Brooklyn Torch Project » Journal

Karen Hudes

Mary — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:45:23 +0000

Karen recently contacted me to be listed among our registry of available services/goods in the neighborhood available for Brooklyn Torch.

photo taken with Impossible Film

Since I have been doing this photo project, I asked if she wouldn’t mind if I came by to take a photo and meet her in person. She lives in the ever lovely Graham area of Williamsburg and she makes very lovely bracelets. Check out the one she made me!

She ingeniously combines industrial materials- the letters are from a company that manufactures them for labeling cables. Cool, no? Check out her listing in our register and give her a shout if you want to grab one or two!

Like many of us, she’s more than just a maker. Karen has also worked with the City Reliquary (an amazing small museum that you MUST visit often) on a showing of the history of shop signs along Metropolitan Avenue. She was a joy to visit, and I hope that you get to meet her one day as a neighbor, merchant, or friend soon.

Landmark Bicycles

Mary — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:04:43 +0000

Chung, the owner of Landmark Bicycles on Bedford Avenue at South 6th street tells me that he might consider taking Brooklyn Torch at his store. That might not sound as certain as other stores, but I bet if you go in there and follow up with him, he’ll become more sure. Bike repair was one of the strongest requests for where residents would like to spend Brooklyn Torch. He’s thinking about moving to the ‘hood and bets that he would be most likely to use the local currency once he’s living here too. Get in there for winterizing your bike with gear and grease- and tell him you’d like to pay with Torch!

photo taken with Impossible Film

Some Thoughts From Louis CK

Mary — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:47:24 +0000

I learned that money can be a lot of things. It can be something that is hoarded, fought over, protected, stolen and withheld. Or it can be like an energy, fueled by the desire, will, creative interest, need to laugh, of large groups of people. And it can be shuffled and pushed around and pooled together to fuel a common interest, jokes about garbage, penises and parenthood.

- Louis CK

Brooklyn Kitchen

Mary — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 03:02:02 +0000

Taylor from The Brooklyn Kitchen is up to make the Brooklyn Torch work for her business. Even Moxie thinks it’s a good idea to try a local currency! If you’re a fan of local economies, make sure to shop at the Brooklyn Kitchen. Soon, you might be able to sign up for a class and offer to partially pay in Brooklyn Torches.

Meanwhile, please consider taking a class in holiday confections in their class kitchen. After the class, you can value your future bake-sale-ready confections in a local currency.

photo taken with Impossible Film

Damn Digital

Mary — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:17:37 +0000

Damn Digital is an interactive agency based in DUMBO. They have created all sorts of work for clients including a very cool digital children’s book for use on the iPad. If you have a design problem and are looking for someone to help you strategize and execute, Danii is a great person to get to know. I recommend you check out her work and give her a digital ring! Plus, look at that light in their space in the photo, it’s inspiring. Thanks Danii for being such a supporter and for understanding the potential of a local currency. She says she’s accept Torch– take notes!

photo taken with Impossible Film

Brooklyn Grange

Mary — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:12:43 +0000

We have farmers! Right here in our neighborhood! Brooklyn Grange is the world’s largest rooftop farm and they create enough on their farm to sustain not only a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) member group, but also to represent and sell their goods at Smorgasburg weekly on Saturdays. Ben and Dave both said they would be willing to consider accepting a local currency in exchange for their veggies, so that’s good news for our network!

photo taken with Impossible Film

Impossible Film Makers

Mary — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:38:32 +0000

Next up, the makers of the Impossible film which fascinated me enough to write a stipend project proposal based on taking pictures.

These Impossible people are so helpful. They hooked me up with a cool frog tongue which helps protect the evolving film from the ever bright sun. (or other light sources) Patrick even helped me install it.

Now I’m all set with my film to come and take your picture!

photo taken with Impossible Film

Meet The Bankers

Mary — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:47:05 +0000

With my stipend check in hand, I went off to deposit the check at our local Federal Credit Union, The Brooklyn Coop. Samira and Geoff are so great, they introduced me to a host of services they provide for our neighbors. The Brooklyn Coop has all sorts of really wonderful account features for residents. Financial planning classes, easy to setup accounts, ATM cards, all by a small local banking company.

Meet our local bankers!

photo taken with Impossible Film

Impossible Torch Photo Project Starts

Mary — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:49:12 +0000

First up, Macktez, the stipend grantors, local IT consultancy group, are all around good people. When I went by to pickup the stipend check, they were having a feast. Here is Matthew with the feast, my check, my wallet and a Brooklyn Torch voucher. I got my stipend check and shook hands with as many technologically helpful folks as I could find.

photo taken with Impossible film

Impossible Project sponsors Brooklyn Torch photo project

Mary — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 18:42:39 +0000

We are honored to announce that the Impossible Project will be sponsoring Mary’s project to photograph local exchanges while explaining the concept of a local currency to merchants.