Bushwick’s former factories have become home to thousands of artsy young folks — so it’s only fitting the neighborhood’s block parties are a little different than the ones you’ll find elsewhere in the borough.
The blocks around the Morgan L station will erupt in a music-art-and-pizza-filled blowout on July 28, say event organizers who will shut down Moore Street between Bogart and White streets to bring out the seemingly abandoned neighborhood’s art-loving denizens for a not-so-old-fashioned block party.
“When we first opened here, there was nothing around,” said Anthony Falco, the director of mobile operations for Roberta’s Pizza, which is the main sponsor of the event. “It’s been great to watch the whole area grow, and this is a celebration of that.”
And though closing down a street to party is standard Brooklyn fare, this isn’t a standard Brooklyn street. Moore Street has, in many ways, become a social hub for the young people who have flocked to the area for cheap live-work spaces.
In its first year, the block party was held on a cold and rainy September day — but last year, Roberta’s moved it to July, where it fell on one of the hottest days of the year.
The organizers had a dunk tank and opened up a fire hydrant. Partiers huddled in the few spots of shade and watched Bushwick’s wildest and weirdest belt out their heartfelt compositions.
Revelers can expect more of that this year, as well as oddities such as professional wrestling matches in the middle of the street, motorcycle burnouts from the motorcycle gang and fashion label Deth Killers and an instant photobooth.
“We’re out here in the middle of nowhere,” said Falco. “It gives us room to experiment. There’s all this great energy out here, so why not get it all in one place?”
This is the third year of the Bushwick Block Party and organizers are optimistic it will be the biggest yet, with rocker Andrew WK as the celebrity draw. Other local performers include Heems, Tournament and Wild Yaks.
Phillip Gilmour, owner of Momo Sushi Shack, said the block party helps to showcase what makes Bushwick unique among New York City neighborhoods.
“It’s a younger and more eclectic neighborhood,” said Gilmour. “There are all these young artist people out here. It seems desolate, but it’s not.”
Bushwick Block Party at Roberta’s [261 Moore Street, (718) 417–1118, robertaspizza.com]. July 28, 12 pm–12am. Free.
