Che On Clay

First it was a woman with Che’s face tattooed on her arm and now this. Poor Mr. Guevara, look what popular culture has done to you!

Miss Heather

It Is Much Better To Give Than Receive

…the finger, that is.

I recently discovered the fine folks at Greenpt.com (a nifty site filled with great anecdotes about living in Greenpoint) have discovered me! It was via their message board, which is where I found the following question:

Well it looks like the scaffolding for india and franklin street is going up for another
finger building. I wonder where the other three fingers of the hand will be built… What is a finger building?

I had never thought about it before, but this colloquialism has never been given a standardized definition. I will attempt to do so here and now.

finger building (fing’ er bil’ ding) n. An edifice which is disproportionately larger than its neighbors, thus giving it the appearance of a finger being extended from one’s fist. While usually employed as a casual reference to 144 North 8th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn it is also invoked in Greenpoint. SEE: zoning loopholes and Karl Fischer.

What is the difference between a Williamsburg and Greenpoint finger, you ask?

Very simple: Greenpoint gives it back.

Miss Heather

TOMORROW: Benefit For The Open Space Alliance

Starting at 4:00 p.m. L Magazine and SCION will be presenting the Williamsburg Block Party, a benefit for the Open Space Alliance of North Brooklyn at the McCarren Park Pool*. Not only will there be free entertainment in the offering but also food— lots of it— from a number of local establishments including one of my personal favorites: Teddy’s! Those of you wanting more information can peruse Summerscreen’s web site by clicking here.

Miss Heather

*Which is in Greenpoint.

THIS WEEK: Transmitter Park Plans Unveiled!

This upcoming Tuesday, July 8th, Community Board 1 will be conducting their monthly public meeting. Among the number of provocative items on their agenda (including Studio B’s application much-anticipated hearing for a cabaret license they never had!) is the unveiling of the revised plans for Transmitter Park by Donna Walcavage, the designer.

I have a creeping suspicion this presentation and the following public forum will be quite interesting, so if you have the means do check it out!

Community Board 1 Monthly Meeting
July 8, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.
211 Ainslie Street (The Swinging 60’s Senior Center)
Brooklyn, New York 11211

Miss Heather

Post 4th Of July Wrap Up

As I mentioned earlier today the festivities in north Brooklyn last night were a little more exuberant than usual. I suppose I should not have been surprised by this. While walking down Driggs Avenue earlier this week I found a remnant of someone’s 4th of July shopping list.

You know a serious party is in the works when olives “with red things inside” are employed. But the procurement of the proper culinary items is but only one aspect of celebrating with style in Greenpoint. When preparing for a party one should also tend to one’s personal appearance.

In regards to the previous I am very pleased to report Greenpoint met the challenge! Bitchcake’s fabulous other half —who I will call Mr. Bitchcakes— informed me today of two gentlemen he saw sitting on the steps of St. Anthony’s. Their visit to this ecclesiastic institution was not to attain spiritual enlightenment. Rather, they needed a place to sit so one could “lovingly” shave the back of his companion. Ah Greenpoint, I am certain wherever Amy Vanderbilt is (god rest her soul) she is smiling upon us with silent approval!

This year— just like the one that preceded it— the hooligans were up quite late setting off fireworks and making an all-around ruckus. And today the Mister and I went out for a walk to witness the aftermath.

If anyone out there is missing an aqua blue pump, you can find it at the intersection of Lorimer Street and Nassau Avenue.

The sidewalks in Williamsburg were eerily quiet, making it the perfect time to pick up your dry cleaning on Bedford Avenue…

or shop for some pre-owned construction equipment on South 1st Street.

Running errands sure can make a man hungry. Why not follow this chap’s example and deck out your parrot in his most patriotic diaper and grab a bite to eat on Manhattan Avenue?

Why did you do today?

Miss Heather

Movies At McCarren Park!

Town Square is hosting a series of movies this summer at McCarren Park. I cannot say I am too pleased by the sponsors, among whom are Forest City Ratner and Greenpoint Landing “A Park Tower Development” (which sounds ominous. Whatever it is, I am certain we’ll have the pleasure of finding out soon enough.*), but the line-up looks decent.** Of particular interest to yours truly is July 30th: “Country Night” whose cinematic feature will be Blazing Saddles, arguably the best Mel Brooks film ever made.

As Town Square’s poster indicates, the festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. with “Children’s Hour”. This is followed by live music at 7:30 p.m. and movies at sunset— so whip out your lawn chairs!

Miss Heather

*If anyone knows what this is, please enlighten me.

**”Girlz Night” features a Tomb Raider sequel because, you know, us “girls” are into that sort of thing.