It's not snowing, sleeting, raining, double-rainbowing... those are clear skies out there! But even a soft breeze is enough to take the L train down. It's so fragile. Currently there are no L trains into Manhattan, according to Brooklyn365, who says Williamsburg's Bedford Avenue platform is now "SWARMED with folks trying to get cabs." You have been warned. We've contacted the MTA—their site claims the L has "good service"—and we'll update when we hear back. If you are encountering any problems out there, send us your notes from the underground. more ›

Williamsburg got a brand new shiny Duane Reade just a few months ago, currently up and running on Kent Avenue and North 5th. And now like Gremlins doused in water, the store is multiplying — Curbed notes that the neighborhood is getting another one on Bedford Avenue and North 3rd! This is dangerously close to Kings Pharmacy, which has been the area's go-to drugstore and still has a prescription filling time one hour faster than the chain... but can they survive the Duane Reade-ification of the neighborhood? more ›

[UPDATE BELOW] On the same day that a woman was killed while riding her bike in Greenpoint, protesters denounced the Bloomberg administration for removing a 14-block stretch of bike lane on Bedford Avenue in South Williamsburg. Approximately 15 cyclists braved the incessant rain to "resurrect" the bike lane, and according to progressive activist group Times Up, the small group was outnumbered by the NYPD. There were no arrests, but organizer Barbara Ross tells us Lieutenant Daniel Albano, head lawyer for the NYPD, was front and center. Check out this video of an absurdly long NYPD procession trailing the cyclists through the rain: more ›

In February, NYC Transit installed video screens on the platform in the Myrtle-Wyckoff station in Brooklyn, showing the locations of every L train on the line, updated every 15 seconds. And now we know from the Twitter machine that the screens have arrived at Bedford Avenue. NYC Transit posted these photos, and we're told the screens have been installed at various points throughout the station. more ›

Cops were breaking out the heavy machinery again and revving up the chainsaws—it's bike removal time once again on Bedford Avenue. Greenpoint resident Ben Running started shooting video of the cops removing bicycles in another fiery scene on Bedford and North 8th in the heart of Williamsburg. Police make it clear that they don't want him shooting because as Running says, "They don't want you to videotape and put it on the internet." So like any decent citizen journalist, Running did just that. more ›

So this is what the inside of Moammer Gadhafi's controversial Bedouin tent looks like! Yesterday afternoon, the tent went up—and then was later taken down—on a Bedford, NY-estate leased by Donald Trump to some Middle East businessmen. WABC 7 reports, "Bedford Town Supervisor Lee Roberts says Gaddafi's son had the tent put back up this afternoon so he could eat and take pictures there." Now Gadhafi's son will have to resort to some Photoshop. more ›

Bedford's Libyan leader camping problem is over: Donald Trump—well, his company, the Trump Organization—said, "We have requested that the tenant occupying the property in Bedford, New York, remove the tent that was erected. They have complied with this request." Which meant that Moammer Gadhafi, heading to to the 'burbs after his wild United Nations speech had to turn back to NYC. more ›

Libyan leader Moammer Gadhafi is expected to speak to the United Nations today, but yesterday he caused a big stir when reports said a large Bedouin tent was being set up on the grounds of a Bedford, NY estate owned by Donald Trump. After initially denying reports, the Trump Organization now admits, "We have business partners and associates all over the world. The property was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partners who may or may not have a relationship with Mr. [Gadhafi]," sort of allowing it to say it didn't directly rent to Gadhafi. more ›

The tabloid circus surrounding Moammer Gadhafi's first visit to American soil goes on and on and on. Now the Huffington Post claims that Gadhafi is planning to pitch his tent at the Westchester estate of Donald Trump. We have to admit we find this a bit astonishing, but times are tough for real estate moguls. A Trump spokesperson called this "absolutely false," but then qualifed, "He is not there to my knowledge." The Huffpost claimed that the deal might get scrapped if there was "bad publicity." Uh-oh. more ›

There's surprising news today that the original Bonita location in Williamsburg will close August 15th, according to Brooklyn Based. Opened some six years ago, the popular Mexican restaurant is part of a Brooklyn restaurant empire that also includes Marlow and Sons, Diner, and a second Bonita in Fort Greene. Co-owner Andrew Tarlow blames the shutter on a sour relationship with the landlord: "He hates me. Always has." Also problematic is his failure to acquire a full liquor license for the location, which only serves wine and beer. Eater points out that nearby hotspot La Superior is, well, superior, and that may have something to do with Bonita's bow. But we're no fans of La Superior's skimpy little one-tortilla tacos; you eat five at $2.50 each and you still walk out hungry. So we'll miss Bonita's big fat burritos, but at least the down-market LA Burrito on Bedford Ave is still hanging in there with their decidedly less-haute Mexican fare. And the taco king of NYC, Papacito's, is still the reigning champ. more ›

Greenpoint resident Chrissie Brodigan says she was riding on the L train between Bedford and First Avenue when her pug, who has health problems, overheated and began vomiting in the tote bag she was carrying him in. As she was leaving the subway station with the dog in her arms, she says a police officer's attempt to issue her a ticket turned ugly, and when she became upset the cop began saying, "If you're going to act like a woman I'm going to treat you like a woman." [We've updated with photos of Brodigan's arrest. July 1 update: A new post with details about another witness's account is here. ] more ›

The season's second Williamsburg Walks took place this weekend (last Saturday was rained out), with Bedford Avenue closed to traffic from North 4th to North 9th Streets. Community groups set up tables, chairs, blankets and pillows for passers-by to linger and chat, and an atmosphere of peaceful conviviality prevailed—until the teenagers came with their accursed skateboards! With its indoor half-pipe, the KCDC skate shop on Wythe has been a magnet for skaters for years now, and on Saturday the place was packed for Go Skateboarding Day, with hundreds of youths rolling over to Bedford to gleam the cube. more ›

Williamsburg just got a little bit more adorable; the NYC Scout (who we interviewed last week) spotted some plastic mistletoe hanging above the stairs to the Bedford L stop. Will two down on their luck commuters find a love light at the end of the dark subway tunnel that is the holiday season? Stay tuned to the missed connections section of Craigslist where surely a real life romantic comedy will play out. more ›

Just when you thought hope was on the way, the NYPD comes to beat it out of you. Silly, silly cops--when will they learn that everything is caught on camera(phone)? Unsurprisingly, more and more video footage from the Election Night arrests on North 7th and Bedford in Williamsburg has found its way online. There's shoving with riot gear, excessive force, swearing, smashing of cameras and phones and a lot of pent up anger being taken out on celebratory Obama supporters (see below, and after the jump). more ›

As spontaneous parties broke out on every corner last night (just check out St. Mark's Place), things got a little bit crazy in Williamsburg once Barack Obama was declared leader of the free world--and there's nothing like a peaceful celebration to bring out the cops in riot gear! One tipster writes in about a reveler's run-in with the long arm of the law on North 7th and Bedford.

We were trying to get onto the sidewalk, as requested but hard to do when it is packed. The police pushed my boyfriend because he wasn't moving fast enough and when he spoke back to them the incident escalated. more ›

It's gonna be a scorcher today, the first day of Williamsburg Walks -- where the neighborhood creates a pedestrian-only zone on Bedford Avenue between Metropolitan and North 9th Street. more ›