Williamsburg is Dead

The Hell Train

Fuck the L train! So, I leave work yesterday (from Chelsea) and hop on the L train at like 6:20pm. Everything is going fine until we pass 1st Ave and enter the tunnel under the East River. All of a sudden we stop completely. No problem, I figure, probably just a stalled train in front of us. Turns out our train has had some kind of major malfunction and we are stuck there for an indeterminate amount of time.

I sit there patiently at first. Everyone is calm except for a 40-something man who is talking loudly about how he is so much older than everyone else on the train, which is true. He also keeps on singing "Jessie's Girl" over and over again as loud as he can, despite not knowing all of the words.

Losing the Edge

The new Edge development is negotiating with Apple and Barney's Co-op to try and put stores on Kent Avenue and there has been endless buzz about the first Apple store to be opened outside of Manhattan.  I get that the new, huge high rise will be on "the edge" of Brooklyn...clever.  But does anyone else find the name of this commercial and residential behemoth that wants to price the cutting edge out of this neighborhood a little ironic?

Billyburg Gig Calendar, Dec 3-9

Who is playing around Williamsburg/Greenpoint/Bushwick this week? Find out by reading ... this post. Convenient, yes?

Mon 12/03 9:30 PM Dreamboat, Tippi Canoe Pete's Candy Store 21+ free

Tue 12/04 7:30 PM Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Kristeen Young, Love or Perish Music Hall of Williamsburg 18+ $20

Wed 12/05 8:00 PM Night Kills the Day Europa 18+ $8

Wed 12/058:00 PM Karl Blau, Paleo Sound Fix Records All Ages tba

Thu 12/06 9:00 PM EL-P, Flying Lotus, Home Video Studio B 21+ free

Fri 12/07 7:00 PM Pale Nimbus, The Child Ballads, Int'l Shades, Dutchess, Legends Luna Lounge 21+ $8

Fri 12/07 8:00 PM Le Rug, Michael Jordan, Fiasco, Totally Dad, Slasher Risk, Donkey Flamingo, Dinowalrus Silent Barn All Ages $5

Fri 12/07 8:00 PM Michael Leviton, Josh Mease Sound Fix Records All Ages free

Fri 12/07 8:00 PM Deer Tick, Nat Baldwin, Sam Buck Rosen, Barghest Union Pool 21+ tba

Sat 12/08 8:00 PM The Fiery Furnaces, MGMT, Michael Goodman and The Mike Music Hall of Williamsburg 18+ $16a/$18d

Sat 12/08 10:00 PM Tiefschwarz, JDH & Dave P Studio B 18+ $10a/$12d

Sat 12/087:30 PM Murphy's Law, Animale, Tombstone Brawlers, Ray Gradys, World War IX, Lesser Evils Trash Bar 21+ $10

Sat 12/08 8:00 PM Love as Laughter, Pure Horsehair, Puddin Tang Union Pool 21+ tba

Sun 12/09 8:00 PM Zero Spanish, The Exeter Popes Europa 18+ $8

On Dying Neighborhoods

Depending on how long you've lived here, the number of times you've had the following experience might vary: Walking along a familiar street, a block you walk a few times a week even, something jars you. The distribution of storefronts, pedestrians, and apartment stoops is just off. Maybe you stop, investigate. And then, there it is. Some new restaurant or store or bar where literally, you swear to yourself, there was nothing there three fucking days ago. Maybe you curse aloud, quietly, (really just barely a whisper, under my breath) if you're like me, or maybe you symbolize your internal discontent with an exaggerated head shaking. Or you just frown briefly. And why? What did this plasma-screen laden sports bar ever do to you? Or that desperately-wanting-to-be trendy "club" that should make its way back to Soho where it belongs? Or that second dessert shop to open in a month? Which offenses, exactly, are they guilty of? I'll tell you.