Tag: DIY

July 31, 2013 / / Food

Eric Austin is the punk rock proprietor of Williamsburg establishments The Grand Bar and Grill, Second Chance Saloon and the venue The Acheron. If there’s something that Eric loves, it’s telling stories, and he’s got a lot of great ones – many of them not fit to print here, though we tried.

May 31, 2013 / / Music

On May 29, 2013 there were two back-to-back panel discussions, one in Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, which drew two different crowds of artists, feminists and leftists. To my knowledge, only two people attended both: myself and the journalist and author Sara Marcus. Listen right here, or click through to read more, listen to audio and see video of a live performance of Habibi.

December 4, 2012 / / Economy

At the Brooklyn Night Bazaar in Williamsburg this past weekend we were thrilled to check out all the DIY designs, live music and tasty and inventive snacks on hand (peppermint patty CAKE, omg). Thousands of locals came out to see the crafts and culture and share it with friends this holiday season. Tweet us @bklyntheborough or use #BKLYN if you see any good items out in the markets and we’ll share it with the borough.

October 7, 2009 / / Music
September 22, 2009 / / Environment
December 19, 2008 / / Housing

A week ago, I received an email about a vacant industrial warehouse on 46th Street in Sunset Park that recently sold for $1,100,000. Each of the 4,900 square feet came to $225. I wondered why a bare bones property like this would cost so much, but somewhere out there a landlord was probably excited that it cost so little.

This is the landlord-tenant language divide.

December 13, 2008 / / Fashion
November 1, 2008 / / Observer Original

“I’ve often heard people say it doesn’t matter who you vote for, they’re all the same,” said Jimmy Ellis, a 56-year-old MoveOn.Org member and host of a calling party Thursday night for Barack Obama in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. “But now, since the election in 2000, I think we can see really clearly, even if you don’t have your perfect candidate, it makes a difference who gets into office.”

October 24, 2008 / / Housing

Last Wednesday, on the evening of the final presidential debate of this cycle, held at Hofstra University, Senator John McCain alleged in the most cautious terms he could muster, that ACORN “is now on the verge of maybe perpetrating the greatest frauds in voter history in this country, maybe destroying the fabric of democracy.”

Nearby, in the Uniondale section of Hempstead Iona Emsley cringed. For the last 19 years, Ms. Emsley has worked with various chapters of ACORN—in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island—to fight for social, housing and immigrant rights.

September 16, 2008 / / Observer Original

“First off, there’s no question—in my humble opinion—that the literary center of New York has moved to Brooklyn,” said our oh-so-humble Borough President Marty Markowitz celebrating the Brooklyn Book Festival in the ornate lobby of Borough Hall this past Sunday. “The authors live here, the illustrators live here, and the energy—there’s that energy!—among residents of Brooklyn.” And of course, Marty is the first to throw a party for them.