New Years Eve Events in Brooklyn


The time has finally come to say so long to 2011. I've seen a lot of people who said this was a terrible year for them. While it wasn't easy, I like to think of it as a year full of life lessons. In doing so, I feel that it was a great year, even with all the challenges. However you see it, tomorrow night is when we welcome in 2012.

If your like many who don't want to spend much money, head on over to Grand Army Plaza or Prospect Park for the fireworks. My neighbor makes this his tradition every year and says it never disappoints him. He says the NYPD tends to be lenient on the drinking policy but that's always a risk. Other have said that a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is a nice way to save $$ on New Year's Eve. I'm sure you could see the fireworks from around the city. Just be sure to bundle up for the weather.

If you have a few dollars to spend and don't know where you'd like to spend the evening, there are plenty of spots around town to enjoy yourself. Union Hall is hosting a 5/5/5 party. To celebrate 5 years of operations, their party is $5 entrance (yes, 5 bucks for NYE) and $5 drink specials. Plus, after midnight, you will have a chance to win a free iPad (through karaoke, I think). Not bad for a night that usually cost an arm and a leg.

For all my friends out there on wheels, Time's Up is holding their 14th annual New Year's Eve RideAbout.com is reporting that Brooklynites should meet up at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge in Brooklyn for a group ride up to Central Park. Much like the walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, if you partake in this one, please be sure to dress for the cold weather and winds. It would suck to bring in 2012 with a cold.

If you're looking for something out of the ordinary to ring in New Year's Day, head on down to Coney Island and join the polar bears club for a dip in the Atlantic at 1pm. It will definitely get your blood flowing and shake things up a bit. There is no charge but they do ask for donations for Camp Sunshine, which supports children with life threatening illnesses.

What ever you choose to do to celebrate, I hope that you enjoy yourself. But most of all, I hope you have a safe holiday. People have a tendency to be a bit excessive on this evening. Be aware of how much you drink and those around you. AAA is offering the tipsy tow to get you and your car home safe. Unfortunately for NYC, this only happens in Northern Cali, Nevada and Utah. But fear not. There are many organizations that connect someone with a designated drive, if need be. Check with NDDDS to find one in your area. Be safe, have fun and HAPPY 2012!!!

Digable Planet Orbits Thru Brooklyn Bowl


When I was a teenager, I had a long list of artists I had to catch live. It didn't matter what the genre was, for I listened to all types of music. Luckily, I have been able to see the majority of the acts on my list. Last week, I thought I was lucky enough to have the chance to see Digable Planets, a group I haven't had the chance to see live.

When my wife and I walked into Brooklyn Bowl, F.Stokes was in the middle of his set. I haven't heard of him until this show (another great reason to go to more live shows) and I was pretty intrigued by the guys website. He lists his influences is quite range of folks, which is right up my alley. He kept his show simple but did not fail to engage the audience.  One thing is for sure, this guy is now on my radar of artists to watch.

After he finished and the stage hands finished setting up, you could see people were anticipating the headliner. Not from chants or anything of that sorts. Everyone, except those busy bowling, was eagerly watching the stage for Butterfly, Lady Bug and Doodlebug.

Unfortunately, only one of the trio had made it for the show. At first, I thought the group was playing with the audience and building anticipation. But about 2 and a half songs into the show, I realized it was just him. Aside from the setbacks, Doodlebug didn't let me down. It may not have been the show I thought I was going to see but it wasn't a dull show.

Third Degree, the crew he brought to back him up, put on a pretty good show. I didn't know the material they were performing but I liked it. They had a gritty sound I would have expected for a Philly band and they had a nice stage presence. It wasn't what I had expected but it did deliver the feeling of being at a hip-hop show in the 90's. For that, I enjoyed the show. I just wished it was billed as Doodlebug from Digable Planets instead. I still would have went and I wouldn't be left wondering if the crew fell out again.

A Quiet Coney Island

It's been another gap between postings and I do apologize. I keep saying I've been busy but who hasn't. Instead of giving you excuses, I've created a new video. My last camera was stolen, along with my wife's laptop. But I am a resourceful guy. With my new phone comes a much better camera, i.e. better quality.

The wife and I went to visit Chicago to celebrate our marriage with her hometown friends. It was an incredible time with my new family and new friends. As much fun as we were having, I could help but miss the various parts of my beloved Brooklyn.

Upon our return, we ditch our luggage with a quickness and headed to Coney Island. We heard that Hurricane Irene was scared of the reputation NYC had and tip toed around the place. Even a couple days after the storm had passed, Coney was rather quiet. So much, I figured it would be a nice one-minute video. Enjoy.


Brooklyn Bloggers Needed

Ok, so the more I intend to do more with this blog, the busier I get in other parts of my life. Obviously, my wedding kept me away from doing the damn thing on here. I have been involved in various projects in (so it seems) unrelated industries. I have come to the realization that this can no longer be a "one man army" project anymore.

So, with out hesitation, I am putting out the call to any ambitious writers and/or videographers interested in contributing. If you are passionate about Brooklyn and are looking for another way to express yourself, then maybe this is good fit. 


To be considered, please send a few samples of your work to greg@whyilovebk.com along with a contact number. I would love to add various viewpoints and opinions to this growing website. I finally realized that I can't do it alone.

Why I Love Brooklyn Expands

Hi folks. I just want to alert my faithful readers that I have expanded my virtual reach over to Tumblr this week. I've been playing around on it but didn't quite know how to incorporate it into my pet project here.
Then it hit me. I figured I can post daily to Tumblr, seeing as how it's geared towards the short attention span audience. I'll show photos and quick thoughts over there, as well as things I find humorous or interesting.

But fear not Blogspot fans, I am not deleting this aspect of the blog. I am keeping this site for expanded posting. What I mean by that is I will publish in-depth articles and video blogs I create here. Speaking of which, I've gotten feedback from a few loyal readers wanting more videos. Rest assured, I have been working on some new episodes showcasing Brooklyn's rich history that helped to shape this country.

To make it plain, Tumblr will be like if this site, Facebook and Twitter had a baby. Not exactly a blurb of a thought nor is it go into great detail, it is sort of a happy medium. To make it even easier, I will be sure to link from Tumblr every time I post on this site. So keep checking in on either site and remember, doctor, always do the right thing. PEACE!!

Brooklyn Bike Lanes Slightly Clearer

I made it clear that I love to ride my bike around the city. Riding through Brooklyn is much more enjoyable than when I venture into the city. But the truth is the bike lane is not respected that much anywhere. I'm not claiming to be doing the world a favor riding my bike. But this guy, Casey, pretty much says how I feel about how we cyclist are treated.


Besides, you gotta love the irony of the cop car blocking the lane!

Encouraging Bicycling in Brooklyn And Beyond

One thing I love doing is riding my bike, either in the city or off on some trails. The passion started with road racing a bit here and there. Then I discovered the joys of riding in the middle of nowhere. The fire grew higher the more I rode. Then, I raced in some state championships as well as nationals.

The desire to keep racing waned when I got out of high school. But college life didn't make me put my bike away. I went to Wayne State, which is a couple miles north of downtown Detroit. I drove a lot but I also enjoyed riding the streets to get to where I needed to get. I even found a company that hired bike messengers downtown.

This love of riding carries me all over this megalopolis. I haven't ventured that far into the Bronx as I would like to nor Queens. But I have seen a large amount of Brooklyn and the city as I whiz on by on my bike. I even had a few friends that I used to roll out on a semi weekly ride with. There were a few favorite shops to swing by and sometimes just chew the fat.

Time are always changing and NYC is one excelling example of that. My friends have either moved on to new cities or are rearing children and have less time. That I truly understand. But the loss of the beloved bike shops is a bit hard to withstand. One closed due to the soaring rents of Williamsburg. The other place, well, the owner must have had a greedy agenda he kept well hidden.

Instead of turning this into a grip fest, I'm going to introduce another new page to the blog. I'm going to share different link and videos that will help keep you rolling on my favorite mode of transportation. Not only do I want to share my love of riding, I want you to know how to maintain your bike for yourself. Whether you choose to build up a tool collection or join a local bike co-op is entirely up to you.

If you are finicky about your workspace, I would recommend getting your own tools. I plan on doing this myself by buying a tool or two every month. Keep in mind that quality tools is important, if you want them to last. If you don't have the space or desire, joining a good co-op is a great idea. Not only does it keep your expenses down but it also introduces you to other cycling advocates.

Co-op add an advantage, depending on the culture of it, with the part shares. This will also help in keeping a couple of dollars in your pocket. Instead of scraping old bike that have outlived it's use, they will salvage parts from them and sell/swap with members or to the general public. If you decide other than the co-op, there are places you can order parts for discounted price. I have found, working at bike shops, these are the places where they order from. My favorite is Bike Nashbar. They tend to have the most competitive prices while maintaining a good quality of products.

I have given you a nice amount of info to start with. I would go on and on. Believe me, there are a few subjects that I can talk on about and biking is one of them. But, all this talk of riding/working on the bike and a beautiful day going on outside my window has me salivating to go for a spin. I hope you do too soon.

Brooklyn Development Brings Gentrification Worries

When I am out and about, I always pay attention to how people navigate around the city. As an architectural designer, it is important to understand how people use space. As people are shopping, I've notice that people like to browse around for a while and take little breaks in between. This is the reason that plazas help commercially zoned areas to grow.

New York City knows this all too well. Just look at the developments in the city around Times Square and outside of Macy's in Manhattan. They have closed off parts of Broadway to make room for pedestrians and people who want to have a seat. And the changes have made quite a difference for the business as well as the people.

Living in the heart of Bed Stuy and Crown Heights for the past few years, I see that the area lacks these elements. Nostrand Avenue and Fulton Street have both been vibrant for many years. I've always enjoyed exploring the many types of shops, even the many dollar stores. But I always felt it could be more.

Needless to say, I was invigorated when I saw the Bed-Stuy Streetscape Project the other day. The existing conditions of the corner of Fulton and New York Avenue are lacking, when it comes to the built environment. As I ride my bike past here everyday on my way into work, I feel that the corner has much more potential than is used.

Clinton Hill has started a project as well. At the intersecting triangle of Fulton, Putnam and Grand, Putnam Triangle may be getting a facelift as well. Having washed my laundry at one of the storefronts on the triangle, I have waited to see it become more than a few plants surrounded by pavement. These proposals don't get greeted with open arms by all, though. For some of the reasons, I understand why.

15 years ago, not too many people ventured into these areas unless they lived there or made money on the streets. Notorious, the bio-pic film about Christopher Wallace, gave a glimpse of the drug trafficking going on in the neighborhood. But this didn't reflect on the entire population of the place. For the majority of the residents, it was a love-hate relationship with there home surroundings.

Many working people have dealt with the headaches of this crime. Those folks have felt neglected, which only increased when the demographics began to change.  While we all want to see our home and it's surrounding area at it's best. But many have seen the growth only to push them out of their long time home. I'm not saying that growth is bad but it certainly is when it doesn't include those who have suffered through the hard times.

Bohemian Brooklyn Wedding Brings Bliss

Well, the day has come and gone. It was a bumpy road for me and the misses and it was well worth it. The ceremony brought goods friends together along with our parents. Meeting them helped to put our folks mind at ease as well, we were told. Seeing as how I was slacking on the blogging during this period, I'll share some of the photos with you.


Thanks for the pics, Val and thanks to the staff at the Linger Lounge Cafe. And thank you, baby. You truly worked your magic in planning this amazing day.

Nets New Home In Brooklyn Begets Divide

I'm not a huge follower of the NBA any more. I haven't since I was a teenager. It's not the sport itself but I don't care for the star system of business that most franchises follow these days. I grew up watching incredible stars relying on the team around them to win championships. My beloved Pistons were the thorn in the side of Jordan, because he didn't have a proper supporting cast during the Bad Boy days. I still love watching games from the 80's for this reason. But one thing does excite me about the league, lately. Brooklyn is getting a professional team again.

I've been meaning to address the controversial project since I started blogging. But the videos I've attempted to produce just didn't pan out as I hoped. Then, a while back, I was reading an article in the NY Times about the new arena popping up downtown.  I saw another article in the Brooklyn Paper saying the Nets, like it or not, are new residents of Brooklyn. I knew I had to speak my piece, at least.

Since I've moved to New York City almost 5 years ago, I've been seeing the project discussed in many places. From the park near my then-home in Bushwich to a few classrooms and even at the office, it was a pretty hot topic. The jobs it would create and civic pride would shoot up was one side of the argument. Others felt that it would dwarf the surrounding community and overload the demand on the grid for basic necessities.

I have many mixed feelings about this proposal. I like the fact that it does bring a sports team back to the deserving borough. One of the most popular sports here is basketball so it is only fitting. It also proposes to open up the connection between Fort Green and Prospect height, something I didn't understand until moving into the area in '07.

On the other hand, there were people who lost their homes. Sure, they were compensated, but they didn't want to sell. I understand the feeling of want to stay in a neighborhood you feel attached to. I don't know what it's like to loose property to eminent domain, but it has been used in the acquisition of land for the arena.

As are a lot of people I have talked to, I am a bit on the fence, still. I don't like big brother taking peoples land away that they are not ready to give up. I don't like the idea of Brooklyn being turned into a new Manhattan. It is it's own borough and, as I like to say, it's a world all it's own. With that said, it definitely feels a bit empty without a professional team. After all, my grandmother had the Dodgers to cheer for. Who will I be able to tell my grandchildren about when I describe my time here?

Brooklyn Helps Construct Bright Future

Howdy, fellow Brooklyn lovers. I am busier than ever before, seeing how my wedding is less than a month away. Both my fiancee and I are scurrying in every direction to make sure we covered all our details. We really look forward to having our families together in downtown Bk for an incredible day. But that is a blog post all it's own for a future date.

Right now, I wanted to take a moment to reach out to my readers and spread the word about Construct Theater Company. They are based out of Manhattan but members hail from Brooklyn as well. I, myself, have participated in a few monologue slams and sketches. What really moves me about this company is the dedication to opening doors to those often left out of the entertainment industry. They also try to deal with contemporary issues that may get ignored by the mainstream.



Right now, they are in the midst of their fund raising drive. They have some nice programs in the plans for the future to help expand the span of involvement in theater. Aside from the fun times on stage, they are looking to reaching out to high school students. In their words, "With your support, we can begin obtaining certifications from the board of education required so that we can go into the schools and inspire these disenfranchised teens to a continued education in college."



Take a moment, check out the theatre company and help out if you can.



She amazes me in so many ways!


Busy Blogger in Brooklyn

Well, my friends, I have been a very busy man. As of today, I am two months away from my wedding and I have two projects outside of my day job. Needless to say, I am being pulled in numerous directions. Although I have lacked postings lately, I still love working on this blog.

First, I would like to say rest in peace to Edwin "Duke" Snyder. He is a player I related to a few times in my ball playing days. I never was much of a home run hitter but we both expected nothing short of the best from ourselves. In doing this, we both ended up beating our self up for not living up to our own expectations. For a younger me, he was just a name that my grandmother mentioned in some of her stories. As I got older and studied film, I saw how he earned the love and respect of Brooklyn.


I also want to share a few upcoming events with you, my faithful readers. I am a big fan of Shadan's parties. They are always fun times with other like minded professional peoples. He has had the brilliant idea to hold them during the afternoon time on the weekends in Fort Greene. If you can, I recommend you check one out.

After that party, head down the street a bit to the Green Hill Food Co-Op's Fun(d) Raiser party. They are celebrating the soon to be open doors of the new food cooperative with Senegalese buffet at 7:30 to 9. After the food is done, there will be a shake your groove thang session until 11:30.

To wrap things up here, I wanted to share a few sites I came across on the web. I found this site, Brooklynisms, to be quite humorous and informative. I'm not sure how accurate it is but it's worth a glance. I've always been a fan of the skillshare/free school movement and I've finally came across one in Brooklyn. I haven't  stopped by and seen for myself what they have to offer. Maybe we'll bump into each other over there.

Dodger Memories Return To Brooklyn

Born in Detroit, it is natural that I am a Tigers fan. People often times asked me if I am to become a Yankees fan  now that I live in New York. That would feel like betrayal in my heart. After all, the two teams compete in the same conference. But don't get me wrong, I do want a NYC team to root for. Unfortunately, the Dodgers have relocated to that other city over 50 years ago.

But that doesn't stop me from yearning for their return. You see, I may be from Detroit but my paternal grandmother was raised in Brooklyn. I vaguely remember the stories she would tell me as a very young boy. They may not have been on top during her time in this borough. (Ironically, she beat the team in moving to la-la land by a decade.) I do remember the passion she had in describing the team.


This is why when I hear of exhibits showcasing the teams history in NYC (they had fans outside Kings county) I get a bit excited. This morning, I saw an email from the Brooklyn Historical Society about their latest exhibit to open, Home Base: Memories of the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. As an added bonus to the exhibit, a movie about the Dodgers will be shown, free with museum admission. I don't know about you but I plan on seeing all three. When I leave, you may hear me say "maybe next year", as my grandmother did so many years ago. Only I'll be talking about their return to Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Shows Love For A Detroit Legand

Today marks a sad day in music history. It was 5 years ago that James Yancey, aka J Dilla, passed away. His music touched many artist, reach far outside of hip hop. It was that summer, following the murder of Deshaun "Proof" Holton, I decided to leave Detroit for NYC. Feeling homesick from time to time, it really helped that Brooklyn was showing Dilla a lot of love.









Thank you Brooklyn, for helping to make the transition smoother. And more important, thank you, Jay Dee.

Secrets of the Brooklyn Egg Cream

 Just the very name alone can strike wonder into many peoples minds. What's in it? Is it really made out of egg or cream? Who came up with that drink? Then, there's a few people who say "you want me to drink that." What ever the reaction, it is a part of the fabric we call Brooklyn.



There you have it, the simple ingredients of the egg cream. Mix one up to your taste and enjoy!

Seeking A Classic Brooklyn Beverage

Since I've moved to Brooklyn, people have asked me if I've tried a few things. Did you ride the Cyclone? It's too bad you missed the Dodgers by 50 years. (Yes, I've heard that one) Have you been to Juniors? I know you've walked across the bridge? Those were a few of the questions and statements I've heard.

One of the questions was have you tried an egg cream. I've been meaning to try one for a couple of years and I finally have. I was asked a couple of times around the holiday when I mentioned my blog. Not being able to say I have is kind of embarrassing, having been here over 4 years.

I did my research on different places in the city that have a note worthy egg cream. I also made sure I knew what I was getting. You see, ask for a New York egg cream and you get a different drink from a Brooklyn egg cream. New York is vanilla flavored and Brooklyn is chocolate flavored. There is a Bronx egg cream, strawberry, and I've heard of a San Fransisco egg cream, which is hazelnut.


I did not intend on sharing this with you through written word but rather video. Due to some technical difficulty, I am unable to edit the video for a few days. But be sure to check back very soon. I'll show you the places that had an egg cream to boast of as well as how to make one of your own. If you like chocolate milk and soda, this is a post you won't want to miss.

A Better Brooklyn Makes For A Better World

The holidays are over and we're getting back into the business as usual routine. Some of us are working better habits into our day to day. Some of us have already waned from the new year's resolution. One habit to work into our lives that's for the greater good is proper recycling.

Coming from a city that was behind a bit in the movement, I thought the paper, plastic and metals along with a compost bucket was a pretty good job. There is more to it than what I thought. Recently, I've become aware what is called of e-waste.



The next video is just a short sample of the waste collecting around the world. E-waste is imported by many nations besides China. It ends up in places like Africa as well as so many other place in the world.





There are ways to ensure that your electronics doesn't end up being harmful. Organizations such as the LES Ecology Center works hard to make sure that New York City has good habits. They have many programs to educate and make recycling easier. We missed the one in Prospect Park last Sunday. But worry not because Habana Outpost is holding an electronics waste drop off today from 10 to 4. If your going to go, make sure to click above on the link to see what items they are accepting.

Brooklyn Ballpark Remembered

It's a fun time throughout the city lately. With the Jets beating the Patriots, the whole area has been riding the feel good wave. Today, the NY Times shared a picture of the Polo Grounds, a former home of the team. Seeing the picture made me think about the catch, which happened there. Then, I couldn't help but think about the stories I heard about Ebbets Field. Instead of spewing out all the facts on this site, I'm just going to share a few videos I came across.









Notable Links:
Various ballparks in Brooklyn
Another great video about Dem Bums

Brooklyn's Small Snow Storm Snapshots

The snowstorm during the holiday brought out some of the weak points in the cities handling of the weather. There was much finger pointing and name calling going on. And I'm talking about the civil servants, not the general public. They had every right to be mad. Many parts of Brooklyn and Queens were left buried in snow to fend for themselves.

When the storm that followed during the past week, the media was sure that the city was going to be crippled. Many people were worried that they wouldn't have enough supplies at home, or at least a few news sources made it seem that way. The city administration spoke with confidence that it wouldn't repeat what happened a week prior. So, when the snow started to fall, I went out with my camera to see how ready they were. Here are the photo's from Tuesday night.


 

A Story Set in Bed Stuy, 20 Years Later

Anybody that knows me, knows that I love films. They have the power to take you places and think about things that are new. They can change the path of a person if it is honest and compelling. Some will make you question the world you are living in. This opened my eyes to a world of communicating with people. One of the films that drew me into the world of film was 'Do The Right Thing'.



The backdrop was Bed-Stuy, which was like an dense Detroit to me. I saw myself in some of the characters. I had different experiences but they weren't too far off. Therefore, the biggest impact was that Spike Lee and crew were addressing the issues that many of my friends were dealing with. The only difference was very few Italians remained in the D and the stores were owned by Arabs, not Koreans.

 

It has been 20 years and the movie still has an impact. There might be a black president in office but even he said we have a long way to go in his election campaign. I love being a part of the process of learning to come together as a whole in humanity, as bumpy of a road that may be. But stories like this need to be told if the situation is going to be addressed.

Videos of Old Brooklyn Trolleys

Lately, I've been a bit excited about a professional sports team coming to Brooklyn. I'm not a huge fan of the idea of the congestion the new arena will bring but I like some ideas of the design. But that's a whole different posting. See, I'm excited because I will have stories to tell my grandkids like my granny told me about the Dodgers.

Thinking about some of her memories got me nostalgic for an age I have no idea of what life was like. So, like I always do when I feel this way, I started reviewing footage on youtube of Old Brooklyn. Since the Dodgers name derived from the trolleys that ran here, I started seeking those videos out. Here are a few of those videos I came across.








You might want to hit the mute on this one but it has some cool old footage.


New Fresh Food Option in Clinton Hill

The new year is here and with that, people begin to think about changes and improvements. It is a good time to do so. Many of us make resolutions or set new goals. So, lately I've been thinking more and more about the foods I eat. After all, diet and exercise is the basis for good health.

It's been in the back of my mind to join a food coop since I've moved here. In Detroit, the co-op was not set up where you had to be a member to shop there. And it was conveniently located two blocks from my home. But Park Slope, which seemed like the top choice, was always a little journey from my house. With all the extra activities I had outside of work and school, I didn't have much time for traveling for shopping.

Now, I am excited to hear of the newest addition to Brooklyn's food suppliers, Green Hill Food Co-Op. The organization has been around for a little while now. But now, they have obtained a lease in a location. If it were one year ago, I would have lived right around the corner from the place.

It will be a little bit of time before they open their doors to the world. But for now they have an option to get fresh organic foods to the neighborhood. When you join, you can sign up for the Buying Club and get your order every other week. See you in the aisles, soon!

Blizzard Blunders Brings out Best of Brooklynites

AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews
It's back to the grind after the holidays here in Brooklyn. It sure seems like the sanitation department has had a nice vacation. When the snow hit, it took forever for them to clear streets in our beloved borough. Now, it seems as though they are dragging their feet to pick up the trash.

This is not the first blizzard to hit the area. I remember hearing stories from my granny about dealing with Brooklyn streets during 3 foot snow storms. So why, after many years of experience, is NYC having trouble with the elements? There are many rumors and stories swirling around this question. 

Photos by Bitchcakesny
We were told that in order to remove the snow, they had to postpone trash pick up. Seems reasonable, right. But we sat around, waiting for our streets to be cleared. It seemed that mother nature was the agent that helped in that area. Are we supposed to wait on a magical gust of wind to sweep the garbage away now?


But through the trials of the season, what I love most about Brooklyn shined bright in this time. With the lack of the city services, people we left to deal with it on their own. Much like my hometown when this happens, peoples compassion came out. Folks helped each other to dig out cars or walkways. They checked in on the elders on the block and ran to the store if they needed anything. Sure, folks may have wanted a couple dollars for the helping hand. But I didn't hear one person complain if they didn't get a dime.