No frostbite here

If you were holding out hope for an Indian summer to squeeze in those last few outdoor jogs, that hope probably just got swept away in a gust of Canadian air. Well, lucky for your Endorphin-high, the YMCA at the Park Slope Armory (along with the Prospect Park Y) is offering a little help to keep you fit, and your wallet fat. The local YMCAs are waiving their joiner’s fee between Dec. 26 and Jan. 31 for their Winter Membership Special. The deal saves you the Armory’s $85 one-time fee ($75 for students), the $121 for a combo membership (Armory plus Prospect Park) or the $121 for Prospect Park alone. There’s still monthly membership, but it’s these initial costs that really hurt—Armory memberships run just $40 per month for adults, $32 for students and $72 for families. More info on the YMCAs here and here.

Sounds bland, we know, but these aren’t your everyday cutesy fluffballs staring you in face during morning coffee. These animal mugs have character. And characters: There’s Jedi cat and Kitty Gaga, Mr. Spock and Ozzie pups, and is that a Bowie bunny? The deadpan mugs will have you questioning the logic of your breakfast, using the force to pour that second bowl of cereal and seriously re-thinking your wardrobe for the day to come. $14 at A&G Merch in Williamsburg.

You may remember back in June when NY State passed the loft law, meant to protect loft-dwellers for the long haul. You may also remember the confusion that ensued, involving landlords’ requirements, tenants’ rights and some unfortunate FDNY-enforced property vacations. Tonight, Dec. 8, in Greenpoint, some concerned citizens in the know are getting together to try and dispel all the uncertainty around the new law. Neighbors Allied for Good Growth is holding a “Loft Law Update and North Brooklyn Tenants Info Meeting” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the basement of Lutheran Church of the Messiah, 129 Russell St. in Greenpoint. Here’s what’s on the agenda.

via FreeWilliamsburg

A random Meister piano

Today on the free list: one big-ticket item that’s a steal if you’re ready to take it on. An upright Meister piano is available in Carroll Gardens. The Craigslist poster says the turn-of-the-(20th)century instrument is “very striking in a charming, antique/vintage style. It’s really lovely to look at, although it needs some work.” Yep, some work would be expected of a 100-year-old free piano. Its listed needs include random key-replacement, hing-replacement and some aesthetic surface repair. But the poster says it “could clean up nicely.” Seriously, though, if you’re in the market for a piano and willing to put in the work, the price can’t be beat. Also, be prepared for a heavy-duty moving operation. Full ad here.

New study: NYC’s not very smart [Gothamist]
Slopers on the Gowanus Whole Foods [NY Observer]
Tiny terrariums going from market to museum [BK Eagle]
Count ‘em: 50 sample sales in the next two weeks [Racked NY]
Edible holiday gifts that give back [NY Times]
Storefront to show your texted neighborhood needs [Ditmas Park Blog]
Who are your favorite bodega cats? [Kensington Prospect]
Vote for your favorite nabe in the Curbed Cup [Curbed NY]
Tonight: BK Hookup’s naughty holiday office party [FiPS]

Remember this?

It’s not even winter, and one of the thrills of next summer is already knocking on the door. Celebrate Brooklyn!, the summer-long concert series that’s the reason to spend a warm evening in Prospect Park in recent years, is looking for a new t-shirt design for 2011. The series’ organizer, BRIC Arts/Media, is holding a t-shirt design contest between now and Jan. 31, 2011. Whether you’re “an aspiring artist or designer squatting in Bushwick… or just a constant doodler in your 9-5 cubicle,” submit a design, get chosen by the judges at BRIC, and you’ll win a “Friend” summer-long membership that includes four reserved seats and tent-access for every regular show, plus two comp tickets to a benefit show and more. (more…)

Photo from the Haystack Needle

Today’s entry, Anarchy in a Jar jam, is our first from a writing-in, Brokelyn-tee-winning gift scout. (Congratulations, Anne!) These BK-made jams, jellies and preserves come in what Anne calls “interesting flavors your Midwestern family members haven’t seen before.” And with varieties like “Boozy Apple Preserves with rum-soaked currants, cardamom & blood orange” and “Lime and Pandan Marmalade,” we’re inclined to agree (here’s pandan, because we know you’re wondering too). The many out-there flavors come in 4-ounce jars and usually run $5-$6 depending on where you buy. They’re available at Market in Ditmas Park, Greene Grape Provisions in Fort Greene, BK Farmacy in Carroll Gardens and other spots around the borough. But if you can’t make it out, don’t worry—your fruity spreads can be biked(!) directly to your door.

We were taken with these capsules of mossy green from our first squint to peer inside. From afar, Twig Terrariums are… cute—your garden variety mini ecosystem in a jar. But get up-close, and you see the detail worth straining your eyes for: the hand-crafted fisherman by the aqua-pebble stream, or the half-inch high couple tending to their mossy front yard. These tiny scenes (and many others) are the work of two Brooklyn gals, and we found the terrariums at one of our favorite spots from last year’s holiday gift list, Cog & Pearl (190 Fifth Ave. at Sackett St.) in Park Slope. The store’s got them in all shapes and sizes, but perfect for our list are the terrariums-in-light-bulbs ($20 and $25) and the $25 DIY-in-a-jar version (for the more dexterous).

Photo via Brownstoner

These public auctions that pop up now and then are always good for a glimpse of what kind of home just might, conceivably, be a remote possibility at some point in our lives. A Kings County Real Property Auction is set for next Tuesday, Dec. 7, and Brownstoner picks out a few items that are likely to pique considerable interest. There’s a three-story MacDonough St. brownstone starting at $295K, a Park Slope brownstone at $950K and a place in Bed Stuy for $290K. But take a look at the full auction ad, and you’ll see some intriguingly cheap listings, with a handful starting around $100K. We’re not sure where some of these places are, but they’re real houses in Brooklyn. And those price tags are hard to ignore. What do you think, would you head to one of these auctions with 10 percent in hand for a shot at a building of your own? The full ad’s here.

via Brownstoner

What the Gowanus Whole Foods will look like [via Brownstoner]
Red Hook bees… hooked on red [NY Times]
Restaurants growing leery of discount sites [Eater NY]
How entrepreneurs are succeeding with Kickstarter [Mashable]
A meat-up-to-married fairy tale [FiPS]
The best new burgers in NY [TONY]
The first annual Ditmas Park trivia night, tour & pub crawl [DP Blog]
Board-game olympics, post-apocalyptic films in Bushwick, more [the skint]