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Tag Archives: Neighborhoods
Neighborhood Face: Riley Greene
Paintbrush in hand, Riley Greene began to transform an empty hallway into a canvas that made others stop and stare. With strokes of blues, greens and reds Riley’s mural slowly became part of her high school, Williamsburg Prep.
Even before setting her mind in pursuing a career in art, Riley Greene was developing her artistic abilities throughout her childhood days. “I remember having drawing competitions with my aunt, drawing objects, “Riley Greene recalled, “I would lose but failing helped me.”
Evelyn Mendez, a college student from Williamsburg wants to be a famous artist one day and goes by her artist alias Riley Greene. Majoring in Illustration in Fashion Institute of Technology, Riley hopes to obtain a career in art whether it be a career in advertisement, illustrating books or designing clothes.
Riley’s love for art developed during her sophomore year in Williamsburg Prep. Before then, she was undecided on what career path she wanted to take. Her high school allowed her to gain some experience. She illustrated for the school’s magazine for two years and painted a mural in the school’s hallway.
Being in a school where she draws all day, Riley likes to do non-related art work when she feels inspired. “I finished my homework at 1:00 am, so tired but I feel like I needed to draw because I hadn’t drawn all week.”Boyfriend and self-proclaimed manager, Joe Julian, encourages her to network and get her name around. “She’s a perfectionist,” he describes. Her need for perfection elongates the time she works on a piece but it also makes sure that when she is finished, she is satisfied with the final product.
In a neighborhood of artists, one must be persistent and original to stand out. Riley feels like there is no need to feel like other artists are her competition because everyone has their own style. “It all comes down to what you draw,” she said “what you may be good at another person might not.”
Although Williamsburg is a neighborhood filled with artists and creative hipsters, it didn’t have an influence on Riley’s decision to pursue art. “It’s not quiet, which is great,” Riley said referring to Williamsburg. “It’s a great environment, people can express themselves without restrictions. Riley hates the fact that Williamsburg is a divided neighborhood, the have and have-not’s. She believes that the division creates problems and tensions that are not necessary.
She is influenced by M. C. Escher. He is a famous graphic artist most famous for creating structures like his Ascending and Descending. He is able to combine art and math, making his art work precise.
The New York Foundation for the Arts wrote an article on habits that successful artists possess that aspiring artists should imitate. “Once your goals are clear and you can break them down into effective strategies, walk through them step by step in your mind,” guest writer Geoffrey Gorman writes, “This will not only help you prepare for each step along the way, but it will also guarantee arrival at your destination.”
Although pursuing a career in art can be competitive, but Riley feels that no matter what you study in college, a job when you graduate is not a sure thing. Despite her mother’s wishes of her becoming a lawyer, Riley has managed to get her family on board. “ My mom wanted me to be a lawyer, thought that art wasn’t a way to make money but I believe it all depends on a person,” Riley stated, “You make your future.”
Posted in Neighborhoods, Profiles
Tagged Margarita Lappost, Neighborhoods, Williamsburg
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Williamsburg Backgrounder
North of Williamsburg lies Greenpoint; Bedford-Stuyvesant is to its south, and Bushwick, Ridgewood, and Queens in the east. The East River is to the west of Williamsburg.
The zip codes of Williamsburg residents are11237, 11206, 112t:115%;
There are more homes without children in Williamsburg. 63.9% of the homes in this neighborhood do not have kids and 36.1% do.
Williamsburg is a diverse neighborhood in Brooklyn. Approximately 125,000 people live in Williamsburg. One way that shows its diversity is that the average household income ranges from $20,000 to $90,000.The residents of Williamsburg have easy access to public transportation. Three subway lines ride across the neighborhood including several bus lines. There is also the Williamsburg Bridge that provides commuters access to the city, whether they cross it by train, foot or car.
Because of easy transportation, commuters have reported to have an average of a 34 minute commute
There you can find variety of restaurants, bars, churches and retail shops to catch the attention of any type of person. There is a place for everyone. Many landmarks fill the streets of Williamsburg such as the Continental Army Plaza, the Domino Sugar Refinery and The Kings County Savings Institution.
New condominiums are being built on the coast of Williamsburg that is attracting residents with higher income.
Julie Lasky from The New York Times wrote an article called Mostly True Grit for the Homes and Garden section. In that article she stated, “Today, Williamsburg is the capital of that aesthetic. And many more area shops carry cheeky contemporary design, although the Future Perfect is not one of them. On Monday, Mr. Alhadeff closed his doors, to concentrate on his stores in Manhattan and San Francisco. He leaves behind a neighborhood crammed with color, vibrancy and all manner of covetable objects.” Here Williamsburg is described as a vibrant neighborhood full of life.
Although most people are familiar with the artsy and colorful Williamsburg, there are two sides of this neighborhood. The north part of Williamsburg is a complete opposite to the south. New York Times article The Divided Williamsburg describes it best. “Grand Street is more than just the dividing line between streets that are numbered north and those numbered south. The border has become a Williamsburg’s equivalent of the Mason-Dixon line, cleaving the neighborhood into two: sleek, moneyed “North Williamsburg” and a gritty, hyper-authentic “South Williamsburg”.
The race that dominates the population of “south Williamsburg” is Hispanics, mostly people from Dominican Republic.
Posted in Backgrounder, Neighborhoods
Tagged Brooklyn, Margarita Lappost, Neighborhoods, Williamsburg
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Protected: Greenwich Village – Just a little swamp town of days gone by
Posted in Neighborhoods
Tagged Greenwich Village, Jennifer Ross, Neighborhoods
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Gravesend
Gravesend, a southern neighborhood of Brooklyn, was founded in 1645 by an English settler named Deborah Moody. Despite its name, it offers the many perks of a functioning New York borough. The area is extremely diverse, evolving from a simple Dutch farming community to a region including Italians, Mexicans, Chinese, Haitian, and Russian populations. The neighborhood is also home to one of the largest Sephardic Jewish communities in the world, with numbers close to 75,000.
Largely a suburban town decades ago, Gravesend is now a vibrant urban collection of many cultures and ethnicities. A population explosion of middle class immigrants and local expansion has vaulted the area into a busy hive of progress and excitement. Large retail stores, small specialty shops and restaurants line Kings Highway and Coney Island Avenue, where movement is incessant and parking spots come at a premium. Subway lines and busses weave through the town, while handball courts, paved baseball diamonds and charming kiddie parks dot the active streets of McDonald Avenue and Ocean Parkway.
Growing up in this area all my life, my neighborhood has always been a source of pride and worthy of tribute and publicity. I also feel obligated to write about the Sephardic Jewish community which I belong to, an incredibly tightly-knit haven deeply entrenched in the traditions brought from the Middle East in the early 1900’s. I intend to highlight the customs, culture, and legacy of my community as only someone who has lived in it all their life would be able to do.
The area is a unique combination of enduring small business owners and historic landmarks, combined with and new modern attractions and development. I plan to focus on the people and places that have lasted all these years in Brooklyn, and hopefully gain a window to the history and foundation that anchors this town today. Of course, along with progression comes inevitable conflict,and I am therefore anticipating having plenty of material to investigate about how the town came to be what it is today.
Prospect Heights
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn is becoming the hip place to be. Although small, this neighborhood has been experiencing quite a buzz over night. Prospect Heights is known for its long rows of brownstones with tree-lined streets. An area that was once quiet is becoming packed with tourists, music lovers, and anyone looking for a good time.
I have been following the Barclays Center in the news since the start of it’s project. It has brought about community resistance from residents. Many who originally are from the area are not too pleased with it. There has been many lawsuits because of the demolition of residential buildings and businesses. The neighborhood has also experienced popularity since MTV held their Video Music Awards there, this past summer. Many celebrities are also coming to the Barclays Center, especially since rapper Jay-Z owns shares. West of the neighborhood is Brooklyn High School of the Arts, whish is the first academic arts school in Brooklyn. It would be interesting to see if the Barclays Center has given back to the schools in the neighborhood.
Many newcomers are flocking to this area to live. It is becoming crowded and more diverse. Younger people are moving into the area blending the well established with up comers. New condos and lofts are being built in order to house people who are willing to pay top-dollar to live here. Prices are also going up in the area. According to the recent census houses are going for 1.6 million. There are many small business owners, food truck drivers, and long time residents I can profile.
On Atlantic Avenue there are also small businesses, restaurants, and churches. I commute to Atlantic Terminal train station each morning, which has a whopping nine subway lines, and not to mention the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). There is also is the Atlantic Terminal Mall, which has many businesses like Target, Buffalo Wild Wings, Cold Stone Creamery, and they are even building a Uniqlo! As if the area was not already crowded, with the new arena traffic has gone from bad to worse. There are constant traffic jams, and it is a hassle to get around. Prospect Heights is a neighborhood that is flushing with new thing continuing to take place. There is a lot going on, with even more to discover.