Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
My Dream Job
Quite a few years ago, back when the Pencil Factory was “the” new bar in the neighborhood, my buddy Rachael and I took great delight in patronizing said establishment. The service was good as was the atmosphere— but these were not our only reasons for knocking back beer at the there. We had another slightly ulterior motive: watching all the Mobile Wash Unit trucks go by. As these vehicles would pass we would muse over how this had to be the greatest job ever.
Of course our idea of what makes a “dream job” is a little different than most. We were not so much interested in cleaning the streets per se. Rather, we relished the many ways we could abuse the power that comes with operating such a piece of machinery. Hurling bars of soap and blasting some of our neighborhood’s more hygienically disturbed citizens while screaming:
Go ahead and report us! We’re Union!
was easily our favorite scenario. In fact, we were so enamored of the Mobile Wash Unit we considered basing a drinking game around the spotting of their vehicles. Then we realized the depot was only two blocks away and that this game would probably be too short to be any fun.
Besides, we needed to be able to walk home.
I mention the previous because this week I saw a man with the Department of Sanitation’s anti-graffiti unit busy at work on West Street. He was having so much fun I wanted to join in.
Operating a sandblaster while listening to Kiss!?! It simply does not get any better than this. I wonder if this guy dances when no one is around? I can only hope so. Hell, if listening to Kiss* is one of the fringe benefits of working for the Department of Sanitation’s anti-graffiti brigade I’ll work for free!
What’s more if this stretch of sidewalk (three blocks away) is any indication, they could probably use me.
Miss Heather
*Motorhead (I would insist on singing along with Lemmy Kilmeister on “Ace of Spades”), AC/DC, Van Halen (Diamond Dave only), Iron Maiden, Juda Priest, Black Sabbath, Ozzy, etc., etc.
TONIGHT: Gotham Reformers Cruise
Filed under: Bushwick, Greenpoint Magic, Long Island City, Queens, Williamsburg
This found its way into my inbox yesterday and I feel compelled to pass it along. I have it on good intelligence that this cruise will indeed feature Greenpoint’s very own shit creek. Those of you who wish to learn more about the Citizens Union (and you should —it looks very interesting) will be directed to their home page by clicking here.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: WTF?
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
I’m dressing up as this guy for Halloween.
Miss Heather
P.S.: I’m not kidding.
Have You Seen Gus?
Lisa writes:
Please help me find my dog. His name is Gus. He is a very well behaved, happy and approachable dog. He has actually been a therapy dog! He is an unneutered male 7 year old american pit bull terrier. He is mostly black with white around the nose chest and paws, see pictures below & pictures attached. He has weighed 60 lbs for most of his adult life.
He got out of the house without my realizing it. I live at 30-28 37th Street. After a good Samaritan tried to take him in Gus managed to scoot away while being walked. Gus was last seen at 774 Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
I had not put his tags on his new collar, so he was without identification. Also, he was not microchipped. Therefore, if someone has taken him in they have no way to know to whom he belongs. I implore you to please be vigilant. I have had Gus for 7 years and am devastated.
I have been to and spoken with nearly every shelter in NYC,including the AC&C (Brooklyn & Manhattan) and the ASPCA. I have contacted I think every vet in the Greenpoint, the 94th and 114 Precinct and the canine unit in Brooklyn. I have put up flyers, emailed everyone I know and asked them to post flyers. I have posted adds on Pet911, Lost and Pound, PetFinder, Craigslist, Pet detectives, Craigs List, The Greenpoint pet blog spot, Myspace and Facebook.
Please, if you have any information or questions, contact me at Elissiaconlon (at) aim (dot) com.
Many thanks for any assistance you can give me!
god bless
If you have seen this handsome chap please contact Lisa at the above-listed email address.
Thanks!
Miss Heather
UPDATE 9/17/08: Gus is home!
This & That
Those of you who are craving a Cuban sandwich today are in for a disappointment. As promised, the Franklin Corner Store is closed for renovations. (This makes me grateful I got my fix in last week!)
Next up I noticed a rather tony looking furniture store setting up shop at 190 West Street (yes, WEST STREET) today. It will be (aptly) called “Green & West” and there is a sign stating it will be “open soon”. I know little else other than a company called “Monster Tool” is one of their neighbors. I think this is funny as hell.
Green & West Furniture
190 West Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Opening Date/Hours: t.b.a.
Last up, Huitzilli will be celebrating Mexican Independence Day (which is tomorrow, September 16) in style by serving up tamales and atole from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. The tamales will be coming from Amalia of JV Pizza/Taco Stand. I have never tried them but I have heard they are very, very delicious. Check it out!
Huitzilli
624 Metropolitan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11211
JV Pizza/Taco Stand
702 Grand Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211
Adios y vaya con dios!
Miss Heather
Photo Credit: “Viva Mexico” photograph courtesy of Huitzilli.
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Satan Is My Copilot
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
From Manhattan Avenue.
Miss Heather
Bail Out: Williamsburg Style
This morning I woke up curiously early. I usually avoid doing so like the plague because the Mister has this annoying habit of firing up NPR online in our living room and via conventional radio in the kitchen. Any of you who have done this probably know there is a delay with online audio; this phenomenon turns the confines of the 450 (if that square feet) palace we call home into one big echo chamber of current events.
As I got my first cup of morning coffee I learned about David Foster Wallace committing suicide.
TWICE.
Did you hear that Merrill Lynch is going to be bought by Bank of America? I have: once in the kitchen and again in the living room!
In other news the Feds have refused to bail out Lehman Brothers. I got the why and wherefore before and after going to the bathroom.
I don’t know about any of you but this whole government bail-out of corporate interests really pisses me off. A good friend of mine once described it this way:
It’s sort of like playing poker with your dad. You lose all your money but instead of keeping it he gives it back to you.
This is hardly the way to teach someone fiscal responsibility. What’s more, if I “Jane Q. Citizen” racked up a bunch of bad debt do you think I would get such royal treatment? I think not. The fact of the matter is there is no easy, quick way for a non-corporate entity to extract him (or her)self from the red.
Or is there?
This interesting business proposition was found by Greenpoint’s very own mihow last weekend at McCarren Park. I can’t honestly say I find this solution very palatable (while effective, it is a little too permanent for my taste), but to each their own.
Miss Heather
P.S.: You can see the original uncropped photograph by clicking here.
Crosstown Local Photo du Jour: To Do List
From the entrance to the Queens-bound platform of the G train at Metropolitan Avenue.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Garden Spot Greenery
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
From Calyer Street.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Banker Street
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
If what I saw while knocking around Greenpoint yesterday was any indication, there was a lot of “armer” being “sprayed”.
Miss Heather
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