Greenpoint Fashion Watch

February 28, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic 

Since the weather decided to take (yet another) manic upswing I tossed on my shoes, said goodbye to my heavy winter coat and went out to enjoy the sunshine. I was not alone: a number of my fellow Greenpointers elected to do the same. Here are a few of my faves.

womanonnoble

I spied this woman on Noble Street. I’m not terribly certain what the bottle in her hand contains (motor oil? Gold Bond Powder?) but she’s looking damned fine with this red hat/red sweater combo!

It was also a great day to listen to a little music and catch up with friends.

jammin

Which is exactly what this chap on Manhattan elected to do!

And last, but hardly least, when Greenpoint has 54 degree weather on a February day I think of one thing: Norwegian Death Metal. Preferably with chihuahuas.

mordred

So you can imagine my delight when I encountered Mordred— Greenpoint’s most stylish citizen— wearing a dress made out of a Taakeferd tee shirt! Wishing to get to the bottom of this delightfully daring fashion statement I asked her “person”/seamstress for the scoop.

When the weather (and Miss Mordred’s schedule) allows you can look forward to a very special fashion post featuring the couture of this very special chihuahua. Trust me: you will not be disappointed.

Miss Heather

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Sunset On Black Friday

November 29, 2008 ·
Filed under: Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg 

As the Mister and I were knocking around Jackson Heights yesterday we noticed the absolutely breathtaking sunset. We were not able to get a photograph of it. Thankfully Greenpoint’s very own mugsniffer did. He writes:

View from my Greenpoint apartment, now marred by the bulky EDGE building along the waterfront.

Regardless it’s a damned nice photo. You can see more great Greenpoint imagery a la mugsniffer by clicking here.

Miss Heather

Freedom of the Press for NYC’s Bloggers

November 26, 2008 ·
Filed under: Area 51 

Speaking as someone who operates a blog I can safely assert that while I might shoulder some of the burdens shared by my friends in the print (READ: legit) media the same cannot be said about the benefits. I have been grilled by the police for taking photographs of Christmas decorations (of all things). A number of my colleagues (both in print and online) use my site as a source for news leads without citing it. Others filch images and/or intellectual property from New York Shitty and shill it as if they were their own. The previous know who they are and I see no need to mention them here.

In any case, there are a couple of blog-related items I have been meaning to pass along. First up this item I received from Queens Crap:

Dear Blogger:

ChangeNYC.Org, a new grassroots action network, was formed in part to empower New York City’s blogging community. We feel that as citizen journalists of the New Media, bloggers do a better job covering their neighborhoods, community issues, and local politics than the mainstream media. We are on the ground – in the grassroots – instantly reporting the news as we see it, free of corporate bias and control.

That’s why ChangeNYC.Org is taking a strong stand to support a lawsuit brought by civil rights attorney Norman Siegel on behalf of a City Hall blogger and two other online journalists denied press passes by New York City. We have just begun an online petition calling on the City to reform its press credentialing system to assert and protect the First Amendment rights of bloggers.

Please sign the petition below and post a link to it on your blogs, so we can show the City just how many people depend upon the work that you do:

http://www.petitiononline.com/12151791/petition.html

For more information on this lawsuit and the plaintiffs involved, check out this link:

http://truenewsfromchangenyc.blogspot.com/2008/11/freedom-of-press-for-nyc-bloggers.html

I have signed this petition. If you value reading (or writing) online content you should as well.

Last up, I have long mulled over creating a blog whose sole purpose is calling out miscreants for intellectual property theft and plagiarism. Obviously I have never gotten around to this. I’m a busy Greenpointer. Thankfully I do not need to: someone has already done it.

The site is called You Thought We’d Wouldn’t Notice…but we did and while its primary emphasis seems to be things artistic the above item should be of interest to anyone who has had their online images appropriated without their permission. Do give it a read. Those of you who wish to make a submission can learn how by clicking here.

Miss Heather

Ah, Greenpoint!

November 25, 2008 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg 

Earlier today I made a rather fascinating discovery; when you run the search terms “drunk” and “Greenpoint” some mighty interesting things pop up on YouTube. The following are three of my more “choice” finds. Enjoy!

You know, inasmuch as people are angry at the prospect of doling out $2.50 to ride our fine city’s subways and buses I really do not mind. With “in flight” entertainment like this dude I have no qualms whatsoever with ponying up an extra fifty cents. As a matter of fact I consider money well spent.

Miss Heather

TOMORROW: Portraits From The Soup Kitchen

November 25, 2008 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic, Williamsburg 

For those of you who are staying in the Garden Spot this upcoming Tofurky Day there are plenty of ways to get your fix of thankfulness. As I mentioned before, there will be an interfaith service at Ahavas Israel starting at 7:30 p.m. Volunteers are always welcome at the Greenpoint Reformed Church’s food pantry and soup kitchen. Especially tomorrow when they’ll be serving up an early Thanksgiving dinner. Ann Kansfield wrote (in her press release):

The Greenpoint Reformed Church Soup Kitchen will host a special Thanksgiving turkey dinner on Wednesday, November 25 from 6-7pm. The event will mark the opening of a new art exhibit featuring portraits of the soup kitchen’s patrons and volunteers painted by Janice Bridgers.

The soup kitchen has found innovative ways to help feed increasing numbers of homeless and low-income individuals. The kichen manages to feed a hot meal to 80-100 people each week on a shoestring budget.  We expect even more people to come for the pre-Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday night. The meal will consist of turkey and other traditional Thanksgiving trimmings.

Adding to the evening is the opening of an art show featuring portraits of the soup kitchen’s clients and volunteers. The artwork is meant to increase self-esteem and pride among individuals who are often demoralized and hopeless. The artwork is displayed with gallery lighting in the same room where the soup kitchen meals take place…

Founded in 2007, the Greenpoint Reformed Church Soup Kitchen is a non-sectarian program that provides a weekly hot meal for homeless and low income people in North Brooklyn.  The number of people served by the soup kitchen has risen signficiantly due to the downturn in the economy.

Janice Bridgers began painting portraits of people associated with soup kitchen after she began volunteering with the program. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and makes a great tasting pot of soup.

Here are a few works by Ms. Bridgers (which I have to admit as a painter who defected to sculpture I rather like. They are strikingly reminiscent of Alice Neel.) you’ll see tomorrow night at the soup kitchen. Each painting will be for sale (they’re $300 each) and all proceeds will go towards the soup kitchen.

You can see more of Ms. Bridger’s work by clicking here. In closing I’d like to mention that the soup kitchen and food pantry needs our help now more than ever:

Each day there’s a new story about how the decline in our economy is leading to an increase in demand for food pantries and soup kitchens. We’ve seen a huge increase in the number of people coming through the doors of the Greenpoint Reformed Church’s soup kitchen and food pantry. As you might guess, the funds needed to help feed so many hungry people haven’t kept pace with the demand. In fact, our city funding got cut this summer.  Our pantry is empty right now, otherwise I wouldn’t be writing to you.

We need your help, and we’re asking you to do two things. Please make a Thanksgiving donation to Greenpoint’s pantry and kitchen. No gift is too small – we can do a lot with just $5 or $10.  We’re able to buy food at a reduced cost from the NY Food Bank, so we leverage every dollar donated to us. Second, please help spread the word and forward this message to five friends asking them to donate a few bucks.  If everyone gives a little, we can do so much.

We’re aren’t a large non-profit.  We don’t have a fancy building or shiny equipment. You can be assured that your donation goes directly to help people who would otherwise fall through the cracks of our society.  Along with helping people, you also have the benefit of your donation being tax-deductable.

You can send a check to:

Greenpoint Church Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry
136 Milton St.
Brooklyn, NY 11222

Or make an online donation by clicking here.

Miss Heather

Anything f’ Thanksgiv’n?

November 24, 2008 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic 

I imagine a number of you are preparing for Thanksgiving. Before I commence with the task of hunting and gathering all the proper vegetables for the feast I’ll be preparing (chile rellenos with rice, beans, salsa, soup and sangria!) I thought I would take the time to share a little bit ‘o’ of old New Yorkiana with you: Ragamuffin Day.

What is Ragamuffin Day, you ask? That is an excellent question. Imagine if you will a dash of Halloween on Thanksgiving Day. Children throughout our fair city would dress up in tatty clothes, blacken their faces and go door to door asking:

Anything f’ Thanksgiv’n?

If the man or woman of the house felt charitable he or she would throw them candy, fruit or change for their efforts. And just like the “trick or treating” we know today there was ample latitude on both sides— beggars and beggees alike —for mischief. Do you know what a “red penny” is? You will after reading this article from the November 27, 1931 edition of the New York Times. Enjoy!

Those of you who want to learn more about Ragamuffin Day from a distinctly Greenpointian point of view should point and click your way over to Greenpt.com. There you will find a number of amusing firsthand accounts of this long gone tradition.

Miss Heather

Photo Credit: SuzyO of Py-O-My (who I will ordering my apple pie from!)

Greenpoint Photos du Jour: Art Lover’s Special

November 24, 2008 ·
Filed under: Articles of Fedderization, Greenpoint Magic 

Ever had one of those moments when you realized something so fucking obvious you could kick yourself? Well, I had one of those epiphanies recently. It was as follows:

Greenpointers like chainsaw sculptures. A LOT.

Follows are a few of my favorite specimens. Enjoy!

Kingsland Avenue

India Street

The flower is a nice touch.

Eckford Street

Pope preaching to an assortment of woodland creatures and a Fedders box: priceless.

Miss Heather

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