Small Arts Venue Casts a Weary, Yet Hopeful, Eye On Barclays Center

Both pitfalls and positives seen from opening of mega-arena in September.

As a resident, Terry Greiss is one of many neighborhood voices that have been critical of Atlantic Yards redevelopment, including the still-rising Barclays Center. But as executive director of Fort Greene's Irondale Center, Greiss' feelings about the mega-project are decidedly more mixed—a sign of the many challenges and opportunities awaiting small local cultural venues as the September opening date for the 18,000-seat arena draws closer. "The jury is out about whether it’s going to be a good thing or a bad thing," Greiss said of Barclays' imminent arrival. On the one hand, Greiss said, the prospect of thousands of ticket-buyers descending on the neighborhood was an exciting one. However, for venues like Irondale, its neighbors at South …

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Jimmy Kimmel to Broadcast Late Night Show From BAM

The comedian will return to his birthplace of Brooklyn to tape five live episodes of his show.

Update, 2:56 p.m.: This just in from BAM president Karen Brooks Hopkins on news Monday of Jimmy Kimmel Live's planned tapings this fall: "We're thrilled to have Brooklyn native Jimmy Kimmel bring his wonderful program to our Harvey Theater and culturally-vibrant borough for a week. Considering the wealth of local Brooklyn talent these days, our only question is will a week will be long enough?" -------- Comedian and talk show host Jimmy Kimmel will broadcast his show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" from Brooklyn Academy of Music's BAM Harvey Theater between Oct. 29 and Nov. 2—fitting, since the host was born in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Mill Basin. The five-day run will feature the new Brooklyn Nets, as well as the Barclays Center, in addition to …

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Sneak Peek at Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Visitor Center

20,000-square-foot building with a living roof and what may be the first two-walled event space opens on Wednesday.

With its 10,000-square-foot living roof, and an innovative design that includes a two-walled, leaf-shaped atrium, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s new visitor center offers a bold departure from the 102-year-old garden’s Beaux-Arts Palm House, also known as the 1917 Administration Building. The 20,000-square-foot glass, steel and concrete building is slated to open next week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony which Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to attend next Wednesday. But the press got a tour this week with its architects, the husband-and-wife team of Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi. “When I first came to the garden, I felt like I had discovered this place personally and wondered if anybody else knew about it. It felt infinite and …

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Celebrate Brooklyn! Summer Lineup Announced

The concert series will take place at Prospect Park Bandshell.

The 35th season of Celebrate Brooklyn! will kick off on June 5 with a free concert by reggae icon Jimmy Cliff, and continue with 32 shows throughout the summer. The concert series, hosted by Fort Greene’s BRIC Arts and held at the Prospect Park Bandshell, will also include performances by Ghostface Killah on June 23, Wilco on July 24, Wild Flag and Mission of Burma on August 3, M. Ward and Yo La Tengo on August 7, and Lyle Lovett on August 11. The full festival line-up can be found here. Most shows are free, with a $3 suggested contribution at the gate, while a few of the bigger names will perform ticketed concerts. Memberships are also on sale, which offer reserved seats and access to food and drink at the Friends of Celebrate Brooklyn! …

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UPDATE: Barbra Streisand Confirmed for Barclays Center Concert

Ticketmaster's web site confirms a concert appearance by the singer.

Update, May 9: Barbra Streisand has officially been scheduled to perform at the Barclays Center on October 11. Tickets will go on sale on May 21 at 10 a.m. For more information, visit Streisand's official concert site. Rejoice, fans of Babs! It seems that Brooklyn's own Barbra Streisand will indeed be performing at the Barclays Center this fall, says Atlantic Yards Report. According to the blog, the legendary singer’s name was spotted on Ticketmaster’s web site, including a page that shows a seating chart for the arena. No dates have been announced yet, though it is likely that Streisand will perform a series of concerts at the arena. “Ticket reps for the arena” have told the Brooklyn Paper that Streisand will be performing as well, so by …

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Brooklyn Museum Acquires Two New Works

A rare Mexican folding screen and a landscape by a Puerto Rican Impressionist will be on view at the museum this year.

The Brooklyn Museum has announced two new acquisitions – a rare Mexican folding screen, and a Impressionist landscape of Puerto Rico, both of which will be on view as a part of the traveling exhibit “Behind Closed Doors: Power and Privilege in the Spanish American Home.” The viceroy of New Spain commissioned the mother-of-pearl-inlaid screen in 1700, and at the time of the museum’s acquisition, was the only recorded surviving shell-inlaid folding screen, or biombo enconchado, that remained in private hands. The funds for the purchase of the screen came from the proceeds of the sale of Vasily Vereshchagin's Crucifixion by the Romans (1887), which sold last November at Christie's London for nearly $2.7 million. At the Brooklyn Museum are six…

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5 Things You Need To Know Today

The Weekend Tip: SAFE Disposal Event

A one-stop method to get rid of potentially harmful everyday items.

1. Showcasing several short and feature-length films, the 2012 Women of African Descent Film Festival includes Ja'tovia Gary's Deconstructing Your Mother, Rachel Johnson's White Sugar In A Black Pot and many more gems. Long Island University-Brooklyn (Spike Lee Screening Room), 1 University Plaza. Sat., 10 a.m., program begins; 12:30 p.m., reception. Free. 2. P.S. 20 Farms, the urban agriculture program at The Clinton Hill School, is holding a benefit sale of plants grown with loving care by our elementary school students. Madiba, 195 Dekalb Ave. Sat., 8 a.m. to noon. $2. 3. Bring your green thumb and come out to garden and get to know your neighbors at this Pratt Area Community Council-sponsored event. Tools will be provided. 189 Clifton …

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