Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Bloomblight Photos Du Jour: Built For Collapse
95 Bedford Avenue
250 North 10 Street
568 Union Avenue
It would appear the invocation of “watchmen” didn’t quite work as intended.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: A Vintage Siding Slice*
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Vinyl Siding
Today I had a moment.
I announced to Mr. Heather when he arrived home from work yesterday.
To wit he replied:
Good or bad?
Good… I think. Although it could be proof I have lived in Greenpoint WAY too long— or my aluminum siding fixation has turned me into an idiot savant of siding.
I replied. Curiosity piqued, the Mister wanted to know more. And I told him.
Well today I found a photo album at the junk shop. Naturally I went through it. (You would not believe the “Kodak moments” I have found at the junk shop dating from the pre-digital age whose subject matter is of such an intimate nature I honestly can’t imagine entrusting it to your local 24 hour photo to develop. But clearly quite a few people did just this. Over the last several years I have amassed quite a collection. Probably enough to start a blog whose sole purpose is to showcase them. Seriously. But back to the subject of this post: my moment. — Ed. Note.)Â I quickly deduced the contents were taken in New York City.
This one hit pretty close to home: Queensboro Plaza circa 1982. I dug around some more and found this.
I showed the above image to Mister Heather:
I knew where this was instantly. It’s in Greenpoint. I identified it by the siding.
Huron Street, Greenpoint, circa 1982 meet Greenpoint 2009.
Very little has changed.
There are sunflowers. Which I adore.
And Bloomblight, which I deplore. This photograph was taken at West Street around India Street. Very little of what you see in the above photograph remains nowadays— including the people. It’s a bunch of derelict development sites.
But we have a mural!
It’s particularly fetching when the DOS truck sweeps it up.
The beach (soccer? volley?) ball caught in concertina wire makes this locale ever more inviting. That’s probably why no one— save the beneficiaries of this project– wants to hang out there. It’s good P.R. for politicos, bad policy for citizens.
The above photograph, taken in the 1980,’s is prima facie evidence that Greenpointers had waterfront access— as humble as it was— before the 2005 re-zone. Now we have barbed wire fences. And self-elected intermediaries.
Miss Heather
*This is dedicated to Kevin Walsh of Forgotten New York. Whose “slices”, writings, rants, and person have enriched my life— and inspired me to start this “blog”. This lovable curmudgeon happens to have a birthday this month. Why not send him your regards?
P.S.: The India Street park is being built atop the existing asphalt so as to avoid DEP soil tests. I wonder if Dean Palin, when he razes this mural to build his 40 story testament to folly will test this site for pcbs, etc.?
New York Shitty Day Starter: McCarren Park
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Recession, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
August 12, 2009
July 2, 2009:
…I’ll call you late tonight – I am running to a meeting re. the homeless problem in Parks/on our waterfront street ends.
Stephanie Thayer
Administrator for North Brooklyn Parks – NYC Dept. of Parks & Recreation
Executive Director – Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn (OSA)
It would appear that meeting wasn’t very effective.
McCarren Park is pathetic.
These pits have become the norm for park goers. You get used to negotiating around them. It becomes natural after having ones shoes soaked in god-only-knows-what once— or twice.
Gross.
Grosser.
DISGUSTING.
Your tax dollars at work.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: 211 Huron Street
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
It would appear that despite torrential rain, stifling heat and lack of valid permits— a place so special that Joey Arak over at Curbed called it:
…the strangest construction project in Greenpoint…
keeps on keeping on! What’s more, who can’t get teary eyed at the sight of the stars and stripes flying proudly atop of this shitheap. Anyone care to bet on how many stories will be completed before the Department of Buildings issues a Stop Work Order?
Miss Heather
FOUND IN WILLIAMSBURG: Froot Loops
(in More Ways Than One)
I was recently asked by a colleague if I knew anything about the “underground” art parties that are reputedly being thrown in Williamsburg. The fact of the matter is I do not. As some of you, dear readers, might recall I am by education (and to a lesser degree, trade) an artist in my own right. During graduate school I was even a teaching fellow— but I digress. I was often asked by my fellow students if my work was the product of partaking certain mind-expanding substances. They always seemed disappointed when I gave them the honest answer: no. I was (and still am) simply strange. I mention the previous anecdotes because as I was walking around Williamsburg recently I stumbled upon something quite remarkable.
At first I thought this was your standard “Bloomieville” (homeless encampment)…
and a pretty nice one at that. It isn’t.
The first indication that something was amiss was the scattering of Froot Loops next to the mattress.
After a little poking around I found the box. (NOTECAVEAT: this and any of the following images can be seen in larger format by clicking on them. Do so at your own risk.)
Yup.
Same goes for the advertising insert on the bed.
This, which is also located under the sidewalk shed.
Here’s the other side.
This, which can be found around the corner on Kent Avenue. As you can see now Frank Gehry has entered the picture— and what a picture it is!
And finally this— which can be found at the intersection of Metropolitan and Wythe Avenue.
Let this be a lesson to all you aspiring artists out there lest you decide to expand your mind and do a little creating. Sometimes it’s better to just let that Sharpie be. It is not cosmic consciousness that is powering your pen: it’s the drugs.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Ender: Happiness
This bit of happiness hails from 277 South 2nd Street (between Marcy Avenue and Havemeyer Street). The above image is a mere teaser to the tantalizing four stories of aborted and boarded up “Fedderism” that awaits your delectation if and/or when you elect to swing by and see this Fedderus Interuptus in person. And I encourage each and every one of you, dear readers, to do just this.
Kevin Walsh (of Forgotten New York) writes in this post (which needs to be seen to truly be believed):
I’ve come to the conclusion that Johnny Rotten was wrong when he said there’s “no future for you.” There is a future for Queens, and what we’ve seen on this page is that future.
And the image gracing the beginning of this post is the future of north Brooklyn! Scratch that— this is north Brooklyn’s present. Given the number of “luxury” properties and Kings crap that are still being built here despite a surplus, lack of interest and money north Brooklyn is well along the road to its own personal perdition…
and a very sad future, indeed!
Inasmuch as I hate to be pedantic or “preachy” I am going to make an exception for this post. When you cast your ballots this fall*, fellow north Brooklynites, I want to to think about the above image. Our elected officials (with the complicity and/or implicit— if not explicit— approval of certain “grassroots” organizations/”community organizers”) enabled this.
Miss Heather
*And I hope you do— regardless of whether or not you agree with me. North Brooklyn has long sported a deplorable voter turn-out. Make your voice heard!
New York Shitty Day Ender: Build More
Filed under: 11211, Abjectecture, Bloomblight, Street Art, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
From Frost Street.
Miss Heather
Found On Union Avenue: Chance To Live In $7,000 A Month Apartment!
I’m not too sure how well this is going to go over in the heart of Bloomblightville, Brooklyn, 11211 but here it is. Wanna to live in a two bedroom, fully furnished “luxury apartment” in the West Village? Here’s your chance!
Per the rules no purchase is required. Interested parties can learn more by clicking here. Apparently you have to submit a 30 second video explaining why you should get it. I would strongly recommend anyone who was rendered homeless by the building collapse last month at 493 Myrtle Avenue enter and tell his (or her) story.
As for who is responsible for this piece of Darthitecture— given the mezzanine abuse I’m guessing Robert Scarano or Karl Fischer. Perhaps the folks over at Curbed can enlighten us?
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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