Greenpoint
Cafe Cito Bogota
Has Anyone Seen Poffy?
Filed under: Bushwick
I found the above flier while walking down Harmon Street yesterday afternoon. As a number of you are probably aware, this makes two stolen Maltese dogs in the span of one week. Although this may sound kooky to some I am getting the distinct impression there are people in our fine borough who make their livelihood by stealing and selling dogs.
If any of you have seen Poffy please contact her rightful owner at the above phone number. The practice of stealing pets like they are so much chattel is disgusting. Seriously folks, this needs to stop.
Miss Heather
Crosstown Local Cavalcade, Volume II: Bedford-Nostrand
Filed under: Bed-Stuy
This creative use of lettering hails from none other than Bedford Stuyvesant. Shortly after I took this photo a Queens-bound train pulled into the station. I couldn’t believe my good luck!
One G train patron, however, was not so lucky. When he (a man wearing a three piece suit no less) asked of his fellow mass transitters:
This train goes to Manhattan, right?
they looked at him like he had eight heads and in unison shouted a resounding NO!. Upon learning the bad news our G train greenhorn decided against consulting the subway map posted immediately behind him and exited the train; thus exchanging a merely bad decision for even worse one. I wonder how long it took him to find a train that could take him to Manhattan?
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Green Street
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
This has got to be one of the oddest juxtapositions I have ever seen. Seriously.
Who knew Ron Paul was so punk rock? Silly me. I thought he was merely a Libertarian nut job.
Oh wait, that’s being redundant. Nevermind.
Miss Heather
Crosstown Local Cavalade: Volume I
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
A long time ago a coworker (Queens ex-pat) of my father warned me about the dangers of New York City:
When it’s warm they come out. The weirdos and the freaks. Be careful.
Little did this woman know that I am both a weirdo and a freak. That’s the only reason I can muster as to why I take pride in patronizing the G train. And the G train I have patronized a lot of late.
Sure I have to wait— AND WAIT— on occasion, but my fellow Crosstowners make this an enjoyable experience by annotating and/or collaging subway posters. Here is today’s offering from Greenpoint Avenue.
I hate post 9/11 cinematic apocalyptic New York City schlock. Is this really the best Hollywood can do? Really. If it is, god help us all.
But at least I can sleep safe at night knowing Mr. Sta-Puft is ready, willing and able to beat down Cloverfield monster ass.
Miss Heather
Jean-Paul Sartre Meets Knickerbocker Avenue
Every time I think I have seen it all (in the way of curious and repulsive architecture) something reminds me I haven’t.
Case in point:
This is by far one of the ugliest things I have ever seen.
Jimmy Legs writes regarding this post:
Bushwick is lousy with da chrome. i especially like it when they pair the shiny gates with a couple of plaster eagles or lions. classy!
I like it when they pair chrome with a fire exit fifteen (plus) feet above street level. Break a leg or burn to death? There’s a decision I’d prefer not to make.
Miss Heather
Bushwick Photo du Jour: Himrod Street
Filed under: Bushwick
Many are the civil servants who shoulder the onerous responsibility of protecting and serving us New Yorkers. I have issues with most of them, but there is one institution I have the utmost respect for: New York’s Bravest. Not only do these men and women risk life and limb in situations beyond my comprehension, they also have a wonderful sense of humor.
Case in point: Ladder 124 in Bushwick
They’re Tonka tough with Tonka Trucks…
and have mad Scrabble skills to boot!
I wonder if the windows qualify as double word scores?
Miss Heather
Chrome Fest 2008
As my previous post (about discovering a “street Wimpy” tee shirt) intimates, I am rapidly becoming a big fan of Bedford Stuyvesant. Bed Stuy may be a lot of things but one thing it isn’t is boring. My most recent sojourn found me muttering “Wow, that’s really beautiful!” and “Holy Shit!” under my breath every five minutes. The following is an example of one such “Holy Shit”.
As I wandered down Hart Street I saw a number of beautiful houses. Then I found this.
When I showed the above photograph to Mr. Heather he said:
That looks like something from East Williamsburg.
I replied:
No way! This is like East Williamsburg on steroids!
I wonder if the owner of this house has a family member in the chrome fabrication business? I ask this question because nary a flourish was missed during the chromification of this house.
Even the (unused) air conditioner holders emit metallic bliss. On a clear summer day I bet the reflection from this house is enough to sear a person’s retinas. You could probably cook eggs on the sidewalk for that matter.
Give it up to good ol’ Bed Stuy for keeping it real: even their houses have grills!
Miss Heather
Stick Out Your Can, Here Comes The Garbage Man!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
One task I thoroughly detest is housework. For this reason I cannot fathom what it must be like to earn one’s living by picking up other people’s garbage. Hell, picking up Mr. Heathers skivvies off the floor and placing them in the laundry hamper is sufficient cause to make my blood boil.
And so the age old question goes: hoe does one make this dirty, but necessary, more enticing? Well, yesterday on Meserole Avenue I learned the fine chaps at Mr. Rubbish have found the answer!
Festoon the front of your truck with a jaunty license plate, a slew of plush animals and a grim reaper.
But don’t stop there! Toss in Bert from Sesame Street and an American flag for good measure. No wonder the gents manning this truck were smiling: this hearse for human detritus exudes nothing but sunshine! If you have a lot of trash— and I mean A LOT— who should you call? Mr. Rubbish, that’s who!
Not only will they cheerfully remove it from your premises, but the neighbors will fondly remember the sight of Baby Bugs, Daffy and Sylvester for years to come.
Mr Rubbish: they make demolition clean outs fun!
Miss Heather
Lost Cat: $500 Reward
Filed under: Williamsburg
I found this flier at the intersection of Humboldt and Ainslie Street yesterday. Being the cat crazy lady I am, I feel compelled to spread the word.
If you have seen “Blackin” (Not exactly the most original name for a black cat, but hey— who am I to judge?) please contact Neysa at the above telephone number. As the substantial reward on the flier indicates, he is very missed.
Miss Heather
TO DO THIS WEEK: Poetry Reading
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Earlier this week I received an email from a fellow Greenpointer named Katy about an event slated for today, January 31. She writes:
I… thought you might be interested in this huge poetry reading taking place at East Coast Aliens this Thursday. Seven independent literary publishers of emerging prominence have united to host Steal This Reading, a night of readings by 15 poets spanning immanent figures of innovative poetry such as MacArthur Fellowship winner C.D. Wright (Copper Canyon) and Eleni Sikelianos (Coffee House) to new stars such as Graham Foust (Flood) and Joyelle McSweeney (Fence).
Steal This Reading: a Brooklyn Book Burning
with C.D. Wright, Eleni Sikelianos, Graham Foust, Joyelle McSweeney, Joshua Marie Wilkinson, Julie Doxsee, Max Winter, Adam Clay, Zachary Schomburg, Morgan Lucas Schuldt, Lily Brown, Rauan Klassnik, Cindy Savett, Jon Thompson, Melanie Hubbard hosted by Black Ocean, Cannibal Books, Free Verse Editions, Kitchen Press, Octopus, Tarpaulin Sky Press & Typo.
East Coast Aliens
216 Franklin Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and $6 buys you admission and two drinks. What a deal! For more information about this event and its participants, click here and you’ll be directed to East Coast Alien’s web site.
Miss Heather