The New Victorians » brooklyn

UNDERCITY

ethan — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:09:13 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Andrew Wonder and Steve Duncan head to the underground of the city. Its a heart thumping short film, but obviously this is not for the normal city explorer.

For example if you wish to do some of these explorations without getting arrested the Brooklyn Atlantic Avenue tunnel has tours for a look at the oldest subway tunnel in NY. The NY Transit Museum has tours once and a while of the City Hall station (none in the near future). Also check out Open House New York for tons of open NY items like the abandoned hospital on Ellis Island, and subway power stations.

Centennial Soiree at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden

ethan — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 18:28:39 +0000

This past Thursday evening August 12 was the Linnaean Libation League’s Centennial Soiree. The celebration was held for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s 100th birthday. We did not have a speaking role, but our fashions were included in this video clip on the Long Island Channel 12 news. Here are some vintage styled photographs from the event that we took:

Sarah Bernhardt in Prospect Park

ethan — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 12:39:30 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

On this Fourth of July we leave you with an archival clip of Sarah Bernhardt addressing the people Prospect Park.

Sarah Bernhardt Addresses Crowd in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, 1917

On July 4, 1917, French actress Sarah Bernhardt speaks in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, N.Y., on behalf of French-American cooperation in the war effort. Addressing more than 50,000 people gathered around a decorated music platform, Mme. Bernhardt stands and speaks from an open touring car parked in front of the platform. Medium close shot of Mme. Bernhardt speaking and gesturing, with man who may be her personal physician, Dr. Felix Marot, and woman who is probably her secretary and translator, Miss Elizabeth Ormsby, seated in car.

The Luxury Big-Box

ethan — Sat, 22 May 2010 13:57:53 +0000

“Square Feet – Barneys Co-op is Leading High-End Stores to Brooklyn”. This NY Times article predicts the advent of more big-box or luxury-box stores in our borough. Personally I am ok with this particular new store (I am sure my wife would disagree), but what concerns me is the precedent this sets.

Marty Markowitz has been pushing for Apple to move to the borough. The real push we should be making is to foster the sense of place that already exists here; that exact sense of place that makes is attractive for big box stores to locate here.

Anyway, what about larger stores symbolizes progress?

My hometown is Cherry Hill, NJ. When I tell people this their first response is usually “oh, you mean near the mall?”. Of course I do have a nostalgia for my hometown, as anyone would. But what would make Brooklyn any different than Cherry Hill if we moved dozens more large chains onto our streets? I moved away from Cherry Hill so I could be immersed in education, culture, history, and life.

What makes Brooklyn different and unique is our dense fabric of small businesses that operate in 600-1000 sq ft spaces. Small businesses filter money back into our own local economy, whereas big box stores send their money back to Cupertino, Seattle or wherever their headquarters are located.

Required reading:
Cities Back from the Edge
Building the Green Economy

Required viewing:
Twilight Becomes Night

Park Slope YMCA Roof Top

ethan — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:01:03 +0000

Last night we were invited to a Park Slope Civic Council event on the roof of the YMCA on 9th St. The view was perfect while the sun was setting and I couldn’t resist taking a panorama shot. Click on the image to see more detail.