BROOKLYN CELEBRATE SUMMER WITH:
MAKE MUSIC, IKEA AND MACON STREET LIBRARY

By Keith L. Forest

On Saturday, June 21, 2008, the sound of New York City was amplified throughout the five boroughs as New Yorkers ushered in summer with a highlighted sound track courtesy of the annual Make Music New York festival. During the one day mega event public space citywide became vibrant musical stages featuring live performances from every musical genre imaginable.

In honor of this festive occasion the borough of Kings joined in on the celebration with 52 concerts taking place in 19 neighborhoods including Williamsburg, Bushwick, Fort Greene and Bedford Stuyvesant. In the Bedford Stuyvesant local merchants along the Lewis and Tompkins Avenues commercial corridors joined in on the fun with a variety of performances throughout the day. Participating shops included Bread Stuy; The Bush Doctor; Common Ground A Neighborhood Coffee House; Denim Lounge; Food 4 Thought; and Solomon’s Porch Cafés. Public venues included Von King Park; MS 5 School Yard; and Robert Fulton Park. For additional information and performance schedules visit on line at http://www.mmny.org/.

Other events that took place in Brooklyn included the grand opening of the Brooklyn Ikea which let loose its doors on Wednesday, June 18. Local elected and city appointed officials borough wide came out to celebrate and join in on the “log” cutting ceremony, the Swedish equivalent to a ribbon cutting. In honor of the celebration, the big box home furnishing giant gave away couches to the first 35 customers and plenty of perks and gifts to the thousand of attending shoppers. The Brooklyn Ikea located in the gentrified Red Hook Section of Brooklyn, features a full service 450 seat cafeteria that includes a panoramic view of the Statue of Liberty is currently offering free shuttle bus and water taxi service. The new super center is expected to bring over 500 jobs into the community. For additional information, visit on line at http://info.ikea-usa.com/Brooklyn/.

On Thursday, June 19, The Macon branch library re-opened its doors after undergoing a $2 million facelift. The two story building, which is located at 361 Lewis Avenue in the historic Stuyvesant Heights section of Bedford Stuyvesant, originally opened July 15, 1907. Since then it has undergone three renovations including a four year modern transformation in 1973 – 1977 which included the addition of an auditorium. The latest upgrade includes a new African Heritage Center which will focus on local history; infant and children accommodations and complete interior makeover which includes refurbished wood work, new lighting and fixtures. Artists from the Fulton Arts Fair, Inc, which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, provided the lavish and inspirational artwork housed in the newly furbished facility.

Keith L. Forest is a freelance publicist, writer and proud Bedford-Stuyvesant home owner who lives and works in the beloved community. His current blog space mybedstuy.blogspot.com seeks to celebrate the people and places that make up this great community while addressing issues such as gentrification, predatory lending and other ill norms that seek to exploit, discredit and harm the area and its people.