New York Shitty Day Starter: Greenpointer Spotted Using Newtown Creek Park

September 3, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Yesterday our two week tour de force of New York City’s sights (and smells) took Mr. Heather and I to the Nature Walk. This may not be everyone’s idea of how to spend a lovely September afternoon but I suspect I have proven by now that we are not “everyone”: we are Greenpointers. As we made the final stretch to the Garden Spot’s gold green coast we were surprised to see we were not alone: we had stumbled upon a gentleman in the process of his daily workout.

pushup

After doing a few sets of curls (he came prepared with free weights) he proceeded to do a few sets push-ups. This is not an uncommon sight at McCarren Park, in fact it is pretty common. But this is not McCarren Park: this is a park located on the premises of the east coast’s largest waste treatment facility.

Maybe this chap wanted a little privacy? Regardless, he was an incredibly nice guy!

Miss Heather

New York Shitty Day Ender: Danny R.I.P.

September 2, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

As I mentioned previously earlier today the Mister and I visited the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. When we left we decided to walk down Provost Street— and in so doing stumbled upon the site of Greenpoint’s latest auto accident.

dannyRIP

It was not easy to miss, as Danny’s friends and loved ones have erected a sizable, heartfelt memorial to his memory. In fact, two women were busy tidying it up when we walked by. I refrained from taking photographs out of respect for their privacy. Nonetheless I found the remnants of this terrible— and possibly preventable— end of a youth man’s life incredibly disquieting.

glass

Aside from part of a respirator laying in the tree pit, part of a windshield and discarded medical equipment laid on the sidewalk. These grotesques can be found at the intersection of Provost and Huron Street lest anyone cares to see them— but I can think of very few people who would.

It should also be noted that this was not the first serious auto accident to come to pass at this intersection this year. As some of you might recall, there was an incident there back in June. That one involved a police pursuit.

In any case, my heartfelt condolences go out to Danny’s friends and family. Their tremendous outpouring of grief at the site of his death bears testament to how very much Danny was loved in life. May he rest in peace.

Miss Heather

Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Something Neat

September 2, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

hummer

hummer2

wheel

The Mister and I happened upon this earlier today as we were walking to the Newtown Creek Naturewalk (yes, this really is how we spend our “vacation”): a Hummer made of lotto tickets. Photographs hardly do this bad boy justice. Swing by 1079 Manhattan Avenue and see it for yourself!

Miss Heather

Viridian Advertising Campaign Goes For New, “Low Key” Look

September 2, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222 

Inasmuch an I try (and I really do try) to avoid making ridiculing this property a cottage industry, the fact is they make it too damned easy to resist sometimes. Take the following for example:

signs

Has the recession at long last impacted the Viridian’s advertising budget or has someone in our fair community decided to air his (or her) disgust with his glass-encased and very unfinished new neighbor?

signatfranklin

It would appear the answer is “both”.

Miss Heather

Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Hip Hop

September 1, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Art 

HIPHOP

Looks like someone on India Street has a taste for metal. Heavy metal, that is.

Miss Heather

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Drag Racing Death On Provost?

doylewreckNYS

Anonymous writes:

First I must say thank you for keeping up such an excellent blog. This morning at around 11:30 am, (i know not quite morning) I finished packing up the uhaul and my girlfriend and I left Greenpoint for New Hampshire. You are probably thinking WHY? Well, to make a long story short… being the wonderful woman that she is, she came to NYC for Law School since I was here. Now that she has finished school and just completed the New Hampshire Bar, it was my turn to relocate. Anyway, I love your blog, and I am sure it will keep me updated about my favorite place in the world.

Second, I am not sure if you posted anything about this, but have you seen the smashed up car outside of the 94th precinct? its pretty crazy and smells like death. Today I found out why. My landlords brother came over to collect the keys to our place and he was on his phone when he got there talking about the detectives wanting to see the tapes from this weekend. He works at Europa and apparently some kid was drinking there, left and decided it was a good idea to race on Provost St. He wrapped his Acura around a tree doing 95 mph and died. (hence the death smell if you get close to the car.) Some more crazy driving in the Greenpoint. Be careful out there on your daily walks. Thanks for everything!

First up, thanks for the kind words anonymous. More importantly, has anyone heard anything about this? This is really scary— and sad.

Miss Heather

Photo Credits: Sean Doyle Who apparently witnessed the aftermath of some serious rooftop partying gone wrong— as in the Superintendent mopping up the blood and “brain matter” from the sidewalk and building facade when one party-goer fell 5-6 floors to his death:

Things ’round here have been more than interesting. We pulled up stakes and moved out of Childrensburg, 11211, and into the lovely greenery and Nazi Runes of Little Warsaw, 11222. We’ve been over here since mid-July, and other than one really bizarre and terrible incident – it has been quite nice…

…A quieter hood for sure, but also a lack of disrespectful assholes surrounding us. This building is full of families and older Polish people. Hell, when we first moved in, everyone was eyeballing us, hoping we weren’t crazed Party People.

Then the party people started partying on his roof. That’s when it got interesting.

I decided to go out into the hallway, and let these kids know they just shouldn’t be up on the roof. It was bad enough that they were running around the halls, slamming doors and being loud as fuck. I wasn’t going to sit in here and listen to them stomping around over my head all night. I pay far too much rent for that shit.

As I walked out into the hall, a group of them were heading up the stairs to the roof. This is the exchange that followed, pretty much verbatim:

Me: “Hey. Hey! Y’all should not be up on that roof.”
Some random fuck of a kid: “Is there going to be a problem?”
Me: Cold stare.
Kid: “Are you serious? We shouldn’t be on the roof?”
Me: “Five stories is a long drop, ain’t it? There are families that live under the roof. Kids. Little ones. Please be respectful, or I won’t be.”
Some random drunk girl: “FUCK YOU, ASSHOLE. WE CAN DO WHAT WE WANT!”
Kid: “Look – we don’t want any trouble. We’ll get off the roof. Sorry.”
Me: A grin and a wink.

After that, I heard them all scurrying back down to the third floor, where the party was. I could hear them yelling in the apartment about “some asshole covered in tattoos made us get off the roof,” and I felt somewhat better about myself in that moment. They continued to be loud and ridiculous, and I continued to sit here, trying to get some Magical Work done.

I could hear them up on the roof again, maybe around 1:30AM. I figured I’d already said what I needed to, and kind of hoped that one of the older residents in the building would call the police soon, to break up the stupidity.

Around 1:45 or so I heard what sounded like the loudest slam of a door since my terrible teen years.

Less than ten minutes later, I could hear the police, admonishing kids left and right. I even pulled a total Old Man Move, and looked out the peephole in our front door, and could see cops walking kids down the stairs from the roof.

I felt pretty vindicated and went to sleep.

The next afternoon, after we had brunch with a friend, we came walking back over to the building and noticed a lot of our neighbors standing out front in a group, talking. As we walked up to them, we were informed that a 22 year old kid had fallen off the roof to his death.

At 1:45AM.

I encourage each and every one of you, dear readers, to read this post in its entirety. Although I cannot verify Mr. Doyle’s story it makes for compelling reading.

A Selection Of Williamspoint Street Furniture

RheingoldRoomNYS

When I found this delightful item from Rheingold Room (entitled “Park Your TV”) not only did it give me a much needed chuckle but it also reminded me that it has been awhile since I have hit you with some of north Brooklyn’s finest street furniture. Follows is a selection of my favorite finds. Enjoy!

bluvelvetNYS

Blue velvet on North 6 Street.

octagon

sideview

The hanging coffee table of North 9 Street.

sofa

Sofa with benefits…

stroller

and parenting— interrupted— just off Kent Avenue.

tub

blackandwhite

Bath tub with black and white wicker on North 1 Street.

sofasleeper

A sofa/sleeper combo from Metropolitan Avenue.

north8

Squatter’s paradise on North 8 Street.

indiastreet

And to round out our ensemble a few images of Gay Paree from India Street!

Miss Heather

Crosstown Local Photo Du Jour: Yes, You Can!

August 31, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Crosstown Local, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

nassau

From the Queens-bound platform at Nassau Avenue.

Miss Heather

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Greenpoint Open Studios

August 31, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

GOS

This item comes from frequent New York Shitty contributor and commenter Tony. He writes:

It’s long overdue. Greenpoint is finally having an Open Studios (for artists) at the end of September. I was hoping you could help get the word out, especially to artists in the hood who haven’t registered yet. It’s free. Weekend of Sept 26 & 27. Registration by Sept.11

Being a lover of the arts (and an artist in my own) right I am more than happy to pass this item along— and I agree with Tony: this IS long overdue. For more information on how you can participate in, volunteer for or sponsor this event click on the above image or email Greenpoint Open Studios at:

greenpointopenstudios (at) gmail (dot) com

Miss Heather

Who Was That Masked Man?

August 31, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

eyesAs you have probably noticed today’s offerings on New York Shitty have been delayed. This is because the last two evenings have been livelier than usual at Chez Shitty. No, the Mister and I are not trying to spice up our love life— unless, of course one considers a little pan-species voyeurism sweet. Which brings me to the rather blurry image at left. You will notice there are two greenish dots. Those are eyes. Who— or more accurately WHATdo they belong to, you ask?

These peepers belong to a humble Procyon lotor, better known as the common raccoon. This little fella has made nocturnal visits to my bedroom window (which, should be noted, is located 9 inches away from where I lay my head to sleep) in the wee hours of the morning two nights in a row. The first night I damned near shit my pants when, upon being awakened at 3:00 a.m. in the morning by one of our cats raising holy hell, to find a little masked face staring at me. He (or she?) must have liked what he saw because last night he tried to get in. What’s more, he damn near succeeded.

screenNYS

The fun never stops in New York Shitty.

Miss Heather

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