If one were asked to sketch the outline of a book, most would draw a rectangular shape with some kind of hard or paperback cover encapsulating a stack of papers.  Said drawing would not be inaccurate – it would just be lacking imagination.  Unfortunately a lack of imagination had become a far too common occurrence in the literary and publishing worlds, which is why a group of artists tried challenging the status quo by founding the non-profit organization Booklyn back in 1999.

This artist-run organization works to unite the writer, artist and reader through a mutual appreciation of creativity and discovery.  Based out of Greenpoint, Booklyn helps its artists and writers to distribute, sell and make their own books.  The organization is dedicated to its mission of promoting their writers’ books as both literary resources and works of art – especially in a market overrun by mass production and conformity.  Booklyn offers classes, workshops, and lectures to all those interested in the creative and historical aspects of literature and bookmaking.  They also willingly assist artists and authors in publishing and distributing their works by providing them with access to the organization’s technology and skilled professionals, in addition to their ever-increasing audience base.  This organization provides a unique and organic forum for book lovers abound to share in their appreciation for literature and hand crafted works.  In this segment, show hosts Shirley and Christopher explore the craftsmanship behind this innovative organization!

Booklyn Artists Alliance

37 Greenpoint Avenue, 11222

http://www.booklyn.org/index.php

Who are your favorite New York authors?

Post a Comment and Let Us Know!

Greenpoint may be famous for its hipster status, but real people still live there. Justine Carroll is an actual, native Greenpointer with true roots in this ever-changing zip code. Justine, her sister, and several of her friends blog about all the goings in their hood. They know where to eat, where to shop, and which bar to watch the debates in. They even have the scoop on Enid’s Annual Apple Pie Bake-Off. Trust the Greenpointers to know the deal.

Tell us about your blog: After moving away from the neighborhood I grew up in for many years, I came back to live in Greenpoint in the summer of 2007. I’d already been blogging for a while with a personal site as well as some guest writing stints. So when I moved back to Greenpoint I had the idea of starting a blog that fused my past and my present in the neighborhood together. Something that separated me from other local bloggers was my history and roots in the neighborhood. I feel like I give a voice to the people who are born and bred here as opposed to the countless Brooklyn blogs that are written by transplants.

What brought you to New York?

I was born and raised in Greenpoint, Brooklyn New York – third generation!

What do you love about living in New York?

My favorite part of living in New York is that it’s one of the only places in America that looks different. Almost everywhere you go in this country, the landscape and the neighborhoods look identical to each other. From one town to the next, from one state to the next, there’s always a mini strip mall along a four lane highway with a Red Lobster and a Wal-Mart. It’s scary.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?

Being a New Yorker is absolutely something that takes generations to become. It’s not a geographical thing, it’s a part of you. I didn’t even realize that until 9/11 and I saw those towers fall. Every New Yorker I’ve spoken to felt like a piece of them had been taken. Whether they lost someone or not, it was the fact that something we saw every single day of our lives for so many years, along our unmistakable skyline, was gone. It took a piece of a New Yorkers identity away.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?

Truthfully not a thing! I have seen everything and anything from New Yorkers. I’ve seen the disgusting, I’ve seen the heartwarming. We’re a melting post to say the very least, and with that, you get it all.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?

When I leave New York I miss the liveliness. Even though Greenpoint may not be a 24 hour mecca, it’s still comforting that I can run down the block to a bodega at 3am and get pretty much anything I would need at 3am! Other places are desolate by 8pm!

Best tips, tricks or insider info.
Any Greenpointer knows this but if you’re visiting or new to the ‘hood keep in mind that the G train is a short train. Only 4-6 cars depending on the time of the day. Which means you need to wait in the center of the platform for the train, otherwise, it’ll pass you by!

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?

It’s gotta be The Cyclone at Coney Island. There’s nothing like riding that rickety old roller coaster and getting beaten and dirty in just a minute and a half.

Best place to dine late night?

This is definitely going to my local favorite joint, The Habitat (http://www.thehabitatbrooklyn.com/). Serving food all night – you can get Empanadas or Waffle Fries until 4am! And up until like 10:30pm they have a full menu with weekly specials. The food is delicious and the staff is one of the nicest in the neighborhood.

Best live music venue?

I have to go with the now closed McCarren Pool. I really love an outdoor venue. I secretly wish they would build a pavillion somewhere along the North Brooklyn waterfront. There’s nothing like catching a concert under the stars.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)

The last thing I did that I hadn’t actually checked out in awhile was the San Gennaro festival in Little Italy this year. Just a couple of weeks ago, I had some friends who were working at a restaurant in the area and got a chance to go there a couple of times. It’d been at least a decade since I went to the feast but it was surprisingly a lot of fun. Even though Little Italy is changing and losing its identity, when the Festival comes around, it seems to be stronger than ever.

Best people watching?

Hands down without a doubt Bedford Avenue and North 6th Street in Williamsburg. There’s a couple of benches in front of New York Muffins on the corner and with a muffin and coffee in hand you can sit there any weekend afternoon and see a parade of crazy fashions. It’s some of the best people watching I’ve ever done.

Best ways to find deals on clothes in Greenpoint?

Greenpoint has a lot of different levels of shopping. You can go from thrift shopping at places like the Salvation Army on Manhattan Avenue to cheap fashion at stores like Rainbow on Calyer Street and Payless Shoe Store on Manhattan Avenue. Or you can step it up on Franklin Street with trendy and fashion forward boutiques like Alter (with one shop for men and one shop for women directly across the street from each other!) and Hayden-Harnett. To find deals in the hood, sometimes you can find cute things in Rainbow good for one or two wears or a pair of cute shoes in Payless. One of the best places to look in the neighborhood are some of the Polish owned stores that many people might be quick to pass up. There are quite a few along Manhattan Avenue that have nice quality goods at reasonable prices. While some of the goods in the window might seem a little gaudy to attract those older ladies, if you take a peek inside you can sometimes find something really great. Especially leather goods.

Favorite New York moment?

My favorite New York moment is the early morning after a big snowfall. Everything looks gorgeous in the city and the streets are so quiet, everything covered in a white blanket of beauty. It’s breathtaking every time.

www.greenpointers.blogspot.com

Do You Have a Greenpoint Recommendation?
Post a comment and let us know!

]]> http://www.coolinyourcode.com/2008/10/13/greenpointers/feed/ 0 http://www.coolinyourcode.com/2008/05/05/greenpoint-building-code/ http://www.coolinyourcode.com/2008/05/05/greenpoint-building-code/#comments Mon, 05 May 2008 16:00:46 +0000 Cool in Your Code http://www.coolinyourcode.com/greenpoint-building-code/

Greenpoint, Brooklyn is blowing up. This old, quiet and still affordable neighborhood is often forgotten about as it is situated between the hot spots of Williamsburg and Long Island City. Apartment hunters are now realizing that the convenient proximity to Manhattan that these two areas provide, can also be enjoyed from their neighbor in 11222.

Commuters can hop on the G train to find mom-and-pop shops on Manhattan Avenue, stylish boutiques and dining on Bedford Avenue and 35 acres of green, open space at McCarren Park. Dig into an authentic Polish meal at King’s Feast, get cozy at the Greenpoint Coffee House on Franklin, or dance the night away at disco Club Europa. With an average price of $800,000 for a two-bedroom apartment, great values can still be found on the northern part of Brooklyn.

Check out some of the cool eats and rockin’ nightlife Greenpoint has to offer at www.coolinyourcode.com/tag/greenpoint.

Would you live in Greenpoint?
Post a comment below and give us some lip about this zip.

Greenpoint is on point when it comes to quality nightlife. Cool in Your Code checks in at three of 11222’s hottest clubs.

First up is Club Europa bringing live music and international flair. Rock bands line the roster and DJs bring the beats so that even the Polish President can’t stay away!

www.europaclub.com

98 Meserole Ave.

Next up is Warsaw at the Polish National Home. Housed in the original 1918 building, Warsaw brings together bands from around the corner and around the world. Feeling hungry? Help yourself to fine polish cuisine at the only venue that brings you Pierogies and Punk!

www.warsawconcerts.com

261 Driggs Ave.

Last stop is Club Exit boasting three bars, lounges and VIP rooms. Dazzling decor and dizzying lights will keep you dancing to everything from rock to hip hop. Looking for a sure bet? Check out their weekly parties on Friday and Saturday nights for non-stop fun!

www.club-exit.com

149 Greenpoint Ave.

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Cool in Your Code takes you behind the counter of some of Greenpoint’s tastiest restaurants. Whether you’re in the mood for a coffee or a polish feast, Greenpoint has something to suit your taste.

First up is Greenpoint Coffee House, home to a luscious list of libations accompanied by scrumptious food. The coffee connoisseur will be pleased with the true Italian style espresso and the cold white wine hits the spot on a hot afternoon. The comfy retro décor and beautiful woodwork invite you to brunch and talk you into relaxing with a cup of joe.

195 Franklin Street, 11222

Next, visit King’s Feast, the place to go for authentic Polish cuisine. Owner and Head Chef Krzysztof Drzewiecki left his position at Nobu in order to open a “genuine Polish restaurant,” that would cater to Greenpoint’s large polish community. Classic cuisine such as pierogies and golobki are in abundance, but visitors can also enjoy a myriad of other delicacies such as trout stuffed with spinach or duck legs with apples. Even if you’re not Polish, you’ll want to polish off a meal here.

www.krolewskiejadlo.com/eng

694 Manhattan AvenueI, 11222

Take a break from Polish cuisine at Thai Café, serving up the best in Thai for over 14 years. This 11222 staple is bright and airy and the colorful setting is often complemented by artwork from local artists. Greenpoint residents swear by Thai Café’s pad thai and say the prices can’t be beat. Other dishes not to miss include the green papaya salad and the steamed mussels. When you need a break from borscht, Thai Café offers a refreshing change.

925 Manhattan Ave, 11222

Last but not least, Liza Queen and her quirky, unpredictable restaurant The Queen’s Hideaway. The customers and the laid-back country décor remain the same, as does the quality of the food, though the menu itself is ever changing. Reflecting the available fresh produce, The Queen’s Hideaway menu is a dynamic exploration of Ms. Queen’s flavorful culinary talent. From pan-fried whole Dorado stuffed with turnip, pancetta, apples and walnuts, to the “mess of meaty greens,” the dishes are fresh and perfectly executed. They even have a backyard for hot summer nights and fresh rhubarb pie to accompany them.

www.thequeenshideaway.com/

222 Franklin Street, 11222

Cater to your inner creative at Pete’s Candy Store. This sweets-shop-turned-nightspot features a rainbow of events from stand-up comedy to adult spelling bees and quiz-offs. But, Pete’s real treat is the carefully selected live music that entertains every night of the week. The club’s discerning taste is a source of pride, and it shows through the pretentious staff. Grammy winner Norah Jones and indie crooner Devendra Banhart graced this stage when they were still unknowns. “People come from all over NY to this tiny little place in the middle of nowhere,” says a manager. The trip to Candy Land may be out of the way, but it’s worth the trek.

709 Lorimer Street between Richardson and Frost Streets, Brooklyn
www.petescandystore.com

261 Driggs Avenue between Leonard Street and Eckford Street, Brooklyn
www.warsawconcerts.com

Gearhead Eric Green has the best of bikes and beers with Works Engineering, his very own vintage motorcycle repair shop connected to Bar Matchless. The shop is the product of a long-standing love and borderline obsession with vintage bikes, and specializes in European models. Green began his career with Team Obsolete, racing, wrecking, and rebuilding retro bikes. DUMBO housed his first repair shop before he moved to his present location almost 3 years ago. Green still races and rides bikes, though he is usually riding his wife’s bikes. “I’m a mechanic so none of my bikes ever work,” Green explains. When Green’s not fixing bikes he can usually be found fixing pints behind the bar.

314 Driggs Avenue, on the corner of Manhattan Avenue
www.worksengineering.com

“Wow! That’s wine!” Queens native Bret Birnbaum describes the reaction people have when they first taste the product he and chef David Zablocki are hoping will take the culinary world by storm. Must be another trendy wine, you say? Not exactly. It’s sorbet. Wine sorbet.

Birnbaum and Zablocki decided back in 2002 to combine their respective backgrounds in business and the culinary arts. Initially, they thought of opening a wine bar in Williamsburg. But when Zablocki mentioned the wine sorbets he sometimes offered to his catering clients, a cork popped. The decision was made to ditch the bar, and freeze the wine. Four years later, the Greenpoint-based Wine Cellar Sorbets are being sold in 25 retail outlets throughout the metropolitan area, as well as select hotels and restaurants. It’s an ideal working relationship for these two childhood buddies. Birnbaum handles the business end, marketing the wines and promoting their uniqueness, while Zablocki is in charge of the production process and all gastronomic pursuits.

As with their liquid cousins, the sorbets range from whites, like Rieslings, to heavier, robust reds, such as Cabernets. When Birnbaum presides over tastings, he lines up all seven flavors, from the lightest to the strongest, and suggests people try them all. “It’s like a wine tasting,” he says, adding, “They’re not super sweet, but they’re zero fat and full of flavor.” They also have close to 5% alcohol content. “It’s an adult dessert,” says Birnbaum. Adds Zablocki, “You can definitely catch a buzz if you eat enough.” The sorbets have other things in common with wine, as well. All the artwork on the packaging is hand-drawn and the design resembles wine labels, setting them apart from “regular” sorbets and ice creams. The containers even indicate the vintage of the specific wine used.

The perks of such a venture are obvious. “I get to sample a lot of great wines,” says Chef Zablocki, who also notes that the product is not simply wine-flavored, but in fact made almost entirely of wine. As such, their sorbets will be affected by the vagaries of the wine industry and the different yields from annual harvests. “From season to season, year to year, our sorbets will change. We can never mass-produce our product because wines are never mass-produced. That’s what’s exciting about what we’re doing. It’s a new format for wine and wine lovers.” Making wine sorbets a dessert staple remains the ultimate goal. “No one’s really been doing this,” says Birnbaum. “We want to be the Ben and Jerry’s of wine sorbet.”

Find out where you can try wine sorbet at www.winecellarsorbets.com

Bar Matchless is truly unmatched. Where else can you enjoy one of 32 beers and wait for your motorcycle to be repaired? Uh, nowhere. Via hidden back door, Matchless is connected to Works Engineering, a motorcycle repair shop that specializes in restoring vintage bikes. Bring your love of motorcycles and thirst for competition any night of the week. Aside from beer and more beer, they have trivia on Tuesdays, intense foosball tournaments every Wednesday (they’ve been known to brag about their Tornado Cyclone II table), pool, and darts. To feed your biker within, rev up for Moto Mondays, where motorcycle races and motorcycle movies are screened. Owner Eric Green has created the ultimate iron horse paradise with this one.

314 Driggs Avenue
Corner of Manhattan Avenue

www.barmatchless.com