Alter is having a one night only sale on Fetty of Brooklyn jewelry tonight from 7-10pm. Plus there’s booze!
Readers, feel free to buy me the super hot ax necklace just cause I’m awesome.
Got an email today about the owner of The Diamond doing a show with his Van Halen cover band Van Heusen next Friday. He says it’s been three years since their last show. Now, is it coincidence that the actual Van Halen are jumping back into the limelight after 22 years? Perhaps. Or maybe not.
Either way sounds like a rocking good time.
Hello Y’All,
Very exciting times here in Greenpoint. My wife, Alex, and I finally opened our bar, THE DIAMOND. We started a little over a month ago and it’s hectic but tons of fun. No food yet but we’re working on it. We’ve got fantastic beer (of course), a beautiful garden, table shuffleboard, rubber ring quoits, killer jukebox, and a cozy half circle bar. We like hanging out there and hope you will too.
In other news, my goofy Van Halen tribute band, VAN HEUSEN, is playing for the first time in three years. We are playing right down the street from the Diamond at CLUB EUROPA. If you’ve never seen Van Heusen, I suggest you try it. If you don’t dig Van Halen, don’t be skeptical, you can at least enjoy laughing at us.
Check out our letter to David Lee Roth in today’s Onion (print version). It’s a quarter page somewhere in the music section… I haven’t actually looked yet.
Here’s all the important details:
Next Friday, August 24th:
PRE PARTY 6:00-8:00, $2 pints (this will never happen again)
The Diamond
43 Franklin St.@Calyer St.
Brooklyn, NY
VAN HEUSEN 8:30-10:00, $8 cover
Club Europa
98 Meserole Ave.
Brooklyn, NY
POST PARTY 10:30-3:00
The Diamond
43 Franklin St.
Brooklyn, NY
DIAMOND BY SUBWAY:
L Train to Bedford (12 minute walk)
Walk 1 block toward the water to Berry St.
Make a right on Berry and walk up 7 blocks
Make a soft left onto Banker St.
Walk up this industrial stretch until Banker ends (about 5 blocks – you’ll feel like you are in the middle of no where during this walk)
Banker terminates at an intersection with Calyer and Franklin.
Look across Franklin St. and you will see our Diamond lightbox
DIAMOND BY CAR OVER WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE:
Get in the far right lane and take the first exit
Make a right off the ramp so that you are headed back toward the river on Broadway
Go to the end of Broadway and make a right on Kent
Follow up along the water about 1 mile
As Kent bends to the left, it becomes Franklin St. and you will see a stop light ahead
We are the first door on the left after the stoplight. Look for the Diamond lightbox
If you are coming any other way and don’t know how to go, email me.
If you are going straight to Europa, check their website for directions. europalive.net. If you are pre-partying with us at the Diamond, just follow the crowd to Europa at 8:00 – we are four blocks away.
Hope to see you next Friday and if not, some other time.
Diamond David Lee Pollack
On our way back to Gpoint, sweaty and a little overheated we stopped at Diamond Bar for a cold one and a few games of shuffle board and rubber ring toss. I think these games have fancier names, but right now I don’t feel like researching. Diamond currently has the greatest summer beer on tap called Hop Sun. I forget who makes it, but it sure is refreshing. Justine and baby sis came by to see the new bicycles and my lovely other half decided he was going to do wheelies up and down Franklin St.
He’s not exactly 13 anymore, so I suggest he practice before attempting again. Oh, and maybe he should try it sober too. When we get home he realizes he doesn’t have his wallet.
“Musta been the wheelies I was trying”“Ya Think?”
I find it hard to believe his wallet flew out from his athletic wheelie trying, but I won’t tell him that. Turns out he just left it on the bar. Us Greenpointers, we sure are honest.
While at the Diamond I learned two new tidbits of neighborhood information. One – the Diamond will be getting food real soon (this was actually printed in the blurbs of various magazine reviews, but so was Brooklyn Label’s pending liquor license, and where is that?)! And two – we’re getting a bowling alley! How exciting is that? It’s going to be on Franklin St, brought to us by the guys who opened Barcade.
It better have a liquor license and food.
The net is all a-buzz with Ichiran coming to Manhattan Avenue. Yeah I didn’t know what the Hell it was either.
Apparently, it’s a pretty big deal in the ramen noodle world (who knew there was such a cult following for it?). Anyway, since I’m such a sucker for new things in the ‘hood – not to mention a total obsessive for affordable food I don’t have to make myself, this Ichiran noodle shop thingy seems to fit that bill perfectly.
Word on the street is it will be at:
1013 Manhattan Ave. (at Greene St) Brooklyn, NY 11222
I know you’ve missed me… don’t lie, I can tell. Anyways last week was super busy, work, partying and still not entirely moved in I haven’t had the chance to blog or as Justine says I’ve been lazy. You say tomato I say fuck you.
That lovely motto is on one of my favorite tee shirts; a gift from my dear friend Lizzy. Dear friend that I haven’t seen in months. Okay I am lazy; especially about keeping tabs on friends, family, actually anyone really. I am pretty cool with the dude at the Bodega on Greenpoint & Manhattan, we keep in touch daily.
So months ago I blogged about the lack of dining options in the nabe. Well don’t you know it, Brooklyn Label launched their Dinner Menu. Woo hoo! More choices? I practically ran there when I heard. The verdict? I can’t fully review the dinner menu until I’ve tasted more of the tasty offerings. So far, I’ve tried the Greek Salad (which doesn’t really count because I think it was on the original menu) and the veggie burger. Both were fantastic. I am really looking forward to returning soon to try the 3 different macaroni and cheese dishes..could it get any better?
Me and little sister JoJo spotted filming being done at Murphy’s Bar on Calyer Street over the weekend. According to Page Six it seems it might be the faithful “Greenpoint watering-hole” referred to where Ben Kingsley and Mary Kate Olsen swap tongue.
Yeah well, I just couldn’t keep that gross little tidbit to myself.
Ah, busy weekend. After my bout with sickness, entertaining my little sister for the weekend and that whole not having internet at home thing I didn’t get around to blogging. And GG is just lazy.
I took the little sister to Coney Island to ride the Cyclone on Saturday. It was awesome. All I’ve been hearing is about how Coney Island is going away and blah, blah, blah so I figured I’d check it out again since I hadn’t been there in oh, about, twenty years.
I used to go there with my girlfriend when we were kids. Not even supposed to be on the train, but we could get away with being gone for more than a few hours on Summer days, the closest place to go of any real fun was Coney Island. I even swam there when I was a kid. As if it was a clean beach.
We got off the train and my first realization was it was so much smaller than I remembered. But the Cyclone was bigger. And the area? Still left something to be desired. In a weird way it was comforting that it was still a little trashy. Everything in New York has become so fucking candy coated and white bread that it makes me want to vomit sometimes. Times Square and the Meatpacking District are the most obvious examples but it’s happening everywhere.
When I was a kid Williamsburg was considered a bad neighborhood. We didn’t even really call it that, it was the North Side and the South Side. With the South Side being a hooker and heroin haven. I was even friends with a girl whose mother was a real live prostitute and drug addict! On early weekend mornings when me and the fam went driving towards the Williamsburg Bridge for a visit to the city, we’d point her out clearly doing the walk of shame back to Greenpoint after a rough night.
But now almost all, if not all of Williamsburg is practically G-rated. I mean how afraid can you really be of strung out white boys who weigh about a buck ten from Kansas? Not very.
I know things are only going to get worse (read: better). You can see it trying to happen in Greenpoint. The Puerto Ricans from the other side of Greenpoint Ave are getting priced out but the the Polish community has a stronghold on the area. As much as people might like to think that eventually the Poles are going somewhere else, they’re not. The Poles own their buildings and businesses. And they’re quicker to rent and/or sell to their own. In my opinion, Greenpoint will never be completely gentrified like Williamsburg.
And I’m happy about that.
Art is good. Pass it on.
THE GREENPOINT 100 is a small works show and art benefit for the Greenpoint branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, where all the work will be sold to benefit the branch’s programs. We’re looking for artists who live or work in GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN, to donate work- it’s a very worthwhile cause, and as added incentive we’re bringing in some great gallerists and critics to jury the show and award a cash prize, so it’s great exposure for artists who do decide to donate. All the info is in the artist call below.
If you’re not an artist living or working in Greenpoint, please forward this to anyone you know that is!
********************
CALL FOR ARTISTS:
The Greenpoint 100: Friends of the Greenpoint Library Artists’ Benefit
September 15th, 2007 11:00am – 2:30pm
Brooklyn Public Library Greenpoint Branch
107 Norman Avenue at Leonard Street, Brooklyn NY 11222
The Friends of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Greenpoint Branch invites 100 Greenpoint artists to participate in a juried, one-day exhibition of small works which will be sold to benefit the branch. This is a worthwhile opportunity for our local emerging artists to display their work and have it reviewed by arts professionals. The proceeds from the sale will be used for community-requested improvements like children’s area maintenance, as well as the acquisition of much-needed, up-to-date new materials.
Grand Prize: $100 cash
(2) Runner-up prizes to be announced
Jurors:
Leah Stuhltrager: Founder and co-director, Dam Stuhltrager Gallery
- Dam Stuhltrager, founded in 1998, is an original charter member of the Williamsburg Gallery Association and one of the most ascendant galleries in the area. Its artists have been featured in major exhibitions including Art Basel, Contemporary Istanbul, and the Museum of Art and Design. Dam Stuhltrager has had extensive coverage in both mainstream and contemporary art publications such as Artforum, NPR, The Village Voice, Rhizome.org and Esquire.
James Wagner and Barry Hoggard: Critics, curators and editors of ArtCal (www.ArtCal.net)
- Well-respected art and political bloggers James Wagner ( jameswagner.com) and Barry Hoggard (bloggy.com) publish ArtCal, an unabashedly opinionated openings and exhibitions guide focusing on underknown galleries and artists. James and Barry are often integral to the exposure of new talent and have been featured in Art and America, ArtKrush, The Brooklyn Rail, Art+Auction, and more.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURES:
As we are focusing on the community, *YOU MUST BE AN ARTIST LIVING OR WORKING IN GREENPOINT* to participate. There is no fee to submit, however please be aware that your work is a donation to raise funds for the library.
We are looking for 2-dimensional works in all mediums (MAX SIZE 11×14 inches), and some small freestanding sculpture. All work will be sold for $25 each.
WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING THE FIRST 100 ARTISTS WHO MEET THE CRITERIA, so soon as possible, please email us your:
NAME
ADDRESS
EMAIL ADDRESS
PHONE NUMBER
and a small jpeg of the work, (or a similar representative work if you plan on making a specific piece for the sale)
EMAIL CONTACT INFORMATION AND JPEG TO: friendsofthegreenpointlibrary@gmail.com
- If you are one of the first 100 qualified artists to respond to the call, you will receive a reply with an ID number from 1-100, and the address of where your work must be mailed or delivered.
- Your work must be labeled on the back (or bottom of sculptures) with your ID number and contact information.
- Accepted artists’ work must be received by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14th to be included in the exhibit.
- All unsold work must be picked up in person at the close of the event, by 3pm on Saturday, September 15th.
- Although the utmost care will be taken with the pieces on exhibit, The Brooklyn Public Library and the Friends Group will not be held responsible for the damage to, or loss of, any artwork donated to the branch and/or remaining on the premises after the event.
Arggggggggggg. NEW YORK (Reuters) – Consolidated Edison Inc. implemented a voltage reduction or brownout Wednesday in northwest Brooklyn, New York as heavy demand due to excessive heat and humidity strained the power system. In a release, the company urged all customers in Greenpoint, Williamsburg, Clinton Hill and Bedford Stuyvesant west of Throop Avenue to discontinue their use of non-essential electrical appliances, especially air conditioners, until workers repair electrical cables. The affected area includes about 87,000 customers, Con Edison said. The company said it implemented the voltage reduction as a precaution. Con Ed said the equipment problems in Brooklyn had no effect on the rest of its system in New York City and Westchester County. Con Edison owns and operates power plants, markets energy commodities, and transmits and distributes electricity, natural gas and steam to more than 3.2 million customers in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Con Ed implements brownout in Brooklyn due to heat
There is no 
train service in both directions between the Long Island City-Court Square Station and the Smith-9th Street Station.
There is no 
train service in both directions between the Canarsie-Rockaway Parkway Station and the 8th Avenue Station.
These two facts this morning meant I couldn’t get to work. Luckily, my Pops works in the ‘hood and lives in Jersey and he gave me a lift to my Jersey City office. So I got in just before 11am.
This morning when I left my house and got down to the India St entrance of the G train I saw nothing but hordes of people waiting for the bus – not a good sign. Turns out there was no G service and I luckily overheard a woman mention no L service either – she saved me a walk.
Back up to my apartment checking out the news only to see tornadoes in Bay Ridge! Sick, sick shit. Here’s hoping the evening commute will be alright…
