Blog Buzz: What Economic Downturn?

The Greenpoint Avenue Bridge is getting a six million dollar makeover thanks to that federal stimulus thingy. You can see the progress with their fancy new “Stimulus Tracker”. Oooo, ahhhh. – City Room & NYC.gov

A $15-million reconstruction of deteriorated roadways and sidewalks in Greenpoint on Nassau Avenue from Bedford Avenue to Apollo Street and Monitor Street from Greenpoint Avenue to Nassau Avenue might also get done now since the federal stimulus money is paying for that other stuff. – Brooklyn Paper

Greenpoint boutique darling (and a favorite of the little sisters), Alter, is featured on Burda Style.

Ooooo a new restaurant is coming to town! A new restaurant called Anella in the defunct Queens Hideaway space at 222 Franklin Street is coming in May. They’ve just applied for a liquor license last week so and it’s going to be Italian! I can hardly contain myself! – Eater

Speaking of new spaces, 916 Manhattan Avenue has finally emerged from it’s cocoon of scaffolding and blue tarpness to reveal a simple brick facade with a ground level space that I assume is going to host that bar I posted about before. I’ve been watching this space closely for awhile now and I’m glad to see that it’s still on it’s way to be hopefully being on schedule for a Spring opening!

Everyone is a-buzz with the cutie patootie messages in Fred Flare’s window. “The project is titled “Your Message Here.” The artists who created the sign, Philadelphians Stephen Loidolt and Shauna Alterio, choose their favorites each day and staffers at the Greenpoint shop update the sign.” For more info check out the Fred Flare blog post here.- Brooklyn Paper

Outdoor concerts return to North Brooklyn this Summer! “Our sources say that the Open Space Alliance of North Brooklyn has partnered up with the State to arrange the usage of the use East River State Park, located on North 8th and 9th Streets and Kent Avenue, for outdoor events and live musical performances, with the hopes of kicking out the jams as early as this summer. Though negotiations for use of the space are ongoing, sources are confident that the curtain will rise in time for the upcoming summer season.” The article states that JellyNYC will be behind most of the events, the people who did the popular hipster Pool Parties. But what I’m really hoping is that they will be able to get some bigger names like the pool had in recent years. The Pool Parties were not really my scene – smelly hipsters with too much facial hair for August was too gross for my taste. But the normal concerts they had, Modest Mouse, Beastie Boys, etc. were amazing, so I hope that is something that will be continued as well. – Greenpoint Gazette

And don’t forget to save the date: GO GREEN! GREENPOINT! Earth Day celebration is coming up on Sunday, April 19th (rain date April 26th) at Nassau Ave & N 15th St.

“It’ll be fun for everyone! Educational displays, art exhibits, research studies, alternative fuel vehicles, recycling stations, wellness demos, enviro-friendly vendors, live music, arts & crafts, yummy things to eat, a garden center, a kids center, and much, much more! It’s simply not to be missed!

If you’re interested in taking a table or lending a helping hand, please contact Caroline at 516.448.1028 or caroline@townsquareinc.com.”

And for fun, L Magazine’s got The Brooklyn Cred Quiz. This one’s for the hardcores!