Community Board 10 To Discuss Summer Streets, Club Cats Tonight At General Meeting

By on February 25, 2013  News
Feb 252013
 
An artist's rendering of a typical Community Board meeting in New York City.

An artist’s rendering of a typical Community Board meeting in New York City.

The general meeting of Community Board 10 will be held tonight at the Knights of Columbus (1305 86th Street – 7:15pm), and oh, my, have they got quite a line-up planned for tonight.

  • Public Hearing - In the matter of the adoption and support of the Capital and Expense Priorities for fiscal Year 2014.

I don’t see this one being too controversial. Given the way Board 10 works, they’ll take a professional approach to determining what the community’s infrastructure investment needs are. Oh, they’ll be somewhat stymied in reaching a consensus relative to other Boards, thanks to Bay Ridge’s ideological even-split, but consensus they will eventually reach.

And then Mayor Bloomberg will introduce a budget balanced on the backs of school and library cuts, and fines on restaurants that sell 20-ounce bottles of Pepsi. 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 »

Seen In Bay Ridge Weekender: A Nice Set O’ Pipes

By on August 3, 2012  Seen In Photos
Aug 032012
 

The accompanying image, which comes courtesy of talented local photographer David Tan, shows two bagpipers who managed to score a gig at the Summer Stroll on Third Avenue.

It was taken on July 27, 2012 using a Canon A-1 with Kodak Ektar 100 film.

To see more of David’s praise-worthy work, please visit his photoblog at dtan.blogspot.com.

If you have a photo you’d like us to publish as part of the Seen In Bay Ridge photo series, please send it to info@bayridgeodyssey.com. Be sure to let us know where and when the picture was taken, as well as how to credit the image (i.e. by your real name, pen name, anonymously, etc.).

First Summer Stroll A Success

By on July 26, 2012  Arts & Entertainment, Events
Jul 262012
 

While unseasonably cool temperatures and rain made the weather less than cooperative for a summer street fair, Bay Ridge’s first Summer Stroll on Third Avenue last Friday still managed to be a success, writes Melisa Stumpf for the Home Reporter.

Summer Stroll, which closes 3rd Ave from 82nd Street to 89th Street, returns for three more dates in July and August.  The event “transforms” the thoroughfare into a pedestrian mall complete with block-by-block street themes.

Attendees enjoyed the outdoor stands and sidewalk tables set up by local businesses, which included some offbeat promotional tactics. 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 »

3rd Avenue’s Summer Stroll Starting July 20

By on July 2, 2012  Events
Jul 022012
 

On four select Friday nights this summer, 3rd Avenue between 82nd Street and 89th Street will be awash in entertainment for all ages, as the Summer Stroll struts its stuff, writes Helen Klein for the Home Reporter.

On July 20, July 27, August 10, and August 17, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., bustling 3rd Avenue will “transform” into a pedestrian mall complete with block-by-block street themes. Continue reading »

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.

Monday: Community Board 10 meeting at Knights of Columbus

By on February 24, 2012  Events
Feb 242012
 

Community Board 10 will meet at Knights of Columbus on 86th Street.

On Monday night, Community Board 10 will meet at Knights of Columbus (1305 86th Street). Among the topics for discussion will be the Third Avenue Summer Stroll program and the cabaret license application to allow dancing at Amnesia nightclub.

The Police & Public Safety committee voted last week against recommending a cabaret license for Amnesia. However, even if the full board follows suit, the final determination is made by the NYC 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 passed it’s committee vote earlier this month. If approved by the full Board, it will be free to proceed this summer.

The agenda, pulled from the CB10 web site, follows: Continue reading »

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.