My Trip Up Shit Creek
I was invited at the last minute to tag along on a boat trip along Greenpoint’s very own Riviera: none other than Newtown Creek! Channel 13 needed to shoot some footage of it yesterday for some online project/pilot they are working on. I was advised to keep quiet —and for the most part I did —except when my enthusiasm got the better of me. As you will see in this little film/slide show I made for your entertainment. Enjoy!
Between the Mister and I we took approximately 500 photographs. You can look forward to seeing highlights of our stygian journey up shit creek on Flickr** in a day or two. Now if you don’t mind, I have a mild sunburn to salve. Ouch!
Miss Hater Heather***
*August 19, 2008: I have been asked by the “friend” who invited me on this boat ride and some imperial wizard from Channel 13 (online) to remove my video from You Tube. The latter writes:
…it makes me a little uncomfortable to have other people reporting on the same thing which I hired a boat to capture. I don’t have any problem with you posting photos or stories about the trip but the video just happens to be exactly why we were there and sort of crosses lines of exclusivity.
I never knew Newtown Creek was so exclusive. I just thought it stank like hell. And got a lot of publicity of late because Senator Clinton jumped on the Superfund bandwagon. But what would I know? I’ve only lived here for eight years and get giddy when I see used condoms floating on Greenpoint’s Gold Coast!
Here’s a revised version of my movie:
**You can see photographs from my trip by clicking here.
***It would appear that I have made a friend (or two) in Jackson Heights. For the record, I really liked this neighborhood and plan to go back there more often. I happen to be a BIG fan of Mohammed Rafi and Bollywood music in general; I cannot wait to haunt their music shops! Sure “Jack Heights” doesn’t have Coney Island White Fish, but I am willing to overlook that. I see plenty of those here at home. 😉
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Nessie
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Lest the chartreuse water is not a dead giveaway, this photograph was taken on Newtown Creek. While many of you were lounging in the park, eating brunch, nursing a hangover or doing whatever people do in north Brooklyn on a Sunday morning I was on a boat cruising Greenpoint’s most (in)famous waterway. And as always it did not disappoint. You can look forward to reading more about my journey (including film footage) later today!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Fashion Watch
Filed under: 11222, Advanced Life Forms, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
The last twenty four hours my inbox has been abuzz with fashion. More specifically the stylings of a certain physician whose office is on Greenpoint Avenue between Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street.
Bitchcakes writes:
Walking up Greenpoint Ave yesterday (from Franklin going towards Manhattan Ave), Matt and I noticed this advertisement in a window (attached). It was just screaming your name, so I had to make sure you saw it.
Mike writes:
My name is Mike, I’m one of the writers of the NAG blog– thanks for the bloggy love- we got a lot of hits from you.
This isn’t NAG blog material, but totally up your alley…
The attached picture is of a poster is in one of the newly-renovated buildings on the south side of Greenpoint Ave b/t Manhattan and Franklin. Everything about it says “please don’t let this man touch your privates, even in a medical context.”
What is all the Garden Spot fuss about, you ask?
This guy.
Nice bow tie.
Miss Heather
TODAY: Boids. Dirty Stinking Boids.
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Today at Word Books Courtney Humphries, the author of Superdove: How Pigeons Took Manhattan…and the World will give a presentation and talk about how:
…the lowly rock dove became the pigeon, a bird ubiquitous and annoying enough to be reviled as a rat with wings, but one that has also inspired rapturous artistry and fetishistic devotion from breeders, eaters and racers, and has managed to thrive just about anywhere humans have trod.
I’ve had one of these buggers shit on my head once. In the middle of summer. It is not an experience I will soon forget. Nonetheless a great number of people fancy New York Shitty’s bird of infamy (Franz Liebkind included), for those of you out there (and you know who you are) who love pigeons or wish to learn more about them here are the deets.
What: Courtney Humphries talks about pigeons
Where: Word Books
126 Franklin Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
When: August 17, 2008; 2:00 p.m.
Why: Because pigeons are interesting, if disgusting.
How: The Greenpoint Avenue stop of the G or the B61, B43 or B24 bus.
My advice: wear a hat.
Miss Heather
More Fun At The Nature Walk
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Laura Hofmann writes:
Mike & I went back to the DEP Nature Walk today to check on the oil situation. Only at the DEP Nature Walk steps can you find treasures like this! I’m trying to figure out where he came from since we did find dead crabs (including a horseshoe crab) there last week. He’s got some markings on him. Makes me think that he’s a decoy that may have been used to track waterfowl … perhaps pesticides? Poor guy, didn’t make it through the experiment I guess!
Now there’s a piece of home decor you won’t find at Ikea!
Miss Heather
TOMORROW: Burlesque At The L.E.S.
Tomorrow a fellow Greenpointer, Dizzy Swank, will be having a birthday burlesque blow-out at the Slipper Room. Tickets cost only $5.00! So if you happen to be knocking around the Lower East Side tomorrow why not swing by, check it out and wish a neighbor a happy birthday? You’ll have a lot of fun!
Burlesque Birthday Show
167 Orchard Street
New York, New York 10002
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photos du Jour: Manhattan Avenue
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
This is Piggly Wiggly via the Buckeye State.
This is Piggly Wiggly Garden Spot Style.
Any questions?
Miss Heather
TONIGHT: The Beatles!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Tonight (provided it does not rain*) Yellow Submarine will be screened at the American Playground! I have been told before the main feature footage from the Beatles’s first American concert will be served up for our viewing enjoyment. This sounds like a great way to spend this Friday night, so pack up your lawn chairs!
American Playground
Franklin Street between Milton and Noble
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Be sure to get there by 8:30 p.m.
Miss Heather
*In which case, it will be shown tomorrow.
Photoshop Fun For Friday
Ever since I learned about Paul McCarthy’s roaming turd I have been thinking. Why do I avoid McCarren Park? Is it because Karl Fischer has surrounded it with his abjectecture? Possibly. Is it because I see more and more contendees for the Hipster Olympics there? Probably. Or is the lack of public art?!?
These pups are awfully cute, but hardly satisfying.
The same goes for this bunny. Cute, but insufficient.
What I want to see is an artwork as big as Karl Fischer’s balls (or FAR). Something that reflects the character of the “New Williamsburg”. Simply put, something people from all four corners of the earth will come to gaze upon and say:
Yes, I have been to Williamsburg.
In other words, something like this.
Meet the McCarren Park butt plug.
Hugs,
Miss Heather
Greenpoint’s Nature Walk Gets Added Value!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
To Our Newtown Creek Elected Officials (Eric Gioia, David Yassky, Nydia Velazquez & Joe Lentol — Ed. Note),
I am attaching a few photos of the oil Mike & I saw today at the DEP Nature Walk. Last week we came across some dead crabs there including ( blue crab, white crab, horseshoe crab … ) We have photos of the dead critters. Today the amount of oil ( various types ) was horrifying. We saw loads of brown oil, frothy whitish, rainbow slicks …I have a video clip that shows the oil all along the Nature Walk steps. The oil extends toward the Kills and into Whale Creek as well. We noticed that there is pile driving going on near the Motiva site by the Pulaski Bridge as well. We included a photo of the rig. We have no idea how far down the Creek the slick extends.
Mike & I made a complaint to the DEC Hot line: 1 (800) 457-7362.
I’m happy to see that the barge that was dumped by the Kill has finally been removed. Thank you for that.
Laura & Mike Hofmann
Black gold.
Texas tea.
Yummy.
Y’all come back now, you hear!
Miss Heather
Photo Credits: Mike & Laura Hofmann
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