Greenpoint Street Art Du Jour: A Little Soul

July 22, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Art 

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From McGuinness Boulevard & Clay Street.

Miss Heather

Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Down & Out

July 22, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

badmonkey

From India Street.

Miss Heather

Purloined Row Boat Update: Found?

rowboatLAURA

Laura wrote (at 9:23 p.m.):

I see that someone lost a row boat. We found one on Saturday at the Nature Walk. I don’t recall if the sides were the color described. From the back on the photo, looks like it could be grey. There’s a number on it 995. I’m going to call the phone number listed to see if it’s the same row boat.

Laura writes at (9:31 p.m.):

The phone number that the folks have written on that sign is the 94th precinct phone number. (718-383-3879— Ed. Note) The officer who answered the phone knew nothing about the boat, but is going to call one of the detectives to see if they know anything. Good luck with that!

Let’s see. All they (94th precinct) have to do is go to 132 Noble Street, ask for a chap named Christopher, take him to the Nature Walk and ask him if this his boat?

So it goes.

Miss Heather

Salvation For Rent— AGAIN!

July 21, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

December 2008:

steliasnys

When at first you do not succeed (and do click on the above image to view this Craigslist advert!)…

stelias72109

try, try again!

July 2009:

hhirsch

Those wacky chaps at H. Hirsch (who, as some might remember, wanted to convert this building into a 35-38 unit condominium complex) are back at it. What’s more, given the recession and all, they’re ready, willing and able to “separate”!

How will this bode for the numerous gents who like to hang out at said premises and use it as a pissoir? Only time will tell.

Miss Heather

New & Noteworthy: Orphanage Mopeds

July 21, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

nathanislate

Okay, this isn’t that new (per the gentleman I spoke to this afternoon this establishment has been open since April) but I want to pass it along to all my moped-loving friends and neighbors. Although I eschew operating motorized transportation (or anything with wheels period— I do so in the interest of public safety*), I think mopeds are a great way to fight gridlock. What’s more, instead of selling new merchandise the folks at Orphanage restore older (and many cases, very neat) models for re-use. Swing by their shop (or web site) and see for yourself!

Orphanage Moped Shop
1138 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222

(718) 389-1979

And that’s all she wrote!

Miss Heather

*and out of reverence for the movie Repo Man— which is why I ride the bus. Both of them.

A Newtown Creek PSA

Today I had the utmost urge to go out for a walk. I did not want to venture too far, however, lest I get caught in a torrential downpour. So I kept my wanderings local…

manavepark

and went to the new park at the end of Manhattan Avenue. It was at this location that I found the following corker.

PHA

OK, I understand the city has to put these signs up. But who in their right mind would want to eat something that once called this home?

Gross.

Miss Heather

P.S.: WTF is this?!?

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Greenpoint Street Art Du Jour: Black Rabbit

July 21, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Street Art 

blackrabbit

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From Eagle Street.

Miss Heather

P.S.: Speaking of Black Rabbits, I’ve been meaning to pass along an amusing tale of petty larceny that came to pass at our local watering hole by the same name.

cardholder

I am certain a number of you who have patronized this establishment have noticed the above card holder. It was a “housewarming” gift to the proprietor, Kent, from his wife. What you might not have noticed was around this time last year it went MIA. Well, one day this spring when Kent was opening shop he spied something in the mailbox. Whoever had filched this item experienced remorse (or found this item not to jibe with his— or her— home decor) and saw fit to return it. If this humble card holder could talk I bet it would have a very interesting story to tell about its nine month hiatus!

Missing In Greenpoint: Row Boat

stolenboat

Exactly how someone can make off with a row boat is beyond me. Such an item would strike me as being rather difficult to purloin discreetly like, say, a pair of socks— but someone did! If anyone reading this saw someone in or around 132 Noble Street brandishing a boat fitting the above description last Friday night please contact the police at the above telephone number.

Thanks!

Miss Heather

P.S. Special thanks goes out to my buddy Bed-Stuy Banana (who happened to be in the 11222 zip) for tipping me off to this.

Fun With Bloomblight

Earlier today my good friend Crappy forwarded me this story from NY1 about how over-development has left many buildings in Brooklyn vacant and/or half-finished. As if this was not depressing enough this tome goes on to say that despite this glut of over-priced King’s crap, the building continues. It is projected 5,200 more luxury apartments will find their way onto the market in 2010. Clearly the cardinal rule of how to get out of a hole (stop digging) has been lost on these people.

But developer-induced blight need not be such a downer. Just take what someone anonymous person(s) has done at the vacant lot at 689 Leonard Street, for example.

rockgarden

Yes sir, with a little imagination (construction detritus and some wildflower seeds) you can put the “bloom” back in “bloomblight”!

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And why not throw in a little ornamental brick stacking while you’re at it? It’s not like they’re going anywhere anytime soon.

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I do not know what this yellow flower (located at far left) is, but I really like it.

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Behold, Greenpoint’s newest high rise! I wonder if it’s a Karl Fischer?

Miss Heather


Greenpoint’s Newest Hostel!

July 13, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

6668claystreet11222

Anonymous writes:

Hi Heather

My Dad and his partner live around the corner from me. on Clay St, a few doors down from 66 Clay St (the former methadone clinic) which somehow overnight has turned into a $20 a night hostel .

Dad tells me that in the past week, there has been anywhere from 10-20; what appear to be teenagers milling around the front of the building and on a picnic bench in the parking lot, smoking cigarettes, drinking beer, playing techno music dancing, having a general good time. Which no one should have a problem with, except the party doesn’t start until after 1AM and goes until sunrise

I’m going to try and spend a nice relaxing evening at Dad’s tonight in a bit of a stakeout to see if his complaints are valid

Ill keep you posted

What/if anything do you know about Marzili Hostel at 66 Clay St???

Hope you’re feeling better.

I’m operating at 90%, Anonymous (I’ll spare you the details about the other ten). Let’s start with what you have given me.

hostelscentralNYS

A web site purporting the “Marzilli” Hostel. (Click on the above image to enjoy the true hilarity).

C of O 6668 Clay street

Here’s the only Certificate of Occupancy on file. A residence for the mentally ill (a nice way of saying it was a methadone clinic). Which was , most assuredly, what it was.

Here’s what I saw today.

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Some dude hanging out under a tent.

As to who owns this property. That’s where it gets fun! Per ACRIS:

ACRIS1NYS

The log-tossing goes on and on. My money is on Max Stark.

The person who gave the Garden Spot the gift that keeps on giving: the Greenpoint Hotel— a flophouse pretending to be a bed and breakfast. (Click on the previous link, it’s a pisser!)

The person who gives us 239 Banker Street: a hotel being utilized as luxury apartments, e.g.; The Sweater Lofts. STOP WORK ORDERS BE DAMNED! Since when have, and I quote:

New kitchens and bathrooms

Stainless steel appliances

HUGE awesome roof with views

MANY LAYOUTS TO CHOOSE FROM!

the previous amenities had anything to do with a “hotel”?

SWOnys

Your eyes are not deceiving you: this property has 46 “DOB” violations, 36 open, 42 “ECB” violations 34 of which are still open and a STOP WORK ORDER. Unpaid penalties and non-compliance. And yet they advertise.

239banker

Why not call the person responsible for this advertisement, Liz, and ask her? It’s pretty clear the Department of Buildings is unwilling or unable to do anything.

Miss Heather

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