Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Arriva Dirce!
Production Lounge, R.I.P.
P.S.: Special thanks go out to Kat for tipping me off to this.
From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part III: Production Lounge Gone For Good?
A fellow we’ll call “M” writes July 25, 2012:
Spotted an Eviction notice on the front door of The Production Lounge tonight, didn’t have my camera/phone with me though. Maybe it’ll still be around tomorrow.
As you can see in the above photo (which was taken today) nary a notice is to be found. However, there is a “for rent” sign posted. Hmm…
Live From The 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Criminal Activity, East Williamsburg, East Williamsburg Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
As some of you are undoubtedly aware last night both the month meeting of our Community Board and that of the 94th Precinct Community Council came to pass. I opted to attend the Community Council meeting. I’m glad I did: not only did Deputy Inspector Hurson give a presentation of 2011’s crime statistics (which featured a sobering number of vehicular/pedestrian accidents, as you will see) but after a slow start the question & Answer session got downright contentious. The fly in the audience’s proverbial ointment was (among other things) loud/unruly bars. Without further ado here is footage (which as of 4:14 p.m. is WORKING!!!) of the proceedings. Enjoy!
Part I: General Announcements, D.I. Hurson Announces the “Cop of the Month”
1. Minutes are waived.
2. Deputy Inspector Hurson notes that while Bedford Avenue was rather festive on New Year’s Eve (and some of the merrymakers were perhaps a little too merry) matters did not get out of hand.
3. D.I. Hurson announces the “Cop of the Month”: Officer Wikira. Officer Wikira detained a man stuffing a woman’s purse into a mailbox. Shortly thereafter a robbery was reported involving the man in question. He, having just served twelve years for similar such offenses, was arrested and sentenced to five years.
Part II: D.I. Hurson Gives a Presentation Regarding the 94th Precinct’s Crime Statistics For 2011
1. The 94th is the 9th best precinct in the city.
2. While most crimes were down (for example, burglaries were down 35%), felony assaults were up 26%.
3. Overall crime was down 10%
4. D.I. Hurson makes note of an auto theft ring the 94th recently busted. Apparently this outfit was shipping automobiles to the Middle East. Wow.
5. Arguably the most disturbing statistic offered were vehicular/pedestrian accidents. 77 of these came to pass last year. This is a 63% increase over 2010 (which had 47). Bicyclist/motorist accidents, conversely, were down. Albeit slightly: 67 in 2011 versus 79 in 2010. This is a 15% decrease.
Part III: Deputy Inspector Hurson Gives a Rundown of Recent Criminal Activity
1. D.I. Hurson gives an overview of recent crimes among them:
- Another MARCH operating came to pass January 6th. The establishments “visited” were The Cove, Veronica Peoples Club and The Place. While the Department of Health did serve some violations, nothing major was found.
- There were two shootings. One came to pass at 255 Nassau Avenue December 4th; the other was a self-inflicted gun shot wound in front of the White Castle on Metropolitan Avenue. The lattermost individual, having arrived at Woodhull Hospital for treatment, was arrested.
Part IV: The Q & A Session Commences
1. The matter of the The Production Lounge (which is located at 113 Franklin Street)— or more specifically the noise emanating from it on “Polish Hip Hop Night” (which came to pass January 7th)— is brought to the table. A local landlord kicks off this discussion. This gets rather contentious quickly.
Part V: Q & A Session Continues, The Production Lounge and Noise Issues in General are Discussed
1. A neighbor of Veronica Peoples Club speaks about noise issues.
2. Attendees are advised to tender any and all noise complaints to our local Community Board.
Part VI: Q & A Session Continues
1. Complaints about zoning (and lack of planning as being a facilitator for the proliferation of bars) are raised. Greenpoint is likened to a “frat party” and the East Village by one citizen.
2. Questions are raised about how noise complaints are handled. D.I. Hurson cites Coco66 as example as how noise complaints were used as the pretext for a MARCH operation which resulted in this establishment’s closure.
Part VII: Q & A Session Continues
1. The owner/operator of a local music studio complains about the noise emanating from 113 Franklin Street.
2. A resident of the Cooper Park Houses tenders the most fascinating (and disturbing) item of the meeting: apparently an Access-a-ride driver is purchasing drugs at said complex several times a day. Usually frequently while driving said vehicle.
3. More noise concerns are posited, specifically about the air conditioning unit gracing Mrs. Kim’s.
4. The issue of “vacation rentals” is raised.
Part VIII: Q & A Session Continues
1. Discussion continues regarding “vacation rentals”
2. Questions about how to report stolen vehicles are raised.
Part IX: Q & A Session Concludes
1. A Leonard Street residents raises concerns about traffic enforcement. Specifically in regards to speeding motorists.
Until next month…
UPDATE, 5:22 p.m.: On a related note, there was a pedestrian fatality on Borinquen Place this morning. You get the full story by clicking here.
From The New York Shitty Inbox: A Letter Campaign & Benefit
This item was brought to my attention by the event’s organizer: a lady named Kathleen. She writes:
Hey!
Just saw your post on Pablo. Thank you for posting that 🙂
A buddy and I are throwing a benefit for our friend two weeks from today.
Pablo Airaldi Benefit Show
November 19, 2010 starting at 9:00 p.m.
Price of admission (all proceeds of which will be donated to Mr. Airaldi’s legal defense fund): $10.00
The Production Lounge
113 Franklin Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
You can get the full rundown at this event’s page on Facebook.
Otherwise I have received a brief update from Christina. She writes:
I just spoke to him. Basically he has a lawyer in Indiana trying to turn over his plea from 2001 for this exact reason but it a conservative state and there is no guarantee how this will go down. He informed me that his next hearing is on November 29th at Varick St. He asked me to get together the petitions and letters to the defense of his character prior to that date. When you can, maybe we can ask people who are acquainted with him, are fans of Greenpoint Bikes, or are sympathetic to his case to write letters stating who they are and why he should remain in this country. They can leave them with me or at the bike shop. On the 29th anyone who wants to come down to Varick St. and show their support for his case is urged to join us at 9 am. I am sure there will be more details before then but for now that’s all I know.
To be continued…
UPDATE, 6:50 p.m.: You can follow Mr. Airaldi’s story (and his upcoming hearing) via this newly erected Facebook page.*
Miss Heather
*Thanks Kathleen!
Now At The Production Lounge: Body Heat
Okay, I am a little behind the game on this one (apparently the first round came to pass last weekend) but when I saw these fliers at Save Rite Wine & Liquor I simply HAD to share the good news. Exactly what is “Body Heat”, you ask? The other side of this flier should clarify matters.
You can always leave it to our friends at the Production Lounge to keep things classy in the Garden Spot!
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Inbox: The Production Lounge Gets Served
This item comes courtesy of a chap named Matt who writes:
Thought you’d enjoy this. It was posted on the door of the Production Lounge the other day.
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: We Do It All!
Yesterday I really needed a laugh and thanks to the Production Lounge (where the above sign is located) I got one. We’re not talking a paltry chuckle either. We’re talking bent-over-gasping-for-air fits of maniacal cackling. There a measure of truth in advertising at play here: gun fire, noise complaints, monthly strip parties with lap dances— and now Bar Mitzvahs and Sweet Sixteen Parties! The Production Lounge really does do it all!
My advice: if you decide to have little Timmy’s b’rith at this establishment it might be best to bundle up your bundle of joy in some Kevlar. And oh yeah, toting along a bottle or two of hand sanitizer may not be such a bad idea either.
Miss Heather
It’s BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK: The Franklin Street Tower Of Fun Returns
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Like many of the people reading this I went out the evening of St. Patrick’s Day. I wanted to catch up over drinks with a good friend of mine. To this end we wanted a place that was nice and quiet to chat. Initially we went to t.b.d.— and although we had a good time— the din of merry making was not conducive to having a quality “one on one”. To this end we decided to see what was shaking at The River Barrel.
As we had hoped it had plenty of seating available and nice, quiet surroundings. Save of course the sonic hum of the giant NYPD issue spotlight gracing the front of their property. I struck up a conversation with the bartender (who is a very nice and very funny woman) to get her thoughts. She explained to me that the reason her establishment was almost empty had a lot to do with this rather noticeable fixture.
It scares away the customers.
She said. She then proceeded to tell me about a most amusing incident she witnessed the last time the “Tower of Fun” graced the frontage of her place of employment. It was in the wee hours of the morning when she noticed one of the local winos (of whom my fair burgh has quite a number of) pass by. Upon noticing this light fixture he paused for a moment. After assessing the situation he proceeded to kick it repeatedly. Not satisfied with this act of defiance he decided to cap things off by urinating on it.
Granted, the previous slice of Greenpoint is humorous— but the underlying issue with the “Tower of Fun” not. How can the Production Lounge be policed and public safety concerns be addressed without impacting adjacent eating and drinking establishments? There is no easy answer to this question— but I hope we find one soon. It doesn’t strike me as being very fair that a business which is not a nuisance to community* should bear the brunt of its neighbor’s lack of regard for its neighbors and the community as a whole.
That’s my two cents. Take ’em or leave ’em as you see fit.
Miss Heather
*As far as I know. If anyone disagrees with my assessment please speak up via comments.
Notes From The Community Council Meeting
Although not as well attended as February’s meeting last night’s 94th Precinct Community Council Q & A session once again proved to be full house. As was the case last month the Production Lounge (and the numerous quality of life issues it has posed for its neighbors) was the primary— but not necessarily exclusive— topic of the evening. Follows are a few other points/factoids I found of interest:
- Burglaries and grand larceny are up from last year.
- There is one burglar at large whose activity has increased in the last two weeks. His M.O. is to strike during business hours. He is particularly interested in lap top computers.
- Robbery and felony assaults are down.
- There are 68 bars in the 94th Precinct.
Something I observed at this meeting which I found interesting was the very visible presence of local business owners. Establishments such as the Shayz Lounge( whose owner, an incredibly cute man named Seamus— who some might remember had the front window of his bar punched in last month— brought up the subject of local bar owners putting their heads together regarding some of the problems eating and drinking establishments have recently posed for the community of late), the Black Rabbit, Dalaga and Papasitos, were among those presence. Conversely, it should be noted that no one from the Production Lounge was present at this meeting.
On that note and without further ado follow are some selections from the evening’s meeting. For the sake of brevity (there was much redundancy with both the questions posed by the attendees and answers tendered by Deputy Inspector Fulton) and my own sanity I have done a great deal of editing so please consider these movies as highlights or “Cliff Notes” of what came to pass. On with the show!
SEGMENT 1: This primarily deals with minutes from the previous meeting and Deputy Inspector Fulton giving us a rundown of current crime trends.
SEGMENT 2: In this segment D.I. Fulton gives us more information regarding the two recent homicides in Greenpoint as well as a drunk driving fatality. He begins to take questions. Not surprisingly it kicks off with neighbors of the Production Lounge airing their frustration.
SEGMENT 3: The owner of Shayz Lounge speaks & much ado about the Production Lounge.
SEGMENT 4: Mixed bag: more ado about the Production Lounge, car break-ins and a bartendress raises her concern about a uptick in muggings at the Bedford Avenue stop of the L.
In conclusion I suppose what I found most compelling was that a woman present finally mustered the nerve to say what was undoubtedly on the minds of a great many people in the room.
Miss Heather
Street Art Photo Du Jour: Back In The Spotlight
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Not only is the Production Lounge back in the spotlight courtesy of New York’s Finest but it would also appear someone has incorporated it into a rather nifty piece of street art. Nice job Ellis!
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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