Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Urban Artifact: Hoyt Street
Filed under: 11217, Brooklyn, Gowanus, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy, Urban Artifact
That feeling when you see hair the same color as your own, a whole head of it no less, dangling from a tree. Prodigal/feral hair in all its manifold varieties has long been and will continue be a source of amusement to yours truly. It’s how I roll.
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: 958 Manhattan Avenue
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Hooliganism, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy, Urban Artifact
At long last our fair city has gotten a long overdue dose of the white stuff (snow). It is a perfect day to curl up with a book and perhaps take a tipple. However I would advise you, gentle readers, to please do so indoors.
P.S.: Note that our prodigal Teddy seems to be also enjoying a fair number of books. Perhaps this lot has become a library of sorts? If so, I have a humble suggestion as to whom it should be dedicated!
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Manhattan Avenue
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Hooliganism, Urban Artifact
Top o’ the morning!
(Taken November 14, 2015.)
Urban Artifact: Chapter One
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Artifact, Wow, WTF
It is rare that I find myself mumbling “There’s something you do not see everyday”. Greenpoint is host to a great number of oddities. This is part of its charm. However, this item (which is located on Huron Street) did just that. This piece (which is signed by “Steven”) reads as follows:
Grandpa hangs his Japanese flag while World War II is going on.
“Grandpa” sounds like one hell of an interesting guy. It should be noted that the flag in question, and I can assure you “Steven” is being quite modest, is the war flag for the Japanese Imperial Army. Yup. I can only imagine what Chapter Two will bring. I am not sure I want to find out…
Urban Artifact: Our Lady Of The Snows Square
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Artifact, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
I am certain there’s an interesting story behind this one.
(Taken October 8, 2015.)
Williamsburg Photo Du Jour: The Big Apple
This repurposed piece of fruit hails from Driggs Avenue and was captured today October 8, 2015.
The Word On The Street: Special North Brooklyn Development Edition
Filed under: 11211, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Hooliganism, Street Justice, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy, The Natives Are Getting Restless, Urban Artifact, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Many of you have undoubtedly noticed that I have not been terribly prolific on the blog. This should not be construed as a lack of interest in the affairs of this community (or this city in overall). Quite to the contrary: I have been quite busy. About a month ago I had a revelation: why not tap into what is the Garden Spot’s most renewable resource? This, of course, is garbage.
Think about it, gentle readers: litter is not only free but by making regular “collection” runs I am, albeit in a small way, making this community a cleaner place. What’s more, by (tongue firmly in cheek) “up-purposing” Greenpoint garbage I am raising awareness about the problem here. And we most assuredly have a problem.
Presently my focus is on drug baggies. These, as I have discovered, come in an array of colors and designs. The working plan is to fill the following 5 1/2 inch diameter snow globe with them.
The working title for this piece is “Taste the Rainbow” (for obvious reasons).
As you can see it is still in progress. Very pretty if I may say so myself! Over the last month I have acquired no less than 181 182 baggies. These were “sourced” exclusively in Greenpoint/11222. I felt parameters needed to be established. What’s more, Williamsburg probably would have proved to be too easy. But I digress.
This project has led to a number of fascinating discoveries. For starters, most of the baggies I have found were discarded (and presumably consumed) in our public parks. I have long suspected this was/is the case— now I have some numbers to back it up. Playgrounds are not spared either. The item to the left was found in the playground at WNYC Transmitter Park. I also found five on the premises of the Vincent V. Abate Playground. One specimen had the Superman logo emblazoned on it. Regardless of one’s position on the “war on drugs” you gotta appreciate that kind of wiseassedness.
This piece’s working title is “Magic Carpet Ride”.
The other location I have found a significant number of baggies is development sites. Especially those which are stalled and/or sport sidewalk sheds. Sidewalk sheds = privacy. Makes sense. Drug paraphernalia is not the only thing I have found at them, hence the (ostensible) purpose of this post. I have spied a few sullen utterances of revolt scrawl on them during my rounds. I am not the least bit surprised by this. Follows is a curated selection of those I found especially compelling and/or entertaining. Enjoy!
1. India Street
This one is somewhat indecipherable but the rage come across nonetheless.
2. 26 West Street
There are not less than three churlish missives on this one. Two are plainly visible. Follows is the third one. It is located to the left of “No Future”.
And last, but hardly least…
3. Orient Avenue at Olive Street
As you can see this property had been served a Stop Work Order. Let’s go in for a closer look!
Great stop more of these bastards.
If the Department of Buildings is paying attention someone is very appreciative of your work. Happy Monday!
Urban Artifact: Special India Street Pier Edition
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Artifact, Wow, WTF
For approximately the last month I have been foraging “urban artifacts” around the Garden Spot. These are being (tongue firmly in artisanal cheek) up-purposed to works of art. Ar some point I imagine I will write about this project here. Or maybe I won’t? Who knows.
What I do know is India Street between the East River Ferry Pier and West Street has proven to be a gold mine. It can be reliably counted upon to provide a number of interesting (and generally unsavory) items. For example:
- One defaced Police Benevolent Association card dating from 2009.
- Drug baggies. LOTS of drug baggies.
- Condoms, used and otherwise.
Let’s just say I grown to expect the unexpected. Which brings me to today’s find. It is located at the foot of the India Street Pier where the red arrow is in the above photograph.
Nothing says “Welcome to Greenpoint” quite like a combined sewer overflow sign festooned with not one, but TWO fish heads. After I took the above photograph a fellow at the adjacent construction site remarked that this was “pretty crazy”. That, it most assuredly is— but I have come to expect this kind of thing in the 11222. On that note I will leave you, gentle readers, with this. Happy Thursday!
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