Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Dung Of The Day: Glass Half Full Edition
After learning about the latest incarnation of this sign last week I simply had to see it for myself. What’s more I wanted to gauge its effectiveness. I have some good news and some bad news to relay:
1. While on the one hand it would appear the local citizenry are obeying the letter of the sign,
2. on the other they do not seem to be grasping its spirit.
Glass half empty or glass half full? I’ll let you make the call.
While I’m on the subject of dog shit and day-glo paint, I was recently forwarded a most amusing item from my friend over at And I am Not Lying. Here’s a teaser to pique your interest:
There were two good things about my apartment in Virginia:
The rent was only $175 a month, and Brad the landlord never came over. Ever. Or so we thought. This seemed ideal at the time, as I was using the living room as a painting space in addition to training live chickens to play keyboards in the living room. The less company, the better.
But like so much else in the world, the good and bad parts of that situation were horribly entangled.
We’d moved into the place in a hurry in the dead of an unusually cold winter – which served to keep the smell down..
Yup, and it only gets better.
Miss Heather
East Williamsburg Photo Du Jour: Cash Rules
From Bogart Street.
Miss Heather
P.S.: While we’re on the subject of greed, be sure to check out this and this post about 80 Metropolitan’s advertising campaign. Did you know the demolition of the Dutch Mustard Factory was in fact a conversion? According to their marketing hacks it is. Who knew?
East Williamsburg Photos Du Jour: Street Seating
The delectable and downright brilliant bit of ad hoc street seating hails (as many other wonderful and creative uses of tires do) from Bogart Street in “East Williamsburg”. Not only does it look stylish but I can personally attest to the fact it is also quite comfortable.
There is only one word to describe a creation as sublime as this: GENIUS.
Miss Heather
Reader Contribution Du Jour Part II: Montrose Avenue Dog Doo Sign Gets Another Upgrade!
Michael writes:
I was walking to the store by my job . This was spotted on Montrose avenue and im sure u would appreciate this photo….
I have been a fan of this man’s (who I call “Super”) work for some time. This is by far the best sign he has created to date. Thanks for passing this along this great find Michael!
Miss Heather
Word Of The Day: Jollification
I would imagine those of you who are reading this are probably not feeling too hot. You braved the wind last night, went out and one HELL of a good time. Perhaps a little too good. And now you are paying the price.
Before you amble off to have brunch (replete with Bloody Marys) or go back to bed, dear readers, I would like to submit for your approval the following motley crew of north Brooklyn party animals from yesteryear. Broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder (from falling off an ash dump) and a moonlit dip in the icy waters of Newtown Creek are a few of the niceties the local constabulary had to deal with on New Year’s Day 1900 per the January 2, 1900 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Enjoy!
Maybe they were (still) distressed by the City of Brooklyn’s incorporation into New York City?
Miss Heather
Photo Credit: Heather (who will be graduating from medical school this year!).
East Williamsburg Photos Du Jour: Hot 4(4) Barack
From the Moore Street Market (AKA: La Marqueta).
From a boutique on Graham Avenue.
Miss Heather
P.S.: When I see things (like the above shirt sported by a mannequin with perpetually erect nipples) I have to wonder if Mr. Obama had any idea that he (as a Senator or President-elect) would get this kind of props.
From My Friend Crappy
One subject of conversation at the junk shop I am rapidly tiring of is the subject of female drivers. Larry da Junkman and Steve are of the impression north Brooklyn’s women drivers are among the worst to be found anywhere. I, being the good little feminist I am, emphatically disagree: all north Brooklyn drivers, regardless of gender, are pretty damned bad. On any given day —at the bat of an eyelash —a pedestrian’s or G train commuter’s life crossing a street can become an outtake from Death Race 2000. I myself have beheld the result of the Greenpoint driver. It isn’t pretty. But back to gender politics and an item my buddy over at Queens Crap recently brought to my attention.
If women drivers are so bad here why are both the motorists who have managed to drive into Newtown Creek male. Yes, I just said “both”. It happened again last month folks, but this time the driver was able to walked/swam away from the incident. Literally. On November 27, 2008 Times News Daily writes:
Police said that 21-year-old Brian Espinal of South Third Street in Williamsburg was taken into custody on reckless endangerment charges after he returned to the scene of the accident while emergency personnel scoured the creek for possible victims.
Authorities later determined that Espinal was alone inside his vehicle at the time of the accident.
Law enforcement sources said the accident occurred at around 6:40 a.m. Sunday morning along Metropolitan Avenue near Scott Avenue.
Reportedly, Espinal was behind the wheel of a 1997 Toyota Camry traveling eastbound along Metropolitan Avenue.
According to information obtained by police, the suspect was observed allegedly traveling at a high rate of speed, crossing over the double-yellow line and dodging oncoming traffic.
Moments later, law enforcement sources said, the suspect’s vehicle lost control and crashed into the guardrail before splashing into the Newtown Creek.
Following the crash, police noted, the suspect exited his vehicle, waded back to the shore and made his way back onto the avenue on foot. Reportedly, he hailed a livery cab traveling on Metropolitan Avenue and fled from the scene…
You can read the story in its entirely by clicking here. Otherwise I would like to close with a couple thoughts:
- Can you imagine how bad that livery cab must have smelled after having Mr. Espinal as a fare?
- Are there any daring women out there who would like to (wo)man a four-wheel U-boat on a one-way journey into Newtown Creek in the the interest of gender equality?* If so you better get cracking: there’s only three weeks left of 2008!
Miss Heather
*This is satire.
Photo Credit: Times News Daily.
Red Shed Garden
Filed under: 11211, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg
I have walked by this community garden (which is located just across Kingsland Avenue from the Greenpoint Hospital) many times. This weekend, however, I was lucky enough to swing by while their volunteers were busy beautifying north Brooklyn. They were also kind enough to let me come in and take some pictures. My complete set can be found over at Flickr. Here are a few highlights.
I’m not too sure what this chap, the littlest volunteer at the Red Shed Garden, was doing. But whatever it was it required the use of a plastic baseball bat. Doing a spot of weeding, perhaps?
The work these people have done is really impressive. I for one loved the use of a wheelbarrow as a planter.
This is the beginners’ garden. Interesting Garden Spot Fact: the land currently occupied by Mary D’s Housing For Seniors on Eagle Street used to be a community garden. When Mary D’s was built it was promised there would be a community garden on the premises. There isn’t one. The garden you see on Eagle Street is for Mary D’s residents only.
Here’s a nice shot with the old Greenpoint Hospital in the background.
And of course what would a post about the Red Shed Garden be without featuring its namesake? Anyone who is interested in volunteering at this beautiful oasis nestled in the heart of uglyass condoville should contact the folks at Red Shed via their brand-spanking new web site.
Miss Heather
From Bushwick With Love
Filed under: 11206, Bushwick, Bushwick Brooklyn, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn
As it would happen, a good friend of mine resides in Bushwick. On occasion she sees fit to send me pictures from her wanderings around the neighborhood. Today was one of those days. She writes:
I was going to save this and give it to you as an anniversary present, but it’s just too good to sit on till October. This is what I saw while walking my dog this morning. I made sure to swing back by with my camera on the way to the train to work. I did not arrange this. I merely happened by and saw its intrinsic sublimity.
This looks like one hell of a party (note the baggie of cocaine to the rat’s right). They sure seem to like Heineken down there. I sense a phat product placement deal will be headed Bushwick’s direction soon. With publicity like this, who needs Madison Avenue?
Miss Heather
P.S.: Thanks a lot for the gift, Chintamani! This is like Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Ramadan all put together.
NYS Flickr Pool
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