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January, 2008

  1. Help BARC Win

    January 31, 2008 by Justine

    I got an email about helping BARC Shelter win a makeover from zootoo.com and well, I think you should help, too.

    Activity on zootoo can accumulate points to define your zootoo expert status, as well as helping other pet owners with your experience. You can also share your points with a pet shelter and support them in winning a makeover, valued at up to one million dollars.

    My Shelter: B.A.R.C (Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition)

    It is ranked #116 and has 19138 points.

    Sign-up at zootoo.com and choose B.A.R.C. as your local shelter to promote. You earn points for them by doing a variety of simple things.

    Rate thisShelter

    Category Community | Tags: , | No Comments

  2. Questions: Greenpoint, Queens?

    January 29, 2008 by Justine

    *image from specmotors

    Greenpoint is clearly in Brooklyn, but we’re sooooo close to Queens that sometimes people even think we’re in Queens. I dated a guy in Sunnyside and it literally took me like 8 minutes on the B24 – with stops – to get to his house. Different boroughs, but we both lived off Greenpoint Avenue.

    Which brings me to a question from Nadir of Tales from the Mutliverse:

    As you have mentioned before, as you grew up in Greenpoint you would hike to Queens more often than south to other areas of Brooklyn. And on my treks though the neighborhood over the years I have noticed that even the architecture seems far more Queens like than Brooklyn like, even more so than Williamsburg. So my question I guess is asking more for your opinion than not, but what trends have shaped the development of Greenpoint that acts like and seems more of a satellite of Queens than a neighborhood of Brooklyn? Or you know disagree with me. That will be fine as well.

    I have to say I agree with you.

    Greenpoint definitely has more of a Queens feel to it than a Brooklyn feel. I think that it simply has to do with our location. Had that whole water thing not been there, we’d probably have been part of Queens. Most of the people I know shopped, dined and went out in Queens than ever went further into Brooklyn. As a kid, my parents took me to the Queens Center Mall, we went to dinner at Sizzler or Red Lobster (now that I think about it, ew.). Me and the girls used to go to the bars on Queens Blvd. Breffni’s comes to mind especially…

    I also agree that we’ve got a Queens borough state of mind when it comes to architecture as well. Not entirely, but our row houses of siding are less Brooklyn than our Billyburg neighbors. Also, I noticed years ago of the migration habits of Greenpointers. Most Brooklynites next stop is Staten Island, where as Queens folks or Brooklynites closer to Queens head to Long Island. Then Staten islanders flock to Jersey and Long Islanders just go further out on the Island. They all wind up in Florida, though.

    But, we’ve definitely got the mentality of Brooklynites. We’re proud to be part of our borough and thankfully we don’t have Queens’ insane layout of numbered streets, avenues, lanes, roads and whatever else they could think of. Driving in Queens makes me want to blow my brains out. Which brings up another thing I’ve noticed, Greenpointers are more of a driving folk than other parts of Brooklyn. My parents never took the subway. Ever.

    Probably because we were driving out to Queens.

    Category Community | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  3. Shoveling Recognition Awards

    by Justine

    Last month The Gowanus Lounge posted about the Neighbors Project and their “Thank You For Shoveling” cards. Well now it’s time for those who shoveled to get the recognition they deserve!


    During the next real snow fall, we plan on walking neighborhood streets in Brooklyn with the lovely “Thank You For Shoveling” cards and hot chocolate. We’ll be out to award those who keep the sidewalks clear, thereby saving all of our neighbor’s necks and speeding up everyone’s trip to the subway / bus / bodega / laundromat / school / show / nowhere.

    E-mail us if you’d like to walk with us in Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Cobble Hill or Greenpoint, or if you want to bring the event to your neighborhood in New York. Tuxedos and Marc Jacobs not required, and pretty much discouraged.

    Get those snowblowers out!

    Category Community, Events | Tags: , | No Comments

  4. A Bloody Mess

    January 28, 2008 by Justine

    Via Brix Picks:

    I still have no idea what went on at the corner of Meserole and McGuinness, but there appears to be puddles of blood and, reportedly (by friends who saw it), there used to be a plastic bag full of bloody stuff .

    You can see little drops throughout the neighborhood, some right outside the police station–they don’t mind though, because when I told an officer about the possibly gruesome site he said, “What do you want me to do about it?” Apparently nothing. The red puddles are still there and the droplet trail can still be found all over the neighborhood’s sidewalks.

    Eeeek!

    Category News | Tags: | No Comments

  5. Paris London Rome Brooklyn

    by Justine

    I spotted this seriously cool tote from blogger Pardon Me For Asking‘s CafePress Shop Katinka. Brooklynites know that we’re the shit. Now everyone else can, too.

    You can also get it printed on just about anything from a ballcap to a baby onesie.

    It almost makes me want to spawn.

    Category Style | Tags: | No Comments

  6. Save The Date: A Phat Way to Spend a Tuesday

    by Justine

    Those über cool peeps from The Desk Set* are hosting a Mardi Gras Party and it looks like it’s going to be one hell of a shindig. I can’t think of a better way to spend Fat Tuesday. Just the though of being able to win a bar tab is enough to get me very excited.


    The Desk Set is proudly hosting a Mardi Gras Party     to Benefit the New Orleans Public Library Tuesday February 5th 8pm til late
    Daddy’s Bar     437 Graham Ave., Williamsburg

    DJs playing classic greasy R & B sides from the great state of Louisiana, tons of Mardi Gras beads, homemade King Cakes, hurricane drink specials, raffle prizes, perhaps some second lining, & much more!

    Here are some of the raffle prizes from from fabulous local businesses (the list is growing; expect more prizes to come!)

    Buy one ticket for $2, five tickets for $5 and fifteen tickets for $10. Contact us if you can’t make the party and would like to purchase some tickets.

    The drawing will be held at 10:30pm at the party.

    You do not need to be present to receive your prize – we’ll contact you.

    All of the proceeds from the Raffle and drink specials will go to the project described below:

    The New Orleans Public Library NOPL Archives:

    The City Archives and Special Collections have microfilms of the Times-Picayune that are going vinegary. We need to replace the films back to mid- late-19th century and clean/replace the cabinets. We have been negotiating with ProQuest, which holds the license, and hope to achieve a price considerably lower than their original figure, but we’re trying to raise $50K, perhaps more, soon.

    Come out, bring your friends, and let the good times roll, all while supporting a great cause!

    *The Desk Set is an informal group of librarians, archivists, Library Science students and other individuals who love books. The Desk Set gatherings usually entail meeting up at bars in Greenpoint or Williamsburg and sometimes we go on field trips, have picnics or book swaps. Check us out at www.myspace.com/thedeskset & www.thedeskset.org

    Category Drink, Events | Tags: ,,, | No Comments

  7. Questions: Newbies

    January 23, 2008 by Justine

    I received the following email from a reader yesterday and thought I’d post some of my suggestions and welcome all of you to help pinpoint some good ways and/or places to make friendships in the ‘hood.


    So I am new to greenpoint, moved here a few months ago from Michigan, and I happily stumbled upon your blog today. I am looking for some places in the area, particularly a good place to go and meet people… I am familiar with Matchless, Greenpoint Coffee House, and various other cafe/restaurant/bars… but in my experience going to these places isn’t always successful in sparking conversations for longer term friendships. I am looking for something a little more social-club like…. I was thinking of joining a yoga studio but am unsure of which is a good one to take classes at. I am a 22 year old grad student studying art…. so if you have any suggestions as where to find friends with similar interests, it would be much appreciated. Thanks! -amanda

    I definitely see your point regarding making actual friendships as opposed to just meeting people randomly at a bar or cafe. I think this is a great question and I hope I can help you out a little.

    First off, since you’re into yoga there’s Kusala Yoga on Franklin and India where I’m sure you could meet some like-minded friends.

    Also, I think hanging out at Word for some of their cool events is a great way to meet new people. Just a couple of weeks ago they had their first game night. My sister and I went, it was a lot of fun and we met a couple of cool peeps ourselves! This Friday they’re having their first Book-to-Movie Night featuring a screening of Liev Schreiber’s Everything is Illuminated, based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. And there’s always their Book Clubs to join.

    You could also check out Brooklyn Kickball and sign up for a team. Not sure if they play in the winter, but send an email off to brooklynkickball@gmail.com and see what the deal is.

    If you’re looking to meet a significant other, you could try local matchmaking service Brooklyn is for Lovers. Seems a bit safer than craigslist, no?

    That’s all I got that doesn’t involve alcohol since I’m a drunk myself. But hopefully some younger and less apt to spending their nights stumbling from bar to bar folks will be able to weigh in on additional things to do in the area. Thanks for the email Amanda!

    Category Community | Tags: , | 5 Comments

  8. Idiotarod on India

    by Justine


    07 Idiotarod 102
    Originally uploaded by the sweetchuck

    The Idiotarod is this Saturday and one of the starting points is India Street right here in good ol’ Greenpoint.

    The Iditarod is the famous long-distance race in which yelping dogs tow a sled across Alaska. The IDIOTAROD is pretty much the same thing, except that instead of dogs, it’s people, instead of sleds, it’s shopping carts, and instead of Alaska it’s New York City.

    The fifth annual event happens January 26, 2008. Teams of five will race for cash prizes and glory.

    Idiotarod NYC 2008: 1/26/08

    Category Events | Tags: , | No Comments

  9. Eat Dinner at Eat Records

    by Justine

    Looks like Eat Records will be serving up dinner starting tomorrow and up until 10pm which is somewhat late for the ‘hood. Enjoy!


    Starting this Thursday, January 24th, EAT will be serving dinner every night of the week. Dinner will be served from 5pm – 10pm and the menu will include risottos, pasta, polenta, and more. The dinner menu will be changing seasonally and will be based around ingredients from local farms in upstate New York. We are excited to have the opportunity to expand our food service and provide a unique and affordable dining experience. Hope you are able to come out for dinner and check out the new renovations. We will also be continuing our Friday night live music series which will coincide with dinner from 8-10pm every week.

    Eat
    124 Meserole Ave

    Category Eat & Drink, Style | Tags: ,,,, | 2 Comments

  10. Weekend Crash

    January 22, 2008 by Justine

    This weekend was such insane debauchery that most of it can’t even printed. Too personal, too illegal and probably too boring not knowing any of the people. Or even worse reading it and knowing the people involved… Eeek.

    So, Sunday night watching the game at Red Star, and what a game it was! Giants in the Super Bowl baby! Anyway, as always it’s a good night at Red Star. Saw more friends I haven’t seen in fifteen years or longer. But the cherry on top was Ron Darling chilling watching the game right at the bar!

    Towards the end of the night I am outside smoking a cig when Ron Darling and his friend were coming out to leave. I said hello, introduced myself and Ron Darling tells me to give him a hug! It was freaking awesome. My sister came out and we four chatted for about a minute and Ron Darling even asked me for a cigarette. Swoon.

    About a minute after that a silver Nissan Z came whipping around the corner of West onto Greenpoint Ave. It was one of those peel-out sounding screeches, only this guy couldn’t maintain control of the car and he crashed head-on into three cars right in front of CoCo’s.

    Me, my sister, Ron Darling and his friend went running over to help get this guy and his girlfriend out of the car. Both airbags deployed and thankfully they were both alright. Ambulances, cops and fire engines were there in two minutes. Which for the record, the paramedic was freaking HOT – if he or anyone he knows happens upon this, he should know how sexy he is.

    Anyway, the driver wound up getting arrested and there were a ton of people outside of CoCo’s taking pictures so if anyone’s got one let me know and I’ll post it here. It was the most insane thing I’d ever seen.

    Category News | Tags: ,, | 6 Comments

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