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!