May 15th Barriers Go up – During a 4-6 month period beginning in mid-2010, the entire area will be closed due to overhead paint work. DOT expects to re-instate partial access after this work is completed.

“The Banks are still open?! ”
“Yeah I was there last weekend.”
“No way!”

Speak up for what you believe in.

Thanks to the active support of the community, the DOT has been respectfully leaving the park – as open as safely possible – as they begin the restoration of the Brooklyn Bridge. – But it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen very soon.

The Brooklyn Banks is a unique public space that truly reflects the spirit of New York City.

"Architectural structures reveal a great deal about their social context, not simply by their intended use, but by the spontaneous and evolving communal activity that is discovered in rivalry, camaraderie, the spirit of play and the human pursuit of something epic." – How to Save the Brooklyn Banks

Important Notice from the Department of Transportation

The concrete barriers go up May 15th!

The New York City Department of Transportation is performing rehabilitation and painting of the Brooklyn Bridge. Work commenced in January of 2010 and will continue until 2014. In order to facilitate the
reconstruction and painting work, the contractor will begin to mobilize in the area known as the Red Brick
Park and the Brooklyn Banks, between Pearl Street and Park Row on the north side of the Manhattan
approach of the Brooklyn Bridge.

The contractor installed protective guards around the trees at the end of March, and expects to place a concrete barrier along the perimeter of the shaded section on or around May 15th. Fencing will be installed after the concrete barriers are in place. Setting up this staging area is expected to continue until approximately May 30th. DOT is continuing to work with the communities using this area, to maintain as much access as can be safely accommodated, including the potential relocation of skate areas into areas outside of the staging area. During a 4-6 month period beginning in mid-2010, the entire area will be closed due to overhead paint work. DOT expects to re-instate partial access after this work is completed.

“The contemplated work, when constructed in accordance with my design, will not only be the greatest bridge in existence, but it will be the great engineering work of the Continent and of the age.”

- Report to the New York Bridge Company September 1, 1867 – Plan and Details of Anchorage, Approaches, Towers, and Steel Cables.

Tina Parol was just killing the mic with "Who’s Got Your Money" while Lorena and Desiree casually played in a custom built pink and black mini-ramp. The crowd of excited fashion and beauty bloggers circled around snapping pictures and waving to the skaters, while the upper echelon of Sephora (a seemingly she-she-chic brand) were proudly standing back telling themselves, “Wow, this was a really cool idea.”

Why don’t girls have more girl-inspired product sponsors?

At the time, I was too busy gushing over Simone Legno to think about what girls in skateboarding could learn from this event… that and the dude with the donuts on a light-saber kept lurking by the mini-ramp.Simone is a branding and illustrative genius who had been a huge inspiration for me for as long as I can remember being a graphic designer. When he hooked up Pooneh Mohajer and Ivan Arnold, Tokidoki was born and they began producing their "criminally cute" line of purses, t-shirts, and figurines… makeup and eventually skateboards.
"Hey!? Is anybody sponsored by Tokidoki?"

When it comes to raising the money we need – to pursue our epic dreams – maybe we should focus on what makes us different from the boys.

Instead of expecting the same treatment or fighting for equal contest purses -we have to accept it. Girls and guys will never be "equal" – until we have to do it ourselves. Because the problem with girls’ skateboarding, is not that we are skateboarding.. it’s that we are trying to make our mark on the world via the same path the boys before us have laid. It is very much like that in all sports. Except Women’s billiards, they did it all on their own.

Understanding (briefly) the power of the "Girl Brand"

In many ways we will always be "The Side Project", but being on the side is not – out of the picture. We have as much – if not more – ability to create smarter sponsorships for ourselves that are not 100% dependent on the success of our male counterparts. We just have to think like girls. Do you have any idea what the buying power of a 12 to 17 year old girl?

• In 2002, there was 4,810,000 female skateboarders.
• As a group, Teens of
  all ages spent a projected $112.5 billion dollars in 2003.
• Teenagers influence over $600 billion worth of spending
• Teenage girls spend over $9 billion on makeup and skin products alone

How many brands out there market to teenage girls? makeup & beauty products, clothing, accessories, music, health drinks are a only a handful. Those are the brands (across all sponsored athletics) that girls need to start seeking out.

Girl Organizations

There’s a longer list now then ever before. Local, national and international organizations who inspire, support and unite girls who skateboard (and other sports too.)

• Skate Like a Girl
• Girl Rider Organization
• Chica Rider
• Skirtboarders
• The Side Project

Lorena and Desiree rip it at Tokidoki.

(From: www.lat34.com) "The Maloofs understand the awesomeness of NYC because they are putting their Maloof Money Cup in NYC.  Rumors are running rampant as to what will show up on the exclusive skate course but info is slowly leaking.  If you want to get more scoop on what’s going on, check out Fuel’s The Daily Habit tomorrow night at 6:00PM because along with Geoff Rowley, Joe Ciaglia, Steve Rodriguez, and musical guest Dan Black, Joe Maloof will be making an appearance on the Habit.  Not often does the show get a billionaire to come on.  Should be pretty neat. Today’s New York Week episode is all about the upcoming Maloof Money Cup in NYC, and founder Joe Maloof is here to tell us about the exciting new developments. Also, course designer Joe Ciaglia and revered skater, Geoff Rowley unveils the blueprints for the Maloof Cup course. And, 5 Boro Skateboards Co-Owner, Steve Rodriguez drops in tell us what’s up in the 5 Boros this year. Plus, the pop artist, Dan Black, is bringing a live performance to our NYC Stride Sound Stage."

NYC Summer Discount

Due to popular demand this offer is Extended for ONE MORE WEEK!

$35 Private Lesson (Reg. $65) – It’s Over!!!! You missed it!

Ride a skateboard for the first time or learn how to perfect that trick.