dressed in wintry attire plus a sparkly snowman.  As the winner, Mini Max received a special gift basket from Charlie Sahadi of Sahadi’s Specialty Foods.

Matt Kaplan Receives Scrumptious Prize

In fact the name of the characters came from Mini Max’s Naming Contest where kids got to pick names they liked best.

• Heidi
• Laila
• Leo
• Lola
• Marissa
• Milo
• Nico
• Seamus

Talk about democracy in action. Turns out that Matt Kaplan has a long history in the children’s toy business. Could these be the next Ugly Dolls? Well so many trends start in Brooklyn, why not?

Visit Mini Max at 152 Atlantic Avenue near Clinton Street.

The jolly old elf took holiday wishes and Dear Santa letters from neighborhood children and watched local entertainment along with 200 other guests at the Belarusan Church.

Singers from PS 261 kicked off the evening with traditional holiday carols including a rockin’ rendition of Winter Wonderland.  They were followed by ballroom dancing from PS 261. Everything from a crisp version of the tango to the cha-cha-cha was on display.

Caroling PS 261 Singers

The children’s musical group, Rolie Polie Guacamole, was a delightful addition keeping the beat lively throughout the evening.

In keeping with tradition, Council member David Yassky officiated at the tree lighting joined by Council Member-elect Steve Levin and tree-lighting sponsor Marathon Bank’s own Peter Krekoukis. The borough president’s office was also represented.

Marathon Bank's Peter Krekoukis, Council Member-Elect Steve Levin and Council Member David Yassky

The evening was kicked off by Angela Ferrante, president of the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation (AALDC). She then turned the night over to Master of Ceremonies Christian Haag, vice president of the AALDC.

Christian Hagg and Angela Ferrante

The annual tree lighting ceremony is a popular holiday event bringing people together from the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn and Boerum Hill along and around the stretch of Atlantic Avenue running from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue. Local Atlantic Avenue restaurants provided a wide range of free food including Betty Bakery for cookies; Trader Joe’s for chips & juice; Pete’s Waterfront Ale House for cider and eggnog; Moxie Spot for chocolate dipped macaroons, water bottles, plastic cups; Downtown Atlantic for their world-famous cupcakes; and Blue Marble for organic ice cream.

The tree lighting was also an opportunity to announce the winners of the Atlantic Avenue Green holiday windows promotion. Winning retailers include Blue Marble, Gumbo, Dig, City Foundry and Rico. To read more on that story click here.

They retired to restaurant Moxie Spot for much needed libations and intense deliberations. The judges, world-renowned choreographer, Mark Morris, film and stage actress Hope Davis, illustrator and children’s book author Tad Hills, and designer Kate Cusack took their job seriously.

After orders of vegetable dumplings, quesadillas, sweet potato fries and drinks, the judges made their final choices.

Greenest Window

1^st: Place: Blue Marble, 420 Atlantic Avenue

Judging Holiday Windows

Corrugated Truck

Corn Spoon Menorah

2^nd: Gumbo, 493 Atlantic Avenue

Snug Puppy

Three Kinds of Confetti

Most Enchanting Window

Dig, 479 Atlantic Avenue

A New Definition of Green

Best installation

1^st: Place: Rico,  372 Atlantic Avenue

Small and Yet Divine

2^nd: City Foundry, 365 Atlantic Avenue

Step into this World

Carry-all bag, vintage yellow toaster cover $36

• Greenhouse (375 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn)
  • Eco-friendly, high style options in furniture, tableware, bedding, bath products, and home accessories.

• Gumbo (493 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn)
  

  Earrings made from recycled milk cartons ($25)

• Hollander & Lexer (358 Atlantic Avenue)


Alexander Yamaguchi, Henley shirt $70-105

• Kimera (366 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn)
  

  Wax linen bracelets ($32)

• Jonathan Adler (378 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn)
  • Furniture made from “sustainable forest initiative” certified companies.
• Mini Max (152 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn)
  • Recycling Truck toy made from 100% curbside collected products with packaging made from recycled materials ($25).
  • Local designer City Hopper bibs and burp clothes ($16-$32).
• Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store (365 State Street, Brooklyn just off Atlantic)
  

  Bicycle Chain Frame $36

• Sterling Place (363 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn)
  • Set of 4 drinking glasses made from the colorful Boylan soda bottles ($36).
  • Yankee Stadium cufflinks made of wood salvaged from Yankee Stadium in 1973 ($165).

Green Window Design Competition

The Annual Atlantic Avenue Green Holiday Window Design Competition is based on artistic merchandising and creative window display with a green twist this year. Awards, in various categories, are given to merchants for their aesthetic contribution to the neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn and Boerum Hill. To qualify, competitors must have their window designs installed by 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, when the panel of judges will walk along the Avenue to view and judge individual store windows.

The Tree Lighting Ceremony & Activities

On Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 6:00 p.m., the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation will host the Annual Atlantic Avenue Tree Lighting Ceremony at the Belarusan Church, corner of Atlantic Avenue and Bond Street, in downtown Brooklyn’s charming Boerum Hill neighborhood.

The annual tree lighting ceremony, sponsored by Marathon Bank, is a popular holiday event bringing people together from the  neighborhoods of Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Downtown Brooklyn and Boerum Hill along and around the stretch of Atlantic Avenue running from Hicks Street to Fourth Avenue.

The Tree Lighting event is free and open to the public with complimentary holiday treats provided by local Atlantic Avenue restaurants and shops.
Atlantic Avenue’s annual tree lighting ceremony and activities will feature students from P.S. 38 and 261 who will lead guests with carols and performances.  The children’s musical group, Rolie Polie Guacamole, will be a delightful addition.  Santa Claus will also make a guest appearance to participate in the festivities, greet children and receive their Dear Santa letters.  In keeping with tradition, Council Member David Yassky will again join the festivities to officiate the tree lighting.

A Sampling of Green Products Available at Atlantic Avenue Retailers

• Gumbo (493 Atlantic Avenue) Earrings made from recycled milk cartons ($25) Photo. Watches made in South America by Ecowrist using bamboo, nuts, and leather ($99) Photo.
• Kimera (366 Atlantic Avenue) Wax linen bracelets handcrafted by Thai villagers ($32).
• Jonathan Adler (378 Atlantic Avenue) Furniture made from “sustainable forest initiative” certified companies.
• Mini Max (152 Atlantic Avenue) Recycling Truck toy made from 100% curbside collected products with packaging made from recycled materials ($25). Local designer City Hopper bibs and burp clothes ($16-$32).
• Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store (365 State Street just off Atlantic) Bicycle chain photo frame ($36) Photo . MTA Tyvek wallets ($15) Photo.
• Sterling Place (363 Atlantic Avenue) Set of 4 drinking glasses made from the colorful Boylan soda bottles ($36). Yankee Stadium cufflinks made of wood salvaged from Yankee Stadium in 1973 ($165).
• Greenhouse (375 Atlantic Avenue) offers a hand-picked collection of eco-friendly, high style options in furniture, tableware, bedding, bath products, and home accessories.

People’s Choice Awards

Celebrity judges will vote on the best holiday windows but this year so will shoppers on Atlantic Avenue – with the People’s Choice Award. Ballots and ballot boxes will be available at stores. The winning store will receive a holiday gift basket from Sahadi’s, a neighborhood institution since 1948 located at 187 Atlantic Avenue.

Holiday Window Competition Judges

Hope Davis has starred in more than 20 feature films.  Her early work includes The Daytrippers and Next Stop Wonderland. Hollywood films include the thriller Arlington Road, About Schmidt and American Splendor for which she won the New York Film Critics Circle award.  Davis returned to the stage in 2009 in Broadway in God of Carnage, which gained her a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actress in a Play.  Davis is currently co-starring in HBO’s In Treatment. She lives in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn with her two children and her husband, actor Jon Patrick Walker.

Mark Morris is a world renowned choreographer. He formed the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1980, and has since created more than 120 works for the company.  From 1988-1991, Morris was Director of Dance at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, the national opera house of Belgium. In 1990, he founded the White Oak Dance Project with Mikhail Baryshnikov. The Mark Morris Dance Group  (mmdg.org) was formed in 1980 and gave its first concert that year in New York City. The company, one of the world’s leading dance companies, performs across the U.S. and at major international festivals.  In 2001, MMDG opened the Mark Morris Dance Center in Brooklyn, NY, housing rehearsal space for the dance community, outreach programs for local children, as well as a school offering dance classes to students of all ages.

Tad Hills is the author and illustrator of many books for children, including The New York Times bestsellers Duck and Goose and Duck, Duck Goose. He lives in Cobble Hill with his wife Lee, their two children, Elinor & Charlie, and Rocket, their dog who inspired Tad’s next book, How Rocket Learned to Read which will be released in July 2010.

Kate Cusack is a versatile designer and creative thinker who’s unique Zipper Jewelry is internationally known. Kate earned her BFA at the Maryland Institute College of Art  and her MFA at Yale School of Drama. Kate creates non-traditional costumes for theater and dance;  her  sense of theatricality is evident in her one-of-a-kind Zipper Necklaces and Zipper Bracelets. Kate was born and raised in Boerum Hill.

Background on The Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation

The Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation (AALDC), originally formed in 1974, is a not-for-profit organization committed to the economic development of the Atlantic Avenue area from Fourth Avenue to the East River waterfront in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to producing the Atlantic Antic, one of New York City’s major cultural attractions, and the annual Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk, the organization’s activities include implementation of streetscape improvements, historic storefront preservation, and advocacy on issues of importance to the retail and residential community. The Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corp. is charged with bringing to fruition the Atlantic Avenue Master Plan which was conceived by the Atlantic Avenue Leadership Conference, a collaboration of 50 local community groups and businesses including the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation. http://www.atlanticave.org/

Directions:
(2,3,4,5 to Nevins Street, A,C to Hoyt Street, R to Lawrence Street, F to Jay or Bergen Street, buses 61 or 63) Map link

Editors:
For images of this year’s holiday poster, click here. For photos of the judges and images of unique green holiday gifts, please contact winters.pamela@gmail.com