More Bushwick Rumors
None of this is verified, so I can’t give any more detail, but there are several rumors floating around that I figured I’d share with you here, just all in one post.
Around the corner from me is a collapsed house, which a tipster told me was recently bought by a guy who is busily buying up neighbors’ air rights so that he can build a condo tower. This would definitely add some shadow to my yard at certain times of day in certain seasons, but would I rather have neighbors who quietly admire my garden towering over me rather than neighbors who throw, uh, “used” glue traps in my yard? You bet. Sure, we probably couldn’t use the fire pit anymore due to uppity neighbor complaints, but what price property values? All I care about is that the new building isn’t floating in a sea of parking like the monstrosity on Grove. Given the small size of the lot, that seems unlikely.
Speaking of the building jam-packed with lovely neighbors who send me gifts via air mail, it was recently sold for $1.5 million. Sounds like a lot, but it has 15 units and a storefront, and there’s a lot of Section 8 up in there. My tipster says the new owner plans condos, like I had suspected previously. How will he work that out, I asked. Tipster assures me “he’s got tricks up his sleeves. Give him a year.” Expect life for the tenants to get worse before they get better. Someone alert the Village Voice!
Over on Troutman Street is a gigantic lot, the former home of the Castle Braid Company (I don’t have any more info than that — what does a braid company make?). It’s been a work site for a long time, but nothing was going on the last time I was near it. Recently my neighbor said he spoke to someone on the site, and they told him 140 or 170 (he can’t remember which) condos were being built at the site. That’s a lot of units — does that mean another tower? Then one of my housemates was walking by and said there were foundations in, and it looked like several buildings.
Here’s a downer: across the street, where I thought they were building subsidized coops, it turns out the city may own the buildings, and just booted the old people out to renovate — and they are moving them back in! Along with the deli that was on the corner. Many questions come to mind — how did they legally determine who the “good” tenants were, since the super of the building above (that got sold for condos) says the “bad” ones are not coming back? Even if they must legally offer the apartments to the old tenants, why in the hell are they putting the same crackhead deli back in the commercial space? And why did they spend so much money making the buildings look so good just to plunk the same old tenants back in? And where have the tenants been for the last YEAR? This all makes so little sense…but who knows with this city. The housing laws are from Bizarro World. The buildings do look pretty good, though, as you can see in the photo above.
On the “stuff opening” front, that bar I mentioned a while back is definitely happening, somewhere on Starr Street. My contact says he will let me know if they want any more leaked, probably when they have the location and opening date set.
Yes No Maybe is still a big maybe. When I spoke to the owner months ago, he said he wanted to be open in three weeks. There are still piles of dirt and debris in front of the building, though the garden area is looking nice, even if it’s just because it’s summer and everything is growing in very nicely. I’m sure the holdup has something…well, everything to do with the city giving him a hard time. No good deed goes unpunished, as my mom says.
And then there’s the owner of a Thai restaurant on Grand in Williamsburg who has had it with high rent and is looking to move to Bushwick. That’s pretty much all the info I have on that.
Anyone else have any other rumors to share?
July 31st, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Oh sh*t. I really hope that the Thai place on Grand isn’t Lily Thai. We order takeout from there at least once a week… I will cry if they move.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:17 pm
That’s a lot of good gossip Jeremy. You are a busy boy talking with contacts and tipsters.
I think developers are looking to Bushwick, has a cheap alternative to Williamsburg.
The troutman lofts are still being marketed, and I don’t know why but that area is ripe for developers. Anyone know why? Is it the large housing stock, the park, or transportation?
Armstrong - that’s by you? Any clues?
Oh if Bushwick could ever get just an ounce of the trendy restaurants they have in Williamsburg.
I’ve got a question for everyone. Do you find yourself going into Williamsburg for nightlife, food, drinks, hanging out, etc. or is everyone just sitting back in Bushwick waiting for the gentrification to come on over?
July 31st, 2007 at 1:24 pm
When i go out I try to stay as close to home as possible,which, if Williamsburg, is this side of the BQE. I’m a big fan of Barcade and Alligator Lounge. Typically I go to the East River Bar, which is of the beaten path in South WB, but lately have been trying to hit up GBM as much as I can.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:39 pm
So judging from Z and Mr. Kraayon’s comments, you are more in Williamsburg than Bushwick.
Any folks in the heart of bushwick, or furthest from Williamsburg still find yourself relying on Williamsburg for things?
July 31st, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Funny about Lily Thai…..i never see anyone in there. I like their food too…..but they don’t seem to be doing too well.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:55 pm
why can’t a find a good healthy salad in Bushwick?
July 31st, 2007 at 2:00 pm
Jill,
Since Jen(blossom) and I are so close to Myrtle Ave., we find it as easy to get to Ft. Greene/Clinton Hill as it is to W-burg.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Wickster, NE Kingdom has several good salads. Life Cafe has…salads.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:16 pm
I’m in what is usually referred to as “East Williamsburg(Graham and Seigel), if you were to referring to where I live in relation to WB or Bushwick.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I would love to hang out in Bushwick more, but there’s…nothing to do most of the time. Really. Now don’t jump on me for saying it, but I’m a single girl without roommates. I’ve gotten friends to come play croquet in the park with me once. There’s no local bar near me. (Yay for a bar on Starr St.) There aren’t a lot of events in the neighborhood. (No free movies, few concerts that I know of.)
I don’t rely on Williamsburg that much either, although I am going to the movie at the pool tonight. I have a bike that I ride all over the city. Last week I went to a boxing showcase at Pier 84 and Celebrate Brooklyn at Prospect Park.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:28 pm
If there was a bar around the corner from my house, i’d probably never leave my block! having said that, i did spend a lovely evening at Black Bean. it’s right next to the myrtle JMZ, which makes it really easy for me to access. ditto GBM too.
July 31st, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Guess I should go into NE Kingdom, although it looks dead from the outside.
Michael, are you really walking down Myrtle to get to all those good eateries in CH and FG?
Jimmy, the corner bodegas sell booze but I guess you like to go out to a bar and talk to the bartender, and patrons. If you went there and didn’t talk to anyone it’s just like drinking at home.
Jimmy, you are vegan but still drink. LOL. What’s up with that. Booze doesn’t kill animals to be made? Not sure if you are vegan for animal rights or a healthy lifestyle.
I’ll check out black bean, sounds good.
Jeremy spoke of good pizza left over from the Italians being here but I can’t find any. They are run by spanish now, and sell chicken, and all the other fattening things. No real good authentic pizzera around!
Matt you were going to be our expert on food choices in Bushwick right? If we all go drinking after the tour on 8/11, what about dinner. Any ideas?
All this talk of food is making me hungry. Lunchtime!
July 31st, 2007 at 3:10 pm
“Booze doesn’t kill animals to be made?”
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/geraint.bevan/Vegetarian_beers.html
July 31st, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Hey Jill - we actually take the Myrtle Avenue bus (B54) down to Ft. Greene when we head down that way. It’s a short trip - maybe 10-15 minutes or so?
Jimmy - when were you at Black Bean? And you didn’t call us? What’s up with that?
Speaking of which, Black Bean is going through a bit of a transition right now, particularly with respect to the kitchen. I’m not going to go into further details here. I’m still planning to do a writeup, but I’m going to wait for things to get on an even keel.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Wow so you are bus people! In the summer so many people like to stroll and walk around, and was curious if anyone does that in Bushwick.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:51 pm
you think i’m gonna let some fish scales get in the way of my drunk??
actually i was pleased to find that even Jamesons whiskey is vegan-friendly.
Jen, after we left the glorified dorm that is the Opera House lofts! we should totally meet up there, the owner plied us with drinks then gave us Chickosticks on our way out. which, now that i think of it, was perhaps a little condescending. but still, free chickosticks! which are not in fac tmade from chickens.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:53 pm
Yeah, I actually enjoy the bus - it’s a nice way to get around and actually see stuff you might not see from the train.
As for walking around Bushwick, our part of it isn’t particularly picturesque, so for now we do our strolling around elsewhere…
July 31st, 2007 at 3:58 pm
Two things. If the bar on Starr is on the corner of Wykoff, and they call it StarrBarr I will sue. (Or if it’s anywhere on Starr and they call it that I should sue!) The day we moved to the neighborhood I ‘claimed’ that corner warehouse looking building as my new bar, naming it StarrBarr. Granted that’s all I did. Make a claim and name. To my wife. No other witnesses. Oh well, I’m not sure if any of this will hold up in court.
And thing #2, the giant Troutman hole is gunna be condos?? I walked by the other day and saw the same thing: foundations being laid. I assumed it was another affordable housing venture by the city, similar to what was just built on Central and what was finished awhile back on Wilson. Condos you say??
July 31st, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Sorry for hijacking this thread but maybe someone’s heard a “rumor” about this. Twice in the past month (first when we had that crazy thunderstorm that started with a boom at 7am sharp and secondly last night) me and my girlfriend were awaken in the early morning hours by the most disgusting toxic(?) smell I’ve ever encountered. We live at Johnson & Morgan, and are quite familiar with the trash processing plant’s smell a few blocks away, but this was in a whole other league…. literally waking us both out of a dead sleep. Anybody else have the displeasure of experiencing this and/or know what could be causing it?
July 31st, 2007 at 4:01 pm
STILL need to check out Black Bean Grill. Really curious to hear about those “internal changes,” though, jenblossom.
I tend to go to Williamsburg a lot. But that’s only because I’ve got a favorite hangout there AND it’s an easy trip on the Subway from Myrtle to Marcy Avenue.
And… I know this is heresy but, uh… I do hang out a lot in… in the East Village. I know it ain’t Brooklyn but, well, that’s where I happen to go. Again, easy to get to the LES on the J train from Myrtle.
I have dined at Life Cafe, gotten coffee at The Archive and Potion a lot, though.
July 31st, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Chris, I don’t know what your horrible smell is, but the only thing I ever smell at Johnson and Morgan is that Acme Cake company. It makes me hungry every time I ride by. Sweet, sweet cakes. Does anyone know if they have some kind of company store over there? Cakes sold out the back door?
July 31st, 2007 at 5:06 pm
So Jimmy, how much drinking do you do. How often drunk? Just need to see how you compare with my other vegan friends, who are into nature, holistic life, pure and simple.
Jen, what’s wrong with walking along Bushwick Avenue - isn’t that pretty?
Matt you have a wife? Maybe I’m getting you confused with so many other guys on this board that have boyfriends.
What’s with Troutman street that makes it so desirable for building lofts, and stuff, are there a lot of trendy happenings around there. The troutman lofts are way expensive, most over $400,000. Someone must be buying them for more developers to start building more.
EJ where is your hangout, a nice little restaurant or coffee shop we should know about?
If you are close to the J train at Marcy are you living in the Jewish section of Williamsburg?
I wish I had some sweet little cake factory by me. All those pizza, chicken places sell are sweet potato pies which aren’t very good.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
The stretch of Bushwick Ave between Myrtle and Flushing is the only part I’ve walked, and it’s far from pretty. I suppose it gets prettier on the other side of Myrtle Ave., but we have yet to get up that way on foot.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:32 pm
Jill: I’m close to the Myrtle Ave J stop. I’m on Broadway between around the corner from the Opera Lofts. So I’m on the Bushwick/East Williamsburg side of Broadway. And the place I like to hang out mostest in Williamsburg is the Rockstar Bar ’cause you got Pie’s N’ Thighs next store. It’s a great take out place (killer fried chicken, baked items like cakes and pies and really good BBQ pulled pork). And if you want to hang out in the bar, they’ll bring your food to you while you’re enjoying a drink. It’s just north of the bridge, right across the street from the Domino Sugar factory.
Walking around the area: I’ve done a bit of that. Obviously I have to walk from Broadway to get to that Morgan Ave. area (I tend to walk up Arion Pl and then approach Flushing from Bushwick Ave). I also like to walk to Williamsburg proper by strolling up Graham Ave and then moving east either on Grand or Metropolitan.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:42 pm
What a name Pie’s N Thighs - doesn’t sound too appetizing until EJ described what they have.
July 31st, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Becky, no need for a back door… Acme products can be found next to the cash register at any of our lovely bodegas. The smell is nice but I’ve always considered them a factory more than a bakery. Not sure if it’s still the case but when i first moved there around 10 years ago you could walk in the front door and get a box of stuff for a nice discount.
July 31st, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Troutman lofts?? what’s the intersection?
July 31st, 2007 at 10:41 pm
I’m glad to hear of anything coming over closer this way (Starr St) – any idea of what intersection said bar would be located near?
I don’t go to williamsburg anymore. it’s either the city or bushwick bk for me.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:42 pm
Jill:
I kinda don’t understand your questions.
In comment #2, you asked whether we were going into Williamsburg for “nightlife, food, drinks, hanging out, etc.”
I answered that question honestly. We go to Williamsburg and we go to Ft. Greene/Clinton Hill. Neither of them are in easy walking distance, although I have walked into Williamsburg from here–from Myrtle to Bedford, if that matters.
But then you ask if we ever just stroll Bushwick Ave. I’ve walked it from Myrtle to Grand. Not pretty. And as far as “nightlife, food, drinks, hanging out, etc.” there’s nothing. Unless you want to go to Monte Mar and see Elvis “El Camaron” Martinez.
We took a cab from LGA that took us along the Grand Central Parkway to Jackie Robinson to Bushwick Ave. And yes, some parts of Bushwick Ave. are pretty, especially Brewers Row, although the section closer to Jackie Robinson looked blighted.
So we’re not as ignorant of the neighborhood as you might think. Strolling Bushwick, especially the Brewers Row section, might be pleasant, sure. But to answer your first question, we haven’t found any place on that section of Bushwick for nightlife, dining, or drinks.
But please, Jill, if you know of such a place on Bushwick Ave., let us know. We’d love to hang out closer to home.
Also, I don’t get your second-degree of Jimmy about his drinking. Are you aware that industrial agriculture kills millions of animals a year? I’m not talking about animals for food. I’m talking about the birds, insects, rabbits, field mice, etc. that are killed when huge combines mow down soy for faux-chicken products and whatnot.
So you can be a straight-edge vegan and still kill shitloads of animals. So I hope you’re also scolding your teetotaler friends about their food choices.
July 31st, 2007 at 11:48 pm
hmmmm - yeah, god bless you jill, really - I mean that and appreciate your imput; and yet sometimes you come across, to me, as a bit snide. is that your intention or am I also not getting a shade of your innuendo?
August 1st, 2007 at 12:17 am
I was actually hoping that somebody,besides myself, would address this issue. I haven’t said anything because I question whether some of the things said were worded as slights, and I could just be being overly cautious.
Jill,whether you mean it or not, most of your questions and statements have a sarcastic overtone.
Being somebody who spent most of the past decade as a vegan/vegetarian, I can tell you first hand. most of those teetotaling,anti-fun, chakra-touching motherfuckers are some of the most annoying people humanity has to offer. I for one, along with most of the vegans I know,drank PBR and chain-smoked American Spirits. It’s not about living a stereotype, but doing your part without losing what makes you who you are. I still drink PBR, but sometimes eat a pastrami sandwich when the wife isn’t around. Who cares?
As far as walking down Bushwick Ave is concerned, I have only done it to around where Jenblossom lives because my friends live in that neighborhood, and I am there often. However, I have biked down Bushwick, at least once a week, for a while now. it is beautiful and residential,but I have no reason to go there at night. None of us probably do. I only bike down Bushwick because I like to explore NYC, and it serves as a great route to Queens and the eastern parts of Brooklyn. Strolling might be nice, but Bushwick Ave is quite long.
Question asking isn’t initially offensive. It’s your responses to questions you pose that make them sound problematic.
August 1st, 2007 at 2:53 am
I’m trying to get at why people do not like to stroll around Bushwick. There was discussion on the walking tour that bushwick has some of the finest collection of frame houses. So are we saying that if there were brownstones, and limestones it would be prettier. We can’t change the structure of these homes, but can’t we walk around and try to enjoy them. Unless someone has some stories of really dangerous or ugly looking homes. Hey that might be an idea Jeremy, showing us how ugly some homes can be?
Armstrong- Troutman lofts are near Wilson - check them out!
Agreed Bushwick Ave. doesn’t have much, but for strolling I think it’s as good as Bushwick gets.
I’ll keep my eye out for places!
I was just wondering the reason why Jimmy was a vegan, especially since veggie food is hard to come by in Bushwick. Also because I know vegans that are dead set against anything animal related, and consider alcohol against the vegan philosophy, and they believe in this total emersion into being pure with vegan stuff. Just wants Jimmy’s take on it, since he said if there was a bar nearby he’d never leave his nabe.
Didn’t mean it to be snide, or sarcastic but is that better than being called dopey
Mr. Kraayon, where in Queens have you biked to? Always wondered what our bordering towns are like, and queens seems nicer but further from the city.
August 1st, 2007 at 8:57 am
Jill, Tony’s on Knickerbocker is old school, and it’s decent, and it’s not run by “Spanish” — I see some Italian-American guy in there every time I have been there. But the really good pizza is at Fortunata’s, which isn’t a holdover but new, and is staffed by actual Italians from Italy who speak Italian. It’s as good or better than pizza from Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:06 am
Weird, I don’t get a snide vibe from Jill, I get an “I don’t get it, can you explain it better down to the very last detail?” vibe. Though grilling Jimmy about booze did seem odd. There are other commenters who are like that, too. So what’s the exact square footage and layout of your apartment? How many people are in your house and where in the house do they live? I mean, come on people, have some tact, realize we don’t really want to give you the blueprint to our lives and that some of your questions may be creepy.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:07 am
Also, I don’t get your second-degree of Jimmy about his drinking. Are you aware that industrial agriculture kills millions of animals a year? I’m not talking about animals for food. I’m talking about the birds, insects, rabbits, field mice, etc. that are killed when huge combines mow down soy for faux-chicken products and whatnot.
So you can be a straight-edge vegan and still kill shitloads of animals. So I hope you’re also scolding your teetotaler friends about their food choices.
Dietsch, you’re a god.
August 1st, 2007 at 9:54 am
can’t you see this vegan-alcohol guessing game is tearing us all apart?!
to put this oh-so pertinent matter to rest, this is why i don’t like the label vegan. it implies all this stuff that, while sort of admirable, i don’t follow myself. i like to tell people i am unhealthy in all aspects of my life, except for food. end even then …
ah, bushwick! wouldn’t want it any other way!
August 1st, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Jeremy:
Could you tell me the cross streets for Tony’s and Fortunata’s. Better than Arthur Avenue! So you’ve been to the Bronx!
I don’t mean to creep you or anyone else out. But it’s just that Bushwick is unchartered territory by many and a lot of us are the first newbies to the area. So it’s like being in a room where you’re the minority and it’s really uncomfortable, and you want to talk with others and compare notes so you don’t feel so alone out there.
People in Park Slope don’t probably have these discussions because it’s a different place with established networks, restaurants, great coffee shops, cafes, you name it, and a beautiful place to walk around.
So for us it like we need to know whats a decent block to walk around, how people are doing with their housing choices, how big are their apts. which justifies the move to Bushwick since you say no one moves here for the beauty of it. So we are up against all these negatives so talking and finding things out is what helps, and may give Bushwick a push to get some little credit without people saying “you live WHERE?”, or getting stares when you walk down the street as an outsider. Thanks for not calling me snide though! I guess the details come out because of what I just said us being the minorities and not being like a sloper who has a magnificent brownstone.
I guess I’ll be in trouble if I ask what things Jimmy puts into his body. He’s just the first person I’ve seen that eats healthy, and drinks that’s all. And in a place like Bushwick, I don’t know how he does it with so few options.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Jill, I have biked Richmond Hill,Astoria, LIC,Ridgewood…ok, to many neighborhoods to mention. Queens has pockets of things but most I’ve seen is pretty residential. I’m partial to Jackson Heights for food reasons.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:50 pm
That’s a lot of bike riding. Richmond Hill I think is historic, and astoria is so populated these days and now very expensive. I believe they lost their greek identity with other nationalities moving in. LIC is suppose to have lofts, but any clues if these compare to the ones that hipsters are moving into in Bushwick?
Somehow I don’t get the same vibe that it’s cool to live there like bushwick is becoming.
Ridgewood I am curious about since it is our northern cousin. It does seem so calm up there, and I’m guessing it’s because of lack of good transportation?
Jackson Heights is suppose to be historic too, but I guess they have spanish food there. Probably better than I can find here! What a shame! ;-(
All this talk of Queens, let’s get back to Brooklyn talk!
Is it just me or is something up with the Keyfood on broadway in SoBu? It’s closes early, like around 7:00 p.m. and no cash back. Is that saying something about the area?
with the drinking thing, many hipsters are sometimes into minimalist living, i.e. shabby area like bushwick, rough streets, second hand clothes, and eating vegan, and not drinking. It comes across as very pure.
August 2nd, 2007 at 6:53 am
In thinking of places to stroll through, you might want to check out walking - or biking - the full length of Jefferson Ave., Hancock and Weirfield from Bushwick to Wyckoff. All of these streets are in very solid condition and possess fine and varied brick and wood frame housing. We did travel through part of this area on the last walking tour, but there is a lot more to see.
Also, you should check out the small streets at Bushwick’s southern end - Pilling, Granite and Chauncey between Bushwick and Evergreen. These are lovely and well maintained blocks and are certainly worth a visit. (I had hoped to include them on the walking tour, but there just wasn’t enough time.)
Nice getting to know you through this tread, and hope to see you at he next walking tour.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:16 am
To add to John’s suggestions, Moffat Street, too, and any of those far Southern blocks are in immaculate shape. There’s also a block down there, can’t remember, maybe Eldert, with those insane 12-footers in a little row. They’re super cute, beautifully detailed houses, but 12 feet wide? Jesus Christ.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:19 am
Jill, yes, I’ve been to the Bronx — the whole one side of my family is from within three blocks of Arthur Avenue. The church where my dad was baptized is on 187th, the pasticceria where my great-aunt worked for 30 years is there, too. And I still have relatives up there…for some reason. They didn’t get the Long Island memo I guess.
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:52 am
We should definitely go past Maria Hernandez’s house and Joe and Mary’s where Galante was killed. I’ve done some research on cinematreasures.org and I know of two old theaters that were on Knickerbocker right by the park.
August 3rd, 2007 at 12:11 am
Oh yeah, and Fortunata’s is at 305 Knick between Suydam and Hart.
August 3rd, 2007 at 2:59 pm
i have a place on suydam and myrtle supposedly there are condos that are going to be built across the street on myrtle right by the tracks and the scarano project
August 4th, 2007 at 11:38 am
I know a ton of people that are vegan and unless you’re 18 and listen to Earth Crisis I’d say 99% of them drink.
August 5th, 2007 at 11:04 am
Jeremy SAID:
“…turns out the city may own the buildings, and just booted the old people out to renovate — and they are moving them back in! Along with the deli that was on the corner. Many questions come to mind — how did they legally determine who the “good” tenants were, since the super of the building above (that got sold for condos) says the “bad” ones are not coming back? Even if they must legally offer the apartments to the old tenants, why in the hell are they putting the same crackhead deli back in the commercial space? And why did they spend so much money making the buildings look so good just to plunk the same old tenants back in? And where have the tenants been for the last YEAR? This all makes so little sense…but who knows with this city…”
We’ve agreed to disagree on these types of issues yet answers to your questions can be found here:
http://www.citynoise.org/article/6459
August 5th, 2007 at 11:07 am
PS: Researching the comments on that link will answer a lot of your questions in more detail.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Oh, thanks Armstrong, actually that does answer most of my questions about that. I like how Adam slipped in a little jab about how you’re a gentrifier. Did that feel good?
August 6th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
yes - I am a faggot, yogi, welfare queen, queer shitkicker, white trash, gentrifier; and I’s proud baby!
August 8th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Not sure what your 3 - 5 attributes mean. Grew up on welfare? #4 I’m afraid to guess, and #5 you’re like trailer park trash?
Defend these qualities you love so much about yourself!
August 9th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
I’ve said too much already.. suffice to say: I loves me, and I loves Bushwick!
August 11th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Anybody wanting to know about Galante…the day he was killed (7-12-79), I was supposed to be there, at Joe and Mary’s, but I cried like a baby (I was a baby at the time) and my grandparents stayed home with me…our lucky day!!!
August 11th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
for all you folks who have a sweet tooth;
when my son came to visit me - and he and I love walking, we discovered a Dominican Bakery (Angela’s Bakery, 717 Knickerbocker betw. Jefferson & Hancock). And, if you happen to be in that vicinity, their flan and carrot cake is recommendable for a-buck-apiece, but, p l e a s e don’t all storm there, they may raise the prices overnite.
August 11th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
p.s.
The Forest Pork Store (German butcher at Forest Avenue, Ridgewood) has closed its doors for good -
I asked an old man crossing the street what happened - and he told me the neighborhood’s a- changing.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:19 pm
I spoke to the developer of troutman st there will be a 5 story building and 144 condos
August 13th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
The woman searching for a space for a Thai restaurant is quite nice. I met her on the walking tour and pushed heavily for a location somewhere near me (self interest being at the root of many things LOL). The sense I got (I didn’t want to be pushy) was that she’s not committed to anything yet.
Also, the abandoned building between Irving and Knick on Starr street has me obsessing. Why is it sitting there like that? When will it be bought, renovated, torn down (I hope that never happens), etc? I’m ready for Maria Hernandez park to fly off the hook, turn the page, go to the next level. Damnit, I want to be able to tell people I live on “Maria Hernandez WEST” as Adam joked on the walking tour.
I’m going to take a walk and check out the troutman location. Sounds cool, and I’m not surprised that development would start happening in that area between hipsterville/Morgan and M.H. park.
August 13th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
The Troutman spot isn’t between hipsterville and the park, it’s out here with the rest of us on the industrial fringe, fancy pants Hernández Park West boy. You rich folk are clueless!
BTW, I’m going to start using the accent in Hernández, it’s quite fancy, no?
August 13th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Wilson and Troutman right?
I dunno.. armchair analysis has its faults but I do feel that gentrification in our area will come from a bleedover from across Flushing/loft area and then also from Wyckoff/loft area, towards Myrtle ave “el” line on the other end–meeting in the middle…
What says you Jeremiah of “Centhráll” Ave?
August 13th, 2007 at 11:36 pm
Troutman between Evergreen and Central, actually.
Anyway, I think once you get a big enough saturation, paths don’t mean anything and people start sticking shit anywhere, as long as they can call it “Bushwick.” Note the condos (STILL not listed?) on Evergreen and Willoughby. I mean, what the fuck is there? Not a god damn thing.
I was sweeping my sidewalk today and fishing out the week’s trash from the thick patch of weeds I have allowed to thrive in my tree pit when a veritable mob of punky-looking white boys swarmed past — and then a completely different one swarmed in the other direction. I see newbies all the time on my street but this was so jarring that me AND the so-wrongly-spandexed dominicanas next to me stared at them.
August 14th, 2007 at 9:27 am
Newbies in corporate business attire live on my block (SB) from neighbor-States MA and CT (license plates). Soon, I guess, they’ll in the market for condos. There’s some condo conversion going on around here. From here there’s easy access to Jackie Robinson Parkway.
August 14th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
It’s Troutman between Central and Evergreen
August 15th, 2007 at 1:31 pm
In ref. to going to the south side for entertainment, the only good place to go there was I.O’s cause they played spanish music.Lets face it the majority of Bushwick for now is spanish.besides that place there,there is no other place to go in Williamsburgs to enjoy a night of spanish music dancing.unless somebody knows of a special night that way i dont have to go into the city.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Spanish music? Like flamenco? That’s unexpected!
August 15th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
another horrible looking building was built on the corner on willoughby and evergreen.the brown and beige building was poorly built.you can see the uneven balcanies on every floor.i dont know what is happening to our bushwick but i think soon enough we are all gonna be pushed out.remember L.I is getting to expensive and the retiring generation cant afford the taxes out there.they will be selling and looking for a comfortable mortgage.
August 15th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
meaning salsa,merenge and bachata.
August 15th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I know, I was messing with you.
August 15th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
hah! Nelson, if I underrstand your reference, I believe the building you are talking about is one of those Scarano ‘luxury’ buildings.
Poorly built? Never! Uglier than the normal Fedder’s buildings? I don’t think so.
August 18th, 2007 at 8:11 am
Hi Armstrong
Thank you for the kind words. I thought you were quite nice yourself and quite handsome:)
I enjoyed exploring Bushwick and I wish I had done the other 2 walking tours too - it really is a fascinating area for many reasons.
August 18th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
hey jeremy…any word on when that bar is going to open on starr street? God we need a lounge around here!
August 19th, 2007 at 2:11 am
Hey Lori - so good to see you hear again! Do keep us posted on any new developments and what you’re up to.
August 19th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
LORI - PS - there is a building on Knickerbocker (#248 maybe?) with a storefront that was just gutted and rehabbed. hint hint. =0)
August 20th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Bushwick girl, no news yet…it is getting late int he summer now, isn’t it? I will let you all know as soon as I know. Until then, Kings County bar on Seigel off Bogart is a cool place, and of course NE Kingdom has a great bar.
August 21st, 2007 at 5:14 pm
there are alot of bars and restaurants everywhere in bushwick with good and cheap drinks and eats. you hipsters too afraid to mingle with the latinos? or are you too good?
August 21st, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Teresa, don’t even pretend that bars that cater to working class Puerto Ricans, for example, would welcome a bunch of skinny-jeans white people with open arms. They’re pretty much social clubs with liquor licenses.
As far as restaurants, yes there are tons with good cheap food. Nobody disputed this. But when tacos and pizza get old, it would be nice to have a Thai place. No? Or maybe you hate Asians?
August 21st, 2007 at 10:09 pm
OK, where’s a good sit-down, Puerto Rican restaurant? I love Taza de Oro in Manhattan, on 8th Ave. Anyone been to anything similar around here that they would recommend?
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:04 am
I have trouble finding Puerto Rican places, period. There’s a fantastic cuchifrito on Graham at Flushing/Broadway — their morcilla is out of this world and $1 each. Kick-ass mofongo with lots of crunchy chicharrones mashed in. mmmm
Sit down? At the counter, sure.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:06 am
Jeremy, your assumptions are not entirely true. One debaucherous evening, after meeting some locals, I was brought to a Puerto Rican after hours club and was indeed received with open arms. I am btw a white skinny jean wearing homosexual. I would appreciate a thai place mind you, and a good used bookstore wouldn’t hurt.
August 22nd, 2007 at 1:19 am
My assumptions are true enough that I do not attempt to insert myself into established cliques without being invited — as you seem to have been that evening. According to Teresa, these locals who may very well despise us for our very presence in their neighborhood are going to want us invading their hangout spaces? That’s one area I see eye-to-eye on with the anti-gentrification crowd. People go to neighborhood bars to hang out with their own. These bars don’t exist so the likes of Teresa can get multicultural brownie points for hanging out with the cute ethnics.
I mean, the place across the street from my house is called Lares, as in, the town where the Puerto Rican independence movement was founded. You think they want some white-ass motherfuckers shooting pool in their bar? A little cultural intelligence goes a long way here.
August 22nd, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Armstrong we thought you were a die hard wickster, what you doing in gentrified chelsea of all places for spanish food.
true, can’t find a good spanish place either, maybe they all cook at home.
i think it is smart of lori to think about bushwick for a thai restaurant. we’ll see if she or others invest in the area. Armstrong is doing his best though, so keep kick up things over there in the park, keeping your eyes and ears open, and yes one day your self proclaimed white trash will live on MHP West, and you’ll be the toast of high society in Bushwick.
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Yeah, Armstrong, everyone knows if you like a neighborhood you NEVER, EVER leave it for ANYTHING.
Also, for fuck’s sake, Puerto Rican food is not Spanish food. Puerto Ricans aren’t Spanish, they SPEAK Spanish.
August 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I think the bar they are talking about may open up on St Nicholas & Troutman. There is a 3-story building that is being gut-renovated, including the closed old school coffeehouse on the corner, which is obviously going to be replaced by something. If its on Starr, there is no building at the corner of Wyckoff that could house it.
There is also a “cafe” of some sorts coming soon on Ridgewood side of Cypress Ave between Starr & Willoughby.
Also saw some couple renovating storefront space for a gallery next to Northeast Kingdom (which, to “Jill”, is never dead and always filled BTW!)
August 24th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
If you can help me find a decently priced store building or mixed use building to buy in Bushwick proper, I’d be interested in opening a music venue in Bushwick.
August 24th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
trulia.com, or get an agent
August 24th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
Matt, what kind of price range are you looking at? I sometimes come across these types of properties and would be more than happy to send them your way if they fit what you are looking for.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:23 am
it love nyc; former bklynite/bushwicker after 30 yrs in texas; i visit my old block this summer. it changed, i left during the blackouts of summer of 1977, the all the burned out stores on boadway, the only place too shop with a shopping cart, all memories, the ice cream palors, juniors , corner deli when tuna or hero sandwich was only 30cent and the huge pickles for nickle? i guess we all remember riding the mytyle-el or franklin ave shuttle, those seat that bite wicker seat cover, or heater that fryed your buns? and the old conductor smoking a stogie, collecting fair while our parents pretended too be asleep. i read recall in first reading lesson;on those wooded cattle cars:it read little enough too ride for free, little enough too ride my knee? i still got bklynite blues,next coney island, bronx stadium. is robert moses reborn??????
October 19th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
I WAS RAISED AT 310 TROUTMAN STREET. WHAT’S THAT AREA LIKE NOW (I’M 64)? SAFE? THE PARK? MORE INFO?
October 19th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
I don’t know if this was answered somewhere in the thread, but: Braid companies make braiding, passementerie, tassels, frogs, etc. Leather braiding companies make whips, crops, handles, etc.
October 27th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Jeremy Says:
August 22nd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Yeah, Armstrong, everyone knows if you like a neighborhood you NEVER, EVER leave it for ANYTHING.
Also, for fuck’s sake, Puerto Rican food is not Spanish food. Puerto Ricans aren’t Spanish, they SPEAK Spanish.
Sorry to disappoint you Jeremy,
“White” Puerto Ricans can trace their “Spanish” roots to “Mother Spain”; during the yrs of 1492!!! thousands of Spaniards stayed & “gentrified” Puerto Rico!!! yes…that’s why they speak spanish! take a 101 PR history cousre.
oh…yeah, don’t be suprised to be drinking wine next to what could be local hipsters @ NE Kingdom; they could also be “White” looking “Puerto Ricans”!!! remember…not all PR’s wear “Kiss me I’m PR buttons”!!!
see you all @ NE Kingdom.
December 19th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
Gee, Army, I thought Puerto Ricans spoke Spanish by total coincidence, that it developed spontaneously on the island, having nothing at all to do with Spain. Thank you for this history lesson.
*rolls eyes*