Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Cherry Street

April 3, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

cherrystreet

Taken April 3, 2013.

New York Shitty Photos Du Jour: Under The Kosciuszko Bridge

December 16, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Artifact 

Taken December 16, 2011.

Greenpoint Photo du Jour: Reflection

June 21, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

From Sargent William Dougherty Playground.

Miss Heather

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Premier Poultry

June 18, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Taken by Noah Devereaux.

Miss Heather

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool & Inbox: Shotgun Returns!

Shotgun: Atlantic Ave

These fabulous images come courtesy of Carnade-— and made me reminisce about when I first met “Shotgun” Earl: June 19, 2009 on Cherry Street just off the on ramp to the Kosciuszko Bridge in good ol’ Greenpoint Brooklyn, USA. You can read about my meeting this amazing chap by clicking here. Great shots Carnade!

Miss Heather

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Kosciuszko Bridge Free Verse

Yesterday afternoon I received a text message from none other than Queens Crap. It went as follows:

Great graffiti msgs on wall of bqe by crappy park

To wit I, the New York Shittite I am, inquired:

Which crappy park?

Let’s face facts: those of us who our “Parks Advocates” profess to serve in the 11211 and 11222 — the hoi polloi, if you will— while different in many ways can agree on one thing: our parks are overall, um, a bit lackluster. I was not being coy or cheeky when I asked Crappy for a clarification. I was a asking a legitimate question. If this is not damning indictment of the “system” which has been put in place to “benefit” my community I do not know what is. But I digress.

Crappy replied:

Vandervoort.

That’s all I needed to know.

Welcome to Sgt. William Dougherty Playground located at Vandervoort and Meeker Avenue in the armpit whoops, I meant on-ramp of Kosciuszko Bridge. I immediately noticed something amiss (as indicated by the above arrow). It took a little investigating— and a LOT of patience— but I unraveled this mystery. Or at least documented it. Here it goes.

(NOTE: You can view this section in larger format by clicking here.)

I love a happy ending.

Miss Heather

Spotted In McCarren Park: Call-A-Head

As I mentioned in this post we, the people of north Brooklyn, have been promised by the peeps of OSA (Open Space Alliance North Brooklyn) a handful of port-o-johns to help augment the rather inadequate— and in some cases downright disgusting— facilities which currently grace our public parks. While not what I consider to be an ideal solution (they should be repairing and upgrading existing facilities; and breaking ground for new ones) today I had a glimmer (or would that be a whiff) of hope. At the corner of North 12 and Berry Street to be precise.

Not one, not two, but three port-o-potties! But wait— there’s a catch.

All save one are locked! Perhaps to be dispatched to elsewhere? I can only hope so. In any case I decided to check out the one that was open to the public.

If it is any consolation, dear readers, this smelled worse than it looks.

Methinks another inspection is in order. But why cry over spilled vomit?

Shortly thereafter I discovered that Bushwick Inlet Park has received its promised privy! Two down, two to go…

Miss Heather

Image Credits: The photograph gracing the beginning of this post hails from Sergeant Dougherty Playground and was taken by yours truly.

New York Shitty Videos Du Jour: Open House

Yesterday afternoon my buddy from the Newtown Pentacle and I sojourned to St. Cecilia’s Auditorium for the Kosciuszko Bridge Project Open House. While hardly standing room only, the peeps behind the presentation were pleasantly surprised by the turn-out. I suspect word about the blue chip refreshments (which included coffee, tea, cream, milk, zero fat milk, water and soda; cookies and crackers with an assortment of cheese) might have had something to do with this. But who’s to say for certain?

In any case, I filmed the proceedings for your entertainment and edification. Mostly the latter. This material might strike many of you as being boring (for the most part, it is) but if you reside in this southern Greenpoint or western Queens you should view this footage. How this projects proceeds (or not) will effect our community for a long time to come.

INTRO: (self-explanatory)

PART I: The process/research leading up to this project & how the bridge will be constructed

PART II: Property acquisition & park space (including a kayak launch on Newtown Creek!)

PART III: A run-down of the four bridge types under consideration

PART IV: End of Presentation, the Q & A session begins

PART V: A Lombardy Street resident asks some very compelling questions

PART VI: An Apollo Street resident speaks and the meeting concludes


I suppose some of you are probably wondering which design I voted for. Here you go.

The rationale for my decision was (more or less) as follows:

1. I found it visually compelling and felt it juxtapose nicely with the Manhattan skyline.
2. This design leaves more open space under the bridge. Given how oppressive this area is currently I believe this to be a big plus.

3. It embraces/showcases the Shit Tits rather nicely!

Priorities, people!

Miss Heather

Reader Comment du Jour: Much Ado About Dougherty

November 5, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

sgtdothumbAs some of you might recall yesterday I wrote about a curious quintet of wooden containers I spied at Sgt. Dougherty Playground. I surmised them to be planters. Today I learned per the head honcha of this effort we’ll call C that I was quite correct. She writes:

Hi Miss Heather!

I have started the ongoing project at SGT Dougherty Park…though it does seem very little people come through this park, I have observed that to be only somewhat true. There are a number of workers in the vicinity who, during summer and warm days, venture to the park for lunch. That and more…I was surprised to see a number of handball players as well as drug traffickers, and just wanderers trek through, and sit…Anyways

The beginnings of the raised beds (which you have pictured and posted), are going to be planters with benches surrounding them for the workers and gardeners to sit on.

I held a volunteer day back in September, and received a small donation for the start-up of this project. I don’t have a pick-up truck, or vehicle for that matter, so the project’s next pick up day is next week when i rent a truck. I plan to pick up zoo doo from the Bronx Zoo, and bring it back to fill in the beds with, along with leaves and mulch on top creating an anaerobic compost party during the winter months, in turn, creating a super soil for the flowers to be planted in, in early spring.

Want to come volunteer? or Post about my volunteer days?

Naturally I told her to keep me in the loop, so you can anticipate updates regarding their progress, volunteer days and fundraisers in the future. In the meantime you can learn more about what’s shaking at Sgt. Dougherty via their blog. Check it out!

Miss Heather

Spotted On McGuinness Boulevard: Hay

November 4, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

hay

LOTS OF HAY.

Greenstreets

mcguinness

I have no idea what this is about. Is this an attempt at an eco-friendly crash barrier or a feeding station for Roy and Trigger? I suppose only it’s creator knows for certain. I saw we toss in a few pumpkins and a scarecrow or two. McGuinness Boulevard could use some holiday cheer!

Miss Heather

P.S.: While I’m on the subject of parks and open space does anyone know what is going on at Sgt. Dougherty Playground?

planters

planters2

If I had to hazard a guess I’d say these are planters.

sgtdopark

Given this park’s rather lackluster location (READ: a trucker bomb’s toss from the BQE and the Kosciuszko Bridge) I suppose this is a positive development. Then again, taking into account that the only time I have seen a person at this playground it was a gentlemen named Jemal composing music on a saxophone (because he didn’t want to bother anyone) it makes me wonder how meaningful this addition will be. If a rose grows in Sgt. Dougherty Playground and no is around to smell it is it any less fragrant?

  • NYS Flickr Pool

    The One CrewSnowy SeagullsWalking the Dog in the Snow
  • Ads