Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Rush Hour
Filed under: 11101, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Newtown Creek
Taken by autovac.
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: What Is Wrong With This Picture?
After about a minute or two they opt to turn on the roller balls!
As spied and captured today at 2:10 pm on Manhattan Avenue. If this parking “space” looks vaguely familiar to you, gentle readers, it is because the “parking space” in question is a ticket trap of choice hereabouts.
Of course I suppose this may only apply to folks who park in the correct direction. This one’s for Sheryl Yvette. She just happened to bump into none other that NYPD Commish Bill Brattan last Friday. What’s more, she took a photo!
About this encounter she writes:
I was on 2nd Ave, waiting at the light at 57th St. I see a double parked SUV directly ahead of me, on the other side of the light, so I know I have to go around it when I get there. The light turns green. As I’m approaching, a big suited guy opens the rear passenger door – into oncoming traffic, mind you – and into the path I’m headed – and lets in none other than NYPD Commissioner Bratton. I had a cab right next to me and nowhere to go so I had to stop. Naturally I took a photo…
oh make sure to mention that they were double parked in a “sharrow” – which, if you don’t know what that is, wikipedia explains them like so: “This marking is placed in the center of a travel lane to indicate that a bicyclist may use the full lane.” It’s supposed to be a visual cue to drivers that cyclists are likely to be there. You can see it in the photo – the painted sharrow. Thanks #mynypd!
An Honor Roll Of Restaurants Past…
Filed under: 11101, 11211, 11222, 11249, Affluenza, East Village, East Village Manhattan, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Greenwich Village, Greenwich Village Manhattan, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Manhattan, New York City, West Village, West Village Manhattan, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Last night I had one helluva time falling asleep. Instead of counting sheep I decided to recount restaurants I liked in this city that are no more. Let’s just say it has been on the brain of late.* Here’s a partial list:
- Bleu Drawes: Jamaican food in Greenpoint? Yes, once there was! This was on Commercial Street, now the space is occupied by Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.
- Oznot’s Dish: Berry Street, replaced by Silent h
- Silent h: (see above) , replaced by a French bistro. This was the place which really got me into Vietnamese food.
- Barossa: Graham Avenue, replaced by Gwinnett Street whose menu is mildly upscale “artsy” food. (I do not recall the latest name for this establishment, but I imagine part of the reason for the name change was one of the owners being charged with handling narcotics. you can’t make this shit up, folks.).
- Kenny’s Trattoria: Havemeyer Street, razed for residential development.
- Taco Bite: South 4 Street at Rodney, replaced by a short-lived vegetarian/health food restaurant.
- Grand Sichuan: Canal Street, razed so as to build a hotel.
- Conos al Pescatore: Graham Avenue. Replaced by Sage an upscale Asian fusion establishment (which I will admit serves pretty good food— but still).
- La Vuelta: 45th Road, replaced by a barbecue joint.
- Village Mingala: Burmese restaurant whose East 5 Street location is now a Michelin recommended bistro. ASIDE: this leaves one Burmese restaurant in New York City.
- El Paso: Houston Street, new tenant TBD
- Casa Mon Amour: Franklin Street. They served Dominican food. Now the space is occupied by Vamos al Tequila (which is a fairly good replacement). The folks at Vamos al Tequila have my business for life for simply having the temerity to post the sign gracing the beginning of this post. I can only imagine what necessitated its creation.
- Driggs Pizzeria: Driggs Avenue (duh), replaced by Two Boots. This one infuriates me as much as Village Mingala’s closure (READ: A LOT).
- Monsignor’s: Bedford Avenue, now Lokal
- Rocco’s Ristaurante: Thompson Street, taken over by these guys.
- L.A. Ristorante: Manhattan Avenue, now a magazine/cigar store. To their credit, they did retain some semblance of a restaurant— but it really isn’t the same.
- Bean: North 8 Street. A nice little Mexican restaurant; now it is Pop’s.
Is it just me or is there an overall trend here? Anyone care to add?
*Thankfully it would appear John’s of East 12 Street has dodged becoming statistic. At least for now, anyway…
Urban Artifact: McCarren Park
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Artifact
Taken August 8, 2014.
The Word On The Street: Pulaski Bridge
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, The Word On The Street
Taken August 7, 2014.
Lost In Greenpoint: Baby Fatty
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Stuff The Makes Heather Sad
As spied today on Manhattan Avenue. Baby Fatty has been missing from her stomping grounds (Green and Huron Street between McGuinness Boulevard and Provost Street) since July 29th. If you have seen Baby Fatty (who, is should be noted IS micro-chipped!) or know of her whereabouts please contact her people at the above-listed phone numbers. A cash reward is being offered. Thanks!
New York Shitty Street Art Du Jour: Norman Avenue
This wonderful piece was spied and captured today by a very nice lady named Donna. Great find!
From The New York Shitty Inbox: It Came From Beneath The Creek
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Or: Release The Kraken!
This corker was sent to me a couple months ago via anonymous tipster. I tabled sharing it until I felt the time was right. Today, for reasons which will soon become apparent, is that day. The above polemic was created shortly after the 2005 rezone. As it was explained to me (by said tipster) its purpose was to criticize GWAPP assuming the lion’s share of credit for the successful fight against the Trans Gas power plant which was slated to grace Bushwick Inlet. For those of you who were not here in 2005 (and I suspect there are many) I present the following video from NY1.
If the above “Community Activist” looks/sounds familiar it is because:
1. He was recently appointed* to the advisory board of the new “GWAPP”.
2. And I also recently verified that contrary to what is stated in this gent’s biography on the aforementioned site (an excerpt of which is above), Mr. Perlmutter is not now nor was he ever under the employ of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn.
Interesting yes? Well today I had the item at left brought to my attention by my buddy Crappy. It got me to thinking— and finally it hit me:
What is not mentioned in this biography is every bit as fascinating— if not more so— than what is.
Namely, that in addition to being a “Community Activist” in the fight against the Trans Gas power plant, Mr. Perlmutter also happened to be under the hire of George Klein, the fellow responsible for Greenpoint Landing, so as to argue in favor of the 2005 rezone.
But don’t take my word for it. It is stated quite clearly in the April 29, 2005 edition of the New York Daily News.
(You can/should read the rest here.)
Straight up: as the featured cartoon attests, GWAPP has been the subject of controversy for some time. Controversy which persists to this very day. Controversy which would have, could have, should have been avoided by the simple practice of transparency.
Greenpoint Landing, regrettably, is going to happen whether we want it or not. That’s reality. However, I do not think expecting an organization which purports to represent the interests of the community giving full disclosure of their activities and board/advisory panel’s business relationships— past and present— is asking too much. Or is it? Now if you don’t mind, gentle readers, I am off to corner the market on ear plugs. I sense a very lucrative entrepreneurial opportunity is at hand!
*By a panel which includes his spouse. How’s that for nepotism?*
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: 1059 Manhattan Avenue
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, The Word On The Street
Taken August 5, 2014.
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