Dwight Street

Curious Looking Structure at the Station

Queen in Bazaar's Brief Return

I always appreciate a good store name, and one of of my all-time favorites on Fifth was the long departed Queen in Bazaar, which sold electronics & other miscellaneous stuff.  Queen in Bazaar.  The combination of fractured English, punchy sales pitch & faint romance was a real pleasure.  A name worth a hundred smirking Eponymys. I don't think about it that often, but when I do I'm immensely cheered.  Last night, walking along the avenue, the name popped into my head, and I was trying to think what block it had been on.  14th?  13th perhaps?  I went by 11th, the Dreamy's Mattress store, & right above the orange awning, surrounded by scaffolding, like some message from the gods, there it was, uncovered.  How strange is that?

Wig Drop Action

I've walked past this Wig Drop box on Van Brunt many times, but today was the first time I ever saw an actual donation.

Dog Day Afternoon Retold

I think my favourite American film of all time is Dog Day Afternoon.  Today I was sent a link to this art video by the French artist Pierre Huyghe, featuring the late John Wojtowicz (played by Al Pacino in the movie) in a renactment of the bank robbery.  I don't know anything about the making of this, or about Huyghe, so I'll have to do a little research, but Wojtowicz is well worth listening to:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3izfb_the-third-memory-huyghe_shortfilms.

More of the Denuded Platform

More Sky

Shelter from the elements is rapidly disappearing on the 4th Avenue F & G platforms, as the asbestos removal kicks in. At least I think that's what's going on. 



Tree Work in Briarwood

An Andrew Anthony interview with Christopher Hitchens (The Guardian)

Quentin Crisp's Apartments

Yesterday's Vanishing New York had an interview with Adrian Goycoolea, the great-nephew of Quentin Crisp. Goycoolea's current installation (on view through tomorrow) is a re-creation of Crisp's East Third Street apartment.  This took me back to early days in New York, when it was a great thrill to be only two blocks from Mr. C.  Seeing him about the neighborhood always gave the day more of a brave dazzle.   The V. New York piece led me to the Quentin Crisp archives & a whole host of Youtube videos, including a 1970 World in Action portrait, showing Quentin in his pre-New York digs.  Here's the first part:

Day After the Fire at Associated

5th Avenue between Prospect & 17th was still blocked off this afternoon, and there were still plenty of Fire Department & Red Cross staff at the scene.  Also still there - a crowd of stunned onlookers.  Most of the block on the eastern side of Fifth looks pretty devastated, with damage also extending up 17th. 

   





Shoes on 18th Street

Dark Sky

Tip Top Gift

Same Angle, Different Train, A Grainy View

Read this EV Grieve piece about visits to the late Navy Yard Cocktail Lounge.  Quite a scene.

Coney Island businesses will fight eviction.  (Grub Street)

'They're ripping the heart out of the island,'  says customer of booted Ruby's Bar and Grill  (Daily News)

IMBY looks at the current state of the OTB corner.

Dislocated Shoulder on 25th Street

Last Post, Here in Red Hook

Today saw the last post by Andy Vernon Jones, who has been photographing Red Hook residents & their neighbourhood for the last couple of years.   If you haven't checked out any of his excellent portraits before, take a look.

Sign the Petition to Save Coney Island's Ruby's

http://amusingthezillion.com/2010/11/03/friends-of-rubys-bar-launch-petition-plan-nov-6-rally/
Go on.  Do it.  And check out this great blog while you're at it. 

On the Q Train

The tenderness of late afternoon light on Fifth Ave.

Perhaps the handful of people who follow this blog are tired of this kind of thing.  I can never get enough of these modest, painted brick buildings, & their quiet moments of glory. Double click on the image to see that streaked window up close.