Every Thursday from 7-10pm in October, you can get to know North Brooklyn and its culture and history a little better with FREE bike tours hosted by Brooklyn Bicycle Co. and Loudest Yeller Bike Tours. Bring a neighbor or friend, or kids—ages 10 and up are welcome! The biking is super easy, and all skill levels are welcome. The tours leave from 141 South 5th Street at 7pm. Pro tip: be ready to eat some ice cream along the way.
What to bring: Bring your bike if you have one. If you don’t have one, you can borrow a Brooklyn Bicycle Co. cruiser. They’ve got bikes that fit everyone from 4’11 to 7’6, as well as helmets. If you need to borrow a bike please send a message ahead of time by emailing [email protected].
Lydia Lunch performs, speaking about misogyny and today’s pessimistic world. Photo: Angelica Hill
Last Thursday, artistMartynka Wawrzyniak hosted “A Night of Experimental Jazz & Lydia Lunch” at the Park Church Co-Op (129 Russell Street) to support her McGolrick Park community art installation, Ziemia. Ziemia, when finished, will consist of a large ceramic orb made from soil from across the globe and placed in a carefully cultivated meadow in McGolrick Park, adjacent to Russell Street between Nassau Ave and Driggs Ave.
The Park Church Co-Op was dimly lit, the stage awash with red and blue light. Meditative electronic new-age music played as the image of Jesus on the crucifix centered on the back wall looked over the scene. It may not seem like the most likely venue for a night of experimental jazz, but Pastor Amy Kienzle remarked that this event was part of the church’s larger event series that supports community art. And with Wawrzyniak being such an enthusiastic member of the church she felt it was important to support. She added that the church “believes in art and it being spiritually beneficial.” Continue reading →
For the past few years, City Council Member Stephen Levin has allowed the residents of District 33 to decide how to allocate at least $1 million of discretionary funds. And it’s time to submit ideas for next year! Need some inspiration? Here are winning ideas from other districts (26, 34, 35, 36, and 39). Or you can help Stephen Levin and his team brainstorm ideas at one of the upcoming neighborhood meetings!
Participatory budgeting has been going on in New York City for seven years now with District 33 joining during the second year. In short, “Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget.”Yes, voters directly decide which of the proposed projects they feel should be funded and the popular vote wins. Projects are funded until the available money runs out. Earlier this year, 3,789 turned out to vote with the winners including bus clocks along the B62/B32 bus routes; a STEAM Lab for Samuel Dupont Elementary School/P.S. 31 (75 Meserole St); and upgraded electrical wiring at Monitor School/P.S. 110 (124 Monitor St). Continue reading →
Zona Rosa brought their taco A game at TASTE 2016.
Last year’s TASTE Williamsburg Greenpoint was nothing short of epic—we left dizzy with tequila courtesy of 21 Greenpoint, and our bellies full of tasty tacos, pulled pork sandwiches, pizza, and other delectable bites from North Brooklyn restaurants. The fest is an ideal way to sample the range of flavors at a number of different restaurants, all in one go. Going strong in its 8th year, this year’s event on September 17th from 1-5pm andis taking over the Williamsburg waterfront (90 Kent Ave). In addition to the more than 40 food and drink vendors, they’ll again host live music, demonstrations and other fun activities for everyone. TASTE is put on by our own North Brooklyn community center The Firehouse, so the proceeds go to benefit the renovation of the former Engine Co. 212 Firehouse for community activity. The Firehouse will provide a permanent home to neighborhood social justice organizations for continued advocacy and direct services to Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
Greenpointers readers (that’s you) can get 40% off your tickets by following this link. And it’s a sweet deal—$21 gets you 4 tastes and 2 drinks, $36 gets you 8 tastes and 4 drinks.
Cycle 7 of NYC’s Participatory Budgeting initiative has begun! And Council Member Stephen Levin is riding high after Cycle 6’s success in District 33. “Participatory Budgeting is a democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget.” That is, you directly decide which of the proposed projects you feel should be funded and the popular vote wins. Projects are funded until the available money runs out. That funding comes directly from our district’s “discretionary funds” budget. Council Member Levin put aside $1.5 million for us last cycle and he’s doing it again this time.
Community members meet with District 33 Participatory Budgeting Coordinator Benjamin Solotaire last year.
Earlier this year, 3,789 people voted on which projects submitted by the community they would like funded. The winning projects include bus clocks with live, up-to-date arrival times at 12 stops along the B62/B32 bus routes; a STEAM Lab for Samuel Dupont Elementary School/P.S. 31 (75 Meserole St); and upgraded electrical wiring at Monitor School/P.S. 110 (124 Monitor St). With Cycle 7 ready to begin, there are a few ways to get involved. One is to submit your project idea–here are some winning ideas from other districts (26, 34, 35, 36, and 39). It’s an opportunity to get creative and really think outside of the box. What would make our community better for everyone? To begin that process, you can email District 33’s Participatory Budgeting Director Benjamin Solotaire ([email protected]). Or you can show up at 6:30pm tonight for the first Participatory Budgeting meeting at our district office, 410 Atlantic Avenue. Later on this year there will be opportunities to present your project to the Participatory Budgeting Committee with the top projects being voted on next spring. Here’s your chance to make a difference in the District 33 community.
Do you want to help every stray cat you see? Does the sight of whiskers make you go “awww?” Well, you’re not alone! The Greenpoint Cat Club meets once a month at Archestratus (160 Huron Street) to discuss issues and solve problems on behalf of the feral cats of our ‘hood. You already know that many local residents try to help the outdoor kitties. Bowls of cat food are tucked away in corners all around our neighborhood waiting to feed the hungry masses. We’re a sympathetic bunch!
There are over 50,000 stray cats in New York and hundreds in Greenpoint, presumably subsisting on kielbasa scraps and other fallen Polish delicacies. One of the major problems facing our community is that when people move, they sometimes sadly leave their house cats behind to fend for themselves. This is cruel behavior, as domesticated cats are not equipped to care for themselves in the wild. The streets are very dangerous for feral cats, and the best you can do if you find yourself in the sad situation of having to give up an animal is to find them a new home. Muddy Paws (447 Graham Ave) pet store has adoption events every Sunday from 2pm-5pm and you can find someone there who will help you find the resources you need. Continue reading →
Baste it, taste it and tweak it again. Showdown is a cookbook about feeding the conversation along with the person.
This week, we sat down with Greenpointer and self-described “meat-head” Jenn de la Vega to talk about how competing (and winning) local competitions sparked Showdown, the cookbook.
GP: Hey Jenn! Tell us about Showdown.
De la Vega: Showdown is a compilation of 100 recipes I’ve entered into competitions. It’s not only about the ones that won. I think the big part of the story is the failure and journey along the way, building a strange cooking career out of competition, creativity and personal challenges.
GP: Did you always want to be a chef?
Jenn breaks out into a big grin. De la Vega: Actually, I never had intentions of being a chef.Continue reading →
Have you been feeling frustrated with Greenpoint’s local Police Department? Earlier this year, Greenpointers protested in front of the 94th Precinct following offensive statements the Captain made regarding the department’s approach to rape cases. And a few weeks ago, a woman was reportedly raped inside a port-a-potty on Banker Street. The location of that incident is right next to some warehouses, but within spitting distance of local bars Northern Territory (12 Franklin St) and Greenpoint Beer and Ale (7 N 15th St), leaving residents concerned not just about the matter in question but also for their own safety. At first, no charges were filed due to “inconsistencies” in the woman’s story, but then following community outrage and a candlelight vigil, the DA stepped up to get involved.
Monday night (May 8) is your chance to connect with the 94th’s newly established Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCOs), Officer Rivera and Officer Molina. Their role will be to engage the community and address concerns—and also likely they will attempt to placate the many fired-up Greenpointers, any of whom are connected and fueled by local message boards. Perhaps what has been most frustrating to residents is the seemingly poor communication (or lack thereof) from the Precinct when troubling incidents are reported both in the news and via social media. In short, let’s hug it all out. Or at least try to.
WHAT: Meet the 94th Precinct
WHEN: Monday, May 8th @ 7pm
WHERE: Greenpoint Loft, 67 West Street, 5th Floor
Food and refreshments will be served.Continue reading →
Despite the news of each new piece of horrendous legislation, it’s been helping me to remember that reading and writing are a form of social justice. April is National Poetry Month, and as celebrated poet Mary Oliver wrote in her new book of essays, Upstream, “…The poem was made not just to exist, but to speak—to be company.”
This spring, let your community be your company. Greenpoint is brimming with writers and artists who are using their voices to build spaces where you can share, listen, learn, and make a plan for moving forward; keep reading for three places you can join in the conversation.
Did you know that the mural on one side of the Greenpoint Library (107 Norman Ave.) is the work of artist Leslie A. Wood, and its installation in 2013 was made possible by the Friends of Greenpoint Library?
Come by the library on Saturday, March 25th from 10:30am-11:30am to learn how to join Friends of Greenpoint Library. Meet your neighbors, plan special events, and brainstorm ways to support the Greenpoint Library and its community. A branch library can have a greater impact when it has an active and vibrant friends group. If you love your local library and want to be more involved then this is the place for you!
