Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Greenpoint Back In The Day: Play Ball!
A number of you old(er) timers out there will recognize the tanks in the background. They were imploded back in 2001. What you may not recognize, however, is who is throwing the ball at this baseball game long past. It is a very young Joseph Lentol!
Miss Heather
Presenting Card #2 Of Gentrification Bingo!
Filed under: Area 51
Given that today is New York Shitty’s second birthday, I felt it would be apropos to unveil the second card of gentrification bingo.
Those of you who wish to while away this lovely afternoon with a little game time need only click on the above image, print and enjoy!
Miss Heather
P.S.: Stay tuned, card #3 cometh very, very soon!
South Brooklyn Photo du Jour: No…
Filed under: Area 51
From West 9th Street.
Miss Heather
Brooklyn Photo du Jour: Martymania
Filed under: Area 51
It would appear that Carroll Gardens has caught Martymania!
Miss Heather
South Brooklyn Photo du Jour: Court Street Crapper
Filed under: Area 51
Patriotism or social commentary? Methinks it is supposed to be the former.
Miss Heather
Grand Larceny In Greenpoint?
Filed under: Area 51
I have a confession to make: I am addicted to reading the Greenpoint Courier’s crime blotter. As I was getting my fix of north Brooklyn mischief last weekend, I came across a real doozy. Here it is.
I wonder what these alleged thieves were going to do with all that “building material”?
Miss Heather
Bronx Or Brooklyn?
Filed under: Area 51
The one thing even I have to laud Mr. Heather for is patience. Rarely does an afternoon out go by when I don’t feel compelled to stop and expound upon one newly discovered piece of mediocre —if not downright hideous— architecture or another. This weekend’s nugget of fun was found after having dinner on Union Street in Carroll Gardens.
This stunning piece of Friedrichtecture hails from Columbia Street.
Note the outstanding craftsmanship.
Wishing to learn the address for this magnificent edifice, I perused the permits posted on the premises.
According to the Department of Transportation, the address for this building is 169 Columbia Street.
According to the contractor and/or the Department of Buildings, this building resides at 737 222 Street, Bronx. Don’t take my word for it, click on the above image and read the permits for yourself.
When I got home I immediately set about trying to get to the bottom of this inter-borough mystery. Not surprisingly, I came away with more questions than answers.
1. There are permits issued for a new building at 737 222 Street.
2. There are valid permits issued for 169 Columbia Street as well. They are as follows:
- Two of them pertain to installing a sprinkler system.
- Two of them sanction installing a sidewalk shed and scaffolding.
- One is for a new building. It expires next month.
As the photograph gracing the beginning of this post shows, there is no scaffolding or sidewalk shed to be found at 737 222 Street 169 Columbia Street. I was also unable to determine why permits for a building in the Bronx grace the front of this building (which is unequivocally located in the borough of Kings). Was this a colossal bureaucratic mix-up or a deliberate act of deception?
I’ll let you, dear readers, make the call.
Miss Heather
South Brooklyn Photo du Jour: Trim
Filed under: Area 51
From Union Street in Carroll Gardens.
Miss Heather
Meet Steve
Filed under: Area 51
I found this flier on Columbia Street. Although I prefer to refrain from posting things non-north Brooklyn, I cannot stay silent when there is a dapper chat in need of a new home. As you can see, Steve comes appointed with a tuxedo, spats, and a jaunty bindi! He has a clean bill of health and is ready for the good life. Anyone out there willing to give it to him? If so contact Robert at the above phone number.
Miss Heather
Know Your Local Mortician: All Words, No Pictures
There are two ways a person can meet a mortician: as a client or as a neighbor. I for one (and I suspect I speak for a LOT of people when I write this) prefer the latter. Today I had the pleasure of bumping into one of my favorite Greenpointers. We’ll call her “Mattie”. Her husband (now deceased) operated one of the local funeral parlors right here in the Garden Spot.
I am reluctant to call Mattie a mensch for fear of the wrath I might incur from her (don’t mess with a morticienne, they’re dying for business), but if I had to pick someone to be my Greenpoint Fairy Godmother hands down it would be her. She can’t get around as well as she used to, but Mattie is sharp as a tack. Hence why she resumed a discussion we started a couple months ago (we had not seen each other in a while).
April 12, 2008, A.M., Greenpoint
Mattie: Did Mr. Heather (do something she really wants him to do)?
Miss H: No, but I have been on his ass for two months now. If he doesn’t do it soon, I’m going to wring his (excised) neck.
Mattie: (laughter)
Miss H: I thought you’d like to know about new business ahead of time.
Mattie: (more laughter)
Point #1: Morticians have a killer sense of humor.
April 12, 2008, P.M., Carroll Gardens
I parsed through more pictures of Greenpoint from the 1970’s and 80’s. I spy one with Mattie in it. I purchased it immediately because I want to surprise her with it (and a copy of a book she wants). Afterwards the Mister and I went to Fernando’s Foccacceria for dinner. We struck up a conversation with the family next to us: a husband and wife taking an elder out to dinner.
We talked neighborhoods. The husband used to live in Carroll Gardens, he and his wife moved Midwood. His mother (who they were taking to dinner and will be 99 years old this July) lives in Carroll Gardens. Then the inevitable question came:
Where do you live?
Miss H: Greenpoint.
Wife: That’s where my cleaning lady lives. On Nassau Avenue. It’s a very Polish neighborhood, yes?
Miss H: It depends, if you go north of Greenpoint Avenue it is largely Hispanic.
Husband: How did you find this place?
Miss H: After my husband and I got married we ate lunch here. You don’t get much good Italian where we live.
Wife: There’s Bamontes.
Miss H: Bamontes is very good, but I prefer Sicilian.
Wife and Husband: (nod knowingly)
Miss H: You might find these interesting. They’re some old photos I got of Greenpoint and Williamsburg.
(The husband, his wife and mother rifle through them.)
Husband: Do you know anyone in these pictures?
Miss H: As a matter of fact, I do.
I then pointed out Mattie and explained how I knew her.
Husband: What’s her last name?
I told him.
Husband: I know her.
Miss H: Really?
(drumroll)
My father’s business is selling caskets.
Ben Franklin was once quoted as saying:
In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.
Death may be certain. God only knows it is a big business in this country. But in Brooklyn it walks in a very small circle. Which brings me to…
Point #2: I’d rather be sitting at a table next to a casket maker than be on a table in front of a casket maker.
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
You must be logged in to post a comment.