Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Vidar
Filed under: Brooklyn, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy, Sunset Park, Sunset Park Brooklyn
Chris Arnade (who took the above photograph) writes:
Vidar, 89, left Norway on a whaling ship at the age of 15 just prior to the start of WWII. Unable to return because of the war he joined the Merchant Marines, working as a gunner on cargo ships plying the North Atlantic. Four times he survived being sunk; once he was adrift in a life boat for five days.
After the war he immigrated to the then predominately Norwegian neighborhood of Sunset Park, Brooklyn where he found jobs on fishing boats. A hurricane in ’56 led to another rescue at sea. “That was enough. I moved to working on tug boats.” He retired in 1983. He recently was awarded the St. Olaf’s medal by the King for his service to Norway during the war.
I met him in one of my favorite bars in NYC, the Soccer Tavern (Soccer tavern one and Soccer tavern two). He had his first drink there in ’43 while in the Merchant Marines, and still tries to make it a few times a week. The neighborhood now is almost all Chinese, and the regulars, a mixture of Irish and Chinese, like to talk about the bar as the only Chirish bar in New York. “Back then there used to be six bars on this block. Now this is the only one in the whole area.”
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Columbia Street
This amusing bit of signage comes courtesy of Lost In Brooklyn. Great find!
Reader Contribution du Jour: Attention Ladies!
Filed under: Brooklyn, Ft. Greene, Ft. Greene Brooklyn, New York City, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy
If there is one thing your truly values it is honesty— and honesty is what this missive is all about! As you can see this gentleman (?) is not so much concerned with the itinerary of said date (I for one found “window shopping”, “the library” and “the zoo” novel suggestions). Rather, the emphasis is placed upon:
- there only being one date.
- females need only apply.
No hidden agendas. No mind-games. No muss. No fuss. Just a “nite” (and perhaps some cake and ice cream) to remember!
Any ladies wishing to take Mr. Right (now) up on his offer should be advised to head to the Clinton-Washington stop of the C train (which is where this is located). Good luck!
Photo Credits: Props go to Jeremy for discovering and granting me permission to share this wonder find. Thanks!
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: 7th Annual Memorial Ride & Walk
Filed under: 11222, Bronx, Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Manhattan, New York City, Queens, Staten Island
This item comes courtesy of the folks at Ghostbikes.org. On Sunday, March 18th, they will be conducting their 7th Annual Memorial Ride & Walk. Follows is a general outline per their press release.
The Annual Memorial Ride and Walk brings New Yorkers together to remember pedestrians and cyclists killed in our city over the past year. This will mark the seventh year that this event has occurred. Riders will visit the site of each ghost bike, a white-painted memorial for cyclists, installed in the past year. Please help us show solidarity with the family and friends of those lost by joining us for this important event. Bring flowers and other items to honor those lost.
Bronx-Manhattan Ride
11:30 La Finca Del Sur Community Garden, S138th & Grand Concourse (4 or 5 to E138th St, Bronx)
Queens-Brooklyn Ride
11:30 Cross Bay Pkwy & Beach Channel Dr. (A to Beach 90 or Beach 98, Queens)
Staten Island Ride
12:00 Everything Goes Book Cafe, 208 Bay St (between Victory and Hannah, Staten Island)
Brooklyn Ride
12:30 Avenue T & 9th St. (D to 25th Ave. or N to Avenue U, Brooklyn)
Convergence
4:00 Unnamed memorial, Union Ave. & S5th St., BrooklynThe event is free and open to all.
Rain date: Sunday, March 25
Those of you who are interested in attending any of the above-listed events can RSVP via Facebook by clicking here. Otherwise you can get more information and updates at Ghostbikes’s web site.
Given our very own 94th Precinct reported 77 pedestrian/motorist accidents in 2011 (two of which were fatalities) versus 47 in 2010 (still not a stellar figure), I strongly encourage any and all north Brooklynites to participate in this event. Be it by attending the Memorial Walk/Ride proper or helping with the creation and installation of ghost bikes at the Greenpoint Reformed Church thsi upcoming weekend (March 10th from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) we can make our voices heard!
New York Shitty Day Starter: All’s Fare In Love & Brooklyn
Taken by Pearce_Pics.
Taken by Triborough.
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part II: Jef
charles le brigand (who took the above photograph) writes:
Jef is a Rastafarian, member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. This rasta branch is considered the most liberal and unlike the other rasta groups (Bobo Shanti and Nyahbinghi) they accept Jesus Christ as Lord, and Haile Selassie I as his reincarnation on earth. Altought a bit grave on the picture, Jef was actually very pleasant and especially talkative about Dennis Brown, “The Crown Prince of Reggae”.
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: El Rey
Charles Le Brigand (who took the above photograph) writes:
Felipe was pushing his cart filled with a mishmash of plastic bottles and metal cans. He comes from the state of Guerrero in Mexico, “el estado de la revolucion”, he proudly said. I asked him if he could sing as well and Felipe started to chant his favorite ranchera ballade and impersonated his idol, Vincente Fernandez. Cars were honking while waiting at the light and passersby were applauding him.
After saying goodbye to Felipe and walking a few blocks, I could still hear his voice echoing underneath the elevated train tracks. It makes me happy to meet jovial people like Felipe.
NYS Flickr Pool
You must be logged in to post a comment.