Remember those BLUEBERRIES 🫐 we picked yesterday? well apparently the point is to make blueberry MUFFINS with them TODAY — July 11th — each year in fact when this tiny fruit-filled ‘holiday’ is celebrated — following the annual date designated to pick them (July 10th). . .
The Blueberry Muffin beauty shots you see above are from Chef Melanie Delacourt’s restaurant that was on 5th Ave in Park Slope Bklyn once upon a time called Le Succulent. Sadly it closed back in 2023. An immigrant from Paris — where she lived for as long as she had in her native Cameron — a classically French trained Chef, Melanie made amazing French-influenced West African cuisine: main dishes, sides, and such and she was also an excellent baker. These freshly-baked blueberry muffins she pulled out the oven on one of my pop by’s were and still are the most memorable ones i’d ever had, hence this sweet share…
************************************************************
A few years ago, I randomly stumbled across a low-key annual tradition that originated in Hurley NY and honors local history + architecture annually on the second Saturday in July: it’s called Stone House Day. And I’ve been adding it to my calendar ever since as a reminder to shout out a true community treasure: the The Old Stone House of Brooklyn (aka OSH)
So Happy Stone House Day❣️… to MY favorite stone house (and I’d bet yours once you know of it) — which is cosmically just a stone’s throw from my own household (and TFG HQ here in Brooklyn, NYC). OSH is rightfully considered to be the heart 💜 of our Park Slope community for a host of reasons too long to list…
🗓️ Check out their 👉🏽 amazing weekly (sometimes daily!) arts and community events 👈🏾 that take place on and near the OSH Grounds, including the Sunday Park Slope Farmers Market on 4th Street (Sundays, 9am–2pm via Down to Earth Markets).
**🎭🎪🎤 ATTEND AMAZING EVENTS
at OSH !**
SAVE THE DATE✨August 22, 2026 ✨ For the 250th Commemoration of The Battle of Brooklyn! 🇺🇸 🇬🇧
Check out their Battle of Brooklyn 2026 EVENTS SCHEDULE, where you can register for exciting August events that explore the history of the Old Stone House and Brooklyn during the American Revolution.
*************************************
Last-ish for now, as a Resident Food & Public History Advisor for OSH, I’m delighted to share highlights herein from one of their most amazing annual events that takes place in early June each year…
For this year’s soirée, I was once again crafted custom cocktails — complete with the now annual “Cocktail Coloring Bar” element… (click link for more info on my 👉 special-occasion concoctions 😉) to help bring to life the theme that the OSH team festively calls:
🌟 Rock the House 2026: A Grown-Up Benefit Party for the OSH Gardens and Playground! 🌟
***********************************
PLUS: Public History’s Always in Action at OSH !
At OSH I love the opportunities to collaborate with Executive Director Kimberly Maier, Education Director Maggie Weber, and Scholar-in-Residence , Dr. Dylan Yeats on essential projects, particularly those related to:
Uncovering the Legacy of Slavery at OSH — exploring what happened to those enslaved here and their descendants, and how to better commemorate this important and inclusive history.
If you’re interested in supporting meaningful public history work like this, make a donation to OSH and earmark it toward public history programming.
💸 Why Your Support Matters:
OSH depends on community contributions—both local and virtual—to fund its:
Historical and cultural programming
Environmental education & public art
Maintenance of the lush and diverse gardens
JJ Byrne Playground and Washington Park stewardship
🎁 Your Donations help keep the good growing 🌱 . DONATE TODAY — it’s Stone House Day!
For info on strategic giving or sponsorships, contact Executive Director Kimberly Maier at 718-768-3195 or kmaier@theoldstonehouse.org
🎙️ BONUS: TFG Messages from the OSH Grounds
********************************************************************
IN CLOSING, KEEP IN MIND: 🇺🇸July 4th🎆 only marked the start, the official & formalized spark….
Commemorate & Celebrate Many of 🇺🇸 America’s 250th Milestones 🎆🎂 with Revolutionary FOOD & DRINK…
🍳 CHECK OUT my JAMES HEMINGS HUB on Linktree to find out WHY I've established #JamesHemingsJuly and discover the culinary legacy of America's first master chef. . .
+ learn all about one of our nation’s most important ‘Founding Father’ Chefs - James Hemings (b. 1765) …. 👆🏽👉
🖇️ You can SEE 👀 my whole LINKTREE for at a glance updates + SUBSCRIBE so you won't miss a single bite of our shared hidden histories as they continue to unfold…