What does EWVIDCO stand for?

Yes, it stands for the East Williamsburg Valley Industrial Development Corporation, and it's very important. How important? None of the candidates for the 33rd and 34th District city council races showed up to their 2009 annual trade show and luncheon at Steiner Studios yesterday morning. What they missed was an opportunity to schmooze up North Brooklyn's local business leaders like MetroEnergy's Paul Pullo, Filco Carting's John Okun, Waste Management's Rachel Amar, Boars Head's Bob Mattia, and Martin Greenfield, owner of Greenfield Clothiers, easily the best dressed person in the room.

Martin the Tailor from Ed David on Vimeo.

But enough about candidates. Onto the business leaders! Many local manufacturers and corporate representatives were in good spirits, despite the recession, but that may have been the extra oxygen that EWVIDCO was pumping into the room. I had a sudden urge to play the slots with these guys.

Paul Pullo, above, is excited not only about B-100 Biofuels which could see additional tax credits in the coming years but also because he's back at Steiner Studios for the first time since his son Paul's wedding, which was also held on the third floor of Stage 6. How is married life different than fiance-life?
"It hasn't really changed that much," said Paul the IIIrd. "We're used to each other."

Ever wonder what the inside of a fake leg smells like? It's disgusting.

Many Brooklyn vendors brought their best "patent pending" samples to the trade show, including glass countertops made of recycled Heinecken bottles, medical supplies, fancy CISCO Systems business phones, biodiesel bottles and Italian pastries (not the same company). ADT, the home security company, showed off a state of the art business alarm system, complete with four monitors and about eight split screens, though at least two-thirds of them were tuned into old episodes of 30 Rock. Also, there was ADT lip balm. This is what security tastes like.

Seth Rogen, left, and Paul Rudd, right, stopped by to hawk raw materials from David Rosen Bakery Supplies

At the luncheon, Borough President Marty Markowitz honored the board members and presented a plaque. He's still going on about getting a tailor-made suit from Martin Greenfield. Get in line, Marty. By the way, Mr. Greenfield, I'm a 38 regular and I'm thinking gray, two-button, slim lapels, just like Don Draper.

"Size 44 Short Mr. Greenfield! I can come in and get measured anytime you want!"

BREAKING NEWS:Fire on Manhattan Avenue

It's around 1:45 AM on Tuesday, and the fire trucks just started to clear. For the past hour, fire trucks and police cars crammed into the corner of Manhattan Avenue and Bedford Avenue, outside of Dunkin Donuts, extending their ladders and extinguishing a fire that appeared to be on the top floor of 649 Manhattan Avenue. According to fire fighters on site, nobody was harmed, and the immediate cause of the fire is unknown at this point. Stay tuned for a full set of photos in the (real) morning.

Our own Starbucks Explosion

Less than 24 hours after a small bomb struck an Upper East Side Starbucks, a Starbucks in our own neighborhood was rocked by another explosion--a blown manhole, out on Manhattan Ave.

In neither incident was anyone hurt. A Greenpoint eyewitness reported a scene not of disaster but of general confusion as laid-back coffee-shop bums transitioned to attempting discover what had been the source of a shrieking blast. With little details as of yet (the paper's reporters were at the 33rd District Council Candidate Debate) all I can say is--what is it about Starbucks?
Or, is it just that they're on every single corner?

(PS--write to aquinlan [AT] greenpointnews.com if you've got more info on the blast.)

Delivering the Gazette: A Photo Essay

Lopez endorses Yassky

From the office of David Yassky...

"I am honored to have the support of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Democratic organizations," said Council Member Yassky. "While dynamic and progressive leaders continue to join our campaign, I remain focused on fighting to deliver results and an accountable City government for taxpayers. I look forward to working with these organizations throughout this campaign and as Comptroller to create jobs and rebuild our economy for all those New Yorkers who have been forgotten and left behind."

"As Comptroller, David Yassky will hold government accountable, help rebuild the City's economy, and protect and expand the City's affordable housing stock," said Assemblyman Vito Lopez, Chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. "New Yorkers deserve a Comptroller that will fight for taxpayers to ensure their dollars are being spent wisely. David's record and vision for the Office prove that he will be that Comptroller."

What does this mean for the 33rd City Council race, upcoming petitioning, the Broadway Triangle plan, the Greenpoint-Williamsburg rezoning, and a whole bunch of policy initiatives affecting the neighborhood? What's David's move now? Will he endorse Steve Levin now? Evan Thies? Somebody else? No one?

According to Yassky spokesperson Danny Kanner:
"These are great candidates running for the seat and the voters for the 33rd will make the right decision."

Breaking News: I. S. 318 Shuts Down

I. S. 318 shuts down to monitor the unusually large number of flu cases. Get more details at greenpointnews.com.

Pick Yourself Up with Coffee Stout

Beer for breakfast? If that’s too early for you, than you should certainly try Brooklyn Brewery’s new Coffee Stout for brunch. The beer is brewed with coffee from Stumptown Coffee roasters. Stumptown, which originates in Portland, Oregon recently opened up shop in RedHook, and it is their Guatemalan Full City roast bean that give the beer it’s wonderful coffee aroma and taste. The overall experience is much like drinking a more richly flavored and carbonated Guinness with the aroma and taste of coffee, and even some notes of chocolate. According to the Brooklyn Brewery website, the history of roasting coffee and malts for dark stouts is closely linked. Until the 1700s, when coffee-roasting technology was first introduced, malts were roasted over open fires giving dark beers a smoky flavor. With the use of these new roasting techniques, brewers were able to create malts that left a clean roasted flavor. Clearly the two beverages were meant to come together as one. And when they do, they are double the trouble with twice the caffeine of a regular cup of coffee, and nearly the twice the alcohol content of a regular beer. I think the folks at the brewery say it best when they say this beer “Is a stimulus package we can all believe in.” --Austin K.