Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
New York Shitty Day Starter: Phyllis
Last night I attended the 94th Precinct’s final community council meeting of the year. The coffee was copious and in keeping with the season pumpkin cake was in the offering. I took a piece and it was very tasty. Attendance was sparse and the attendees present were, for the most part, EDGY. Overall it was pretty dull, except for the following segment where Phyllis, a Bedford Avenue institution (and very nice lady) gave a scathing, Mr. Blackwell-esque assessment of New York’s Finest’s female officers. NOTE/CAVEAT: for some reason the sound on this is very, VERY low in some parts. Why, honestly I do not know. But trust me when I write this: it’s worth a listen and blowing your eardrums when people laugh.
Synopsis/Analysis: Police officers are not allowed to chew gum on the job.
Who knew?
Miss Heather
P.S.: Phyllis, you rock! People like you make life worth living in north Brooklyn.
New York Shitty Day Ender: Moore Street Pastoral
Filed under: 11206, 11231, Bushwick, Bushwick Brooklyn, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn
Taken November 16, 2009.
Miss Heather
Follow-up to The Greenpoint “Hate Sticker” Post
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
I wrote a post on Sunday about an anti-Semitic sticker I found affixed to a Greenpoint pay phone (which can be seen at left). Well, it has been brought to my attention by three commenters that a number of such items (dis)grace the Garden Spot. To cite an example, bob writes:
hi, miss heather. i checked your blog this morning and saw this entry. later, i was walking up manhattan from driggs to the produce store. on the way, i saw a sticker from the same folks (or, “volk” i suppose), only this one substituted “fags” for “jews” as a gay jew living in greenpoint, my morning sure got off to a great start. it was on the window of the laundromat directly across the street from dunkin’ (the one with the red awning). before getting shooed away, i managed to rip the “fags” part off. the rest is still there, or it was when i left anyway. alas, the camera was at home.
This morning I went for a walk and documented all the stickers my commenters noted. In so doing I (unfortunately) found a hitherto undiscovered one. I made sure to note the address and/or intersection where each sticker was located. When I got home I printed out my findings, annotated them and took them tonight’s 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting. In said meeting I brought them to D.I. Fulton’s attention. My grievance was taken seriously— if not by some attendees present (a few of whom sighed, groaned and rolled their eyes). Here’s the deal:
I have been advised that moving forward I am to bring these stickers (when I find them) to the police department’s attention, be it by calling them or forwarding images (with location) to an officer who will henceforth be my “point person”. This same gentleman guaranteed there will be an investigation. In addition, D.I. Fulton told me that ripping these stickers down is perfectly legal. So there have you. All I asked in return was that he have these stickers removed stat. Mister Fulton assured me this will happen.
In other words if you, dear readers, find such stickers/hate speech on your block the NYPD has your ear. Call ’em.
Miss Heather
UPDATE, November 17, 2009: This has been referred to the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force.
Greenwick Photos du Jour: Urban Fur
Filed under: 11206, 11222, 11237, Bushwick, Bushwick Brooklyn, Crazy Cat Lady, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
West Street, 11222
Jefferson Street, 11237
Moore Street, 11206
Miss Heather
East Williamsburg Street Art du Jour: Three
Filed under: 11231, 11237, Bushwick, Bushwick Brooklyn, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Street Art
From Vandervoort Place.
Miss Heather
Williamsburg Photo du Jour: Monday Afternoon On Bedford Avenue
As the delay in today’s postage probably indicates, I spent this downright gorgeous day outdoors. Days such as this are— in my humble opinion— best spent pounding the pavement of north Brooklyn, not in front of a computer monitor.
Or, as I learned from Kenneth, donning your best dress, heading to the intersection of North 7 Street and Bedford Avenue to knock back 40s and hand out roses to female passerby. I sat down with Kenneth for a few minutes to hear his story. Here it is.
Kenneth resides in Manhattan but after spending a week in rehab decided to come back to the “old hood” to clear his head and drink beer. I’m not too certain if Williamsburg is the ideal location to do such a thing, but who am I to argue? Kenneth was clearly happy, if a bit soused. He said:
Someone my age, FIVE TWO, should probably be doing something better with his time…
I vehemently disagreed.
After all that awful weather we had the sun is out! Why not spread a little sunshine of your own? I’m out taking a walk and you’re hanging out here handing out roses. Who am I to judge?
I like sitting here. They’ll probably make me move soon. I better buy another beer.
He replied and then proceeded to offer a solitary red rose to on old Polish lady passing by:
Will you marry me?
He exclaimed, much to her disgust. (Yeah, I know it’s wrong but I had to chuckle.) Upon noticing this act earned him a glare from an employee of the N7 Market, Kenneth added:
I LOVE Hispanic men!
This outburst had the desired effect: the employee in question quickly went back into his place of employment. It was then that Kenneth offered me a rose. I declined at first. But he insisted:
I have to buy more anyway.
So I took it, thanked him and went on my way. Thank you, Kenneth. Making your acquaintance made my day!
Your lovely gift now graces my desk. It numbers among my most cherished possessions. I made sure to put it next to Mister Heather’s blood pressure medication so he will notice.
(Hey, I might be married but it’s nice to be reminded I still have “prospects”!)
Miss Heather
UPDATE 6:54, p.m.: as I calculated the Mister arrived home and noticed my gift!
The Mister: Where did the rose come from?
Me: A 52 year old man in a dress on Bedford Avenue gave it to me.
T.M.: That’s good. (Then he wandered off to the kitchen to make a cocktail.)
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Vinnie’s 2.0.?
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Anonymous writes:
Dear Miss Heather,
Although I currently reside in Florida (suckfest), I’m a huge fan and avid reader of your blog…
Although I could toot your horn all day, I’ll be honest and tell you I have an ulterior motive: my boyfriend (ex? current? we haven’t quite decided) recently linked up with his friends from Williamsburg. These boys are the current owners of Vinnie’s Pizza on Bedford Ave, known largely for their great selection of Vegan/Vegetarian specialty pies and their “T.HANKS” trash can featured on an array of blogs in recent months. AAAAnyshit, I was hoping to anonymously alert you and your readers to their new location, opening right in Greenpoint at Nassau and Kingsland.
I’m not entirely sure when they’re set to open, but from the sound of it the date should fall well before the new year. I don’t know if this is necessarily of any interest to you but figured it was worth a try to help out a friend. Thanks so much and keep of the great work – I always look forward to new posts!
Thanks for the kind words and head’s up, Anonymous. I am certain this will definitely be of interest to my friends in McGolrick Heights!
Miss Heather
Subway Photo du Jour: Myrtle Avenue Bound
This goes out to my new friend Nick. Not only was it a pleasure making your acquaintance on the L train this afternoon but you can rest assured if I ever find myself in need of a package tour to Puerto Rico you will be the first person I call!
Miss Heather
THIS WEEK: Fundraiser for the McCarren Dog Run
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
This Saturday, November 21, NYCPet will be hosting an all-day event to benefit McCarren Park’s very own dog run. “Shopping For Dogs” is pretty self-explanatory: 10% of every purchase made on this day will be donated to the McCarren Dog Run to help fund their much-needed drainage project (at last word they still need about $5,000 more bucks to make this happen). In addition, there will be a drawing for prizes from such local businesses as:
- Northside Veterinary Clinic
- Holistic Select Products
- Brooklyn General Barber
- And much more!
Refreshments are also promised. If you patronize the McCarren Dog Run run— even occasionally— please swing by NYCPet this Saturday. You can also make a donation online via PayPal. It’s your dog run, Williamspointers!
Shopping for Dogs
November 21, 2009; 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
NYCPet
241 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11211
Be sure to buy a can for BARC while you’re there!
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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