Happy May! The sun is shining, the trees are green, and everything feels alive and wonderful. Take a bike ride, go to a greenmarket, smell some flowers, listen to the birds, and enjoy another beautiful day. (Or, do it all at once at your nearest greenmarket — local flowers are in season!)
– Michaela Keil, Editor, Bluedot Living Brooklyn
Climate News, In Brief
Sunset Park Greenway Opens: A ribbon-cutting ceremony last week celebrated the completion of the Sunset Park Greenway, a part of the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway project. The new greenway will provide safer commutes for pedestrians and cyclists and public green spaces for all.
A Pro-Bike Mayor: Mayor Zohran Mamdani, an avid bike fan, became the first mayor to ride the full 40-mile course at the TD Five Boro Bike Tour.
Safer Cycling Corridors: The city Department of Transportation announced plans for a street safety redesign along Bergen and Dean streets from Court Street to East New York Avenue. The 10 miles of road make up key cycling corridors. The mayor announced the effort while cycling with the Bergen Bike Bus.
Free Bike Helmets and Lights: The Department of Transportation is holding a series of giveaways to get New Yorkers excited about biking. Brooklynites can snag free bike lights from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 at the Tillary St. entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge bikeway, or on Friday, May 22, at the Prospect Park Machate Circle bike path at Parkside Avenue and Prospect Park Southwest.
Stormwater Management: The city Department of Environmental Protection will fund a $95 million stormwater management project in Homecrest as part of the department’s Cloudburst Management Program. The project aims to reduce flooding during short, intense storms by using small-scale infrastructure to move stormwater off of streets without overwhelming sewer systems.
Parking Lot Into Park: Borough President Antonio Reynoso and Councilmember Lincoln Restler are making another push at reclaiming a parcel of parkland that, for years, has been used as a parking lot for judges.
Give Your Opinion: The Department of Transportation is asking for public input on where to locate new secure bike storage lockers. In the feedback portal, New Yorkers can suggest locations on a map and share what types of bicycles they would like to store and for how long, as well as any preferred amenities, like battery charging, tire pumps, or repair stations.
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NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura, Brooklyn Commissioner Martin Maher and leaders visit Seth Low Park to clean up and discuss improvements. Photo: Councilmember Susan Zhuang
NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura visited Seth Low Park with Councilmember Susan Zhuang to take part in the weekly cleanup and tour the area.
“Seth Low Park is our community’s Central Park,” said Zhuang. “Schools use it for recess. It’s literally our backyard. We are so happy with all of the great work that’s been done here and thank Parks for it. I look forward to working with Commissioner Shimamura and Borough Commissioner Maher to continue to keep our beloved park clean and enjoyable for all.”
From wasting less food to choosing more plant-based meals or rethinking how you shop — small changes add up. We’d love to hear what’s different for you. This quick, 3-minute survey is a chance to reflect on your habits and help shape future Bluedot Living content around what matters most to you.
As a thank you, you’ll receive 20% off in our online store after completing the survey.
The 30th season of Rooftop Films begins at Green-Wood Cemetery this Friday, May 15. As the weather warms, outdoor movie nights, park picnics, beach days, and music festivals start filling the calendar. Nomadix, a 1% for the Planet member company, uses recycled materials to make versatile towels and blankets perfect for summer outings. The brand’s bestselling Original Towel ($39.95) packs down small and dries quickly, while the new 60” x 80” Blanket Towel ($64.95) comfortably fits two or three people. For concerts and outdoor screenings, the 60” x 72” Festival Blanket ($69.95) features a waterproof backing, while folding chairs ($79.95) make it easy to settle in for the evening.
Many, many readers wrote in to Dot to ask about plastic — are recyclers just scammers, how to recycle nontraditional plastics, what to do with old containers, and how to simply avoid the substance.
The Short Answer: Global plastic pollution is primarily a waste infrastructure problem (which impacts not just us, but also wildlife, ecosystems, and resources). Personal plastic exposure is a health problem. Let’s do our best to address both. Dot’s advice? Avoid plastic where you can, add your voice to the call for a Global Plastics Treaty, and follow these health-protecting practices:
Store and freeze food in glass or metal containers
Avoid plastic wrap and use beeswax wrap instead.
If you must use plastic, don’t put it in the dishwasher, microwave, or freezer, and toss it when it shows any signs of wear — scratches, cloudiness, and so on.
Don’t store acidic, fatty, or hot food in plastic: Those create a greater likelihood of plastic leaching chemicals into the food.
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BLUEDOT LIVING KITCHEN
Photo by Justin McChesney-Wachs
Did you know you can eat broccoli stems? If you haven't been enjoying the stems, you've been missing out! Broccoli stems hold up better when cooking than other vegetables. And their mild flavor makes it easy to dress them up or down. This stir-fry is a perfect way to enjoy this underappreciated treasure.
BROOKLYN BIRD WATCH
Birders in Brooklyn have become significantly more common thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, new birding clubs with an inclusive focus, and technological advancements like the eBird or Merlin apps.
Several organizers and birders shared with the Brooklyn Eagle how the hobby has expanded in the borough, with many noting that the attraction of more diverse birders has enriched the birding community.
The Great Egret, front, is much larger than the Snowy Egret. Photo: Loretta Chin/Brooklyn Eagle
The Bluedot Brooklyn newsletter is edited by Michaela Keil. If you have any questions, suggestions, ideas, or want to tell us what you’re doing, email [email protected].
