Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
A Girl And Her Blog
It would appear that politicians (and the developers to whom they are beholden) have done a smashing job of removing “urban blight” (READ: the working class/poor) from north Brooklyn. Who needs nuclear bombs when re-zoning, complicity and bureaucratic incompetence/apathy will do the job? Nonetheless the end product is more or less the same: a community whose quality of life has been compromised.
Follows is a revue of developer-induced blight in north Brooklyn I captured yesterday, April 5. I have entitled it After The Gold Rush.
The sad reality is re-zoning, tax bennies, and easy credit have done little to benefit my neighborhood. There were once businesses that gave people decent, well paying jobs. Affordable rental property was once in abundance in Greenpoint as well. No more. Thanks to our city’s leadership much of my wonderful neighborhood has become a wasteland peppered by vacant lots, failed condominiums cum overpriced rental property, illegal hostels and super-sized tourist destinations operated by and for the affluent.
The time is long overdue for north Brooklyn to be developed in a manner sensitive to the needs of the people who constitute this community, not the ones Mayor Bloomberg’s rich cronies envision living here.
TO BE CONTINUED.
Miss Heather
P.S.: This one’s for you, Bob.
New York Shitty Day Ender: Street Scenes
Maspeth Avenue
Orient Avenue
Franklin Street
Banker Street
Manhattan Avenue
Meeker Avenue
Broadway
Miss Heather
Food Porn Du Jour: Motorino
Filed under: Williamsburg
I’ve been writing about food a lot of late. I take very little pleasure in doing so: I’m more interested in eating. What’s more, there are women who much are more talented and dedicated writing about gustatory delights than myself. However, I like to pass along a bona fide gem when I find one: Motorino is one such place.
I’ve been casing this establishment for some time. Unlike a lot of restaurants in north Brooklyn a great deal of attention has been given to both the surroundings and the cuisine.
The Mister devoured the meat plate (as seen at left) while I enjoyed Earl Grey tea, cheese and homemade bread.
This anchovy pizza was so loaded with capers and olives I wanted a taste…
but I was perfectly content with my Margherita.
We were fortunate enough to be seated next to a woman who brought her aunt and uncle to give Motorino a whirl. Newspaper clipping in hand auntie asked to talk to the owner of this establishment; he gladly obliged. She recited the provenance of this space for his edification. As it would happen she and her husband have lived on Orient Avenue for 87 years. She was sharp as a tack. What’s more, she liked the food. When the Mister and I asked for take-out boxes her party was concerned we were sending it back because we didn’t like it. We did— albeit too much: we were stuffed!
If the local buzz (and all the delivery we saw getting prepped) is any indication this restaurant’s cult status will not last long. Check it out!*
Motorino
319 Graham Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11211
(718) 599-8899
In the meantime you can peruse their menu by clicking here.
Miss Heather
*Be advised they have yet to receive their liquor license but are perfectly amenable to you bringing your own wine and beer.
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