BROOKLYN BOULE: July 2009

Friday, July 31, 2009

E-madness = US $1,450.00

Who are these people that sell Pétanque sets at ridiculous prices? Is the world that greedy? And if Neiman Marcus was selling sets of Pétanque boule in the 60's why not now? Is it not retro or chichi enough? Why is it that crap supersedes quality? Imitation is not the finest form of flattery, it's fraud! All I can add is; thank the heavens Philippe from Pétanque America is here, á la mode, to outfit all with shinny balls, at a reasonable price.

(Although whom ever's selling them did do their homework with a nice write up and I do like the yellow case, but that's beside the point! And 8, why not 12? There's more than enough room, at least get the numbers right. 12 crap balls are better than 8 crap balls.I know they do that in France too, sell vacation sets, by why, why, why!!!)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

NO BALLS?

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Brooklyn Pétanque Bar Tabac tournament on Smith St. SNY tv 2007

Just in case you missed it two years ago, here is the SNY "Street Games" episode of Pétanque, as played on Smith Street in Brooklyn for the Bastille Day Tournament hoasted by Bar Tabac.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zTi2kkaFAoQ/RwHBH9ZPdLI/AAAAAAAAAyM/PBzEaWvPWTg/s200/street_games.jpg

Pétanque

The sublime game, of French/Belgian decent, played world wide has now found it's way to North Brooklyn under the shade of three oak trees in McCarren Park williamsburg/Greenpoint. As in resent years the popularity, good press and not to mention the Bastille Day Bar Tabac Petanque tournament has opened a lot of eyes to the joy of Petanque. There are of course places to play in Manhattan and clubs to join, but time has come for some Brooklyn Boule. In McCarren park there are Bocce courts next to the running track but alas it's surface is not suited (in my opinion) to Petanque, as well as feeling like your playing in a coal bunker. So to the trees we go, three beautiful American Oak trees ( now more, thanks to the all the groups and support for the park), are nestled in the mid-south east of the park. The trees cover an area large enough for one game and there is a another, that is in the light at night, shade by day and lit in the eve. They are NOT perfect "pistes" or man-made courts, but challenging patches of playable surface, so hard to find in our beautifully manicured urban city parks. To share the surrounding areas with such activities as Baseball, Kickball, Frisbees, kites and boomerangs; and on the odd occasion Medieval Sword Fighting. Only enhances the communal aspect of park life and the people around us.
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I have started this blog to create some interest and hope that players of all levels can embrace the idea of playing in Brooklyn, maybe leading to having our own "Washington Square like Petanque Piste".

Please feel free to sign our "GUESTBOOK"
BROOKLYN BOULE