Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Attention All Urban Photographers & Street Art Enthusiasts
If you happen to be on River Street do not take a picture of this.
And sure as hell don’t shutterbug this.
Why, you ask? Because if you do it might result in you (and your husband) being questioned by New York’s Finest as to what you are doing. This is what happened to the Mister and I this evening.
Hello there, we see you’re taking photographs— why?
Miss Heather: I think the shadows and diagonals are visually pleasing.
We saw you take photographs of graffiti back there.
Miss Heather: Yeah, someone spray-painted the word “meat” on the wall and I found it interesting.
Because it’s sort of “beefy”?
Miss Heather: Exactly. I happen to be a vegetarian.
Seeing where this conversation was headed (nowhere good— and soon) the Mister jumped in and after some more “dialoging”, they left us to go about our business. Inasmuch as interfacing with the NYPD can be amicable it was: tense, but polite. Still the experience left me wondering:
Why?
Perhaps these chaps have been instructed to watch photographers— especially those who happen to document “graffiti”? The only logic at work here I can think of is the presumption that when people (such as myself) document this stuff it is going to somehow encourage the people responsible for it to continue their nefarious work (and, in so doing, lower everyone’s “quality of life”). I suppose this is possible. BUT…
it’s been my experience that derelict buildings (of which north Brooklyn has many— such as the one above example which is located around the corner) do more than their fair share of lowering my quality of life.
Nice, eh?
The above can be found on the front door of this Kent Street deadiface. Call me subversive, but I don’t really see how this could possibly be construed as making this building an eyesore. It has achieved that very readily on its own. Rather smashingly, I will add. One piece of street art graffiti isn’t going to make any difference; if anything the above bit of mischief adds some sorely needed “value” to this turd. It certainly makes me smile, anyway.
Speaking of which, a building doesn’t have to be old and decrepit to elicit social commentary, oh, I mean graffiti.
CASE IN POINT: Northside Piers.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: McGuinness Boulevard
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Taken April 22, 2009.
Miss Heather
Williamsburg Photos Du Jour: Strangelove Special
Filed under: Williamsburg
The mere act of making reference to this Kubrick film has probably dated myself. Or divulged a measure cultural literacy and nuclear anxiety my 20-something friends are blissfully ignorant of. I have long since ceased to care. Every time I’ve dated myself I have come away from the experience more self-assured than before:
- no small talk
- no “stroking” egos
- no quibbling over bar tabs— or going Dutch
- the only asshole I woke up to in the morning was my own
But I digress…
Those of you who want to experience old-school nuclear war angst should go to the intersection of Meeker and Union Avenue.
Bombs aweigh!
Le Jolie is in the “event horizon’!
Until we meet again!
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Ender: The S & J Supply Marketing Strategy
When it comes to advertising the marketing wizards in our fair city seem to think bigger (and louder) is better. I could not disagree more. I have been deluged with enough jumbotrons advertising anything from booze to Hollywood’s latest craptastic opus to build up a certain level of resistance. Not unlike smallpox. If anyone in the advertising profession is reading this please take note:
- Going “bigger” in my mindset only shows a woeful lack of imagination on your part.
- Going “bigger” only makes me take note NOT to purchase the product you are shilling.
- Simply put, getting “in my face” only pisses me off.
- But a hand-written note on a humble piece of office paper asks me to get my face into something the ploy works smashingly.
CASE IN POINT: S & J Supply/Show Room on Union Avenue, Brooklyn 11211
As you can see there is no clear-cut indication as to what kind of wares this business is hawking.
But when confronted with marketing genius like the above I want to find out! Is this not the purpose of advertising? To pique a person’s curiosity?
Fuck Home Depot or Ace Hardware and their over-paid spin doctors! The next time I need a circular sander or the odd drill bit I’m going to S & J.
End.
Of.
Story.
Miss Heather
Openings & Closures
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
First up, the good news. When I walked by Bowian Market this afternoon I noticed a flurry of activity. Curious to see how things are going I trotted over and talked to the owner. This very affable chap told me their proposed opening date (provided everything goes to plan, of course) will be this Friday, April 23. As for the kind of food stuffs you can expect to find at Bowian; I noticed a number of buffet tables, a bar appointed with all the accouterments required to serve coffee and espresso; and many a Polish culinary delicacy. Why not swing by this weekend and welcome them to the neighborhood?
Bowian Market
Opening Date: April 23, 2009
664 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
And now the bad news… (sort of)
After only one year in business GreenTree is leaving us. But it’s not all doom and gloom.
The proprietress is going back to her true love: massage therapy. As the flier indicates she is selling the remaining merchandise (for anywhere between 50% and 75% off) by appointment (which can be arranged via the above telephone number or email address) or “chance”.
GreenTree
95 Norman Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Miss Heather
Williamsburg Street Art Du Jour: D.O.A.
From underneath The Brooklyn Queens Expressway at Leonard Street.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: The Discovery Garden
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
This item comes from a gentleman named Thomas. He writes:
Dearest Miss Heather,
If you have been to McGolrick Park in the last few months, I’m sure you have noticed the Discovery Garden that our enterprising local gardener, David, has painstakingly created. It is goddamn beautiful. Unfortunately, over the next few days, he is being forced to disassemble the wooden fence, dig up the plants, and turn it back into grass.Some people at the Parks Dept. just don’t get it. This is the greatest Greenpoint tragedy since Bee’s was DOH’ed.
The person we need to get though to is:
Julius Spiegel
Brooklyn Borough Commissioner
New York City Dept. of Parks and recreation
(718) 965-8920I would ask anyone who has appreciated this garden or has enjoyed the McGolrick dog run (David has been a true friend to the dog run) to make a quick call.
Thank you.
I have no idea what this is about— but I have every intention of finding out! In the meantime if anyone out there is “in the know” by all means share your intelligence with the rest of us in the comments!
Miss Heather
North Brooklyn Photos Du Jour: Urban Fur
Kingsland Avenue
Manhattan Avenue
McCarren Park
Roebling Street
South 1st Street
South 2nd Street
Miss Heather
TODAY: A Couple of Art-Related Events For A Good Cause
Filed under: Williamsburg
First up, the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn and Woodshed Collective will be co-hosting a fund raiser at Public Assembly this evening starting at 8 o’clock. Here’s the 411 from their press release:
The 19th Annual North Brooklyn Talent Show, to be held at Public Assembly, in Williamsburg, April 22nd at 8pm. The evening will include a talent portion, running roughly from 8-11, to be followed by musical acts; entry is $10. In addition, both organizations will be providing information about programming for the upcoming summer season.
All proceeds go to benefit the Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn and Woodshed Collective; two not-for-profit organizations devoted to accessible cultural programming.
Performers include: Grace McLean, Preston Martin, Dan Cozzens, Victoria Watson, Lauren Pabst, Behind the Façade, John Teufel, Jon Pack, Jason Kalter, Stumblebum, Mercury Landing and more.
The Open Space Alliance for North Brooklyn is a not-for-profit which, through fund raising and working with the community, elected officials and the New York City Parks & Recreation Department, furthers the restoration and preservation of the existing parks as well as the development of new parks in the Greenpoint/Williamsburg communities, weaving these several green spaces into a tapestry of parks as a resource for the people of New York City.
Woodshed Collective aims to entertain and provoke by creating a fully realized installation theater. Our work seeks to escape the traditional theater of performer and spectator, where one is on stage and the other sits quietly in the dark.
We celebrate the separation from cinema and television: claiming for theater the vital, immediate interaction between audience and event. Presenting our work free of charge, our goal is to increase access to theater in underserved communities.
North Brooklyn Talent Show
April 22, 2009 starting at 8:00 p.m.
Public Assembly
70 North 6 Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211
Next up, for those of you who are feeling more adventurous The Peoples Art, will be throwing an opening for an exhibition of art work entitled “Spectrums” featuring art by the students of the Horizon Academy at the Flushing Campus of CUNY Law School. Once again, here are the deets per their press release:
Join us for a very special, FREE event next Wednesday April 22, from 6-9PM at CUNY Law School. Spectrums is a one-night only exhibition of artwork from Horizon Academy (HA) on Rikers Island. HA is an alternative High School for 19 to 21 year old men while incarcerated. All proceeds from purchases will go to art supplies for the students and HA’s Artists-In-Residency Program, taught by Ronnye Hightower.
Spectrums will feature prominent guest speakers, live music, open mic, prizes and refreshments. This free reception is made possible by generous support from Pieper Bar Review.
The guest speakers include Principal Gloria M. Ortiz, who opened HA eleven years ago, and keynote speaker Marvin E. Schechter, Esq., a 30-year veteran attorney specializing in criminal defense. Both are Directors for Getting Out, and Staying Out (GOSO) a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the recidivism rate for 18-24 year old young men through purposeful education and directed employment.
The People’s Art is a new organization created by Noah W. Marmar and the Community Economic Development (CED) Clinic, within Main Street Legal Services at CUNY Law School. The People’s Art is committed to addressing recidivism through meaningful arts programming. This event marks the public launch for The People’s Art.
Spectrums
April 22, 2009 starting at 6:00 p.m.
CUNY School of Law at Queens College
65-21 Main St.
Flushing, New York 11367
And that’s all she wrote!
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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