“I’m gonna keep you alive, I promise!” says Mai Armstrong, member of Newtown Creek Alliance.
It’s Saturday morning – a scorcher, by the way – and a group of 31 culture enthusiasts from all over New York have assembled by St Anthony’s Church for a free two-hour guided walk of Newtown Creek (and environs) as part of Jane’s Walk NYC. One woman, an ex-resident, has brought her two daughters from Manhattan to check out the old ‘hood. It’s a beautiful day, and we bristle with anticipation. Continue reading →
Back in December, on the eve of our first proper snow-fall, I tramped through the slushy streets of Greenpoint on a mission to experience my first ‘Salo‘, an underground Filipino supper hosted by Greenpointers’ very own wonder-chef Yana Gilbuena.
I stepped out of the frosty night air to find a glowing interior, a long table wrapped in banana leaves and a gang of friendly strangers – sharing wine and inhaling delicious cooking aromas. Continue reading →
Who listens to radio these days? I enjoy some WNYC action from time to time (when they are not doing a pledge-drive, of course), and my neighbor across the airshaft seems to enjoy sports radio at elevated volume levels around 7 a.m., so there are at least two of us. But after some research I discovered that, much to my surprise, my neighbor and I are not the only radio listening New Yorkers. There are millions of us!
I also learned that WNYC, my favorite radio station (see above), transmitted from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, for over 50 years, sited in what is now the aptly named WNYC Transmitter Park. The park—located where Greenpoint Avenue hits the East River—was opened in 2012 after a two-year, $12 million redevelopment project. The final product is lovely, with natural wetland landscaping, a pedestrian bridge and pier, killer views of Manhattan, and a nautically-themed children’s play area that reflects the site’s waterfront context. Continue reading →
Meet up with NAG tomorrow at 10am at McGolrick Park and take a casual and family friendly walking tour of the Newtown Creek led by organizer and Newtown Creek “expert,” Ryan Kuonen.
“The Newtown Creek has been a core part of the Greenpoint neighborhood for all of its history. From Native American fishing grounds to colonial farms; from ship building mecca to oil refining hub; from manufacturing base to abandoned warehouses; from graffiti to galleries; from polluted wasteland to the promise of parks, our stroller-friendly tour cruises by important places in Greenpoint’s history and discusses the future of this rapidly developing neighborhood on the banks of the Newtown Creek. This tour’s major focus will be the Greenpoint Oil Spill.”
Bring lunches, water, and your little ones!! (Little ones not required. However, this tour will be paced accordingly)
Meet at 10am at the Monitor Statue in McGolrick Park. Look for lady with NAG sign.
A free, self guided tour of private gardens in Willamsburg. On Saturday afternoon, September 15th, from 2-5pm, 7 households will open their doors and invite you to see the green spaces they’ve created and lovingly tend. All the gardens are within walking and biking distance of Crest Hardware and Urban Garden Center. More info.
WEDNESDAY 5/2 ♦ Birds & Other Animals @ Dandelion Wine (153 Franklin St) 8-10pm, Opening Reception for Artist Scott Chasse, paintings of birds & other animals, RSVP
THURSDAY 5/3 * Lincoln Restler Campaign Launch Party @ Brooklyn Winery (213 North 8th St) kick off Lincoln Restler’s Reelection Campaign as State Committeeman and District Leader for the 50th Assembly District, More info ♫ Funky Warsaw @ Warsaw (261 Driggs St.) 10pm, DJ Bobby J plays all vinyl, sassy-ass 60’s soul, funky funk, power-pop pop-pop, post apocalyptic punk, and pre-historic hip-hop
• Grand Opening: Beloved (674 Manhattan Ave) More info
• Crooked Man/ Hazel Rah/ Theologian/ Lost Coves @ Saint Vitus (1120 Manhattan Ave) 8pm, $10, BUY TIX
FRIDAY THRU SUNDAY (5/3-5/6)
• NY Food Book Fair @ Wythe Hotel (80 Wythe Ave) $15+, The first ever New York Food Book Fair is a celebration of cookbooks, memoirs, magazines, science, food systems, agriculture, urban design and food art and culture, More info
FRIDAY 5/4 * Penny Social @ Our Lady of Mt. Carmel (275 No. 8th St) 6pm, Hosted by: Kelly Pakowski. This event is for Adults only. Tickets are $8.00 in advance, and $9.00 at the door. Coffee and cake available with admission, plus a door prize ticket. Lots of great prizes including a Walt Disney World Vacation for a family of 5 as a grand prize, More info • St. Stanislaus Kostka Drama Club Presents Grease @ St. Stanislaus Kostka School (12 Newel Street) ♦ A Mouth that Might Sing @ Pierogi (177 North 9th St) 7-9pm, Opening reception for artist Ryan Mrozowski, More info ♦ Represent @ The Habitat (988 Manhattan Ave) 7pm, a solo exhibition of drawings and video by Nick Hartman ♫ The Death Set/ Wild Yaks/ Total Warr/ Rompers/DJ Dityfinger @ Shea Stadium (20 Meadow St, Bushwick) 8pm, $8, all ages, presented by Bike in the Kitchen ♫ Bare Mutants/ Outer Minds/ DJ Vashti @ Union Pool (484 Union Ave) 9pm, RSVP
SATURDAY 5/5 • 5th Annual Go Green! Greenpoint Earth Day Festival @ McCarren Park, 11am-5pm, eco-friendly artists, crafters, educators, and community groups, as well as educational displays, Greencycle swap, art exhibits, contests for kids, and enviro-friendly handmade wares, more info • Cinco De Mayo @ Papacito’s Backyard (999 Manhattan Ave) 11am-4am, mariachi, surf rock, cheap beer, tequila, margaritas, all day, all night, more info • Greenpointers Cinco De Mayo Launch Party @ Greenpoint Heights (278 Nassau Ave) 9pm, Celebrate the launch of this website, meet the contributors, eat tacos, drink margaritas, Greenpoint photo booth, prizes, music by Cowboy Mark! RSVP
SUNDAY 5/6 • Discover Williamsburg Walking @ Greenpoint Renaissance Center (2 Kingsland Ave) $20, Explore the former Greenpoint Hospital Site, Old Bushwick Green, St. Nicholas Church, Jennings Hall, Huber and Hittleman’s Brewery, and other historic landmarks. Led by Historian John Dereszewski, BUY TIX ♫ NY Night Train Happening: Welcome Back Jonathan Toubin Dance Party @ Brooklyn Bowl (61 Wythe Ave) 8pm, JONATHAN TOUBIN, derailed for five months after an accident in Portland is feeling better and on his way home to Brookyln to return to what he does – throwing down the wildest 45rpm dance vinyl you’ve never heard, RSVP
MONDAY 5/7 * OCD Lecture: The Biggest Apple @ Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St.) 7:30-9pm, FREE, panel discussion by journalist Amy on population trends, urban planning, and the conceptual limits of density here in the Big Apple. ♫ Total Warr/ Hello Phones/ Rimar/ RobertCop @ Glasslands Gallery (289 Kent Ave.) 8:30pm, $10, BUY TIX
TUESDAY 5/8 ♦ WAGMAG Brooklyn Art Guide Benefit @ The Boiler (191 No. 14th St.) 7-9pm, a great event for art lovers in the area, with approximately 100 pieces of artwork generously donated by local galleries and artists for the raffles, BUY TIX
* Greenpointers’ Pick
♫ Music
♥ Pheremones Likely
♦ Art Event
Ladies, the warm weather is here and soon you’ll be breaking out the strappy sandals and peep toe shoes. That means getting your mani/pedis did at your local nail salon.
Someone once told me they know I’m from Queens because I am aware of where ALL the nails salons are in the hood. There are almost as many nail salons in Greenpoint as there are liquor stores!
What is important to you? Secret razor society? Location? Price? Cleanliness? Color Variety? Friendliness?
Greenpointers is going on a Nail Salon Tour of Greenpoint and scoring each location based on the following guidelines:
Cleanliness: 0/5 Friendliness: 0/5 Quality of mani/ped: 0/5 Value: 0/5 Local Banter: 0/5 Variety of colors: 0/5 Bonus Massage: 2 bonus points
I started out at my usual spot: Marvelous Nails on Manhattan Ave. At $18, it’s a pretty great deal for a mani-pedi. The nail techs are really nice. And the local banter is priceless. Whether teenagers are getting ready for prom or Grandmas are price shopping for paper towels, I don’t need to read the gossip magazines to keep entertained.
The trauma of 19 espressos on the Greenpointers Espresso Tour didn’t stop us from touring the neighborhood for the best slice of pizza. As a pizzeria, your regular slice is your best and only business card. Get that right, then add your fancy toppings. We identified 12 pizzerias in the 11222 area code that served pizza by the slice. Two were closed on Sunday (Baldo’s & L.A. Convenience), which were automatic disqualifications.
The three judges were Brooks, AKA the Pizza Commander (left), Greenpointers’ writer Peter (right), and myself. We ordered one slice cut into three pieces and used a scoresheet adapted from American Pizza Championship, which accounted for appearance and taste. Each slice had the potential of scoring 225 points after we added our individual totals.
2011 GREENPOINTERS PIZZA TOUR RESULTS
*** 1st PLACE: VALDIANO ***
Top Score: 166.5
2nd Place: Franklin Pizza (161.5)
3rd Place: Triangolo: (157.5)
Other Awards:
Best Music: Valdiano
Best Service: Vinnie’s
Best Bribe: Grandma Rose’s (giant plate of zeppoles)
Best Place to Watch Soccer: Italy Pizza
Best Pizza Cat and Pizza Window: Carmine’s Original
It’s Friday night and we’re feelin’ alright! Kick it off with Greenpoint Gallery Night (7-10pm)!
