Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
Greenpoint:3, Philosophy Works: 0
God am I happy this week is almost over. I think I spent more time on the subway this week than I usually do in a month.
Thankfully I was provided ample entertainment in the way of the Crosstown Local ridership’s latest skirmish in the ongoing war for hearts and minds against Philosophy Works.
What’s more, I also learned our friends on the Manhattan-bound L train have joined the fray.
Miss Heather
P.S.: This post is dedicated to Copyranter, a blog I enjoy tremendously and am greatly relieved to learn will resume publication.
Affordable Housing In Greenpoint
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
A number of you who live south of the BQE are undoubtedly familiar with this building. It is the former station house for the 87th Precinct. What you may not know is it is slated to become affordable housing! When I walked by this —one of the most beautiful edifices the Garden Spot has to offer— this week I made a joyous discovery: it already has its first tenant!
One of the purposes of providing affordable housing is to give people of more modest means a nice place to live without having to sell the shirt of their back.
Or would that be pants? The more eagle-eyed among probably spy a bottle of vodka in the background. This is what I call living large!
Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz had it right when she said:
There’s no place like home!
Miss Heather
Volunteers Needed At McGolrick Park Dog Run!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Jeff Sandrund, the new Parks point person for things north Brooklyn has generously provided the McCarren Park dog run with new bark chips. The catch? The McGolick PArk dog run group needs help spreading them!
WHAT: Chip spreading
WHEN: Saturday, April 26 at 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: McGolrick Park Dog Run
For more information about this or the numerous other things the McGolrick Park dog run has cooking (like a run for small dogs, for example), contact Rob Maher at:
rob (at) kaschiduds (dot) com
Woof!
Miss Heather
Au Revoir, Rat King
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that 79 Kingland Avenue (AKA: The home of the Garden Spot’s very own Rat King) has finally succumbed to condomania.
Kate writes:
On Monday or Tuesday the big tree in front got cut down and someone put a R.I.P. sign on the stump. And today, all the windows were boarded up and there is a wooden fence around the house. I have a picture from today. It might be too many pixels, plus the colors are a little weird. I can send if you want.
All the pigeons that used to sit in the tree don’t know what to do.
It will be interesting to see what happens next. Plans were filed with the Department of Buildings to construct a seven story residential apartment building on this site. They were disapproved.
I am going to miss that tree. It was one of the most beautiful and eccentric ones to be found in this neighborhood. That’s “progress” for you!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Peekaboo!
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
From Franklin Street.
Miss Heather
Hard Hat Hannah Struts Her Stuff
Ever since she learned about Ms. Lancaster’s resignation, Hard Hat Hannah has been on my case.
Hannah: I want to see some of these work sites. I’ve been through rehab. I’m OK.
Miss H: Are you sure you can take it?
Hannah: BRING IT ON!
So I took her to Orient Avenue.
First up, 59:
Hannah: This house gives me the creeps.
Miss H: I’ve got your back. Let’s go in!
I detect some vandalism on this fence.
She said. To wit I asked:
What does it say?
OOH A SECRET!
NO WAY!
Yes way
Hannah then proclaimed:
This property is no secret. Per the Department of Buildings it is to be bricked up and fenced off. What’s more, I find this…
shoddy fence most disturbing. Anyone and their dog can get in here!
Miss H: It would appear someone already has.
Hannah: Dammit!
Miss H: Let’s head down the street to 11 Orient, it’s a total shit hole.
Wow, this fence wasn’t here the last time I walked by. I wonder what happened?
Hannah: They got hit with two Stop Work Orders, that’s what!
Miss H: You go, Hannah!
Hannah:
The inspector who filled out this form made two egregious errors:
- Naming Marie Russo as the owner and
- MGM Demo as the contractor
I have seen this shit time and time again. The real author behind this disaster is none other than Marie Grasso and MMG Design!
What else can I say? Miss Hannah may be small, but she’s one damned good sleuth! What’s more, only a raging village of idiots could secure a demolition permit 4/16/08 only to get slapped with a Stop Work Order six days later.
Way to go, Grasso!
Miss Heather
The Greenpoint Hotel Goes Upscale!
I have written much about this institution. When I first moved to Greenpoint I had the dubious honor of living around the corner from this den of iniquity. I quickly became acclimatized to having crack heads, derelicts, ex-cons and register sex offenders as neighbors. Police raids became routine, e.g.; buy groceries, run laundry, watch 20+ policemen (and women) raid the Greenpoint Hotel.
I have since moved on, but nothing— and I mean NOTHING— prepared me for the email I received last night.
Laura: Hi Heather! I thought you’d get a kick out of this. The Greenpoint Hotel has a website that boasts of its “luxury suites”.
Miss H: Seriously, this isn’t a joke?
Laura: My personal favorite is that they refer to it as a “bed & breakfast”. I guess it’s the place to be!
Miss H: Mary, Jesus and Joseph— and I am not even CATHOLIC!!!
Laura: I so thought this was up your alley! Enjoy!
This institution got hit with a Stop Work Order after one patron partaking of said “comfortable accommodations” set his mattress on fire and was found frolicking in his own feces last February.
Before being hauled off to Bellevue, he assaulted a police officer! Keith Moon, eat you heart out! Hilarious hoax or wishful thinking? Check out their web site and* decide for yourself!
Miss Heather
This Spring Is Going To Be Craftacular!
Follows are a few art-related event coming up in north Brooklyn!
First up, Artwalking is slated to open in Williamsburg this upcoming Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m. Matt Silver (of BCFools.com) relays the deets:
ARTWALKING: Bedford Ave. An invitational exhibition featuring over thirty storefront installations between North 3rd and North 9th on Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. A marriage of ART + COMMERCE creating a bridge to a Williamsburg neighborhood in transition from a new generation of store owners to an artist community over twenty five years old. Over thirty Brooklyn-based artists have created storefront installations often in collaboration with respective store owners. There will also be an array of amazing street performers. The curators are Larry Walczak and Donna Kessinger.
For more details about this and other upcoming events check out Eyewash Art Gallery’s web site.
Next up, Bust Magazine will be conducting its “Spring Fling Craftacular” right here in Greenpoint! Here is their press release:
You are cordially invited to BUST Magazine’s first ever Spring Fling Craftacular in Brooklyn!
Sponsored by The Frisky, the BUST Spring Fling Craftacular will feature over 50 of the most unique and talented crafters from across the country offering the very best in handmade wares. But BUST¹s Spring Fling Craftacular is not just another craft fair, it is also an all-day party with an entire room set aside for dancing and mingling. BUST Craftacular DJs will put the spring in your step, spinning all your favorite jams from the Œ90s all day and into the night for a prom-themed dance.
While shopping, be sure to grab your date and strike a pose at the famous BUST Craftacular photo studio, sponsored by Metromix.com, and also spruce up your gear at Janome¹s make-your-own corsage booth. Plus, The Frisky’s star astrosexologist, Kiki T will be on hand to take questions and dish cosmic dirt on your love life. Every attendee at the Spring Fling Craftacular is entered into the BUST Spring Fling Craftacular raffle that includes over $2000 worth of prizes, including a Magnolia 7330 sewing machine from Janome! In addition, the first 250 shoppers will also score a BUST Craftacular goodie bag packed with swag and prizes!
DATE: Sunday, April 27 from 11 am to 9 pm
LOCATION: The Warsaw in Williamsburg Greenpoint, Brooklyn
261 Driggs Avenue, L Train to Bedford Avenue stop G train Nassau Avenue stop
The fine ladies at Bust might be a little fuzzy with their geography, but I have no doubt they have cooked up one very fun event. Check it out!
Last up, Cafe Grumpy will be hosting its latest Arts & Crafts Affair next Sunday, May 4th, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Cafe Grumpy
193 Meserole Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222
For more information about this event shoot the fine folks at Cafe Grumpy an email at:
theheartsandcraftsaffair (at) hotmail (dot) com
And that is all she wrote!
Miss Heather
Sunview Luncheonette… The Documentary?
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
Much has been written about the closing of this establishment.
Now it would appear the Sunview Luncheonette may very well be the subject of a documentary! Love Bea?
CALL GEOFF!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Bedford Avenue
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic
When people hear “Bedford Avenue” more often than not they think of Williamsburg. This is a shame as this thoroughfare (Brooklyn’s longest at 10.2 miles) cuts through a number of other very interesting neighborhoods. More importantly (to us Greenpointers anyway) is the fact it starts right here in the Garden Spot. Which brings me to today’s installment of Greenpoint goodness from back in the day.
Although it has gotten a major face lift One Bedford Avenue is still more or less recognizable. I would have loved to have seen the interior of “Dreams” night club. It looks like it was one swinging place!
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
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