The Daily News “has learned” that Williamsburg Walks will return this Summer. They report that merchant’s on Montague Street (which had a similar car-free street program last year) reported a rise in sales. (At this week’s CB1 meeting, one local merchant stood up to complain that WW had lowered her sales.)
Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights Seek Repeat of Car-Free Weekends this Summer
Walter Foods
In the processing of reviewing (and very much liking) Walter Foods, the New Yorker remembers Oznot’s Dish and Planet Thailand (presumably the original on Bedford Avenue, not the ersatz disaster on Berry, which lately looks like it should just be put out of its misery).
Machetes
The new weapon of choice. One kid was arrested last week brandishing a machete in a bodega on South 4th.
Reformers Against Establishment
City Hall News has a detailed rundown of the six-way race to replace David Yassky, complete with some odds making.
Grand Ferry Park – A Place That Matters
Grand Ferry Park is featured as the “Place of the Week” at Place Matters. You can see the listing here (warning, Flash-based site – long load times & poor direct links, but worth the wait.)
The Williamsburg Murals
Fascinating – in 1988, a group of abstract murals were discovered in the basement of the Williamsburg Houses. The murals, which “are thought to be the first and among the most important abstract wall paintings in the United States”) according to this Times article), had been painted over numerous times and were being used as bulletin boards. In 1990, the murals were rescued and restored and put on display at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. BMA has just moved the murals to a new location on the first floor of the museum.
The murals themselves were painted as part of a WPA project by Ilya Bolotowsky, Paul Kelpe, Albert Swinden and Balcomb Greene – all of whom were founding members of American Abstract Artists. Williamsburg Houses is (are?) a New York City Landmark.
Bulletin boards!
To Do List
Based on the recent flood of emails, community organizing is blooming this Spring. Here is a rundown of what is happening the rest of this month:
April 25 – Greenpoint-Williamsburg Housing Forum (Boricua College, all day)
April 27 – Williamsburg Walks Information Meeting (211 Ainslie Street, 7 pm)
April 28 – Benefit Concert for the North Brooklyn Story Project (Union Pool, 8 pm)
And next month:
May 16 – Where’s My Park? Day (details to come)
More details as they become available…
The Only Project Selling Williamsburg
Apparently a well-designed loft conversion with realistic (i.e., post-August 2008) pricing is still in demand.
Pirates
There is good chart junk and there is bad chart junk. In the realm of good chart junk (small though it may be), is this. Although the chart is clearly biased – Jefferson did get 800+.
Pirates are clearly a meme of the day – just ask Aaron.
[Chart via gmpdx]