Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
New York Shitty Day Ender: Happiness
This bit of happiness hails from 277 South 2nd Street (between Marcy Avenue and Havemeyer Street). The above image is a mere teaser to the tantalizing four stories of aborted and boarded up “Fedderism” that awaits your delectation if and/or when you elect to swing by and see this Fedderus Interuptus in person. And I encourage each and every one of you, dear readers, to do just this.
Kevin Walsh (of Forgotten New York) writes in this post (which needs to be seen to truly be believed):
I’ve come to the conclusion that Johnny Rotten was wrong when he said there’s “no future for you.” There is a future for Queens, and what we’ve seen on this page is that future.
And the image gracing the beginning of this post is the future of north Brooklyn! Scratch that— this is north Brooklyn’s present. Given the number of “luxury” properties and Kings crap that are still being built here despite a surplus, lack of interest and money north Brooklyn is well along the road to its own personal perdition…
and a very sad future, indeed!
Inasmuch as I hate to be pedantic or “preachy” I am going to make an exception for this post. When you cast your ballots this fall*, fellow north Brooklynites, I want to to think about the above image. Our elected officials (with the complicity and/or implicit— if not explicit— approval of certain “grassroots” organizations/”community organizers”) enabled this.
Miss Heather
*And I hope you do— regardless of whether or not you agree with me. North Brooklyn has long sported a deplorable voter turn-out. Make your voice heard!
Greenpoint Loses One Of Its Own
Filed under: 11222, Crazy Cat Lady, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Many of you are undoubtedly familiar with delightfully old school storefront at 155 Greenpoint Avenue: H. Temkin Carpets & Linoleum.
If so, you will undoubtedly recognize this lovely lass: she frequented the windows of this establishment.*
Her name was Noel and after “14-15” years of gracing the Garden Spot with her stately presence, I am sad to report she is no longer with us. Per Noel’s “person”, Allan**, she had cancer and went into a steep decline the last two weeks of her life. He did assure me, however, that he did everything in his power to make sure her last days were as painless and comfortable as possible.
Goodbye, Noel. You will be missed.
Miss Heather
*Who, Allen attests, “knew” when a funeral was going to happen next door. How, you ask? Very simple: on the day of any given funeral Noel could be found in the window, laying on her back “playing dead”.
**Who is an amazingly nice and very interesting guy. As you can see.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Ad Hoc Rock
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Last Sunday afternoon I happened to find myself in Williamsburg. As I was approaching Kent Avenue I began to hear music. LOUD MUSIC.
What the fuck?
I asked myself. Sure enough, when I reached East River State Park I found my answer: they were having a concert event. I don’t think I have ever seen this park crawling with as many people as I did that day. Naturally I got the hell out of dodge STAT.
It’s not that I do not like music or concerts. I do. I simply do not like large crowds of people. I prefer my entertainment to be on a more intimate scale. “Unplugged”, if you will. Which brings me to the following.
Tony (who took the above photographs) writes:
On the way to the farmer’s market we found quite a post-video-game-rock-out mess at the little park on Driggs & McGuinness.
A lot of Polish dudes sleep on cardboard inside there, but I doubt these have anything to do with them.
I most emphatically disagree. For all we know among this gaggle of Garden Spot guydom is the next Eddie Van Halen, Ted Nugent, Randy Rhaods, or— if we’re really lucky— Pete Townshend!
Miss Heather
Construction Site Du Jour: 211 Huron Street
You know how the saying goes:
All’s well that ends well.
Well, I would like to update this adage with a distinctly Greenpointian twist:
Anything that starts out this badly will probably end up being even worse.
Which brings me to this.
I have seen a lot of shoddy construction work in my day. So much so that I have become somewhat oblivious to it. That is until I beheld 211 Huron Street. This site is in a class all its own.
This is without argument one of the most fascinating construction fences I have ever seen.*
The use of a residential door gives it a “cozy” feel lacking in this day and age of mega-development and glass boxes. If you lived here, you’d be homeless by now!
Signs, signs, everywhere a sign— but these missives pass muster as such only in the most academic sense of the word. It should be noted, however, that although they do not score points for relaying information they do create an interesting montage!
As you can see no expense has been spared on cement. In fact, they even went to the trouble of repaving part of the street. I have no doubt this will work wonders for our already beleaguered sewage system.
Need a place to store your stuff? That’s what your next door neighbor’s property is for!
The more eagle-eyed among you probably noticed there are no permits whatsoever to be found at 211 Huron Street. This is because they have no valid permits (those expired in April**). Not that this formality appears to have deterred them from working anyway.
Whoops.
Miss Heather
*Note the absence of a sidewalk shed. It would appear they really need one.
**What is slated to be built here is as follows:
Don’t believe me? Click here and see for yourself!
New York Shitty Day Starter: Good Morning!
Filed under: Manhattan
From East 6 Street.
Miss Heather
TOMORROW: Smackdown!
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Tomorrow, July 28, starting at 7:00 p.m. the Williamsburg Northside Preschool will be hosting “The Ultimate Verbal Smackdown”. What will this “forum for 33rd council districts” entail? I’ll let NAG’s Neighborhood Watch give you the 411:
In a match held only once this century, seven City Council candidates will grapple with the issues important to North Brooklynites to help voters decide who will best be able to serve Greenpoint and Williamsburg in the City Council. Candidates will attempt their best verbal wrestling moves, although any metal chairs present will be for sitting and the only sleeper holds allowed are those that require a firm grasp of zoning law.
The Ultimate Verbal Smackdown forum will focus on the major issues facing North Brooklyn: affordable housing, open space, transportation, public safety, environment, quality-of-life, education and youth. The forum will be moderated by Susan Albrecht, Co-Chair of NAG…
It will probably be of interest to a number of people reading this that NAG is also taking submissions for a “people’s choice” question. You can tender your submission(s) and learn more about this event by clicking here.
ULTIMATE VERBAL SMACKDOWN
Tuesday, July 28, 2009; 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Willamsburg Northside Preschool
152 North 5th Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211
Let the mayhem begin!
Miss Heather
Has Anyone Seen Moose?
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Crazy Cat Lady, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Speaking as a pet owner my heart sinks when I find fliers like this (which is located at the intersection of Herbert Street and Graham Avenue in Greenpoint). The previous having been written who cannot help but love a cat named Moose! If you have seen this cute fella or know of his whereabouts please contact his “people” at the above telephone number. Thanks!
Miss Heather
P.S.: Also MIA in the Garden Spot is a cat named Lester. Here’s the flier I found about him from the intersection of Norman Avenue and Newel Street.
Greenpoint Gentrification Watch: The Garden Spot
How do you know your neighborhood is getting tony? It’s not Manhattan-esque rent, shops that charge $200 for a pair of shorts or forty story glass towers. It is this.
This veritable I.M.Peie of potty planterdom hails from Russell Street.
Miss Heather
THIS WEEK: Bike Love
Those of you who want a little beefcake with your squeaky clean bike are in luck! Per this flier (which I found on Driggs Avenue) this Saturday, August 1, the Metropolitan Bar will be hosting a hose-down with a distinctly 11211 twist.
There’s no mention of price so I am guessing this service is gratis. As to whether or not the lad or lass lavishing love on your ride will seat-throat your Schwinn?
Well, I suppose you just have to go and find out. Only in Williamsburg, folks…
Bicycle Love Hose-Down
August 1, 2009 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Metropolitan Bar
559 Lorimer Street
Brooklyn, New York 11211
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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