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TOMORROW: North Brooklyn Trivia Night

Garden Spot Rod and Gun Club

I have been long remiss in posting this, so here it is: tomorrow, June 21st starting at 7:00 p.m. the folks of NAG (Neighbors Allied For Good Growth) will be hosting a North Brooklyn Trivia night at the Woods. Here’s the low-down per their web site:

Have you been dying to prove that you know everything there is to know about North Brooklyn? Or are you at least curious to pick up some impressive trivia tidbits? If so, the PERFECT opportunity is approaching!

We at NAG are proud to announce our summer fundraiser, a North Brooklyn Trivia Contest, sponsored by our dear friends at the Woods Bar (S4th Between Kent and Wythe.)

The contest will be on Tuesday, June 21st from 7 to 10 pm. During this time, the Woods is kindly donating drink proceeds to us at NAG while we challenge your memory (or at least your knowledge) of this very neighborhood…

Those of you who are interested in competing can sign-up at the door (cash only) or can register via email at: nag (dot) bklyn (at) gmail (dot) com. NOTE: If you elect to do the latter, you will need to tender payment via PayPal. Otherwise, those of you who simply wish to watch will be pleased to know that that is perfectly and totally free!

North Brooklyn Trivia Night Fundraiser
Tuesday, June 12 starting at  7:00 p.m.
The Woods
48 South 4 Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211

Miss Heather

From The New York Shitty Inbox: NAG Needs Your Help!

April 17, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

This item comes courtesy of the folks at NAG (Neighbors Allied For Good Growth):

Everyone in North Brooklyn knows that McGuinness Blvd. is dangerous, especially for the most vulnerable road users: pedestrians and cyclists.

NAG is currently continuing a traffic monitoring effort started last year by NAG volunteer Les Brown, at the intersection of McGuinness Blvd. and Nassau Street.  (Check out this article for more).  We’ll be using Transportation Alternatives’ Traffic Monitoring Kit to tally egregious traffic violations and will need two people/shift for the following shifts:

Tuesday 4/19 am (one hour of 7:30-8:30 or 8:30-9:30);
Wednesday 4/20 am (one hour of 7:30-8:30 and 8:30-9:30) and pm (one hour of 4:30-5:30 or 5:30-6:30) shifts;
Thursday 4/21 am and pm;
Friday 4/22 am.

Below are some videos of pedestrians crossing, showing lack of pedestrian refuges and, in the second video, the heavy truck traffic volume.  With long wait times between traffic signals, many pedestrians cross against the light and then are stuck in the middle of McGuinness without a proper refuge.  According to crashstat.org and recent news, there have been at least 12 fatal crashes between 1995 and 2010 on McGuinness Blvd. and the street is part of the DOT’s “focus areas” under its Safe Streets for Seniors initiative.  This data collection will help NAG in its continuing effort to advocate for traffic calming measures on this dangerous street.

To volunteer, please contact Summer Greenstein at  summergreenstein (at) gmail (dot) com.

For more information about McGuinness and this project see:

The Daily News
Streetsblog

and videos of pedestrians crossing McGuinness at Nassau:

Follows is my favorite bit of McGuinness Death Race 2010 goodness. It hails from the intersection of Green Street and was shot by yours truly. I call it “30 MPH?”. This was shot May 12th of last year.

And then of course you have this, which was shot by Kitchen Prof on 27th of January this year.

Oops

Here’s the deal: anyone who lives in Greenpoint knows this thoroughfare is very, VERY dangerous. Speeding along this stretch has gone virtually unchecked and some of our fellow Garden Spotters have been hurt— or have died— as a result. Those of you, dear readers, who have the ability to volunteer for this study please contact Summer at the above-listed email address. Thanks!

Photo Credits: The photo gracing the beginning of this post was taken by Jay Lombard.

NEXT WEEK: Heat Season Workshop

NAGlogoSince I have received a number of complaints from folks lacking proper heat I feel compelled to pass this item along. Monday, November 16, at 7:00 p.m. NAG (Neighbors Allied For Good Growth) will be conducting a Heat Season Workshop. The purpose of this gathering (lest it is not obvious) is to raise awareness of this city’s heating regulations and outline the rights and avenues of recourse tenants have when dealing with non-compliant landlords. Those of you are tired of being cold and want to know what you can do about it should make it a point to attend.

NAG Heat Season Workshop
Monday November 16, 2009, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
110 Kent Avenue, Floor 2
Brooklyn, New York 11211

NOTE: You must RSVP for this event. This can be done by calling (718) 384-2241,  or sending an email to ryan (at) nag-brooklyn (dot) org.

Miss Heather

TOMORROW: East River Stateless Park & More!

October 27, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11211, Bloomblight, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn 

EASTRIVERnys

This most intriguing item found its way to my inbox courtesy of the artist in question: Geralyn Shukwit. She writes (in an email entitled “not all that shitty”):

Join me for an exhibition of work created before the state cared about Williamsburg. Black and White prints of the waterfront, the streets and people of WillyB from 1998-2000.

Opening night party Wednesday October 28th from 6pm until we fall down or all the prints are sold, whichever comes first!

I have to admit: this sounds like a wonderful way to while away what is prognosticated to be a rainy, dreary Wednesday night. Check it out!

East River Stateless Park (an exhibition of photographs by Geralyn Shukwit)
Opening night: Wednesday, October 28, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. (until all the prints are sold or everyone falls down)
Brooklyn Ale House
103 Berry Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211

On a related note: if you’re in the area and find yourself craving some musical entertainment (for a good cause) why not swing by NAG’s (Neighbors Allied for Good Growth) “Raise the Roof” benefit concert at Williamsburg’s own Music Hall? You can get the full 411 about this event (They Might Be Giants is slated to be the headliner) by clicking here.

Miss Heather

TONIGHT: Benefit Concert For The North Brooklyn Story Project

April 28, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg 

benefit

Those of you who are looking to beat the heat this evening and support a great cause will be interested to know there will be a benefit for NAG’s North Brooklyn Story Project tonight at Union Pool. The festivities kick off at 8:00 p.m. and the suggested donation is a measly five bucks. Check it out!

North Brookyn Story Project Benefit
April 28, 2009 starting at 8:00 p.m.
Union Pool
484 Union Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11211

For more information about the North Brooklyn Story Project (and how you can help) click here.

Miss Heather

TODAY: NAG Town Hall Meeting

March 26, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg 

nag 3-26-09 meeting

This item was brought to my attention by my buddy over at Brooklyn11211. Among the items to be discussed at this meeting will be their North Brooklyn Story Project which, as it would happen, is still taking volunteers. Why not take some time out of your evening tonight and learn more about what NAG is cooking up for our community?

NAG Town Hall Meeting
March 26, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Swinging Sixties Senior Center
211 Ainslie Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211

I can only hope the “Seedballs” project will be brought to the table. I realize this is sophomoric but I cannot read, much less write, this word without giggling like a school girl. Good times.

Miss Heather

Vollies Needed For The North Brooklyn Story Project

March 9, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg 

nbsp-logonys

This item comes courtesy of my buddy over at Brooklyn11211. He writes:

…NAG (Neighbors Allied for Good Growth) has been doing a series of town hall meetings over the past few months trying to get people engaged on different aspect of life and activism in Williamsburg and Greenpoint. One of the projects to come out this is the North Brooklyn Story Project, which seeks to compile an oral history of the neighborhood and its denizens. They’re having a meeting for volunteers Wednesday, March 11, in anticipation of a training at Brooklyn Historical Society later this month.

I’d appreciate it if you could post something on this for us.
For more information about this wonderful opportunity to help document the glory that is Greenpoint (and okay, Williamsburg) click here to be directed to NAG’s web site or click here to read their press release.

Miss Heather

WANTED IN GREENPOINT: Zoot Suits

February 26, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg 

Mikki (of NAG— Neighbors Allied For Good Growth) writes:

North Brooklyn’s Automotive High has come a long way these past few years. The graduation rate is up, attendance is up, and last year it earned a performance bonus from the city. Much of this has come through the hard work of the faculty and staff there, who are determined to give these kids both job skills and an education. There is still much to be done, but here’s what I’ve been really impressed with–the drama department! In just two years they have put on amazing productions of “Grease” and “West Side Story” that brought down the house–and after each performance, the cast’s heartfelt thanks to their teacher, Candace Parr, are simple but wrenching.

This year, the department is struggling to put on its musical–”Guys and Dolls.” I’m planning to help them with a fundraiser in a month or two but here’s what I’d like to hit the community up for now: zoot suits! If anyone has one, or has access to a costume department or vintage store with some, please contact me at actlocal15 (at) gmail (dot) com. Or if there are any costumers out there who would like to help, that’s cool too. (We also need a sound engineer!)

Zoot suits, anyone?

Miss Heather