Battle of the Bands, Fashion Shows, Mini Golf, Tour de Brooklyn bike ride and more

On June 1, Borough President Markowitz, along with Executive Vice President of Keyspan Corporation David Manning, Prospect Park Administrator Tupper Thomas, Heart of Brooklyn Executive Director Ellen Salpeter, CMJ founder Bobby Haber and Brooklyn Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen, announced the schedule and details of BrooklynBest 2005. This year’s extravaganza will be held on Saturday night, June 4 and all day Sunday, June 5. Events will take place in and around Grand Army Plaza. The Borough President unveiled Brooklyn’s new traveling mini golf course. Brooklyn fashion designers and their models showed off their latest designs and bike riders participating in Sunday’s Tour de Brooklyn helped to kick off Brooklyn’s summer fun. Transportation Alternatives Director of Membership and Events Dani Simons, Brooklyn Literary Council Chair Johnny Temple, Sports Director of the City Parks Foundation Mike Silverman, Regional Manager of Astoria Federal Savings James Griffin and Vice President of Community Relations for Citibank Michael Flanigan also helped launch this year’s BrooklynBest.

“BrooklynBest is a cultural smorgasboard,” said Borough President Markowitz. “From the coolest new music to cutting-edge fashion to dynamic literary talent and breathtaking fireworks, BrooklynBest illustrates why Brooklyn is the proud creative capital of New York City. Whether you’re 3, 33, or 93, there will be something that floats your boat at Grand Army Plaza or at one of our fabulous Heart of Brooklyn institutions. Because Brooklyn is number 1, at BrooklynBest you're getting the creme de la creme, the best of the best!”

“Brooklyn is really coming into its own, showing up in articles and magazines around the world,” said Executive Vice President of KeySpan David Manning. “We are thrilled to be a part of BrooklynBest 2005. This event celebrates our wonderful and unique borough by bringing together Brooklyn’s top talent and premier cultural institutions. KeySpan is proud to call Brooklyn our home.”

On Saturday, June 4, BrooklynBest features a free showing of Star Wars (1977) at 9:00 p.m. on two giant screens in the Long Meadow of Prospect Park and fireworks from Mount Prospect at 8:45 p.m. On Sunday, June 5, highlights include the new Brooklyn-themed mini-golf course, fabulous fashion shows, CMJ Five-Borough Indie Battle of the Bands, author readings, photo contest, Tour de Brooklyn family bike ride and Celebrity Path honorees. This year’s BrooklynBest will feature special programming with the Heart of Brooklyn – Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, and Prospect Park Zoo. For a complete schedule of events and more information visit www.brooklyntourism.org or www.brooklyn-usa.org or call 718-802-3846.

Children and adults will tee off at BrooklynBest’s first ever traveling miniature golf course. The Brooklyn-themed course will make its debut at Bailey Fountain by Grand Army Plaza from noon to 6:00 p.m. and will travel throughout the borough this summer. To play the course it will only cost $1 dollar for kids and $2 dollar for adults, with proceeds going to support Camp Brooklyn and CityParks Golf, a program of City Parks Foundation.

Fashion shows will be in front of the Brooklyn Museum at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Designers at today’s press conference included Yvonne Chu of Kimera, Charlotte Gaspard of C.Spot Designs, Myrdith Leon-McCormack of Myrjan Bridal, Bonnie Sandy Sterling of Bonnie & Clyde 2 Ya, Carla Selby of Carla's Creative Workshop and Ngozi Odita of Harriet's Alter Ego. Other designers participating in BrooklynBest include Pascal Alador and Derek Smith of A&S Jeans, Jimmy Dowd of St. James Clothing, Michael Green of Brooklyn Surfer, Inc., Jimi Gureje of Gureje and Roxi Suger of AngelRox.

The CMJ Five-Borough Indie Battle of the Bands runs from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the BrooklynBest stage at Grand Army Plaza and includes an opening act by 33Hz followed by the best 10 indie bands selected from over 200 submissions. This year’s competing bands are Cousin, Cut the Wires, d-Cyphernauts, Dutch Kills, Faith, The Fandanglers, Fast Breakin Classics, Graeme K, Jessie Diamond & The Thousand and Paul Brill. Steve “The Whistler” Herbst, International Whistling Entertainer of the Year for 3 years, will also perform.

BrooklynBest 2005 features an extraordinary line-up of the borough’s most creative and charismatic literary talent for adults and children. Readings will take place at the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the 2nd Floor Meeting Room.  Participating authors include Jonathan Ames, Alfred Gingold, Erica Simone Turnipseed, Carl Rux, Jennifer Egan, Jon Scieszka and Mo Willems.

BrooklynBest is presented by Borough President Markowitz, and the Brooklyn Tourism and Visitor’s Center, with presenting sponsor KeySpan Corporation, Robert B. Catell, Chairman. Additional support provided by Astoria Federal Savings, Boar’s Head Provisions, Brooklyn Cyclones, Citibank, NYC & Co. Foundation and the City Parks Foundation.

For more information and a list of participating restaurants the public can visit www.brooklyn-usa.org or www.timeoutny.com/dineinbrooklyn or call 718-802-3846.