The Week
May 11
Neighborhood Stuff
The Walgreens on Atlantic and Court is going condo. With all of these buildings being sold for development, how long are we going to have pharmacies in walking distance? CVS is about to turn the corner on their restructuring and Walgreens is teetering on the edge. The independent retail pharmacy business is dying (do PBMs even return their calls?) and I’m sure the folks at Stark Enterprises1 are ready to flip 30 Flatbush (my CVS/gateway to Limbo). Maybe Duane Reade will get spun off and run by people who know the business and the city.
Map of Stark properties. 30 Flatbush is their only NYC holding. The Liberty’s home opener filled Barclays and had a fun throwback theme night to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the team and WNBA. The team is now estimated to be worth $600 million, a nice turnaround from when the Tsais acquired the franchise for ~$15 million from previous ownership2. Norman Oder has some thoughts about what this may mean for certain tax exemptions.
Speaking of Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment: the owners of the ground floor, mezzanine, and basement of the Williamsburg Bank tower have landed a tenant for the space: a bougie food hall from a Miami-based “bespoke lifestyle brand backed by a philosophy of passion, love, sustainability and philanthropy.” I’ve never been to a Casa Tua location so I will reserve judgement3, but their Cucina food hall concept strikes me as a combination of Eatlay, the Tin Building, and one of the nicer terminals in the Amsterdam or Rome airports.
Is there any appetite for a book club out there? Reader Casey recommended Brooklyn Crime Novel by Jonathan Lethem.
If any of you want to beta test a website and have something you want to sell, hypothetically via retro classifieds, hit me up at boerumbulletin@gmail.com
Fun Stuff
Tickets are still available for the Roulette 2026 Gala on May 19.
Proto Toto Design Labs is opening a new studio for their children’s art programming at 139 Nevins Street. They’ll have lots of art supplies, tools, and design materials. ProtoToto was founded by Suzanne LaGasa, a book designer and the former creative director of Dwell magazine.
A Day of Design on Atlantic Ave. On Saturday from 10:30AM-7:00PM
the Atlantic Ave BID is hosting the local leg of the annual NYCxDesign Festival featuring area designers, exhibits, workshops, demonstrations, open studios, and more. RSVP here. The first 50 RSVPs get a gift courtesy of COS Bar at their HQ on Hoyt Open Street.
As the rock that is NJ Transit continues to bash against the hard place that is FIFA, the free World Cup fan zone at Brooklyn Bridge Park grows in importance. You will still need tickets, and there are zero details available beyond location. I’m going to be gone for the middle bit, excited to be back in town and see how we collectively handle the knockout stages.
Another film series at BAM replete with absolute bangers. Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Big Lebowski, and Master and Commander could all have been my answer to “what’s your favorite movie” at various stages of my life.
The annual community board health fair is Saturday afternoon at Fort Greene park. In addition to the more health forward offerings, there will be free food, smoothies, music, sports, yoga, giveaways, the whole shebang. Also: temptingly close to Los Burritos Juarez.
Bruce is at Barclays. Downbound Train is his best song. I also think Downeaster Alexa is Billy Joel’s best song. Should I bring this up in therapy?
Kudos to the new crew at Eastville Comedy for posting lineups instead of infinite open mics. Baby steps. Janeane Garofalo will be there Saturday.
Civic Stuff
A couple weeks back I told you about how the Community Dinner provided by the Brooklyn Meeting of the NYC Quakers over on Schermerhorn expanded to serve weekly Friday meals as well. They could use more volunteers both to cook and serve. If this is of interest and you’d like to know more, contact reader August at: august.magiera.guy@gmail.com.
Borough President Reynoso and Council Member Restler talked to the Times about their plan to invest $21 million to turn Columbus Park into green space
The most recent quarterly resident meeting about the renovations of the Gowanus Houses was held on the last day of the quarter and three blocks away. This particular NYCHA property is not in our Council district or Community board district (aren’t maps fun?), but I’d be interested to know if elected or appointed folks are keeping an eye on progress over there.
Transit Stuff
Big changes on the horizon for Bergen and Dean in our neck of the woods. Community feedback is welcomed here. Love to see more bike use, but please don’t glare at me because I’m in a crosswalk while you cruise through a red light.
The local community board has some more holistic Traffic Calming Proposals.
No overnight 4 between Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall and New Lots. Monday through Friday, 11:30 PM to 5:00 AM. Replaced by extended late night 3 service.
Friday though Monday, the overnight Manhattan-bound local D runs express from 36th Street to Atlantic/Barclays and skips DeKalb.
Friday though Monday, the overnight Manhattan-bound local N runs express from 36th Street to Atlantic/Barclays and runs via the Q to Canal, skipping DeKalb.
Despite public and elected outcry, no changes have been announced to the G train summer maintenance schedule. If you’re the type that spends most weekends in Williamsburg or Greenpoint: 1.) be glad you don’t live there and you’re not walking across the Pulaski bridge to the 7 train 2.) maybe take the train the other direction on occasion this summer. Plenty of fun to be had.
The company was founded in 1978, Iron Man #1 was published in 1968. Business guys have always been nerds.
If you want to know why the Knicks haven’t made the finals since ‘99, this is instructive. The song in that YouTube video is about HARVEY WEINSTEIN btw.
lol no I won’t