Coming to 917 Manhattan Avenue: More Garden

July 1, 2012 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

First the Graham Electronics sign came down (revealing lovely brickwork, as seen above), then I was tipped of and today, lo, I spied a building permit confirming it: the Garden, a much-beloved Greenpoint institution is expanding into 917 Manhattan Avenue.

Those of you who are familiar with how congested this establishment can get (as I do) will undoubtedly agree this is a wonderful development— as is the addition of customer bathrooms. Really. I am not kidding!

Anyhoo, those of you who have the time/ability, do give the surviving cast iron work and masonry a look. It’s a nice little peek of the past.

New York Shitty Day Ender: From Kent Street With Love

Taken February 14, 2012.

Urban Fur: Versus

I couldn’t resist getting a shot of this winsome lass next to my favorite Greenpoint cat of all time while knocking around the Garden Spot this afternoon. When I inquired at to this pup’s name her person replied “Pill”.

Is she a pill?

I asked. His reply was as follows:

Sometimes, yes.

Miss Heather

Urban Fur: Tails Up!

May 8, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic, Urban Fur 

From Kent Street.

Miss Heather

P.S.: Those of you who are newer readers and/or Greenpoint residents and have wondered about this seemingly out of place feline you can get the full scoop here. (It’s really cute.)

Spotted At The Garden: G.G. Allin

April 19, 2011 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

Hmm, let’s see.

Organic groceries: check.
Musings from a man who rolled around in/consumed his own feces: Check…

Miss Heather

Something Neat: Greenpoint, The Book

January 22, 2010 ·
Filed under: 11222, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

When I spied this behind the counter at the Garden today I simply had to have it. The asking price of $23.99 be damned! Those of you who are looking for a book outlining the basic history of Greenpoint accompanied by some very lovely photographs will probably be hard-pressed to find anything better than this tome. Even if you do not have the money, swing by and give it a look-see. It’s pretty neat!

Greenpoint: Little Poland
Jolanta Zastocka
The Garden
921 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222

Note: this book is in both Polish and English.

Miss Heather

Greenpoint Photo Du Jour: Some Food For Thought At The Garden

May 8, 2009 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic 

cousteau

The western model is not built for a world with limited resources.

—Jacques Cousteau

From Manhattan Avenue.

Miss Heather

The Kent Street Cat

February 28, 2009 ·
Filed under: 11222, Crazy Cat Lady, Greenpoint, Greenpoint Brooklyn, Greenpoint Magic 

kentstcatThis cat (which graces the north-facing wall of The Garden) has been around as long as I can remember. I have noticed all other graffiti that has found its way to this edifice has been removed— but not this kitty. I have long intended to get the story behind this fetching feline. Last night I finally did.

Faced with the prospect of having to eat a jarring combination of (questionably edible) foodstuffs for dinner the Mister and I patronized The Garden. As luck would have it, I recognized one of the owners of this establishment. He was engaged in a conversation with another gentleman but having at long last the opportunity to shed light on this mystery I politely interrupted.

Miss Heather: Pardon me for butting in but aren’t you the owner of this establishment?

Owner: Yes, I am one of them.

Miss Heather: I have a very strange question for you. I took it up with Magda (an employee of The Garden, wonderful woman) as I know she has been working here for some time but she didn’t know…

Owner: (getting curious)

Miss Heather: What’s the deal with the cat on your building? The black cat.

After some thought (and some more Q & A) I got an answer. Here it is, albeit in highly simplified form:

  1. Approximately 8-9 years ago someone spray-painted this piece of graffiti onto The Garden.
  2. The owner liked it so much he didn’t see fit to remove it.
  3. However, the owner of the building didn’t agree, so…
  4. five years ago he asked someone to cover it up with primer.
  5. When the person with the primer showed up this gentleman (who the owner of The Garden described as being a “cat person”) had changed his mind. He had grown attached to it.

And so it has remained on Kent Street ever since. I have no idea what the person responsible for this was thinking when he (or she) created this cat. Was his intent vandalism or art? I don’t know and quite frankly I am comfortable with not knowing. It has since become a beloved member of the community and I suspect I speak for many when I say I hope he (or she) stays with us for a very, very long time!

Miss Heather

Looking For Mr. Right This Valentine’s Day?

February 9, 2009 ·
Filed under: Crazy Cat Lady, Greenpoint Magic 

kipsmall

If so, there’s a tall, dark and handsome gent named Kip (Kubush) who would like to make your acquaintance. Per the above flier (from The Garden):

Kip is a 5 year old cat, currently single, looking for a good home with either a nice boy or girl (or both, he doesn’t discriminate). He’s very sweet and loving (who said good men are hard to find?!?), loves to be the center of attention (ok, he’s a boy after all…) and needs to be the only cat in the house (he doesn’t like competition). His owner is very sick and needs to find him a new home as soon as possible. Kip is fixed and healthy and anxiously awaiting your call!

This is one of the cutest animal adoption fliers I have ever seen. Clearly the people in Kip’s life love him very much and want to find him a great new “forever home”. How about yours?

Miss Heather

‘Tis The Season: The Garden

December 3, 2008 ·
Filed under: Greenpoint Magic 

Now that the Mister has been kind enough to relinquish the computer (he was home sick today) I will hit you up with today’s bit of holiday cheer from The Garden.

But if you want to see the real action, go inside. Alex writes:

i walked into the garden today for lunch and saw this holiday decoration getup… if you haven’t seen in person, i strongly recommend you stop by…however, since i get all my gp news from you, i am guessing that i am no.78 in sending you this hot tip.

Actually he was the first. Although I am fairly certain this decor was used last year it doesn’t make it any less disturbing. If you harbor an irrational fear of elves, gnomes, dwarves, little people in general or are on psychotropic drugs, DO NOT click the above link.

Miss Heather

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