Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Last Gasp: DISGUSTING
Well, it did fall.
The previous slide show beautifully illustrates the ineptitude of the Department of Buildings (lest I have not made it clear already*) comes courtesy of Lesterhead. With public servants like this, who needs enemies?
You can peruse complaints leading up to this incident including these gems dating from May 1, 2009…
by clicking here and here. And do check out Clinton Hill Blog for the full scoop.
Miss Heather
*And of course there is my personal favorite: 156 India Street. You were (and are) really on top of that one, Department of Buildings! Hence why the Red Cross was brought in.
P.S.: For those of you who are curious (or homeless as a consequence of this) 493 Myrtle Avenue LLC can be reached here.
New York Shitty Day Ender: A Very Greenpoint Father’s Day
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
I will end today’s offerings with the above photograph of a father, his daughter and niece enjoying the view of Manhattan from the end of Java Street. As with most things in life, it was not so much the destination as the manner in which they got there that was interesting. You see, today this proud father taught his daughter (who can be seen at left) how to ride a bike. On West Street.
Wearing a “My Dad Rocks” t-shirt, a grimace fueled by determination and training wheels she gradually got the hang of it. Albeit in fits and starts. That’s when dad decided to up the ante; he took her to Java Street.
Many of you might or might not recall that the western end of Java Street is paved with cobble stones. This can be very challenging terrain to tread upon, much less operate a bicycle on. Especially for a novice. But they raise them tough in Greenpoint. And so with a shout of encouragement from dear old dad:
If you can ride across this you can ride across anything!
and one minor “spill” notwithstanding— she did!
Miss Heather
News From The Greenpoint Grapevine
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Some of you might have noticed that the lot at the western terminus of Greenpoint Avenue (the designated site of WNYC Transmitter Park) has received a heaping helping of mulch. I was initially mystified but have since heard some neighborhood buzz that might shed some light on this recent turn of events: this space will be temporarily opened as a dog run.
Although I am pleased at the prospect that north Greenpoint’s mutts might finally— albeit temporarily— have a place to stretch their legs (and sniff each other’s butts) and I might have the opportunity to see the WNYC Transmitter building up close and personal (it’s a lovely Art Deco building) I must confess that I cannot stop asking myself:
Where’s my park?
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Street Seating Du Jour: Rode Hard & Put Away Wet
This chaise lounge (which is located on Green Street) has obviously seen better days— but if it could talk I bet it would have many an interesting tale to tell!
Miss Heather
More Thoughts Of The Day: Garden Spot Style!
Green Street
Don’t let anyone put you down without your consent. — Eleanor Roosevelt
West Street
Java Street
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Video Du Jour: Howl
There are many times I have considered erecting web cam so as to document the occasionally disturbing and often entertaining and ever-evolving “street theater” that takes place on Manhattan Avenue in the wee hours of the morning. I mention this because last night I pulled an “all nighter” preparing a friend’s costume for the Mermaid Parade. At times it got pretty tedious, if not a downright boring. Fortunately at around 3:30 a.m. (when I was growing very weary) I received a little unexpected and much appreciated pick-me-up in the way of a late night soliloquy.
Which brings me to the following video; I am not too sure what the fly in this man’s proverbial ointment was and truth be told I do not think he knew either. But I have to concede that he has quite an economy with words. Especially a certain four letter one which happens to start with “F”— in all its manifold incarnations, usages, and conjugations.
He marched up and Manhattan Avenue shouting his screed for some time. No one seemed to take notice, much less care. That is until the very end of our feature when a woman rather vocally objects to his “language”— while using a little of her own!
Their exchange had a Johnny and June Carter Cash meets north Brooklyn quality I found quite compelling, so be sure to listen for it at the end. Enjoy!
Anyone out there know how I can take the audio when this man screams “Fuck that shit!” and make it the ring tone for my cell? I ask because the more I think about it, the more I really want to make this happen.
Miss Heather
Williamspoint Photos Du Jour: Industriana
Cherry Street
Porter Avenue
Meadow Street
Bogart Street
Morgan Avenue
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: “Shotgun”
Ordinarily this would qualify as a “person in my neighborhood” but “Shotgun” (as seen in the above photo at right) was so extraordinary I felt he deserved a post of his own. Here it is.
Yesterday and friend and I went for a walk. Just to mix things up I decided we would go to the “hinterlands” of the Garden Spot— in other words: east of Kingsland Avenue, due south to the on ramp to the Kosciuszko Bridge and beyond.
It was at the intersection of Vandervoort Avenue and Cherry Street— an area which can best be described as the “armpit” of Greenpoint— that we encountered a truck selling watermelons, potatoes, fruits, nuts and vegetables. And a very unexpected ray of sunshine.
Or would that be “Shotgun” Having interfaced with a number of gun nuts in my life— mostly from the south— I asked the proprietor what gives.
After striking a pose (actually two) he told me:
That’s my nickname! Are you a visitor?
Me: Yes, I’m a visitor… from THAT (pointing north) end of Greenpoint.
SHOTGUN: Greenpoint? That’s (pointing north) over there!
Me: But I am over here! I like to be a tourist in my own neighborhood…
(Laughter)
Me: I hope you have some earplugs or aspirin, Shotgun. How can you deal with all this noise?
SHOTGUN:
Hell, I’m 70 years old. I can take it!
(Even more laughter)
Anyone who can spend 8+ hours next to the:
- loudest
- filthiest and
- overall depressing
part of the Garden Spot and still have a sense humor, much less display a joie de vivre rarely seen by anyone nowadays, gets my infinite respect, admiration, and yes— affection.
I really like you, Shotgun. You rock!
Miss Heather
*Lest I have offended anyone by calling this area such, it was not intended. I use this term with tongue firmly placed in cheek.
Cookie Road: Open At Last!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
After receiving numerous inquiries and beginning to wonder if this place would ever “happen” I am pleased to announce that, at long last, Cookie Road has opened for business! When did this most auspicious event come to pass, you ask? TODAY, that’s when!
I asked the co-proprietors what took them so long. Apparently they “checked off the wrong box” on one item in their paperwork. (You gotta love bureaucracy). Follows are a few delectable items you can expect to find if— or better yet, WHEN— you drop by.
An exotic assortment of iced tea, both sweetened and unsweetened. I tried the coconut “flavor”. It was pretty tasty and definitely quenched my thirst after walking for five hours.*
Canine-shaped cookies.
Pigs and a little bling.
An assortment of quiches and cakes. Well, there used to be an assortment. As you can see as of 6:00 p.m. today it has been pretty picked over. And of course, my personal passion:
Key lime goodness!
And of special interest to java enthusiasts: Cookie Road serves all manner and variety of caffeinated drinks— including, but not limited to cafe latte, espresso, cappuccino. Why not swing by this weekend and congratulate these very nice folks for making their long-awaited debut?
Cookie Road
97 Oak Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Happy indulging!
To close on a Franklin Street related note today I saw signs of activity at 162 Franklin Street, better known Casa Mon Amour. I talked to guys up and got the scoop. They are interested in opening a “small plate”, “American restaurant/grill”, but had some concerns about the conditions of the space.
It is a mess.
one of them said. I told them it was an excellent location to set up shop but to please, PLEASE keep the entrees reasonable, e.g.; UNDER $15.00**. They assured me they would. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens.
Miss Heather
*From Greenpoint to Flushing Avenue and back. Man, I’m beat.
**And under NO CIRCUMSTANCES open a Thai Restaurant. We have enough already.
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