The Word On The Street: Presenting “Fuck You” Friday

It’s been a pretty busy week for yours truly. Today, however, I was able to take a day off to do a few things I wanted to do (versus stuff I have to do). I have had a lot of “have to dos” lately.

Upon disembarking the L at First Avenue in the East Village I, courtesy of LinkNYC, was presented with this self-care “tip”: call a friend.

No, no sir (or madam) this is simply not how it works here”, I thought to myself. “Telling someone to fuck off IS self-care.”

Believe you me, I want to tell quite a few folks to do just that nowadays. However, “punching up” could get me in (more) trouble. “Punching down” is not my style. “Punching laterally”, however, is fair game in my opinion.

If you need it— “it” being anything imaginable and beyond— New York City not only has it but will deliver it.

Right.
To.
Your.
Proverbial.
Fucking.
Doorstep.

We pay top dollar for this amenity. This is something outsiders do not understand. The freedom, the mental health benefits, which come with letting it all out in public. Fellow New Yorkers let you do it. We take it in turns. It’s an understood thing.

Sure enough, I was presented with such an opportunity today. Here’s how I put it on Twitter:

Then it occurred to me:

Why not roll out a compendium of “Fuck Yous” in their manifold forms as I see them?

There’s no more replenishable, locally-sourced resource as “Fuck You” in New York City.

So here we go!

First Avenue, East Village
First Avenue, East Village
Delancey Street, Lower East Side
Houston Street, Lower East Side
Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint
Freeman Street, Greenpoint

And last, but hardly least, this contender from none other than Clay Street, Greenpoint, U.S.A. While “Fuck You” is not explicitly stated, the sentiment is there.

That’s the whole trouble. You can’t ever find a place that’s nice and peaceful, because there isn’t any. You may think there is, but once you get there, when you’re not looking, somebody’ll sneak up and write “Fuck you” right under your nose. Try it sometime. I think, even, if I ever die, and they stick me in a cemetery, and I have a tombstone and all, it’ll say “Holden Caulfield” on it, and then what year I was born and what year I died, and then right under that it’ll say “Fuck you.” I’m positive, in fact.*

— J.D. Salinger, “Catcher in the Rye”

*I am totally amenable to “Fuck You” being inscribed on my tombstone. The more the merrier. A person is defined by his— or her— enemies.

New York Shitty Photo Du Jour: Clay Street

September 16, 2019 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Street Art 
Taken September 15th, 2019.

The Word On The Street, Part II: Power To The People

Clay Street Cropped nys

Clay Street 2 cropped nys

From Clay Street.

Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: The Word On The Street

Save The Internet nys

Taken February 10, 2015.

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Perception Vs. Reality

September 4, 2014 ·
Filed under: 11222, Criminal Activity, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF 

Screen Shot 2014-09-04 at 2.40.05 PMA lady we’ll call “N” writes (regarding the screencap at left):

screenshot from googlenews. the pr and the reality of greenpoint! (these paths seem to be crossing a lot these days). and cheers to the tough guy owner of milk and roses…

You can read about what happened at Milk and Roses (and Acapulco Deli as well it would appear) here. Here’s an excerpt/teaser:

…Davis has been charged with assault, criminal possession of a weapon and harassment, according to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office. He was released without bail and ordered to stay away from the cafe. (Emphasis mine — Ed. Note) His attorney did not respond to request for comment.

Wow. Just wow.

Update, September 5th: I have taken this up with Assemblyman Lentol’s office and they are working to find out exactly what happened and why the District Attorney’s office is handling this case the way they are. To be continued…?

Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: What’s Up At Duraflex Harte?

harteMHnys

nypd2mhNYS

nypdMHnys

Those of you who were wondering what the hell was going on at the old plastics factory which straddles Clay and Dupont Street yesterday, here you go. Apparently a fellow broke and entered in order to filch copper so as to sell for scrap. I have said it before and I’ll say it again: if the scrap metal establishments hereabouts were required to issue checks— not cash— we would probably see a lot less of this kind of thing. Conducting a sting operation of establishments which are knowingly purchasing stolen city property probably would not hurt either…

Photo Credits: Michael Hofmann.

The Word On The Street: Special Pulaski Bridge Edition

Taken April 8, 2014.

For Rent On Clay Street: Six Bedroom/Two Bath

March 28, 2014 ·
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Wow, WTF 

CL Clay Street 6 Bedroom

 

Beautiful 6 Bdr_2Bath in Greenpoint! W_D-Balcony-NO FEE 600

Don’t take my word for it: click here and see this modestly-priced $8,500/month pad for yourself. Wow. Just wow.

UPDATE, March 31st, 2014:

This appears to be the pad in question. They were busy yesterday (Sunday) making it look “presentable” to potential tenants.

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Intrigue On The Deli Front?

June 22, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

expansionNYS

This photo was sent to me by a reader we’ll call “T”. There has been a lot of speculation that this is an expansion of the now former “God Bless Deli”at 818 Manhattan Avenue. Makes sense— but as we all know that is not how Greenpoint rolls. I queried the fellows who operate the latter establishment (which is now the USA Deli). They assured me this was not their endeavor and they were none too happy about it. So now we have— or will soon have— a God Bless Deli 2 sans a #1. Oy.

 

New York Shitty Day Ender: Season’s Greetings From Clay Street

December 21, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Taken December 20, 2012.

  • NYS Flickr Pool

    Thompson and Broome Streets20240910_122247Coney Island/Stillwell Avenue StationThe Friends Forever Bench #GillieandMarc #TravelEverywhereWithLovecallbox, decoratedthe colossus of the bronxJustice by Carole A. Feuerman II
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