Williamsburg Walks reduced to 1 weekend (which happens to coincide with this year's Northside Festival)

Williamsburg Walks ’09 (bitchcakesny)

Last year’s Williamsburg Walks closed Bedford Avenue to car traffic for six Saturdays in July and August. This year a much-reduced event will happen over only one weekend, on June 26th and 27th. Why? As seen on Gothamist and Free Williamsburg,

Neighbors Allied for Good Growth [who organize Williamsburg Walks] faced resistance last month from Bedford Avenue merchants, who complained that the street festival slowed customer traffic and cut down sales for several Saturday afternoons, typically the busiest retail day for many business owners.

“Thank God they’ve cut it,” said Jill Goldhand, the owner of the N. Sixth Street furniture store A and G Merch, who urged festival organizers to reduce the schedule.

Williamsburg Walks may be shorter, but Neighbors Allied for Good Growth said it will be better. “We are confident that the event will be fantastic and we will establish a sustainable model for the years to come,” said event organizer Gregor Nemitz-Ziadie. [Brooklyn Paper]

The event will still coincide with the L Magazine-produced Northside Festival happening June 24-27. A selection of Williamsburg videos are below…

Williamsburg Walks Music

Streetfilms: Williamsburg Walks

JEFFREY LEWIS – ‘WILLIAMSBURG WILL OLDHAM HORROR’

Williamsburg highlights