Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
New York Shitty Day Starter: Iris Absinthe
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Art
From Meserole Avenue.
Miss Hetaher
New York Shitty Day Ender: Sweetpoint
To close on a more upbeat and food related note, today I spied a new bakery moving into 230 Calyer Street.
Yes, I too cringed a little when I noticed this establishment is to be called “Sweetpoint”. But you know what? It has grown on me. Enough so that moving forward when people ask me where I live I am going to proclaim— with my little 11222 heart glowing with pride:
Miss Heather
P.S.: On a related note the long-awaited renovation of the Taco Bell/KFC across the street appears to be nearing completion. Liquid cheese, here I come!
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: GUERNSEY 150
Um, could you tell me who these garbage cans belong to again???
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Gentrification?!?
Filed under: 11206, 11211, 11222, 11237, Bed-Stuy, Bloomblight, Brooklyn, Bushwick, Culture War, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Ft. Greene, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Kensington, Long Island City, New York City, Queens, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Interesting things happen when I stay up late. Mind you, they are not usually good things. But this case may very well be an exception: in the wee hours of the morning today the following found its way into my inbox.
Anni Atkinson of Earthsharing.org.au (Yes kids, that’s Australia) writes:
have you ever heard of GENTRIFICATION?
well, not many people have which is surprising as it effects us all.
so, I am attempting to do something about this! well, me and the team at Earthsharing Australia! I work with a not-for-profit called Earthsharing that offers free education services on economics and we focus on economic justice for all.
Currently we are working on an international film competition with the theme of ‘Gentrification’ which looks at issues of gentrification and how such cycles effect creative communities and artists in our cities. First Prize is $3000, with runner up prizes from Madman and Crumpler.
your blog is rad and we would be honored if you could throw a little love our way and mention the film competition to your readers!
Please contact me for more details including a press release or an e-flyer.
In the mean time, check out our website for more details!
The first line of this email made me erupt into fits of uncontrollable (and demented) laughter. Have I heard of gentrification? Feeling more than a little raffish, I wrote back:
You are asking ME, a resident of Greenpoint, Brooklyn, USA (which is located pretty much halfway around the globe from you), to inform my readership about film competition about GENTRIFICATION?!? Greenpoint: a neighborhood where a “luxury” condos proliferate in the shadow of the east coast’s largest WASTE TREATMENT PLANT? Where environmental issues the likes of which you cannot begin to comprehend remain unabated. And yet artists are being pushed out because there are people willing to dole out $2,000+ USD rent for a one bedroom/studio for this?
Give me the fuggin’ flier, your creds and press release— STAT.
Well, she did.
I’ve done some poking around and this contest is 100% legit. Let’s show our friends down under how our fair city treats the creative community and everyone else who cannot a condo or $2,000 a month rent? You can get the 411 on how to enter this contest by checking out Earthsharing’s web site or by emailing them at: timmah (at) earthsharing (dot) org (dot) au
NOTE: they are currently requiring that entries be mails. I have suggested they accept submissions via YouTube as mailing matter overseas can be both costly and dicey. They are looking into it.
Otherwise, you can play the Gentrification Game by clicking here. Simply put you are a landlord/speculator and your goal is to kick out tenants. Play it. It’s a fucking HOOT!
Miss Heather
P.S.: Earthsharing also has a number of interesting videos on YouTube. Check ’em out. You’ll find the tales contained therein eerily familiar.
Greenpoint Food Watch: Mexican Comes To Franklin!
The one thing I constantly crave but have the damnedest time finding is a honest-to-god, no frills “home style” cheese enchilada. You know the type: red sauce, cheese, lots of onions and little else? Well, I usually schlep to Manhattan for this fare but that may very well become a thing of the past.
Some of you might have noticed activity at Casa Mon Amour’s old space at 162 Franklin Street. Well, I was commenting about it to the Mister on my cell phone when a gentleman overheard me and said something that was music to my ears:
It’s going to be a Mexican restaurant.
Needless to say when I got home I headed over to Community Board 1’s web site without delay to verify this. He’s correct:
*tears*
Miss Heather
Viridian Death Watch: Another One Bites The Dust
Filed under: 11222, Abjectecture, Asshole, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Remember a couple of weeks ago when Jay Lombard of Dog Habitat brought the above little fella (and two of his equally deceased feathered friends) to our attention? He had ascertained that the glass windows of Greenpoint’s favorite nondo, the Viridian, was to blame for their demise; the reflection cast from them was fooling these cedar waxwings— which should be noted are currently migrating south— to fly into them. Well, it is with heavy heart that I inform you 110 Green Street has claimed another victim.
And this time— instead of picking his (or her) fragile little body up— Magic’s funky bunch simply swept him along with all the other “trash” (gracing the western end of their property) onto their neighbor’s lot.
You’re a real class act, Viridian.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Helicopters?
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Criminal Activity, Culture War, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Shashi writes:
know anything about those incessant helicopters over greenpoint from 6-7:30 in the morning? traffic copters? how does one complain about them?
Truth be told Shashi, I am not 100% clear on what your recourse is. However if you are writing in reference to the helicopters flying around the waterfront this morning methinks I can give you answer. I have it on very good intelligence that our very own Mayor was in the far north Garden Spot conducting some kind of dog and pony show which we will undoubtedly be subjected to in the near future. I am certain the message will (more or less) be:
Everything’s just great!
Had our fearless leader bothered to actually step out where the common peasants live he would quickly ascertain things most decidedly are not.
Looks like the natives are getting restless.
Some of my colleagues amplifiers in the print media might have noticed I have given no indication whatsoever as to where either of the previous items are to be found. You can rest assured they are in Greenpoint and the lack of naming their specific locations was no oversight on my part. If you are going to earn your livelihood plagiarizing my work I’m going to make good and damned sure to make you work for it.
Now that I have undoubtedly sent a pack of hack reporters scurrying around the Garden Spot looking for Nazi lamp posts*, do you have any advice, dear readers as to how Shashi should handle her noise problem? My educated guess is she needs to call 311 and file a complaint with the Department of Environmental Protection.
Miss Heather
*Oh yeah— if think you’re being clever by referencing the comment Tony left on this post:
This is much better than the swastikas I’ve been noticing on lamp post bases lately… just saw another today on Nassau @ Russell.
You’re not. As of 3:00 this afternoon there were no swastikas whatsoever to be found at this location. My guess is (given the police presence I saw there) they had been made note of and removed. Happy hunting!
Greenpoint Street Art Du Jour: Cupid
Filed under: 11222, Bloomblight, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Art
This is one of the few nice things to be seen on Dupont Street nowadays.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: Oh Oh Oh!
Yes, I realize this is incredibly juvenile, immature, sophomoric, and so forth. But someone has taken to writing this missive of personal woe on West Street between Greenpoint Avenue and Calyer Street. At last count there were four of them: two on the east and west sides of West Street respectively.
And— at long last— someone has responded!
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Endorsements?
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Although I am trying to do what everyone does on Labor Day (absolutely nothing) I feel compelled to pass along this item from frequent contributor and New York Shitty reader: Tony of Kent Street. He writes:
Hello Miss Heather…
I was thinking about who I plan to vote for in the upcoming elections and had the idea that, like other news organizations, you should post the NewYorkShitty political endorsements prior to the election.
I know to the New York Post you’re just a blog, but to a lot of us, you are the voice of reason with a ton more knowledge of local politicians than many of us.
I think it may be a real service to your readers and in turn you may get others to vote for the right people for the job.
What do you say? Maybe attach a pdf to print out and bring with you to the polling place.
This is the second such inquiry I have received in as many weeks.
I have made my feelings known here and there and left it at that. I do not relish the notion of giving endorsements to anyone. I find the practice (even by so-called “respectable” publications as the New York Times) rather silly— and presumptuous. You shouldn’t let someone else do your thinking for you.
My primary concern— or bone of contention— (aside from being of the distinct impression that Williamsburg and Greenpoint have no business whatsoever belonging to the same City Council district as Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope and DUMBO*) is the sad reality that voter turn-out in north Brooklyn is abysmal. No amount of log-tossing and passing the buck (and believe you me, I have seen a lot of this lately— those of you who belong to the Community Board 1 Yahoo Group can attest to this) is going to change this fact. We, as a community, are now reaping the fruits of our apathy. To put it another way: I am more interested that people here vote at all. Who they vote for is a matter to reconcile with their own conscience.
The previous (and rather lengthy) caveat having been written, I am— reluctantly— going to solicit questions regarding the upcoming election (and its candidates) from you: the readers. These can be tendered via email at:
missheather (at) thatgreenpointblog (dot) com
I’ll be accepting questions through Wednesday. From there I will do one of two things:
- Write a post giving my take on them. I will be as forthright and honest as can be expected about my position/bias.
- Compose an email (with my take) which will be sent to all who have asked questions. I will compose one answer and send it out individually so as to respect everyone’s privacy.
- Either way, I will also provide a list of resources you can peruse in order to make an informed decision.
As I have intimated previously in this post: no one should be entrusted to make your voting decisions except you. I will give my two cents— but please be a smart consumer and do your own research. Above all: VOTE!
Miss Heather
*Seriously. If there is to be a bi-borough district Williamsburg and Greenpoint should be in it.
Map Credits: Gotham Gazette
NYS Flickr Pool
You must be logged in to post a comment.