Kids show at Jalopy tomorrow feat. Audrarox!

Jalopy Family Reunion Presents
Audrarox!

Sunday, March 14th @ 3pm

$10 or $30 family pack. Kids under 1 are free.

Please do not bring strollers as there is no room to accommodate them.

Check out other upcoming shows at Jalopy here

Cleaner trucks, cleaner ports

The NY Times recently ran an article titled "Clearing the Air at American Ports" about an alliance between union members and environmental groups that aims to reduce port emissions by requiring the trucking companies that operate at ports to hire truckers as employees rather than independent contractors, and as a result, pay for newer and cleaner trucks for them. The Port of LA started pursuing this strategy a couple years back and has successfully banned older trucks, however it is facing legal challenges from the trucking industry in trying to require the conversion of independent contractors into employees. Many are now pushing for Congress to change laws at the Federal level so that it would be easier for such a requirement to be enacted. As our neighborhood is so directly linked to an operating port, it is well worthwhile to think about how a program like this might effect local workers and the air we all breathe.

Below are some quotes from the article. The full article, which contains more details about related legal battles, industry economics, and opinions on both sides, is available here.

The Teamsters union and environmental activists have formed an unlikely and outspoken alliance aiming to clear the air in American ports, and perhaps bolster the Teamsters’ ranks in the process.

The labor-green alliance is getting under the trucking industry’s skin by asserting that short-haul trucking companies working in ports — and not the truck drivers, who are often considered independent contractors — should spend the billions needed to buy new, low-emission rigs that can cost $100,000 to $175,000 each.

The Teamsters union says seaport air is so dirty largely because port truck drivers earn too little to buy trucks that would belch out fewer diesel particulates, tiny particles that contribute to cancer and asthma. Working with environmentalists, the union helped persuade the Port of Los Angeles to adopt a far-reaching plan that bars old trucks from hauling cargo from the port and puts the burden of buying new vehicles on the trucking companies, not the drivers.......

The labor-green alliance achieved a major victory in late 2008 when it helped persuade the mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, a former union organizer, and the city’s port to require trucking companies to employ their drivers directly, making the companies bear the cost of buying new rigs.......

In addition to Mayor Villaraigosa, the Teamsters and environmentalists have lined up other backers, including Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York, Mayor Corey Booker of Newark and other mayors, senators and representatives.

With a recent Rutgers study finding that port drivers earned $29,000 a year on average (after paying for their trucks, maintenance, fuel and insurance), Mr. Bloomberg said, “Truck drivers simply can’t afford to buy expensive trucks. They’re barely earning enough to make ends meet in a job that should be providing them with a solid, middle-class living."

Image above of the Port of LA from NYTimes

BWAC Wide Open

Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition

invites you to

National juried art show

147 pieces selected from the 1,583 submissions by our three prestigious jurors

Anne Strauss, Assoc. Curator of 19^th Century and Contemporary Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Mark Hughes, Director, Galerie LeLong, Chelsea

Bill Murphy, Professor and Gallery Director, Wagner College

60+ Pieces on Affordable Art Wall under $500 each

Opening Day Mar 13 Meet the Artists Reception 1-6PM

Awards Ceremony 3PM

march 13 – 28 weekends only 1-6pm

bwac.org 499 Van Brunt St, Red Hook 718 596-2506

Brooklyn Teens Tackle Tolerance Through Film

Student-Driven Movie Takes on Issues Facing Local Youth

Press Release from Dance Theater Etc.:

“I already draw attention to myself when I walk down the street – I’m black.” A couple students laughed; others followed up with questions, animated. Five teens sat around a table, debating whether or not it was baggy jeans and hoodies that garnered the unwanted attention the speaker sometimes sensed from policemen and purse-clutchers, and sharing their own experiences growing up in Brooklyn.

This youth writer’s group- with students originally hailing from East New York, Red Hook, Bed-Stuy, & even Haiti- laid the foundation for a new film from independent filmmaker Trac Minh Vu (Letters to Thien) being created now in a series of Saturday morning workshops by over thirty Brooklyn teenagers.

Fresh off an Oscar season that saw the powerful melodrama Precious shedding light onto a young woman’s life in Harlem’s Section 8 housing and Sandra Bullock’s starring turn as the near-savior to an “at-risk youth,” these students felt they could say something- perhaps not as sensational, they acknowledged, but potentially more authentic- about what it means to grow up in the kind of places not featured on MTV’s (unreal) reality teen shows.

With students traveling from all corners of Brooklyn- some braving almost two hours of Saturday morning buses and subways to make it down to Red Hook- it’s clear there’s more to these young people than the “inner-city grit” and street culture so often latched onto by mainstream media, eager to categorize.

If there is one constant, in fact, in how these teens ask to be viewed, it is their rejection of labels. Their portrayal of characters is nothing if not nuanced- the film they envision anything but didactic.

Enabled in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the “Scene to Screen Project” is part of Dance Theatre Etcetera’s “Tolerance through the Arts Initiative.” Alongside the production of the film, which will employ a professional crew, the producers will create a study guide intended to incite conversation in schools about teen-to-teen interactions and the role each individual can play in creating a more just, tolerant world.

Students will continue to develop the film in the recently-begun acting workshops, with production scheduled for mid-May. To get a feel for where this project is headed, check out the movie that came out of the 2008 program it's based on.

Produced by Dance Theater Etcetera.

Open Call for Artists at Work/Wassaic

WORK/WASSAIC : I HEART ART

OPEN CALL FOR ARTISTS TO SUBMIT WORK

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: MARCH 25, 2010

Work Gallery and The Wassaic Project team up again in 2010!

Submit work of any genre to be exhibited at the red tin shack on April 17th, 2010 for our Spring fundraiser. All work will be donated to the two organizations and the proceeds will benefit the exciting duo.

NYC DOT Greenway Planning workshops

The NYC DOT will be hosting a series of workshops over the next couple months so that community members can provide input into the development of a Greenway master plan. The first round of workshops is listed below. There will be additional workshops scheduled on later dates relating to specific open spaces along the route, such as the park on Columbia between Degraw and Kane. Please participate in this process and make your ideas heard!

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Community planning workshops for the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway, led by NYC Department of Transportation, will begin on Thursday, March 25th. The community workshops will inform DOT’s master plan for constructing the greenway, so please mark your calendars and tell your neighbors. Four workshops will be held, one in each broad geographic area along the planned 14-mile route. Brooklyn Greenway Initiative and Regional Plan Association are co-sponsoring the workshops.

Please RSVP to brooklynwaterfrontgreenway@dot.nyc.gov. Make sure to specify which workshop(s) you plan to attend:

Downtown Brooklyn (CB2)
Thursday, March 25th
6:30-8:30pm
Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street

Sunset Park (CB7)
Thursday, April 8th
6:30-8:30pm
St. Michael’s Church
352 42nd Street

Red Hook (CB6)
Tuesday, April 13th
6:30-8:30pm
Red Hook Recreation Center
155 Bay Street

Greenpoint/Williamsburg (CB1)
Thursday, April 22nd
6:30-8:30pm
Brooklyn Brewery
79 N. 11th Street

5 Burro Cafe coming to Pit Stop space

Alternate post title: Petanque exchanges pastis for margaritas as the drink of choice

A while back we reported that a Mexican restaurant would be moving into the Pit Stop space, which has now been confirmed by New York Magazine's Grub St. blog. NY Mag reports the good news that it won't be just any Mexican joint, but will in fact be a satellite location for 5 Burro Cafe, a very popular Mexican restaurant in Queens.

The article says that the 5 Burro owners plan to keep the petanque courts, possibly expand the outdoor space, and will offer many of the same items as the Queens location, as well as some items unique to the Brooklyn location.

TWOCS: Pit Stop to Become Mexican Restaurant
NY Mag: 5 Burro Cafe Coming to Red Hook?
NY Mag: Confirmed: 5 Burro Cafe Will Open Outdoor Margarita Spot in Red Hook

Image of Pit Stop backyard from NY Mag

Uncle Louie G coming to Red Hook

This Spring, Uncle Louie G Gourmet Ices and Ice Cream shop is moving into Space 414, previously an art gallery, at 414 Van Brunt between Coffey and Van Dyke streets

According to a press release that we received yesterday about the space, the shop will offer 60 flavors of ices and ice cream, as well as shakes, slushies, waffle and brownie sudaes, and other "yummy lip licking delights." The release continues to say that there will be a sidewalk serving window and a 10 seat indoor "totally kid friendly" space. They have also planned ahead for colder months by stating that they will offer soups, wraps, and paninis.

It's time to shop for PS 29!

P.S. 29's PTA is hosting an online auction to raise funds for the school through March 14. Dozens of local businesses, including Columbia Street-area establishments such as Alma, Kotobuki, Calexico, Margaret Palca Bakes, Old Brooklyn Wine and Liquor, Woof's n' Whiskers, the House of Pizza and Calzone, the Super Movers, and Elite Fitness Studio have generously donated goods and services for sale.

Click here for the auction link

Anyone can bid on most of the 250 amazing items, spanning the gamut from dinner at Gramercy Tavern to sessions at swanky summer camps. Also included are unbelievable restaurant meals, clothing, spa services, vacation homes, sporting goods and designer jewelry. The only items that aren't up for sale to the greater community are the teacher experiences--those are limited to P.S. 29 families.

This year, one percent of our auction earnings will go to the Haitian relief effort.

BID AWAY, HAVE FUN, AND raise critical money for the school, even more critical given that P.S. 29 will be starting to prepare next year's PTA budget towards the end of March (and to a large extent it will be influenced by the success of this event).

Thanks for your support!

BK Folk Fest Preview and Benefit Concert @ Jalopy

Jalopy will once again be hosting a folk festival this May in partnership with the Down Home Radio Show, but for those of you who can't wait that long, you're in luck! There will be a folk festival "preview and benefit concert" on March 13th featuring a strong lineup of folk bands.

According to the website Cross Harp Chronicles Network:

Proceeds from this fabulous show, featuring some of the New York folk scene’s brightest young stars: Mamie Minch, Alex Battles and Banjorama, The Dust Busters, and Blind Boy Paxton, will go towards organizing and producing the 2nd annual Brooklyn Folk Festival, to be held May 21-23rd at the Jalopy Theater.

Lineup for The Brooklyn Folk Fest Preview/Benefit Concert, March 13th:

9pm: Mamie Minch
10pm: Alex Battles and Banjorama
11pm: The Dust Busters
12am: Blind Boy Paxton

$10 Entry /Doors @ 8 /Raffle prizes to include a class at Jalopy, books from Abrams Books and records and goodies from Down Home Radio!

Check out Jalopy's site or the Down Home Radio site for more details on both the preview show and the festival in May.

Image above from Down Home Radio site