Greenpoint
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Culture on the Cheap
Happy Mother’s Day From The Viridian!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
I do not qualify as a mother per se but as the keeper of five cats and husband I felt entitled to take the day easy. In fact, I did nothing whatsoever— and you know what? It felt good! My neighbors, conversely, were anything but layabouts. Wishing to make the most of today’s most opportune break from the recent onslaught of stormy weather they rolled out the barbecue grill, popped open a few brewskis and played a rousing round (or nine) of “toss the pylon”.
Courtesy of Greenpoint’s good friend, Magic Johnson.
The rules of the game seem simple enough: you toss pylons.
In the street.
On your neighbor’s sidewalk.
And even at your neighbor’s window! Given Mr. Johnson’s interest in physical fitness I have little doubt he’ll be pleased as punch to know the neighborhood youths also joined in the fun.
What better gift could a child possibly give his mother on her special day than a memento of one of the most misguided developments in north Brooklyn? Arguably the only more fitting memorial I can think of would be a tee shirt:
Magic Johnson built a luxury condo and all I got was this lousy pylon.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Low Tide
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
From Franklin Street.
Miss Heather
BREAKING: 1043 & 1047 Manhattan Avenue Cordoned Off By Police
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
After receiving a partial vacate order last September 1043 Manhattan Avenue is continuing to lose its battle with gravity. For those of you who are not in the know the reason this building was deemed hazardous was in part due to structural instability arising from the (illegal) removal of a first floor wall between 1043 and its neighbor, 1047. A violation, I will add, that the Department of Buildings is well aware of; it was dismissed once last year only to become “pending” once again this year. Per a witness at the scene he walked by this building at noon today to find bricks had fallen from the building and landed on the sidewalk. Fortunately no one was in the path of this falling masonry— but that is immaterial— if also very fortuitous, given this came to pass on a Saturday afternoon. This debris could have seriously injured or killed someone.
If you live in Greenpoint I want you to look very carefully at the above photograph. This is what could have landed on your head had you been the wrong person at the wrong place at the wrong time. If this isn’t proof positive that whatever “enforcement” power the Department of Buildings is exercising is not working I do not know what will. Something needs to change.
Or will we have to wait until a(nother) person dies?
Miss Heather
UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.: The tape has been taken down.
More vacate orders and paperwork have been issued.
Life is back to normal at 1043 – 1047 Manhattan Avenue.
My advice to pedestrians:
walk on the other side of the street.
What’s Up At 999 Manhattan Avenue?
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Some of you might have noticed the rather abrupt departure of the psychic (as well as her rather adorable cat who can be seen above) who occupied the space adjacent to Papasitos. I have no idea as to her whereabouts (nor do I care to know: that woman was OBNOXIOUS).
However, I can tell you what’s taking her place: more Papasitos! Given how packed this restaurant gets (for a damned good reason: among other things their jalapeno poppers are amazing) doubling or tripling their seating capacity is stellar news for both Cody Utzman, this establishment’s owner, and diners alike. I can hardly wait to see what they do with the extra space!
Papasitos
999 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Some Food For Thought At The Garden
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
The western model is not built for a world with limited resources.
—Jacques Cousteau
From Manhattan Avenue.
Miss Heather
A New York Post “Exclusive”
On May 7, 2009 Animal New York wrote:
The New York Post published a graffiti story in today’s paper that New York Shitty posted earlier in the week, simply confirming the Greenpoint-based blog’s observations and comments with an expert, then declaring the mysterious tags to be “Nazi cult graffiti.”
When this was brought to my attention yesterday (thanks Animal New York and Gothamist) I was literally speechless. When I noticed that Mr. Doyle and Mr. Sanderson had the temerity to call this sensationalist schlock an “exclusive” I got angry. Very. Angry. And thus I feel compelled to give these gentleman a refresher course in Journalism 101:
Culling previously published material from a web site— material, I will add, that was linked to by Gothamist and Brownstoner, among others— and trotting out an expert to verify “your” findings does not constitute an “exclusive”. It is plagiarism, plain and simple.
Those of you reading this who feel the same way and wish to remind Mr. Doyle of this fact can contact him via email at: john (dot) doyle (at) nypost (dot) com
Tell him New York Shitty sent you.
Miss Heather
UPDATE, 5/8/09: Mr. Doyle responds to a New York Shitty reader! Not only does he deny any plagiarism on his part, but it would appear he cannot spell the word for that matter. Whoops.
Greenpoint Street Art Du Jour: Little Apples In The Big Apple
This most unexpected find hails from a junction box on Dupont Street just east of Manhattan Avenue. While hardly the most stylish or refined example of street art to be found in the Garden Spot of the Universe these apples brought a smile to my face. I hope they did the same for you!
Miss Heather
New & Noteworthy: Neither More Nor Less
Filed under: Manhattan
What I love about this blog (which hails from the East Village) is encapsulated by the above photograph. Before you, dear readers, get your self-righteous feathers in a ruffle you best look at the entire post. This site isn’t about vilifying or making fun of the homeless.
Neither Nor More Less showcases the disparity between the “New York City” run by and for the affluent and, well, the less photogenic people who actually live here. In the above example we see a well-to-do couple laughing while seemingly oblivious to a man pissing himself. The previous scenario is not dissimilar to what I see in Greenpoint or Williamsburg on any given day. What is transpiring in the East Village will and is happening in Greenpoint. Not that most of the people reading this will be around to see it. We’ll be “priced out”.
My question is how long can we afford to ignore them? Whether our (se)lected officials care to admit it the growing homeless population in our city deserves our attention and compassion. True civilization in my book is how we, as a people, care for those who cannot fend themselves. Be they two or four legged. In this regard our city has failed. Miserably.
Miss Heather
More People In My Neighborhood: Springtime Edition
Now that the family has come and gone I am left with the daunting task of sorting all the photographs I have taken over the last week. Follows are a few select shots of my fellow Greenpointers. Enjoy!
A Greenpoint Avenue grandma for lunch.
Nodding off in front of Mickey D’s.
Waiting for the bus with a smile and a song!
Love, Kent Street style.
Nap time at Java Car Service.
Picking a winner at Tommy’s Tavern.
Grabbing a handful at Dupont Street.
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Ender: CONFIRMED!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Remember the post I wrote this weekend about 37 Commercial Street possibly being the site of a film shoot? This afternoon I received another inquiry about it from a reader we’ll call Christo (who took the above photograph). He writes:
Water feed. Building site? Movie set?
Most decidedly the latter! On a lark (and wishing to put the speculation to rest once and for all) I popped over to the Department of Buildings web site. Here’s what I found.
Yes folks it would appear the rumors are in fact true. HBO will filming what I would presume to be the upcoming miniseries Boardwalk Empire right here in Greenpoint. What’s more they will be building a boardwalk. Perhaps we should entrust these folks with building the manifold number of other “waterfront spaces” we have been promised? I’d wager they’ll get ’em knocked out faster than our city will!
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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