BAM in the 'Hood

As if to placate critics of the behemoth Atlantic Yards gentrification project, Bruce Ratner announces he'll include a "cultural programming" in the big Barclay's Center sports arena to be curated by BAM.

Funny he didn't ask The Civilians, eh?

Still, some interesting possibilities in the arena space. They say it's a "flexible seating" venue that can accommodate smaller shows, but I wouldn't mind seeing what, say, Robert Wilson could do with the full arena.

Meanwhile, Fort Greene continues to morph into the "BAM Cultural District" with the long-delayed groundbreaking of Theatre For A New Audience's shiny new theatre--to be launched in 2013, they say, with a new Julie Taymor production.

On the one hand, the BAM expansion is not being welcomed by all in this neighborhood--a modest residential area that has seen in the last decade seen luxury high-rises and other unaffordable properties take up space.

On the other hand, I am glad to see some theatrical gravitational pull towards Brooklyn--Off Broadway's natural home in the 21st Century. Despite the ugliness of that arena...

Official Rendering of Barclays Center