An Honor Roll Of Restaurants Past…

Thank You nys

Last night I had one helluva time falling asleep. Instead of counting sheep I decided to recount restaurants I liked in this city that are no more. Let’s just say it has been on the brain of late.* Here’s a partial list:

  1. Bleu Drawes: Jamaican food in Greenpoint? Yes, once there was! This was on Commercial Street, now the space is occupied by Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.
  2. Oznot’s Dish: Berry Street, replaced by Silent h
  3. Silent h: (see above) , replaced by a French bistro. This was the place which really got me into Vietnamese food.
  4. Barossa: Graham Avenue, replaced by Gwinnett Street whose menu is mildly upscale “artsy” food. (I do not recall the latest name for this establishment, but I imagine part of the reason for the name change was one of the owners being charged with handling narcotics. you can’t make this shit up, folks.).
  5. Kenny’s Trattoria: Havemeyer Street, razed for residential development.
  6. Taco Bite: South 4 Street at Rodney, replaced by a short-lived vegetarian/health food restaurant.
  7. Grand Sichuan: Canal Street, razed so as to build a hotel.
  8. Conos al Pescatore: Graham Avenue. Replaced by Sage an upscale Asian fusion establishment (which I will admit serves pretty good food— but still).
  9. La Vuelta: 45th Road, replaced by a barbecue joint.
  10. Village Mingala: Burmese restaurant whose East 5 Street location is now a Michelin recommended bistro. ASIDE: this leaves one Burmese restaurant in New York City.
  11. El Paso: Houston Street, new tenant TBD
  12. Casa Mon Amour: Franklin Street. They served Dominican food. Now the space is occupied by Vamos al Tequila (which is a fairly good replacement). The folks at Vamos al Tequila have my business for life for simply having the temerity to post the sign gracing the beginning of this post. I can only imagine what necessitated its creation.
  13. Driggs Pizzeria: Driggs Avenue (duh), replaced by Two Boots. This one infuriates me as much as Village Mingala’s closure (READ: A LOT).
  14. Monsignor’s: Bedford Avenue, now Lokal
  15. Rocco’s Ristaurante: Thompson Street, taken over by these guys.
  16. L.A. Ristorante: Manhattan Avenue, now a magazine/cigar store. To their credit, they did retain some semblance of a restaurant— but it really isn’t the same.
  17. Bean: North 8 Street. A nice little Mexican restaurant; now it is Pop’s.

Is it just me or is there an overall trend here? Anyone care to add?

*Thankfully it would appear John’s of East 12 Street has dodged becoming statistic. At least for now, anyway…

Greenpoint Feral Furniture Watch: On The Waterfront

Rug

Sofa Sleeper

Table

India Street looking west

SOFT CUSHIONS

Those of you who are following such things (and you know who you are) should be advised there is a bounty of feral furniture out there simply waiting for a new home— maybe yours? NOTE/CAVEAT: Supply is seemingly endless and yours truly assumes no responsibility whatsoever for any “value-added” these items may harbor.

New York Shitty Feral Furniture Watch: And Now For Something Completely Different

And Now For Something Completely Different 600

Taken June 1, 2014.

The Word On The Street: Waverly Place

Taken May 17, 2014.

New York Shitty Photos Du Jour: Good Friday Tidings From Union Square

Or: What is wrong with this picture?

Today the Mister took the day off and we opted to take a sojourn into “the city”. Our first stop was Union Square. There we saw a number of fascinating things. Follows are a few selections.

This young lady who— for reasons which do not need to be outlined— elicited a great deal of “interest”.

And this fellow, Felix Morelo, drawing faces (as he is known to do) with sidewalk chalk. They lead to the “Kissing Spot”.

Here he is giving yours truly a “thumbs up”.

And here he is getting a verbal reprimand from this public space’s rent-a-cops and parks staff. They were not amused.

It was explained to Mr. Morelo that he is not to engage in this (clearly) disruptive, destructive behavior because they would have to clean it up.

Once again, gentle readers: he was drawing a “Kissing Spot”. With sidewalk chalk. You want to know why yours truly dislikes public/private parks “partnerships”, gentle readers? You just saw it. Sure, the proponents this arrangement like to extol upon its financial benefits. However, there is a down-side to this kind of thing: “gate-keepers” are brought in to enforce “standards”— and those standards can (and often do) reach this level of utter absurdity. Sue Bee said it best:

Sidewalk chalk. Are you fucking kidding me?

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Valentine’s Day Greetings From Jilly Ballistic!

Nice…

New York Shitty Photo Du Jour: Comin’ At You From The Union Square Farmer’s Market…

Occasionally— no, make that quite often— I like to indulge my inner teenager. Thus New York Shitty wishes to give a salute to what appears to be the John Holmes of produce. Who said being a vegetarian was boring. In any case I give this wonder of nature two enthusiastic thumbs up (one had to hold the camera)!

The Word On The Street, Part II: 6th Avenue Selections

Taken January 17, 2014.

New York Shitty Photos Du Jour: Santacon!

This one’s for you, EVGrieve and Jeremiah!

New York Shitty Street Art Du Jour: Collaboration

While pasting up the face, a homeless gentleman decided we should collaborate and covered the figure to the right. "Make [street art.]" (14th St & 6th Ave; uptown F/M/L)

Jilly Ballistic (whose photo this is) writes:

While pasting up the face, a homeless gentleman decided we should collaborate and covered the figure to the left. “Make [street art.]” (14th St & 6th Ave; uptown F/M/L)…

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