Greenpoint Photos Du Jour: Live From Transmitter Park

August 28, 2015 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

West at Greenpoint 8282015 nys

Parks and FNDY nys

Gawkers nys

EMT nys

BK Barge Bar cropped

FNDY NYPD Barge Bar

Those of you who were wondering what the ruckus (replete with police helicopter) was this morning, a fellow was seen floating and was retrieved from the East River. I was told one of two things happened:

  1. He was swimming.
  2. He was found floating, a woman called 911 and he was rescued

Regardless, the good news is:

  • He is alive.
  • We have not had rain recently, so his risk of exposure to typhus, cholera and other nastiness from the nearby CSO (Combined Sewer Overflow) is probably reduced.

Lest you were not aware, gentle readers, there is a CSO on the premises of the Brooklyn Barge Bar.

BKbargebarmay19

See that green sign at the right? These are used to indicate the location of a CSO. (Those who are curious, can see a larger image of it here.) Now let’s take a closer look at one of the previously featured photos on this post…

BK Barge Bar cropped again

As you can see this sign has been removed. For those of you who may be wondering, this has been brought to the attention of the proper agency/agencies. They did not remove this sign (or the CSO it marks for that matter). So now the question is who did?

Happy Friday!

From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: 17 Monitor Street

April 29, 2013 ·
Filed under: 11222, Gentrification, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Stop Work

Lisacat who spied the above missive April 24th writes:

They had already filled a couple container/dumpsters before someone stepped in.

stcecilias

For those of you who are not in the know, 17 Monitor Street happens to be the old St. Cecilia’s School. A plan has been submitted— but disapproved— to convert this facility into residences. This has been some source of controversy in the community.

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Paperwork

Sevenberry

When I walked by today nary a Stop Work Order was to be found. Perhaps they got their proverbial ducks in a row? In any case, it is going to be interesting to watch this one unfold…

From The New York Shitty Inbox: What’s That Noise?

December 24, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

A person we’ll call “J” writes (last night at 7:54 p.m.):

Is it my imagination or has somebody been piledriving at night over the past week(s)? Can’t tell where its coming from but it is not far.

If you too have been hearing such sounds, fellow Greenpointers, is it NOT your imagination. It IS a pile-drvier. Here’s what the Community Liaison for the Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee, Christine Holowacz, has to say on the matter:

In the last week or so, you may have noticed a loud banging noise during the evening hours in Greenpoint. The Newtown Creek Monitoring Committee (NCMC) was very recently informed that a contractor has and will be driving piles at the plant between the hours of 6 pm and 11 pm until December 31, 2011 (emphasis mine, Ed. Note.).

The Contractor received the permit variance without NCMC’s knowledge. Had NCMC been aware of the plan to pile drive we would have alerted you sooner and asked the contractor not to pile drive during these two holiday weeks.

Those of you who have been bothered by this activity be advised you are to call 311, file a noise complaint noting the location is the Newtown Creek Waste Water Treatment Plant and forward your complaint number to Ms. Holowacz via email at: nc.mc (at) verizon (dot) net.

Happy Holidays!

Greenpoint Photos du Jour: Caution

September 1, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

NOTE: This corner of Dobbin Street and Norman Avenue already had a problem. It would appear Irene did not help matters. How the foodstuffs factor into this is anyone’s guess.

From The New York Shitty Inbox: Canceled

April 14, 2010 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Remember when I announced last month that the ribbon cutting of the Newtown Creek Visitors Center was at long last going to happen April 24, 2010? It would appear this is no longer the case:

I do not think I have to say this but I’m going say it anyway: I am not just disappointed— I am PISSED! Not only have I been busy making preparations for this auspicious occasion but as it would happen it was going to coincide with Ma Heather’s visit to our fair city. Who the hell wants to go to some over-priced snobitorium like MOMA when he (or she) can get an eyeful (and noseful) of art right here in the Garden Spot— with free food no less? I don’t.

Today as I was walking past our cutting edge waste treatment plant facility I wondered to myself:

Exactly WHAT are these people doing?

Then I looked up— and got my answer.

I demand satisfaction.

Miss Heather

Going Native: My Trip To The Nature Walk

I have a confession to make: I’ve been in the dumps lately. Methinks this is probably due to post-holiday malaise and winter doldrums. The short, cold days and long, even colder nights do not sit well with my outdoorsy constitution. For these reasons I have endeavored get away from the computer, focus more on my own artistic endeavors* and get out when the weather and opportunity presents itself.This post is dedicated to the destination of today’s foray: The Newtown Creek Nature Walk.

While not everyone’s idea of how to beat the wintertime blues, The Newtown Creek Nature Walk has proven (for yours truly, anyway) to be a very effective diversion from whatever is bothering me. Granted, I may not leave any less bothered than when I came in— but my mind will invariably be on something else. This time around was no exception.

This plaque (which can be found at Paidge Avenue and Provost Street) immediately piqued my interest. Of what “plant growth” bearing medicinal qualities do these people speak? I can think of a few species of plant life which would make this park popular beyond its creator’s wildest imagination. Not that the D.E.A. would take a fond view of them, mind you. But I digress.

As I proceeded towards the entrance the reason for the previous caveat become apparent.

A series of plaques have been erected educating the patrons of the Nature Walk as to what tree and/or bush they are looking at and its medicinal and/or culinary uses.

Speaking as someone who has actually met people who crab and fish off of Newtown Creek and the East River— and eat their catch— making these (in all likelihood) same suck f0lk aware that roasted acorns served with syrup are a “delicacy” strikes me as being an excruciatingly bad idea. If the previous folk have little regard for mercury and other heavy metals they cannot see and/or taste, I can assure you this diminutive tree is fair game.

Amusingly (and appropriately) enough, a significant amount of the foliage identified have purgative qualities.

Many of you are familiar with the structure in the background of this photo: they are the digester “eggs” for this waste treatment facility. They are better known to the locals as the “Shit Tits”. But did you know the tree in front of them is an elderberry tree?

Now you do! For the most part I was satisfied with my Nature Walk experience this afternoon. For. The. Most. Part.

The steps leading to Newtown Creek proper were quite frankly— and this is by Greenpoint standards— pretty darned gross.

Bird shit was in abundance.

A mammalian specimen was spied as well.

But what I found especially disturbing were the bones. I found many.

And then of course, there was the blood.

When I see stuff such as the previous it makes me wonder exactly how this park is being utilized. Is the citizenry of Greenpoint getting back in touch with the ‘nabe’s bucolic roots? Are rental properties and health insurance so prohibitively expensive as to make “going native” on the waterfront a viable option?

I’ll leave it up to you, dear readers, to decide.

Miss Heather

*Which I will go into later.

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