40 Things to Do in Bushwick This Spring
Spring springs on Bushwick Avenue’s mansion mile — stroll this strip and side streets for some of the neighborhood’s most amazing architecture. — Photo by Diego Cupolo
BushwickBK Culture maven Anna D’Agrosa teamed up with local architect and artist Daniel Romero to think up forty fun, tasty, interesting, and beautiful things to do in Bushwick this spring. Our parks, restaurants, cafes, bars, streets — even our cemeteries! — are full of great stuff, from events and adventures to picnics and lazy strolls. No matter your age or interests, our neighborhood has something for everyone — you’re lucky to live here, now go enjoy it!
1) Walk the ‘bocker. Nothing says "spring is here" like the increase in foot traffic on Knickerbocker Avenue. You’re probably just getting around to your spring cleaning and realized you’re missing a few household items for your apartment. Walk Knickerbocker and you’re sure to find a good deal on anything you could possibly need, from mops to Mistolín.
2) Fire up the grill. It’s a gorgeous day so have some friends over for an impromptu rooftop or fire escape barbecue. Don’t have any outdoor space? Call up someone who does and sell him or her on the idea. Remember that summer you worked as a telemarketer? Put that experience to good use.
3) Don’t drop the kids off at the pool just yet. Take them to the Bushwick Public Library instead where events for children include arts and crafts, live reptiles, and a magic show. Check their calendar for details.
4) Toss your balls in the air. There’s a sport for everyone at Maria Hernandez Park and Gilbert Ramirez Park on McKibbin. Head over there and join in a basketball, volleyball, or handball game anytime of the day. Afraid of being picked last? Get your own team going. Or, go solo and show the neigborhood your sweet hacky sack skills.
5) Ride your bike over to the Ridgewood Reservoir in Highland Park. This is a great opportunity to explore "Greater Bushwick" as well as the 50-acre natural oasis located on the Brooklyn/Queens border. BONUS: If you are of a sullen disposition, there are several cemeteries that border the reservoir. Pack a bouquet of gladioli, The Smiths’ "The Queen is Dead," and some Oscar Wilde.
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6) Get featured on Bushwick Chic. Do your best to get noticed with some new spring fashion. Head over to Urban Jungle Vintage on Knickerbocker between Flushing and Thames and get a whole new spring wardrobe. There is also a "shoe heaven" downstairs at the thrift store on the corner of Flushing and Knickerbocker — like a million pairs of shoes. Seriously.
7) Dance Dance Dance! And drink. Now that the back room at Tandem is a bit warmer, go show off your best moves. You didn’t spend all winter perfecting your Milli Vanilli routine for nothing. Dancing not your thing? Grab a spot at the bar and have Terry artfully prepare you a "Beatnik." It’s Tandem’s new cocktail for spring made from beet infused vodka, apple juice, lemon, and ginger. Refreshing!
8) Drink more. After your daily siesta, have a delicious glass of white wine or a Calimocho at our newest neighborhood joint, The Bodega Wine Bar. A Calimocho is a drink native to España consisting of 50% red wine and 50% cola. Top it off with some tapas and you’re ready to take on the rest of the evening.
9) Keep drinking. Put down that Hot Toddy. It’s time for an ice-cold PBR and a show at Goodbye Blue Monday. Albert, the back patio’s resident pigeon, is ready to mingle.
10) Coffee with Bobby Fischer. Make it out to Bushwick Chess at Little Skips on Willoughby and Myrtle Aves. and get your game on every Wednesday from 5-7 pm. Their Counter Culture coffee is the best in the hood.
11) Go on an art walk. Start at Factory Fresh (after May 14) to see their upcoming ROA solo exhibition and chill out in their awesome back yard. Hit up Eastern District to see their upcoming show: A solo exhibition by Jason Horvath (opening May 12). You’ll need a snack, so grab a yummy Farmcart sandwich at The Archive. Continue on to English Kills. Their "Three Year Anniversary Group Show" is up through June 20. Wrap it up by checking out STOREFRONT gallery’s gorgeous show of Deborah Brown’s Bushwick Paintings up through May 16.
12) Clean out your art studio. The fourth annual Bushwick Open Studios produced by Arts in Bushwick will be held June 4-6, 2010. It’s time to do some spring cleaning and maybe paint some walls so you can hang up all the work you’ve produced over the winter. Artist registration opens in mid-April and runs through early May. Not an artist but still want to participate? Arts in Bushwick needs volunteers in many areas. Attend a planning meeting and see how you can help.
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13) Roll into spring. Pick up some rolls at Tomo on Flushing Ave. and Knickerbocker Ave. and head over to Maria Hernandez Park for a sunny afternoon picnic.
14) Work off your hibernation weight. You’ve been bulking up all winter to stay warm. Yeah. Now go work it off at the Ashtanga By Donation class at Green Fitness Studio on Varet St. (open to the public on Saturdays from 1-2:30 pm). If you’re a member, don’t miss the outdoor Pilates class on the roof deck. You could also stop by Ritchie’s Gym on Stanwix St. and inquire about training to become the next Mike Tyson… no biting, please. Get fit for the summer. It will be here before you know it.
15) Take a taco tour. Who doesn’t love tacos? Enlist some friends to join you at one of Bushwick’s many, many, many, many Mexican joints for a taco challenge. This is one culinary adventure that won’t break the bank. Tortillería Los Hermanos on Starr St. and Wyckoff Ave. has outdoor seating, so you can bask in the sun while recovering from your taco coma.
16) Get a degree in Urban Archaeology. Walk down Flushing Ave. to visit the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House in Ridgewood on the Brooklyn/Queens boarder. The Onderdonk House is the oldest Dutch Colonial stone house in New York City and serves as a museum for a permanent exhibit on the archaeology of the Onderdonk site as well as changing exhibits relating to history, the arts and culture.
17) Bones. Perfect your dominoes game and go play with the pros at Maria Hernandez Park. Or, put those dominoes to work on your next Rube Goldberg inspired piece. Use the kiddie playground!
18) Pretend you have your own show on HGTV. Redecorate your apartment with furniture and other treasures you discovered at Green Village Thrift Store and The Basement. Thinking a bit more "high-end"? Get your designer pieces at Brooklyn Vintage. Impress your next date with your awesome style!
19) Moving pictures. Celebrate 3rd Ward’s 4th anniversary and head out to May Moviehouse at 3rd Ward. Watch four artists visually interpret live music performances simultaneously on screen.
20) Fly like an eagle. Learn the ropes of aerial acrobatics by taking a class with The Sky Box at the House of Yes.
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21) "Put the Bush Back in Bushwick." Sign up to volunteer with Trees Not Trash and plant a tree. You’ve probably also noticed new trees popping up in the neighborhood courtesy of Million Trees NYC. These trees need the help of Bushwick’s residents to care for them. Become a tree steward and adopt a tree!
22) Spring chicken. If you can’t wait to grill up some of the best chicken in town, visit any of Buswhick’s viveros and personally select tonight’s main dish. If you’re a vegetarian, you might still check it out. At the very least it’s a good reminder why you don’t eat meat.
23) Tell your story. Finish that novel at Numu Arts Collective’s weekly Writer’s Group on Fridays.
24) One word – Roberta’s. If you haven’t been here yet then you need to move out of Bushwick…just sayin’. Have your pizza and michelada on the patio and then go back for the weekend brunch. Check out the Heritage Radio Station while you’re there as well. Aspiring urban farmers should tour the farm and take notes. And, starting Sunday nights in May, Roberta’s will be hosting "drive-in movies" in the back yard. So much to do and all spring to do it!
25) Music. We all know there are plenty of shows to see in and around the neighborhood. Check out the BBK Culture Calendar for upcoming shows. The Bushwick Starr Music Showcase Series continues on May 29th and features with Lewis & Clarke, Man Benu, Prudence Teacup, and Zachary Cale. Their roof is AWESOME and so is the bar. Let’s also hope Broadway Backyard comes back with shows again this year for some good outdoor fun. Stay tuned to the Bushwick Culture Weekly Picks and you won’t miss a beat.
26) So you think you can salsa? No, I’m not talking tomatoes. Let the pros at Salsa School on Troutman St. and Irving Ave. teach you a few steps to some Afro-Cuban beats. Salsa dance classes will cost you $15 and are held Monday – Wednesday from 8:00 – 9:30 pm (walk-ins welcome or call them at 718-866-5272) Your new moves will come in handy on that summer trip to Puerto Rico.
27) Make your own music. Sign up now for the 4th annual Make Music New York. Last year’s day-long festival featured many Bushwick outdoor venues. When the festival’s over, hit the street with your band for a guerrilla-style performance!
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28) WOOF! Dog can’t wait for the new run to be built at MHP to get some canine interaction? Befriend other Bushwick dog owners and start a doggy play group. Plan weekly play sessions at the park or on the rooftop of your new friend’s loft building. Your dog will love you for it and will be less likely to tear up your favorite slippers.
29) Stock up your fridge. Shop in a SERIOUS grocery store. Food Bazaar on Wyckoff is no joke and they have a really good fish section! Plan on it taking a while… the place is huge.
30) Bang on the drum all day. Celebrate the goddess and communicate with your inner spirit. The Lakshmi Holisitc Art Center at Castle Braid hosts Full Moon Drumming Rituals every full moon starting at 9pm. The next ritual is on May 27th. Don’t forget to wear white!
31) Taxes done! Now ditch your accountant for Famous Accountants. A new show featuring works by Myles Bennett and Ana Garces Kiley opens in May. Use your income tax refund to buy some art and support your local artists.
32) Sole to soul. Walk down to Hancock St. at the corner of Wilson Ave. and step right on in to the Stay Focused Cafe for some soul food. Bring the leftovers home for your roommate. With your bellies full of smothered fried chicken, you’ll be able to focus on whose turn it is to do the dishes.
33) Give your wheels some love. Get a spring tune-up or trade in your old bike for a new, sweet ride at the Bushwick Bike Shop.
34) Snow day. It’s the first sunny and warm days of the year and you’ve been waiting months for their return to the street corners of Bushwick. Whatever you want to call them — raspados, piraguas, or granizados — snow cones on Knickerbocker are a sure way to celebrate the return of spring and enjoy the coming summer months. Tamarindo, piña, coco, parcha — blue flavor — let it snow!
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35) Grow your own vegetables. Frost danger is over, so start planning your vegetable and herb garden. You’ll need some lumber for your raised planters. But, you don’t have to head over to Home Depot in Bed-Stuy — there’s no way you’re getting all those 2×4s on the B38 anyway. Get everything you need at the Oriental Lumber and hardware store on Flushing between Irving and Wyckoff Aves.
36) Or, buy your vegetables at the Bushwick Farmer’s Market. Don’t have the space to grow your own garden? The Bushwick Farmer’s Market at the Linden-Bushwick Community Garden has got you covered. The market opens on May 26th, followed by the Maria Hernandez Park market on Saturday, May 29th. Both are open from 10am-6pm through Thanksgiving. You can also sign up for the Bushwick Food Co-op’s summer CSA.
37) Head Northeast for the spring. Northeast Kingdom has a new chef, Kevin Adey, and their new spring menu is in effect. We’ve heard the grass-fed double cheeseburger with duck-fat tater tots is pure win. Pair it off with the Elderberry cocktail made with Hendrick’s gin and fresh mint. Pee Wee says, "Mmmmm, springy."
38) Perfect your sommelier skills. Big Tree Bottles on Bogart St. and Moore St. hosts tastings nearly every week. Don’t miss the New York Wine Tasting on May 6th at 6 pm. If you’re not a fan of the grape, there is also a Liquor Tasting on May 28st at 6 pm. Check their calendar for more details.
39) Oh yeah — drink. Holy drink specials, Batman! There is a different drink special every night at Gotham City Lounge on Central Ave. and Hart St. But, ask for "the special" any night of the week and you’ll get a PBR and a shot of well whiskey for $3. Budget-conscious drinkers take note. Step outside and hang out with Clark Kent or throw back a couple with Thor as the M train roars above.
40) And finally, walk Bushwick. The weather outside is perfect so take a walking tour of our inspiring neighborhood. We’ll keep you posted on upcoming walking tours by local historian Adam Schwartz. In the meantime, grab your camera and take yourself on a photojournalistic tour of Bushwick. It’s a great way to learn about the neighborhood and document your experience — we recommend a stroll down Bushwick Avenue’s mansion mile, roughly between Myrtle and Moffat, and a few side streets. When you’re done, show off by sharing your photos on the BushwickBK Flickr Pool.
Anna! What about community board meetings? Where’s the love for Nadine?
ack you’re so right.
i need to remember to hit up the aaron short story for dates…..
Whitted can jump in the creek along with her dog runs, census and illegal immigrant constituents for all I care.
Shes a nothing but a tweeder looking for votes. How about having DOB enforce its own codes and slap some of these slumlords with heavy fines before another building burns down Nadine ?
Personally I will be hitting the Starr Taco stand then off to NK for a couple a pops
-Nino
“Tweeder”?
“Tweeding” is a method of sewing, but that is not implied in New York City language.
“Tweeder” comes from William M. (”Boss”) Tweed. The symbol of a corrupt New York City government. He was an official and Democratic Party political boss (1823-1878).
The “Tweeded” (as in shabby) in 2010 are predominately your slobs, welfare brats and illegal immigrants looking for a safe place to land and drop anchor baby’s. Your typical freeloaders that live off hard working taxpayers sweat and wreck property values.
(Thats a short example)
If you ever had to wait on a line in a bodega that sells lottery tickets you get my drift. Tweeds usually don’t like to work, cat pay the rent but always have $$ for beer, Cigs, cellphones and lottery tickets.
-Nino
I’ll be doing lots of these things! Especially hitting Knickerbocker as I always do, lounging in the park with a piragua, growing herbs and vegetables…
I grow grow grapes, figs, herbs, tomatoes sweet Basel and vegetables.
Nothing like vine warm tomatos in the morning with some balsamic, sweet Basel and skim mozzarella.
The last 2 year’s was tuff. There were no honey bees. I believe due to all the pot plants all these mid west transplants n Mexicans put on the roofs and fire escapes.
The native bees cant find their way back to their hives.
I was featured on “Coast To Coast” live, 77 WABC talking to Art Bell and many agreed.
(Art and I are both ham radio operators BTW)
That’s rather unscientific. 1) Pot isn’t pollinated by bees; they have no reason to go near it. 2) There couldn’t possibly be enough pot plants in the area, even if bees could in theory get high from just being near the plants, to wack out a whole region of bees. 3) It’s a bit of a recent continent-wide (at least) problem that there are less bees, and unless you plan to blame pot for all of that, too, I’d reexamine your unfounded assumptions and come back with something that makes sense. Unfortunately, it might be something that doesn’t fit on the GOP platform.
The grapes in my neighbor’s yard are so intensely sweet and tart, it’s too bad they’re so high up we can hardly reach them. Man spring never comes too soon.
LOL! Nino, you are a goddamned kook. Is your act for real or just for our internet amusement?
Duh Stonato’s!
Bee’s aren’t after pollen, they’re out looking for nectar to bring back to the hive. Pollination is a by-product of this activity
Pot plants dont produce nectar but a young colony of bees will investigate the odor and go for a swipe of a pot plants resin’s just as fast they do Basel, and assorted herb plants in the Oregano family.
We have all seen dozens of bees on the buds of garden Basel.
The bee’s were getting stoned !!
–Not a joke.
As there is far more basil (Basel being a Swiss city) and oregano in local gardens, and Nino, who I assume is some sort of apiarist, says even these herbs can get bees “stoned,” I hereby blame Italian types for the lower populations of bees across the continent. Go back to Palermo ya dirty ocean-jumpers!
Anna and Daniel, thanks for a wonderful Summer Guide to Bushwick. I hope most readers will not be too distracted with the comments section but will concentrate on the great activities that you describe in the article. (By the way, in addition to the wonderful walking tours that I am sure Adam Schwartz will organize in the coming months, I will hopefully put one together that will explore the Bushwick-Ridgewood border – or borders. Hope I can pull it off.)
So to all – really enjoy Bushwick this Summer – and follow this guide!
Derogatory statements like that can get the Malocchio put on Jeremy.
I won’t do that (its a very bad) since I deem open dialogue free speech.
Leave it to a crapa jiornalista to twist words around and make bad jokes.
I simply said pot plants can get bee’s stoned.
Let me educate you.
The hives scout bee has a very sensitive internal clock, which lets bees keep track of how far they have flown. This internal clock also lets the bee determine of how much the sun moves during the journey.
THC screw’s this up more then anything.
1- The Scout bee cant get back to the hive.
2- The Scout bee cant perform the complex round dance by traveling in waggle, loops in alternating directions to convey the information to her sister “recruit” workers exactly where the food is in relation to the current position of the sun.
(and that would be the current position of the sun not the position of the sun when the food was found)
“Recruit” worker bees will not look or bring food back to the hive on there own without the scout bees command get it ?
Yes a couple pot plants on a roof can indeed kill whole colony’s of city bee’s
I speaking the truth.
Nino
This is a post about fun things to do in the spring – when are you all going to realize the best way to deal with dumb comments is to ignore them?
so sick of hearing about bees disappearing because of pot plants, how come this comes up in every topic. Go post it on the forum.
YAY for summer, we are all so lucky to have so many awesome things to do. Can’t wait for those drive in movies :)
Okay, everyone is right — Nino, keep it relevant to the subject at hand or go rant about random idiocies on the forum. So that you can post about this on the forum without worrying about your fake-name trolling being outed — we know you’re “Joe from DeKalb” there. There, it’s done, now knock yourself out. There will be no more about this in article threads, unless the article is about bees and pot.
hear hear, jeremy
Wrong again, Jeromy (or should I say Hitler)I think your talking about Joe my Nephew here at the shop who’s Las Vegas with the band
Your compleatly out of your mind Jeremy get yourself some help. I simply responded to your dumb reply that was loaded with false information.
Get some help.
Your beef isnt about bees, its about Joe not renting you and your boyfriend that apartment.
Bye Bye