Summer Streets Coming to Vanderbilt, Bedford Aves

Like Montague Street last summer, Vanderbilt Avenue will be closed off to car traffic for a few days this year. Every Sunday next month, the avenue will be "transformed into a temporary pedestrian plaza" from Dean Street to Park Place. Summer Streets on Vanderbilt is being organized by the Vanderbilt Avenue Merchants District and the Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council, who say it's "designed to encourage the community to come together to shop, stroll and socialize. There will be music, art and gardening, face painting, sun and trees, eating and relaxing, biking and performances, people watching - and whatever else you might like to do. Plus a few surprises." Meanwhile, summer streets will also be returning to a stretch of Bedford Avenue in Williamsburg this year every Saturday from June 6th to July 11th. The avenue went car-free last summer, too, and this year its organizers say that "area non-profits and businesses will be organizing events and activities."
Summer Streets on Vanderbilt Avenue [StreetsBlog]
Williamsburg Walks [Billburg]
Photo of Vanderbilt Ave by brandonzwa.

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quote:

"shop, stroll and socialize"

barf.

and fyi, im not pro -driving. i dont even HAVE a drivers license.

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at May 28, 2009 9:50 AM

rob, you are a dark, dark, soul.

Posted by: randolph at May 28, 2009 9:53 AM

randolph, from what I know of rob and from having met him, I think I'd rather socialize with him any day of the week before you.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at May 28, 2009 9:55 AM

randi has a crush on me. he seems to make a comment all the time about me in various threads. did we ever figure out which side of the gender fence he straddles!?

and im not dark on this issue. fine it's cool for what it is, but there is something so cheesy about a bunch of people lounging out on the bleating hot sidewalk in times square that irks me. and then this irks me. but everything irks me, but it doesnt mean im dark. im just old and bitter :)

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at May 28, 2009 10:01 AM

FWIW I am pro-driving, up to a point, but still think this is a great idea.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at May 28, 2009 10:19 AM

dibs, you obviously know nothing about me. not even my gender. maybe i'll show up at rope and set the record "straight".

Posted by: randolph at May 28, 2009 10:22 AM

Thanks for the warning. I'll drive a different way when I drop the dog off at my brother's place.

Posted by: East New York at May 28, 2009 10:27 AM

randolph...why is it that you tell us you are a man yet your profile continues to say "Female?" Apparently it is you who are confused about your gender. Think about it.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at May 28, 2009 10:32 AM

rob - i can understand why times square is a little silly, but what irks you about this? seriously, enlighten us.

i am glad the merchants and the phndc are doing something together. i love vanderbilt, and i hope the community supports it - one reason is that i would like to see the merchants, as a group, understand that when things are nice, people come. there are some shops on vandy that are really good about keeping their storefronts, sidewalks, and tree pits clean, but there are others that don't seem to get that when it looks gross out front, people are less inclined to go inside.

Posted by: i disagree at May 28, 2009 11:02 AM

rob - seriously - bring the dogs, buy a coffee, make fun of the strollers and enjoy some fresh air...such an angry response.

Posted by: 7182713 at May 28, 2009 12:07 PM

well i did just read some of the responses to the time square thingie and apparently the naked cowboy has quadrupled his income cuz of this and hot dog vendors are making a ton ahhahah.

maybe the thing is that i just dont like looking at people lounging around outside. i prefer people moving, FAST to and from destinations. not just standing and sitting there. hard to explain. but i shall give it a chance hahah

*rob*

Posted by: PitbullNYC at May 28, 2009 12:29 PM

i'm all for anything that makes tooling around in a car more of a pain in the ass in this town, i don't really think it matters if more pedestrians show up. however i will point out that down in the financial district they keep a bunch of street closed to car traffic during the day and it is fairly conducive to attracting foot traffic.

Posted by: Jimmy Legs at May 28, 2009 1:29 PM

Rob - I guess that explains why it ook you so long to finally get to Prospect Park, which is full of people chillaxing.

Posted by: bkre at May 28, 2009 1:38 PM

rob, if you're really moving that FAST to and from destinations, you wouldn't even notice people lounging around outside.

Posted by: i disagree at May 28, 2009 2:14 PM

Vanderbilt gets a lot more traffic than Montague Street does - I'll be interested to see what this does to Flatbush and Washington. Although to be fair, summer Sundays are probably the only time it could work.

Posted by: phbalanced at May 28, 2009 6:17 PM

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May 28, 2009

Summer Streets Coming to Vanderbilt, Bedford Aves

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