The Brooklyn Ink

[VIDEO] Boxer’s Father Void Filled By Coach

Jude Franklin, of Bedford-Stuyvesant, lost his father when he was 11 years old. Years later, Jude followed his father’s legacy of boxing by practicing the sport himself. The 18-year-old boxer met his coach Elmo Serrano about three years ago. For Jude, Serrano filled the void of a father. Now, Serrano is helping Jude focus on his goal to become a better fighter and person in general. Jude’s goal: to become a professional boxer and champion.

[VIDEO] Disabled New Yorkers Struggle to Get Around

Trudging up the stairs on the subway, it’s easy to forget that there are New Yorkers who can’t make it past a single step. They suffer from mobility issues or need a wheelchair to get around.

[VIDEO] Brownsville Rapper, D-Jukes, Spits his Story

Brownsville rap artist shares his story of making it out of the city’s most dangerous neighborhood and reflects his experience in his music.

[VIDEO] Hustling On The Streets of Sunset Park

George Rodriguez, 32, was evicted from his apartment in Sunset Park but a job selling waters and sodas outside of a mini mall on Fifth Avenue has changed his fate. Rodriguez’s extroverted personality and street hawking attracts people’s attention as he sells his refreshments and distributes business cards that promotes clothing attire and jewelry for the store. After being homeless for two months he now has a room he calls his own.

[VIDEO] Breeding Boas in Brooklyn

Mark Scott likes boa constrictors, and he thinks you should too. The owner of East River constrictors explains why his reptiles don’t deserve the bad reputation and what makes the untraditional pet so cool..

[VIDEO] Knocking on Wood: Making Antique Pieces Last

David Fernandez owns furniture restoration shop in Bay Ridge. He repairs antique chairs, tables and cabinets around Brooklyn, but fears that he might go out of business.

[VIDEO] Aspiring Martial Artist Fighter Shifts Focus after Sandy

Hurricane Sandy damaged many homes and put a dent in many dreams, including Joe Curcio’s. Curcio, 35, an amateur mixed martial arts fighter who trains in Brooklyn’s Renzo Gracie Academy, aspires to become professional and his goal is to make it to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC. But Hurricane Sandy stalled Curcio’s training and his focus shifted from preparing for a fight to helping his displaced family members clean the rubble of their destroyed homes in Staten Island, New York.

[VIDEO] Opera to Drag: Brooklyn Queen is a New Pioneer

Alotta McGriddles (no McDonald’s affiliation) performs her way to the height of her career.

[VIDEO] Workers’ Coops Seek Sustainability after Occupy

Two workers’ cooperatives are occupying their time with their businesses, while still helping to promote the Occupy Wall Street movement and its message.

[VIDEO] Edible Jewelry: Glitterlimes made in Greenpoint

Debbie Tuch created Glitterlimes jewelry seventeen years ago when she was studying at the Rhode Island School of Design. Today, she scours the globe for interesting fruits and candy to turn into jewelry in her Greenpoint, Brooklyn studio.