Video & Photos – Walking Across the Brooklyn Bridge During Sunset

The Brooklyn Bridge spans over one mile connecting Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan and offering pedestrians who walk and bike across the bridge spectacular views of city skylines. Recently one of the four NYC Waterfalls is constructed underneath the Brooklyn Bridge visible from the Manhattan side.

Although walking across the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan offers a more dramatic skyline view, the opposite path is equally charming. Of course be sure to stop once in a while and turn around to soak in the views.

Pedestrian access to the Brooklyn Bridge from the Brooklyn side is from either Tillary/Adams Streets (in between the auto entrance/exit), or a staircase on Prospect St between Cadman Plaza East and West. In Manhattan, the pedestrian walkway is accessible from the end of Centre Street, or through the unpaid south staircase of Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall IRT subway station.

The Brooklyn Bridge has a wide pedestrian walkway open to walkers and cyclists, in the center of the bridge and higher than the automobile lanes. While the bridge has always permitted the passage of pedestrians across its span, its role in allowing thousands to cross takes on a special importance in times of difficulty when usual means of crossing the East River have become unavailable.

During transit strikes by the Transport Workers Union in 1980 and 2005 the bridge was used by people commuting to work, with Mayors Koch and Bloomberg crossing the bridge as a gesture to the affected public. Following the 1965, 1977 and 2003 Blackouts and most famously after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, the bridge was used by people in Manhattan to leave the city after subway service was suspended.

Related Post: Scooting over the Brooklyn Bridge

Hudson River Park – Pier 45 & 46

Hudson River Park runs along the west side of Manhattan offering greens for sunbathing, free concerts, and hundreds of outdoor activities.

The 850-foot long Pier 45 in Greenwich Village (cross at Christopher St) is NYC’s most picturesque pier for sunbathing and free activities. Amenities include shade structures, seating areas, wood decking and a stretch of grass lawn that has become a favorite spot for sunbathers. Nearby you can grab food and refreshments at the Regatta Cafe or catch the NYC Water Taxi. Pier 46 also has free fishing for all ages with Big City Fishing, as well as educational programs. Heat up, then cool down using Pier 45’s super interactive water feature -enjoy a spritz of fresh water right when you need it. The Hudson River Park Trust also sponsors free events on Pier 45 in the summer. Here is what’s going on this summer at Pier 45 & 46:

Sunset on the Hudson – Fridays at 7PM – Pier 45

Every Friday from June 6th to August 22nd, enjoy the beautiful sunset and mellow sounds of New York’s acclaimed guitar man David Ippolito from this spectacular grass-covered pier that stretches into the majestic Hudson River.

Stars of Tomorrow (Jazz and Classical Virtuosos) – Tuesdays at 6:30PM – Pier 45

Tuesdays hit a high note with jazz and classical performances from Mannes College The New School for Music and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music on one of Hudson River Park’s most beautiful piers by star students from around the city.

June 3 – Stu Bidwell Duo – Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
June 10 – Classical from MANNES COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR MUSIC
June 17 – Becky Mimiaga Quartet – Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
June 24 – Classical from MANNES COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR MUSIC
July 8 – Ross Clark Trio – Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
July 15 – Mallory Glaser Quartet – Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
July 22 – Classical from MANNES COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR MUSIC
July 29 -  Classical from MANNES COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR MUSIC
Aug 5 – Itamar Borochov Trio – Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Aug 12 – Classical from MANNES COLLEGE THE NEW SCHOOL FOR MUSIC
Aug 19 – Nick Paul Trio – Jazz from THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

RiverFlicks for Kids – Fridays 8:30PM – Pier 46 at Charles St
Free movies for the whole family. And free popcorn!

July 11th – The Wizard of Oz (G)
July 18th - Bee Movie (PG)
July 25th – E.T. (PG)
August 1 – The Iron Giant (PG)
August 8 – The Goonies (PG)
August 15 – 5th Annual Showing of Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971 Original Version, PG)
August 22 – Shrek (PG)

Big City Fishing – Tuesday to Sunday, July 4th – Labor Day, 10:30AM – 5:30PM – Pier 46 (& Pier 84)
Yes you can fish in the Hudson River and it’s Free!

Big City Fishing gives anyone and everyone the chance to fish. It’s an appropriate and fun activity for those as young as five. Because we practice catch-and-release fishing in Hudson River Park, all fish are returned to the river at the end of the program. All of the necessary supplies including rods, reels and bait, as well as formal instruction. Fishing poles are provided on a first come, first served basis, with a half-hour limit when others are waiting. Big City Fishing also provides participants with a first hand opportunity to learn about the Hudson River Estuarine Sanctuary. View plankton through microscopes, examine live specimens – caught that morning, either in traps or on someone’s line – and identify species using the Hudson River Park’s signature Fish Poster. Recently caught at Pier 46: American eel, striped bass, black sea bass, bluefish, oyster toadfish, cunner, white perch, flounder, porgy, blue crabs.

Video – Scooting across the Brooklyn Bridge on a Vespa

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is a great experience for anyone. Scooting over the Brooklyn Bridge is a unique experience that is becoming more common as New Yorkers look for more effective ways of navigating around the city.

Come along for a exciting ride on a Vespa across the Brooklyn Bridge, under the Manhattan Bridge and glimpse at the NYC Waterfalls in the evening sky.

Video Tour of ©MURAKAMI Exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum of Art

April 5 – July 13, 2008, Brooklyn Museum of Art

The most comprehensive retrospective to date of the work of internationally acclaimed Japanese artist Takashi Murakami includes more than ninety works in various media that span the artists entire career, installed in more than 18,500 square feet of gallery space. The Tokyo born artist has exhibited his work all over the world but is possibly best known for his 2003 collaboration with designer Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton. Together they created a hugely successful line of Monogram bags, notably the Louis Vuitton Multicolore brand.

Having made fans out of Hollywood actors, fashionados, and musical artist like Kanye West who’s album art for “Graduation” was done in collaboration with Murakami. Marc Jacobs describes the opening ceremony for the exhibit as a “fantastic collision of fashion, art, and music,” adding that Murakami’s cross-branding style is “reminiscent of the old days, where creative people didn’t stay in their box but bonded with each other and collaborated with each other.”

If you missed the Exhibit, this video will give you a partial look at an Exhibition that was absolutely amazing! (Don’t miss Hiropon and the Lonesome Cowboy in the segment “Milk and Cream”)

2008 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Video – Coney Island, NY

7/4/2008 – 21 contestants competed for the 92nd Annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest marketed as “The Rematch II” in Coney Island, NY. This year’s contestants include last year’s winner Joey Chestnut, who ate 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes; Takeru “Tsunami” Kobayashi, who ate 63; Crazy Leged Conti, Arturo Grande Rios, Erik The Red Denmark, Eric Bandlands Booker,  Juliette The Violet Lee, Tim Gravy Brown, Sonya The Black Widow Thomas, and Tim The X Janus.

The time limit for this year’s hot dog eating contest changed from 12 minutes to 10 minutes (speeding up the eating process a little) and well, it was an unprecedented finish that you’ll just have to witness yourself (by watching the video provided here). Enjoy!

So who won? Watch the winners carry their trophies out!

Planning a trip to Coney Island? There’re activities ranging from amusement park rides to games like “shoot the freak” to eating a variety of hot dogs at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog or just stroll the boardwalk and enjoy a day at the beach.

Islandwoo Tips to make your trip to Coney Island a little better: If you plan on attending future Hot Dog Eating Contests on July 4th, be prepared to arrive as early as 10AM (2 hrs early) to secure a spot close enough to see the contestants (You can tell from the video that I was rather tardy). If you prefer to arrive on time, bring a step ladder, or crate to stand on. You don’t want to miss the show that took you an hour to get to. As for the Nathan’s hot dog pick: go with the onions and pepper. And if you can’t make it to Nathans in Coney Island, there’s the supermarket version which tastes just as good!