Festival Rescheduled Because Of Nor’easter, Third Ave To Embrace Slightly Less Winter

By on February 12, 2013  Arts & Entertainment
Feb 122013
 

embrace_winter_new4A Third Avenue festival intended to break the February blues with a celebration of arts and culture alongside our favorite local business had been scheduled to take place this past Saturday. But the arrival of the nor’easter that buried our neighbors in Long Island and Connecticut in over a foot of snow, even the Embrace Winter Festival had to call a snow day – the event will now be held this coming Saturday, February 16.

Running from noon to 5pm between 69th Street and 75th Street, the Embrace Winter Festival will have music, dance, art, crafts, and more both inside and outside the commercial district’s businesses. Pick up a passport and get it stamped at participating businesses and activities – pick up a prize at The Salty Dog if you fill up your passport. Details on all of the festival’s activities are below.

The Embrace Winter Festival is organized by the Bay Ridge Arts and Cultural Alliance (BRACA) and the Merchants of Third Avenue. A donation of $5 is suggested to help raise funds for BRACA. Continue reading »

Will Do Sun Dance, Learn Wizardry To Control Weather For Last Summer Stroll Of 2012

By on August 16, 2012  Events
Aug 162012
 

The 2012 edition of the Summer Stroll on Third Avenue will be drawing to a close tomorrow night (August 17), when the street closes for the fourth and final time.

Did I say fourth? I guess that’s fourth-with-an-asterisk, since last week’s street closure was cancelled, due to the imminent threat of rain and possible flooding. Rain and flooding that never came, as it turned out. Businesses and performers participated as best they could with the street open to traffic.

I feel like Summer Stroll has been getting the short end of the stick, weather-wise. In addition to last week’s troubles, it was also uncooperative on its first night. The street was closed then, and a good time was generally had by those who came out, but that crowd did have to endure being rained on for a bit after 7pm. Continue reading »

People, Summer Stroll On Third Totally Almost Here

By on July 16, 2012  Events, Featured story
Jul 162012
 

OK people, this is finally happening. The evening summer pedestrian plaza extravaganza known as the Summer Stroll On Third Avenue kicks off this Friday, July 20. I honestly have no idea what to expect, but I’m optimistic that it will be lots of fun. Not even cautiously optimistic – I’m letting the optimism be unbridled with a dash of wearing it on my sleeve, and whatever other forced metaphor I can come up with.

In case you forgot, the Summer Stroll will close Third Avenue to traffic from 82nd Street to 89th Street from 6pm to 10pm (drivers and festival-goers alike, please note that cross-streets through that stretch will be open). During that time, we are promised a pedestrian plaza filled with musicians, performers, artists, and “ambient lighting,” whatever that’s supposed to be a fancy buzzword for, but I’m sure it’s worth checking out.

In addition to this Friday, July 20, the Summer Stroll will also be active on July 27, August 10, and August 17.

According to the Summer Stroll web site, here is the awesome stuff we have to look forward to, on a block-by-block basis: Continue reading »

[UPDATED - Route Map] Syttende Mai: Norwegian Day Parade on Third Avenue on Sunday, May 20

By on May 14, 2012  Events, Featured story
May 142012
 

This coming Sunday, May 20, the Norwegian Constitution Day Parade will march through Bay Ridge, starting at 1:30pm. The parade will be on Third Avenue this year for the first time.

The parade celebrates the May 17, 1814 declaration of independence from the victors of the Napoleonic Wars, that decreed that Denmark was to cede Norway to Sweeden. After a short war that was not won decisively by either side, Norway and Sweeden entered a union that allowed Norway to retain a large degree of autonomy. The union continued until 1905.

The parade traditionally marched along Fifth Avenue in years past. But this year, organizers are making the switch to Third Avenue to tackle the problem of declining attendance and to take advantage of sponsorship opportunities from the Merchants of Third Avenue association, as reported by Will Bredderman for the Bay Ridge Courier in March. The parade will march on Third Avenue from 86th Street to Bay Ridge Avenue/69th Street, jot over to 5th Avenue for a couple of blocks, and continue on 67th Street to 7th Avenue. Continue reading for a video from last year’s parade on Fifth Avenue…

Old parking meters to be converted to bike racks?

By on April 13, 2012  News
Apr 132012
 

Everything old is new again. Behold, the future of bicycle parking. Photo: Etsy.com

The Department of Transportation is considering a proposal to reuse old-school parking meters – rendered obsolete by electronic muni-meters – as parking for bicycles, a move cheered by Third Avenue store owners, according to Brooklyn Daily. The proposal is supported by several people, including Third Avenue Merchants president Robert Howe and former chairman of Community Board 10, Bob Cassara. (Muni-meters are expected to be installed this fall.)

I was in Williamsburg this past Monday evening, where I can assure you, the local bike-riding population has already made substantial use of parking meters as bike racks. But then, Williamsburg has become the nation’s most important enclave of seventh-year seniors and other grown adults who aren’t. Will meters-as-bike-parking be embraced by the Bay Ridge community?

Anthony Loupos, owner of the newly-opened Glow Thai, told the Brooklyn Daily, “Last fall on a nice day we would see four or five tables per day come on bicycle.” Cassara added, “We should be doing more things like this. Any merchants who are against this aren’t informed about how having more people on bikes can increase business.”

Speaking for myself, I don’t have a car, but I have a bicycle. An increase of bicycle parking would be great for those trips that are a bit past walking distance, but not seemingly worth the hassle of getting on the subway or the bus. What do you think? Would this plan be a help or hindrance?

Community Board: Summer Stroll approved, Amnesia cabaret license rejected

By on February 29, 2012  Featured story, News
Feb 292012
 

Concept art for Summer Stroll. The program was approved Monday night by Community Board 10. (Artwork courtesy Office of Vincent Gentile)

Quick note regarding Monday’s Community Board 10 meeting. As expected, the Summer Stroll program on Third Avenue was approved, by a vote of 34-1. The Merchants of Third Avenue organization is now free to proceed with the program. The program requires final approval from the Department of Transportation. (Corrected March 5.)

Also as expected, the Board recommended the rejection of the cabaret license application of the Amnesia nightclub, by a vote of 35-1. The application will now proceed to the city government’s Department of Consumer Affairs. The DCA is not obligated to follow the recommendation of the Community Board, and has granted licenses in Brooklyn over community objection in the recent past.

Summer Stroll On Third Earns Key Approval

By on February 8, 2012  Events
Feb 082012
 

A plan to create a pedestrian-plaza atmosphere during summer Fridays on Third Avenue won key approval from a sub-committee on Community Board 10 last night.

Summer Stroll On Third is a plan organized by the Merchants of Third Avenue to close the boulevard across an eight-block stretch (81st through 89th Streets) on four Friday evenings starting July 20. Organizers expect to bring acoustic music (no rock bands!), dance and art, multi-cultural cuisine and more to the street during the Summer Stroll, and restaurants will have the opportunity to set up seating to the curb.

The organizers are working with the DOT to provide alternatives for the 100 metered parking spots that will be unavailable during Summer Stroll. All side streets through the eight-block stretch will be fully open to traffic.

The plan, which enjoys support from Councilman Vincent Gentile and State Senator Marty Golden, was approved last night by the Traffic and Transportation committee. The program will be a go if the application is approved by the full board at their next meeting on February 27.