I have a deep appreciation for June. It’s sunny and warm, and during my morning walk, I pass my neighbors' gardens, exploding with life. Patios and curbside dining are open, and everyone seems excited to get outside again. Coming off a long, cold winter, June marks the moment when the sun shines brightly enough that we are reminded of how much we love this world.
On a personal note, I’ve been writing the Bluedot Living Brooklyn newsletter since 2022, and I’ve loved every minute of it. But all good things must come to an end, and this is the final edition from me. Next edition, my talented colleague, Ella Spungen, will begin writing this newsletter. Thank you for being a wonderful reader — you’ll be in good hands with Ella.
– Michaela Keil, Editor, Bluedot Living Brooklyn
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Climate News, In Brief
Movies With A View: Brooklyn Bridge Park announced the lineup for its 26th annual free summer film series, Movies With A View, set for Thursdays in July and August at Pier 1’s Harbor View Lawn.
Water Fountain Thieves: The brass basins of nine of Prospect Park’s drinking fountains were stolen in May, leaving the Parks Department with a nearly $100,000 bill. Officials are assuming the basins were stolen to be sold as scrap metal.
The Quebec-NYC Power Line: No, it’s not a new train between two major North American cities; instead, the completed Champlain Hudson Power Express brings a significant influx of cleaner energy from Quebec to NYC’s electric grid, which is mostly powered by fossil fuels.
Upstate Rescue: Rangers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation last week rescued a Brooklyn hiker who had become stuck in a cave upstate. The unnamed victim “was really jammed in there more than I had expected. It was like his full body was stuck in a crevice that was basically designed the exact shape of him,” Forest Ranger Lt. John Gullen said.
Brooklyn Museum’s $48 Million Energy Renovation: A new energy efficiency renovation at the Brooklyn Museum will reduce the museum’s emissions by around 3,300 metric tons, the equivalent of removing 725 vehicles from the road.
A vape store. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
On a street corner in Bushwick, Brooklyn, a volunteer cuts a knife through a square container, releasing a flood of dead vapes in rainbow waves. The clear plastic box filled up after an Earth Day event at a nightclub across the street, where partygoers dropped off the eye-popping smoking devices rather than sending them to the trash or the bottom of a junk drawer.
The disposal box made up a tiny fraction of the 500 tons of vapes that New Yorkers throw out each year, but a small group of people in New York is trying to change that.
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Why are so many women deliberately avoiding the #1 supplement shown to help preserve muscle after menopause, support brain function, and help maintain independence?
For years, women have been misled about creatine, and it's causing unnecessary weakness and frailty. The truth about this misunderstood supplement could change everything about how you age.
The best Father’s Day gifts are useful, well made, and tailored to the person receiving them. Whether you're shopping for an outdoor enthusiast, a coffee devotee, or simply someone who appreciates thoughtfully made everyday essentials, our Father’s Day Gift Collection offers practical finds designed to be used and enjoyed for years to come.
Dear Dot,
My father recently passed away, and we’re clearing out his house. There’s a chest freezer in the basement that’s old but still works. I’ve been wanting one, so should I move my dad’s to my house? Or is it better to buy a newer, more energy-efficient one?
– Cathy
The Short Answer:
Dot typically advises reuse as our eco-friendly default, but energy-hungry old appliances are an exception — replacing them with efficient modern ones can be the better climate choice. For a freezer older than a decade, recycle it responsibly through local municipal, utility, or scrap programs, and replace it with a new or gently used Energy Star-certified model. If you don't actually need a freezer, going without is the greenest option of all.
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BLUEDOT LIVING KITCHEN
Photo by Vanessa Seder
When the weather heats up, it’s all too easy to slide into lethargy and reach for something less than nourishing in hopes of quenching what a certain sugary sports drink brand refers to as “that deep-down body thirst.” Instead, try this healthy, delicious, and all-natural juice recipe, customized to keep you alert and high-functioning even as you cool off and rehydrate.
BROOKLYN BIRD WATCH
A surprising gut feeling may help pigeons find their way home.
Animals use various techniques to navigate, including following the stars and remembering key landmarks. Birds, fish, and turtles orient themselves using Earth’s magnetic field as a compass. But it’s not yet clear how exactly they do this.
Christian Ziegler/Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior via AP
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].
Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card.
