From The New York Shitty Inbox, Part III: Production Lounge Gone For Good?

July 26, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

A fellow we’ll call “M” writes July 25, 2012:

Spotted an Eviction notice on the front door of The Production Lounge tonight, didn’t have my camera/phone with me though. Maybe it’ll still be around tomorrow.

As you can see in the above photo (which was taken today) nary a notice is to be found. However, there is a “for rent” sign posted. Hmm…

Now At The Production Lounge: Body Heat

July 28, 2010 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Okay, I am a little behind the game on this one (apparently the first round came to pass last weekend) but when I saw these fliers at Save Rite Wine & Liquor I simply HAD to share the good news. Exactly what is “Body Heat”, you ask? The other side of this flier should clarify matters.

You can always leave it to our friends at the Production Lounge to keep things classy in the Garden Spot!

Miss Heather

From The New York Shitty Inbox: The Production Lounge Gets Served

June 28, 2010 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

This item comes courtesy of a chap named Matt who writes:

Thought you’d enjoy this.  It was posted on the door of the Production Lounge the other day.
Could this spell the beginning of the end for one of Greenpoint’s, um, more notorious establishments? Given that they have alienated the community at large (gun fire tends to do that kind of thing) and seemingly now their landlord as well I wouldn’t bet against it.
Miss Heather

Greenpoint Video Du Jour: More Fun At The Production Lounge

February 22, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic 

franklinst

After a shooting and a rather contentious Community Council meeting last week The Production Lounge keeps on trucking with this video shot Friday night. Angry Grandma with a Bullet Hole in her grand baby’s bedroom writes:

I don’t know if my son-in-law sent you this, but I want to be sure you have it. RE: Ongoing Saga of The Production Lounge Lizards. This is a video of owner Joe losing it with the cops on Friday, Feb 20, as they have been at him non-stop and put a spot light on his front door so the poor guy can’t even let in all those underage thuglets.


Yes sir, nothing says “I want to be positive force in the community” like screaming at its constabulary! How can I not shake the feeling this establishment is going to be Studio B: Part II? On that note I like to point out that if I didn’t have all my paper work in order (which I can assure you this gentleman doesn’t: The Production Lounge has neither a cabaret license nor a place of assembly permit—the latter most is a must for establishments that hold more than 75 people and this joint falls under that category) I’d be a little more low key when dealing with the authorities.

But what would I know?

Miss Heather

A Shooting At The Production Lounge?

February 14, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic 

bulletholes

This email comes courtesy of R.C.:

Hey Miss Heather

Thought you may like a little play by play of what the heck is happening out my window at this very moment.

Its 3:47 am.. and I was awaken by something that sounded like gun shots out my front window.
I was quickly shaken out of my bed and my thought was gun shots???? But why. Then I remembered instantly, OH PRODUCTION LOUNGE!

Sure enough, a small commotion was brewing outside.. people moving around quickly and fighting or trying to get away inside the “amazing bar” that has fallen upon our neighborhood. I noticed someone locking the door and keeping its patrons inside the bar, not letting anyone out. I instantly thought this is not going to be good. Cops show up, not with lights on nor sirens , about 5 cars and the place starts to flood out… cops direct the flow of people that were all exiting the bar away from Kent street direction and back towards Greenpoint Avenue on Franklin.

I thought I was dreaming when I heard “the shots” but I obviously was not when the presence of cops showed up outside my home ( I live on the same block as this shit den of a bar)  and started to filter the lovely patrons of “P-LO” as I like to call this humble establishment away.

Its 3:53 now and the block is barricaded by cruisers on either side of this block on Franklin. From what I heard to what is now happening outside seems like yes maybe they were shots fired but no arrests or heavy breakouts resumed. Some people did run away  at the moment I started watching and taping (yes I captured footage of this on my mini HD camera) this incident at the P-LO But now the block is barricaded by 10 or so cops…

The cops are now walking around the block with flashlights looking for something?? gun shot shells maybe?

What ever this is going on we need to close this place down for good! It’s revolting and not what Franklin Street is about.

I guess its officially a crime scene when police tape is surrounding the entrances to the block  on either end now.

A few cops are walking back and forth the block..flashlight in hand.

4:15 a.m
Cops walking around still. nothing seems to be urgent. talking on and off with who I think is one of the owners of this place.

Let us hope that this is the end of this place. But I fear it wont be…

The P-Lo needs to go!!!

So just thought I would let you know about whats happening and ask you how the heck do we shut down this HELLHOLE that has plagued our quiet hood.

This isn’t the only email I got on the subject of this shooting either. Tony writes:

i heard 6 gunshots last night at 2:30 am from my place on Kent street.

i called 911. didn’t venture outside. NYPD just called me and asked if i had any other info.

they said a woman got shot on the corner of Kent Street & Franklin but that she’s going to be okay.

this is fucked up.

I can hardly wait to see how they spin this one at the next 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting.

Miss Heather

Photographer’s (my) Note: This is 158 Franklin Street. The bullet that penetrated the front door managed to go through a second door in the interior of this domicile and lodged itself in a wall. I have it on good intelligence that bullets managed to find their way to the second floor of this residence as well. One destroyed a hat hanging on a rack (better the hat than the wearer, I suppose). It should also be noted that the owner of this house just finished renovating it from top to bottom. Now it has a few bullet holes to give it that “gritty” “urban” feel.

UPDATE: Apparently this matter has found its way onto Yelp;

While this place has been drawing my snarky ire since it opened for myriad reasons (laughable decor, seeming utter distain for the idea of a unified neighborhood fabric, loud, raucous club nights exhibiting contemptible taste levels vis-à-vis music, general waft of sadness and desperation, etc., etc.), I always considered it unfortunate joke that would be quickly and deservedly shuttered. But last night things took a much more serious turn…

You can read the rest by clicking here.* (A special thanks goes out to Greenpointless for bringing this to my attention.)

*NO YOU CAN’T: Yelp has pulled the posts.

A Greenpoint Public Service Announcement: More About The Adonis Lounge

December 27, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

adonisloungeTHUMBSome of you might recall ten days ago I shared the good news about the Adonis Lounge. In this post I posited the following:

If the address of this establishment, 113 Franklin Street, sounds vaguely familiar that’s because it is the location of the Production Lounge. Perhaps they have decided to diversify from hip-hop to himbos?

Well, certain events have come to pass (which, it should be noted started after I noticed a number highly unusual search query hits for this site— “Greenpoint handjob” being by far the finest) and I am pleased to announce I have an answer to the aforementioned question: yes. In fact, it appears to be a monthly affair and has been going on since (at least) November.

going

Per GoingNYC:

Adonis Lounge is a Private Male strip club for Gay Men held once a month in The GreenPoint (!!! Ed. Note) area Of Brooklyn NY , It will feature some of the hottest male strippers around plus there will be a lap dance area and VIP room for ones enjoyment ! Men must be 21 and up to attend  and be on the list for this November 19 event ( past events will not count ) write (excised).

This just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser…

Miss Heather

Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Arriva Dirce!

August 11, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Production Lounge, R.I.P.

P.S.: Special thanks go out to Kat for tipping me off to this.

Live From The 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting

All in all the proceedings at last night’s convocation were pretty subdued. However there were a few points of interest, among them:

  1. A bevy of guest speakers, including a trio of wonderfully charming participants of the NYPD’s Explorers program speak.
  2. A pair of gentleman who were burglarizing our local watering holes in the wee hours of the morning have been apprehended!
  3. Phyllis, a stalwart attendee of these proceedings, tenders her two cents (and then some) regarding what I presume to be a meter maid.

Without further ado, here we go!

Part I: Roll Call & a Review of Minutes From the Previous Meeting

Part II: Minutes are accepted, the new date for Community Council meetings is announced; a representative from the NYPD’s Community Affairs Office speaks

Part III: A Presentation by the Explorer’s Program

  • You can view the brochure for this program by clicking here.

Part IV: A citizen lauds these youths for cleaning Jerzy Popieluzko Square (this is pretty awesome)

Part V: A representative from the Youth Court speaks & D.I. Hurson gives a rundown of recent crime trends

  • Crime was up for the month of February. Mr. Hurson attributes this to unseasonably warm weather.
  • Burglaries are still a problem. He states that two men responsible for a string of burglaries at bars in his precinct have been identified/apprehended. Simply put, these two men were breaking into bars after hours. One was caught at Bellwether on Union Avenue.
  • Street robberies (for electronics) is still a concern. Recently a rash of these came to pass on Roebling Street between North 8 and North 4 Street. The perpetrators are between the ages of 14 and 18 years of age and one young woman has been arrested.
  • Car break-ins are still a concern as well.

Part VI: The Q & A Session Continues

  • Phyllis tenders some remarks regarding one Officer Brown and truck drivers. Among other things she asserts Ms. Brown is overweight. D.I. Hurson begs to differ.
  • Concerns about the Production Lounge are raised (again).

Part VII: Q & A Session, Continued

  • Concerns about registered sex offenders (and posting flyers of them) are raised.
  • D.I. Hurson notes that many hail from 300 Skillman Avenue (a homeless shelter located on the premises of the Greenpoint Hospital) and 66-68 Clay Street (a three quarter house)

And that’s all she wrote!

Live From The 94th Precinct Community Council Meeting

As some of you are undoubtedly aware last night both the month meeting of our Community Board and that of the 94th Precinct Community Council came to pass. I opted to attend the Community Council meeting. I’m glad I did: not only did Deputy Inspector Hurson give a presentation of 2011’s crime statistics (which featured a sobering number of vehicular/pedestrian accidents, as you will see) but after a slow start the question & Answer session got downright contentious. The fly in the audience’s proverbial ointment was (among other things) loud/unruly bars. Without further ado here is footage (which as of 4:14 p.m. is WORKING!!!) of the proceedings. Enjoy!

Part I: General Announcements, D.I. Hurson Announces the “Cop of the Month”

1. Minutes are waived.
2. Deputy Inspector Hurson notes that while Bedford Avenue was rather festive on New Year’s Eve (and some of the merrymakers were perhaps a little too merry) matters did not get out of hand.
3. D.I. Hurson announces the “Cop of the Month”: Officer Wikira. Officer Wikira detained a man stuffing a woman’s purse into a mailbox. Shortly thereafter a robbery was reported involving the man in question. He, having just served twelve years for similar such offenses, was arrested and sentenced to five years.

Part II: D.I. Hurson Gives a Presentation Regarding the 94th Precinct’s Crime Statistics For 2011

1. The 94th is the 9th best precinct in the city.
2. While most crimes were down (for example, burglaries were down 35%), felony assaults were up 26%.
3. Overall crime was down 10%
4. D.I. Hurson makes note of an auto theft ring the 94th recently busted. Apparently this outfit was shipping automobiles to the Middle East. Wow.
5. Arguably the most disturbing statistic offered were vehicular/pedestrian accidents. 77 of these came to pass last year. This is a 63% increase over 2010 (which had 47). Bicyclist/motorist accidents, conversely, were down. Albeit slightly: 67 in 2011 versus 79 in 2010. This is a 15% decrease.

Part III: Deputy Inspector Hurson Gives a Rundown of Recent Criminal Activity

1. D.I. Hurson gives an overview of recent crimes among them:

  • Another MARCH operating came to pass January 6th. The establishments “visited” were The Cove, Veronica Peoples Club and The Place. While the Department of Health did serve some violations, nothing major was found.
  • There were two shootings. One came to pass at 255 Nassau Avenue December 4th; the other was a self-inflicted gun shot wound in front of the White Castle on Metropolitan Avenue. The lattermost individual, having arrived at Woodhull Hospital for treatment, was arrested.

Part IV: The Q & A Session Commences

1. The matter of the The Production Lounge (which is located at 113 Franklin Street)— or more specifically the noise emanating from it on “Polish Hip Hop Night” (which came to pass January 7th)— is brought to the table. A local landlord kicks off this discussion. This gets rather contentious quickly.

Part V: Q & A Session Continues, The Production Lounge and Noise Issues in General are Discussed

1. A neighbor of Veronica Peoples Club speaks about noise issues.

2. Attendees are advised to tender any and all noise complaints to our local Community Board.

Part VI: Q & A Session Continues

1. Complaints about zoning (and lack of planning as being a facilitator for the proliferation of bars) are raised. Greenpoint is likened to a “frat party” and the East Village by one citizen.

2. Questions are raised about how noise complaints are handled. D.I. Hurson cites Coco66 as example as how noise complaints were used as the pretext for a MARCH operation which resulted in this establishment’s closure.

Part VII: Q & A Session Continues

1. The owner/operator of a local music studio complains about the noise emanating from 113 Franklin Street.

2. A resident of the Cooper Park Houses tenders the most fascinating (and disturbing) item of the meeting: apparently an Access-a-ride driver is purchasing drugs at said complex several times a day. Usually frequently while driving said vehicle.

3. More noise concerns are posited, specifically about the air conditioning unit gracing Mrs. Kim’s.

4. The issue of “vacation rentals” is raised.

Part VIII: Q & A Session Continues

1. Discussion continues regarding “vacation rentals”

2. Questions about how to report stolen vehicles are raised.

Part IX: Q & A Session Concludes

1. A Leonard Street residents raises concerns about traffic enforcement. Specifically in regards to speeding motorists.

Until next month…

UPDATE, 5:22 p.m.: On a related note, there was a pedestrian fatality on Borinquen Place this morning. You get the full story by clicking here.

From The New York Shitty Inbox: A Letter Campaign & Benefit

November 5, 2010 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

This item was brought to my attention by the event’s organizer: a lady named Kathleen. She writes:

Hey!

Just saw your post on Pablo. Thank you for posting that 🙂
A buddy and I are throwing a benefit for our friend two weeks from today.

Pablo Airaldi Benefit Show
November 19, 2010 starting at 9:00 p.m.
Price of admission (all proceeds of which will be donated to Mr. Airaldi’s legal defense fund): $10.00
The Production Lounge
113 Franklin Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222

You can get the full rundown at this event’s page on Facebook.

Otherwise I have received a brief update from Christina. She writes:

I just spoke to him.  Basically he has a lawyer in Indiana trying to turn over his plea from 2001 for this exact reason but it a conservative state and there is no guarantee how this will go down.  He informed me that his next hearing is on November 29th at Varick St.  He asked me to get together the petitions and letters to the defense of his character prior to that date.  When you can, maybe we can ask people who are acquainted with him, are fans of Greenpoint Bikes, or are sympathetic to his case to write letters stating who they are and why he should remain in this country.  They can leave them with me or at the bike shop.  On the 29th anyone who wants to come down to Varick St. and show their support for his case is urged to join us at 9 am.  I am sure there will be more details before then but for now that’s all I know.

To be continued…

UPDATE, 6:50 p.m.: You can follow Mr. Airaldi’s story (and his upcoming hearing) via this newly erected Facebook page.*

Miss Heather

*Thanks Kathleen!

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