billburg.com - community affairs

What did you think of Williamsburg Walks 2009?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:27:30 -0400

Williamsburg Walks, the pedestrian festival that took place on Bedford Avenue on Saturdays in June and July this year, is inviting the public to share their opinions and ideas at a special feedback session.

Williamsburg Walks, sponsored by Neighbors Allied for Good Growth (NAG) and the L Magazine, are seeking to collect feedback about the event. The organizers aimed to make the event a true celebration of the neighborhood’s multifaceted identity and are actively seeking input from the community. They are inviting residents, merchants, and organizations to a feedback session on November 3^rd from 7 to 9pm, at the Senior Center, 270 Bedford Avenue, in Williamsburg (between N1st St. and Metropolitan Ave, right across from the Metropolitan Swimming Pool).

Says organizer GregorNemitz-Ziadie, “Every year we want to get closer to what the people in the neighborhood want Williamsburg Walks to be like”.

For more information, visit williamsburgwalks.org or contact Gregor Nemitz-Ziadie by email at williamsburgwalks (at) gmail.com or by phone at 617-331-2517.

Summer! Summer!

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:45:34 -0400

It has been an interesting summer, hasn't it?

First and foremost, moment of silence for Carlos Alverez. We'll all miss you.

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Happened to make it out to Brooklyn Kitchen's Kikuichi Cutlery demo -- sneak peek preview of their new space!! The space is going to be pretty amazing. Plans for more workshops and cooking classes, 2 full kitchens and dry goods available. The location on Skillman & Lorimer isn't going anywhere.

There's an older establishment over near the Grand Ave L stop which I recently had an amazing experience at. I stopped into Metro Photo & Camera Exchange last week on a whim. Total hidden gem. Also, the best for passport photos. I had just gotten a terrible passport photo around the corner, so I decided to try once more. The place always has signs outside for 50% off sales & I wasn't quite sure what I'd find inside. The woman working was very friendly. The light kit was set up with nice 3 point lighting for an even flattering color. It was quick & the pic looked great.

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Some reblogging of interest:

Planet Thailand closed.

Illegal gym on 117 South 3 Street.

Rezoning for the "Broadway Triangle". I'm not all that versed on the implications of this.

Completely neglected to mention the Fourth of July fire at Rosenwach Wood Tanks. No further update.

Stuff's going on

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:28:40 -0400

With the start of July, we're turning to the internet to tell us what's happening about town.

You've heard about Williamsburg Walks by now, haven't you? I think something special is going on for Fourth of July.

There have been a number of film shoots lately. The Resident was shooting (was being shot?) near Woodhull Hospital on June 30th. There's something in terms of filming over by S 6th & Kent, but no word online. Anyone know anything about it?

At least 16 breakins in the last week.

Some woman got roughed up in the subway by NYPD's first Hasidic cop.

Enough of the websurfing for now. See you at the opening at Desert Island on Friday?

End of June blog roll

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:38:01 -0400

A few interesting things have been happening in Williamsburg lately. Who's made it out to Williamsburg Walks? And the Northside Festival? What about Make Music New York?

Here's a few things that caught my eye in the last month:

Black Betty closed

Pedicab accident
Living in tents

A bunch of other stuff happened too. It rained a lot.

What did you notice?

June week 1 bloggish rollish

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:08:17 -0400

Not satisfied with your band's practice space? There will be some new options over at North 14th coming soon...

Ever wanted to step inside the Polish Slavic Center in Greenpoint? Go catch an opera performance there on June 28th.

In the gastro-adventure world, stop over at Mexico 2000 to try out Pulque for something to write home to mom about.

Curbed is talking about the squatters. Funniest comment on the post:

Those squatters should buy an apartment now. The value of apartments is jus going to go up and up.

Uh huh.

Oh, and this guy got a $3 mil settlement from getting hit by a Parks Dept truck 3 years ago.

Random blog roll

Wed, 27 May 2009 12:59:53 -0400

Zombie crawl this Sunday, starting at the Charleston at 2pm!

Spuyten Duyvil just opened up a gorgeous backyard for lounging & drinking.

Time's Up has a space in Williamsburg now! Opened up in March, they hold events & teach you how to fix your bike.

Almost summer... almost summer

Wed, 20 May 2009 13:13:47 -0400

The Summerscreen lineup is up! Instead of at the McCarren Pool, the movies will be screened at the McCarren park ballfields.

And remember, no drinking in the park. or spitting. or picking flowers.

Public space & bikes!

Tue, 12 May 2009 12:02:00 -0400

Williamsburg Walks 2009 has a Request for Proposals for art shade structures. Great exposure, potential collaborators and building costs covered. FInal choices will be made May 25th, so get your proposals in!

Got plans May 16th? Protest our lack of promised parks to make a statement. Afterparty in a parking lot.

What about May 17th? BUST is having their Spring Fling craftacular at Warsaw. Vegan cooking demos @ noon - 3:30!

Brilliant blog post on a recap of the last four years of Williamsburg-Greenpoint rezoning.

Remember the McCarren Pool Parties from last year & the year before? Well, with the construction on the pool the location has changed to the park on the Williamsburg waterfront. First show is listed as July 12th.

And in other news, this past weekend was the City Reliquary's 5th annual Bicycle Fetish Day. Heart.

Speaking of bikes, it's ride your bike to work day on the 15th!

Kent Ave bike lane...

Tue, 05 May 2009 12:17:48 -0400

So, what's really going on with the Kent Ave bike lane?

A few weeks ago there were rumors that the bike lanes would be removed completely!

Streetsblog's coverage to the recent article in the Brooklyn Paper clarifies that the DOT plan is to actually to create a protected two-directional bike path, with parking separated by a buffer, on the waterfront side of the roadway. The image below is actually for the proposed Prospect Park West, which is similar.

There haven't been any updated posts on Yeshiva World since the new plans have been unveiled. There aren't any DOT press releases about the new proposal at this time.

Third Ward is handing out bikes!

Mon, 04 May 2009 10:27:36 -0400

WIth a membership to Third Ward, to celebrate Bike Month, you can get a free customed designed bike!

There was a super awesome good time on Sunday at their Green Bikes Birthday Block Party, even with the drizzle.

Fundraising concert for NAG tonight

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:01:38 -0400

If you've got $5 and some time, head over to Union Pool tonight to support NAG's Listening Project.***Tuesday April 28*** North Brooklyn Story Project Concert Fundraiser

To support our North Brooklyn Story Project, an effort by our volunteer organizers to collect oral histories from residents, NAG is throwing a benefit concert at Union Pool featuring Rebecca Schiffman, The Blue Album Group and The Roulettes.

Tuesday, April 28, 8:00pm Union Pool 484 Union Ave @ Meeker $5 Suggested donation

MTA uses Twitter!

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:08:21 -0400

Woah.

http://twitter.com/nyc_mta

Okay, so Metro tells us it's not really the MTA. But! The L train is talking about having a blog. Talking trains, man.

Williamsburg Walks 2009!

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:54:29 -0400

We are pleased to announce that NAG & L Magazine are partnering this year to put on Williamsburg Walks. We are thrilled that they are taking over the reins. In order to make Williamsburg Walks even better than last year, they will be hosting an informational meeting for feedback on April 27th, 7pm, at the Swinging Sixties Senior Center on 211 Ainslie Street @ Manhattan Ave . Here's from their email:

The 2009 Williamsburg Walks is going to build on last year's success and celebrate the community on a sunny pedestrian Bedford Avenue. The event will be taking place every Saturday in June and July - starting June 6th - from noon to 9 pm.

This year, we are hoping to make the event even more enjoyable for the residents, merchants, and visitors of North Brooklyn. We realize from the feedback collected in 2008 that there is room for improvement. This is why we invite you to join us so you can give your opinion and share your concerns.

Questions? Contact the NAG office at 718-384-2248 or williamsburgwalks@gmail.com

New CSA in Williamsburg!

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:33:40 -0400

It's getting lighter outside & we can all feel spring coming. Our thoughts turn immediatedly to produce. Pleased to announce that there is now a new Williamsburg based CSA! And, surprisingly, there are still spots available!

Here's the official word:

We are proud to announce the launch of the Southside CSA, bringing fresh produce from MimoMex Farm in Orange County NY, to the Southside of Williamsburg! We are also excited to offer New York's first ever Wine CSA in partnership with Bridge Vineyards, bringing you great bottles from local vineyards!

Sign ups will be held at Bridget, 20 Broadway (between Kent and Wythe) from 6:30pm to 8:30pm Monday evenings. They will run for the whole of March and throughout part of April. To sign-up, please bring your checkbook and calendar.

Williamsburg Walks awarded a Streetsie Award!

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:09:16 -0500

Streetsblog has bestowed Billburg's Williamsburg Walks with a 2008 Streetsie Award!

Best Local Livable Streets Project: Despite a couple of rainy weekends, Williamsburg Walks on Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn was outstanding.

Read about all the 2008 Streetsie Awards here.

New program to prevent sexual violence in Williamsburg

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:21:04 -0500

Sexual violence exists everywhere. On November 24 a rape occurred in Williamsburg - we know this community is not immune. According to the Center for Disease Control, 1 in 4 women will be the victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime and nearly 80% of incidents of sexual violence are perpetrated by someone known to the victim. And since rape is the most underreported crime in the country, many of us know someone who has been the victim of sexual violence.

What would a world look like without sexual violence? Over the next five years, the NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault and several of New York City's rape crisis centers will be working with the Williamsburg community to prevent sexual violence.

It is not enough to treat the survivors of sexual violence after they have been victimized. And it is not enough to tell women to wear longer skirts, take a cab home after midnight or to drink less alcohol at a bar in order to prevent it. We want to do more. Project ENVISION is about creating a community that does not live in fear of sexual perpetrators, a community where everyone is free to walk down the street, whenever they want, without looking over their shoulders,a community where healthy and equitable relationships exist between partners and family members.

Our goal is to work in Williamsburg with community leaders, members and groups to identify how sexual violence impacts the community - and then eradicate it. We seek to reshape the social standards that promote sexual violence, be it at home, in schools, or in the neighborhood.

Right now, Project ENVISION is in the process of conducting research regarding sexual violence in Williamsburg. We are asking you, the people who live and work here, to tell us what goes on in your neighborhood - we need to know what you think causes sexual violence, what opportunities there are for prevention, and what resources exist in the community can help stop it before it starts. Once we have the information about what Williamsburg thinks, we will work with community leaders to develop projects to prevent sexual violence from the ground up.

Want to be involved? We need people from this area who are interested in participating in our research or interviews. We also need community members who are interested in the group - who want to be a part of the project's future and planning. You don't need a ton of time, and you commit only as much as you are able. All you need is a passion to live in a place where respect and equality matter.

For more information, please contact Veronica Green at veronicakgreen@gmail.com and Chris St. John at cstjohn@nycagainstrape.org.

Get involved with your community!

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:19:28 -0500

From the NAG BLOG:

Old and new residents in Williamsburg and Greenpoint have more in common than separates us. We all care about improving our quality of life, keeping our neighborhood affordable, being able to get around our neighborhood safely and quickly, and preserving the unique mixed character of our neighborhood. By working together, we can help address common problems that we cannot solve on our own.

Join us for a working meeting Thursday December 4, 2008 at 7p Kicking off NAG's 2009 Organizing Agenda

Holy Ghost Church Hall Basement 160 North 5th Street (between Bedford and Driggs)

Based on ideas generated by the community at our Oct 2, 2008 Town Hall Organizing Meeting and on feedback from a survey completed by community members, we propose the following issues as NAG's priority organizing issues for 2009:

Preserving Affordable Housing Options for Residents Rent stabilization is being undermined and the anti-harassment zoning provisions are going unenforced. There are also opportunities to get local residents into new affordable housing that is being built.

Improving Open Space and Access to the Waterfront The promise of new city waterfront parks made during the 2005 rezoning is in jeopardy and access to new waterfront spaces is being delayed.

Offering Safe and Quick Transportation Options For the Neighborhood The use of local trains and buses has surged, yet we are facing massive potential service cuts from the MTA. There is a lack of education about how to share the road among bikers and drivers alike, leading to more frequent conflicts on the road as the popularity of biking increases.

Improving our Quality of Life and Preserving Community Character Our commercial areas are losing their diversity and need more street furniture, trees and garbage/recycling collection. Local nightlife has many benefits, but we need to manage it better in areas where noise is disturbing residents. Construction activity is devastating to neighboring residents' quality of life, while buildings that were pulled down in the real estate boom are sure to remain vacant lots for years. Rezoning changes are being proposed in several areas of the neighborhood that will affect what kind of development can happen in the future.

Come prepared to roll up your sleeves and start organizing!

East River State Park proposed winter closing challenged

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:43:53 -0500

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) has proposed closing the East River State Park, which is located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, for three months. The Friends of the East River State Park, Inc. today announced that a letter to New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Commissioner Carol Ash was sent yesterday asking that the East River State Park remain open to the public during the winter season.

Signing onto the Friends of the East River State Park, Inc. letter are numerous elected officials, leading open space advocates and community organizations, including U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez, Assembly members Joe Lentol and Vito Lopez, Senator Martin Dilan and Senator-elect Daniel Squadron, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, Council members David Yassky and Diana Reyna, Trust for Public Land, Riverkeeper, The Nature Conservancy, Municipal Arts Society, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, Regional Plan Association, Neighbors Allied for Good Growth and El Puente.

The East River State Park, formerly known as the Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal (BEDT), has long been a part of Brooklyn's illustrious history. After years of battling waste corporations the community prevailed and the area between North 7 and 9th Streets became New York State's 160th state park. To further the goals of having community stewardship, the Friends of the East River State Park, Inc. was formed to help promote the park, increase community participation and fundraise. The Friends of the East River State Park can be reached at friendsoftheeastriverstatepark@gmail.com

Town Hall meeting on Monday!

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:22:32 -0500

Councilman David Yassky and State Senator-elect Daniel Squadron are hosting a Transportation focused Town Hall Meeting on Monday.

Date: Monday, 24 November Time: 6:00 pm

Location: Swinging Sixties Senior Center 211 Ainslie Street, corner Manhattan Avenue (Graham Avenue L stop, if you can get on the train)

More info:

http://www.brooklyn11211.com/archive/2008/11/transportation-town-hall.html

Vote Tuesday!

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:16:44 -0500

Don't forget to vote Tuesday!

Find your voting location: http://gis.nyc.gov/vote/ps/index.htm

Check out our upcoming events for tonight's parties for watching the returns! Read the forum for any discussions about the area's polling places.