Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Greenpoint Lost & Found
As I was knocking about the Garden Spot today I found two fliers regarding lost and found pets. I am going to pass them along here— along with a few notes.
I stumbled upon this flier for a found pup (Bichon Frise? Maltese?) on Noble between Franklin and Lorimer Street. No details are given other than he (or she) was found on Lorimer Street. If this is your dog or you know to whom he (she?) belongs please contact the 94th Precinct at the above-listed telephone number.
I found this flier at 87 Dobbin Street. Once again no details are given. However, if you have happened upon a kitten resembling the one depicted in the above photograph around the intersection of Dobbin Street and Norman Avenue, chances are pretty good it is this guy (or girl). I suppose it goes without saying— but I am going to say it anyway: if you have seen the above kitty or know of his/her whereabouts please call his (or her) people at the above telephone number. Thanks!
Miss Heather
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
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Winter Wonderland
Kicking off this, the first selection of shots from the New York Shitty photo pool this new year, I present for your enjoyment some wintertime goodness courtesy of algul siento. Lovely captures!
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Ender: Beauty in Plain Sight
Ever had one of those things you were always meaning to do but somehow never got around to? Today I checked one such item off my list: visiting Greenpoint’s only operating synagogue, Congregation Ahavath Israel. This afternoon I met with its (newish) Rabbi, Maurice Appelbaum, and he took me on the grand tour. Don’t let the outward appearance of this building deceive you: it is absolutely breath-taking. Mr. Appelbaum is no slouch either: he’s an incredibly nice guy! Let’s get started, shall we?
First things first: Congregation Ahavath Israel, which is Orthodox, convenes in the building to the right. The building on the left is also a synagogue, but we’ll get to that later.
As the corner stone indicates, this place of worship was founded in 1904 (albeit A.D.).
This is the dedication plaque which graces the foyer. As you will notice one W. G. Miller was the builder. Here are a few items I dug up on Mr. Miller via the Brooklyn Daily Eagle online archives:
Mr. Miller was a very active member of the community…
…and he was a builder of some renown. The details of Mr. Miller’s life might be scant in print, but what he built at 108 Noble is a living testament to his craftsmanship.
Facing south.
The nave (please pardon my decidedly goy terminology).
Facing north.
This lovely Art Nouveau light fixture has to be seen to truly be appreciated. While I am on the subject of things profane (or at least matters mundane)…
In my excitement I totally botched this photo. Not only did its Art Deco design appeal to me, but the address for said clockmaker, Bomelstein’s, sounded vaguely familiar: 753 Manhattan Avenue. I did a little Googling and here’s what I found.
Look familiar? If not, go to 733 Manhattan Avenue and see the restored version for yourself. It is one of a precious few clocks which have been land-marked in this city. Why not grab a doughnut from Peter Pan while you’re at it? But I digress.
Back in the days before the New York’s Bravest were what we know now, people took it upon themselves to to have some fire protection on hand.
Hence the multitude of buckets conveniently stored under the pews.
Remember what I wrote about the synagogue next door? Well, here’s my segue. This is the plaque which graced it. It belonged to a Reform congregation which donated the adjacent property, 110 Noble Street, to Ahvath Israel:
Here’s conservancy in Greenpoint:
Abject neglect.
Not that I blame Mr. Appelbaum for this: I don’t. He became this community’s Rabbi September, 2009.
The above photograph does not do justice to how lovely these stained glass windows are— and why they should be saved. To close on a decidedly “up” note, something wonderful is going on behind this building…
a garden to contribute food to Greenpoint’s most needy. See those barrels and pipes? They are the beginning of a drainage and compost system. I have been told by Rabbi Appelbaum some vollies from Rooftop Farms have assisted in this effort. And yes, dear readers, the soil has been tested. It had some lead content but well below what it is considered to be hazardous. Nonetheless, they are taking measures to remediate it.
What’s more, they’re finding some really cool stuff. Pottery shards and shells mostly. I couldn’t help but pick a few while I talked to Maurice.
It’s in my junkwoman/urban anthropologist nature. I cannot help myself.
In conclusion: this is my humble opinion one of the unsung gems in the Garden Spot of the Universe. As with most things in Greenpoint, beauty does not run skin deep: it’s found in the heart. Hence why I feel both these synagogues deserve preserving and why I want to give a big thank-you to Rabbi Appelbaum, for taking the time to give me a tour— he has a lot of heart. And Seth (the cat rescuer and reluctant Greenpoint celebrity) for helping to make this happen. Follows is a slide show of my tour of Greenpoint’s only Shul. Enjoy!
Miss Heather
Photo Credits: The Bomelstein Street clock comes courtesy of
P.S.: Ahavas Israel also offers N.A. meetings every Tuesday night 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
108 Noble Street (downstairs)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
For more deets contact Maurice at: rabbi (at) greenpointshul (dot) org.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: Angry About Idling at the American Playground
No folks, my anonymous tipster is not perturbed by idle folk (which can be seen at left and are quite abundant at this public space ). She’s angry about exhaust. Among other things. M writes:
Dear Miss Heather,
We do enjoy your blog. Why only yesterday my 7 year old stepped in a doggie ganola bar on Manhattan Ave. while waiting for the B61 aka the bus that never comes–nailed both mary janes and filled the treads up to boot–so I though of NY Shitty. But enough with quaint anecdotes…
Perhaps you can post some lovely comments about the leaded diesel-spewing vehicles that illegally idle outside our charming playgrounds. And by all means give a special mention to the kind folks over at the Northside Driving School…
Not sure if you have ever noticed, but trucks and buses idle for hours on end at both the Greenpoint Playground (Franklin & Dupont–scenically situated in the shadow of the poop plant) and the American Playground (Franklin & Noble). NYC idling laws only allow 5 minutes of idling–then drivers are supposed to turn off their stinkin’ engines presumably to spare tiny asthma-prone lungs to the long term effects wrought by such toxic fumes wafting over the rusting (rustically urban?) playground equipment. All these diesel-fuled vehicles use leaded gas and we know lead is even worse than Sugar Smacks for growing brains and bodies. Not so good for adults either btw.
A few days ago one of our toddler-toting neighbors (I’m one of ’em too) asked one of the Northside Driving School bus drivers to turn off his engine and he “gave her the finger” and kept the engine going as usual. Yeah right lady. The Northside Driving School buses generally park and idle for hours right next to the baby swingsets–they are nearly always there all morning. Often they leave the doors open and come in and out of the buses as they enjoy their coffee and cigarettes. Why save gas? They’re working for The Man and he pays up at the pump.
The other day at Amercian Playground an FDNY mini-emergency vehicle–without flashing lights and without doing any obvious job–sat idling just beyond the fence between the toddler climbing structure and baby swings for over an hour–the driver was snoozing and surely wanted to keep warm but he clearly was not on a job (which would have been an exception). Food-delivery trucks (ex potato chips and soda for nearby delis) linger near the Amercian Playground as well. I’m not one to spoil a nap of one of NYC’s “fearless” let alone deny the community the nutritious chips and sodas that surely must come on time just like the toys for xmas in “The Little Engine That Could,” but methinks that turning off the engines while naps and chip deliveries take place wouldn’t put too much of a damper on all the fun.
Frankly I see trucks / buses etc idling at both playgrounds a LOT.
I finally made a complaint to 311 regarding these idling problems at both playgrounds. Also wrote CB1 anf NAG. My thought was that having big bold (read obvious) SIGNS (with obvious fines) posted around both playgrounds– would probably help deter this charming local behavior.
Were all this to happen on the UES for example or in tony Brooklyn Heights, well, nary a nanny would ever have to suffer a noxious nostril-full again but here in Greenpoint, considered to be the armpit of Brooklyn as far as the city goes (let it stink/why shave it), nobody pays attention. Perhaps they’ll see your blog though? Thanks for considering either way…
-M
in lovely Greenpoint
Wow. Truth be told I have never noticed this. Of course, it should be noted that I do not have children. Therefore, I have no reason to patronize our local playgrounds— and trust me “reason” is the operative word here. Let’s face facts: both of these parks leave much to be desired. Have any of you, dear readers, had the misfortune of having similar such experiences at our public playgrounds? If so, please share. I’d love to hear them!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Degentrification Watch: Noble Street
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Culture War, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic
You have heard of Black Friday. You have heard of “Cyber Monday”. Today, dear readers, I introduce for your Thursday afternoon edification (and courtesy of the Greenpoint Historic District): Carbecque Tuesday!
foodiej81 writes (via the comments for this post):
Totally unrelated, but did you see the shell of a car on noble street. It is parked in front of a fire hydrant across the street from the synagogue. Looks and smells as if it was involved in a bonfire. The windows are blown, insides all charred, doors open wide did you hear about this? I was curious.
As it would happen I spied woman decorating her house nearby. She gave me the scoop:
- This car caught fire at 3:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2009.
- The flames shot up as high as two stories. Naturally the fire department was called.
- She has reported this lovely sight to the city. She has been told it is “on their list” to pick up.
There’s no word as to whether or not this car was torched or if it spontaneously combusted. However, given the time it caught fire, the severity of the flames, the already poor condition of said “ride” and the fact it sports no license plates whatsoever I’m leaning in favor of arson.
Good times.
Miss Heather
UPDATE, 6:15 p.m.: Here are more pix of Tuesday’s Camry inferno courtesy of a reader named Monica.
She writes:
Thought you might enjoy my pics of the car fire on Noble Street. The woman forgot to mention the earth shaking explosion (gas tank??) that made us look out the window. And yes the flames were at least two stories high, although I didn’t catch them that high.
NYS Flickr Pool
You must be logged in to post a comment.