Brisk Walk Thru Brooklyn Botanical Garden

One thing about being away from NYC, it makes you miss the ease of walking everywhere. Being in Detroit and Chicago, having a car is basically a necessity. Upon our return, I grabbed the camera and rushed out the door. It's nice being steps away from beautiful landscapes, such as the Bk Botanical Garden.

Flying Back to Brooklyn

It's always nice to visit family in other places. You get to see not only family, but how other cities are. For me, it reminds me how special the borough of Brooklyn really is. Face it, not too many other places is the diversity right next door. Like all things, our trip came to an end. And every time, it is an adventure and a half to get into the greater NYC area. These are not my photos but they give the general idea of the chaos we are about to endure.

http://tinyurl.com/oharedelays

http://tinyurl.com/snowyjfk

http://tinyurl.com/oharecheeseheads

 

Brooklyn Blanketed By Blizard

When I left for my holiday travels, I kind of wanted a little more time to relax. I told myself that I should have taken a bit more time. Well, life has a way of giving you what you want sometimes. My flight from Chicago to JFK was canceled. While I was on the internet trying to figure out how I'm going to get home to Brooklyn, I saw many pictures of the storm's effects. Even the subways got covered by the blizzard.

Since I was not around to take some pics of my own to share, my good friend Dean let me share some of his snap shots.

Photo by Dean Keim

Photo by Dean Keim

Photo by Dean Keim

Photo by Dean Keim

Photo by Dean Keim

 Be careful if you must go out in this weather. Stay warm and check in on your elders when you get the chance. But make sure you take a little time to enjoy the snow. I know I will when I return!

Brooklyn Face Lift in Fulton Street Mall

Ok, ok, I know. I've been MIA for quite some time. It's not that your boy just walked away. I've had some many ventures since the last posting happened. I've started working again. I've gotten involved in a relationship. And to take away more time, I started a business.

I know, these all sound like excuses. I do want to continue to show my appreciation for this beautiful borough but I want to do it right. I've learned a lot since starting this and I want to incorporate it into my upcoming videos. But to show you that I am not abandoning this blog I started, I'm going to do a replay of one of my favorite videos.



I shared this one because all bus services are fully restored in the open air market place. I haven't had the chance to go and document the full extent of the new look. I will very soon. Who knows, maybe I'll see you down there when I do.

Backyard Barbeque in Brooklyn causes move

Well, my faithful followers, this is it. I have had it up to here and I am done. Not with blogging. With this provider, Blogger. It served me well until the last couple of months. They made some changes that baffled me. Seriously, why fix something that is not broke.

I was attempting to share some pictures of the bbq with you and it was just infuriating. Trying to design a decent looking layout for the post brought back the headache I got rid of this morning. After a few tries at figuring out the method to their new madness, I gave up. I knew that it was time to move to the next spot.

A few folks have been trying to get me over to WordPress for a while now. I tested out a page a few months ago but didn't see any reason to make the switch. Then, some genius at this site decided to make some changes. If you type in whyilovebk.com, you will still be forwarded to my site, always.

So check out the new site and update you link button (if you added me to your bookmarks) and check back later today for those pics.

Classic Coney Island Fun

I've been mentioning here and there that I wanted to do a Coney Island video. The wait is over folks. I finally made it down to the penisula with the camera. My old favorites were still there along with some new friends. This is just a taste but enjoy...



 Don't forget the Mermaid Parade this Saturday. It's always a blast!

It doesn't get any better than a rooftop party in Brooklyn

This past weekend was an event filled one. I finally made it out to Coney Island to check out the new Luna Park. Believe me, it did not disappoint. I did shoot a video to share with you all, but I am still working on getting my editing station working properly. (Time for a trip to Deano Bravo Studios)

That same evening, I went to a friends party on her rooftop. It was the perfect mix of good friends, great music and delicious beverages. To give you a taste of the party, I've decided to share some pictures that my buddy took. (Chuck Gibson has an incredible eye for composition)

DJ Dex aka Nomadico

A great Brooklyn summer in the making

I swear I have not forgotten about this blog. I know I have been MIA lately but it is with good reason. I have been prepping my backyard with vigor for some incredible grill parties.The lawn is almost in so I will be sharing a video with you of the first party. Plus, I've been spending quite a bit of time with a special lady friend.

I went to Coney Island yesterday and had a blast. The new Luna Park is a lot of fun with more new rides to come. I am so glad that we can still enjoy the old timey carnival culture. I love going to Coney Island and I would have hated to see it disappear.

I wanted to share my experience with you today but I must join my friends at the Loving Day festival. I do have equipment again so check back real soon for a new video. In the mean time, watch one of the earlier videos that takes you to last years festival.

I know, I know, the look of the video has come a long way

Mine, too, for that matter

It's been a while, Brooklyn

It has been roughly a month since my last post. I hope I didn't disappoint anyone that enjoys watchig my videos. I needed to take a step back from many things for a minute. It is never easy looking for work in a depressed economy. The constant rejection sometimes works on your confidence. So I made some adjustments in my day to day for a short time.

I am working to set up a editing station of my own but it is proving to be a bumpy ride. I appreciate the help from my friends who are helping in ways they can. I do project a new video in the near future. I just hope that Dean doesn't mind me using his studio to produce it. Again, sorry to keep you waiting for another post.

Save Our Shelves at the Brooklyn Public Library

It is no secret that I love the library. Not just because I love to read but they offer so much more to the community. I find myself using the library so much that I do what I can to give back to it. When the Save Our Shelves campaign kicked off, I knew how I could.

Spring is in the air in Prospect Park

Before the sudden rush from my professional world, I was able to shot a couple of videos. I enjoy Prospect Park on so many levels that I wanted to share it with you. I also want to make sure you get an idea of how much the park offers, I did not get overly ambitious. I am splitting it up into different segments. Enjoy...

Hoping for a short Brooklyn commute

I know, I have been missing in action lately. I've been working hard to keep up the site and then I disappear. I do apologize to those of you who have enjoyed my blog. It is not without reason.

The last couple of weeks has shined a little bit of hope on your boy. I've been interviewing like crazy and that means a lot of preperation. It would be nice to be back to working on projects that might actually get built.

One is even in Brooklyn, only a 15 minute door to door commute. It would be a beautiful thing to be able to ride my bike to work and not worry about the hassle of the city. Keep your fingers crossed for me y'all but more important, don't write me off just yet.

A short walk in the heart of Brooklyn

My new place is working out nicely. I feel at home even before I walk in the door. When I do, I have a nice amount of space, a fire place and a huge backyard. My cat is loving the fact that he has stairs to run up and down. Hell, I even have a jet tub to relax in.

But what I love most is that everything is within reach to my place once again. The laundry mat is right around the corner. There are supermarkets, fruit and vegatable stands, a fish market and more within two blocks. Even greater is the 15 minute walk to the pulse of this great borough, as shown in the video above.

Settling into my new home in Crown Heights

I am still busy with the move but I wanted my readers to know that I am still an active blogger. Every time I move, I remember how much a pain it is. Some moves are worth it (which it seems to be this time) and some leave you with a bad taste. Unfortunately, I have to get back to work. Before I go, I want you to know about Time Out New York's Brooklyn vs. Manhattan. It's worth checking out.

Still moving forward in Brooklyn

Some of you may have noticed a slight drop in the posting in the last week. It's not that I have been slacking on this project. Living in NYC can be hectic, no mater what borough you choose. The place I am at now is not working out very well. With the new month approaching, I have been getting a bit anxious if it would work out.

I've been iching to do another video. Ideas just seem to flow through me for different topics to show. The recent news about Coney Island makes me want to show you what it looks like empty. (Don't ask why) I thought about going out to Prospect Park to show you how people utilize it during the winter time. Unfortunately, the last snow storm I took the camera out in was a little too damp. I even thought about documenting the experience of looking for a new place in Brooklyn. Then the thought smacked me back pretty hard. Walking into a place with a camera rolling would be a good idea.

But worry not, friends. I love putting this together and I do not see myself slowing down anytime soon. I enjoy the react that I am getting. People keep telling me they enjoy the video segments. Some even offer to help with them. I never expected this much from a simple video I made to pass some time.

Old school shopping in Downtown Brooklyn

I can't stop making these videos. There just too much fun. This time, I'm taking you to the old school mall. Brooklyn's Fulton Street Mall is a reminder of how our grandparents used to shop, by heading downtown and walking. Enjoy...

Good old fun with new rides at Coney Island

I have to admit it. I am giddy about the new park announced in Coney Island. I remember my grandma telling me about the rides and sideshows she went to during the depression. When I moved out here, my mother insisted that I had to go straight to Nathan's. I also, for some odd reason, wanted to clink some bottles together on the boardwalk while screaming for warriors to come out and play.

Having been to Coney Island numerous times a year, I have grown quite fond of the place. True indeed, it has it's needs. Some things are beyond repair. For a while, I was worried that it would soon turn into another playground for the rich with the developments proposed within the last few years. Many other people shared the fear that condos and expensive parks would soon over shadow the place.

The announcement from the mayors office the other night lifted that feeling a bit. I almost immediately started to think of the different rides that are to come. I looked at the renderings offered but it was my imagination that thrilled me. I thought of the twists that could be added to those old Luna Park rides.

In thinking about the new proposal, some worries did spring up. I thought about the pricing of the new park. If it is too high, will the place not attract as good an amount of traffic. If it doesn't, the projected economic impact will be off. The park will create a few hundred jobs but if people explore the area outside the park, it could see a renaissance. I just hope for the sake of the residents that it does.

Once again a winter wonderland

The snow storms of the past few weeks crippled the East Coast. Except, of course, New York City. But Wednesday, we got hit with a foot and a half. I jumped up and rushed out the door, eager with memories of fun in Detroit blizzards. Instead of writing about it, I'll let the following photo's do the talking.

Columbus Circle












Union Square

Meanwhile, back in Brooklyn...










Later that night...

Saturday will be DONUTS

If you haven't noticed by now, I am a huge J Dilla fan. Not only are we both from Conant Gardens area, but the man changed music. Samples were used in a whole new way. He brought the voice back into consideration as an instrument, not just for lyrics. And like myself, he loved to dig thru crates and study music history.

If you are unfamiliar with his work, join me tomorrow for Donuts Are Forever, when ?uestlove will be headlining. Guilty Simpson, an emcee who Dilla collaborated many times with, will be hosting the party. If you like hip hop with soul, this is not a night to miss. Brooklyn definitely shows love when it comes to his music.

Virtual Brooklyn

I haven't done a virtual post in awhile. If you are confused, let me explain. I realized that it's not just New Yorkers that are curious to what is going on in this incredible borough. So I wanted to share sites on the internet that people could explore without having to travel. Well, for the most part.

Here is a slide show the NY Times put up a few years back showing some interesting Brooklyn storefronts

Brooklyn celebrates J Dilla's birthday with a passion

Compassionate folk fight corruption and help the homeless

The fight continues to save America's amusement park

This is just a few of the virtual things I came across this past week. But don't limit it to you computer screen. If you can, Brooklyn is best enjoyed first hand.

Steering towards a co-existance

The nice weather yesterday gave me the urge to ride my bicycle. Mother Nature was pleasant and I always enjoy riding around the city, absorbing the street scene that the subway doesn't offer. I can't ask a bus driver to hold on a second while I explore a store that arouses curiosity, but my bike will not argue if it is locked up a little too long. This is one reason that the human-powered pedals are my favorite mode of transportation.

There is also the feeling one gets from helping to make for a better planet. Living in NYC, we get bombarded with ways to become green. TV commercials are always touting products that will use less energy. The subway is full of ads parading how public transportation reduces global warming. (Probably the only thing MTA has going for it right now.) The bike gives you that feeling, on top of the endorphins that are released during exercise.

What really stood out in my mind was not the good vibes from exercise or from being a good citizen of the earth. I was a bit frustrated, partly due to my lack of tools to fix a small problem. This was not the limit of my anger, though. The malfunction was very minute compared to a dangerous, possibly even lethal.

Last night, I found myself riding down Bedford Ave heading into Williamsburg. I noticed the many cars parked in or speeding thru the bike lane. Usually, I was the type who loved the adrenaline rush that would result. I would be the young punk who got a thrill from scaring the mess out of the unsuspecting pedestrian or driver. (Yup, I was that crazy!)

This was not the first time I witnessed this, nor did it surprise me. I did, however, recently have a conversation or two during the holidays about drivers frustrated with traffic. Some complained about the bike lanes but most agreed that they help make it safer for all. This makes me wonder, how does removing bike lanes in a neighborhood heavily used by those on a bike help the city? If New York City is to become the green city of the future it claims to be, why would it reduce the road access to cyclist?

Fort Greene Park with a side of history

I know, I know, it took me long enough. I went thru a lot the last couple of months and it made me feel good to know that people liked to watch my videos. I lost everything to produce them but that wasn't going to stop me. Thanks to Deano Bravo Studios. Now, without further ado, here is the latest video...

Oda a la biblioteca

I love finding a good deal sometimes. I'm not a big shopper but I do want to stretch my dollar. My grandmother, rest in peace, is a New Yorker (raised in Brooklyn) who would search for a deal. When I was young, she would teach me the art of living nice on a low budget. "Know where to find a deal is key, Gregory" she would say to me. Now, I am going to share with you what was at the top of that list.

The library is a valuable resource that can trim some fat from your budget. It offers a lot more than just books. There is the many different magazines, newspapers and other periodicals. If you don't own a computer, you can get access to the web there, 30 minutes per session. Bring your own laptop for free wifi with unlimited time. Not to sound like a salesman but wait, there's more.

I like to read. I like to be around people who do as well. Now, these days, there are more than one way to gather info. You don't have to be a book worm to be well read. But I do believe it is safe to assume that the majority of patrons of the library are somewhat educated. Or at least they desire to be. It's nice to meet people that carry a wide variety of conversation. But still, there's more.

One of my favorite parts of the Brooklyn Central Library is the video collection. The part I liked most was the surprise that it gave me. On the first glance, I didn't even think it was much. It was half the wall in the internet hall. It looked like a fraction of a chain rental store. I almost made the mistake of not giving it a chance. When I looked closer, I saw that it had a nice variety of movies that I wanted to see, had been meaning to see or enjoyed at some point in the past. After many visits, I realized why the small shelf space. In my opinion, and seeing so many other people doing the same, most of their collection is out in the hands of the people. At least, that what I like to think. But wait, their is still more.

One of the programs I have been meaning to take advantage of is the conversational language workshops. I have my own textbooks to privately study but they make it easier to practice. Not only do I have someone to correct me, but I find learning with other to help. We all struggle in our own ways and insight into that gives you an additional boost sometimes.

But these are just some of the way that I utilize the library. Don't take my word for it. Make your way down to your branch. Or make it down to the Central Library by the end of this month and see the Sesame Street exhibition. Just get out there and make the most of your branch.

(thanks to the brownstoner for the image of the library entrance. i couldn't link the photo to your site unfortunately)

The gritty side has gotten me

Usually the first reaction I get from people not familiar with Brooklyn is similar to what people think about Detroit. "Isn't it dangerous" or "will I get robbed" is too often asked. I usually want to smack people for assuming this, but my maturity won't allow that. I kindly respond that life is a risk where ever you go, you just have to use common sense.

Well, I made the mistake of not taking my own advice. You see, I had moved recently and lost my equipment that I use to create and manage my sites. I took a livery cab to move some of my smaller belongings. Instead of calling for a car, I figured it would be easier to hail on of the many that pass by my stoop.

WRONG!

You see, he was not affiliated with any company. He bought the town car and worked independently. I respected his hustle and thought about getting his number for future rides. Instead, we talked about our hometowns on the ride. That was one of the mistakes I made.

We arrived at my new local and I got moving. While I was unloading the driver went to get change. The person parked next to the car got in and was annoyed that he had to wait. The driver came out, got his money and hopped in the cab. Instead of double checking the car for anything left behind, I shook his hand and kept moving.

About two seconds later, I realized what I had done. Chasing the car down, he laid into the gas pedal. I don't think he realized I had left my bag in the car but he wasn't trying to stop for me. I know that I could have prevented this from happening in so many ways. At first, I felt a serious emptiness in my stomach that hurt bad. I felt naked and vulnerable to identity theft. But I couldn't dwell on my mistakes.

I am sharing this story with you so that you too may learn from my expensive lesson. There are a lot of things to love about Brooklyn (and Detroit). They are big cities, which draws all types of characters. Even the suburbs and rural areas have a few bad apples.

The point I am trying to make is not to let them slow you down but also know how to protect yourself (and belongings). Also, I don't want you to think I have fallen off as a blogger. I want you to know why I have been absent.