BARCLAY'S

Being born, raised and having worked in Brooklyn  I cannot believe all of the positive changes that have happened! I remember when our teachers wouldn't let us go on class trips to Mc Carren Park in Greenpoint because, they were afraid kids would get injected from dirty hypodermic needles hiding in the grass. Williamsburg/Greenpoint was actually considered one of the safer neighborhoods in Brooklyn at the time.  Now, what was once the hood...Jay Street, Atlantic Avenue, Court Street, etc.  looks about as dangerous as TriBeCa.

Last Friday (September 28, 2012) JAY Z did his first performance at, the highly anticipated opening of the Barclay's Center.  After what Jay Z stated was 8 years in the making,  the Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn born stadium has finally opened to the public.  And no other than Jay Z...Brooklyn's most enamored admirer, has committed to doing 8 shows.  Well luckily my boyfriend and I were able to get tickets to last Saturday's show.  The arena is beautiful with colored lasers pointing out of the stadium and into the sky.  Even though I am not a sports fan I would love to go back there to see the Brooklyn Nets play in their new casa.

The real Sean Carter not only entertained the crowd with his older hits like "La, La, La" but, also recent ones like "Run This Town" "Empire State of Mind," and one of my favorites "Onto the Next One." Check out the clip from my experience below.

My Lovely Morning Horror Ride!

What the hell is going on with the L train in Williamsburg Brooklyn?!

Being one of the few people left who was actually BORN and RAISED in Williamsburg.. I do not fall into the category as just another hipster living in Brooklyn ready to claim the borough as my "home sweet home" because, Williamsburg, is actually a big piece of my personality and more than just a home to me.

Since I have been living here for 22 years now, I have seen a LOT of new changes in the neighborhood. Especially, in just the past couple of years. Some good, some bad, but the biggest change is my morning commute to Manhattan. Normally, a ride to downtown Manhattan takes me ehh.... about 20 minutes... to midtown manhattan? about 35 minutes. Sounds great, right?! Well not lately!

Every morning, when I have to catch the L train to get to my job at 30 Rockefeller plaza I am joined by a crowded platform of aggravated commuters. It's such a great way to start my morning :-\

My normal 35 minute commute to get from Williamsburg Brooklyn to 50th street Rockfeller Plaza has just jumped from the usual 35 minutes to AN HOUR AND A HALF.

Wake up at 6:30? CHECK! Be on the platform by 7:30 CHECK! Finally get into a train that has enough room (just the size of a Manhattan kitchen cabinet)for me to squeeze my 5'3 body into...at 8AM CHECK! Since when does it take half-an-hour just to wait for a train in New York?! So, I decided to do some research... New York Magazine has covered a few stories on the L train and the crowded commute is nothing new to them, and according to The New York Times, ridership has increased drastically because of a sudden BOOM in population. According to the paper, population has increased by 20 percent since 2000, which doubles this this city's average.

Well, isn't that nice to have an explanation. But now, what the hell is going to be done about it?! Today, the city is deciding what they are going to do about traffic, and if this new toll fare takes place, Bloomberg has promised to transfer this new source of revenue into the MTA pool, thinking it will be conducive to commuters. If this takes effect, do you really think it will make an impact?

Call me unfriendly but honestly I'm tired of becoming 'extremely close' with fellow neighbors at 7:30 in the morning. I don't necessarily need to know you already had your daily coffee by smelling it on your breath... maybe some other time though, Thanks!