Are you an armchair urban planner? Do you have ideas about how to make our community more livable? Have you ever crossed under the BQE and thought, “there’s more to life than this!!!!”? Well, it’s your chance to make your voice heard. The NYC Department of Transportation is soliciting input from the public about how to reimagine the stretch of Meeker Avenue that runs under the BQE from Metropolitan Avenue to Varick Avenue.
Today, Meeker Avenue is best known for its abandoned cars and under-utilized space, but City Council members Stephen Levin and Antonio Reynoso, along with Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol and State Senator Martin Dilan hope to improve the roadway by “increas[ing] street safety, [improving] neighborhood bike connections, including access to the Kosciuszko Bridge path, and activat[ing] the space under the BQE.”
DOT street ambassadors for the project conducted community outreach over the summer at Jaime Campiz Playground, Marci Triangle, and at the intersection of Meeker and Graham Avenues. The results of their pedestrian survey found residents are most interested in public spaces or plazas under the BQE, followed closely by greening, lighting, bicycle facilities and art, with a smaller percentage of people hoping for recreation and concessions under the BQE.Continue reading →
Getting down at the House of Yes, where Mayor de Blasio announced an Office of Nightlife on Tuesday. Via House of Yes
A great New York Story occurred August 17th, 1858, when New Yorkers celebrated the first successful transatlantic cable between The United States and England with a party at City Hall. So thrilled were the New Yorkers of yore, that they decided to illuminate City Hall with torches, then set off fireworks over the building. City Hall caught fire, but nobody could alert the fire department, because the fire bell was on top of the burning City Hall. Ultimately, City Hall was saved, but the building lost its cupola, which has since been repaired. Undeterred, New Yorkers had another party at City Hall two weeks later, and they set off fireworks again. That is the city we live in. No matter what, New Yorkers just keep partying. And Mayor Bill de Blasio was at House of Yes in Bushwick on Tuesday to make it even easier to get down in the five boroughs.De Blasio established an Office of Nightlife, and a Nightlife Advisory Board. A Night Mayor will soon be appointed, although Gerard McNamee, former Director of Operations at Webster Hall, is running for the unelected position.Continue reading →
There was a gas leak caused by construction along Wythe Avenue last weekend, and businesses and residents were evacuated for at least four hours. Continue reading →
A green cab driver was shot in the leg early last Friday morning when he tried to speed away from two armed assailants attempting to rob him and his passenger. The incident happened at the intersection of North Eighth and Berry streets at 3:15am. Check out this article from DNAinfo for more details.
Newtown Creek will be swimmable by 2035! Actually, don’t quote me on that swimmable thing, but according to this piece from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, at last week’s Superfund Community Advisory Group (CAG) meeting, the EPA announced plans for the remediation of Newtown Creek. Unfortunately, the plans wouldn’t even begin to show results until 2025 at the earliest.
According to this article from the Wall Street Journal, sculptor Barry X Ball will be moving his studio from Williamsburg to Greenpoint in the Spring. The space, at 193 Banker St., is currently being renovated specifically for him, and according to Mr. Ball, once it’s finished will be “the only comprehensive stone fabrication facility in the world.”
Local Greenpointer Kim Brown, who is the owner of Greenpoint Hill (100 Freeman St.) got some press this week in this lovely piece from Bedford + Bowery. Brown is a ceramicist herself and her gallery features work from mostly Greenpoint-based artists.
Greenpoint has been dubbed “the new home design capital of the world” according to this recent article from Vogue.
Some of last weekend’s Greenpoint Halloween festivities, including the Town Square Spooktacular and P.S. 110’s annual fall festival, were captured in this piece from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Some of the photos are especially great!
Guys dressed up as construction workers for Halloween will be preventing anyone from passing under the BQE this weekend. Actually, they are real construction workers, but seriously, traveling from one side of the BQE to the other will be difficult this weekend. Three out of six avenues that travel under the highway in Greenpoint will be closed. Check out this piece from The Williamsburg Patch for more info.
The tragic scene unfolded early Sunday morning when a 26 year old Greenpoint woman on her way home was callously struck by a hit and run driver. The unfortunate incident occurred at the intersection of Meeker and Manhattan Avenues beneath the rumblings of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. The woman was taken to Elmhurst Hospital and is considered in serious condition. Continue reading →
Photo credit: Veterinary Emergency & Referral Group
Well that’s a relief! When the Gothamist broke the story about a pitbull getting tossed from the BQE, the news quickly spread like wildfire. From the NY Post to our very own Greenpointers, we were all appalled at what we heard. But thanks to the power of media, the dog’s owner and Greenpoint resident, Oliver Rivera, was finally reunited with his pitbull Wookie (a.k.a Meeker) after he escaped from his leash on Tuesday at the corner of Bayard Street and Graham Avenue.
“He gave me this one last look and then just bolted,” Rivera told WABC News on Thursday. “I’m like, ‘maybe he was at the corner,’ I’m hoping, and then no signs of him anywhere.” Continue reading →
Pitball thrown from moving car on BQE and lives. Photo credit: Angel Chevrestt
There are few things were worse than an animal abuser. But it takes a truly despicable person of the lowest common denominator to toss a live animal out of a moving car. The grim incident happened around 6:25pm, Tuesday night on the BQE. Jon Ernsberger was the first to spot the pitbull making a 30ft descent towards Meeker Avenue in Greenpoint. He told reporters at first he thought it might have been a human being hurled over the railway, only feet from his car, but when he slammed on the brakes and got out for a better look, he found the 50lb male pitbull still alive and struggling to get up. Continue reading →
Fancy bars and restaurants with all sorts of sexy food and drink (Tørst, Beloved, Nights and Weekends) are all over Greenpoint these days, but let’s face it – sometimes you just want get hammered on a budget, pay homage to the neighborhood’s longtime establishments, or just check out something different and new (or old). Greenpoint definitely has no shortage of dive bars, but where to begin?
This weekend I hung out in some of these dives (a.k.a. “old man” bars) in the neighborhood and got to know them and their clientele a little better. I scoped out the drink specials, watched Jeopardy with the regulars, and relaxed in some sweet backyards. And now I present to you, along with my little rating system, some of the neighborhood’s best kept secrets:
Irene’s Pub (623 Manhattan Ave)
Irene's Pub
Despite being so centrally located, Irene’s is somewhat of a mystery. Perhaps most Greenpointers are unfamiliar with the bar’s philosophy:”it’s happy hour all the time,” which I verified as TRUTH. Irene’s prices are actually equivalent to happy hour deals, all the time – we’re talking $2 drafts and dirt-cheap mixed drinks. I repeat: all day and night long. Continue reading →
I live on “The Other Side of McGuinness,” in the quieter outskirts of the neighborhood where Greenpoint sooooort of meets Williamsburg, near McGolrick Park. Although I technically live in Greenpoint, I take the L train to get to work (I know, blasphemy!) and every day I have to cross Meeker Avenue at Kingsland. Usually I’m on my bike, but sometimes I’m on foot. Continue reading →
It is sad to report that early this morning a 32 year old man was hit on Meeker Ave between Frost and Manhattan Ave and died from injuries to his head, according to Gothamist. The driver fled the scene and the investigation is ongoing. If you have any information, do the right thing and call 911.
It’s mind boggling that someone could hit another human being with their car and drive away. Our hearts and with the family of the victim during this terrible time.
