Greenpoint
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Culture on the Cheap
Bushwick Photo du Jour: Bushwick Avenue
Today dear readers I spent the afternoon walking around Greenpoint, East Williamsburg and Bushwick posting fliers for next week’s bedbug workshop. When I reached the intersection of Montrose and Bushwick Avenue I was exhausted but my instincts told me to press on. So I did.
This was a very good decision.
Although I am very grateful to all the local business owners who were so kind as to permit me to post fliers (regarding subject matter that is admittedly less than savory) on their premises (they were great, all) the fact of the matter is after talking about nothing but bedbugs for three hours tends to make person a bit daffy*. Remembering what Carl Spackler said in the cinematic masterpiece that is Caddyshack, I decided to use these varmints as a means to aid and abet in their own destruction.
And that’s all she wrote.
Miss Heather
P.S.: In all seriousness, I could really use some help distributing more fliers in Bushwick, Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Long Island City. If anyone is interested in helping to get the word out please shoot me an email at missheather (at) newyorkshitty (dot) com
*My favorite conversation by far was with a bodega owner at the intersection of Franklin and Milton Street right here in Greenpoint. He was in the military and spent much time overseas. As he put it:
We would cover the mattresses with talcum powder. If we saw anything move we knew to go somewhere else.
Lost Dog Update: Cuba Libre!
Earlier this week I posted about this misplaced puppy flier I found on Manhattan Avenue. Well, the owner of this wayward canine has since erected another salvo of fliers which are much more informative.
If anyone has seen Cuba or knows of her whereabouts please contact her owner via either of the telephone numbers listed on the above flier. Let’s liberate this little lass from the land of the lost!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Peking Express
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
This establishment (which purports to have the “BEST CHINESE FOOD”) hails from Nassau Avenue just across the street from McGolrick Park. This image is also a little taste (no pun intended) of a new photo blog I am going to launch! I have not decided upon a name for it yet (although I have narrowed it down to several candidates), but its purpose will be to showcase the kitschiness and quirk to be found among New York Shitty’s most ubiquitous institutions: Chinese restaurants.
Excited yet? I am!
Miss Heather
A Flea Market Cometh To Greenpoint!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
675 Manhattan Avenue (the former home of Pretty Lady and La Bella Boutique) is slated to become a flea market! Anyone who is interested in having a booth should swing by in person, contact them via telephone at (718) 389-9545 or (347) 407-1837 or check out their MySpace page. CAVEAT: if you click on the previous link and happen to dislike Frank Sinatra turn off the sound on your computer.
Miss Heather
Update, June 5, 2010: This market is closed.
A Walk Around The Garden Spot
Despite the less than hospitable weather I knocked around the Garden Spot early yesterday afternoon. My persistence was quickly rewarded, as the neighborhood was rocking its inimitable mojo a little more than usual. Follows are some highlights.
As I approached McGuinness Boulevard things started getting interesting. I noticed (yet) another psychic has set up shop. Such establishments are rapidly becoming as pervasive as banks and Thai restaurants in the Garden Spot. Note the gentleman in the above photograph. He not only sports an eye patch, but is also rocking a DIESEL trucker hat. Methinks we might have discovered north Brooklyn’s first septuagenarian hipster!
This awaited me a few doors east of the psychic shack. As you can see, someone is none too pleased with the B24’s quality of service— or lack thereof.
Shoddy public transportation was not the only thing the local population was angry about either.
Too bad paint pens don’t come with a spell check function. They should.
That’s alright Greenpoint. Miss Heather loves ya! And this, dear readers, ends our walk around the Garden Spot!
Miss Heather
This Ain’t Your Mother’s Library!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
I have to admit, although I am a big fan of libraries in principle, I am not too be big on them in reality. I am simply too boisterous a person to sit still and/or quiet for terribly long. Thankfully today I decided to swing by P.S. 34 to take some much overdue photographs. On the way there I passed by Greenpoint’s very own branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and learned it is a much more swinging place than I had ever imagined.
Fed up with the ridiculous rents landlords are demanding nowadays? If so you are not alone. Why not take a lead from this guy and place all your worldly effects in your minivan, park it in front of the library and take a nap? That’ll show those greedy sons of bitches who’s boss!
Junior high is such a drag. Especially when your mom nags at you about smoking and shooting up in front of company. Stupid bitch. No worries, you can loiter in front of the library and get your fix. No one will care if it is a school day!
These are but two of the delights that await you if you decide to walk by the Norman Avenue branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. Given what I saw outside the premises it begs the question as to what these folks see fit to keep behind closed doors. Dewey decimal poker? Stag microfilm viewings? Reference desk key parties?
Librarians are a very kinky lot, after all.
Miss Heather
Still Waiting…
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
I have received a number of inquiries about the above park (which is located at the northern terminus of Manhattan Avenue). Not surprisingly, most seem to involve when this park will actually be completed— and (also not surprisingly) I have no idea. I have been told that even my fellow print journalists here in the Garden Spot have not been able to motivate the city into divulging this much-wanted tidbit of information. Nonetheless it looks well on its way to completion. Of course this space has looked “nearly completed” for several months.
I do know, however, that the GMDC (Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center— which is located next to this park) has raised some (very justifiable) concerns about trespassing.
In any case, it is apparent that someone got fed up with waiting and decided to enjoy an illicit waterfront frolic.
Miss Heather
Props To The Gowanus Lounge
I would like to take a moment to applaud my colleague, The Gowanus Lounge, on their successful transition to a new and greatly improved web site! In honor of this most auspicious occasion I rifled through my ever-expanding archive of street furniture and found this beauty from yesteryear.
2006: A Space Couch Odyssey.
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Full of Holes
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
From Commercial Street.
Miss Heather
The Boys Of Bed Stuy
Now that the weather is supposedly going to take a turn for the better, I can hardly wait to shake off the recent spate of dreary weather and go out for a walk. Those of you who have the luxury of doing the same this Tuesday morning and want to see one of the most beautiful buildings our borough has to offer should head to 832 Marcy Avenue, better known as the Brooklyn Boys High School.
The above photograph does not do this amazing building justice.
Curious to learn who was behind this beautiful piece of Romanesque revival architecture, I checked out nyc-architecture.com. Here’s what they had to say
The architect James W. Naughton (1840-1898), was the Superintendent of Buildings for Brooklyn and was responsible for all of Brooklyn’s fine school buildings built during his tenure from 1879 until his death. He was the architect for the Girls’ High School (1887) and the Boys’ High School (1891) and P.S. 9, all of which are designated as city landmarks.
It is also interesting to note that Mr. Naughton had a hand in the oldest continuously operating school in all the city of New York. Yes, I am speaking about Greenpoint’s very own P.S. 34*!
But let’s get back to Bed Stuy and look at a few of the faces which grace the Brooklyn Boys School, shall we?
This youngster doesn’t look too happy to be here. I cannot say I really blame him. I (like many other people) hated high school.
Perhaps this chap has something to do with his fellow student’s sullen affect? He looks like a troublemaker to me.
I’m not too sure what’s up with this guy’s eyes, but he is one handsome devil nonetheless.
But the previous are just a few of the wonderful things to be found at the Brooklyn Boy’s School. Why not go there and discover a few more of them for yourself?
Boy’s High School
832 Marcy Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11216
I personally guarantee you will not be disappointed!
Miss Heather
*Here’s a little Greenpoint secret: when Oakland Street (later to become McGuinness Boulevard) was widened it was done by razing the buildings on the northeastern side of the street. This was done so as to spare P.S. 34 from the wrecking ball.
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