Community Corner
🌱 Michelin Star Disparity + Books Unbanned + Purposeful Redesign
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Brooklyn.
Hi there, Brooklyn. I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town. Today we have these stories and more...
- Michelin-starred chef surprised to learn he is the first Black chef in NYC to receive the honor
- Brooklyn Public Library wins two more awards after librarians named best of the year
- Bed-Stuy's Restoration Plaza is get an upgrade, one planners hope will promote equity in the borough
But first, today's weather: ☀️ Sunny and cooler. High: 46 Low: 36.
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Here are the top stories in Brooklyn today:
1. Charlie Mitchell is currently the only Black Michelin-starred chef in the city, and he hopes that changes soon. Mitchell is executive chef and co-owner at Clover Hill in Brooklyn Heights and in 2022 won Michelin's New York Young Chef Award, making him the first and only Black chef in the Big Apple to reach that status. The menu at Clover Hill, development by Mitchell when he opened the restaurant just over a year ago, consists of an eight-course tasting menu that changes according to and is inspired by seasonal flavors and ingredients — these days, that's means plates like crab tartlets, Long Island fluke and Spanish octopus. When Clover Hill received a Michelin star, and Mitchell his Michelin honor, he couldn't believe that someone before him in a city as big as New York hadn't won before: "You just assume that someone has already done this, you know, it doesn't cross your mind that you may be the first or second to do really anything, especially here in New York City," he told TODAY. Mitchell also pointed out that the long shifts and low wages can be a deterrent for many young chefs. He also noted that for other Black and people of color, entering the industry can seem unappealing — it's an "aggressive" environment, Mitchell said, "led by people who don't look like us."
2. On Thursday, the Brooklyn Public Library announced that it is adding two Anthem Awards to a growing list of accolades. The library's main branch in Prospect Heights has managed to win a mission-based honor from the Webby Awards and a first-place prize for its Books Unbanned Project. To top it off, the library also received a bronze medal for its flagship podcast called "Borrowed" which discusses all things library related. Books Unbanned is an initiative by the BPL to combat the rising tide of censorship sweeping the nation right now — the library is offering e-cards to teens across the country, granting them access to the library's extensive online collection. Since April 2022, 6,000 teens have applied for the card from all 50 states. Just a few months ago, a handful of librarians at BPL received the highly coveted Librarian of the Year Award for their work on the Unbanned project. Learn more about Books Unbanned and the "Borrowed" podcast at the links below.
3. Bed-Stuy's Restoration Plaza is getting a major upgrade; one the city hopes will better Brooklyn by working to close its racial wage gap. On Thursday, The Restoration Corporation announced its plans to build a 840,000 square-foot multi-purpose campus at the current site of the Restoration Plaza on Fulton Street. The redesign is the brainchild of heralded British architect Sir David Adjaye, who recently designed the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Two towers, 13 and 16-stories, will abut the plaza, and the standing Billie Holiday Theatre will expand as a four-story cultural center. The Corporation's primary goal for this redesign is to create both a local and global hub dedicated to closing Brooklyn's racial wealth gap. The 'Innovation Campus' will focus on Black wealth creation via technology and job training. More than 600,000 square-feet of Class-A office space for these financial inclusion and asset-building programs are included in the restoration plan. Learn more at the link.
Today in Brooklyn:
- Farmhouse Family Day: Wonderful Weaving, The Wyckoff House Museum, Today @ 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Details
- Boog Lit Fest, Freddy's Bar, Today @ 2 - 7 p.m. | Details
- BCC's Just for Laughs Showcase: Characters, Eris, Today @ 6 - 7:30 p.m. | Details
- Lock & Key Valentines Comedy Show, Coney Island Brewery, Today @ 6 - 10 p.m. | Details
- Moments of Black Genius in the American Theater: A Concert Reading, The Billie Holiday Theatre, Today @ 2 p.m. & 7 p.m., Sunday @ 3 p.m. | Details
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Saturday! I'll see you around.
— Carlie Houser
About me: I'm a recent grad based in Brooklyn, NY. I love to write, run, read, and find new restaurants and venues around the city.
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