July 2011

Weekend Blend: 7/22-7/24

Posted by Justine |

Haven’t done a Weekend Blend post in ages, but there is so much going on this weekend that time begs for just one big post!

Friday

If you’re off from work tomorrow, you are in luck. Papacito’s is shooting a short film piece and are looking to share the experience by having a sick deal. This Friday July 22nd only, from 11am-4pm two tacos and two beers are $5 bucks flat. You’d be hard pressed to find a better deal in the hood on the hottest day of the year.

Two Tacos, Two Beers = $5
Friday July 22, 2011 from 11am-4pm
Papacito’s
999 Manhattan Avenue

Saturday

In God We Trust is hosting their third Backyard Bazaar of the summer. An open-air market featuring over a dozen vendors. In addition, In God We Trust just opened another location just last week at 129 Bedford Avenue!

Backyard Bazaar
In God We Trust
Saturday July 23, 2011 – 1pm-6pm
70-72 Greenpoint Avenue

Eat is having a Dinner & Ceramics event this Saturday. Serving on their newly made ceramics which some will be available for purchase, too.

Dinner & Ceramics Sale
Saturday July 23, 2011 8pm – Midnight
EAT
124 Meserole St at Leonard St

Sunday

The Persistence of Kittens: North Brooklyn Cats have some fascinating, charming cats and kittens who need happy, healthy homes. Stop by this Sunday July 24th, from 2 to 6 pm and you may just meet your next best friend. Muddy Paws Pet Supplies at 447 Graham Ave. allows us to invade their wonderful backyard every weekend. All cats & kittens are vaccinated, tested, and spayed or neutered if old enough. Adoptions require an application and donation. To see most of the cats and kittens we have available, check out the Petfinder page here. Not all cats listed on the petfinder site will be at the adoption event, but email and we can arrange a meeting at your convenience. *Note that we only adopt young kittens in pairs unless you have another pet already.*

North Brooklyn Cats Adoption Event: The Persistence of Kittens
Sunday July 24, 2011 – 2pm-6pm
Muddy Paws
447 Graham Avenue

North Brooklyn Public Art Coalition (nbART) launches its fourth public art project this weekend.

No Bills: Stories of North Brooklyn, a sound installation by Brooklyn-based artist Nick Yulman is a project that features dozens of oral histories of North Brooklyn residents, business owners, and community leaders that will be streamed from “listening stations” installed at sites across Williamsburg and Greenpoint through September 2011.

At 1:30pm on Sunday, Yulman will host a tour of the sites that begins at McCarren Park Pool (Lorimer & Bayard Streets); a second tour will begin at 2:30 PM, and a reception will follow. For more information on this project check out the website here. To listen to a selection of oral histories, click here.

No Bills: Stories of North Brooklyn
Sunday at 1:30 at the McCarren Park Pool

Manhattan Inn is hosting another shot at becoming the title holder of the Best Bloody Mary in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. Beat out May 15th’s winners to become the NEW best. The event is sponsored by Reyka Vodka and head down early to sign up and take advantage of their Reyka Vodka Open Bar from 5pm-5:30pm. There will be 12 spots and anyone can enter. All ingredients will be provided, but contestants are allowed to bring additional “secret ingredients” if they choose. They will be judged on taste, of course, as well as presentation, creativity, and level of spiciness.

In addition to the prestigious title as creator of “The Best Bloody Mary in Williamsburg & Greenpoint”, the winner’s Bloody Mary creation will be featured on the Manhattan Inn brunch menu for one month, and they will receive a gift certificate as well.

The Best Bloody Mary in Williamsburg & Greenpoint Competition
Sunday July 24, 2011 at 5pm
Manhattan Inn
632 Manhattan Avenue
718-383-0885

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TONIGHT: Bobby Bingo

Posted by Justine |

It’s way too hot out there to do anything other than enjoy the air conditioning, have a few beers and enjoy Bingo with Bobby Tisdale at Black Rabbit.

BOBBY BINGO TONIGHT – 8pm!
Excellent prizes – including VIP passes to Eugene Mirman’s show at the Williamsburg Waterfront. Golden Dobber winner will be named tonight as well. Don’t miss it. What else can you do in this heat. Drink beer and play bingo!

Bobby Bingo
Thursday July 21, 2011 at 8pm
Black Rabbit
91 Greenpoint Avenue

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El Toro Taqueria

Posted by Justine |

A few weeks ago, reader Caius emailed me about a new Mexican joint on Driggs. At that time, it was called Tres Toros Taqueria… It seems now the place has changed names to El Toro Taqueria (eek, hope I didn’t get them in trouble with the Dos Toros Taqueria!) and it’s open!

New mexican restaurant is now open! El Toro Taqueria on Driggs btw Graham and Eckford, in Greenpoint. They had a soft grand opening yesterday serving only tacos & enchiladas for $2 each as an opening deal. The workers were nice guys and said they’ll be serving a full menu shortly. I wasn’t disappointed in any of their offerings and their pork is amazing. I’d say definitely on par, or better than Calexico’s pork carnitas.

Sounds like a must visit!

El Toro Taqueria
254 Driggs Avenue

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Mama’s Comes to VPC

Posted by Justine |

Mama’s is bringing its delicious fried chicken and legendary mac and cheese to Greenpoint via Mama’s Pop-Up Restaurant inside Veronica People’s Club.

Starting July 20th, plates of fried chicken, pork shoulder, seasonal veggies, and mac and cheese will be available to eat in or take out every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6 pm – 10 pm at Veronica People’s Club on 105 Franklin St. Prices are cheaper than the East Village location ($10 for 3 veggie sides, $11 meat + 1 side, $12 meat + 2 sides), but the portions are just as generous, and it coincides with VPC happy hour. Additional special: New England Narragansett beer $3 with Mama’s food.

What’s even better? A full location complete with beer and wine is coming to Williamsburg as soon as next month!

Mama’s Pop-Up Shop at Veronica People’s Club
105 Franklin Street (between Greenpoint and Milton)
(718) 349-2901
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 6 pm – 10 pm
July 20th – Fall

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goodyoga: 2 for 1 Memberships

Posted by Justine |

Yeah, yeah. You’ve been wanting to try Yoga the last five years, but you don’t want to do it alone. Problem solved. Get a friend and join goodyoga for August! Enjoy unlimited yoga for just $50 per person (regularly $100) for a whole month to celebrate goodyoga’s 2nd anniversary.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!
To celebrate our 2 Year Anniversary, we’re offering 2 Monthly Memberships for the price of 1! Sign up with a friend for your first goodyogi or goodashtangi membership before August.

goodyoga
73 Calyer Street
718-554-3968
guru@goodyoganyc.com

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RSVP: Anella Beer & Pork Dinner

Posted by Justine |

Brooklyn Brewery, Fleischer’s and Anella have put together a very special culinary night for Greenpointers.

This Beer & Pork Dinner will feature beers from Brooklyn Brewery and pork from Fleischer’s all presented in Anella’s garden for one seating on August 2nd at $75 per person not including tax & gratuities. Brooklyn Brewery’s post states $96 including tax and gratuities.

Menu:
Spiced Chicarones
Pork consommé, Charred Corn, Shrimp
Paired with Sorachi Ace

Tete de Cochon
Cauliflower, Hazelnut, Black Olive, Arugula
Paired with Local 1

Smoked Pork Ravioli
Black Bean, Avocado, Cherry Tomato
Paired with Reinschweinsgebot

Pork Loin | Belly
Summer beets, Soubise, Eggplant
Paired with Local 2

Cherry Financier
Lemon, Marscapone, White Chocolate
Paired with Black Chocolate Stout (Vintage)

Anella Beer & Pork Dinner
Tuesday August 2, 2011
Doors Open 7pm
Dinner at 7:30pm
$75 per person (not including tax and gratuity)
Buy Tickets Here | Questions? Email anellabrooklyn@gmail.com

Anella
222 Franklin Street
(b/w Green & Huron)
718-389-8100

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Investigation of the Creek

Posted by Joel |

The largest polluters of Newtown Creek and environs have agreed, with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, to look at the damage. This will be the first step in the process of cleaning up Newtown Creek, which was declared a Superfund site last year by the EPA. The $25 million “investigation of the contamination” will be a process of several years, according to the EPA, before possible remedies can be suggested.

Since the discovery of the Greenpoint Oil Spill beneath northern Brooklyn in 1979, pressure has mounted, at glacial speeds, to form such an agreement. Newtown Creek, an estuary that meets the East River and separates Brooklyn from Queens for three-and-a-half miles, is one of the most polluted waterways in the country.

The six parties in the agreement include Phelps Dodge (now owned by Freeport-McMoRan); Texaco; BP (using Google Earth, take a look from above at the BP tanks {which used to belong to Amoco} sitting on the shores of Newtown Creek, for just about the Howdiest welcome to NYC one could find); National Grid (which used to be Brooklyn Union Gas Company, they operate the enormous Keyspan Greenpoint Energy Center); ExxonMobil (who is already busy pumping the oil out from beneath the neighborhood); and the City of New York (lots of sewage made its way straight into the Creek for many years, in the time before it was cooked in the building and disposed of as fine bacteria).

The investigation, which will begin this summer, will inspect not only the Creek, but surrounding soil and air. Many homes in the neighborhood have already been equipped by the EPA with devices to deter renegade benzene vapors from the Oil Spill from hanging around inside the homes. What else can’t we handle?

For a look from the polluters point of view, peruse the ExxonMobile Greenpoint Remediation Project website. There is a video which speaks glowingly of the 21 recovery wells currently sucking the oil out from beneath the neighborhood, a combined effort between EM, BP and Chevron Texaco. The three claim to “have recovered more than 11 million gallons of oil” already, which is equivalent to the official amount given for the Exxon Valdez spill.

The recovered oil is what they call “Free Product,” meaning it is floating around in the world uncontained. Perhaps also meaning that they get to refine and sell it.

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