BoCoCa neighborhood news: the Noel Pointer Foundation broke ground on its first permanent music school in a Cobble Hill firehouse, Brooklyn Science Spot is getting ready to open on Court Street, the Carroll Gardens Library is due back in late November, and Smith Street goes car-free this Saturday for Neighbors & Makers. Here is what is new in Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens:
Community & Events
Neighbors & Makers, Smith Street | This Saturday
Smith Street goes car-free for Neighbors & Makers, the annual street fair Brooklyn Bridge Parents runs with the Merchants of Smith Street (MOSS), on Saturday, October 17, from 10am to 6pm, rain or shine. Our free Kids Zone, on Smith Street from Degraw to Union Street, runs from 11am to 2pm with an obstacle course, magic shows at 11:30am and 1pm, a 12:30pm dance party with HYPE Dance, games, STEM building and hands-on crafts. Thank you to our event supporter, BASIS Independent Brooklyn. All the details here.
Carroll Gardens Library, 396 Clinton Street | Reopening late November
The landmarked Carnegie branch is now expected to reopen in late November, Council Member Shahana Hanif announced. Brooklyn Public Library told Brooklyn Bridge Parents that the elevator is the last major piece: once it is installed and inspected, the final work can begin, from new furniture and shelving to getting many thousands of books back on the shelves. The renovation adds a dedicated teen space on the mezzanine, new heating and cooling, new lighting and upgraded bathrooms. Until the branch is back, the pop-up library at 250 Baltic Street is open Monday and Tuesday 1–5pm, Thursday 3–7pm and Friday 10am–2pm.
New for Families
Noel Pointer Foundation music school, 299 DeGraw Street | Expected fall 2028
The Noel Pointer Foundation broke ground in early October on its first permanent music school and performance space: a $17.8 million city renovation of the 1857 firehouse at 299 DeGraw Street that adds soundproofed lesson rooms, a recording studio, a music library and gallery, an ensemble room and a courtyard, New York YIMBY reported. Completion is expected in fall 2028. The foundation has taught 29,000 Brooklyn young people to play string instruments, and Council Member Lincoln Restler said his office secured more than $2 million in this year’s city budget for the project.
Brooklyn Science Spot, 478 Court Street | Opening in the next two weeks
The two-floor science hangout Brooklyn Science Spot is getting its finishing touches and opens in the next two weeks, with a chemistry lab, a live animal room and a STEM toy shop upstairs. Fall after-school classes, grouped by age, run to December 13; hours will be 9am to 6pm, seven days. Birthday parties, holiday camps and school trips too.
The Caterpillar Room, 224 Court Street | Now open
The literacy and learning center that has spent six years accelerating young readers in Bay Ridge opened its second location on Monday, October 5, with five classrooms for pre-K through 6th grade and small-group reading, writing and math clinics of six to ten children. More in our feature on The Caterpillar Room.
Food & Drink
Smør Bakery, 361 Court Street | Now open
Smør Bakery, the Nordic-inspired bakery with shops in the East Village and Williamsburg, opened its Carroll Gardens location on October 1 at the corner of President Street: pastries, coffee, breakfast and lunch, plus a to-go window.
Radisa Osteria, 241 Smith Street | Reopened
Radisa Osteria reopened in September under a new team from Balera, with handmade Emilia-Romagna pasta from chef Maicol Cusumano and a wine list built on small Italian producers. Open daily from 5pm.
Real Estate & Development
Brooklyn Marine Terminal | Public design workshop November 18
The Cobble Hill Association is hosting a public workshop with designers from the city’s Economic Development Corporation on Wednesday, November 18, 6–8pm, at Christ Church, 326 Clinton Street, to present visuals and answer questions about design, public use and transportation around the Brooklyn Marine Terminal development. The project’s advisory task force meets before that, on Wednesday, October 21, 10am–noon, with a livestream.
Homes for sale in District 15
District 15 finished September with 157 active listings, up from 32 at the end of August and the highest since last September, but contracts did not rise with inventory, according to the Riolo Properties Team at Compass.
