Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Garden Spot
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Take an epidemic of manhole access cover plundering, add a dash of benign neglect and a lot of rain and what do you get? An accidental garden, that’s what!
The Word On The Street, Part III: The Rules
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, The Word On The Street
This lesson in P’s & Q’s hails from Huron Street— so mind your fucking manners already Garden Spotters!
From The New York Shitty Inbox: On The Subject Of Car Alarms
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Justice
One fact of Greenpoint life to which I have become acclimatized is the constant cacophony of car alarms. Such was the case last Friday night when I had the dubious pleasure of listening to one perform its duty for an entire hour. While certainly annoying, I and my neighbors have learned to ignore them. Given the original purpose of these devices (alerting the owner of said motor vehicle to theft as opposed simply annoying the piss out of people), I find this phenomenon rather amusing: in the time elapsed a properly motivated individual could have easily unburdened the automobile in question of its contents or take it outright. Such is the price one has to pay for urban living.
But what happens if, say, the alarm in question persisted with its dulcet crooning for twelve hours straight? Well, just this came to pass recently and the unfortunate neighbors of said automobile— despite calling 911 repeatedly— received no relief whatsoever. So they took matters into their own hands. You know how the adage goes:
The pen is mightier than the sword.
First, I present the polite approach. The choice of stationery is a nice, if subtle, touch.
Here a visual aide has been employed.
And moving forward a deterrent never hurts.
Special thanks goes out to Al who forwarded these missives to me. He writes:
Hey Miss Heather! Here are those car alarm photos we were talking about yesterday.. feel free to blog them. Pretty funny notes. This took place on Java between Manhattan and Franklin.
The Word On The Street: Take It There
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, The Word On The Street
From Franklin Street.
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Dupont Street
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy
Taken May 17, 2012.
Now In Greenpoint: Brooklyn Industries
From the New York Shitty Inbox:
Hello Miss Heather,
My name is (excised), marketing manager for Brooklyn Industries. As a personal fan of your blog (Thanks! — Ed. Note) I wanted to reach out and let you know we will be opening a new BKI store in Greenpoint tomorrow. While we will be hosting a party for the opening on June 14th, I would love to be able to show you around the store beforehand if you are free.
I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you.
I have elected to decline this offer. The following advertising copy should shed some light as to why. (NOTE: I have bold-faced passages I found of special interest):
Brooklyn Industries will open its newest and most architecturally innovative retail store to date on Brooklyn’s historical Manhattan Avenue on Friday, May 18th. Like all Brooklyn Industries locations, Greenpoint will be powered using 100% Wind Power and having purchased only 6 pieces of sheetrock for the construction, this location differs due to 98% of the store being re-constructed from recycled material. Transitional art installations and a small scale BKI Museum will seamlessly merge with sales merchandise to create an artistic and uniquely inspiring shopping experience.
With the opening of the Greenpoint location, Brooklyn Industries continues a tradition of supporting emerging neighborhoods by being a part of their renaissance and the new retail space will celebrate the history of the brand’s evolution. BKI’s first production factory was on the boarder of Greenpoint and Williamsburg, producing innovative and socially responsive products such as the famed Billboard Messenger and Gas Mask graphic tee. As the initial style to launch under the Brooklyn Industries brand, the Gas Mask Tee was designed to support a local environmental group fighting against the development of an area power plant. While the environmental group eventually won their battle, this t-shirt solidified to not only the local community and social causes, but the environment.
The new location is part of the brand’s strategic business strategy to focus on the New York market. At Brooklyn Industries Greenpoint, a knowledgeable sales staff will be available to inform customers about the latest products from Brooklyn Industries including signature styles and collections such as the premier line of locally manufactured handbags and graphic tees.
Brooklyn Industries Greenpoint is located at 658 Manhattan Ave Brooklyn, NY 11222
ABOUT BROOKLYN INDUSTRIES
Brooklyn Industries is a cutting edge design company that sells its innovative clothes exclusively through its 15 retail stores and online website. Founded by visionary artists Lexy Funk and Vahap Avsar in 1998, Brooklyn Industries’ stores engage the local community in art, clothing, design and style.
Brooklyn Industries was honored as a “Green Power Pioneer” by ConEdison Solutions and Community Energy, Inc. in recognition of its commitment to using Wind Power in its stores and office headquarters. In 2006, Brooklyn Industries was recognized as a top entrepreneur with Crain’s New York Business’ coated “Small Business Award.” The company also ranked in Inc. Magazine’s 500 list, which highlights the nation’s fastest-growing private companies.
Brooklyn Industries continues to grow every year as an innovative and creative vertical retailer, staying true to its Brooklyn roots.
So:
- Manhattan Avenue is “historical”?
- The place I call home is an “emerging neighborhood” and is currently experiencing its “renaissance”?
- And there’s a “business strategy” involved?
Thanks but no thanks. But for the rest of you all…
Brooklyn Industries
Status: Open
Opening Party: June 14, 2012
685 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
THIS WEEK: Public Meeting Regarding The Newtown Creek Superfund Site
As some of might of you, gentle readers, might recall the New York State Department of Health recently released a Public Health Assessment about our very own Seine: Newtown Creek. Among the amazing revelations to be found in this document were:
- Eating fish and crabs taken from Newtown Creek could harm people’s health, due to the chemical contaminants. *Women under 50 years old and children under 15 years old should not eat any fish or crabs from these waters. Others should follow the State Health Department advisories for eating fish and crabs taken from this and other waterways.
- Swimming, scuba diving and wind surfing (with full body immersion) could harm people’s health, due to biological contaminants and physical hazards (underwater debris, commercial boat traffic).
- Canoeing, kayaking, boat touring and catch-and-release fishing* are not expected to harm people’s health, if people use precautions (properly washing their hands) to avoid swallowing biological contaminants from surface water.
Long story made very short: a number of individuals dispute the veracity of these findings. Among them a lady named Laura. She writes:
Please see the NYSDOH notice I’ve attached, along with my comments to the agency.
For me, this is one of the most important meetings I will ever attend.
The New York State Department of Health is coming to Greenpoint and Long Island City to present their public health assessment related to the Newtown Creek Superfund process.
Their documents can be found at this link http://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/investigations/newtown/index.htm And folks can still submit comments until May 4th. (Emphasis mine.— Ed. Note)
You’ll see that the agency is assessing the state of our community health (past and present ) in terms of direct contact with the creek, and in terms of the current way of assessing the effects of chemical exposure on our community. That’s not acceptable! Community residents have long complained about our poor environment and the effects it has had on our community. We all know that the chemicals pouring into the Newtown Creek, started on shore in our community. A sewage treatment facility, oil plumes, chemical plumes, multiple waste transfer stations, a municipal incinerator, pvc manufacturers and other facilities lined the Newtown Creek. Most are still there. Community members have become ill as a result.
My mother, father, and their dog all died of brain disease. A human case of CNS lymphoma, a human case of progressive supra nuclear palsy, and a canine case of encephalopathy, were not looked at in terms of a possible chemical exposure. There’s something wrong with that.
Now is your opportunity to speak up and demand environmental justice. Please attend this important meeting. Demand a real health study and changes in how the agency looks at chemical exposure in our community.
I’m asking family, friends, and community to come out and speak up.
Mark your calendars, show up and speak out, Greenpointers!
May, 24, 2012
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Polish National Home (AKA: The Warsaw)
261 Driggs Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
NOTE: You can also tender your sentiments via snail mail. Here’s how!
The public comment period has been extended. Comments on the draft Public Health Assessment are encouraged and should be sent to the Department of Health by June 15, 2012.
Please return your completed comment form to:
New York State Department of Health
Bureau of Environmental Exposure Investigation
Flanigan Square
547 River Street, Room 300
Troy, NY 12180-2216
Fax: (518) 402-7859
*No specifications were made regarding the ever prevalent Coney Island Whitefish as seen at the beginning of this post. But then again, I suppose it caught something and was released!
From The New York Shitty Inbox: The Perfect Nothing Catalog
A fellow named Frank writes:
I wanted to tell you guys about a new store opening in Greenpoint. It’s in an old shack in a garden on India Street.
The Perfect Nothing Catalog: a store & space for art & non-art by local artists and non-artists dealing summer supplies: knives, bathing suits, rocks and herbs, ceramics and surf and skate stuff. Set in an abandoned shack in a garden in Greenpoint, The Nothing will be hosting artists and non-artists in a series of micro-residencies throughout the summer. Offering small work space, garden access, and event opportunity.
216 India Street
Wednesday-Saturday 12-8
You can get more information about this endeavor by checking out their website, Facebook page or of course good ol’ fashioned email: theperfectnothingcatalog (at) gmail (dot) com
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