The Word On The Street, Part I: Sealed With A Kiss

Sealed With A Kiss NYS

Broken Windows nys

5Pointz 8142014 nys

When I walked by the former 5Pointz today (which is where the above photos were taken) and saw what it has become I was reminded of something I saw written on warehouse on the Northside years ago:

Never fall in love with a building, it will only break your heart.

(Taken August 14, 2014.)

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Rush Hour

Taken by autovac.

New York Shitty Slideshow Du Jour: Newtown Creek Boat Ride

Motorboat Repair NYS

Last weekend, thanks to City of Water Day, I decide to take a (FREE!) boat tour of the creek hosted by the inimitable Mitch Waxman.  As has been the case in times past (this makes my third sojourn up to the creek), it did not disappoint. Not only did I bear witness to a fellow catching a little shut-eye at our very own Nature Walk, but I learned an interesting fact shortly after the above photo (which hails from the Long Island City side of Newtown Creek) was taken. Our fair creek is not just host to Typhus, but also Cholera and Gonorrhea. If this isn’t a trifecta of fun, I honestly do not know what is. I feel compelled to note that this fact was rolled out after a fellow tour goer was observed balancing his child on the rail of the boat so as to take photos with his smart phone. You can’t make this shit up.

In any case, follows are some highlights of my trip to, from and up the creek.* I have even included a photo of a CSO (Concentrated Sewage Overflow) for your late afternoon/early evening entertainment. Enjoy!

*A task which involved going to Governor’s Island. This was rendered more complicated by the fact Greenpoint still remains without ferry service.

The Word On The Street, Part II: Pulaski Bridge

Art We All 600

Taken June 1, 2014.

A New York Shitty Photo Essay: Edward’s Gift

The Queens Way600

Be it ever so humble600

Borden Avenue Bridge

To Infinity 600

Adrift 600

Today, upon awakening to another beautiful day, I threw on a sundress, my comfiest flip flops and went for a walk around the industrial hinterlands of Long Island City. This may not be everyone’s idea of how to spend a Sunday morning— but I think we have established I am not “everyone”. What’s more, I wanted to head back to the Thomson Avenue Bridge to get a better shot of the missive which graces this post. It also graces the beginning of this one:

Spread Love The Queens Way

After my mission was accomplished and on a lark I decided to swing by the Hunters Point and Borden Avenue Bridges. I am a bit of a geek that way. It was near the latter— the former premises of Goldfingers, to be specific— I met a gentleman who was kind enough to give me a present. These:

Present

They should revive if you get them in water quickly enough. I got them (pointing) over there. I picked the nicest ones.

roses

Exactly how these feral flora found their way to the sidewalk in front of a shuttered strip club is anyone’s guess. The same goes for why this fellow elected to give me a pair of them. Nonetheless, it was a cute gesture so I thanked him and continued my shutter-bugging. My activity caught his interest.

Busted

Me (to my curious compadre): Not only is this place closed, but by the NYPD no less. Impressive.
Flower Bearer: This is the kind of place where unusual things can happen.
Me: I can only imagine.

He then asked me if he could join me on my walk as he was headed to the subway (so as to go home). I thought about this for a minute and answered:

Sure, why not?

This may fly in the face of what we are told is “common sense” but the fact of the matter is I like talking to strangers. He then admonished me:

I like to make people more comfortable with me being around. That is why I gave you the flowers. I “smoke” if you know what I mean. I hope that doesn’t bother you.

I am not 100% sure what you mean, but whatever. Fine.

I replied. So off we went— and soon enough it was ascertained exactly what he meant.

If I am walking with you, guys are more likely to leave me alone.

And then he proceeded to show me exactly how he surreptitiously smokes marijuana in public. I will not divulge this chap’s “trade secret”. Suffice it to simply say he is quite proud of it. Nonetheless— being the gentleman that he is— he offered his handiwork to me. I demurred:

No thanks, I was sort of born medicated.

He found this amusing, gave an impish grin and noted:

I have a motorcycle. I have been all over. I have probably smoked grass on every street of this city.

I stopped, laughed and said:

We all have to have something to aspire to.

He laughed at this and, with the ice being broken, began to tell me his story. I got the ball rolling as follows:

Where are you from? You have an accent.

Southern Germany

He replied.

Me: AH! I was going to say Poland— I live in Greenpoint. My landlords are Polish— but I was close!
My new friend: My landlord is Greek. He’s quite a character. He drives a tow truck.
Me: I have had a Greek landlord. I think I’ll with my present one thank you very much!

I stop to take a photo of this…

Time Well Spent 600

and explain to my travelling companion:

I like to take photos of things people write on walls.

He asked if I was a photographer. I said:

No, not really.

He then proceeded to tell me he started taking photos as a child in Germany. His first camera was a Brownie. Still, he gained a passion for photography after immigrating to the United States after his daughter was born. He took photos of her first frolick on the beach at Coney Island. At first she was scared, he explains, but eventually she got into the swing of things with gusto. After that, he was hooked.

I have thousands of photos on my computer at home.

He said.

Ha! So do I!

I replied. We laughed. Spying some rough terrain ahead, I tell him I am going to walk around it via the street.

He noted that said obstacle smelled very nice. I asked him if, since he clearly enjoyed the smell so much, if I could take his portrait. He agreed on the condition I take a portrait of him using his cell phone as well. A deal was struck!

Edward 1 600

Onward we went. I stopped to capture this…

Death Is Free 600

and afterward he continued to tell me his story.

I immigrated to the United States in 1959. I was born in a forced labor camp in Germany. My grandparents were Polish. They and my mother lived in Warsaw. She was taken to a labor camp with me in her belly! I never knew my father. He died during the Warsaw Uprising. My mother did not learn this until six years after the fact from the Red Cross. She later remarried and so I got a half brother.

Me: So I was not exactly wrong when I guessed you were Polish!

(Nodding to affirmative) Germany was a pretty open place after a war. Men would openly approach women and the other way around. A lot of my friends got heavily into sex. They got crazy.

Me: Well, I can imagine people were simply relieved the war was over. A little craziness is understandable.

Some of them never came out of it. I got a little crazy too but went on to marry and have a family. I could never understand that.

Me: I honestly do not know what to tell you.

He then showed me photos of his mother, brother and childhood photos of himself on his “clam shell” phone. After the war his mother got work in Brussels as a housekeeper for a banker who wore a top hat and “tails”. He went to a Polish school and became fluent in not only German, but French and Polish as well) . He finished hs “presentation” with a photo of himself as a young man donning his army uniform. He was quite fond of it— and I can understand why!

I got divorced in the 1980’s. My wife was too strict, I guess. She was Polish. Still, I have a pension and grandchildren so I am happy!

Me (laughing): Yes, it has been my observation that Polish women can be that way. I think it is a generational thing. Those who remember the privation of the war and afterward (Communism). I cannot say I blame them. It’s understandable.

My new friend then asked if we could sit down for a bit. I gladly obliged him.

Edward 2 600

I am going to grab me some water.

He said.

Edward 4 600 2

(whispering)

It’s vodka!!!

(in a speaking voice, laughing)

I got this water at Flushing Meadows Park! I went there on my bike, then up to Astoria and back to Mount Vernon. I do not know if I like this city very much. It’s so crowded. It makes me uncomfortable.

Me: But isn’t that kind of the appeal? Being uncomfortable? I grew up in a part of the country where you had to hop into a car to simply buy groceries. Everyone had their own private houses with their own private yards. They didn’t know who their neighbors were— and probably didn’t want to know. Yes, this city can seem like an “anthill” but at least here folks can and do talk to each other. We’re talking to each other right now. You strike me as being happy.

Edward 3 6002

I am 69 years old. I am old. I may very well die soon. I do not know. Who knows? I donate blood and take my thyroid pills. I am sorry I do not have my teeth in today. I left them at home. I am trying to get them to fit right.

Me: No worries, this is Sunday— and I don’t care! That said, does anyone ever really “know”?

My grandchildren make me happy. My daughter was born with a hole in her heart. Right after she was born they conducted surgery on her to fix it. She was strong. So strong she later gave me a pair of twins for grandchildren!

Me: That’s great. Well, I have to get going It was nice meeting you?

(extending his hand)

Edward. And your name is?

Heather. It was a pleasure taking a walk with you, Edward!

And so on our separate ways we went. Me to the Pulaski and back to Greenpoint; Edward to the 7 train so as to start his journey back to Mount Vernon.  When I got home I promptly placed Edward’s gift in a vase. This did not go unnoticed by the Mister.

yellow roses

Nice flowers.

He said. To wit I replied:

I made new a friend while out walking today.

The Mister: Animal, vegetable or mineral?

A 69 year old gentleman who was born in a forced labor camp in Germany. I met him outside a shuttered strip club.

I replied. Taking this in stride (The Mister has come to understand a LONG time ago that I don’t make this shit up. In fact, the more outlandish the “story” may seem, the more likely it is true.) pointed out:

Yellow roses mean friendship.

I had honestly forgotten this.

I love this town. This one’s for you, Edward!

The Word On The Street: Yo

From Borden Avenue.

Urban Artifact: Love’s Detritus

May 30, 2014 ·
Filed under: 11101, Long Island City, Long Island City Queens, Urban Artifact 

From Skillman Avenue.

The Word On The Street, Part I: From Thomson Avenue With Love

As spotted during today’s perambulations around Sunnyside and Long Island City. It is a little hard to decipher but there more going on here than meets the eye. Let’s go in for a closer look, shall we?

Someone has seen fit to add “The Queens Way”. I’ll leave it to you, gentle readers, to ascertain exact what constitutes spreading love the “Queens way”. In any case, I found this discovery downright uncanny given a snow globe I am working on presently.

I do not think I need to state who a couple of the “key players” in this globe are— but I’ll go ahead and link to this and this anyway. This one’s for you Crappy.

The Word On The Street: FRI$KY BU$INE$$

As spied on Essex Street. While I am on the subject, I would like to give a shout out to Curtis & Kuby’s Facebook page. Today the latter was kind enough to share my “product”!. I quickly discerned this when I received an inquiry. It goes as follows:

Please tell me the stop & frisk snowglobe is a real product. How does one go about acquiring one or two?

I have assured this gentleman that this snow globe is quite real. Nevertheless, the latter is an excellent question. One quite frankly I had not pondered. This in large part because I have so much darned fun making these bad boys (and girls). In any case, here’s the deal:

  • Inasmuch as I would like to do a flat rate price by size (of globe), the fact of the matter is some are more costly to make in terms of material and labor than others. Thus…
  • they will be priced accordingly and on a case by case basis.
  • Anyone interested in purchase a snow globe should contact me via email at: missheather (at) newyorkshitty (dot) com. Please be sure to indicate which one you are interested in.
  • All transactions and donations (Yes, I have had folks ask if they can help finance this venture) will be conducted via PayPal. My account is the previously listed email address.
  • I suppose it would be helpful if a provided a link to my “product”. This photo set shows what I have created, what I am presently working on, the “process” in all its fun and frustration. I update it on a fairly regular basis— so check back periodically!

Presently I am working on a snow globe which explores the phenomenon of “indecent exposure” and how technology (smart phones in particular) has shifted the “balance of power” so to speak from the “flasher” to the “flashee”. This seems to have resulted in more responsiveness to this kind of thing from our constabulary. As you can see, gentle readers this chap is exposing himself to mixed reactions from his “audience”. Two have elected to run away, one is reading him the riot act and another is calmly documenting it on her smart phone (from hence it will undoubtedly find its way onto the Internet).

On the “to do” list:

  • Occupy Wall Street: I suspect this will be a series.
  • This guy.
  • Alec Baldwin getting arrested for bicycling down Fifth Avenue the wrong way.

baldwin-arrest2NYS

I think we can all agree this needs to happen. In closing (and on a related note) I would like to give a shout out to this rather nifty endeavor which is presently on view in Long Island City.

Get Small

You can get the skinny on Mr. Stojak’s project by clicking here. Check it out!

Credits/Props: Image of Mr. Baldwin and New York’s Finest comes courtesy of InTouch magazine via CBS News. Image of Mr. Stojak’s work comes courtesy of Worleygig.com. Last— but hardly least— a shout out of thanks goes out to Queens Crap for bringing Mr. Stojak’s wonderful work to my attention!

New York Shitty Photo Du Jour: And The Best/Worst Business Name Ever Award Goes To…

May 7, 2014 ·
Filed under: 11101, Long Island, Long Island City, The Word On The Street, Wow 

This fellow (?). As spied on the fringe of Ravenswood/Dutch Kills this morning prior to meeting up and having a most enjoyable walk with the proprietor of the Newtown Pentacle today!*

*Feel free to interrogate/intimidate at will Kate.

  • NYS Flickr Pool

    The One CrewSnowy SeagullsWalking the Dog in the Snow
  • Ads