Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Found In Greenpoint: Lifetime Achievement Award
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Rebecca11222 (who contributed the following bit of Greenpoint goodness) writes (in an email entitled Found in the shrubbery at the triangle intersection of Calyer, Banker, Franklin):
WTF?
If you are reading out there, Sidney “12 Angry Men /Serpico*“ Lumet**, Rebecca11222 has retrieved your Lifetime Achievement Award from the Savannah College of Art and Design (and a certain fate of being pissed, vomited and shat upon by creatures two, three and four legged alike***— there’s no accounting for taste in this town). It resides in the cozy comfort in her apartment and she will be more than happy to return it to you. Totally free of cost.
Sidney Lumet, STAND UP PLEASE.
Miss Heather
*Who some may recall was sent to the North Brooklyn Narcotics Unit and shot in the head at this apartment building on the Southside.
**And Dog Day Afternoon! ATTICA! ATTICA!
***Or used to prop up a window air conditioning unit.
New York Shitty Day Ender: Street Scenes
Maspeth Avenue
Orient Avenue
Franklin Street
Banker Street
Manhattan Avenue
Meeker Avenue
Broadway
Miss Heather
Coming To Franklin Street: Pentatonic
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Some of you might have noticed activity at the long vacant storefront at 139 Franklin Street last weekend. Well as luck would have it I know a couple of the guys involved in the new business that will call this space its home: Kerry Bomb (of the U.S. Bombs and Bad Luck Charms) and Seth Founds (of the Long Fellows). They were nice enough to take time from prepping the shop to give me the scoop.
The store will called Pentatonic and as and the name indicates its merchandise will primarily consist of musical equipment such as guitars, drums, amps, keyboards and the like.
Customers will be more than welcome to test out the merchandise before buying. A special “isolation booth” will be located in this corner for just this purpose.
This is not to suggest that Pentatonic will be of exclusive interest to musicians. They also plan to carry a selection vintage and new clothing; jewelry, compact discs and LPs with a distinct rock and roll flavor. Crafters take note: per Kerry, Pentatonic is interested is carrying merchandise on consignment. No details on exactly how this is going to work, but when I get them I will pass them along here on New York Shitty. As for an opening date, Seth told me they are aiming for April 15- 20th. That’s less than a month away!
To close on a completely non-musical note, I would be remiss if I didn’t make a mention of the bathroom at this establishment.
Not only is it appointed with this elegant cantilevered commode…
but it may very well be the only loo in all of Greenpoint whose light fixtures sport dimmers so you can have a little mood lighting with your crap. Genius!
Curiously enough it also comes equipped with a shower. Kerry quipped that they were going charge $3.00 per wash. Given that some folks in the Astral haven’t had hot water in roughly two days he might have more takers than he bargained for.
Pentatonic
139 Franklin Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
OPENING DATE: t.b.a. (probably mid-April)
Miss Heather
It’s BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK: The Franklin Street Tower Of Fun Returns
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Like many of the people reading this I went out the evening of St. Patrick’s Day. I wanted to catch up over drinks with a good friend of mine. To this end we wanted a place that was nice and quiet to chat. Initially we went to t.b.d.— and although we had a good time— the din of merry making was not conducive to having a quality “one on one”. To this end we decided to see what was shaking at The River Barrel.
As we had hoped it had plenty of seating available and nice, quiet surroundings. Save of course the sonic hum of the giant NYPD issue spotlight gracing the front of their property. I struck up a conversation with the bartender (who is a very nice and very funny woman) to get her thoughts. She explained to me that the reason her establishment was almost empty had a lot to do with this rather noticeable fixture.
It scares away the customers.
She said. She then proceeded to tell me about a most amusing incident she witnessed the last time the “Tower of Fun” graced the frontage of her place of employment. It was in the wee hours of the morning when she noticed one of the local winos (of whom my fair burgh has quite a number of) pass by. Upon noticing this light fixture he paused for a moment. After assessing the situation he proceeded to kick it repeatedly. Not satisfied with this act of defiance he decided to cap things off by urinating on it.
Granted, the previous slice of Greenpoint is humorous— but the underlying issue with the “Tower of Fun” not. How can the Production Lounge be policed and public safety concerns be addressed without impacting adjacent eating and drinking establishments? There is no easy answer to this question— but I hope we find one soon. It doesn’t strike me as being very fair that a business which is not a nuisance to community* should bear the brunt of its neighbor’s lack of regard for its neighbors and the community as a whole.
That’s my two cents. Take ’em or leave ’em as you see fit.
Miss Heather
*As far as I know. If anyone disagrees with my assessment please speak up via comments.
The Pencil Factory Lofts Get A Very Greenpoint Welcome
I am certain a number of you (like the gentleman above) have noticed the new sales office for the Pencil Factory Lofts on Franklin Street. I know I have; I have been watching it manifest with rapt interest for the last three weeks.
I am pleased to announce as of last weekend (and perhaps a tad earlier) it is open for business on Franklin Street! A number of things interest me about this development. Purchasing one of said “lofts” is not one of them. I neither have the means of affording one nor do I have the desire to co-habitate with their target clientele base (which, from what I can deduce is affluent 20-somethings and 50-something men with 30-something trophy wives). It’s nothing personal; I am certain a number of the previous people are perfectly nice. Rather, it is a matter of class: I have none. Which brings me to this.
I understand (especially given the current state of the economy) that the wizards behind the Pencil Factory Lofts want to move as many units as possible. It is also very obvious that 122 West Street (as seen at the beginning of this post) is nowhere near completion. This requires that a sales office be located elsewhere. I suppose 131-135 Franklin Street is a nice enough building, but the overflowing garbage cans and detritus which perennially grace the front of this edifice do not strike me as putting a good “face” on their organization. Quite to the contrary: aside from being an eyesore the above tableau highlights the stark difference between the lives of the people actually live in Greenpoint and that of the kind of people businesses like The Pencil Factory Lofts want to live here.
The inequity of this (which is all too pervasive nowadays) has been nagging at me for sometime. And I’ll be perfectly frank: it makes me angry. Yesterday as I walked down West Street I learned I am not alone.
It would appear that 122 West Street has received a little “added value”. Somehow I do not think this was what the architect had in mind when he filed plans with the Department of Buildings.
Talk about your genuine, gritty “urban” experience. It doesn’t get much more authentic than this.
Or this.
Or this.
Now that I think about it maybe having a sales office at 135 Franklin Street (which is a healthy distance from the above hilarity) isn’t such a bad idea after all.
Miss Heather
Dung Of The Day: Fun With Urban Blight
FRANKLIN STREET, 12:45 p.m.
I am growing weary of this, Paul.
<3 Greenpoint.
WEST STREET, 1:00 p.m.
Oh…
my…
GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Heather
Happy St. Paddy’s Day From New York Shitty!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
I can think of no better way to kick off this— one of New York City’s most beloved days of the year— than with a few shots of what is without argument the most festive house in Greenpoint. It hails from Apollo Street and, well, it has to be seen to be believed. Enjoy!
Happy St. Paddy’s Day Everybody!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Moments Of Zen
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Green Street.
West Street.
Kent Street.
Franklin Street.
Miss Heather
Post Blizzard Wrap-up Part II: A Walk Around The Garden Spot
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
As promised here is a slide show featuring highlights from my jaunt around Brooklyn’s one and only 11222 yesterday. Enjoy!
Inasmuch as I gripe about the snow I have to admit it has does have its charm— as does Greenpoint!
Miss Heather
Cookie Road Update
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
After sorting through all those deliciously beautiful photographs of The Blue Stove bakery earlier today I found myself a wee bit peckish. Remembering that today was supposed to be Cookie Road’s grand opening I decided to swing by Oak Street and get my sugar fix.
Only to find she was out to lunch! However, I was not the only person who was wishing to make the proprietress’s acquaintance: a woman representing her beverage vendor was sitting on her stoop. From this very nice young lady I got the inside scoop about what it going on with Cookie Road. Long story made short the owner of this establishment has not received all her licenses from the city. Until this comes to pass I am sad to report she will only be serving beverages (which purportedly is the solitary duck she currently has in a row). Yes folks, it looks like we have to wait a little bit longer for our sweet stuffs on Oak Street. *sigh*
Cookie Road
97 Oak Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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