Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Daily Bloomblight: Falling Down
Today’s selection hails from 32 India Street in the Garden Spot of the Universe.
Anyone familiar with this site can and will attest it has been problematic for some time. Not only has it become a magnet for garbage, vandalism and dog shit, but it also has the dubious distinction of being the location of the most truly remarkable carbecques yours truly has ever laid one eyes upon.
Earlier today this panel (replete with rusty nails sticking out at precarious and tetanus-inducing angles) was laying on the sidewalk. A good Samaritan has seen fit place it against the fence. Maybe it will help support its sagging brethren? I doubt it. In any case, I spied no less than two hearing notices tucked under the manifold number of expired permits gracing this eyesore.
Here’s one.
Here’s the other. There may have been more but they have since decayed beyond recognition.
This is your city government at work, folks!
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: A Simple Assault
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
Remember the melee in front of Club Exit I made mention of last November?
If not, no worries. This should bring you up to speed:
This was first brought to my attention by someone whose son is a friend of a someone involved, e.g.; via the Greenpoint grapevine. By that I mean the friend (of the son of my tipster) in question was allegedly beaten up by the police and went to the hospital. Per my tipster the fight started over a woman being harassed. Her son’s friend tried to intervene and police officers were knocking cameras out of the hands of bystanders. And busting heads.
This was brought to the attention of D. I. Fulton at the 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting on November 21. A Greenpoint citizen called it a brawl.
Mr. Fulton begged to differ.
It took awhile but a video documenting this incident has finally surfaced. Here it is.
And here is a description of what you have just seen per my tipster:
This video isn’t clear, but I’m familiar with some of the voices, since they are friends of my son. The video starts with my son’s friend K—- laying on the ground, handcuffed & unconscious. His friend A——, who is handcuffed, is yelling in the background to tell the police that his friend isn’t moving and in need of an ambulance. One of their friends D—– begins to video the scene. An officer pushes D—– with the video phone but the girl quickly regains control of the video phone and keeps running the video. Another girl M——, is screaming in the background and trying to get to K—- to see if he’s ok. (K—- is the kid that had his teeth knocked out by guys at Club Exit who were bothering one of the girls.) As you can see, the officers grab the unconscious K—- by the arms and drag him to a police car, not an ambulance. You can hear his friends calling out to the officers about getting an ambulance… None of the white Club Exit patrons were arrested, even though one of them knocked out K—–‘s teeth.
Kind of makes you happy Club Exit’s (ostensible) swan song was last night, yes?
Miss Heather
UPDATE: February 17, 2010; Here’s another video.
Greenburg Slide Show Du Jour: Blizzard!
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
As promised, here is are some highlights of from my sojourn in the snow. It was nice to see kids (of all ages) out having fun. I regret to inform everyone no snow phalluses have been erected in McCarren Park— yet. But hope springs eternal and the day is still young. Enjoy!
And on that note, dear readers, I am off to take a nice HOT bath!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Hey You!
As many of you are undoubtedly aware next weekend is Valentine’s Day. I imagine a number of you are looking for companionship— albeit even of the interim variety— to celebrate this very special day. If your idea of romance is a rendezvous at a interstate rest stop (and why shouldn’t it be?) worry not, my fellow north Brooklynites. Now only do I have you I have you covered— but you don’t even have to leave Greenpoint! So put on your sneakers kids— we have a date to meet!
(still waiting)
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Ender: Chairy!
Caitlin (who forwarded me the above item in an email entitled “Pee Wee’s Playhouse Alive and Well On India Street”) writes:
this homespun rendering of Chairy has been hanging out on India street since monday morning, when i found her hanging out near the YES gallery. it is the best part of my commute.
Indeed. Nice find, Caitlin!
Miss Heather
Crosstown Local Photos Du Jour: C.S.I.
It would appear that Santa and his little helpers have paid an early visit to the India Street entrance of the Church Avenue bound G train! I wonder what killed this little fella? If I had to hazard a guess I’d say it was the MTA’s proposed service cuts.
Miss Heather
P.S.: Special thanks go out to Rowan for tipping me off to this splendid bit of holiday cheer!
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Nocturnal Activity on West Street
Yesterday morning it was a pile of Techicolor mystery marbles; today it is this. L writes (at 12:43 a.m.):
I have spent the past 1/2 hr trolling the web trying to find out what was going on at the end of India st before (my partner) reminded me “uh, the Hasidic community is not going to broadcast their goings on on the Internet”. Doh.
There was a MASSIVE collective at the end of India tonight. I think it’s breaking up now, but there is an incredible police presence as well. Any word on this? Cops are saying that it’s a fundraiser for a school…
and at 1:00 a.m.:
At my count, and this was just what was visible, there were 8. Some of them were still going when I passed… And all of west and the streets from Milton to at least Green were Minivan central.
PS – ONLY the menfolk and boys from about 5 and up were there. i REALLY doubt that this was a fundraiser. Why would they be in GREENPOINT?
And last— but hardly least— this. M writes:
I was hoping you might be able to help me out with something. I live in our beloved Greenpoint (2.5 years, woot!) and one of things I like most about it is that it tends to be quiet at night. However last night there was, for lack of a better term, a ruckus at Franklin and Huron. I was trying to fall asleep but there were cop cars, people shouting, helicopters, and at one point around 1:00am I think (not sure, memory is blurred by sleep) a TON of horn honking. When I was getting home around 6:15PM I noticed at the end of India near West st it was all lit up, but I assumed it was movie shoot or something of that sort. Just wondering if you had any insight as to what exactly went down last night.
I have absolutely no idea what happened on West Street last night. Whatever it is (or make that was) it sounds pretty darned interest. If any of you, dear readers, so please share via the comments. Inquiring minds want to know!
Miss Heather
UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.: We have an answer! Both via comments and a reader. C writes:
I am not a jewish scholar, but a bit of research led me to this:
“The practice has become widespread [616] to hold the main farbrengen of Yud-Tes Kislev on the eve of the 20th, because the Alter Rebbe was released from prison on the 19th at Minchah time, and for the following three hours he found himself in the home of an antagonist to Chassidism, where he suffered spiritual anguish. [617]
“In many places, nevertheless, people gather for a farbrengen on the eve of the 19th as well – and may chassidic blessings light upon them.
“In general, the farbrengens of any city are arranged in either of two ways:
- they can be spread out in many locations, so that people who would not travel far afield should also participate; or
- all those interested can meet at one location, for `In a multitude of people is the King’s glory.’ [618] Such a farbrengen should be steered by the venerable elders and the men of stature within the community.
“Abundant quantity or superior quality? [619] Their relative merits are the subject of a classic debate. [620] For comparable cases see: Shabbos 127a ; Megillah 3a (in Tosafos; Avos 3:15, and see Peirush HaMishnayos there); Iggeres HaKodesh, Epistle 21; and other sources. These are obviously not exact parallels to our case, but space does not permit further elaboration.
“At any rate, I would recommend that on the first night, the eve of the 19th, farbrengens should be held in various places (where the following night’s gathering should be announced), and the next evening all concerned should assemble in one place.
“It goes without saying that what matters ultimately is that people should rouse themselves and `resolve to set aside fixed times for the study of Torah in public, both its revealed planes (nigleh) and its hidden dimensions (Chassidus), and strengthen the spiritual lifestyle of chassidim in a brotherly spirit.'” [621]
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