New York Shitty Day Ender: People In My Neighborhood, Dog Days

Nassau Avenue

Norman Avenue

Driggs Avenue

Not everyone has benefited from the luxurification along the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Take this man tired after collecting cans resting under it, for example.

On a more “up” note,  I encountered this young man on Greenpoint Avenue. This gent, Jared, was headed over to Van Gogh’s Radio to hang his art work. You can read more about him here. (Click this link— you know you want to!)

This gaggle of Greenpointers hail from Kent Street. I do not know the woman to the right. I want to: she is always dressed to the nines and has a knack for color coordination.

In weather such as this it is always good to wear a hat, like this woman in front of Cafecito Bogota.

One need not sacrifice style to beat the heat. The woman clad in the striped blouse always sports red lipstick to match her cap. She knows how to coordinate: her outfits are always painstakingly coordinated with her sneakers. Madison Avenue meet Manhattan Avenue: where natty practicality rules!

I’m not too sure what this guy is doing. But he’s doing it in the middle of Manhattan Avenue— and no one seems to mind.

Bedbug King, meet the Mayor of India Street and Manhattan Avenue!

And lastly, my favorite Manhattan Avenue dude: Ziiggyy. The previous is no typo. That’s his name! He didn’t know what to make of me at first— in fact he was suspicious.

I asked:

Can I take a picture of your guitar?

To wit he replied:

Only if you give me $1,000.

If I had $1,000 I’d keep $500 and give the other $500 to you!

I replied. He laughed. The ice being broken, we talked shop while he shopped for a new pair of sunglasses— a task which he saw fit to enlist my assistance. I gladly obliged. The blue sunglasses didn’t suit Ziiggyy so we searched for an alternative. And talked about life— and sunglasses.

Me: So you don’t like the blue ones. Why?
Zig (for short): I don’t like them. They just aren’t right for me.
Me: So you want glasses with rims?

(Zig sorts through the glasses, puts on a green pair— replete with green lenses.)

Zig: I like these but who wants to see the world green?
Me: There’s a reason for the term “seeing the world in rose-colored glasses”. This is Greenpoint— green lenses aren’t going to make it look any better. Only worse. What about this purple pair?
Zig: But they’re rimless— you said we should look for rimmed glasses!
Me: Yeah, but I think these might just be it.
Zig: (trying them on) They do match my shirt…
Me: And your earring, that’s amethyst right?
Zig: That’s my birthstone!
Me: So you were born in February? I was born in January!

(high five)

Long story made short, Ziiggyy bought the glasses. Upon parting ways I said:

I consider myself to be very lucky to have met you.

To wit he replied:

I do not believe in luck. To believe in luck is to believe in good luck and bad luck. I believe in God’s will. That’ why I do not worry (about luck): it’s out of my hands. I’m happy.

Me (stunned):

Well, thank you for humoring me.

Ziiggyy:

That’s what I do: humor people. Make them laugh, make them cry and…

Me:

make them think!

He nodded in agreement and we parted ways. You can learn more about Ziiggyy and his guitar by clicking here.

Miss Heather

P.S.: This post is for all the “Ziiggyys” in the world. We need you.