Williamsburg Loses One Of Its Best: Luis Rivera R.I.P.

A number of you might have noticed that the menagerie at the corner of Bedford Avenue and North 1 Street hasn’t quite been up to snuff of late. Well, today I learned why and I regret to inform you, dear readers, of some incredibly bad news.

The man responsible for these tableaux which have delighted many a passerby over the years, Luis Rivera, has died.

Luis and I were not on a first name basis— but we knew each other one and the same. I often braved the madness that is Bedford Avenue for the sole purpose of seeing his latest creations. I made it a point to tell him how much they delighted me and occasionally he would tell me the story behind them. Arguably my favorite was from September of last year: he had his hallmark gorilla clad in a dress shirt sitting in front of a computer monitor with an airplane bottle of brandy.

He’s looking for an online date.

Luis explained. I laughed.

Goodbye, Luis. I suspect I speak on the behalf of the many people who loved your sense of whimsy but never knew your name when I write you will be missed. May you rest in peace.

Miss Heather

P.S.: You can see more of Mr. Rivera’s handiwork by clicking here, here and here.