What'll happen to Billyburg?

The New York Time wrote about the, often stigmatized, "trust fund babies" a.k.a "trustfunders" or "trustafarians" of Williamsburg -- 20 somethings who rely greatly on their parents to help pay for $2,500 rent lofts while they go after their passions and spend time in boutiques and coffeeshops off Bedford Ave. We all know how difficult it is to make rent and other essential living expenses in this city, while juggling jobs and having the time and energy to create work – oh yeah, and some sleep as well. It looks like the economy has hit Billyburg and many are moving out. The recession is definitely affecting the entire strata of the social pyramid. It doesn't seem like there's anyone untouched by this.

I couldn't get over the quote which, mind you, I thought was a farce and something more that I would more likely read off of The Onion than the New York Times:

Luis Illades, an owner of the Urban Rustic Market and Cafe on North 12th Street, said he had seen a steady number of applicants, in their late 20s, who had never held paid jobs: They were interns at a modeling agency, for example, or worked at a college radio station. In some cases, applicants have stormed out of the market after hearing the job requirements.

“They say, ‘You want me to work eight hours?’" Mr. Illades said. “There is a bubble bursting.”

I know, I know...but schadenfreude is the entire point of the article...and this blog post. (I never claimed to be perfect.) Here's a link to the New York Times article. As an added bonus and for an interesting read on the hipster debate, check this out. Technorati Tags: art, art, recession, economy, Williamsburg, struggling artist

Be a Thief

If you're going to steal, be authentic and sincere about it.

Street Artist: Swoon

I ran into one of my an interview of Swoon, whom I've never seen before. So it was quite a discovery. I had a feeling this artist was somewhere nearby, definitely living in Brooklyn 'cause most of the pieces I've had the luck running into have been in Dumbo, the Slope, etc, etc. I love how the direction the art is going.