This quickie post comes from BSB reader Kenny:
I'm writing to make a plea for a business here in Bed Stuy that's having a tough time either because of location or recession...I did a post about Lit Fuse Cyclery last month, but times were good then. Inexplicably, their business has slowed down considerably - which it shouldn't have considering bike shops usually do well in the summer. From the Lit Fuse blog, "business has slowed down and we are kinda hoping people will tell friends so we can pick up the slack and eat a little."
I ride a bicycle...I think bicycles are the most efficient means of transportation in the city...And bike shops should be our hero's. All too often we walk into bike shops and are met with cocky owners and mechanics who once realize you're not REALLY going to spend any money ignore you or give you some lip. I take pride in my purchasing power as should everyone when penny pinching becomes the standard...anyway...Lit Fuse Cyclery is located on Willoughby and Walworth right across from the Home Depot...409 Willoughby 347-442-1672 The owners there are the most down to earth guys I've ever met...It's the only shop that has couches everywhere to just hang out...and they can fix any bike you can possibly get your hands on...not to mention if you hang out while they fix your bike they'll most times coach you on proper bicycle repair and SHOW you what's right and wrong...that may seem counterproductive on their part but these guys aren't in it for the money...they are all about self sustaining and believe in empowering everyone to fix their own rides they've invested money in...like I said...they actually care...
Bike shops come and go....and these guys don't deserve to go. If you ride a bike you should stop in yourself.
The services are cheap...product installations are almost free...and they have all the cool stuff you need...fenders, baskets, accessories, etc.
Also if you like the old school feeling when walking into a business this is the place to go...with floors covered in beat up oriental rugs...exposed brick walls all around...and an open atmosphere with no "back rooms" for employees to conspire against you when making a purchase...its an honest open atmosphere...
So if you could give a mention or just stop in to see it for yourself...It would be greatly appreciated.
I don't work there...I just believe in supporting the business's that deserve our hard earned cash.
"eat a little???" Oi. That's not good. And them with a new baby and all. Besides, just check out that glowing recommendation. So come on Bed-Stuy cyclists - I know you're out there - I see you ride by on the bike lane outside our house - droves of you. Need a new bike? A tune-up? Maybe a new a bike helmet. Support our only northern Bed-Stuy bike shop before it's too late.
So near the end of last year I got an email requesting that I review the dvd, "Graffiti Verite 7." The latest in documentary filmmaker, Bob Bryan's series which began with looking at the world of graffiti and then on "Graffiti Verite 6," switched over to the world of spoken word poetry. Personally, I'm more interested in graffiti than spoken word, but as the filmmaker comes from Bed-Stuy I agreed to give it a look. Only I tried to watch it with my four year old son who quickly lost interest as there were no cartoon characters, superheroes or action, and then never got a chance to finish watching it. And quite truthfully I wasn't all that motivated to stick it back into my dvd drive. And not having completed watching the film, nor being all that excited about it, I felt it was wrong to even attempt to review it. But I admired the sentiment behind the filmmaking - despite my feelings about the quality of the filmmaking. And besides, as his PR person pointed out, my not so positive view of the film was in the minority, as several people had given it glowing reviews.
A welcome alternative to the coin operated rides on Broadway, and which Little Joe enjoyed just as much, despite the lack of music and paint.
Perhaps in need of a major overhaul, but for esthetics, give me an old fashioned carriage anyday over a luxury Bugaboo. It even comes with its own diaper bag.
I thought I'd have time to catch up on my blogging this weekend but after laundry, our monthly house cleaning day, cutting my son's hair and my own, the weekend was gone. It was also time for Little Joe and I to recover from our first full week away from each other. Me at my 9-5 job and him at a local preschool/daycare from 8-6. It was exhausting for us both. And we missed each other a lot. So much so that our homeopath thinks that the reason Little Joe has not been able to fall asleep until 10:30pm instead of his usual 8:30pm these past couple of weeks, is to spend extra time with me.
The Brooklyn Steppers at a rally for car-free Prospect Park.
Not long after we moved to this neighbourhood, someone deliberately knocked down the young saplings in front of our local playground with their car. While the plots for trees on the inside of the playground were never filled. The cement animals were beheaded and maimed, tarred and mutilated. After several run-ins with groups of angry pre-teens while playing there with my son, we gave it a wide berth. And we called it "The Trash Playground," for good reason. Nearly four years later, the trees are back. The trash cans are empty, and while the animals are still without heads and limbs, the tar has been cleaned off. Things are looking up.
Big Joe suggested I hide this person's identity as we have no idea who posted this flyer and whether these claims against this person are true or simply slander. One thing we do know, the posterer doesn't know how to spell 'immigrant,' and is very, very angry.
A free safe walk/ride home, what more could you ask for? From their website:
With all the 'lost dog' notices lately, it's heartening when someone actually finds one of them. Here's an email I got today:
I received an email today from 
