Month: July 2008

And in front of the tourists, no less.

Its interesting to see how the use of the street evolves from week to week. The merchants and the public are slowly figuring out how to use this great new resource – space.

Williamsburger opened last Friday, and already one correspondent at Eater has panned it based on the menu alone. But if you read down to the comments, people who have actually eaten at the restaurant like it.

A great time trial ride by Carlos Sastre, ensuring the second Spanish win at the Tour in as many years. (By the way, BoulderReport turns out to have had a great live blog of the race.)

Actually, the show will be based at 118 Greenpoint Avenue, a couple blocks up from the Greenpoint waterfront. And about a dozen blocks from the nearest public access to the waterfront.

(Three years after the Greenpoint-Williamsburg Rezoning, and there still is no construction on the Greenpoint waterfront, and no public access to the Greenpoint waterfront. Transmitter Park is the closest to being reality, and that is still on the drawing boards.)

Inspired geography of Greenpoint and points abroad.

[via nyshitty]

No, really?

Williamsburger (South 2nd and Wythe).

Last night, CB1’s land use committee approved an application for a sidewalk cafe at the new Williamsburger restaurant, located at the corner of South 2nd and Wythe. According to the owner, the restaurant will be a burger and shake joint, and should be open with a week or two. Williamsburger still needs to visit CB1’s public safety committee for a liquor license (beer and wine only).

Hopefully this will be a good addition to the block. Certainly it will be a vast improvement on Fire and Ice, the bar that operated with impunity at that location for a couple of years.

152 Broadway
Architect: Spencer Bush Associates

Why am I not surprised that 152 Broadway is a KAI development? A year ago, this building was a twin to 154 Broadway (immediately to the left). The rooftop addition was never a promising sign, and the insertion of bicycle racks balconies screamed insensitivity. Still, the original facade remained, leaving open the possibility of reversibility.

No more. Sometime in the past few weeks, 152 has gotten a new skin. In place of the original Philadelphia brick, there is now a generic modern brick. Gone too are the original Berea stone neo-Grec details at the lintels, sill courses and elsewhere. In their place is some cheap cast stone meant, no doubt, to evoke the past architectural glory of the building. Even without the original artifact next door, this would be a complete travesty. With 154, it defies words.

So it really was not a surprise when I noticed today that there was a KAI sign on the project. These guys have been responsible for some of my favorite architecture in the Southside. Although at least they are branching out and not using Bricolage on this project.

The Mark of Kwality

Grand & Berry