Been wondering what’s up with the Brooklyn Walmart proposed for the Gateway II Center? Us too, but in reality there’s been very little headway in either direction. Walmart, though, did make an attempt to spread some money around: they gave at least $15,000 to State Senate Democrats, whose campaign committee is led by Senator John Sampson who represents the proposed development area. Union leaders balked, and successfully pressured the Dems to return the money to Walmart.
Now, Steve Barrison – president of the Bay Improvement Group and executive vice president of the Small Business Congress of New York City – has issued a statement demanding more vocal opposition from “greenies,” including DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
Read Steve Barrison’s statement about a proposed Brooklyn Walmart at Gateway II after the jump.
Vince Martell has headlined every BayFest in recent memory. It's time for a change.
Last night’s BayFest 2011 planning meeting kicked off without a hitch, but with only four people in attendance the group’s challenges for the “biggest BayFest ever” were clear.
Most of the evening was spent discussing how to rival their 10th anniversary bash. In 2001, the group had hundreds of members and more than 50 volunteers cobbled together to throw the biggest event Sheepshead Bay had seen in generations, with the entire waterfront down to Ocean Avenue shut off to traffic as tens of thousands of attendees flooded the streets. Fifteen bands played along the piers and the main stage, and entire blocks were dedicated to vendors, street performances and live demonstrations.
“Standing on the stage and looking all the way down to Lundy’s and seeing a sea of people” was an extraordinary feeling incomparable to recent events, said Bay Improvement Group President Steve Barrison.
Keep reading about the challenges BIG faces, and why you should help.
Kids enjoyed the games at BayFest 2010
With BayFest 2010 still on our minds, organizers with Bay Improvement Group are already gearing up for next year’s extravaganza. BayFest 2011 will be the 20th anniversary of the event, and the group is getting a head start to throwing an extra large celebration, “rocking out on all ten piers with 15 bands.” Don’t believe they can do it? Well, they threw a similar-sized event for their 10th anniversary, and that’s why they’re getting to the drawing board now.
Tonight at 8:00 p.m. at the Golden Gate Inn (3867 Shore Parkway on Knapp Street), Bay Improvement Group is holding a planning meeting and wants YOU to come down and put a word in. The event needs some fresh blood and some fresh ideas, so if you’ve got a knack for event planning and want to reinvigorate a Sheepshead Bay tradition, get down to this meeting!
There was a lot of weirdness at BayFest 2010, the least of which was that they actually received good weather.
There was the conspicuous absence of food vendors, men in skirts, and an aged rock star hobnobbing with the Marty Markowitz. There were men in uniform acting like police officers (but they weren’t, really), and people without costumes acting like clowns.
But taking the cake on the weird-o-meter were these two snapshots. It seems the subjects got confused somewhere along the way and forgot that kids go in carriages and dogs go on leashes.
Everything’s all crazy at BayFest! I wonder what next year, the 20th year, will bring.
BayFest 2010 attendees packed Emmons Avenue yesterday, enjoying the event’s first sunny day in recent memory.
According to organizers from Bay Improvement Group, the official attendance tally isn’t in yet, but they say the number should be higher than 25,000 kids, parents and neighbors.
Dozens of community groups and neighborhood businesses – including Sheepshead Bites – lined the waterfront giving away freebies, while children (and yours truly) took the rare chance to ring the 125-year-old Dreamland Bell. Aardvark Amusement provided rides, games and costumed entertainers that kept kids smiling. And over at the main stage at East 27th Street, Vince Martell and Peg Pearl had the audience dancing in their seats.
Boats from the FDNY and local marinas put on shows for spectators at Tucker Place Park, and the FDNY also regaled youngsters with their smokehouse (meanwhile, the Coney Island bloodmobile next door scared people off).
The best part, for us, was getting to meet more of our neighbors and readers. Thanks for coming out, and enjoy the photos!
BayFest 2010 photo gallery
BayFest is coming! THIS WEEKEND! Woohoo!
And to get the last minute details in order, the group is hosting its final meeting at Golden Gate Inn (3867 Shore Parkway) at 8:00 p.m. tonight.
BIG is looking for volunteers to help visitors enjoy and celebrate the Bay, from working behind tables to helping set up equipment, and being smiley representatives of our neighborhood. Though it’s not required to attend the meetings to be a volunteer, BIG is also hoping to hear your input on some last-minute details.
Volunteers receive free t-shirts and food for their help. Not to mention the appreciation of thousands of attendees!
For more information, see the flier.
Did you know a dozen original Dutch houses still stand in Brooklyn? Dating back as far as 1652, the houses are owned by both public and private interests, and some are even still used as residences. The homes were the topic of discussion at last night’s Annual History Night, hosted by Bay Improvement Group.
BIG President Barrison presents Schweiger with a "deed" to the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Borough Historian Ron Schweiger regaled a crowd of around 60 residents with stories of the houses and their families. Some of the homes stand intact and even have crockery, furniture and other artifacts that go back hundreds of years. Other houses, like the Old Stone House in Park Slope, were torn down and rebuilt from mostly original pieces (in the case of this house, it was rebuit in the 1930s when a Work Progress Administration park project on the site uncovered the stones and other items from the 1699 building).
The hour-and-a-half presentation kicked off with the history of the Dutch in New York State, from their naming Coney Island (originally Konijnen Eiland, meaning Rabbit Island) to exploring the rest of the state. Schweiger traced back some of the famous families, many of whose names grace our roadways (Hubbard, Henderson, Ryder, Van Wyck). The talk then turned to Dutch architecture, with Schweiger pointing out that all Dutch houses have curved roof lines and face south, before turning to the individual houses and their histories. Some of the houses reflect new preservation efforts, and are adding to Brooklyn’s status as a historical asset. Not everything gets razed to be a condo…
Keep reading and see a list of the houses – all near to each other – to create your own personal tour
From Bay Improvement Group:
Ron Schweiger, the Brooklyn Historian, will present his exclusive presentation: The Dutch Houses of Brooklyn at 8 p.m. at Sunrise Assisted Living (2211 Emmons Avenue) on Monday, May 10. There are about 12 or 13 remaining original Dutch Houses in Brooklyn. The oldest dates to 1652 and is the oldest in NYC and perhaps NYS. Mr. Schweiger will discuss their history and show the slides that he just recently put together, including some interior views. Some houses are open to the public and some are privately owned.
Don’t miss this exclusive presentation.
Free parking and refreshments at conclusion will be available. This special Annual History Meeting is presented as part of BayFest 2010. All are invited to come and enjoy this free, delightful and eye-opening presentation!
View the flier
There are two meetings tonight that people should definitely check out.
The Sheepshead Bay / Plumb Beach Civic Association is getting together at the Baron DeKalb – Knights of Columbus at 3000 Emmons Avenue to discuss, among other things, their Memorial Day parade. I’m sure they’ll be looking for volunteers. Honor our fallen soldiers and attend the meeting to see how you can help! (7:30 p.m.)
Bay Improvement Group is having their second to last meeting before their May 16 BayFest celebration. This is a massive festival and they’re always in need of helpers. Come to this meeting and get acquainted with the crew behind-the-scenes, and find out how to lend a hand. The meeting is being held at the Golden Gate Inn (3867 Shore Parkway) at 8:00 p.m.
