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Williamsburg Photos Du Jour: 373 Graham Avenue
Yes gentle readers, it would appear this is the latest “service” our Graham Avenue’s good friend has seen fit to offer the general public. My advice to any/all interested sun worshippers: you might want to take into consideration this fellow has chased someone with a chainsaw.*
*As it would happen, I had the dubious honor of pointing out this fact to a couple of ladies dancing with Joe earlier this summer. Follows is how I recounted it to a few of his beleaguered neighbors:
Hey, I thought you all would enjoy a little “fun” I had with Joe before (amusingly enough) this evening’s Public Safety Committee meeting.
I was quite hungry as it would happen my taco purveyor of choice is located one block away from 373 Graham Avenue. Well, “Joe” was in especially good form this evening. Not only did he have his music cranked up to some ungodly volume, but he was singing as well. Noting that the owner of the hardware store next door was sitting in a chair watching this shitshow unfold, I struck up a conversation with him. Very simply put, he is tired of his neighbor, has apparently brought this to Marie’s and Gerry’s attention repeatedly and has lodged a number of complaints. “Joe’s” response to all of this is that he is being harassed. That’s when I opined to my new friend:
Well, he does have a restraining order against him for chasing someone with a chainsaw so I suppose he would be an expert on harassment.
He found this really funny. Wanting to get food (because I was REALLY HUNGRY) I told this fellow we’d resume our conversation on my way back. I’m glad I did! On my way back “Joe” was out front dancing with not one but two 20-something women. The owner of the hardware found this as darkly amusing as I did. In fact, I told him:
If Joe goes inside I am going to tell these women about his affection for chainsaws.
Then by some act of divine providence, Joe’s CD player started malfunctioning. BADLY. So I skipped on over and very calmly/glibly (think like I was talking about the weather) said the following:
You know this guy has a restraining order against him for chasing someone with a chainsaw, yes?
Their initial response was to giggle like a couple 14 year olds. I said nothing more but gave them my “I am not joking” face. Not only did they stop laughing but they ran— RAN— as fast as they could around the corner. I was a couple doors away when Joe finally came back out. The look of confusion and disappointment on his face was priceless.
Four Accidents In As Many Weeks?
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
If what I have heard (via the North Brooklyn Community Facebook Group) this appears to be the case. Apparently a young man (purported to be of 16 years of age) riding a bicycle was struck by a livery cab at the intersection of Graham Avenue and Bayard Street (as indicated by the number “4” on the above map) around 11:00 p.m. The Fire Department and EMTs were on the scene immediately and he wqas taken to the hospital. As of 11:30 p.m. the police had yet to arrive.
This is all I know presently. However, I have inquired of the Head of the 94th Precinct as to exactly what happened— if this youth is okay (given the circumstances— and this is my primary concern). When I hear something, I’ll add it here. In closing this makes four accidents in a very small area in as many weeks. Three involved livery cabs. Three involved Graham Avenue. (You can read about the other three accidents as annotated on the above map by clicking here, here and here.) WTF??? Seriously.
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part II: Another Bicyclist Hit?
This item comes from our 50th Assembly District Democratic Leader (and all-around nice guy) Lincoln Restler. He writes:
I am emailing you because a good friend of mine was smashed by a car riding his bicycle in the early hours of Sunday morning at Graham and Skillman just a few blocks from C’s accident. A car stopped temporarily to let my friend pass and then the driver stuck his foot on the gas to hit him full force. He went flying and was knocked unconscious. He woke up in Woodhull. Not only was it a classic hit and run – but my friend’s bike was stolen. Well, actually he was borrowing another friend’s bike. It has been seen around the neighborhood, so I was wondering if you might do a post to get the word out that this is a stolen bike. Details below about the bike and my friend Tyler’s first person account of what happened. thanks so much.
Without further ado, here it is.
“On Saturday night I was hit by a car on a bicycle at the intersection of Graham and Skillman. I was knocked out cold from the collision and woke up in the Woodhull ER. Luckily I was wearing a helmet or it could have been much worse. The car took off and the bicycle was stolen form the scene sometime while I was unconscious or after the ambulance had taken me away. I am writing to ask for people to keep a look out for this bicycle, details below, in the neighborhood. A good friend had lent me the bike to ride home and we are desperately seeking to get it back in his hands (no questions asked). He is a free-lance reporter and relies on the bike to get around and cover the local news. It’s bad enough that this was a hit and run accident, but to have the bike disappear on top of it is just wrong. The local police (94th precinct) have been unhelpful, so we’re turning to the community. If you have any information about the bike or accident please contact me directly at tyler.griswold@gmail.com
Details on the bike:It is a red Lemond Tourmalet steel-framed (59cm) road bike with Shimano components, white bar tape and a Fizik Arione saddle (this is important for the identification because I had put a fancy racing seat on it). The bike was in excellent condition, although the rear derailleur had a creak.”
New York Shitty Videos Du Jour: Live From Graham Avenue & Driggs Avenue
After receiving a tip about— and later receiving a downright scary personal account from— the lady cyclist who was hit by a car at this intersection earlier this week, today I decided to see for myself exactly how the stop sign in question is obeyed. Or not— as you’ll see.
New York Shitty analysis:
- Props go to the livery cab driver who pulled over to let the ambulance pass.
- Otherwise, simply slowing down and peering around the corner does not a “stop” make.
- Methinks some traffic enforcement is in order.
As luck would have it the Commanding Officer of the 94th Precinct— Deputy Inspector Hurson himself— spied me walking down Woodpoint Road shortly after I shot the above footage. He pulled over and we talked. I told him about what I saw at this intersection, noting the recent accident (of which he was familiar). Hopefully we’ll see some action here moving forward…
UPDATE, 9:34 p.m.: I informed the lady recovering from this accident, who we’ll call “C”, of my findings. Here’s what she had to say.
…thank you for putting my story w. the photo on new york shitty. a friend said she saw that i commented… i told her she was nuts… but then we figured it out!! i spoke to (Good Samaritan — Ed. Note), one of the guys that helped me. he was actually driving behind the guy that hit (me) and said he didn’t stop. he actually sped up!! (Good Samaritan) has photos and took notes!!…
To be continued…?
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Anyone Have $799,999?
Filed under: 11211, 11222, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
If so, you can make 373 Graham Avenue (as seen above) all yours. Really. I am not kidding.
New York Shitty Analysis
- Glass Half Full: To the agent’s credit, he does disclose this building’s lack of Certificate of Occupancy.
- Glass Half Empty: However, he fails to note the present owner has a restraining order (which he has seen fit to violate) as a result of chasing someone with a chainsaw. It has been my observation most people find this kind of thing to be a “deal breaker”.
My advice: Unless you have the dubious honor of being “Joe’s” neighbor (in which case you should start a Kickstarter campaign— STAT) take your business to 419 Graham Avenue instead…
Credits/Props: Special thanks go out to Sarah and Devery for bringing these items to my attention.
Urban Fur: A Dog’s Life
Filed under: 11206, Bushwick, Bushwick Brooklyn, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Urban Fur
From Graham Avenue.
The Word On The Street, Part III: A Graham Avenue PSA
Filed under: 11206, 11211, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Stuff That Makes Miss Heather Happy, The Word On The Street
Taken June 17, 2012.
NYS Flickr Pool
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