I got into the New York Marathon this year and I told myself I would get serious after the Fourth of July. I joined the New York Flyers which is a reasonably priced running club (membership dues are $25/year). The only problem is, all the runs are based out of Central Park - and as ambitious as I am, I'm not THAT ambitious. The most important day of training, the "Long Run," is at 9am on Saturday mornings in the park! Thinking that I will make all of those runs is delusional.
So. I was wondering about Greenpoint. Is there a running group in Greenpoint? If so, is the group training for the marathon? And if there isn't a running group in Greenpoint, are there any Greenpointers out there that are running the marathon that want to start a training group?
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Greenpointers! Who Else Is Doing The Marathon??
The Feast Is On!
The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast starts tomorrow and runs through the 19th, so get your butts down there for the Dancing of the Giglio and the zeppoli's and the sausage and peppers and a mirrored keychain for you and your boyfriend.
You can find The Feast allover FB:
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast Group
OLMC FEAST IN BROOKLYN Group
Olmc Feast Friend Page
Greenpoint's Own Dog Walker!
ProspectBArk! is a new dog walking, pet sitting company that services Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Bushwick, and of course the Prospect Park neighborhoods. Started by Chun-Soon Li in PLG (the "other side" of Prospect Park) to cater to pet owners of Brooklyn, ProspectBArk has professional animal caretakers in neighborhoods that the bigger companies tend to neglect.
A few months ago, Chun-Soon met with Greenpoint native Matt Finucane to discuss a partnership role in her new, but burgeoning, business. "We had drinks at this really sweet bar, called The Pencil Factory," recalls Chun-Soon. "and we're talking about these amazing ideas I have for a new type of pet care business. I really wanted to focus on parts of Brooklyn that other, more established companies don't service: Sunset Park, Bushwick, Ditmas, LIC. Then Matt looks at me and says, 'Why not here?' So, we decided that he would be Greenpoint's own ProspectBArk walker. "
Matt did not know much about the "Polish neighborhood" above Williamsburg before moving to Greenpoint from Kansas City; now, he wouldn't leave for a million bucks. As he explains it, there's just something about the area: big city energy tempered by a very laid-back, unpretentious air. Coming from the midwest, something about Greenpoint felt a bit familiar to him. When not walking dogs down Franklin Street, Matt can be seen writing comedy sketches at The River Barrel (he is a budding stand-up comedian). 
It didn't take Matt long to convince Chun-Soon that Greenpoint needs a service like ProspectBArk. Offering dog walks, dog and cat-sitting, and a pet taxi, ProspectBArk provides Greenpoint residents with something they need: a professional animal lover who is punctual, reliable and local. But ProspectBArk also switches it up. They offer Doggie Daytrips, so you can send your pooch with them for an afternoon or whole day "upcountry". Of course you're welcome to join at no extra charge, since everyone needs a break from the city. Past Daytrips have been mini-expeditions to Bear Mountain, Palisades Park and certain off-season beaches. Chun-Soon Li also does pet photography (she took the images in this post and on their site) and offers steep discounts for her ProspectBArk clients. Though small, the company is licensed, bonded and insured, and its team consists of people who are pursuing pet-centered careers (Like Natasha Ogilvie-Boszoki, dog trainer extraordinaire). 
You can check out these and ProspectBArk's other offering on their site, prospectbark.com. They're also on Facebook and Yelp (though barely). If you need any help walking your dog, or you need someone trustworthy to watch your cat while you're away, give them a call -- Matt is your man!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Greenpoint's Own Fight Club
I came across these videos and it looks like these kids got some sort of Fight Club thing going on in a local handball court? It seems like there is someone 'ref-ing' and even giving 'direction'. Yeah, and that kid in the green shirt is a dirty fighter.
Greenpoint Fight Part I
Part II
Part III
These videos are kids from the neighborhood doing stupid kid stuff. I don't see any weapons or blood and they all seem to be willing participants. I'm not saying that it isn't stupid, but it doesn't appear that they're killing each other. Save me the comments and drama of saying the cops should be called or any other nonsense. Kids will be kids until one of them gets their nose broken and then they'll learn their lesson. It's how we all learned.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Brooklyn Bowl: Opens Tuesday!
It's a 'soft' opening on Tuesday July 7th at 6pm and rolling out more as the weeks go on, but it's finally here. If you're not down with crowds, I bet The Gutter will be a little less occupied during the next month or so but hopefully both places will be able to co-exist and be successful!
"Brooklyn Bowl blows our minds... one of the most incredible places on Earth" -Rolling Stone Online
"Has a lot that no other local rock club can offer" -New York Times
"Amazing-beyond-amazing" -Daily Candy
"Brilliant" -New York Magazine
"Visionary" -Brooklyn Based
"Paradise" -Thrillist
"Epic" -Eater
(Brooklyn, NY - July 2, 2009) - Brooklyn Bowl, the highly anticipated 16-lane bowling alley, 600-capacity performance venue with food by Blue Ribbon in Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood, is pleased to announce it will be open for business in a soft launch capacity beginning this Tuesday, July 7, at 6:00 p.m.
Operating hours will be scaled back during the soft launch: Sunday, Tuesday - Thursday, 6:00 pm - 2:00 am, and Friday and Saturdays 6:00pm - 4:00am. During this time Brooklyn Bowl will not be open on Mondays, and are serving only to a 21+ crowd. A small snack menu will be served from July 10 through the 20th. On the 21st, an expanded "preview" menu will be presented, with the full menu by Blue Ribbon debuting on August 4th. Live music performances, advance lane reservations, and extended hours (including child-friendly weekend days) will begin in late summer. Brooklyn Bowl is located at 61 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211.
Sustainable design and green commitment
The recently completed 23,000 square foot space is the brainchild of Peter Shapiro and Charley Ryan, former owner and operator, respectively, of the landmark NYC music venue, Wetlands Preserve (1989-2001). Their vision of creating an environmentally friendly venue that provides more than passive entertainment options, is embodied in this new endeavor. "There are a lot of great music venues, but a lot of them are similar, a basic box," says Shapiro. "We tried to create something that hasn't been done before, and it looks like we've pulled it off," says Ryan.
Working hand in hand with GreenOrder, a leading consultancy in sustainability and energy innovation, Shapiro and Ryan oversaw all decisions related to the construction of Brooklyn Bowl. Green design decisions can be seen everywhere, from the stage made entirely of recycled truck tires to the bowler's lounge floor made of reclaimed cork. The bowling equipment is also environmentally friendly, with pin-spotters that use 75% less energy than the industry standard. In another green move, Brooklyn Bowl will be serving beer on tap only; no bottles or cans.
Food, drink and entertainment
Along with a full bar, the venue will showcase 10 Brooklyn-brewed draughts, including brews from next door neighbors Brooklyn Brewery as well as Sixpoint in Red Hook and Kelso in Clinton Hill. For dining and late night noshing, visitors and bowlers alike can dine on an affordable and eclectic food menu created by NYC foodie favorites, Blue Ribbon.
Not satisfied with simply tantalizing taste buds, Brooklyn Bowl strives to be music to your eyes and ears, literally. The venue features a custom-designed JBL Vertec sound system installed by Tom Heinisch of SK Systems, an LED-centric lighting grid designed by Chris Ragan of BML Blackbird, along with a nine-screen high-definition digital video projection system installed by Mathew Galati of Meta-AV, perfect for viewing, well, anything. The technology will be put to good and frequent use, with presentations of high-definition concert films, live video DJs, and custom motion graphic, music video and short film content from the top creative studios in the world.
Space and design
Cushy black Chesterfield couches, a rich red Victorian style curtain adorning the stage, a bar that resembles a 19th century Coney Island shooting gallery, tables crafted from old bowling lanes, and hand-crafted "knock down punks" by scenic artist Heather Corbett at HGC Studioworks, are but a few of the elements chosen by interior designer Tristam Steinberg to give Brooklyn Bowl its old world meets new world feel. Among the many talented designers and artisans contributing to the aesthetic of the venue are New York Design Architects (NYDA), Executive Constructors of New York (ECNY), Manuka D::B, headed by Mike Gibb (woodwork), Rob Ferraroni of Ferra Designs (ironworks) and AMJ Ironworks.
Management and operations team
Brooklyn Bowl's management and operations team is comprised of some of the industry's top talent and contributors. Peter Shapiro is a producer of major live events, such as the Jammy Awards and the 10-city Green Apple Festival, as well as films, including the acclaimed IMAX productions U2-3D and All Access. Shapiro is also the publisher of Relix magazine. Brooklyn Bowl's team includes veterans of New York's music scene, including longtime Knitting Factory production manager Stephen Schwarz; sound technician, Jason Tubbs; talent buyer, Mia Sladyk (formerly of Bowery Presents, as well as Burlington, Vermont's Higher Ground); and design, media, and marketing specialists Learned Evolution, headed by Justin Bolognino.
We look forward to rolling with you!
-The Brooklyn Bowl Team
For media inquires, please contact BB Media Director Justin Bolognino - justin@brooklynbowl.com
For band booking, please contact BB Talent Buyer Mia Sladyk -mia@brooklynbowl.com
61 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 963-3369
Website - www.brooklynbowl.com
Twitter - www.twitter.com/brooklynbowl
Facebook - www.tinyurl.com/bbonfb
Flickr - www.flickr.com/brooklynbowl
MySpace - www.myspace.com/brooklynbowl
Fresh From The Rumor Mill: A Greenpoint Hilton?
I got a message from a neighborhood friend asking me if I heard anything about this:
Heard an odd rumor the other day and wondered if you had caught wind of it - that a piece of vacant land up near Box/Ash had been bought by the Hiltons and they were planning on developing a hotel?? Sounded insane to me, but you never know these days....
I haven't heard anything on this but like my friend, I agree that you never know these days... Anyone have any insight or heard something similar?
The Pool Parties Live On
The Pool Parties of McCarren Pool live on this summer at East River Park.
The emails have been piling up and everyone’s asking, “dude, what’s up with the Pool Parties?” Well DUDE, so sorry to keep you waiting, but here at JELLY we’ve been working our asses off to bring you one of the greatest free concert series in history. The Pool Parties are going to be extremely crucial this year, “epic” or “amazing” as you people say these days. Seriously, eight weeks of FREE shows on the waterfront of Williamsburg? Does it get any better? You might be thinking “waterfront”? Yeah, in case you didn’t hear the McCarren Pool’s closed so get over it, and yeah we kept the name Pool Parties even though the East River’s not at a pool, so what?
We’ve still got DODGEBALL, basketball, DJ’s, bands, burgers the works! We love you more than your parents ever could, and if you want to have fun and hang out with us this summer click here for the full schedule. Bring your friends but please don’t bring these things. As you can see below, underage drinking will not be tolerated. . You guys wouldn’t do that though, so there’s nothing to worry about. Thank you for visiting and stay tuned!!
Blog Buzz: Dogs, Moms and Old People
Brooklyn Paper runs a story on the campaign to save McCarren Pool from renaming. Don't forget to sign the petition and pass it on! - Brooklyn Paper
Williamsburgh Savings Bank is set to become a wedding hall this September. - The Brooklyn Paper
The G train's extension to Church Street is just about underway and the signs are going up. Ironically, I found myself yesterday at the 9th St/4th Ave station and was taken aback by the G train signs and I actually waited about ten minutes on the track for the G train when I gave up and go on an F to go the one stop to Smith 9th - now I see it actually doesn't go into effect until Sunday. - Brownstoner
WGArts is looking for interns: fashion blog, news stories, video blogs, everyday workings of newspr. Know Bklyn well. Cntct: ggould@thewgnews.com - Twitter
Greenpoint is seeing a rash of burglaries over the last few weeks. Papacito's was robbed recently and this week a polish grocery on Nassau Avenue was held up, among others. - The Brooklyn Paper
Get ready, Brooklyn Bowl is set to open this week! Become a fan or friend of theirs on Facebook and find out about upcoming events like their Lebowski Fest in September. - The Brooklyn Paper
There's a leptospirosis outbreak in McCarren Park Dog Run. Two pups have already died from it, so make sure your pups aren't lapping up that stagnant water from the recent rains. - Urbanite
Studio B is set to close at the end of July but honestly, who really cares? The funny thing is I think the bitching and moaning from the cranky neighbors was louder and more annoying and aggravating than any show the club ever had. - New York Press
New local blog alert! Greenpoint Mom is all things Mommy related and the most recent post focuses on the new MTV reality show 16 and Pregnant. - Greenpoint Mom
There's an interesting article from New America Media on the elderly Polish community in Greenpoint. - via Seniors World Chronicle
Apparently there's a moped store on Manhattan Avenue. Who knew? - Greenpoint Gazette
Unleash is hosting an Ask a Trainer mixer to introduce Empire of the Dog's training classes. Get FREE advice on all your dog problems. Refreshments & Dog Treats will flow! This isn't off leash play, but PLEASE bring your dogs to learn a trick and socialize on leash. RSVP on Facebook.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The Terrific 2's
Yeah it's usually the terrible two's but how can two local bars like The Diamond and Black Rabbit be considered terrible? Um, they can't.
But they're both turning 2 this week! And of course, there are celebrations to be had at both spots.
This Thursday 7/2 The Diamond Bar marks their celebration:
Special tastings to be presented by staff and friends.
8:30-10:00pm
*Brand New Sarasola Basque Cider, $8/glass w/free fish cakes presented by Sarah and Sarah. See picture at right for pouring technique! (minus the idyllic lakefront setting). Intensely dry, tart, and quaffable. More like a dry white wine than cider.
*Schneider Weisse, $8/half liter w/free sausages. We are currently talking to Abe Froman, Sausage King of Brooklyn to develop something very delicious.
*Our old pal Wiley will be guest bartending with Will from 6:30-10:30
*Watch your email the day of the event for more last minute details on the night's specials.
I'll be sure to update with their email the day of if I can! But honestly, just knowing that there will be MORE specials should be enough to get you over to wish them a happy, happy.
And then on Monday 7/6 Black Rabbit is doing their anniversary bash:please join us for
Black Rabbit's
Second Anniversary Party
MONDAY, JULY 6th
8pm
Free BBQ & Drink Specials
Simple and to the point - free food and booze specials. Sure to be a good night. Swing by and tell Kent & the crew you heart them.
