photos by Gretchen Robinette

Broad Channel - The Forgotten Town -- 11/3/2012

Jimmy McGovern, operations chief with New York City's Sanitation Department, is tasked with clearing what superstorm Sandy left smashed onto the streets of this neighborhood, where he has lived for the last 20 years.

"I can visualize what it used to look like before, it's heartbreaking," he said. "Nobody ever thought it would be like this." [WSJ]

Earlier today Congressman Anthony Weiner came out of Twitter retirement, not with words or lude pictures, but just with a reminder via a YouTube link that the "Rockaway Needs Us." You can watch the video he was promoting below.

Now, over a week after Hurricane Sandy first devastated the Queens community, another storm is brewing, which for people in the Rockaways especially, is more than just an inconvenience...

A week after superstorm Sandy caused massive damage and power outages, some New York and New Jersey residents been evacuated ahead of a nor'easter that is expected to bring high winds and rain to the region.

More than 620 nursing home residents in New York City's storm-battered Rockaways section were evacuated Tuesday. In New Jersey, winds were kicking up early Wednesday morning prompting some coastline communities to order mandatory evacuations.

Today's nor'easter isn't expected to be as bad as Sandy, but with more than 423,000 without power in New Jersey and more than 66,000 without power in New York City, officials are worried about residents hunkered down in damaged homes with no power.

Forecasters said Tuesday that the storm looks like it will be weaker than expected as it has veered farther offshore than earlier projections indicated. Still, winds could gust up to at least 50 mph in New York and New Jersey Wednesday afternoon and into the evening.

Storm surges could reach up to 3 feet on the coast lines. The highest recorded storm surge during Sandy in New York was 13.88 feet. [ABC News]

Evacuations also mean more people in shelters, and more people in shelters throughout the five boroughs mean more volunteers needed (though not in the Rockaways today - Wednesday). Do you live near the Park Slope Armory? Do you speak Russian? As always, keep an eye on NYCService and Occupy Sandy for ways to help (in the Rockaways, Red Hook, Staten Island, Coney Island, Long Island and elsewhere - possibly right near your apartment). Have a sleeping bag?

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Looking for fun ways to help? Attend or play a benefit show.

BV photographer Gretchen Robinette, whose pictures you recently saw from Red Hook and Staten Island, also headed out to the Rockaways the other day and snapped some shots (like Belle Harbor resident Paul Lurrie did before her). More of those and a bunch of videos, below...

Continue reading "Nor'easter approaches; Rockaway still needs us, as Anthony Weiner points out (info, pics, videos)"

by Andrew Sacher

DOWNLOAD: Ava Luna - "Ice Level" (MP3)

Brooklyn R&B/indie rock collective Ava Luna released their new record, Ice Level, this week via Infinite Best Recordings. The album continues in the vein of the band's previous work, mixing Motown harmonies, late 70s NYC funk-punk beats, and disco strings into a tightly packed 8-song LP. You can stream the entire thing at their bandcamp and we're also offering the album's title track/second single, "Ice Level," in this post. Download that track above or stream it below.

The band will support the album with a tour which kicks off with a show on Friday (3/2) at Gottscheer Hall in Queens, where Silent Barn will be holding their first in a series of public meetings, where anyone can come and discuss the NYC DIY scene and the future of Silent Barn. Regarding the show, the band has said, "Every time we've finished a record, we've held a release show at the Silent Barn... so for Ice Level, we're proud to celebrate at the first Public Meeting." Twin Sister, who Ava Luna recently wrapped up a tour with, will be special guests at the show.

Ava Luna are also one of the many artists on the just-announced Crossing Brooklyn Ferry lineup, which was curated by Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National and goes down from May 3 - 5 at BAM. Ava Luna play on May 4, the day that St. Vincent headlines.

All dates and stream below...

Continue reading "Ava Luna release 'Ice Level', kicking off tour at a 'public meeting' in Queens w/ Twin Sister (dates & MP3)"

Not only is Bjork playing those four shows at Roseland, but they are in the round, and she's also playing six more at The New York Hall of Science in Queens in February. That's 10 NYC shows total! More details and exact dates below...

Continue reading "Bjork playing 10 NYC shows! Six at the New York Hall of Science! (four at Roseland) (in the round!)"

Earlier this week 50 Cent called off his Aug. 30 performance at the "40 Day" aka "Family Day" event in Queens, N.Y., after community members and law enforcement officials voiced fear over a possible shootout.

However, a new, more peace-inspired rumor has surfaced on the street: If 50 had, in fact, taken the stage at the G-Unit-helmed neighborhood party, he hoped to have Cam'ron join him. This seemed like an unlikely move from 50 Cent's camp considering the war of words that the G-Unit and Dipset members exchanged a few years ago. But before this story had time to gather too many legs, Killa Cam confirmed to MTV in a video interview that he had no plans of making the trip to Queens, where his beef with 50 first began.

"Nah, I'm not going to no show in Queens," Cam'ron said. "I don't know how true it is ... a few of my people -- associates -- said [some of 50's associates] was trying to reach out. But, I ain't going to no concert in Queens. Come up to Harlem Week. We could sit down and have the roundtable meeting if you really wanna be serious. Or meet anywhere ... we can meet in Benihana's if you wanna be serious. It don't matter. I'm not squashing a problem we had in Queens at your event." [The Boombox]

50 Cent may not be playing the Queens event, but he is playing the Beach on Governors Island on October 3rd. Tickets go on 'Internet Presale' today (Friday) at noon, and general sale on Saturday at the same time.

More importantly, if you haven't seen it already, check out the video of Mike Bloomberg discussing the "50 Cents" situation (and other related videos) below...

Continue reading "'50 Cents', Cam'ron not playing in Queens (Bloomberg video)"

photos by Chris La Putt

Those About to Die Salute You, a battle on water wielded with baguette swords and watermelon canons by New York's art dignitaries took place on Thursday, August 13th, 2009 at 6 pm in a flooded World's Fair-era reflecting pool in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, just outside of the Queens Museum of Art. Various types of vessels were designed and constructed by artist provocateur Duke Riley and his collaborators: the galleons, some made of reeds harvested in the park, were used to stage a citywide battle of the art museums in which representatives from the Queens Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, Bronx Museum of the Arts, and El Museo del Barrio battleD before a toga-clad crowd of frenzied onlookers.

The event was free and open to public. Dress code: TOGA. Live music was provided by Hell-Bent Hooker

If Duke's name seems familiar it might be because he was in the news about two years ago when he decided to make a Revolutionary War-era submarine and navigate it near the Queen Mary 2 while it was docked in New York City, much to the chagrin of the NYPD. While there were no submarines at this event there was the Queen Mary 2:

Continue reading "pictures of people in togas having some sort of water battle outside the Queens Museum of Art"

photos by Bao Nguyen

The new Citi Field received a Beatle baptism Friday night.

Paul McCartney offered the first musical concert at the sterling new venue, an apt parallel to the Fab Four's historic, kick-off show at Citi Field's predecessor, Shea Stadium, 44 long years ago.

Of course, several key differences between 1965 and today made themselves immediately clear.

This time, everyone could hear. And the only "girls" who screamed were gently prompted by Paul.

As a further reference to history, Paul brought out a special guest at one point - Billy Joel, who last summer closed down the crumbling Shea.

Together they performed a song from the '65 performance, "I Saw Her Standing There." [The Daily News]

Paul was also Billy's guest at the final Shea shows. Two more Paul shows at Citi Field to go - the next of which is tonight (Saturday, 7/18). More pictures, some videos, and the complete setlist from last night, below...

Continue reading "Paul McCartney (and Billy Joel) @ Citi Field (night 1 of 3) - pics, video & the setlist"

by Andrew Frisicano

The rain held off for Todd P's Unamplified Acoustic BBQ at Fort Tilden Beach on Sunday, June 14th. At the show, a sizable crowd congregated along the dunes where acts from the day's lineup played on acoustic guitars, hand percussion and various other things (xylophone, a small boombox, etc).

Park rangers watched from the hills behind, and only intervened, as far as I could tell, when people walked onto the dunes or into the water.

On the beach, the temperature was at least 10 degrees cooler, with a strong wind that carried away a lot of the sound. I caught a couple acoustic acts, and Puttin on the Ritz' B.J. Rubin, who told a story about going to Monterrey with Todd. White Diamonds decided to spin the unamplified theme, opting for a performance-art set that featured an iPod hooked to a stereo. The band clanked on bells, hit a drum and threw clumps of sand in the air. Even with a bit of sand in their hair, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

It looks like the group moved toward the water later in the day to gather more closely around the bands (via Dumbo Books of Brooklyn)...

The bands started moving down to the water as the day waned. As far as we could hear, nobody introduced anyone, and when bands alternated, they sometimes passed on their instruments.

We noticed what we think was Todd P talking to the park rangers back by the rise where the beach begins (or ends). On our way out via the concrete path, we asked the park rangers if we could take their photos. No dice, not even for an alter kocker wearing a blue Rockaway Beach Surf Shop t-shirt. But the rangers, who tolerated the nude beach back in our day at least, said they enjoyed the day and had no trouble.

More pictures below (though only of a very short part of it)...

Continue reading "Todd P's 2009 unamplified BBQ @ Fort Tilden Beach - pics "

FLUSHING, N.Y., June 3, 2009 - Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Paul McCartney will perform the historic first concerts at Citi Field - the new home of the Mets - Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18.

Tickets go on sale Monday, June 15 at 10:00 A.M. ET online exclusively at www.507tixx.com and by phone at 718-507-TIXX. These concerts are rain or shine.

These inaugural concert events at Citi Field mark the latest in a series of landmark performances that link the beloved Beatle with New York City and the home of the Mets. Beginning with The Beatles' legendary musical christening of Shea Stadium in 1965, and continuing with McCartney's special appearance at Billy Joel's "Last Play at Shea" show that closed the stadium last year, McCartney's summer shows at Citi Field will once again mark a momentous occasion in the history of New York - and rock n' roll itself.

"I am really excited about playing Citi Field - The Beatles were the first to play at Shea Stadium and along with Billy Joel, I was the last to sing at the old Shea," said Paul McCartney. "So to be the first to play this stadium is incredible. I am really looking forward to a buzzing show."

The flyer and more fun quotes below...

Continue reading "Paul McCartney confirms Shea Stadium (Citi Field) shows "

Sunday June 14th @ FORT TILDEN BEACH
:: FREE ALL AGES UNAMPLIFIED ACOUSTIC BBQ 2009
:: each year we throw an informal, quiet party in a beautiful public place, w/
:: many diverse musicians playing two or three songs w/ no amplification
:: this year, it's on Fort Tilden Beach in the Rockways! best beach in NYC! [Todd P]

Schedule (subject to change) below...

Continue reading "Todd P's UNAMPLIFIED ACOUSTIC BBQ 2009 (at Fort Tilden)"

view from St. Mary's Park in the Bronx (Big Map)

Man Man and the BCC crews are in great company this summer. The New York City Parks Foundation will again present its annual CityParks Concerts series of free concerts throughout the five boroughs. Those free events include shows by KRS-One, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Slick Rick, Naughty by Nature, MC Lyte, and even BCC collaborator Raekwon. (By the way... Cuban Links 2 on August 11? I still don't believe it - BB.)

Not every park is covered in this series (like Prospect, Central, and Asser Levy for instance), but I wouldn't be surprised if covers almost every one that doesn't already host its own larger series . Full schedule below...

Continue reading "free shows in NYC parks (2009 schedule includes a lot of hip hop - Raekwon, KRS-One, & Pete Rock included) "

Queens residents will have a new place to party this fall with what's being billed as a "rock 'n' roll supper club."

The Queensbridge Theater, slated to open in October, will be the first of its kind in the borough, where locals can dance, dine and watch live performances, all in one place.

The Queensbridge, which will occupy two floors of a five-story warehouse on 10th St. at 37th Ave. in Long Island City, was modeled after popular Manhattan nightclubs such as the Bowery Ballroom and the Mercury Lounge.

But it won't be as pricey, said co-owner Robert Prichard, who is partnering with developer Michael Waldman on the project.

"We are going to be able to attract a certain level of talent, but it will be in Queens with Queens prices," said Prichard. [NY Daily News]

Queensbridge Park
41 Ave., Bridge Plaza, Vernon Blvd. & East River
Tuesday, July 15th: Felix Hernandez Rhythm Review
Tuesday, July 22nd: Naughty by Nature
Tuesday, July 29th: The Delfonics

Springfield Park
184 St. & 147 Ave.
Thursday, July 31st: Marvin Sapp
Thursday, August 7th: The Chi-Lites
Thursday, August 14th: Main Ingredient w/ Cuba Gooding, Sr.

All shows begin at 7pm and are FREE.

Free shows are also happening in Von King Park, East River Park, & Red Hook.