Results tagged “bedfordavenue”

We haven't been able to verify this one with the NYPD yet, but sources tell Gothamist that police — and South Williamsburg's Shomrim Patrol — arrested two men suspected of attempting to repaint the recently-removed Bedford Avenue bike lane this morning.

Just when it seemed like the hoopla over bike lanes in Williamsburg had come to a close, Gothamist has learned that the Department of Transportation is planning to remove a 14-block section of the Bedford Avenue cycling route. A spokesman said that the agency will remove the "small portion" of the bike lane between Flushing and Division avenues in South Williamsburg "as part of ongoing bike network adjustments in the area."

In a real world example of supply and demand economics, the proliferation of Southeast Asian eateries on and around Williamsburg's main commercial street has hurt business, according to neighborhood restaurateurs. The pad thai business is ailing in a three block area centered around Bedford Avenue and North Sixth Streets, where four Thai and three Asian fusion restaurants compete, according to the Brooklyn Paper — which dubs the enclave "Brooklyn's Little Bangkok."

Poster Child has finally brought a planter box to New York City! This dwarf pine is now planted outside of the Bedford Avenue L stop in Williamsburg; he explains his project: "If you are new to these FlyerPlanterboxes the idea is to take the empty & disused newspaper and flyer boxes that litter our sidewalks and put them to a better use than say trashcan or Space-Filler." And check out that newspaper dispenser, it's from The National, which debuted in January of 1990 and folded 18 months later. He notes, "this empty, useless box has somehow managed to consume valuable sidewalk space in New York for 16 odd years."

Cops were breaking out the heavy machinery again and revving up the chainsaws—it's bike removal time once again on Bedford Avenue. Greenpoint resident Ben Running started shooting video of the cops removing bicycles in another fiery scene on Bedford and North 8th in the heart of Williamsburg. Police make it clear that they don't want him shooting because as Running says, "They don't want you to videotape and put it on the internet." So like any decent citizen journalist, Running did just that.

A nine-year-old boy on his way to the temple in Williamsburg yesterday was struck and killed by a driver who was operating her vehicle on a suspended license. The accident took place as 54-year-old Novella Bilkerdyk made a left turn onto Wallabout Avenue off Bedford, striking 9-year-old Joshua Ganzfried with her Honda Accord and dragging him under it for a few feet. Police in Brooklyn charged Bilkerdyk with driving with a suspended license after having it taken away from her in 2007 for multiple insurance lapses. The Post talked to a witness who did not want to be named but told them, "The driver got out and started screaming hysterically," as he says Bilkerdyk screamed, "A Jewish boy! A Jewish boy!" Ganzfried was one of seven children from an Orthodox family, dressed in traditional garb as he headed to Saturday services. Neighbors tell the News that the corner the incident took place is notoriously a dangerous spot.

If you have been to Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, you have seen the ranting grey-haired man pacing up and down the middle of the street. Usually positioned between North 5th and North 7th, sometimes later in the day he'll make it all the way down to the South Side, probably on his way home. Lawrence LaDouceur lives at the Glenwood Hostel, and prior to that he's led quite a life. One brave soul has now gone one-on-one with him, making him the subject of a short film; Russel Fong captures LaDouceur's thoughts as they pour from his head, and he even visits his current home. Maybe next time you see him you'll give him a chance and have your own one-on-one (it's a bit heart-wrenching when he tells Fong of their talk: "you don't know how good this is for me.")

Good news, seven blocks of Bedford Avenue will become a pedestrian-only zone again on select Saturdays as Williamsburg Walks returns for the summer.

The incident that took place on Bedford Avenue on Election Night (you know...riot gear, arrests, etc) lived on last night at the 94th Precinct Community Meeting. NewYorkShitty has a rundown (with video), reporting back that Captain Fulton was on hand to field questions and concerns, as well as locals (both young and old). "Overall it was a pretty ugly meeting. The reason for this had little to do with Captain Fulton. Rather, it had to do with how the 'old guard' treated the younger people present. For example: When Aaron Short (of the Greenpoint Courier and BushwickBK) asked if this was 'a generational issue'," crowd responses allegedly included: "The issue is order over anarchy!" and "Too lenient!" In the end, a sit-down "with people present on Bedford Avenue that evening who felt the police acted inappropriately" has been promised.

Our sources are telling us that Apple has purchased the building that currently houses the Salvation Army located at 176 Bedford Avenue (on the corner of Bedford and North 7th) in Williamsburg.

If you've ever been to Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg on a weekend day, you'll know the sidewalks can become overcrowded, especially on the north side. This summer the pedestrian traffic jams will be eliminated...at least for four days. The Brooklyn Paper reports "the city will close Bedford Avenue to traffic, turning the thoroughfare into a pedestrian-only plaza between Metropolitan Avenue and North Ninth Street." The project has been in talks for a while now, and is called Williamsburg Walks, appropriate since it is centered around walking, and doesn't include any special events, street fair type activities or vendors. Sadly, there will be no carpet made of artificial grass...but if you're okay with plain 'ol pavement, head over there any Saturday between July 19th and August 9th.

Back in January video emerged of an enthusiastic street performer, Matthew Silver, dancing in front of Earwax record store on Bedford Avenue. It seems that a war has been going on since, between the employees of the store and the ever-growing troupe of Silver's clowns (dubbed the BC Fools) that adorn the outside of its shop.

A four-alarm fire that destroyed at least 12 businesses in the Bronx has also caused some transit issues. Smoke at the Pelham Parkway 2 station is causing the 2 to bypass all stations between Wakefield-241st and East 180th, bypassing Gun Hill Road, Burke Avenue, Allerton Avenue, Pelham Parkway and Bronx Park East. The MTA says there are shuttle buses between stations and also suggests riders take other buses for the B, D, 4 and 6 trains.

A few weeks ago we saw this guy dancing around on Bedford Avenue, attracting a lot of attention. The curious passerby aren't always human though, even canines want to know what's up with this dancin' machine!

Bar Boulud: Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni recently lost his patience waiting on hold for 15 minutes to make a reservation, which should give you some sense of how feverish the excitement is for Daniel Boulud’s latest foray. The tony uptown wine bar, across the street from Lincoln Center, enjoyed the raging buzz of a sneak-preview opening on New Year’s Eve and now the 100 seat restaurant is open for real. Judging from the photos, the modern yet warm interior does look inviting; a long vaulted ceiling is intended to “invoke a classic wine cellar”, a backlit gravel wall echoes an old world vineyard, and three private “wine themed” dining rooms are available for the swells.

Haru: The Japanese mini-chain’s takeover of New York is proceeding according to plan with the opening of their latest location in the financial district. The elegant, bi-level space (pictured) is located in the landmark 1903 Beaver Building, which calls to mind a mini-Flatiron Building. This location features two floors of dining to accommodate 160 guests, a 17 seat sushi bar, a second “alcohol” bar and two private party rooms. Like the other Harus, the extensive...

Ever wonder what that person you passed on Bedford Avenue thinks of the big issues in the world? Well, someone did. Alethea Brown takes it to the streets to find out some Williamsburgites views of the current political state...or at least who they think is sexier: Hillary or Barack: Martha Stewart as President? Whatever Williamsburg!...

FAIR: The International vintage poster fair has arrived. It's time to take that ironic velvet Elvis off the wall and class up your joint. The fair will include "over 25 international dealers with more than 10,000 original vintage posters." More info here.

EVENTS: Both Open House NY and The New Yorker Festival are upon us. You can check out more of OHNY's event here, and The New Yorker Festival here. Some picks:

The Grey Lady is paying a return visit to Peter Luger Steak House in tomorrow's dining section. This New York institution was last reviewed by Ruth Reichl, who awarded it a hefty three stars, proclaiming it "the best steak in New York City." Her description of the Luger experience is almost pornographic:

You know the steak is great before you even taste it. You know it from the fine, funky, mineral aroma that wafts across the table and announces that this is a piece of meat. When the waiter appears with the platter, he stands there spooning a mixture of butter and meat juices across the sizzling porterhouse in an exercise of pure theater. He is merely prolonging the moment, allowing the aroma to revive all your primal instincts as he stretches out the time until you can actually sink your teeth into the flesh. Finally he serves, slowly doling out slices of fillet and sirloin. As your mouth closes on the incredibly tender piece of beef, aroma and flavor come together, exploding on the palate.

Yesterday saw two important moment in the Department of Transportation's handling of bicylist quality of life issues. One was the installation of bike racks on North 7th at Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, which the DOT said was "the first time car parking spaces have been removed to accommodate bicycle parking in New York City." Previously, cops have sawed through locks chained to the subway entrance and impounded bikes, leading to community demand for bike racks.

The New York Times is reporting that...Williamsburg has high rent. Shocking. Apparently this "Bedford Avenue" is getting pretty popular.

Hungry for some good gluten, Gothamist booked it to the three-month-old Kate’s Brooklyn Joint in Williamsburg, an outpost of the East Village mainstay.

Hmm, were some fires at an almost completed synagogue in Williamsburg actually a message? A new Satmar headquarters is being built at Ross Street and Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg, and the Post reports that two suspicious early morning fires occured there. The new synagogue happens to be right next to Satmar Grand Rebbe Zalmen Teitelbaum's house, and one thing that fire marshals cannot ignore is that many supporters of Zalmen's brother Aron, a grand rebbe in Orange County, believe Aron is the true Grand Rebbe. The two brothers and their respective sects had been feuding over who would be the next Grand Rebbe, and ultimately Zalmen was successful in saying the will of his father the Grand Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum named him the successor. Wikipedia has quick look at the feud.

MOVIE: Netflix Rolling Roadshow presents The Warriors. Watch the local turf wars play out on a big screen in Coney Island. Tickets are on a first come, first serve basis. And for some reason, Lisa Loeb is hosting this and there will be a Q&A following the movie.

Today is a day full of real estate goodies (though not are all quite so good). Here are three more:

After various reports of people's bikes being hauled off by the police in Brooklyn, the NY Times gets more answers with its press creds than the actual bikers. It seems that the police at the 94th Precinct started to forcibly remove locked-up bikes because people had complained the bikes were obstructing sidewalks and endangering pedestrians. And while the Department of Transportation installed more 53 bike racks, the new racks are less convenient, then, say, using the railing around subway entrances. The DoT says they will install another 40 racks by the end of the year, while the NYPD says the bikes are tagged for owners to retrieve them. But the NYPD's actions seem to fly in the face of what they are supposed to do: According to Transportation Alternatives, the police are supposed to give bike owners notice first before removing the bikes. Contact Transportation Alternatives if you bike has been taken.

Gothamist thinks a lot about what Brooklyn still needs- a really great grocery store, better dry cleaners, a safer G train. But we never knew Williamsburg was craving a piano bar.