Greenpoint
Lorven Pharmacy
Culture on the Cheap
New York Shitty Day Ender: Work In Progress
Looks like some new wall art is going up on McGuinness Boulevard. Per the gentleman I spoke to this evening it should be completed tomorrow!
Miss Heather
Reader Comment Of The Week: WNYC Transmitter “Playground”
d writes in regards to this post about Greenpoint’s public lavatories— or more accurately the lack thereof: Gross. And people think Transmitter is a dog run because of the chips, it’s not a dog run, yet people let their dogs poop in there and don’t clean it up. Now, I love dogs, but I haven’t forgotten last summer when the heel of my shoe ended up in poo.
The chips do lead to a certain ambiguity as to whom this park services: humans or canines. To my recollection the only place in our public parks are to be found are in the dog runs. If you go to the dog run at McCarren you’ll see it’s at least one full foot deep with the stuff. What I find curious is how this “interim” public space is “categorized”. Initially it was referred to as a park— but once it was pointed out that it did not meet the Parks Department’s own specifications of what constitutes a park it has been deemed a playground. Once again, this is curious given there is no equipment for children to play on/with so, as d has observed. It has been employed as a dog run. This would be fine and dandy (god only knows Greenpoint needs one) if people would be more considerate about scooping up their poop. It should be noted that in this respect the Parks Department has made their stance very clear.
Or have they? Let’s look more closely at the sign to the left.
Here’s the deal: there is no “designated area” to let one’s dog run without a leash— but it is not completely clear that dogs are not permitted to go off-leash either. It is not unreasonable to presume that the wood chips do lead some to believe this is a dog run. Then again, you’ll always have people who— for reasons only known to them— will not follow the rules. Case in point: consuming alcohol.
Here’s the deal: I personally don’t care if people imbibe in our parks— provided it does not pose a problem to the other users. Let’s face facts: we all know this is going on.
Rather, what I want to know is exactly what these people are doing? Staging a re-enactment of Cool Hand Luke’s infamous “50 eggs” sequence perhaps?
Oh wait, you need a permit to do that!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Art
This lovely lass can be found on Manhattan Avenue north of Ash Street.
Miss Heather
Anyone Up For A Block Party?
Although I suspect many of the people reading this tome are out of town or have sought an alternative venue to celebrate this nation’s birthday (because the fireworks are, once again, to be located on the Hudson River— thanks guys) some of you who care to keep your celebrating a bit more low key— and local— might be interested in this: tomorrow starting at 9:00 a.m. there will be a block party on Huron Street between Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street. Check it out!
4th of July Block Party
July 4, 2010 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Huron Street between Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222
Miss Heather
UPDATE, July 4, 2010 1:00 p.m.: Not much is going on right now but some folks are in the process of setting up a pretty phat barbecue/buffet across the street from the Corner Frenzy.
Spotted Under The Pulaski Bridge: Seven Cents
When I saw this (which hails from Clay Street) from a distance I thought to myself:
Gee, someone has made a piece of art with resin and affixed it to this sign post. Neat!
Then I figured out what it was: a remnant of a Lucite be-glittered toilet seat. Not that this diminishes this find in any way, mind you: I found its placement rather appropriate. It does, however, beg the question as to where the rest of it went. If I had to hazard a guess I’d say it was smashed off in the hopes of recovering said pennies. God only knows stranger things have happened here.
Miss Heather
Reader Contribution Du Jour: Trashed
This lovely assortment of detritus (which includes a plunger!) comes courtesy of Tony who writes (in an email entitled “Trashed In Greenpoint Heights):
This place got totally trashed. Thought of you.
Thanks Tony!
Miss Heather
Urban Fur: A Cat For All Seasons
Filed under: 11222, Crazy Cat Lady, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Fur
I have no word as to what this handsome chap’s name is but he can be found patrolling his place of employment: Four Seasons Discount on Manhattan Avenue.
Miss Heather
Urban Fur: Newbie
Filed under: 11222, Crazy Cat Lady, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Fur
There’s a new face at El Encanto Mexicano on Manhattan Avenue!
Miss Heather
Greenpoint Audio/Visual Presentation Du Jour: The American Playground
Filed under: 11211, 11222, Asshole, Bum Shit, Dung of the Day, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Other Shit, Williamsburg, Williamsburg Brooklyn
Given that we are embarking upon a holiday weekend (celebrating our nation’s birthday, no less) I feel it is only fitting to showcase Greenpoint’s very own American Playground. Rutila wrote regarding the above image (which I posted June 20th):
There was a homeless man sleeping in the jungle gym this morning when jumping rope in one of the handball courts. He was coughing, and I wasn’t sure if he was sick or clearing his throat to let me know I was interrupting his sleep. Should I have apologized?
Oh, and one of the trees/bushes that flank the storage shed/bathroom was pulled — roots and all — from its planter and dragged to the middle of the basketball courts. I don’t see how this would be possible without a vehicle.
I have been keeping a careful watch over this park ever since.
It isn’t pretty.
But what I was most puzzled by was the womens bathroom’s “new arrangement”.
I have no idea why the Parks Department, in their infinite wisdom, would do something like this. And here’s why:
1. This bathroom is located at a playground. Children will invariably get dirty and need to wash their hands. Most of the children I have observed at this park are tended to by their mothers. Thus, they will need to use the womens bathroom. And if someone is using it they are shit out of luck.
2. This kind of open space (with added privacy) is an enabler for all manner and variety of criminal activity. Foremost in my mind is drugs, as heroin addicts seem to have taken a shine to this park.
And then of course, there is this.
A detergent bottle (Tide, methinks, this brings a whole new meaning to Tidy Bowl) being retrofitted for some hitherto unknown purpose.
Here’s a close-up of its contents. And on July 1st, dear readers, I finally got the wherewithal to flush said toilet and film it.
It appears to be collecting water from the faulty plumbing. Incoming or outgoing I do not know. What’s more, it’s not important. This is yet another (and exemplary) half-assed solution to the manifold problems our parks “comfort stations” face. On that note I have word via a tipster/leaked email that port-o-lets are one the way. Four to be precise:
- One for Bushwick Inlet Park
- One for Barge Park
- Two for McCarren Park
In regards to the lattermost, here’s what one board member of Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn— not the Parks Department— had to say:
They’re portable so, if you or other parks users have strong feelings about their placement, they can probably be moved. Personally, I think it’s a good idea for the condo-dwellers on Bayard to fundraise for the park.
This statement is in regards to a Bayard Street resident calling 311 and complaining about public urination; getting a letter from Adrian Benepe advising him/her to talk to our Parks Administrator, Stephanie Thayer, only to be asked by Ms. Thayer if he/she would be interested in fundraising for more garbage cans and bathrooms in McCarren Park (via Open Space Alliance, which is Ms. Thayer’s other employer). Fundraising for amenities one would presume (hope) would have already been paid for via our tax dollars. But I suppose I am being old fashioned.
To recap: a 311 complaint seems to have been employed as a recruitment tool for a not-for-profit org which, theoretically, has nothing to do whatsoever with a public urination complaint. But I suppose that’s what happens when you have a public/private partnership which is out of touch with the very people it purportedly serves. Here’s my advice for anyone who has issues with our public parks:
- Call 311. Repeatedly.
- Document and send your complaints to our local Community Board.
- Don’t bother with our local Parks people, copy the head honcho: Adrian (dot) Benepe (at) parks (dot) nyc (dot) gov
- It criminal activity is involved, go the the 94th Precinct Community Council meetings and make D. I. Fulton aware of it.
Miss Heather
P.S.: If our Port-O-Potty point person at OSA is listening (because it’s become all too apparent this organization holds the purse strings, not our Parks Department), you might want to toss one WNYC Transmitter Park/”Playground’s” direction.
It’s very popular.
Albeit not by not children.
When I saw this gent walk away from a secluded part of this “playground” a few days later I decided to investigate.
Yup.
NYS Flickr Pool
You must be logged in to post a comment.