Bed-Stuy Gateway and the Fulton-Nostrand Revitalization Project

Special Screening of "Bullets in the Hood"

We at Bed-Stuy Gateway have been feeling really "Bed-Stuy and Proud of It" in recent days. The review of our neighborhood by that charming UK couple-turned Bed-Stuy residents in The Times of London made us feel really warm and fuzzy about our brownstoned neighborhood. This past weekend, we also caught a showing of Dave Chappelle's Block Party, which was largely filmed just a few blocks away at Quincy and Downing Streets, and which featured great music and lots of love for "The Stuy" from the likes of Kanye West, Mos Def, the Roots and assorted concertgoers.

We've even started to feel nostalgic for the good old days of the Bed-Stuy ca.1982 that Chris Rock inhabits in "Everybody Hates Chris", but we quickly realized that our neighborhood does indeed contain traces of a downtrodden and violent recent past that don't really convey in "Everybody Hates Chris".

Nothing reminds us of this more than the independent film "Bullets in the Hood" which chronicles the tense hours and days after 19-year old Timothy Stansbury was shot and killed by a police officer in Bed-Stuy in January 2004. This documentary film, which was created by Terrence Fisher, a friend of Timothy Stansbury, and fellow teen filmmaker Daniel Howard, was honored with a "Special Jury Prize for Short Filmmaking" at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and has gone on to screenings at the San Francisco International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival and American Black Film Festival.

Today we received a flyer letting us know that Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation is hosting a special screening of "Bullets in the Hood" and discussion with the two young filmmakers and the mother of the late Timothy Stansbury. The screening is open to the public, but space is limited. Here are the details.

• Monday, March 20, 2006 - 7pm Sharp. Arrive early, space is limited
• Suggested donation of $5 to support the Timothy Stansbury Memorial Foundation
• Location: The Billie Holiday Theater at Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY

Link: 'Dave Chappelle's Block Party' - Salon
Link: Review: Dave Chappell's Block Party - New York Newsday
Previously: The British Are Coming! The British Are Coming! - BedStuyGateway

Crain's: The Billie Holiday Gets a Facelift

34 years young and getting a facelift.  Bed-Stuy's own Billie Holiday Theater is getting a makeover thanks to $900,000 donated by Mr. Brooklyn himself, Borough  President Marty Markowitz.  According to its website, The Billie Holiday Theater "has nurtured the careers of Oscar-nominated actor Samuel L. Jackson; multitalented performer, choreographer and director Debbie Allen; television, film and theater producer Samm-Art Williams; musician, composer and playwright Weldon Irvine (TO BE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK); actress Tichina Arnold ("Rochelle Rock" on UPN's "Everybody Hates Chris"); award-winning scenic designer Felix Cochren and many others."  At a ceremony on Wednesday, 10/26, The Billie Holiday Theater accepted a check from the Borough President and honored actress Ruby Dee.    
Link: Crain's New York Business news, lists, rankings, directory and more.