Smorgasburg is here!

Smorgasburg, which as you may be able to tell from the name originated in Williamsburg, has been slowly making it's way towards us.  They had expanded to DUMBO and starting this weekend, October 6th, they'll be at Pier 5!  You'll have about a month and a half to take advantage of this deliciousness every Sunday between 11am and 6pm.  The great part about this location, something  that the others lacked, is a lot of seating.  They have dozens of long benches at Pier 5, as you can see below, with shade and beautiful views!

Fornino Pics.

Last time we blogged about Fornino in Brooklyn Bridge Park they weren't quite open yet.  They have a window that serves ice cream, ice and popsicles that's been open for a while.  They now have a lunch menu and have been pretty crowded for the last part of the summer.  Here are some pics above and below.  It's great space, as you can see, with indoor and outdoor seating.  This is location number three in Brooklyn, the first two being in Williamsburg and Greenpoint.  If you haven't tried this place you really should while it's still relatively warm out!

Farmer's Market on Pier 6.

There's a newish farmer's market, as you can see in the pics above, at Pier 6 on Sundays.  When we went last week they had picnic tables set up and it looked really nice.  One vendor sells homemade pop tarts and another has great looking breads.  There was also a table with a huge variety of pickles and a fish monger!  There were a few other tables set up but it was pretty small in general.  Delicious array of treats, though!

Syfy Movie Winner.

Ok, so we were wrong.  Sharknado is not the big winner of the "you vote" Syfy movies with a view night.  Perhaps instead of an actual guess it was just wishful thinking? Haha.  The real winner is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, starring Johnny Depp and Benicio Del Toro.  Check their Twitter and Facebook for updates on how to win free food and more.  The film will show tonight at Brooklyn Bridge Park at sundown (music at 6pm) and will be the very last film of the season.  See ya summer.  Catch you next year. 

Syfy Movie Vote.

Tomorrow (or today depending on when you're reading this) voting for the final film to be shown at Brooklyn Bridge Park will come to an end at 10am so vote now! Your choices are below.  We have a feeling that out of shear ridiculousness, and because it would be fun to watch in a park at night, that Sharknado might win.  That's our prediction. What's yours?.  Vote here before it's too late!

• 8 Mile, Detroit (2002, R)
• Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Las Vegas (1998, R)
• Good Will Hunting, Boston (1997, R)
• Lost in Translation, Tokyo (2003, R)
• Roman Holiday, Rome (1953, Not Rated)
• Sharknado, Los Angeles (2013, TV-14)

Here's Something to do Tonight!

Have the urge to spontaneously go out and enjoy one of Brooklyn's free summer events tonight?  Here are a couple of suggestions.

Brooklyn Bridge Park is showing the film "Rocky".  The free outdoor film series has chosen movies with iconic locations and tonight's film is set in Philly. Music begins at 6pm and the movie starts at sundown.

A little something for kids and adults.  J.J. Byrne Park, at 3rd street and 5th Avenue hosts it's music series, "Dancing Under the Stars".  Tonight's theme is square dancing! "Kids Favorite Role Polie Guacamole plays a set for kids at 5:45, dancing for adults at 7PM"

Fornino at Pier 6!

We spotted this sign a few weeks ago at Pier 6.  For those that don't know, Fornino is a delicious pizzeria located in Williamsburg, Greenpoint and now soon-to-be Brooklyn Bridge Park. It's rated ain several publications as being one of the best in New York.  Last weekend the bottom part was open serving ice cream but the top has yet to be opened.  Coming soon though! Bring it on!

Brooklyn Bridge Park Film Series!

We blogged earlier this week about the Red Hook Flicks outdoor movie schedule and we'd like to share the Brooklyn Bridge Park "Syfy Movies with a View" schedule as well.  It's a beautiful place to watch a free outdoor movie and their line-up is equally awesome (see below).  Our favorite part is that you have a say in their final film.  The vote this year is between Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Good Will Hunting, or Lost in Translation.  Voting begins August 22nd and movies that were rained out will also be added to the list.

July 11
Ferris Bueller's Day Off

July 18
Enter the Dragon

July 25
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

August 1
8 Mile

August 8
Roman Holiday

August 15
Rocky

August 22
Vertigo

August 29
PUBLIC VOTE!

The Pianos are Coming to Our Hood in June!

Have you heard of the Sing for Hope Pianos program?  Here's a brief summary.  88 artist-designed pianos will be placed around the city starting in June.  Not only are these beautifully designed from them spontaneous performances will occur daily.  After their time with the public they will be donated to under-served schools,and other community organizations in need.  A couple of these pianos are coming pretty close by.  One will be at Columbus Park near Borough Hall, one in Brooklyn Bridge Park and another in Gowanus at 336 3rd Street.  Check out their site for more info.

Go Dancing at the Park Tonight!

You may have missed the kick off of Celebrate Brooklyn! Dance Parties last Thursday but if you feel like dancing tonight you are in luck because this series is still going on and tonight is the night.  Meet up is at 7pm on Pier 1 of the Brooklyn Bridge Park and it's free. Tonight is Afro-Cuban night with Pedrito Martinez and DJ Nickodemus.  Read more about the duo below. Alos get there at the beginning for free dance lessons.

Havana-born vocalist and percussionist Pedrito Martinez leads a small band with a big sound, featuring Ariacne Trujillo and special guest Luis Sanchez-Faife (Alto Sax). Lauded as “an incomparable performer” by The New York Times, Martinez’s unmatched work on the congas anchors the band’s fresh, hip-shakin’ beats. From downtown to uptown, he keeps audiences dancing with his “quick hands [and] a voice like lightning” (Wall Street Journal). DJ Nickodemus, of Turntables On The Hudson fame, will also be on hand to spice up the East River with his universal dance sounds.

Squibb Bridge is Here!

                                                                                                         Brian Driscoll

A lot of people we spoke with about this new pedestrian bridge had no idea that it was in the works.  If you've ever walked down the Brooklyn Promenade and ended up at the north end looking down at beautiful Brooklyn Bridge Park and realized getting there wasn't going to be easy, you'll be happy to know that now it is.  This new bridge takes you directly from Squibb Park in Brooklyn Heights to Brooklyn Bridge Park below.  Apparently the bridge bounces as you walk over it (totally normal) so you'll have a little adventure on your route as well as convenience. 

Name That Lawn Contest.

Here's a fun contest being put on by Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy! They're asking folks to name a lawn on Pier 6.  It doesn't say what you'll win but just having a lawn named after your idea seems pretty cool in itself.  (There will no doubt be some sort of prize as well).  You have until March 20th to think of a name.  For more info visit their site.

Dog Photo Contest!

If you have a dog, you can bring it down to one of the two dog runs at Brooklyn Bridge Park, either Main Street or Pier 6, and take a photo to enter the "cutest dog at the dog run" contest.  You've got until January 22nd to enter.  If you don't have a dog you can still vote on the Brooklyn Bridge Park Facebook page for your favorite.  More info from BBP below.


-Voting will begin January 23 on our Facebook page! Read the contest rules and get submission information here.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Almost There.

Though Brooklyn Bridge Park is still recovering first from Sandy and then from the set backs caused by the Nor'easter, most of the park is now open.  They opened several of their lawns last week and have only a few section still closed to the public and those the main street playground, swing valley at Pier 6 as well as the far lawn in the southeast corner near the ferry dock.  They had a lot of volunteers right after the storm (pic above is from their facebook) and I'm sure that contributed to the fact that they were able to re-open so soon after Sandy. 

Calling All Volunteers for Park Clean Up.

Just walking around our neighborhood you can imagine what parks might look like with the fallen trees and whatnot.  Cobble Hill Park above had some fallen trees and branches as you can see above.  Brooklyn Bridge Park got hit pretty hard, they were under three feet of water, and could use your help.  So, if you are home from work, as most of you are, and would like to help out the info is below.

Wed October 31 | 9 am - 12 pm and 2 pm - 5 pm
Volunteers, please join us as we begin our Hurricane Clean Up. We will concentrate our efforts on the perimeters of the park, cleaning up debris left over from flood waters. Work will take place near Main Street from 9am-12pm and on Pier 6 from 2-5pm. Wear water-resistant shoes and clothes that you don't mind getting dirty.

If you have brooms, rakes, and gloves, please bring them. While we have extras, we're hoping that eager volunteers outnumber our current supplies!

Please rsvp to sward@brooklynbridgepark.org. And stay tuned for additional clean up opportunities in the coming days and weeks.

Brooklyn Bridge Park Updates!

The latest we've heard from the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy is that construction on Pier 2 and 3 is moving forward! The pic above is of the future Pier 3.  Don't get too excited though.  We will have a long wait until those parks are finished.  Construction is expected to extend until Fall 2013.  Something you can expect right now is that the temporary greenway walking and bike path has moved course to accommodate these plans.  It "has shifted east directly adjacent to Furman Street. The new alignment begins just north of Pier 2 and continues south to Montague Street, where it connects with the existing path".  In case you can't remember that, there are also signs at both ends to instruct pedestrians and bikers of the changes.  At least when you see the signs it will remind you that new parks are coming at some point!!!

Follow Up on Brooklyn Bridge Park Pool.

We blogged about the opening of the public pool at Brooklyn Bridge Park and then about the pros and cons we saw trending on local blogs and such.  Now we have an insiders opinion.  A couple of friends went with their children a couple of weeks ago and here's what one of them had to say.

It was definitely clean and inviting.  We went on a weekday and it was crowded but not overcrowded.  The lifeguard told us it gets crazy on weekends.  The sandy area was nice, the food stand, albeit very pricey, was good.  Here's my complaint.  We heard that they give out wristbands to avoid long lines.  We thought 'perfect!'  We figured we could go grab a wristband and wander around the park and let the kids run around until our time slot came up.  Unfortunately the way they have it set up is that you still have to wait in line for a wristband.  At 1:30 they give wristbands for the 2pm slot.  So, we waited in line until 1:30 (we got there at 12:45 and they had run out of the 1pm slot).  The kids were restless and there wasn't a shady spot or any chairs available so we waited in the sun for nearly 45 minutes.  Then we still had 30 minutes until it was time to swim.  Not really enough time to go wander.  The set up doesn't make sense.  Why can't you just walk up and get a wristband for whatever the next time they have available is?  What's the point of the wristbands if you still have to wait in a line?  I hope they fix this for next year.  It was a nice pool but they've made it too difficult.

Martin Amis in Brooklyn Tonight

British novelist, Martin Amis, will be at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 1 tonight at 7pm.  BookCourt will present this installment of "Book Beneath the Bridge".  You may know a couple of Amis's better known books, Money (1984) and London Fields (1989).  He'll be bringing his new novel, Lionel Asbo: State of England with him tonight.  It's a very cool event and here's what Zack Zook of BookCourt had to say about it. 

Books Beneath the Bridge has created the exciting, uncompromised summer necessity of waterfront literary glory with a series supporting my belief that Brooklyn is very much the sincerest and most productive of boroughs when it comes to literature and art.  BookCourt is very proud to be part of this lineup, consisting of authors appointed by many fantastic Brooklyn bookstores. Martin Amis is one of our nicest (and newest) neighbors, and we were dying to have a peek at his new book

Pier 2 Park Pool Pros and Cons

The pool at Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 2 is now open!  It's been open for 2 weeks now and here's a round up of the pros and cons that people are expressing through blogs and online reviews.


PROS-  Being a new pool it makes sense that one of the positive remarks we've been reading is that it's clean.  The setting of course is also a big perk.  Right on the waterfront with Manhattan views!  Another big pro is that, although there are long waits, they give you a wristband and a time to come back so you don't have to hang around and wait in any lines, which would be especially difficult on a hot summer day.

CONS-  It's tiny.  Bococaland described it as being the size of "your grandparents pool in their senior citizens community".  Haha.  And of course con #2 is that it's crowded, which you can always assume will be the case and with the size taken into account it goes doubly so for this pool.

So, there you have it.  Looks like the pros outweigh the cons so it may be a fun place to check out on a hot summer day!

Join the Green Team!

(Photo by jeanacosta)

If you have a green thumb, or even if you don't but would like to help out beautifying Brooklyn Bridge Park, you have many opportunities to join what the Conservancy calls "The Green Team". Twice a week volunteers meet up to work on different projects around the park and river areas. You can join whenever and need no experience at all. Here's some more info:

Join us every Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. or Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Get outside, enjoy nature, have fun! Meet at the Main Street section of the park in the DUMBO neighborhood, entrance at Main and Plymouth Streets. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Sarah Ward.

Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Saturdays, 10:00-noon

Main Street Section of Brooklyn Bridge Park
(Main and Plymouth Streets)