Macha Jewelry is a witty, brazen little jewelry line that some Greenpointers might not know about. Bernice Kelly started the brand in 2009 and opened her design studio on West Street. Naturally, I had to share these sparkly gems with you. The pieces are certainly pretty but also carry a rebellious edge – it’s fine jewelry with a twist. And, what’s not to love?
If you’re thinking of making a shiny or glittery splurge this season, check out these ten new arrivals at Macha for your oh-so-cool spring aesthetic. You can also get a peek inside Bernice’s craft at her studio during Greenpoint Open Studios (June 3-4) in a couple of weeks.
Ken Butler jamming on a shovel guitar in his studio. Photo: Megan Penmann
Ken Butler’s artwork is playful. Often, literally. He designs, builds and plays unconventional musical instruments, crafting them out of everyday household objects or discarded junk on Brooklyn sidewalks. Through his eyes, an old printer cartridge plus a zip tie is a drum. A golf club is a guitar/sitar combo. His art is sculptural yet not purely sculpture; it’s captivating, conceptual and just pure fun. We were able to tour his studio, hang out and have a jam session with him this past Sunday, on a New York Adventure Club excursion. And you can do the same in a few weeks when he opens his doors again for Greenpoint Open Studios (on June 3rd and 4th, from 12-6pm each day).
Instruments/sculptures in Ken Butler’s studio. Photo: Megan Penmann
Vinyl might be making a comeback, but Greenpoint audio mastering legend Paul Gold never left it behind. At Salt Mastering (61 Greenpoint Ave.) in the Pencil Factory, he’s spent the last 10 1/2 years mastering for such acts as Grizzly Bear, Animal Collective, and LCD Soundsystem.
I recently set aside some time to garner stories from Paul about his history in the business, and maybe get a few technique pointers along the way. Arriving at his place of business, I pried open his door on the fourth floor, and he shouted from the other room to come in.
Paul is a bit of a mad scientist. His hair bounces around as he moves about in his studio, and his large frame glasses are actually of his era, and not worn ironically. We sit in a relatively small unit, the front half filled with tools and scraps of audio gear, while the main mastering room is surrounded by large gear that looks like something out of those black-and-white Twilight Zone episodes on time travel from the 1950’s.
If you’ve been to Goodyoga, you know they’re doing something right. Their app makes class sign-up easy, their down-to-earth teachers blend alignment with humor, and their prices beat everywhere else. What you may not know is that Goodyoga is promoting physical and emotional health for instructors by changing their business model.
As of the first of the year, they’re offering full-time employment with benefits to their yoga teachers. This may signal a new direction for the yoga industry, with concerned teachers and studio owners who see the current industry standard of employing teachers as Independent Contractors as broken. Meanwhile, more than one yoga studio has been audited by the Department of Labor over the practice. Continue reading →
This weekend, it’s time to get your art on (and booze on). Greenpoint Gallery Night is back again this Friday (3/18) from 7-10pm. You’ll be able to meet the artists, admire their artwork and check out their work spaces to find out more about their process. Continue reading →
Too cold to go outside for a slice of pizza? Too cold to even think of going out to a gallery? Greenpointers has you covered on the art end with this list of eight brilliant artists who have studios in Greenpoint. Feast your eyes on:
goodyoga’s Indiegogo campaign ends tomorrow. Please donate and support your local community.
Watch the video and donate. Every dollar helps. Sharing the campaign with others makes your donation even more valuable.
Thinking about all the problems in the world makes me feel completely helpless. I used to ask myself, what can I do, as one small (literally short) person, to have any effect on the world? I was left feeling empty and useless.
Then I had a conversation with one small business owner, Anthony, of the since moved Una Pizza Napoletana in the East Village, and he changed my outlook. By making responsible choices in our immediate world, by helping just one person, by being good neighbors, we can all have a positive impact on our community. If I recall correctly, we were on the topic of cheese, but even that decision has a chain reaction that impacts the world. Michael Pollan said it best: “change the world one fork at a time.”
My hope is that Greenpointers can be the online voice for all the individuals and organizations in the neighborhood who are working hard every day to have a positive impact on Greenpoint. It is working… one project at a time.
I absolutely love community fundraising. Send me any Indigogo or Kickstarter campaign and I empty my pockets. The perks are always so irresistible! Just last week I got a basket full of pies and some badass fake tattoos to help children in Kenya!
