50 Kent is open with picnic tables! (Image courtesy of Kent Ale House)
Happy Weekend Greenpointers! It’s going to be hot out there as temperatures rise into the 80s on Saturday afternoon, but hold off on any large celebrations, especially in front of Williamsburg bars.
The first phase in the reopening of New York City businesses will begin on June 8th, when as many as 400,000 people could return to work in retail (with curbside and/or pick-up only) manufacturing and construction.
Five other regions in New York can now also enter phase two of reopening, Governor Cuomo announced on Friday, allowing for office workers to return, select barbershops to reopen, and real estate services and in-store retail to resume.
And if you’re looking to commence or add to your garden heading into summer, then stop by Greenery Unlimited (91 West St.) during their sidewalk sale on Saturday and Sunday with plenty of vegetables and herbs to bring home.
Skyline Drive-in is coming to Oak Street on the Greenpoint Waterfront.
With indoor movie theaters and even Broadway not reopening in New York for the foreseeable future, Greenpoint will have a drive-in cinema just in time for summer.
Skyline Drive-In NYC (1 oak St.) held a test-run on Tuesday night with the screening of the live-action version of “Aladdin.” Dozens of cars were spotted queuing along West Street at sunset to enter the large lot at the site of the former Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse. Continue reading →
The indoor biophilic plant paradise next to Transmitter Park will hold a sidewalk sale this weekend with a variety of vegetables and herbs to mark the (almost) start of summer.
Greenery Unlimited (91 West St.) celebrated its grand opening in February 2019 awing plant lovers with an indoor irrigation mist machine and a gigantic living wall, not to mention an impressive array of plants available for purchase.
Following a brief hiatus of the brick-and-mortar store while focusing on home delivery during the coronavirus pause, Greenery Unlimited returns Saturday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. with a sidewalk sale. Continue reading →
Broken Land’s popular frozen pina coladas are now available to-go.
While hanging out at a bar sipping cocktails seems like a distant memory, our cocktail present and future is hopefully not too far off. For now, several local bars are serving their cocktail menus for takeout, either via walk-up window, service or pre-order. Open container laws seem to be quite lax (though legally, nothing’s changed), so take that cocktail for a socially distant walk or on a bar crawl through the neighborhood to these spots serving excellent to-go drinks:
Magazine (130 Franklin St.) If there were an award for Most Creative Pandemic Pivot, Magazine would win. After a long closure, the quirky bar is back with lanky neon souvenir cups and a man in a chicken costume, known as the ‘social distancing chicken,’ dancing in the bar’s window. The menu includes frozen hurricanes and pre-batched classic cocktails. Spicy popcorn is still free, and a new food menu includes gumbo, po’ boys and watermelon.
Vamos Al Tequila (162 Franklin St.) The local Mexican restaurant is back with takeout cocktails, a full food menu, plus daily specials. Starting at 11 a.m., order frozen margaritas and piña coladas, palomas, mojitos and more to go. Call 718-383-0808 to order in advance. Continue reading →
In a time where public health and artists’ careers are at risk, Masks In The Wild boldly and resourcefully looks to uplift each of these vital entities. A grassroots project that provides aid to artists who want to create and distribute free masks to loved ones, healthcare workers, and those in need, Masks In The Wild is timely and, per its permit, an “essential business” aimed at removing the fear and stigma surrounding our new normal of mandatory mask-wearing in public. Through its mission, artists are commissioned to create, and the public benefits via the sharing of secure and free resources.
Launched by Wallplay and 25 Kent, Masks In The Wild symbolizes the innovative and community-centered ethos of Brooklyn creatives. All New York City artists are welcome to apply for a commission online, and to learn more, here is our Thursday Spotlight interview with Wallplay founder Laura O’Reilly.
Greenpointers: Your main work is with Wallplay, which based in the neighborhood. Can you explain the scope of your work there for those who may be unfamiliar? How has the company evolved in your time of leadership?
Laura O’Reilly: Wallplay is a hyperlocal platform that programs and operates vacant spaces with commercial pop-ups and art exhibitions until landlords secure permanent tenants. I founded the company with my best friend and cousin Alessandra DeBenedetti in 2013. Currently, Wallplay operates 14 spaces throughout New York City. In the summer of 2019 we partnered with 25 Kent to transform their ground floor spaces into “community hubs.” We strive for our spaces to be powered by the local community by facilitating the ability for locals to apply to program the spaces that inhabit their neighborhood.
New Yorkers model the distributed masks; see more on Instagram @masksinthewild
Talk to us about the genesis of Masks in the Wild — are you an artist yourself and/or did you want to utilize our creative community to its fullest potential?
I grew up in Manhattan in the performing arts community and the thing that has always stood out to me is the electricity in the street. You may see a man naked in a trench coat one minute and the most beautiful sax performance behind a piece of street art the next. Masks In The Wild was born out of a desire to help artists connect in a safe and essential way while bringing that same magic to the street that makes New York, New York. Instead of sterile medical masks artists can help create a new emotional response and bring a smile to New Yorkers who have been isolating. It’s been a traumatic experience for many. Art heals and we need to connect to art now more than ever.
A massive school of fish was spotted in Greenpoint’s most famous Superfund site on Wednesday morning.
Newton Creek has seen it’s fair share of pollution and oil spills, but efforts to restore native habitats by environmental groups such as the Newtown Creek Alliance have helped to bring back life to the waterway over the past decade.
Greenpointers recently spoke with NCA’s executive director Willis Elkins who says that the site of fish is becoming more common on the creek, but that the amount of vessels passing through the East River estuary has not slowed during the coronavirus crisis. Continue reading →
Berry Street seen here as an ‘open street’ for pedestrians and cyclists.
Happy Memorial Day Weekend Greenpointers! There’s reason to celebrate as coronavirus hospitalizations are trending downward in New York while the state launches a testing initiative with 52 pharmacies to screen symptomatic people.
Aside from the pharmacy pilot, local coronavirus testing sites include Greenpoint Urgent Care (795 Manhattan Ave.), Williamsburg Urgent Care (154 N 7th St.) and Northwell GoHealth Urgent Care Center (145 Kent Ave.).
Expanding on the city’s temporary pedestrian-only ‘open streets,’ Mayor de Blasio on Friday introduced an additional 13 miles of open streets starting Saturday morning, including:
-Russell St. from Nassau Ave. to Driggs Ave.
-Grand St. from Roebling St. to Marcy Ave.
-North 3rd St. from Kent Ave. to Metropolitan Ave.
– South 9th St. from Berry St. to Driggs Ave.
State beaches are open this weekend, while city beaches remain accessible in a very limited capacity with no lifeguards on duty as swimming in the water and congregating on the sand are off-limits. Over at the Rockaways, Riis Park Beach Bazaar will have concessions for takeout only at their year-round restaurant The Dropout, but no alcohol will be served and it’s still not allowed on the beach.
The number of coronavirus hospitalizations in New York may be on the decline for now, but the face mask is here to stay to help stop the spread of the highly transmissible virus. Many local businesses and independent creators in Greenpoint and Williamsburg are now designing and selling their own masks. Consider buying local and shopping from any of these sellers while keeping your neighborhood safe:
Line and Label (568 Manhattan Ave.) is offering handmade mask in sizes, kids, regular and large. Order online to have a product shipped to you or opt for contactless pick up at their store.
Small Home (100 Freeman St.) – Small Home is a independent artist-run shop that has recently started crafting their own face masks in large and small sizes in a bandit-style for layer comfort, including pockets for filters; direct message on Instagram to order.
