Greenpointers: City lied about parks, ‘affordable housing’
The city has broken its promise to bring affordable housing to Greenpoint and Williamsburg and is letting developers run roughshod over the neighborhoods, pushing out the working class in the process, claimed more than 150 protesters rallying outside East River State Park Wednesday night.
The group, which gathered along now upscale Kent Avenue, said thousands of poorer residents have been priced out of the rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods during the past decade in the wake of a rezoning of the waterfront that allowed condominium towers to rise up, but also promised more parks and guaranteed so-called “affordable housing” — two things residents now say the city lied about.
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Only 19 of the 1,345 “affordable” apartments the city promised in 2005 when it rezoned the North Brooklyn waterfront to residential from manufacturing have been built, according to Jan Petersen, a member of Community Board 1, and that has forced lower-income residents to move away.
“This community has lost 10,000 Latino residents in the past 10 years,” claimed Antonio Reynoso, who is running against Vito Lopez for the 34th district council seat. “That is unacceptable.”
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Some Greenpoint residents have been roiling in recent weeks since two developers unveiled plans for more luxury condo towers on the north end of the waterfront.
The developer Park Tower Group wants to build “Greenpoint Landing,” a 10-tower development with up to 5,500 units on Newtown Creek. Meanwhile, the Chetrit Group is planning a 30-story tower at 77 Commercial St. between Manhattan and Franklin avenues, that would rise next to the site of a proposed city park that has been stalled for years, and some worry may never be built.
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Residents see the explosive development along the Greenpoint waterfront — combined with Two Trees Management’s plan for 2,284 apartments proposed for and around the Domino Sugar factory in Williamsburg as further proof that the city cares more about turning the neighborhoods into high-end urban wonderlands than taking care of the people who have lived there for years .
Some of those residents say that all the new development is forcing old-school landlords to reevaluate how much they can get for their old-school apartments.
“[My landlord] has tried for a long time to get me out,” said Maria Ramos, 71, who has lived in a rent-stabilized apartment on Green Street for 30 years. “She wants someone with more money.”
We will be located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Kent Avenue, between North 3rd and North 4th Streets (just 3 blocks from Bedford Avenue, 2 blocks from Smorgasburg/Brooklyn Flea and a stone’s throw from the East River), and are slated to open Memorial Day weekend.
What Makes Our Ice Cream Different?
First and foremost, all of our ice cream will be made from scratch in our kitchen, which not too many ice cream shops can boast. Most ice cream shops that promise “homemade” actually throw flavors into a pre-made ice cream base. That’s not homemade! OddFellows Ice Cream Co. will be homemade. At the helm will be Chef Sam Mason (Empire Mayonnaise, wd~50, Tailor, Lady Jay’s). If you recognize the name, you know his culinary endeavors are delectably unconventional …now just wait until you taste his ice cream.
Chef Mason will pasteurize our base in-house. By making the ice cream in this manner, OddFellows will be able to deliver the highest quality and freshest product possible. Pasteurizing our base will also give us the freedom to concoct the most distinctive and scrumptious flavors. We will be able to individually infuse each batch’s mix to add depth and scope to each flavor. Nothing tastes better than homemade!
As for our ingredients, we source our milk, eggs, and cream from local farms and will, whenever possible, use in season, all natural ingredients. While our flavors will always be changing, we offer 8 to 10 ice cream flavors along with 2 to 4 sorbets daily. Our flavors will range from the odd and unconventional to inventive renditions of the classics. OddFellows will also have a full soda program (all homemade by Chef Mason), baked goods, candy, and other treats.
Today’s the last day to tak part in their Indiegogo Campaign. Find out more here.
Though Irish pubs dominate the bar landscape in this city, especially in the wastelands of Midtown Manhattan, bars dedicated to the drinking culture of Scotland are not as common. Here to rectify that is Isle of Skye, a new Scottish pub that opened in Williamsburg this month serving up hundreds of whiskys in a subterranean space on Driggs Avenue. The space could not look less like that yogurt shop that used to inhabit it; the transformation into a Scottish castle is a complete one, with stone walls, large wooden tables, a faux fireplace, and huge leather sofas for curling up with a strong drink.
The menu of whiskys is extensive, with selections from five different regions of Scottland—Highlands, Lowlands,Islay, Speyside, Island—plus a variety of blends, Irish whiskys, American bourbons and a few bottles from Japan and other lesser known distilling countries.
Some bands are good at making good music. Some bands are good live. What separates the great bands from the “eehhhhhhh” bands is the ability to make believers everywhere you go. A perfect example of this are The Suzan. I’ve seen them a few times now and they consistently blow my mind. (more…)
Legendary NYC artist Kenny Scharf (above with Andy Warhol and Keith Haring) got arrested Friday night in Williamsburg after drawing the snake pictured below. The image is from his facebook where he wrote “Just Spent 20 hours in 2 Brooklyn jails for this.” Also from his facebook:
Cops who arrested me were fans and wanted to talk about exit through the gift shop and even liked the tag. at the first holding cell in Williamsburg (there were only 5people in the cell) the police were googling me and asking about things like the tunnel nightclub.
According to NYCourts.gov he was charged with ‘Attempted Making Graffiti’, ‘Attempted Crm Mis: intnt Dmge Prprty‘ and ‘Possession of Graffiti Instrum.’
On the heels of bizarre neighborhood thefts of almonds and cheese, Williamsburg bar Lighthouse is reporting the robbery of one of their prized toilet seats. From Brooklyn Paper:
Assaf Tamir, co-owner of the Borinquen Place establishment, made the shocking discovery after he and his sister Naama closed up shop for the night.
“He came out of the bathroom and asked me what happened to the toilet seat,” said Naama. “It was missing in action.”
“I doubt it would just walk away,” said Naama.
The owner Assaf Tamir (pictured on the left) is dressed suspiciously like a 1950′s bank robber in the photos. I mean seriously, get that guy a zorro mask and a toilet seat sized sack with a dollar sign on it and he’s ready to go. Expect to see several TOILET HEIST WAS AN INSIDE JOB conspiracy videos popping up on YouTube this week.
This week, the REVERSE art space in Williamsburg is celebrating its inaugural exhibition, Uncharted Waters, with an event on Friday, April 12th at 7pm. The event will feature new work by emerging and established artists. Herradura Tequila will provide cocktails.
REVERSE also participates in “EVERY 2:ND,” a recurring event on the second Friday of each month when local art spaces and galleries stay open until 9pm. The monthly events “showcase cutting-edge exhibitions, performances and conceptual soirees,” a REVERSE organizer tells FREEwilliamsburg.
REVERSE is at 28 Frost Street, ground floor. Press release after the jump. (more…)
Happy Thirsty Thursday lovers! I don’t know about you but my taste buds are craving some soul, oldies, and rock. If you’re right there with me I have the perfect solution. Come on out to The Grand Victory tonight at 11pm and live a little with DJ Jerk Chicken. Check out the promo mix below. Hopefully I’ll see you tonight!
Best Miso Ramen:
Ramen Yebisu
126 N. 6th St., nr. Berry St., Williamsburg; no phone
Akira Hiratsuka ages his fresh Sapporo-style noodles for 48 hours to develop their slightly tangy flavor. He complements them with an elegant broth based on charred pork and lobster stock, sweet miso, toasted sesame, and an avalanche of chopped green onions ($12).
Best Patty Melt:
Parish Hall
109A N. 3rd St., nr. Berry St., Williamsburg; 718-782-2602
Pat LaFrieda has nothing on this magnificent burger blend: It’s lamb bacon mingled with beef, and it’s rich and drippy and delicious in ways we’ve yet to fully comprehend. The decision to serve it with grilled onion and good Welsh-style farmstead cheese on butter-griddled planks of rye from the neighborhood Polish bakery is a stroke of genius that could spark a patty-melt craze ($15 with salad or fries).
Best Grass-Fed Burger:
Reynard
80 Wythe Ave., at N. 11th St., Williamsburg; 718-460-8004
Unlike many lean, gristly grass-fed burgers, this one is leavened with lots of juicy fat and topped, for good measure, with an optional wad of melty Gruyère for $16 including fries.
Best Double Cheeseburger:
Blue Collar
160 Havemeyer St., nr. S. 2nd St., Williamsburg; 347-725-3837
One theory behind the success of the double is that two thin patties are better than one: the top effectively basting the bottom with its meaty drippings, thereby creating an ideal ratio of juicy beef to squishy bun ($6.25).
Best Bar Food
Aska
90 Wythe Ave., nr. N. 11th St., Williamsburg; 718-388-2969
Depending on what’s on hand in his kitchen that day, the bar menu at Fredrik Berselius’s ascetic, Scandinavian-themed Williamsburg restaurant might include platters of plum-soft beef cheeks, fresh oysters “foraged” from the coves of Long Island, and fanciful Scandinavian-style hot dogs wrapped in tacolike rotis with relish and frizzled onions. If you have just one dish, however, make it the classic “potatis” potato dumplings ($6), which Berselius and his chefs stuff with a savory mash of cabbage and pork and serve, the way they do in the farm kitchens of Sweden, with smoky spoonfuls of farmer’s cheese and a sweet touch of lingonberry.
On the heels of bizarre neighborhood thefts of 
