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Block off your calendar and steady your hands–a high stakes Jenga tournament is coming to NYC this June, and the winner will walk home with $10,000 in their pocket!
For one day only, the liveliest blocks in NYC won’t just be the streets.
Hundreds of competitors will battle it out as they work their best to defy gravity in the form of a wooden block tower. $14,000 total in prize money will be awarded for the top teams with the steadiest hands–first place will receive $10,000, $2,500 will go to the runner up, $1,000 to third place, and $500 to fourth place.
Source / The National Blocking Association
Plus, beyond the wad of cash, first place will of course receive a towering gold Jenga trophy and the ultimate bragging rights.
Additional prizes will also be up for grabs for the most creative team names and best costumes, so definitely don’t hold back!
Corey Karibo and Alli Richter, also known as Team Always Bet on Block, came out on top at this past February’s tournament, which was held at the iconic TWA Hotel at JFK Airport.
Source / The National Blocking Association
Though with hundreds of spectators zeroing in on the placement of each and every block, things can get a bit nerve-racking.
Thankfully, for those who aren’t too confident with their block stacking abilities, there will be plenty of low-stakes fun to be had on tournament day. Spectators can try their hand at challenges like Block Against the Clock (a speed-stacking challenge) and the Fuzzy Fingers Challenge (playing Jenga while wearing goofy gloves).
Those who would rather leave their shaky hands out of it can instead just grab The National Blocking Association’s signature cocktail, the Slightly Unstable, check out the merch stand, or simply just spectate.
Source / The National Blocking Association
The epic Jenga tournament will stack up in the heart of NYC at The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel on Saturday, June 17.
Those interested in wiggling, tapping, and balancing their way to a gravity-defying victory can learn more and sign up here.
Mayor Eric Adams has signed a new bill requiring the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to provide officers with training on how to recognize and interact with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The bill, sponsored by New York City Councilmember Mercedes Narcisse, will equip officers with the tools to better engage with individuals…
Harlem Bespoke: Google has cancelled the previous email subscription format so we have switched tofollow.it for the newsletter. All current subscribers will be getting an updated feed confirmation link via email this week but if you want to switch right away to follow.it then just type in your email address below and press the subscribe button.
Harlem Bespoke: Our go to recommendation for last minute floral arrangements in Harlem used to be Harlem Flo but the shop has since moved north and has become La Fleur d’Harlem. The storefront at 203 West 144th Street is just west of Adam Clayton Powell will be open all weekend for Mother’s Day deliveries. All arrangements ordered before noon can be delivered on the same day. Drop by to see the special arrangements for the season if you have the time or just check out the website to get more details on how to make an order for delivery: LINK
The Broadway Junction station has always been a functional yet rhythmic chaos of transfers between the A/C, J/Z, and L trains. Mayor Eric Adams, along with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), is sinking $500 million in investments to revitalize the station into an inclusive and accessible space for commuters.
“I fought to bring investments to this community when I was Brooklyn borough president, and as mayor, I am proud to say that we are getting it done,” Adams said in a statement.
The large subway station serves six largely residential, predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Bushwick, Cypress Hills, East New York, and Ocean Hill.
As part of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) plans, the city will create two new public plazas on either side of Van Sinderen Avenue and Fulton Street. The city will invest $95 million into better lighting, signage, benches, and bike infrastructure, and the plan aims to make the junction more Americans with Disabilities Act- (ADA-) friendly with $400 million toward upgraded elevators and escalators. The plan also includes a new entrance with direct access to the L train on the east side of Van Sinderen Avenue.
“At one of Brooklyn’s busiest transit hubs, commuters deserve a fully accessible Broadway Junction complex that is surrounded by welcoming, attractive public spaces and safe infrastructure,” said Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez in a statement. “We’re working closely with the EDC and MTA to support their vision for the neighborhood and look forward to building on the street safety work DOT has done in the area.”
Deborah Williams, a nine-year Community Board (CB) 16 member, resident of Ocean Hill, and previous transit worker, said that the changes were a long time coming and widely welcomed.
“Today’s historic commitment to Broadway Junction is a victory and a direct result of the years of organizing and advocacy by East New York residents,” said Councilmember Sandy Nurse in a statement. “These investments are decades overdue.”
Nurse said that the process has been led by the people who live nearby, and her administration is completely committed to keeping the community’s residents front and center.
Supposedly “affordable” housing will be constructed near the station, as well as a business district.
The city said more than 433 homes have recently been completed or are under construction, with more than 1,700 additional homes projected or permitted. Nearly all of the 433 homes are meant for families earning less than 80% of area median income (AIM), and nearly 60% will be for families earning less than 50% of AIM.
At least 35% of design and construction contracts for the public space around the junction will be set aside for Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) businesses. The Department of Small Business Services (SBS) will also partner with NYCEDC, the MTA, and other employers on targeted outreach and marketing through upcoming training and recruitment events at the East New York Workforce 1 Center and throughout the Workforce1 system to meet hiring goals.
Planning and design will kick off this summer with community workshops. Groundbreaking is anticipated in 2027 and completion by 2030. Ariama C. Long is a Report for America corps member and writes about politics for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visitinghttps://bit.ly/amnews1.
