Open these doors in person at 10 Grand Army Plaza and see for yourself why we need to keep them swingin’.

The Brooklyn Public Library is super broke right now. Like, the Central Library needs new doors kind of broke. To be fair, the doors are 70 years old, iconic and cannot be repaired — not an easy fix. However, the BPL is up for a $250,000 grant to get new doors (exact replicas of the old ones) through Partners in Preservation, a program from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. And just like many of us brokesters, the BPL will only get that money by winning a web-based election for it …. that they need you to vote in EVERY DAY until MAY 21. The library is in competition with a bunch of other projects, including the Guggenheim, the Coney Island B&B Carousel and the Apollo Theater.

But seriously, what better architectural element to preserve than the symbolic gateway to knowledge in our treasured borough. (more…)

Time for a new one, eh?

We at Brokelyn appreciate government handouts wherever we can find them. We also hate high energy bills from our old, crappy home appliances. That’s why we’re so excited that coming this month is a rebate program through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority that gives you $350 off qualifying refrigerators and $250 off qualifying washing machines. Eligible low-end fridges start around $650, washers at $450, which means you could be getting more than 50 percent off! Whatta deal! For those of us (probably most Brokelyn readers) who rent our apartments, it’s a good idea to check your lease to see who is responsible for the cost/replacement of these appliances in your apartment. So if you’re in need of one, you might want to tell your landlord of this deal, which might actually motivate them to take care of something right away before the offer expires. (more…)

Fruit? Share! Via Local Roots NYC.

If your idea of eating local is a Devil Dog and Sprite purchased at the bodega down the street, you need some schoolin’ from your local CSA. But if the fear of paying for a whole season where all you get is a box of turnips ever week, you should try Local Roots NYC. Local Roots tweaks the traditional CSA format: For one, you can buy shares of various different products such as bread or fruit instead of being forced to buy the veggies; Two, it offers a flexible payment schedule so you don’t have to pay for the whole season up front. Not only do they provide the standard CSA fare such as veggie, fruit and egg shares from local organic farms, they also have what’s called a “Brooklyn Share,” which features a rotation of artisanal Brooklyn-made products for you to pick up every week, such as Brooklyn Soda Works, Rick’s Picks and Ovenly.  (more…)

Sure they can help you. But they won't make it easy.

You’ve probably heard about calling 311, either because you saw the number on a poster in the subway or because you called it to report a broken traffic light and wanted to rip your hair/weave/beard out dealing with the bureaucratic madness. For the uninitiated, 311 is the city’s catch-all complaint line where you can report problems and get answers on most NYC issues, from tracking down something you left in a taxi to reporting bed bugs. But navigating it can be tricky. We recommend this post from the writer behind the aging, agitated civil servant pseudonym Gwenna D’Klein of New York Journal who created a practical guide to calling 311. The guide includes the right vocabulary to use, attitude to have and ways to follow up with your problem. For instance, she explains why you need to be insanely specific about the location of your complaint and how to phrase your problem so you don’t unwittingly end up with an inspector from the Department of Environmental Protection coming to your apartment for your noise complaint about the bar downstairs. In other words, use this as a tour guide to navigate the sometimes-tricky maze that is 311. (more…)

Giving to charity feels like something non-Brokesters do — those people who can have their accountants write this stuff off on their taxes and then go to fundraisers with pearls on, etc. A new organization, CharitySub, is looking to change that image and make do-gooding easier for our kind … for only $5 a month! AND the founders are from Carroll Gardens, so you’ll be supporting your community on two levels. It’s double righteous! (more…)

A DC WIN event last month. Via WIN's Flickr.

Calling all ladies who are in the media and communications field, or interested in breaking into that racket: join the ladies of Women’s Information Network New York City chapter (aka WIN-NYC) for a FREE evening of networking and friend-making! The group is a new local chapter of the popular DC-area organization that holds great networking events and discussions for Democratic, pro-choice, media-savvy, professional women. The event will be tomorrow (Feb. 16) from 7-9pm at Entwine, a super classy wine bar on 765 Washington Street in the West Village (worth the trip: I ran into Jay-Z on my walk to the train last time I was there). There will be drank specials, including $4 beers. Come with your friends, or bring a co-worker you’ve been wanting to hang out with in a carefree, but professional atmosphere.  (more…)

Etsy represents the best and worst of the world’s creativity, or lack thereof (old doesn’t equal kitschy). With the magic of the internet, you can buy original handmade crafts and vintage treasures from all over the world. It’s a beautiful thing, but we at Brokelyn want to support our local artisans—especially those who go beyond the Scrabble tile cufflinks, things with owls on them, and stuff made out of tree bark that have become ubiquitous at craft fairs everywhere. With V-Day a week away, but really just because, we scoured Etsy for some Brooklyn-made merch that caught our fancy. (more…)

Judge a connection by its cover. Illustration by Sophie Blackall.

We’re all well acquainted with Craigslist Missed Connections, but how many of us actually check them? Or expect to see our lost mate in person again? This is especially true on the subway, where our passions can be derailed (scary pun not intended) by the frenzy of rush hour or an ill-timed transfer. The New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn is having a FREE Missed Connections Valentine’s Day Party on Feb. 14. Not only will your soul mate potentially be present, but New York Times writer Alan Feuer will also read some of the best Craigslist Missed Connections and illustrator Sophie Blackall will sign copies of her book, Missed Connections: Love, Lost & Found . Don’t forget about the beer provided by Brooklyn Brewery! Those retro subway cars at the museum are prime make-out spots, and the old turnstiles have lots of potential for flirty hand touching when you and your crush pretend to insert tokens (more…)

Winter Jam 2011. Photo by Alison Meier via Flickr.

Bad news for all of us who count on Prospect Park for our free outdoor winter sports fix: the New York City Parks & Recreation Department has been forced to cancel its annual Winter Jam, scheduled for February 4th, because “it is simply too warm to make snow.” No, it’s not that they were expecting natural snow and there’s none in the forecast. The air and ground will actually be too warm to make FAKE snow.

Climate change is a real downer, and now that you can’t repurpose trash bags as sleds (greener than buying a new plastic sled) this February, it’s up to all of us to keep the winter spirit alive… or completely give up and pretend it’s spring!

As an alternative, the Parks Department suggests going skating instead — but wait, Prospect Park’s Wollman Rink is closed for renovations. Is it time to shlep out to Abe Stark skating rink in Coney Island? Anyone been?