Sunday was an absolutely beautiful autumn day. I went out in the morning to watch the marathon at the corner of Lafayette Ave and Washington Ave. I could hear live music, cheering, and cowbells from two blocks away. The excitement was contagious as I approached Lafayette.

The police motorcycles clearing the way, the runners shuffling through the crowded streets, the spectators cheering. I never knew watching people run could be so much fun, nobody ever told me the NYC Marathon is actually a party.

It was inspirational to watch so many people–almost 40,000–push themselves physically and mentally to run all 26.219 miles through the 5 boroughs. There were so many different types of people, with different levels of intensity. From professional runners who were pushing like they were running for gold in the Olympics, to the more casual athletes who looked as if they were a couple days late for the Halloween parade, the crowd cheered just as hard for each.

After the brief downpour on Saturday morning I ventured out on my bike and with camera and a 55 mm lens in tow. The winds were were blustering but otherwise a pretty day, sun shining and in the 70′s. I went to the Groundbreaking of the Richard B. Fisher Building at The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The new arts facility will live at at 321 Ashland Place, former home to the Salvation Army. The renovation on the 7,700-square-foot building is expected to be completed in the summer of 2012 and will include a garden rooftop for special events.

The vendor tents and picnic tables were lined up down the block. Scents of BBQ chicken and fried seafood filled the air. The festivities were kicked off by the Soul Tigers and The Brooklyn Steppers in a spirited Battle of the Bands. The crowd formed tightly around the bands with smiles and cheers all around. The crowd was instructed to give them room as the bands started swinging their drums with their choreographed moves. It was really a fantastic performance by both bands.

Representatives from BAM, The Fisher Family, Letitia James, and Mary Markowitz were among the speakers. There was a lot of excitement about the continued expansion of the BAM cultural community. District 35 city councilwoman Letitia James spoke of the future of arts and culture in Brooklyn and what this development means to that future. By naming legends as diverse as Beethoven, Dizzy Gillespie and Jay-Z she reminded the crowd of the ever present need to support the artist. Borough President Marty Markowitz spoke about the continued growth of downtown Brooklyn. He got the crowd going by discussing the soon to be Brooklyn Nets. The Fisher family–namesake for the new building–spoke warmly about what BAM has meant to them as a family growing up and living in Brooklyn by discussing the concerts, dance performances and operas that have defined Brooklyn culture throughout their lives.

The groundbreaking had a very celebratory atmosphere. In a time when budgets are tight, often it is the cultural programs that are the first to get cut. It is nice to see the continued expansion and renewed importance placed on the arts and culture that define Brooklyn. The creation of a new 263-seat performance venue and affordable space for the community and education programs is the kind of project I can get behind.

LINKS
More info and a rendering of the renovated Richard B. Fisher Building
Recent WSJ interview with BAM President Karen Brooks Hopkins discussing the project
Brownstoner covers the groundbreaking