End of the Fresh, Local Veggie Season

Today is a sad day. It’s my last chance to pick up my box full of vegetables from the Sunnyside CSA (community supported agriculture) program. Every week since June, we’ve gotten a delivery of fresh produce right to the neighborhood from Golden Earthworm Organic Farm on Long Island.
I joined because I wanted to support the [...]

Good in the Hood: Williamsburg, Brooklyn

The neighborhood of Williamsburg resides on the east bank of the East River in north Brooklyn. It’s connected to Manhattan by the L, J, M and (soon to be defunct) Z subway lines as well as the over-100-year-old Williamsburg Bridge. Around the time the bridge was built, the neighborhood was an industrial center pocketed [...]

News Roundup: LGBT Tourism, Racism in Restaurants, etc.

News from the past week:

Stonewall Anniversary as Gay Tourism Event (City Room)
Stim Funds to Kickstart South Bronx Greenway (Streetsblog)
Ask About Community Gardens in New York (City Room)
Racism’s Stinking Up New York City’s Restaurants (RaceWire)
Visual Aids for the Pushcart World (New York Times)
Get Fresh: Community Supported Agriculture Strikes a Chord with Queens Residents (The Q Note)
Carol [...]

Good in the Hood: Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Conveniently located near a dozen subway lines, Fort Greene is just northwest of Prospect Park, and neighbors Clinton Hill, Boerum Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, Bed-Stuy, and Prospect Heights. The New York Times recently referred to Ft. Greene as a “culinary mecca” and “bastion of African-American pride and culture.” The neighborhood stands out for its racial and [...]

Good in the Hood: Sunnyside, Queens

We’re bringing back the “Good in the Hood” series, in which we explore each of the city’s unique neighborhoods, highlighting events and organizations that keep our communities healthy and happy. (See our previous posts about Bushwick and Jackson Heights.) If we’re writing about your area, feel free to share more events and listings with a [...]

Staying in Business, Cooperatively

During this economic recession, I keep having to remind myself that beyond all the big chain stores with their mega-sales and store closings, the small, local businesses go even more unnoticed. Nowadays, buying something at a mom-and-pop shop in the neighborhood feels like a good deed. (And I’m certainly doing my part to keep the [...]