Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Moments Of Zen
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Green Street.
West Street.
Kent Street.
Franklin Street.
Miss Heather
Dog Doo Sign Du Jour: Failure To Communicate
There is simply too much goodness going on here to go into in a mere blog post. This having been said I honestly don’t know which I like better: the carefully balanced box of beer bottles…
the total ineffectiveness of this missive or the fact the author of this missive appears to have no problem with having large quantities of beer bottles inhabiting the sidewalk. Then again I suppose this is Greenpoint: we are well known for our affinity for intoxicating substances.
Miss Heather
Disambiguation & Gratitude
Filed under: Area 51
First off, I would like to thank everyone who has tendered their thoughts via comments here, the Gowanus Lounge and via email. Frankly I was overwhelmed by the response. I suppose I shouldn’t have been: Bob’s dedication and hard work were an inspiration to many, myself included. For those of you who reached out to me I want to tender my heart felt gratitude and sincerest thanks. To those of you I have not replied to (yet) my silence should not be construed personally. The last few days have been very been hard ones. I simply needed time to sort through my feelings. I guess you could call it grieving.
The previous having been said I would like to make a long overdue clarification regarding this post:
With great sadness, a few of Bob’s friends, who were given access to his site, will try to update Gowanus Lounge with:
1) An obituary and other links
2) An announcement of a memorial service…
In keeping with his wife’s wishes (amidst all the hype, gossip and rumor-mongering it seems to have been forgotten that she is the one who has been most impacted by his passing. She has and will continue to have a heavy cross to bear.) Bob’s funeral service will be a small affair limited to close friends and family. When my colleague wrote the previous it was not intended to intimate that the funeral was going to be an open affair but I suspect it was taken as such. I am not trying to lay blame here; we have all been under a lot of stress and such missteps/ambiguities can and should be expected. We are doing the best we can to both cope with our grief and ensure that Bob’s wishes are faithfully observed.
The previous having been said, I do not want to suggest that a “memorial service” (or wake) is not in order. It is. To this end myself and a number of his close friends are going to organize a tasteful forum where people who knew him, people he has inspired, in short; people whose lives were affected by Bob can have their say. This effort is in its infancy but as the arrangements— “a plan” if you will— become more concrete I will relay the details both here and via the Gowanus Lounge. In the meantime I will be reaching out to people I know Bob respected both as professional colleagues and friends. People he would have wanted to be key note speakers at just such an event.
The fate/future of the Gowanus Lounge
After reeling from the initial shock (and, in my case, reading some of the rumors abounding on the Internet) the Mister and I agreed it should be brought back online as soon as the caprice and/or ineptitude of Lunar Pages, the Gowanus Lounge’s host, could and would permit. It is still experiencing problems and will be offline for awhile so my husband can conduct some much-needed trouble-shooting. A number of people close to Bob— including his wife— felt that it should remain online as a living memorial to his work. The Mister is working very hard to make this happen, e.g.; pulling late nights and working many an early morning. We will also do everything in our power to preserve his photographs on Flickr and wonderful YouTube footage. At the moment we are circumscribed from doing so but in due time it will happen.
In closing I want to thank again all of you who have tendered your kind thoughts and have volunteered to help organizing an event to celebrate the life and work of Robert Guskind. Wherever he is he now (as an agnostic the previous is an example of the type of schmaltz I ordinarily revile and yet feel compelled to write here. Go figure.) he is undoubtedly very touched— and perhaps a wee bit surprised: he had always underestimated the impact he had on others— be it personally, professionally and otherwise. I cannot help but suspect he is smiling down upon us now.
Thank you again.
Miss Heather
A New York Shitty Public Service Announcement
Filed under: Area 51
After several days of Mister Heather toiling with Lunar Pages (which is arguably one of the WORST. WEB. HOSTS. EVER.*) The Gowanus Lounge is back up and running. An obituary written will be forthcoming, comments are enabled and reader/contributor submissions (pertaining to Bob Guskind’s passing or otherwise) are welcome. You can send them to:
missheather (at) newyorkshitty (dot) com
All I ask is to please be patient. It’s been a rough couple of days. I’m tired.
Miss Heather
*An explanation will be forthcoming. Don’t believe the crap you have seen online.
Queens Photos Du Jour: Sunnyside Shots
My pilgrimage to Sunnyside for delish Mexican food earlier this week might have ended in failure*, but you know what they say about life: it isn’t about the destination it’s about how you get there. Courtesy of rush hour gridlock and some on the worst drivers this fine city has to offer I had plenty of time on my hands while riding the B24. After noticing the evening sun was bathing everything in sight in a gorgeous fiery hue I decided to while away the time by taking a few pictures. I have entitled this set of photographs Sunnyside Shots. Yes, I am aware some of these images do not hail from this neighborhood per se— but I like the sound of this title and I am sticking with it. Besides, its all about the pictures anyway. Enjoy!
A little Bronx on Greenpoint Avenue in Queens.
Calvary Cemetary.
I love the crazy reflections in this one.
Those of you who are in the know can attest that this building (which is located on Greenpoint Avenue) is one very ugly one indeed. Somehow I managed to make it look nice. No worries, I’ll run it on Fedders Friday soon enough!
I finally got around to taking a photograph of this Greek Orthodox Church (which I love) after getting off the bus.
Empire State.
And that’s all she wrote!
Miss Heather
*Sort of: we went to Arriba Arriba on Queens Boulevard. It was pretty tasty. Enough so I would go back.
Greenpoint Video Du Jour: Street Theater
Have you ever had one of those mornings when something comes to pass over your first cup of coffee and you think to yourself:
I suppose it can only get better from here.
Earlier this week I had one such morning.
Now I will endeavor to explain to you what you have just watched. The gentleman on the left is filling this apartment building with heating oil. This is the job he has been hired to do and in order to discharge his responsibilities his truck has to idle in such a manner so as to obstruct the street. The woman to the right (who clearly has somewhere she needs to go and needs a S.U.V. to get her there) is displeased by this. She wants this chap to move his truck. Our heroine lays on her horn. Repeatedly. This, in turn, precipitates a lively exchange from which I overheard a number of colorful colloquialisms including but not limited to:
- “Suck my dick.”
- “Fuck you.” (numerous times)
It was at this point I grabbed my camera and, well, you can figure out the rest. For those of you who are wondering the woman eventually gave up, turned her gas guzzler around and commenced her commute using a different street.
May your day be happy. May your day be peaceful.
Motherf**ker. 😉
Miss Heather
Dedicated To A Good Friend
Filed under: Area 51
Today’s offerings on New York Shitty will be limited to the following film.
Goodbye.
Miss Heather
Borough Of Found Toys Volume VI
Last night I was absolutely thrilled to find this great photograph from Garsav in my photo pool. In fact I liked it so much I wanted it to kick off this— arguably the latest and greatest installment of my “Found Toys” series. Enjoy!
From Graham Avenue.
From McGuinness Boulevard.
From Eagle Street.
From Bedford Avenue.
Miss Heather
Crosstown Local Photos Du Jour: Fool’s Gold
Initially the Mister couldn’t understand my fascination with this poster other than the fact it is really, truly, seriously, BAD product placement. Some watery tart doing yoga on the on the East River does not appeal to us Greenpointers. As a matter of fact we find the water here quite revolting. But I digress.
Who’s Cluck?
Mr. Heather asked. I pointed out the subtle commentary via ball point pen.
He got it.
I wonder if either of the previous fellow G train travelers is aware that Dean Palin, the mastermind behind the Oro Condominiums, has been given the greenlight to build a 39 story tower on West Street? I don’t think so. Well, he has (courtesy of our local Community Board) and it’s ugly as hell.
Miss Heather
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