Pétanque Score is now available from the App Store....

App Store Link 

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Pétanque Score....COMING SPRING 2011

An iOS app for Pétanque

Keeping your pétanque score has never been easier. In the tradition of a hand-held pocket counter, you rotate the wheels to keep score for each side, 

choose the top score to be played to and set the 'game over' mode for a visual finale. This app will never leave you asking "…..what's the score?" as the boules clack and the pastis is sipped in the afternoon sun. 
Made by pétanque players, for pétanque players. 

Features 

•Track score of both players / teams 

•Swipe across to reset score to 0-0 

•Adjust score up and down by turning wheels 

•Remembers score after closing 

•Select highest score 0-11, 0-13, 0-15 

•Set game mode to Game Over or free rotation 

•Shortcut access to instructions (tap 3 fingers on Score screen)

•Click chasing arrows to animate flip 

•Localized for French and English

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Pétanque lessons in Bryant Park

As the Pétanque season warms up in New York City, Bryant Park is alive once again to the sounds of clacking boule and cheers of triumph. The newly laid lawn is now finished and almost ready to sit upon and most of the laying of new pipes under the paving stones etc is complete. The park is reborn. For those that don't know, pétanque lesson are given throughout the week from 11:00 - 6:00. There is, at nearly any given time, people playing pétanque in the park. A constant flow at all times, games played, people coming and going, smiles and handshakes. All are welcome and all feel welcomed. A serene haven in the hustle a bustle of Manhattan. So if you have some time to spare, stop by and throw some boules around. Get to know how this little corner of a park can be a home away from home or an arena of gladiators.....

La Boule OBUT VW van....

When you have no boules to play, keep an eye out for the OBUT van in your local neighborhood, delivering Pétanque boules year round....

La Pétanque....

Brooklyn Boule goes official ........

Brooklyn Boule is now an official FPUSA Pétanque club.

It has been a long time in the making but now with the support of the Federation of Petanque USA and the other New York clubs, we have come together to to give rise to a new pétanque club in North Brooklyn. In doing so we hope to broaden the wealth of players and the love for the game.....
 The club, as of this posting, is still young, with a modest group of dedicated players, with varied skills and playing abilities. We are encouraging players to come and join from all boroughs, no matter what your Pétanque experience is, from novice to pro, there is always room for more.
 Strength in numbers is our goal at the moment. As the sun has started to finally show it's winter-worn face, we will be starting our scheduled meeting times and organizing games. For anyone wanting to become a new member and support the rebirth of Brooklyn Boule please email us at Brooklyn Boule.

Fall update... 2010

This past weekend was a sight to see in McCarren Park, Pétanque pandemonium. As all the available courts in Manhattan are now off limits, across the river they come.  Washington Square Park is far from being completed as promised and I would estimate not being so until at least Spring 2011. Bryant Park has turned it's self into a Christmas consumer strip-mall, engulfing the courts, so as to cram as many mini boutiques as possible; Christmas comes early in Manhattan....
As the Pétanque season wraps up here in New York, more and more players are being introduced to the benefits and proximity of McCarren Park (one stop on the L train and surrounded by bars). So as long as the weather remains warm, head to North Brooklyn and see some fine free range Pétanque and enjoy a post game beverage.....


(LBNY's last tournament of the year will be held at the Prospect Park courts courtesy of NYPC, this sunday at 10.00am)

Bouleoises 2010

2010 UPDATE

Since I haven't updated for a long time I thought it best to do so.

McCarren Park has undergone some changes over the last year or so. The one thing that affected pétanque play the most was the closing off of the area behind the Parks Department building on the North end of the park. Is was the space the avid volleyballers swarmed to every weekend, from sun-up to sun-set, these guys are serious about their game. But the park decided to close it off, for well over a year. In doing so left the volleyballers without an arena and forced then to find other spots, namely 'ours'.

Hard enough as it is with the overcrowding of Williamsburg and sheer volume of people playing every game under the sun, it made it near impossible to play on Sunday afternoons. A week or so ago they took the fences down, from the old volleyball courts. So, we'll see if they head back or not.

Wednesday nights this year have been mainly wet and miserable. But it is still the best time to play in the park, cool and lit in the warm summer months ahead.

The Parks/Dept have turned on Spotlight 4 which gives more light and they've planted a few more trees around for good measure.

I have met, heard from and played with many Pétanquers over the years that want to play or have played in McCarren Park. Yet the commitment needed to establish a regular schedule is still lacking. The whole North Brooklyn "Green" space is changing, due to massive east river development, now is the time to unite for the greater good of a community. Only together, as lovers of the game, can we establish a permanent, undisturbed and respected site to play on.

The Message Board feature has been removed from this Blog as unfortunately it was not a successful as I'd hoped. I always thought the Recycle-a-boule was a great idea, but without regular users, it becomes a ghost-town. (If there a desire for this continue I will bring it back, or if someone is selling a set or pétanque related items on ebay or craigslist, I can list them here..)

As for the Blog it self, I may see if attaching it to Facebook works as far as linking the updates to friends-of Brooklyn-Boules walls. This may inform and hopefully entertain, at speed most are used to. I would like to continue updating and posting, so the more feedback and support the Blog gets, the more it will be kept active.

(A message from the author)

"I apologize if I have neglected this Blog and broken promises of updates and postings of all things pétanque. Since this Blogs inception there have been many others that have followed suit, and now somewhat overshadow, this small one-armed-bandit of a plea for committed players.

I have worked hard to make the site as useful and creative as I could, to promote pétanque, in Brooklyn and afar. In doing so, it has changed my life; The people I have met and the games I have played. The technical skills I have discovered whilst creating the graphic and film elements of the Blog has enriched my artistry and Adobe© deciphering. All of the fresh air I have inhaled as a result of being outside, battling the weather and stray balls in McCarren park. The support that I and the Blog have gotten over the years has been phenomenal. I have been enriched through the game of pétanque and the people that play it. Young and old, the curiosity for the game draws a diverse crowd worldwide.

I was never that fond of 'sports' and wasn't even aware that pétanque was one until I started promoting it in Brooklyn, Game being different from a Sport. Yet as my knowledge grew I became more aware of harmony within the duality. The friendly, casual and social game, can, with or without an umpire, be respectfully approached in the context of a focused challenge. Hunt the point, shoot the coch, eye-ball that triangulation of who is closer, a good firm handshake and abide by the etiquette of a scholar. Which ever way you view and play pétanque, it never ceases to be rewarding.

For the past two years I have been working on a exciting Pétanque project that will, when it's finished, be a wonderful addition to the pétanque community worldwide. This 'project' has caused me to neglecting the Blog of a time but I'm hoping to add to the evolution and contemporary approach of the wonderful thing that is Pétanque. I will be previewing all our endeavors as soon a available. Meanwhile please participate when you visit the Blog, sign the guest book, brows through the posts, comment and share your thoughts.

I wish also to give a personal thanks to; Laura (my wife and giver of my first set of boule), Nick (the man that reignited the fire), Mark (my boulebotherforever), Benedict (my true brother,

for believing in and questioning all that I do), Callahan (where ever you are), Christophe, Philippe, Ernesto, Jeppy, JC, all the people I've dragged to the park, all the commenters on the blog and the ongoing friendships I've made having fun with balls of steel. Hats off to you all........"

Tristram

Oh yeah, by the way Brooklyn Boule is not New York Pétanque Club. They are firmly seated south of Prospect Park. So please visit their site, (see link) for questions about their new courts and club information. I'll be teaching pétanque in Bryant Park on Thursdays 11.00 - 2.30 this summer, feel free to stop by.....

Don't let the Pigeon play pétanque....

Another Christmas Crèche from Valerie

It was wonderful to meet up, this summer in New York, with valerie and her family, the creator of these fine animation shorts. She brings such warmth a humor to Pétanque, not only with her movies but as a player too. I look for ward to next years installment of the Christmas Crèche and those dedicated pétanque playing figurines.

A Joyeux Noël to all and may your New Year be filled with Pétanque, sea ,sex and sun......