Brooklyn-Born

Rana Fifteen’s Iskender steak surrounded by a family-style feast from the Aegean Coast and Western Turkey. Photo: Michael Tulipan October in Brooklyn brings loads of new restaurants, cozy new menu items, and perfect outdoor eating weather , but at my house, after two and a half years of avoiding Covid, my family finally fell victim to its wrath. I’ve been caregiving instead of fall-feasting, but I’ve got a long list of new spots, fall specials, and autumnal sweets that I’m dying to try. Plus, I’ve got a hot tip on the local frozen food company that will come to your rescue , should a plague fall upon your apartment, too. Stock your freezer like a chef Time to stock your freezer with the new Kid’s Table options from Ipsa Provisions. Photo: Frances F. Denny Ipsa Provisions , headquartered on Frost Street in Williamsburg, will change the way you think about frozen meals. Ipsa puts great ingredients in dishes that are made to reheat without fuss, like a warming kimchi stew with r

Cops arrested a 33-year-old man after a car chase that left five officers injured Oct. 12. Holmark Garces allegedly abducted his girlfriend in Suffolk County, drove to Brooklyn and got off the Belt Parkway at exit 4. Cops chased him and boxed him in on 12th Avenue and 86th Street, but two police cars crashed, injuring three officers. Two other officers were hurt trying to apprehend Garces. Photos by Loudlabs News NYC Cops said they also found a knife in the suspect’s car. All five officers were treated at Maimonides Medical Center and released. Garces is expected to be charged in Suffolk County for the alleged abduction. So far, he has been charged with two counts of reckless endangerment, obstructing governmental administration, fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle, aggravated unlicensed operator, failure to obey traffic device, traffic device violation, a red light violation and a one-way violation. Photos by Loudlabs News NYC The

“Desperate Characters” by Paula Fox remains as relevant today as the day it was published. Photo: Meredith Craig de Pietro This story is part of our “ Brooklyn Classics ” series about famous and underappreciated books set in the borough. Paula Fox wrote Desperate Characters over 50 years ago, but the book remains as impactful now as it was then. Part of Brooklyn’s literary canon, it’s about a fraying marriage set against the backdrop of gentrification, a topic that is still front of mind for most of us living in the city as rental prices soar. The story centers on an estranged couple, Otto and Sophie Bentwood, who live in a brownstone in an unnamed neighborhood that reads as our current Boerum Hill/Cobble Hill. After a stray cat bites Sophie on the hand, she believes she may have rabies, and her throbbing, swollen wound becomes a stand-in for the changing and unsafe city around them. The Bentwoods’ world takes place in seedy, 1960s New York, a chaotic place where they’re trying

Brooklynites celebrated Italian heritage Saturday at the annual Columbus Day Parade on 18th Avenue. The march, sponsored by the Federation of Italian-American Organizations, included elected officials, school bands, the NYPD, Boy Scouts of America and many others. The march began on 61st Street and ended at Il Centro on Benson Avenue. Msgr. David Cassato celebrated a pre-parade Mass at St. Athanasius Church, 6115 Bay Pkwy. Grand marshals included First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo, P.S. 112 Principal Jennifer Potter, retired U.S. Army Col. Patrick Mahaney and Empire State Bank CEO Philip Guarnieri. A girl wears a patriotic gown. Eagle Urban Media/photos by Ted General Jack Spatola, FIAO president and parade executive chair, said the event was a celebration of diverse cultures. Eagle Urban Media/photos by Arthur De Gaeta “In a diverse society, our Italian cultural heritage is treasured as a keeper of pride and integrity,” Spatola told this paper.

The Bay Ridge Community Council will sponsor its 70th annual children’s art contest next week. Formerly known as the Halloween Art Window Painting Competition, it is now called the Fall Art Poster and Window Painting Contest. This year’s program will take place Oct. 25, with a rain date of Oct. 27, according to BRCC executive secretary Maria Makrinos, who has overseen the contest for many years. For many generations, this event has been highly regarded for its creative paintings on storefront windows by elementary, middle and high school students. However, only fourth-graders submit posters, while kids from fifth grade through high school get to paint on windows. The participating artists receive gold, silver or bronze medals and certificates for their efforts at an awards assembly usually held at Fort Hamilton H.S. Makrinos and her committee of volunteers are encouraging merchants who would like paintings on their storefronts to contact her ASAP at 917-