Greenpoint
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Culture on the Cheap
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Blight Me
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
INTRODUCTION
“Blight Me” was a feature on the Gowanus Lounge I was both very fond of and had the dubious honor of making numerous contributions to. Before Robert Guskind’s untimely death I had planned to run the following either here or contribute it to his site. These photographs are therefore just over a week old. Not that anything has really changed at this location. Given the Department of Buildings inability and/or unwillingness to police death traps (such as the following) I suspect this eyesore (which hails from 156 India Street) will grace my fair ‘nabe for a very, very long time.
On March 4, 2009 The Queens Courier wrote:
The New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) might as well be renamed the Department of Blight. Blight is what they allow to exist in this city, blight is what they allow to be built in many Queens neighborhoods, and blight is what the DOB fails to remove and demolish even though they are the agency that can do just that.
This was written in reference to a house in Whitestone, Queens. However, it is equally applicable here in Greenpoint.
Case in point: 156 India Street. I have written about this building before. Its tenants were forced to evacuate this building and the tenement located behind it in May 2008 because they were deemed too dangerous for human habitation. Among the reasons cited were:
(HAZARDOUS) FAILURE TO MAINTAIN EXTERIOR BUILDING WALL. DEFECT IS:REAR WALL IS ROTTED,DEFECTIVE AND PULLING AWAY FROM WOOD FRAME. FIRE ESCAPE IS IN DANGER DUE TO AFFECTED REAR WALL AND COULD DISLODGE IF USED
It should also be noted that joists in the cellar were found to be rotted and it 45 degree angles. Inadequate fire-proofing in the cellar and around the boiler were also noted. The owner, Kevin Nealis, was ordered to make repairs. He has since been served a number of summons and notice for inspection.
With predictable results.
I have said it before and I will say it again.
What is the point of having rules and regulations…
if they are not enforced?
Taking a pro-active stance on buildings such as 156 India Street is not only a matter of principle; it is also protects the quality of life for the neighborhood as a whole. Derelict properties are a magnet for squatters, ne’er do wells and people whose intentions are anything but nice. What’s more, it’s bad for business.
Would you pay $1,800+ a month to have a balcony whose “scenic views” include this eyesore?
Miss Heather
P.S.: I want to give special thanks Queens Crap for bringing this article from the Queens Courier to my attention. Thanks!
Introducing Mr. Floatie
On The Waterfront With Mr. Floatie from Heal The Harbor on Vimeo.
Methinks Greenpoint needs to have its very own spokesturd. Given that Newtown Creek contains both oil and “floaties” I would like to propose that his name be “Slick Willie”. Thoughts, anyone?
Miss Heather
P.S.: Special thanks go out to Laura Hofmann for bringing this gem to my attention.
Mark Your Calendars: The Greenpoint Mac-Off
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
When I saw the flier for this in the window of t.b.d. yesterday I knew this was going to be on my “to do” list. Now throw in an offer to be one of the “celebrity judges” (imagine that: me, a simple Greenpoint housewife who lives two blocks away from the largest waste treatment plant on the East coast and works at a junk shop. Dreams really do come true folks.) and I was all over this like white on rice. So you can imagine my delight when Lisa, the woman publicizing this event, was kind enough to forward me the press release for this event. Here it is:
THE GREAT GREENPOINT MAC OFF
NEW YORK – Four of Greenpoint’s best bars will be participating in the first Great Greenpoint Mac Off to be held beginning at 4pm on Sunday, March 22nd. The pub crawl offers customers the opportunity to experience North Brooklyn’s diverse offerings of the comfort food staple, macaroni and cheese, while benefiting from drink specials from each establishment.
Starting at 4pm at Red Star chef, John Manzo serves up his menu’s Mac ‘N Cheese of the day. At its own pace, the crawl moves to The Habitat where chef/owner Ashley Engmann offers samples from their standard menu. Participants then cross the road to The Mark Bar, the tried and true Greenpoint watering hole celebrating its 5th year, where Chef Michael Diprima of Lamb and Jaffey and Dream Cuisine Catering fame serves the group from their all day menu. The crawl moves one block to t.b.d. Brooklyn to receive a final sample prepared by chef Cody Utzman, owner of local Cali-Mex eatery Papacitos and the soon to open Brooklyn Standard (! — ed. note)
Judging takes place at 8pm at t.b.d. Brooklyn by local celebrity judges giving their own critiques of the fare from each bar while customer voting will determine the winner of the highly coveted title of Greenpoint’s Best Mac & Cheese. Expect hot tempers and tough competition for this good-natured prize. The crowd remains at t.b.d. for the after-party with entertainment provided by local Greenpoint DJs Plant Y Junk.
The Great Greenpoint Mac Off
Sunday, March 22, 2009 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Red Star
37 Greenpoint Avenue
(718) 349-0149.
The Habitat
988 Manhattan Avenue
(718) 383-5815
The Mark Bar
1025 Manhattan Avenue
(718) 349-2340
t.b.d. Brooklyn
244 Franklin Street
(718) 349-6727
Not only is this event totally free— each bar will provide a free sample of their signature mac and cheese— but a different drink special will be available at each bar. Hot damn!
Miss Heather
Thought Of The Day
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
If you are going to build a ginormous “luxury” apartment building/fortress on McGuinness Boulevard (and for the record I find this to be an excruciatingly foolish thing to do) it might behoove you to remove the graffiti from the entrance before having an open house.
Somehow “kook” written in pink spray paint and a bunch of wires dangling from a wall do not strike me as being a very good selling tool— but what would I know? Perhaps this is some new marketing tactic I don’t know about?
Miss Heather
A Very Special New York Shitty Public Service Announcement
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Chances are if you are reading this certain words in the English language do not bother you.
Like the word “shitty” for example. In the lexicon of profanity this is, in my humble opinion, (and I have a rather extensive mastery of foul language— Pa Heather saw to that— albeit unintentionally) pretty mild. I mean, it’s not nearly of the caliber of, say, motherfucker, cocksucker or cunt. Compared to the previous bad boys this six letter bit of scatological onomatopoeaic joy is downright cute. However, there are others who would differ with this assessment. Namely web nannies and certain members of the journalism community. While a number of the latter have no moral qualms about using content gleaned from a blog with “shitty” in its name (which constitutes plagiarism, a big no-no) it has been my observation they get a bit squeamish about the word itself. “We can’t print that” they say. Well, after some thought I have come up with a solution:
a mirror site using a less objectionable url: www.thatgreenpointblog.com.
Problem solved!
Miss Heather
P.S.: Special thanks go out to Blognigger for giving me the inspiration to do this. You deserve total props, dude! 😉
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Moments Of Zen
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Green Street.
West Street.
Kent Street.
Franklin Street.
Miss Heather
Dog Doo Sign Du Jour: Failure To Communicate
There is simply too much goodness going on here to go into in a mere blog post. This having been said I honestly don’t know which I like better: the carefully balanced box of beer bottles…
the total ineffectiveness of this missive or the fact the author of this missive appears to have no problem with having large quantities of beer bottles inhabiting the sidewalk. Then again I suppose this is Greenpoint: we are well known for our affinity for intoxicating substances.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Video Du Jour: Street Theater
Have you ever had one of those mornings when something comes to pass over your first cup of coffee and you think to yourself:
I suppose it can only get better from here.
Earlier this week I had one such morning.
Now I will endeavor to explain to you what you have just watched. The gentleman on the left is filling this apartment building with heating oil. This is the job he has been hired to do and in order to discharge his responsibilities his truck has to idle in such a manner so as to obstruct the street. The woman to the right (who clearly has somewhere she needs to go and needs a S.U.V. to get her there) is displeased by this. She wants this chap to move his truck. Our heroine lays on her horn. Repeatedly. This, in turn, precipitates a lively exchange from which I overheard a number of colorful colloquialisms including but not limited to:
- “Suck my dick.”
- “Fuck you.” (numerous times)
It was at this point I grabbed my camera and, well, you can figure out the rest. For those of you who are wondering the woman eventually gave up, turned her gas guzzler around and commenced her commute using a different street.
May your day be happy. May your day be peaceful.
Motherf**ker. 😉
Miss Heather
Borough Of Found Toys Volume VI
Last night I was absolutely thrilled to find this great photograph from Garsav in my photo pool. In fact I liked it so much I wanted it to kick off this— arguably the latest and greatest installment of my “Found Toys” series. Enjoy!
From Graham Avenue.
From McGuinness Boulevard.
From Eagle Street.
From Bedford Avenue.
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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