John Tenezaca

ENG 1101

Project 4

                                                                Take Me to the East River: Bargemusic

                Down by the East River, next to the Brooklyn Bridge, lies the home of Brooklyn’s very own chamber music venue: Bargemusic. Brooklyn has known to be the home of bands of more modern music and some of the common genres you would find in a warehouse studio would be indie, pop, electronica and maybe rock. But have you ever heard a group of musicians play pieces from Bach, Mozart, Hayden or Beethoven? Chances are you have but most probably in some giant hall like Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center. What makes Bargemusic quite unique from all the rest, is that this venue floats on the water. The whole idea seemed a bit peculiar but founder Olga Bloom thought otherwise. Although the initial start was quite a task, Bargemusic is now known as a culture icon of Brooklyn.

                According to an article in the New York Times published in 1999, Ms. Bloomed stated herself that starting Bargemusic was a “formidable undertaking”. She was an amateur violinist who would offer violin classes. She soon realized that her violin career was not going to take off so she decided to work on an idea that would give back to her community. Eventually the idea of a “floating concert hall” came to mind.  She had own two barges before settling down with the current one. The definition of barge,according to Merriam-Webster, is “a roomy usually flat-bottomed boat used chiefly for the transport of goods on inland waterways and usually propelled by towing”. The first one was massive but later learned that it was uninsurable because it was made out of wood. This meant that holding concerts in it was prohibited. She had purchased the second barge back in the early 1970s for $10,000 and unlike the first one, this one had a steel hull. From an interview done by WNYC in 2009, she states that when she first saw this barge, she knew it had perfect acoustics on the inside.  Now, the sound quality really depends on the acoustics of the environment. Wood is known to carry sound much better than steel. Knowing this, Ms. Bloom started renovating the inside of this barge with cherry wood she found from a discarded ferry nearby. With the help of her family, she was able to fully refurbish the barge and turn it from an old dingy barge to a well-crafted musical environment. In a WQXR blog post, published in 2011, Olga Bloom also recounted the early days of Bargemusic. She first had put on shows with very little budget and most of the performers were students from music conservatories. She would raise money by renting out the barge for weddings and other parties of that matter through private donation. As the budget grew, she was able to put on shows with more professional musicians. In time, Bargemusic began gaining attention and soon became a popular venue to enjoy classical music.

                Anthony Tommasini from the New York Times stated that Bargemusic is “place where music lovers can experience the intimacy of chamber music as it was in the days of Mozart and Mendelssohn and as it should still be today”. According to Roger Kamien’s Music: An Appreciation, “Chamber music is classical music designed for the intimate setting of a room, rather than for a public concert hall” (176). Bargemusic offers concerts year-round that ranges from jazz quartets to string quartets. The programs are usually a mix of different composers from the ages and they include but are not limited to Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Hayden, Vivaldi and more. Ms. Bloom’s mission was to “to create at least one small place where people can come together, audiences and musicians, and realize that they have shared values” (New York Times, 1999). She believes that in this day and age music is losing its luster. The modern day technology is making music more profitable than enjoyable. Thus, people don’t appreciate the hard word that goes it genuinely crafted music. Mark Peskanov, who is the president and artistic director of Bargemusic, recalls the warm hospitality that he got from Olga Bloom when he first preformed there. According to Peskanov, in a 2010 interview on BlogCritics.com, Ms. Bloom welcomed him with her unique and charismatic personality. “It was an intimate arrangement; people were sitting close to the performers. One could feel the dedication to the music in the space, and that gave it a special atmosphere” (BlogCritics.com, 2009). Since then, Mr. Peskanov and Ms. Bloom have grown to appreciate each other’s passions and later, Ms. Bloom appointed him Mr. Peskanov as president and artistic director of Bargemusic. Peskanov works closely with in the artists that perform there and stated in the interview: “Our artists are of a certain level, and we do want to make them happy. It is the personal approach that is really special. I work closely with the artists, and often perform together with them.”( BlogCritics.com, 2009). Because of the great hospitality the performers receive at Bargemusic, many of them are proud to play again and this how Bargemusic spread and became a mecca of chamber music.

                Bargemusic’s past may have seemed doubtful but now it’s become a prosperous concert venue. From Olga Blooms challenges on renovating an old steel barge and owning one of today’s most popular attraction for chamber music, these two stories have certain similarities and differences. In the first account, it was only Ms. Bloom’s goal and mindset to build a floating concert hall. That idea seemed too farfetched this there already were famous concert halls in the city. It was her passion for music that drove her to pursue her dream of building Bargemusic. It was only Ms. Bloom who thought of such an idea. There was no one else who seemed to share her dream. Later on, once Bargemusic started operating, people took interest in her work. Now, Mark Peskanov shares her passion for Bargemusic as she once did before. Ms. Bloom had to build Bargemusic by herself but now she has a whole team that works with her to expand notion of Bargemusic. Mr. Peskanov and the rest of his team are carrying the torch that Ms. Bloom lit with her passion.

                Olga Bloom passed away at the age of 92 back on Thanksgiving Day of 2011. Her legacy and spirit stayed in Bargemusic and it still continues to attract more listeners every week. She was an innovator and giver. She wanted to give back to music because she felt it was the only right thing to do. Bargemusic receives most of its donation from very generous people and some philanthropist. It goes to show that being passionate about your dreams could end up having great a great influences on others.   

Works Cited

“Barge.” Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barge>.

Garland, Anne. “About Bargemusic.” Bargemusic. Bargemusic, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://www.bargemusic.org/about.html>.

Kamien, Roger. “The Classical Period.” Music: An Appreciation. 5th brief ed., student ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2006. 176. Print.

Oltuski, Ilona. “Meeting Mark Peskanov of Bargemusic.” Blogcritics. Blog Critics, 11 Oct. 2010. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://blogcritics.org/meeting-mark-peskanov-of-bargemusic/>.

Sound Check. Schaefer, John. WNYC Radio. 2 Apr. 2009. Radio.

Tommasini, Anthony. “Chamber Music as It Was.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 June 1999. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/25/movies/chamber-music-as-it-was.html?src=pm>.

Wise, Brian. “Olga Bloom, Founder of Bargemusic, Dies at 92 – WQXR.” WQXR Blog. WQXR, 25 Nov. 2011. Web. 27 Nov. 2013. &lt;http://www.wqxr.org/story/172485-olga-bloom-founder-bargemusic-dies-92/&gt;.

Ryan Yip

Professor Rosen

English 1101

November 2013

Metrotech center has been a staple in my everyday life. For three months now, I have been walking through here to get to my classes at New York City College of Technology (NYCCT). Overtime I have seen many things during my trips to and from Metrotech Center. Originally, this was a place built as a non-profit improvement district and has grown to me a commercial and academic hub. I have seen a number of events and interesting sights that have peaked my interest during my time there. I traveled with one of my friends to the area when we first set off to register for our first classes at NYCCT. I asked him tell me about his experience with Metrotech Center. Unfortunately, he only passes through Metrotech Center on occasion, meaning he does not see Metrotech Center on a daily basis. Nevertheless, his input on the topic was still good and well.

Metrotech Center has been a real help to me over the three months that I have attended classes at NYCCT. Originally Metrotech Center was just a road on my way to NYCCT, but now it has helped me by other means. Now I buy lunch here and I can find a number of train stations nearby. Passing by Metrotech Center has become a staple on my route to and from NYCCT. I would usually go to the Subways restaurant nearby to eat as my lunch. My friend is unlike me in the way that he does not go there to buy food or anything of the sort. When I talked to him about the food I get in the area, he was surprised at the obscene time and money I spent at the aforementioned Subways restaurant. We had a short walk to and from both our classes and the Dekalb Avenue train station. Coming and going through Metrotech Center has been very helpful to my friend and me during our first semester in college. Its location is one feature we both find beneficial.

The location is one of the best benefits about being in Metrotech Center. My commute to my classes in NYCCT requires that I use the Dekalb Avenue train station. The Metrotech Center commons has been the easiest and fastest way to get from the train station to NYCCT. The walkway is void of traffic so anyone can move from one end to the opposite with little to no obstacles. On your way to the opposite sides, you can see new and interesting things in the Metrotech Commons. Unfortunately, I am fairly impatient when it comes to waiting. My impatience also includes waiting for a traffic signal or a car to drive by so I can safely cross the street. The Metrotech Center commons is a straight and wide walkway for people to gget around on foot. I introduced my friend to Metrotech Center since we both used the Dekalb Avenue train station. He would use a different route than me, so the first time we went to NYCCT together was when I walked him through. He found at as helpful as I did. It was a place where someone can easily move on foot. While this is a great route to take, one of the most appealing things about Metrotech Center is the atmosphere it holds.

When someone passes by Metrotech Center they can see many wonderful things. There are a great number of trees, sculptures, and other decorations strewn about. During my two months of college I have seen many events and gatherings such as concerts, charity organizations and many other activities. During my third month, I noticed a pile of large rocks being moved in the Metrotech commons. There were some fairly large rocks that have been dyed several different colors being placed in some sort of formation. The next week, the aforementioned rocks were stacked on top of each other. They have a similar appearance as that of a face of a cliff or mountain. I asked my friend to describe his reaction to it and he stated he has not seen it yet. He said he would go see it the next day we met and we parted ways. When next we met, he thought it was for kids to play on by climbing the rocks. At that moment I pointed out that there was a no climbing sign on the ground. We agreed that we could not understand the artist’s intentions with these. The following weeks, I saw a rather large Christmas tree being placed in the center of the Metrotech commons. As the days go by, I begin to see workers putting lights and red bows on the tree. The street lights were wrapped with fake pine tree branches to compliment the occasion. Christmas decorations were being implemented well before Thanksgiving Day. In an environment with plenty of tall buildings and intense traffic, it was nice to see a more natural sight that is a giant Christmas tree. Everything about Metrotech center makes it feel like I can see the next day of the tireless grind of everyday life.

There are many different stories that different people tell about Metrotech Center. My friend told me about his experience, but it was nothing of real significance. He doesn’t take interest in the events or any other noticeable changes and he would usually take a different route to NYCCT. I however, pass through Metrotech Center and look around and see what is new and interesting. But there are some things that we share in common. We can find a number of conveniences in the area such as our next lunch. The location of Metrotech Center has made our commute to our classes easier. Even if we do not understand the sights and sounds of Metrotech Center we still see them as fascinating projects and events. Metrotech Center has been a great benefit to me and my friend. We both can go there for whatever reason we may have and see a number of interesting events while heading to and from NYCCT. They have become a prominent part of our New York.

http://downtownbrooklyn.com/about/metrotech-bid

http://www.forestcity.net/properties/mixed_use/property_listing/Pages/metrotech_center.aspx

The Brooklyn Bridge Park has been a historical park in New York City for many years it has attracted tourists from all over the world. What used to be old Piers, sold off have now turned into a site that people from all over would love to see. The termination of Old Fulton Street was the site of the original ferry that linked Brooklyn to Manhattan. In 1900, the New York Dock Company consolidated almost all of the waterfront property between Fulton Street and Erie Basin. At its peak, the New York Dock Co. owned or managed over 40 piers and approximately 150 stores and warehouses, making it the largest private freight terminal in the world. But in the 1950’s shipping in the area began a steady decline in use because of competition. By the late 1970’s Piers1-6 were warehouses and generating revenues for the Port Authority.

In Strategies for Enhancing Marine (and Human) Habitat at Brooklyn Bridge Park Matthew Urbanski and Rachel Gleeson state that “Brooklyn Bridge Park, which opened its first completed segment to the public in June 2010, is the first major park to be built in Brooklyn, New York, USA in over a century replacing derelict pier sheds and paved upland areas with new public access amenities and natural landscape elements, the park will bring new social life and ecological vitality to a waterfront that has long been dominated by commercial and industrial uses.”(72) The article explains two studies that were conducted in the 1900’s that focused on fish population in large piers on the lower Hudson River on marine habitat they were influential in placing public policy with respect to new construction structures that were over water in the studies fish counts were conducted to determine specific species distribution throughout a number of years. With the building of the piers they also wanted to make sure that the wildlife had room to spread as well. “In evaluating the potential of the environmental impact of the proposed park, the design team recognized the Brooklyn tidal shoreline ecology was an integrated system, where ecological enhancements in one particular are could produce a net benefit on surrounding habitat systems. This idea led to a plan to permanently remove large areas of existing overwater platforms, where strategically introducing new floating walkways connecting the outboard ends of piers that were designed to avoid the negative environmental impacts that had been observed under large piers.” (72)

Since then the Park has grown immensely located at 334 Furman Street with 85 acres of land and a 1.3-mile water front there are now there are 6 separate piers in which many travel everyday as you can see right now so many people here. The Park now features things such as sand volleyball courts, bicycle and running paths, a dog run, a boat launch where they give free kayaking lessons and a pool. These activities become really popular when the summer strikes, so remember when the weather gets warmer you can come here and enjoy it to the maximum. All provided with a spectacular view of the New York City skyline. The Park also provides over 400 free activities throughout the year ranging from performance arts and fitness classes to children’s education programs to performance arts and fitness classes. The park is a getaway from all of Downtown Brooklyn’s gray buildings with beautiful scenery and green hills, colorful playgrounds and now a pool. It is the perfect place to visit on a hot summer day with a picnic basket and bathing suit or a walk through during the fall or winter. It serves as a year round attraction for its people of Brooklyn and others who wish to visit.

As we can remember that on October 29,2012 hurricane Sandy struck the Northeastern United States also hitting Brooklyn Bridge Park In Update, Brooklyn Bridge Park  The author described the hurricanes attack on the park. “Winds toppled a few trees, but most survived, and the railings, benches, and posts were unscathed. But in exceeding the projected 100-year storm-water surge by nearly two feet, Sandy ruined most of the waterfront park’s electrical system.” The park did stand up to the Hurricane that caused absolute damage to neighborhoods, meaning that it was built very well. That was just one of the problems that the park had to endure, years before there was a debate on housing that was being planned by the park. In Debate Rages on Housing At Planned Brooklyn Park Sam Roberts asks the question “If 1,200 or so high-rise apartments, a hotel and other private buildings occupy about one-tenth of the land reserved for a park project, is it still a park?”  His article views both sides of the argument many didn’t want housing to go up because they didn’t feel like it would be a park anymore. Others felt that it gave the park a sense of life. Many believed it was going to be viewed as an industrial site instead of a city park. With the building of housing some believed that it would be a great addition and the project is now scheduled to begin during the fall of 2015.

Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great site to see whether it is during the day or at night, summer or winter this park has been a very positive addition to Brooklyn and its urban feel to it matches perfectly with its Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. The park is filled with much history and the process of making this breath taking landmark was not easy, but as you can see it was worth it.

Works cited

Bates, Sam. “Debate Rages on Housing At Planned Brooklyn Park.” The New York Times, 23rd July. 2006: Pg 26. Print.

Padilla, Dianna K. “Brooklyn Bridge Park: A Win-Win for the People of Brooklyn and the Environment.”Ecological Restoration, 30. 1 (2012): 78–78. Print.

Unknown. “Update, Brooklyn Bridge Park..” American Scholar 00030937, Vol.82. Issue 1 (2013): Print.

Urbanski, Matthew and Rachel Gleeson. “Strategies for Enhancing Marine (and Human) Habitat at Brooklyn Bridge Park.” Ecological Restoration, 30. 1 (2012): 71–75. Print.

Dumbo covers 2 sections, one located between the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, which connects Brooklyn to Manhattan across the East River and another that continues east from the Manhattan Bridge to the Vinegar Hil area. This  area has emerged as one of New York City’s premier arts districts, with a cluster of for-profit art galleries. There also was chocolate factory and ice cream factory opened as well and different cafe’s. These were the Brooklyn open public touring place where a lot of people will come and see these places and enjoy with their family and friends. The first public place in the neighborhood was Fulton Ferry, followed by Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park. Brooklyn Bridge Park it was launched in 2006.

I remember my first day going to the Dumbo place. It was almost 7 in the evening and my friend and I were really bored so decided to go and take a walk around their. We went their and I was shocked because it was just so beautiful and like the buildings and the street reminded me of the city. When we got to our main destination we saw the merry-go-around area and a park. A lot of people were their as well with their family and friends taking pictures and enjoying their family bonding time.

Back then the western portion of the neighborhood was known as Fulton landing that was back in the 1890’s. The cardboard box was invented in the Robert Gair building on Washington Street, which is now the home of the Etsy. The Dumbo historic district consists of properties bound by John Street to  the north, York Street to the south. Main Street to the west, and Bridge Street to the east. Dumbo, an acronym for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass is neighborhood in New York City borough of Brooklyn. Now recently this place has changed there are more open spaces. Like for example: the parks, the beaches, and one of the cites has mentioned that their are a lot shops, bookstores, wedding areas, banquet halls. and etc. In the past their was overgrown trees and rolling green lands. The specific interaction of the park were not looked upon carefully. Lots of magazine and reviewers were trying to have their way of selling the park as a a place for those looking around for something reclusive. In one of the magazine it was mentioned that this park is sort of like a getaway for professionals and families to come and enjoy this area. The Brooklyn Bridge Park had a few problems going on so they contacted Jane Walentas. She eagerly took the opportunity to donate money to the park so that it can be beautiful and be fixed in place. Now a carousel is their which is attracting all the tourists to the park. The kids are really enjoying the place. It’s a place to go especially during the summer time because of the nice breeze.

In one of the articles by New York Times, one of the residents said how their were deep wells along the side of the building. if people ever got in their they’re would’ve been no other way out. The holes has been covered and the edges are smooth now. Now train tracks are running in the old uneven streets in the Dumbo. Another person has said how its a beautiful place to live in. For example the environment, the people, the stores around the area, the scenery of the Brooklyn bridge itself.

Everyone has their own opinion about the Dumbo Park. Some don’t like it and some do like it. To gather up all the main details about the Dumbo place, there are good amount of restaurants, cafes and activity stores all connected together. The park itself is pretty big. When you enter the park you would see drastic changes. The interesting thing you will see is street cobblestones to beach cobblestones and rocks spanning the area with wooden park benches dotting the way. At the side you will see mini cute gardens,trees, and plant’s If you go a little deeper then you will see grass area where book lovers can lay down on grass and rest and enjoy the beautiful nature.

In conclusion Dumbo is a place when you can hang out with your family and friends. You can have mini picnics their, throw parties, go for a hang out. When you are really stressed you can just sit by the sea where the benches are and listen to what naure is calling out for you. When I went their and experienced the nature  myself, it was really calm and soothing. My mind was fresh and I was worry free for a good couple of hours.

Cited Work:

The New York Times: “How Noir Looks When It’s Published” Allison Gregor   August 27, 2013

Brooklyn Bridge Park:The Dumbo Park http://expertscolumn.hubpages.com/hub/Brooklyn-Bridge-Park

The Dumbo Brooklyn http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbo,_Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Academy of Music(most popularly known as B.A.M. for short) is a performing arts center located in the borough of Brooklyn. It was founded 1859, making the B.A.M. the oldest performing arts center in the United states which is still in operation today. The B.A.M. has a long history involving presenting concerts, plays, ballet, and lectures. The original building of the B.A.M. was on Montague street, near Brooklyn City Hall. However, years later, the first building was destroyed by a large fire. Like any disaster, it came completely unexpected.

On November 30, 1903, the first and original B.A.M. building was destroyed by a massive fire. An exact cause for the fire was never determined. According to an article on the fire by the Brooklyn Eagle, “The cause of the fire is still more or less a mystery and the officials have little hope of satisfactorily solving it.” However, it is believed that the probable cause was an electrical accident. The theater was being set up and prepared for a dinner. A few men who had been helping to prepare for the dinner set up a sign in incandescent lights. Unfortunately, a fuse connected to the sign reportedly blew out shortly before a few men were testing the wiring. As a result, a burst of flames appeared over the stage inside the B.A.M. building and it quickly spread onto the draperies. It consumed all the decorations and everything else in the building. Firemen came and prevented the flames from spreading beyond the building to other surrounding establishments. A few hours later, the flames died out.

A handful of different newspapers reported about the events that unfolded from the fire. Each of them reported about the fire in slightly different ways. The Pittsburgh Press was one of the newspaper companies that reported on the events of the fire. According to a November 30, 1903 article by the Pittsburgh Press, the flames destroyed everything in the B.A.M. building and left the walls standing. No lives were lost during the fire. However, one of the fireman received a  slight injury. The flames were strong enough to endanger the establishments surrounding the B.A.M. building. Fortunately, firemen came and put out the flames before any further tragedies occurred. The flames were first discovered shortly before 9:00am by two decorators who were preparing the auditorium of the building for a dinner that was to be held in honor of Senator Patrick H. McCarren, the Democratic leader of Brooklyn at the time. The flames reported to be the result of an electrical accident. Before the decorators were able to leave the building, the flames quickly spread to all the decorations in the building. The firemen came and prevented the flames from spreading to and damaging other nearby establishments. The fire raged on until around 11:00am where it died out by itself. It is believed that the owners of the theater didn’t have any insurance.

A second newspaper company that reported on the events of the fire was the New York Times. According to a December 1, 1903 article by the New York Times, the fire “was one of the swiftest destructions that Brooklyn has ever known, the great auditorium being a seething sea of flame within twenty minutes…” As stated before, the fire was reported to have been started by an electrical accident. Before the fire, a man named John J. Sullivan and his men were decorating the theater for a banquet in honor of Senator McCarren. A big sign that said “Welcome” in incandescent lights was set up as one of the decorations. Unfortunately, a fuse connected to the lights blew out. While a few men were testing the wiring of the lights, a burst of flames appeared and started spreading across the draperies of the stage. Soon, the building became a sea of flames. Firemen came to put out the flames, but they dropped the fire hose and ran for their lives. However, they did contain the fire so that it didn’t spread to other buildings like the Brooklyn Public Library. The police placed an estimate of all the damages from the fire to be $273,000.

Both of the newspaper companies reported on the same story, but they each contain noticeable differences. The New York times article was published a day after the fire. The Pittsburgh Press article was published on the same day of the fire. I believe that it is because of this that the N.Y.T. article contains more information than the Pittsburgh Press article. Also, the N.Y.T. article was able to describe more specific details surrounding the fire than the P.P. article. For example, The N.Y.T. articles gives the name of one of the decorators from the B.A.M. Also, the article describes the firemen who responded to the fire to have quickly dropped the fire hose and ran away. The P.P. article stated that the cost of the damages from the fire wouldn’t exceed $250,000. However, the N.Y.T. article claims that the  police estimated the cost of the damages to be $273,000. The N.Y.T. article also stated that it is rumored that one volunteer from the B.A.M. was killed during the fire, but no bodies were reported to have been found. Just from these differences alone, I believe it is safe to say that the N.Y.T. article was the result of a more detailed investigation than the P.P. article.

Although both of these newspaper companies reported on the same incident, there is a clear difference shown between their articles. It is very likely that the New York Times did more research than the Pittsburgh Press. One fact that further proves my claim is the fact that the N.Y.T. article was published a day after the incident while the Pittsburgh Press was published in the same day of the incident. It is clear that more time was put into one article than the other. Although it was claimed to have been an electrical accident, the cause of the fire was never truly proven. Also, the Brooklyn Academy of Music was threatened by a fire in 1895. It makes me wonder if the fire really was just an accident.

Works Cited:

“The Brooklyn Academy of Music in Ruins.” BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC IN RUINS – Historic Amusement Structure Totally Destroyed by Fire. SWIFT WORK OF THE FLAMES Caterers Preparing for McCarren Banquet Barely Escaped with Their Lives — Adjoining Building Destroyed — One Death Rumored. – View Article – NYTimes.com. New York Times, 01 Dec. 1903. Web. 02 Dec. 2013.

“A Big Fire In Brooklyn.” Pittsburgh Press 30 Nov. 1903: 1. Print.

“Theatre Talks.” Theatre Talks. N.p., 13 Dec. 2011. Web. 02 Dec. 2013.

“Brooklyn Academy of Music.” Infoplease. Infoplease, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2013.