Street Art is not illegal anymore! There used to be graffitis on and in subways in the 80’s in NYC, which created an insecure feeling…actually it was not just a feeling – almost all my ex coworkers in NY told me a story where they were threatened at gunpoint to give away their money or credit card at an ATM in NYC in the 90’s.
Anyway, years later, a few mayors later too – in particular Guiliani – NYC is safer and there is no more graffiti on subways. And nowadays, Street Art is managed by Collectives where artists must apply to be given a wall somewhere in NYC – mainly in Queens and Brooklyn- to create new murals.
I discovered Buschwick Street Art thanks to a guided tour provided by New York Off Road. When I used to lived in Williamsburg/Greenpoint, between 2007 and 2014, we were advised to avoid this Brooklyn neighborhood – Bushwick – as it was not safe. Gentrification was starting, and the only restaurant we could go to was Roberta’s, an Italian restaurant. I should actually say it was the first restaurant which attracted people from NYC into Bushwich as no one before wanted to hang out in he middle of Bushwick’s warehouses.
Imagine how surprised I was when I got off the L train at Jefferson Stop to discover a very touristic area in the afternoon: several groups of tourists who were visiting Street Art in Jefferson Street, Wyckof Street, St Nicholas Ave, etc…. You can come with your kids and have a family lunch at one of the places around the Jefferson Subway stop.
At night, crowd is younger and hipster tend to hang out in this area now, rather than too popular Williamsburg. You may also book a table for dinner at Faro restaurant, in the 2018 Michelin guide or you may have a drink at one of the hidden bars, commonly called speakeasy bars….
Anyway, this is a place you can visit very often as murals are renewed quite often. You shouldn’t miss the Buskwick Collective Block Party early June when most artists paint new walls. Check out those photos!
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