I just spoke to the Open Space Alliance who oversee all concerts in North Brooklyn parks (and do a whole lot of other park stuff too). They assured me that, despite what may or may not have gone down at the community board meeting last night, there will be concerts at the Williamsburg Waterfront this summer. In fact, the plan is to have 10 ticketed shows and 5 free shows, though none on weekends in July and August (a state rule related to staffing and other costs). The total number of shows this year is also related to state rules.

The five free concert dates are still TBD, but one will be of a classical/philharmonic nature, and one will be geared towards kids. The free shows may or may not be on Sundays or even on weekends, and they will definitely not have anything to do with Jelly who promoted the free 'Pool Parties' in the space last year.

The ten ticketed concerts, like in the past, will be promoted/booked by AEG. Part of the money earned goes towards improving the parks and to fund the free events (though there will also be some sponsors). Some of the money from last year's concerts was used to purchase solar lighting that now allows the Williamsburg Waterfront park to stay open later at night.

OSA has no plans of stopping concerts at Williamsburg Waterfront either. The outdoor state park venue, a North Brooklyn alternative to Central Park Summerstage and Prospect Park's 'Celebrate Brooklyn' series, is still in its infancy and there seems to be optimism that it will only get better year after year.

Also, they say ex-Pool Party venue McCarren Pool is on track to be a pool again in 2012, and that the blacktop space in McCarren Park that is being used for the Northside Festival shows will not be used for any other concerts this summer.

Stay tuned for more info on the shows (like which artists are playing them).

It will look much prettier when they build a stage and stuff, but those asphalt softball fields are where Beirut is playing on June 17th (tickets) and Guided by Voices & Wavves are playing on June 18th (tickets). The "Open Space Alliance benefit shows" are both part of the 2012 Northside Festival for which you can also buy a badge.

Whether OSA has plans to use the 'McCarren Park' space on other dates this summer remains to be seen, but there have been rumors of OSA trying to "sponsor their own concert series ten blocks down" from a waterfront area that was being proposed for a controversial "Brooklyn Night Bazaar."

I'm assuming the OSA "concert series" is not the JellyNYC Williamsburg Waterfront Pool Parties which are probably not returning this summer after much controversy last year. That controversy was especially related to Jelly's relationship with OSA.

There will reportedly still be concerts at Williamsburg Waterfront again this year though, but probably not free ones. McCarren Pool meanwhile (Jelly's original free show location), also part of McCarren Park, is still being wasted I think.

Stay tuned for more updates on all of this.

Schumer @ the 1st Pool Party of 2010 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Summary: Senator Chuck Schumer (says he) saved the final, August 29th, Pool Party (that had been cancelled), OSA points out that they also found other financial donors to cover part of Jelly's tab, Assemblyman Lentol was working on this too, and OSA Board member Adam Perlmutter said "OSA looks forward to presenting diverse free programming in the future, from Chromeo to Copland". Today's Pool Party (with Chromeo) happens in the rain?

Press releases from Schumer and from OSA, in full below...

Continue reading "the final Pool Party is back on! (today's on the other hand...) "

August 8th Pool Party (more by Benjamin Lozovsky)

Jelly has responded to OSA's cancellation of the final Pool Party and accompanying press release. Read Jelly's response in full, below...

Continue reading "Jelly responds to OSA, says thanks to everyone else"

..."New York is creating a two-tier system," said Geoffrey Croft of New York City Park Advocates, a frequent critic of the Parks Department.

"The nightmare is that all these deals are going on behind closed doors and that people are taking city dollars away from other parks," Croft said.

The situation is unusual. Although it is not uncommon for the city and nonprofits to hire from the same pool of advocates and experts, it is extremely rare for people to work for both at the same time....

...In 2008, Stephanie Thayer became director of the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn - and the Parks Department's director of North Brooklyn Parks.

Records show Thayer got $86,528 from the city. She said her work for the nonprofit is voluntary.

"I'm still fighting the good fight," she said. "I'm just doing it in a different way."

Figuring out which hat Thayer is wearing has created frustration among some park advocates.

Laura Hofmann, a member of Open Space's steering committee, said Thayer spurned her when she tried to find out how many trees would be planted in a new park.

"She basically told me you have to trust the Parks Department and you have no business asking for this kind of information," Hofmann said.
[Daily News, July 11, 2010]

PREVIOUSLY: Final Pool Party cancelled, OSA blatantly blames/hates Jelly

OSA Presents @ The Williamsburg Waterfront (more by Chris La Putt)

Whoah. Earlier today I got a tip, from someone that would know, that the final (August 29th) Pool Party has been cancelled. While trying to confirm that tip, I got the below insane press release from the "Law Offices of Adam D. Perlmutter, P.C.". Adam also happens to be on the board of OSA

"The Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA) is a nonprofit that raises funds and works with our community, elected officials and the New York City Parks Department, to improve existing parks and help create new parks in North Brooklyn."

There are some weird dates mentioned in the release (update: a fixed press release was sent out), but its consistent with my tip. The press release (which I confirmed with a 3rd source after it was sent) also says August 29th is cancelled. That's the day that was billed like this:

August 29th
SECRET SPECIAL GUEST!
SECRET SPECIAL GUEST!
Delorean
Dominique Young Unique

Basically the press release says that OSA hates Jelly and so no more Pool Parties (except August 22nd with Chromeo which is still apparently happening). I wonder what Schumer thinks. Check it out in full below...

Continue reading "Final Pool Party cancelled, OSA blatantly blames/hates Jelly"

Williamsburg Waterfront - June 20, 2010 (pic by Eric Polow)

Band of Horses had a busy weekend: Friday night they played Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal, Saturday they opened for Broken Social Scene and Pavement on Toronto Island, and Sunday they headlined their own sold-out gig at Williamsburg Waterfront, the first show of the season there, with Grizzly Bear and Karen Elson opening. Pictures on the way.

It was the first show at the Brooklyn park that was put on by AEG and Open Space Alliance (OSA). Like they did at McCarren, together they're running the ticketed shows at the Waterfront...

"After OSA managed more than 60 McCarren Park Pool events, we successfully negotiated a new venue for the music to continue. This summer, OSA will present and manage concerts on the Williamsburg waterfront. There are a number of benefit concerts that help us subsidize free programming, and raise funds for parks improvements." [OSA]

Sunday's Band of Horses shows was one of those "benefit" concerts. The next of those is Silversun Pickups, Against Me! and The Henry Clay People on Friday, June 25th.

The most obvious difference from the 2009 JellyNYC Pool Parties is the stage's new location and bigger size. The stage is now on the park's east side, facing the water. That means the setting sun is no longer shining in the crowd's eyes (good) but you'll have to turn around to get a view of the Manhattan skyline (bad). The soundsystem was also reportedly better. That said, the stage is being taken up and down before and after each of the ticketed shows, so it remains to be seen what they'll come up with for the upcoming free events at the venue, or even the future ticketed shows.

The showgoing area is fenced in a bit different than last year's Pool Parties, and since they are pay shows don't expect to be able to see for free. Like they do in Prospect Park, Rachel Kowal said, "they put up huge banners on the fence blocking even the most minimal view". Again, it was the first show there this summer, so there's no guarantee things will stay the same. Hopefully that's at least true of the concession and beer lines (which we heard took up to 40 minutes).

The same park will be home once again to the Jelly NYC Pool Parties, whose seven (not eight) free shows kick off July 11th. We're told the still-TBA series has a good chance of getting announced this week. We also have some guesses out there already on who will appear on the lineup.

(also worth noting - two of Sunday's bands are Pool Party alums - Grizzly Bear closed the free series in 2009, and Band of Horses played the Pool in 2007.)

Grizzly Bear have another outdoor show this summer - they play Governors Island (also ticketed) on August 12th with the Walkmen and Gang Gang Dance. Tickets are still on sale.

We'll have pictures from the show coming later. For now, one more pic and some videos from the gig are posted below...

Continue reading "Williamsburg Waterfront kicked off the summer season on Sunday (w/ Band of Horses, Grizzly Bear & Karen Elson)"

'your tax deductible benefit ticket helps fund needed improvements to our park' - OSA

Williamsburg Waterfront (more by Bao Nguyen)

"The Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA) does fund raising for North Brooklyn parks and works with Jelly and the East River State Park in producing the Pool Parties on Sundays. Each week OSA makes available VIP tickets to the Pool Parties. Purchase of VIP Benefit tickets to the free concerts at the East River State Park/Williamsburg Waterfront include entrance through the VIP entrance at North 7th Street without waiting in line [P.S. you must be 21 or older to use the VIP Benefit ticket...]. Access the area next to the stage where the artist & production team hang, enjoying the waterfront view and New York City skyline with a couple hours of complimentary beer and sangria. Have fun while doing good: your tax deductible benefit ticket helps fund needed improvements to our park."

Those tickets are available for the three remaining Pool Parties this summer.

Sunday, Aug 16 - Del the Funky Homosapien & Prince Paul & Gravy Train! & DD/MM/YY & Kenan Bell (VIP tix)
Sunday, Aug 23 - Girl Talk, Max Tundra and Wiz Khalifa (VIP tix)
Sunday, Aug 30 - Grizzly Bear and Beach House (VIP tix)

$50 seems really pricey for this, but I'm not going to knock a charity (and it's tax deductible). Check out a video from OSA and a clip from the Fiery Furnaces' August 9th set below...

Continue reading "Open Space Alliance selling Pool Party VIP tickets..."

04/23 NYC | Jazz Standard | Jeff Gauthier Goatette (7.30pm), Nels Cline & Alex Cline (Duet) 9:30pm
04/24 NYC | Jazz Standard | The Nels Cline Singers (7.30pm & 9.30pm)
04/25 NYC | Jazz Standard | Scot Amendola Band (7.30pm), The Nels Cline Singers (9.30pm, 11.30pm)

More Nels Cline shows at his web site. Wilco's upcoming Brooklyn show goes on presale on Wednesday (regular sale on Friday). Also:

The Wilco concert will benefit the Open Space Alliance. The Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA) is a not-for-profit which, through fund raising and working with our community, elected officials and the New York City Parks Department, furthers the restoration and preservation of existing parks, and the development of new parks in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, weaving these green spaces into a tapestry of parks as a resource for the people of New York City.

No opener info yet.