107-633: Glasslands Gallery (or simply Glasslands ) was a music venue, dance club, and art space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn . Glasslands was founded by Brooke Baxter and Rolyn Hu in 2006, as a relocation of Baxter's earlier art space in the same building, Glass House Gallery. Hu and Baxter held the lease on the Glasslands space until 2012 when they made a turn-key sale to Rami Haykal and Jake Rosenthal of PopGun presents , who had been managing bookings since 2009, and day-to-day operations since 2010. PopGun owned
214-419: A syngas factory. Late in the century, facilities were built to import liquefied natural gas from overseas. The intersection of Broadway , Flushing Avenue , and Graham Avenue was a cross-roads for many " inter-urbans ", prior to World War I. These light rail trolleys ran from Long Island to Williamsburg. Refugees from war-torn Europe began to stream into Brooklyn during and after World War II , including
321-410: A "Little Berlin". During the early 2000s, the neighborhood became a center for indie rock and electroclash . Numerous ethnic groups still inhabit enclaves within the neighborhood, including Italians , Jews , Hispanics , Poles , Puerto Ricans , and Dominicans . Williamsburg is part of Brooklyn Community District 1 , and its primary ZIP Codes are 11206, 11211 and 11249. It is patrolled by
428-497: A Danley Labs Inc. sound system . Under PopGun's leadership, the venue took on more late-night parties with a DJ focus. These included select dates with DJ Jonathan Toubin as well as a monthly residency with the neo-disco and house collective Discovery. The themed Cat Face and Rebel Bingo nights found a home at Glasslands, as did the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival. The Adventure[s] team also put on
535-412: A branch on Graham Avenue. In addition, Southside United HDFC is a charity organization that helps residents with housing needs and other services, including mobilizing housing activists and residents, as well as providing affordable housing. The Moore Street Market , often referred to as La Marqueta de Williamsburg, is located at 110 Moore Street. In addition, there have been several cultural events. In
642-402: A citizen, and a fight started. Immediately, eight or ten deputies began freely using clubs on a group of "about one hundred Irishmen", resulting in a half-hour general fight and many injuries. Prior to the corporatization of Williamsburg in the new millenium, the district often saw tension between its Hasidic population and its black and Hispanic groups. In response to decades of rising crime in
749-626: A city landmark on June 24, 2003. The 23.3-acre (9.4 ha) site, consisting of twenty 4-story buildings, was designed by William Lescaze , and was the first large-scale public housing in Brooklyn. It was completed in 1938, and is operated by the New York City Housing Authority . In 2007, three buildings of the Domino Sugar Refinery were also designated New York City Landmarks. The original refinery
856-691: A continuous 2-mile (3.2 km) string of waterfront esplanades . Although a slow growth economic revival was already underway and was bringing back family owned local businesses, local elected officials touted the rezoning as an economically beneficial way to address the decline of manufacturing along the North Brooklyn waterfront. The storefronts and vacant warehouses in Williamsburg were already being adapted into creative clubs like The Green Room, El Sensorium, Fake Shop, Mustard, The AlulA Dimension and Galapagos Art Space. The rezoning represented
963-496: A design by architect Cass Gilbert , was placed on the NRHP in 2007. Originally also a city landmark, the designation was later rescinded. The warehouse was converted to apartments in the 2010s. The German Evangelical Lutheran St. John's Church was built in 1883 and made a NRHP landmark in 2019. Public School 71K , built in 1888–1889 to designs by James W. Naughton , was made a NRHP landmark in 1982, though it no longer serves as
1070-411: A different direction. It’s easy to swerve back into your comfort zone without even realizing it, so we were very conscious of trying to stay away from that and take this into some different sonic direction." Wilder confirmed this, stating: "The music, the rhythms are a little bit more abstract. We allowed ourselves to experiment more, not really worrying about making the most catchy, anthemic pop songs for
1177-695: A dividing line) is an area known as "Los Sures", occupied by Puerto Ricans and Dominicans . To the north of that is the "North Side", traditionally Polish and Italian. East Williamsburg is home to many industrial spaces, and forms the largely Italian American , African American , and Hispanic area between Williamsburg and Bushwick. South Williamsburg, the South Side, the North Side, Greenpoint, and East Williamsburg all form Brooklyn Community Board 1 . Its proximity to Manhattan has made it popular with recently arrived residents who are often referred to under
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#17327799456121284-474: A dramatic shift of approach from an emphasis on a creative, locally based economy in the 1990s to one largely dominated by corporations. The waterfront neighborhoods, once characterized by active manufacturing and other light industry interspersed with smaller residential buildings, were re-zoned primarily for residential high rise construction. Alongside the construction of high rises, many warehouses which served as centers for creative community-building events like
1391-624: A liquor license for its first year, with events booked by Todd P , as well as by Akwetey of the band Dragons of Zynth . Todd P parted ways with Glasslands after a decision was made that the venue would become "21+" for entry, following the issuance of its liquor license. Some of the earliest performances included Vampire Weekend , a secret show by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs , as well as emerging acts like Pterodactyl, Bon Iver , MGMT and Dirty Projectors . DJ Jonathan Toubin would hold his New York Night Train parties and Soul Clap Dance-Offs at
1498-426: A market at present day Grand Street . Bushwick Shore's favorable location close to New York City led to the creation of several farming developments. In 1802, real estate speculator Richard M. Woodhull acquired 13 acres (5.3 hectares) near what would become Metropolitan Avenue, then North 2nd Street. He had Colonel Jonathan Williams , a U.S. Engineer , survey the property, and named it Williamsburgh (with an h at
1605-429: A new type of musical sound. He reached out to Anand Wilder and they started playing music together again, eventually forming the band. The band's lineup is relatively unique, with Keating and Wilder both serving as lead vocalists and principal songwriters and the band producing the songs together as a unit. Wilder, who began playing cello when he was four, described their songwriting styles to Pitchfork : "When I write
1712-510: A number of celebrities. Officials championing the rezoning cited its economic benefits, the new waterfront promenades, and its inclusionary housing component – which offered developers large tax breaks in exchange for promises to rent about a third of the new housing units at "affordable" rates. Critics countered that similar set-asides for affordable housing have gone unfulfilled in previous large-scale developments, such as Battery Park City . The New York Times reported this proved to be
1819-854: A number of notable parties including the season Robyn -themed party, an emo Valentine's dance, and a Twin Peaks -themed Halloween party. Major electronic acts and DJs including Jon Hopkins , Baauer , Mister Saturday Night , Omar S., and Sophie ( PC Music ) all made memorable stops. Bands that made repeated stops during this period include Unknown Mortal Orchestra , How to Dress Well , Crocodiles , Empress Of , Cecile Believe (then Mozart's Sister), Lower Dens , Dum Dum Girls , Le1f , The Range , DIIV , Trust , Shigeto , MØ , Hooray for Earth , Zambri , The Yellow Dogs , King Krule , Light Asylum , THEESatisfaction , Cloud Nothings , Anamanaguchi , Kelela , Mon Khmer, Air Waves, Majical Cloudz , Peelander-Z , Slow Magic, Mykki Blanco and Chrome Sparks. After
1926-601: A projection artist, created a mapped visual installation projecting all the Glasslands Posters from opening to closing. Glasslands bartenders Luiza Kurzyna and Zachary Clausen also contributed new pieces, as did James Devito of Anamanaguchi and Kengo “Peelander Yellow” Hioki of Peelander-Z. On December 15, 2014, Glasslands announced its final event “Lastlands” for New Year's Eve, and when tickets went on sale two days later they sold out instantly. The show's line-up – DIIV, Sky Ferreira , Smith Westerns , and Beverly –
2033-491: A public school. The United States Post Office , built in 1936 by Louis A. Simon , was landmarked in 1988. The subdivisions within Williamsburg vary widely. "South Williamsburg" refers to the area which today is occupied mainly by the Yiddish-speaking Hasidim (predominantly Satmar Hasidim ) and a considerable Puerto Rican population. North of this area (with Division Street or Broadway serving as
2140-804: A secret practice gig under the moniker Queen Of Coney Island. In the years prior to the transfer of ownership, PopGun increased the frequency of booked shows, eventually reaching a point where Glasslands was booked with events virtually every night, save holidays. In late 2010, DIY concert promoter Todd P acquired the commercial unit directly next door to Glasslands and began booking all ages events there as 285 KENT . The neighboring venues competed directly for bookings, with 285 KENT offering nearly double Glasslands’ standing capacity, as well as challenging Glasslands’ 21+ entry policy . This competition inspired PogGun to seek advantage and upgrade Glasslands’ sound and facilities. A green room for artists and coat check were installed as well. In 2012, ownership of Glasslands
2247-452: A song, I'm always thinking of the harmonies; for me the song doesn't really exist without the harmonies. For example, Forgiveness would be a really boring melody without the choir behind it. Chris resisted any formal musical training, but his sense of melody and songcraft is just astounding." Their first single consisted of a double A-side of the tracks "Sunrise" and "2080." Both songs appeared on their debut album All Hour Cymbals , which
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#17327799456122354-427: A web of activity in the streets, rooftops and large warehouses, and attracted both the national and international press. Small, locally owned businesses began to return to the neighborhood during this expansion of creative urbanism in the 1990s. In the 21st century, the city provided zoning changes and tax abatements to corporate developers which shifted the area from a creative, slow growth revival to an economy that
2461-563: Is known as the "Avenue of Puerto Rico". Havemeyer Street is lined with Hispanic-owned bodegas and barber shops. However, even though the Southside has the highest concentration of Hispanics in the neighborhood, this population is dispersed throughout all of Williamsburg, as far north as the Williamsburg- Greenpoint border. The Latino community has several cultural institutions in Williamsburg. The Caribbean Social Club,
2568-530: Is the area south of Grand Street, there exists a sizable Puerto Rican and Dominican population. Puerto Ricans have been coming to the area since the 1940s and the 1950s, and Dominicans came in the 1970s and 1980s. Many Puerto Ricans flocked to the area after World War II , due to the proximity to jobs at the Brooklyn Navy Yard . The neighborhood continues to have 27% Hispanic or Latino population, and Graham Avenue, between Grand Street and Broadway,
2675-470: The 9:30 Club . On January 7, 2016, the band announced that they would release their album called Amen & Goodbye on April 1, 2016. They also released a video for the song " I Am Chemistry ". On February 10, 2016, Yeasayer released a music video that explored the set on which the album art was shot, as well as new single "Prophecy Gun." The music video included sculptures of public figures such as Donald Trump , Caitlyn Jenner , and Mark Twain , and
2782-667: The Hasidim , whose populations had been devastated in the Holocaust . The area south of Division Avenue became home to a large population of adherents to the Satmar Hasidic sect, who came to the area from Hungary and Romania . Hispanics from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic also began to settle in the area. But the population explosion was eventually confronted with a decline of heavy industry, and from
2889-496: The New York City Council passed a large-scale rezoning of the North Side and Greenpoint waterfront. Billions of dollars in tax abatements were also provided to developers. Much of the waterfront district was rezoned to accommodate mixed-use high density residential buildings with a set-aside (but no earmarked funding) for public waterfront park space, with strict building guidelines calling for developers to create
2996-807: The Peter Luger Steak House , established in 1887, in the predominantly German neighborhood under the Williamsburg Bridge, was a major banking hub, until the City of Brooklyn united with the City of Greater New York . One of the early high schools in Brooklyn, the Eastern District High School , opened here in February 1900. In 1898, Brooklyn became one of five boroughs within the City of Greater New York, and
3103-872: The Pitchfork Music Festival , the Austin City Limits Festival , Bonnaroo , Sasquatch! Music Festival , and the Reading and Leeds Festivals . In 2009, Yeasayer contributed "Tightrope" to the AIDS benefit album Dark Was the Night produced by the Red Hot Organization . Backed by labels Secretly Canadian and Mute Records , Yeasayer released their second studio album, Odd Blood , in February 2010, featuring more pop music influences than earlier work. The band addressed
3210-581: The Pratt Institute , the great school of art & architecture, and the Astral Oil Works , which later became part of Standard Oil . Corning Glass Works was founded here, before moving upstate to Corning, New York . German immigrant, chemist Charles Pfizer founded Pfizer Pharmaceutical in Williamsburg, and the company maintained an industrial plant in the neighborhood through 2007, although its headquarters were moved to Manhattan in
3317-585: The SXSW festival in early 2007. Keating and Wilder had previously met and begun performing together while in high school, at the Park School of Baltimore (the alma mater of fellow experimental musicians Animal Collective ). Chris Keating attended Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), graduating from the Film, Animation, Video department in 2004. While attending RISD, Keating started experimenting in playing
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3424-545: The State of New York to remain in New York City. Glasslands announced on October 21 that New Year's Eve 2014 would be its last night of operation. While neither Glasslands nor Vice publicly stated the exact reason for the venue's closure, the announcement resulted in an outcry against the media company, with many alleging that it was cannibalizing the alternative culture that allowed it to flourish. Others chalked it up to
3531-604: The Town of Williamsburg . Edmund Smith Driggs (1809–1889) was a Williamsburg resident and was elected the first president of the Village of Williamsburg in 1850. He was also president of the Williamsburg City Fire Insurance Company and built a row of houses on South Second Street. Driggs Avenue is named after him. In 1851, the municipality became the City of Williamsburgh (it would discard
3638-585: The Village of Williamsburgh within the Town of Bushwick on April 14, 1827. In two years, it had a fire company, a post office, and a population of over 1,000. The deep drafts along the East River encouraged industrialists, many from Germany, to build shipyards around Williamsburg. Raw material was shipped in, and finished products were sent out of factories straight to the docks. Several sugar barons built processing refineries, all of which are now gone, except
3745-593: The blanket term " hipster ". Bedford Avenue and its subway station , as the first stop in the neighborhood on the BMT Canarsie Line (on the L train), have become synonymous with this new wave of residents. Williamsburg is inhabited by thousands of Hasidic Jews of various groups, and contains the headquarters of one faction of the Satmar Hasidic group . Williamsburg's Satmar population numbers about 57,000. Hasidic Jews first moved to
3852-455: The rebbes of Satmar , Klausenberg , Vien , Pupa , Tzehlem, and Skver . In addition, Williamsburg contained sizable numbers of religious, but non-Hasidic, Jews. The Rebbe of Satmar, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum , ultimately exerted the most powerful influence over the community, causing many of the non-Satmars, especially the non-Hasidim, to leave. Teitelbaum was known for his fierce anti-Zionism and for his charismatic style of leadership. In
3959-484: The "h" in 1855), which was organized into three wards . The old First Ward roughly coincides with the South Side, and the Second Ward with the North Side, with the modern boundary at Grand Street . The Third Ward was to the east of these, stretching from Union Avenue east to Bushwick Avenue, beyond which is Bushwick (some of which is now called East Williamsburg ). In 1855, the City of Williamsburg , along with
4066-410: The 1960s, Williamsburg saw a marked increase in unemployment, crime, gang activity, and illegal drug use. Those who were able to move out often did, and the area became chiefly known for its crime and other social ills. On February 3, 1971, at 10:42 pm, police officer Frank Serpico was shot during a drug bust, during a stakeout at 778 Driggs Avenue. Serpico had been one of the driving forces in
4173-463: The 1960s. Brooklyn's Broadway , ending in the ferry to Manhattan, became the area's lifeline. The area proved popular for condiment and household product manufacturers. Factories for Domino Sugar , Esquire Shoe Polish , Dutch Mustard, and many others were established in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these factory buildings are now being (or already have been) converted to non-industrial uses, primarily residential. The population
4280-528: The 2000s. The North Side, above Grand Street , which separates the North Side from the South Side, is somewhat more expensive due to its proximity to the New York City Subway (specifically, the L train and G train on the BMT Canarsie Line and IND Crosstown Line , respectively). Increased gentrification has entered the South Side along the route of the J/Z and M trains (of which
4387-646: The 90th and 94th Precincts of the New York City Police Department . Politically, it is represented by the New York City Council's 33rd District, which represents the western and southern parts of the neighborhood, and the 34th District, which represents the eastern part. As of the 2020 United States census , the neighborhood's population is 151,308. In 1638, the Dutch West India Company purchased
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4494-669: The Cats Head, Flytrap, El Sensorium and Organism, were converted into expensive residential loft buildings. Among the first was the Smith-Gray Building, a turn-of-the-century structure recognizable by its blue cast-iron façade. The conversion of the former Gretsch music instrument factory garnered significant attention and controversy in the New York press primarily because it heralded the arrival in Williamsburg of Tribeca-style lofts and attracted, as residents and investors,
4601-558: The City of New York provided billions of dollars in tax abatements to developers, was becoming the most expensive real estate in the city. A 2013 study by the UJA-Federation of New York identified Williamsburg as home to the second-fastest Jewish population growth in New York City, with a Jewish population of approximately 74,500 in 2011, a 41% increase from a decade earlier. Due to the neighborhood's rapid growth and high real estate prices, 77% of Jews in Williamsburg were renters,
4708-630: The Dutch Pinkpop and Lowlands festival , Latitude Festival in England, and the Australian music festival Splendour in the Grass, where they were asked by the organizers of Laneway Festival to return and play in 2011. In April 2011, Yeasayer released End Blood in participation with Record Store Day which the band described as "two ideas that didn't fit on Odd Blood ". In May 2011,
4815-778: The East Williamburg/Bushwick campus on Graham Avenue. A place popular among Dominican-American residents is the Fula Lounge, where Merengue and Raggaeton artists from the Dominican Republic often frequent. Once a year, the Williamsburg/ Bushwick community hosts a Puerto Rican Day parade. The neighborhood has produced many prominent Latinos. Television chef Daisy Martinez , who specializes in Puerto Rican cuisine grew up in
4922-743: The Hasidic community, at least two of whom were Shomrim members, were arrested in connection with the December 2013 "gang assault" of a black gay man. Yeasayer Yeasayer ( / ˈ j eɪ s eɪ . ər / ) was an American experimental rock band from Brooklyn , New York, formed in 2006. The band consisted of Chris Keating, Ira Wolf Tuton, and Anand Wilder. They announced their split on December 19, 2019. The band's three core members, Chris Keating (born 1981 or 1982), Ira Wolf Tuton (born 1979 or 1980), and Anand Wilder (born 1982 or 1983), first came to attention after appearing at
5029-616: The Italian section are named Via Vespucci in honor of Amerigo Vespucci and the Italian character of the neighborhood. Despite the fact that an increasing number of Italian-Americans have moved away, many return each summer for the feast. The Giglio was the subject of a documentary, Heaven Touches Brooklyn in July , narrated by actors John Turturro and Michael Badalucco . On Williamburg's Southside, also known in Spanish as "Los Sures", which
5136-481: The Lollapalooza crowd ... We definitely wanted it to be a little bit darker than the last record." Although the band began the touring before the album's formal release, the set list for shows during this cycle consisted of many tracks from Fragrant World. The band worked to rearrange older songs so that they would fit better in the set, with Keating saying the main thing the band asked themselves in rehearsals
5243-567: The Radar . In January 2011, The Hype Machine named Yeasayer the most blogged artist of 2010. Songs from Odd Blood were featured on several TV shows and films, including 90210 , America's Next Top Model , The Good Wife , and the 2012 film Pitch Perfect . The music videos for both "Ambling Alp" and "O.N.E" were created by directing duo Radical Friend . The band toured extensively behind Odd Blood, with appearances at several major festivals, including Coachella Music Festival ,
5350-810: The Rock Star Bar, and many others. In 2004, multi-media artists Leviticus and Brooke Baxter, associated with the Freestyle Family, founded Glass House Gallery at 38 South 1st St. The space featured a fluid and frequently changing layout as well as free expressionistic painting, and hosted performance art and music initially geared towards the founders’ friends in the Williamsburg creative community, but soon incorporating rental events featuring touring musical acts booked by local promoters, principally DIY promoter Todd P . As notoriety grew with increasingly higher-profile touring acts, Glass House began to attract attention within Williamsburg's music scene, and
5457-533: The Williamsburg neighborhood was opened to closer connections with the rest of the newly consolidated city. Five years later, the opening of the Williamsburg Bridge in 1903 further opened up the community to thousands of upwardly mobile immigrants and second-generation Americans fleeing the over-crowded slum tenements of Manhattan's Lower East Side . Williamsburg itself soon became the most densely populated neighborhood in New York City, which, in turn,
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#17327799456125564-716: The adjoining Town of Bushwick, was annexed into the City of Brooklyn as the so-called Eastern District. The First Ward of Williamsburg became Brooklyn's 13th Ward, the Second Ward Brooklyn's 14th Ward, and the Third Ward Brooklyn's 15th and 16th Wards. During its period as part of Brooklyn's Eastern District, the area achieved remarkable industrial, cultural, and economic growth, and local businesses thrived. Wealthy New Yorkers such as Cornelius Vanderbilt and railroad magnate Jubilee Jim Fisk built shore-side mansions. Charles Pratt and his family founded
5671-557: The album version of "Henrietta" directly to 200 random fans by mailing them physical CDs. On where the inspiration for leaking the single directly to fans rather than via traditional channels came from, Keating stated: "I think #1, it's hard to do something secretive in the oversharing, Instagramming culture that we live in, so I liked the idea of a musical object you send to people ... I was actually interested to see if no one would share it at all. I thought that would be really cool. But I guess that doesn't happen anymore. Like 10 seconds after
5778-737: The almost 60% poverty rate in Jewish Williamsburg, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty , a beneficiary agency of the UJA-Federation of New York , partnered with Masbia in the opening of a 50-seat kosher soup kitchen on Lee Avenue in November 2009. There are many households with Section 8 housing vouchers ; in 2000, there were 1,394 voucher recipients in Williamsburg's nine Yiddish -speaking census tracts, but by 2014, Williamsburg had 3,296 voucher recipients within 12 Yiddish-speaking census tracts. In 2014, it
5885-588: The area's land from the Lenape Native Americans who occupied the area. In 1661, the company chartered the Town of Boswijck , including land that would later become Williamsburg. After the English takeover of New Netherland in 1664, the town's name was anglicized to Bushwick . During colonial times, villagers called the area "Bushwick Shore", a name that lasted for about 140 years. Bushwick Shore
5992-602: The area, although the numbers have decreased over the years. The northeastern section of Williamsburg associated with "Italian Williamsburg" retains a significant Italian-American presence and is home to numerous Italian-American families, community centers, social clubs, businesses, and restaurants, such as Bamonte's , the Fortunato Brothers Cafe, Anthony and Son Panini Shoppe, Carmine and Son's, Emily's Pork Store, Napoli Bakery, Metropolitan Fish Market, Jr and Son, and Salerno Autobody. Sections of Graham Avenue in
6099-601: The area, the Hasidim created a volunteer patrol organization, called " Shomrim " ("guardians" in Hebrew), to perform citizens' arrests, and to keep an eye out for crime. Over the years, the Shomrim have been accused of racism and brutality against blacks and Hispanics. In 2009, Yakov Horowitz, a member of Shomrim, was charged with assault, for striking a Latino adolescent on the nose with his Walkie Talkie. In 2014, five members of
6206-400: The band posted a message on their Facebook page that they were going to be working on their fourth album after the end of the summer. Wilder later confirmed this in a July 2013 interview, stating that the band had already started writing and plans to enter the studio this winter. On November 12, 2013, the band released Good Evening, Washington D.C. , a collection of live tracks recorded at
6313-464: The band premiered their brand new song "Devil and the Deed" on Conan O'Brien 's late night talk show. During their subsequent tour of North America, the band played this song at shows along with two other new tunes, "Demon Road" and "Henrietta". All three of these songs appeared on the final track listing for the band's next album. On August 21, 2012, Yeasayer released Fragrant World . The band leaked
6420-409: The business and lease for two years until the venue was displaced to be converted into Vice Media ‘s office headquarters. As a concert venue, Glasslands was one of the longest-running of several 2000s independent creative venue spaces in the vicinity of the Williamsburg waterfront, which included 285 KENT, Death By Audio , Secret Project Robot, Monster Island Basement, B.P.M., Live With Animals Gallery,
6527-412: The case in Williamsburg as well, as developers largely decided to forgo incentives to build affordable housing in inland areas. Williamsburg contains a variety of zoning districts, including manufacturing, commercial, residential, and mixed-use. North Williamsburg contains primarily light industrial and medium-density residential buildings, as well as some residential structures with commercial space on
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#17327799456126634-399: The changes sonically in an in depth interview with The Quietus , with Wolf Tuton stating: "I think the similar influences are there, but we have not focused on the same tones. We also wanted to focus on 90s dance music and production-wise get the low end thumping a little bit better. We also wanted to be more concise with our song writing and arrangement." Keating continued, "The first album
6741-564: The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission . The Kings County Savings Institution, chartered in 1860, built the Kings County Savings Bank building at Bedford Avenue and Broadway . The structure, an example of French Second Empire architecture , has been on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) since 1980, and was made a New York City landmark in 1966. The Williamsburg Houses were designated
6848-486: The creation of the Knapp Commission , which exposed widespread police corruption. His fellow officers failed to call for assistance, and he was rushed to Greenpoint Hospital only when an elderly neighbor called the police. The incident was later dramatized in the opening scene of the 1973 film Serpico , starring Al Pacino in the title role. The price of land in Williamsburg has increased significantly since
6955-474: The end) in his honor. Originally a 13-acre (5.3 ha) development within Bushwick Shore, Williamsburg rapidly expanded during the first half of the 19th century and eventually seceded from Bushwick and formed its own independent city. Abraham J. Berry was the first mayor of the independent city of Williamsburgh; the "h" at the end of the name was dropped in 1855. Williamsburg was incorporated as
7062-768: The far back corner, along with the removal of rehearsal spaces to allow for a greater audience capacity. During these early years at Glasslands, the venue had a penchant for booking artists that promulgated an often noisy or psychedelic brand of alternative pop, a sound that would become one of Williamsburg's major cultural exports. These acts included Yeasayer , Toro y Moi , Blood Orange , Chairlift, Tanlines , Twin Shadow , Das Racist , Bear in Heaven , Titus Andronicus , Phantogram , Caribou , Jay Reatard , Wild Nothing , Lemonade , Suckers , Keepaway, Phosphorescent , Passion Pit and Gang Gang Dance . In 2011, Lana Del Rey played
7169-545: The first dude got the first envelope, I think he was in Belgium or the Netherlands or something, that guy was sharing it, and there it goes." The rest of the album was leaked via an online scavenger hunt where the band gave fans clues as to where each song and an accompanying visual directed by Yoshi Sodeoka could be found. To further promote the album, Yeasayer performed single "Longevity" on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
7276-440: The ground floors. There are also high-density residential developments with commercial space, as well as a few remaining heavy industries, along the waterfront. The area around Broadway is primarily commercial, and contains stores and offices. On the other hand, South Williamsburg is largely medium-to-high density residential, with some commercial space on the ground floors. Several structures in Williamsburg have been landmarked by
7383-417: The highest birthrates in the country, with an average of eight children per family. Each year, the community celebrates between 800 and 900 weddings for young couples, who typically marry between the ages of 18 and 21. Because Hasidic men receive little secular education, and women tend to be homemakers, college degrees are rare, and economic opportunities lag far behind the rest of the population. In response to
7490-464: The highest rate in the city. After the city subsidized developers in North Brooklyn, and longstanding local land owners from both North and South Williamsburg sold large blocks of land to the corporations, Hasidim have characterized the influx of new renters who had nothing to with land sales or city policy, as the artisten, or a "plague" and "a bitter decree from Heaven". Tensions have risen over housing costs, loud and boisterous nightlife events, and
7597-744: The inevitable onset of gentrification, pointing out that the landmark Domino Sugar Refinery across the street from Glasslands was being demolished to make way for luxury condo high-rises. Columns and features on the closing were published in The New York Times , Billboard , Paper Magazine , Gawker , Gothamist , The Fader and other outlets. In its final weeks of operation, Glasslands harkened back to its art gallery roots, bringing in Collective Craft NYC to install works by visual artists Jillian Siegel, Courtney McKenna, Grant Guilliams, Ashley Blanton and more. Annalise Yuri Murphy,
7704-428: The introduction of bike lanes along Bedford Avenue . Although the effects of New York's development policies favoring high rise construction and luxury chain stores is increasing, many developers, such as Isaac Hager , continue to build more housing for Haredi tenants. According to a 2024 UJA-Federation of New York survey, 74% of Jewish households in Williamsburg identified as Orthodox. The total Jewish population
7811-492: The jobs were outsourced beginning in the 1970s, the area endured a period of economic contraction which did not begin to turn around until activist groups began to address housing, infrastructure, and youth education issues in the late 20th century. An ecosocial arts movement emerged alongside the activists in the late 1980s, often referred to as the Brooklyn Immersionists . The community-based scene cultivated
7918-455: The last remaining Puerto Rican social club in Williamsburg, preserves the neighborhood's culture. Another such institution is the "El Puente" Community Center, as well as the "San German" record store on Graham Avenue. Graham Avenue was renamed Avenue of Puerto Rico as a symbol of pride, just as the avenue's other alternate name, Via Vespucci, is meant to commemorate the neighborhood's Italian-American community. Banco Popular de Puerto Rico has
8025-456: The late 1990s, Jewish developers renovated old warehouses and factories, turning them into housing. More than 500 apartments were approved in the three-year period following 1997; soon afterward, an area near Williamsburg's border with Bedford–Stuyvesant was re-zoned for affordable housing. By 1997, there were about 7,000 Hasidic families in Williamsburg, almost a third of whom took public assistance. The Hasidic community of Williamsburg has one of
8132-439: The latter route was modified to go from the downtown BMT Nassau Street Line to the midtown IND Sixth Avenue Line in 2010). This has prompted increases in rents south of Grand Street as well. Higher rents have driven out many bohemians , activists and creative urbanists to other neighborhoods farther afield such as Bushwick , Bedford-Stuyvesant , Fort Greene , Clinton Hill , Cobble Hill , and Red Hook . On May 11, 2005,
8239-555: The lives of Latino residents living in 1984 Southside before gentrification. Another documentary in 2013, Toñita's , depicts the Caribbean Social Club, and is named after the club's owner. About 2 o'clock on November 7, 1854, a riot occurred between sheriffs and "some Irishmen" at the poll of the First District, at the corner of 2nd and North 6th streets, in Williamsburg. It began after a deputy approached
8346-480: The most beautiful music ever written was done so in the name of God or gods." While supporting their debut album, the band became well known for their live performances, which often include psychedelic visuals. In 2008, Yeasayer toured with MGMT and Man Man and supported Beck . The same year they performed a public a cappella concert, "Take Away Show", on the Paris metro . The band also played at Lollapalooza ,
8453-441: The neighborhood in the years prior to World War II , along with many other religious and non-religious Jews who sought to escape the difficult living conditions on Manhattan's Lower East Side . Beginning in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the area received a large concentration of Holocaust survivors , many of whom were Hasidic Jews from rural areas of Hungary and Romania. These people were led by several Hasidic leaders, among them
8560-495: The neighborhood. The neighborhood also is home to the office of U.S. representative Nydia Velazquez . In addition to this, Williamsburg was the childhood home of City Councilwoman Rosie Méndez , of Puerto Rican descent. Williamsburg itself was represented in the City Council by Dominican American Antonio Reynoso . The Hispanic sector as a whole was represented in a documentary called Living Los Sures, which documents
8667-442: The night before its commercial release. In much the same way that Odd Blood was a departure from All Hour Cymbals , Fragrant World saw the band continuing to expand their sound. According to Wolf Tuton, while Odd Blood featured pop influences, Fragrant World deliberately shied away from them: "If the tone of something veered too closely to a random pop song or to something on our previous records, we’d immediately steer it in
8774-466: The north; Bedford–Stuyvesant to the south; Bushwick and East Williamsburg to the east; and the East River to the west. It was an independent city until 1855, when it was annexed by Brooklyn; at that time, the spelling was changed from Williamsburgh (with an "h") to Williamsburg. Williamsburg, especially near the waterfront, was a vital industrial district until the mid-20th century. As many of
8881-477: The past, Southside United HDFC has held Puerto Rican Heritage as well as Dominican Independence Day celebrations, and currently operates El Museo De Los Sures. The name "El Museo De Los Sures" roughly translates to "The Museum of the Southside". Williamsburg is also home to not one, but two campuses of Boricua College : the Northside campus on North 6th Street, between Bedford Avenue and Driggs Avenue; as well as
8988-414: The refinery of the now-defunct Domino Sugar (formerly Havemeyer & Elder). Other important industries included shipbuilding and brewing. On April 18, 1835, the Village of Williamsburg annexed a portion of the Town of Bushwick. The Village then consisted of three districts. The first district was commonly called the "South Side", the second district was called the "North Side", and the third district
9095-558: The stage since 2008, was declared by the New York Fire Department to be a fire hazard. It was replaced with a large array of controllable LED tube clusters, designed by Noah Norman of Ancillary Magnet and built by the Glasslands management and their friends. The clouds were memorialized in the design for Glasslands’ first T-shirts, made available at the venue and online shortly after the installation's removal. In July 2013, Glasslands announced that they had upgraded to
9202-404: The statement: “We have decided that Yeasayer has reached its end.” Yeasayer's leader Chris Keating stated he got "a lot of inspiration and lyrics from books that I've read, poetry, or lines from a movie. Art is a constant back and forth, everyone is responding to someone else. Every song that you think is an original idea, someday you’re going to come across something in a children’s book that has
9309-503: The streets surrounding Our Lady of Mount Carmel church, located on Havemeyer and North 8th Streets, are dedicated to a celebration of Italian culture. The highlights of the feast are the "Giglio Sundays" when a 100-foot (30 m) tall statue, complete with band and a singer, is carried around the streets in honor of St. Paulinus and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Clips of this awe-inspiring sight are often featured on NYC news broadcasts. A significant number of Italian-Americans still reside in
9416-425: The sudden closure of the neighboring venue 285 KENT in early 2014, as well as the announcement that Glasslands’ building neighbor Death By Audio would also be closing, rumors circulated in the press that Vice Media had its eye on the whole of the warehouse complex that contained Glasslands for its new headquarters. Press accounts reported that the print magazine turned conglomerate received a large tax incentive from
9523-452: The venue became sought for local bookings by bands, such as Grizzly Bear , Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio , Matt and Kim , Deerhunter , Adam Green , Kimya Dawson , and Julianna Barwick . Chairlift ‘s Caroline Polachek recalls, “It was a graffiti-covered warehouse space without a stage, and people watched from a rickety loft balcony that I was sure was going to collapse while Japanther
9630-507: The venue. The Village Voice dubbed Glasslands the “Best Arts Venue Conjuring Avenue A in The 80s “. In late 2009 Baxter and Hu opened a piano bar and restaurant called The Manhattan Inn in Greenpoint . At this time, Rami Haykal and Jake Rosenthal of PopGun Presents were made the in-house talent buying team at Glasslands. 2011 saw major renovations, including the movement of the stage to
9737-583: Was "What could we do to make an obvious change but still preserve the integrity of the song, and to give the song new life not just for us but also for the audience?" The band partnered with Casey Reas and The Creators Project to develop an interactive set for the Fragrant World tour. The set consisted of mirrored prism-like structures that "utilize[d] elements of reflection and refraction to produce an immersive, multi-layered experience that ... subsume[d] audiences in color and light." On June 21, 2013,
9844-495: Was an estimated 36,000 adults and 32,000 children. A significant component of the Italian community on the North Side and East Side were immigrants from the city of Nola near Naples. Residents of Nola every summer celebrate the "Festa dei Gigli" (feast of lilies) in honor of St. Paulinus of Nola , who was bishop of Nola in the fifth century, and the immigrants brought this tradition over with them. For two weeks every summer,
9951-703: Was at first heavily German, but many Jews from the Lower East side of Manhattan came to the area after the completion of the Williamsburg Bridge in 1903. Williamsburg had two major community banks: the Williamsburgh Savings Bank at 175 Broadway (chartered 1851, since absorbed by HSBC ); and its rival, the Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh one block west (chartered 1864, now known as the DIME, has remained independent). The area around
10058-631: Was built in 1856, and by 1870 processed more than half of sugar used in the United States. A fire in 1882 caused the plant to be completely rebuilt in brick and stone; these buildings exist today, though the refinery stopped operating in 2004. In 2010, a developer proposed to convert the site to residential use; since them, a new plan was approved for the Domino Sugar Factory, led by Two Trees Management. The New England Congregational Church and Rectory , built between 1852 and 1853,
10165-481: Was called the "New Village". The names "North Side" and "South Side" remain in common usage today, but the name for the Third District has changed often. The New Village became populated by Germans, and for a time was known by the sobriquet of "Dutchtown". In 1845, the population of Williamsburgh was 11,500. On April 7, 1840. reflecting its increasing urbanization, Williamsburg separated from Bushwick as
10272-535: Was cut off from the other villages in Bushwick by Bushwick Creek to the north and by Cripplebush, a region of thick, boggy shrub land that extended from Wallabout Creek in the south to Newtown Creek in the east. Bushwick residents called Bushwick Shore "the Strand". Farmers and gardeners from the other Bushwick villages sent their goods to Bushwick Shore to be ferried across the East River to Manhattan for sale via
10379-531: Was described by the band as " Sgt. Pepper meets Hieronymous Bosch meets Dali meets Pee-Wee's Playhouse ." On March 2, 2016, the band released the third single "Silly Me," a track with a decidedly more pop inspired sound described by the trio as being "from a different spectrum." On April 10, 2019, the band announced their fifth album Erotic Reruns . The album was released on June 7, 2019, via their own Yeasayer Records. The band announced it had split via its social media accounts on December 19, 2019, with
10486-483: Was dominated by high rises and chain stores. Despite the rise in the cost of living that followed, and the loss of the original creative community that had rejuvenated the district, a new contemporary art scene and vibrant nightlife emerged that catered to new residents. However, the intensity and innovations of the Immersionist era in Williamsburg has continued to project the district's image internationally as
10593-553: Was listed on the NRHP in 1983. It is also a city landmark. The church was sold to its current occupant, La Iglesia Pentecostal La Luz del Mundo, in 1981. One historic district also exists in Williamsburg, the Fillmore Place Historic District . Landmarked in 2009, it consists of several Italianate style buildings. Numerous structures are also located on the NRHP, but are not city landmarks. The Austin, Nichols and Company Warehouse , built in 1915 to
10700-606: Was located. A monthly lecture series, concerts, rotating art installations, community fund-raising events, workshops, and a free after-school program were all part of the space's stated mission. The layout at the time included a “typewriter room”, a “painting room” and the “lounge/conversation room.” Practice rooms for bands were also incorporated. Glasslands was double in size as the Glass House and more hospitable for performances, with better sound and seating. The newly dedicated concert-hall venue operated for “all ages” and without
10807-469: Was not revealed until doors opened for the event. Recapping the night, Jen Carlson wrote, “RIP Glasslands. RIP Williamsburg. RIP Brooklyn. Etc.” 40°42′50″N 73°57′35″W / 40.713889°N 73.959722°W / 40.713889; -73.959722 Williamsburg, Brooklyn Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn , bordered by Greenpoint to
10914-439: Was playing.” Visual artists exhibited at Glass House Gallery included Erica Magrey, Brooke Borg, and DNA (Aaron Almendral and Mariano Delgado). On Friday nights, the gallery held free “art jam hangouts” where all who attended were encouraged to collaborate. In May 2006, Baxter partnered with musician and artist Rolyn Hu to open The Glasslands Gallery at 289 Kent Ave, a larger partition of the same warehouse complex where Glass House
11021-553: Was released in October 2007 via We Are Free . The band has self described their sound as "Middle Eastern-psych-snap-gospel." Wilder has referenced influences including " Bollywood soundtracks from the 70s, Mapfumo records, and Celtic music ." Many critics described the album as having "spiritual" influences. Wilder expanded on this in an interview, stating: "When you lack any specific religion, you become open to all sorts of religious music. And I think everyone can agree that some of
11128-544: Was reported that Williamsburg's Jewish community had among the highest rates of applications for Section 8 housing vouchers. However, the newspaper New York Daily News doubted the legality of the applications. In 2016, the Daily News said that New York City census tracts with 30% or more of the population applying for Section 8 were present only in Williamsburg and the Bronx , except that Williamsburg's real estate, after
11235-492: Was such a wall of noise and we couldn’t do anymore with it so we tried to strip it away ... Creatively it was a departure and it was a challenge to try and do it and simplify ... it was ... fun to try and not hide behind the haze." In February 2010, Yeasayer first appeared on the cover of The FADER in its 66th issue. The album was well received critically and commercially, with high placements on several notable year end best album lists including Time , Spin , and Under
11342-461: Was the most densely populated city in the United States. The novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn addresses a young girl growing up in the tenements of Williamsburg during this era. Brooklyn Union Gas in the early 20th century consolidated its coal gas production to Williamsburg at 370 Vandervoort Avenue, closing the Gowanus Canal gasworks. The 1970s energy crisis led the company to build
11449-463: Was transferred to PopGun's Rosenthal and Haykal. Glasslands’ continual improvements and augmentations allowed for it to book some national touring acts looking for an intimate space with some underground credibility. FKA twigs , Disclosure , WU LYF , SZA , Angel Olsen , Charli XCX , Darkside , Grimes , Alt-J , Franz Ferdinand , The Clean and Nils Frahm were some of these acts. Vashti Windish's paper clouds installation, which had hung above
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