Waiting out the pandemic, photographer Johnny Cirillo has spent recent weeks indoors along with the rest of his fellow Greenpoint neighbors adhering to social distancing guidelines.
His new photo series captures friends in their quarantined state from their apartment windows, balconies and fire escapes.
While his projects such as the weekly Fashion Sundae photo series on the Greenpointers website are on hold, Cirillo has started to film drone videos (much to the excitement of his son Cassius) of Buzz Lightyear making sure all is well in the area, which served as inspiration for the portrait series. Continue reading →
The North Brooklyn Angels have launched a new campaign to feed healthcare workers. (Courtesy of North Brooklyn Angels)
The North Brooklyn Angels launched a new initiative this week to help laid off restaurant workers and front line health care heroes. The “Neighbors Feeding Heroes” crowdfunding campaign began accepting donations on Wednesday morning with more than $650 raised so far.
The non-profit, volunteer-powered soup kitchen regularly serves freshly prepared meals for free throughout Greenpoint, Williamsburg and Bushwick in the “Angelmobile” with help from a production kitchen at Our Lady Mount Carmel Church (275 N 8th St.).
The new initiative provides workers at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens with breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days per week during the coronavirus crisis, with a kitchen team operating out of Jimmy’s Dinner (577 Union Ave.).
“The great thing that we’ve done is to put restaurant workers back to work in a safe way and we’re starting with 100 meal three times per day, Manny Howard spokesperson for the North Brooklyn Angels said. “And then, as their capacity to accept these meals grows and our capacity to produce grows, we’ll definitely put that number up. And with any luck we’ll be able to hire more restaurant workers.”
A man was stabbed on a J train as it approached the Lorimer Street station on Truesday morning. (Courtesy of Mtattrain/BY-SA)
A man who is believed to be in his 30s was stabbed to death on a Queens-bound J train near the Lorimer Street station in Williamsburg early Tuesday at around 2:30 a.m., amNewYork first reported.
The murderer was wearing a surgical mask and fled at the Flushing Avenue station after stabbing the victim multiple in his back and neck, the Brooklyn Paper reports:
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the unidentified male victim got into an argument with the unknown attacker.
The words turned physical, police sources said, when the attacker pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed the victim in the back and neck.
Both the victim and the suspect remained on board the J train until the Flushing Avenue stop, where the murderer departed.
The victim was rushed to Woodhull Hopsital where he was pronounced dead as officers from the 90th Precinct in Williamsburg responded to the scene.
Gimme Coffee! (451 Lorimer St.) is permanently closed (via Google Maps)
The Williamsburg location of Ithaca-based Gimme! Coffee will not reopen after closing in March in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the business announced on Tuesday.
The local independent coffee roaster and retailer will also permanently close their sole Manhattan location at 221 Mott St.
Other locations of Gimme! Coffee, which was founded in 2000, includes five upstate shops that are also currently closed; the Williamsburg location opened in 2003.
Citing “challenges that many small businesses in the hospitality industry are facing,” Gimme! Coffee will continue to accept online orders and a portion of the proceeds from sales of their “rally blend” will support their 44 laid off baristas.
A children’s sing along at a residential Greenpoint building on Monday.
Schools have been closed for nearly a month and virtual classrooms are the new normal as quarantined parents in Greenpoint are finding new ways to connect their kids in these socially distant times.
On Monday, Green Street residents sent footage to Greenpointers of a children’s sing along at a balcony of an apartment building for all of the neighboring kids stuck inside. Continue reading →
Signs placed in McCarren Park show the minimum distance people should stand apart during the coronavirus outbreak.
“Due to the coronavirus pandemic, dog runs are closed until further notice,” the NYC Parks Dept. announced on Monday.
“Our parks remain open to dogs and pet owners to get fresh air and exercise; however, dogs must be kept on a leash according to park rules, and dog owners must keep social distance,” the Parks Dept. website states.
The closure of the doggo destinations throughout the city include the popular dog runs in McCarren and McGolrick parks in Greenpoint as well as the East River State Park in Williamsburg. Parks remain open for human visitors and leashed dogs to get their daily exercise in. Continue reading →
We are one week into the non-essential construction ban, and if you live near an active site then check out the Dept. of Buildings’ new map of “essential” construction, and remember to call 311 with any reports.
Governor Cuomo closed the playgrounds this week but parks remain open if you must go out to for solo exercise.
Greenpoint’s farmers markets are both open this weekend at McCarren Park (Saturday 8am to 2pm) and at McGolrick Park (Sunday from 10am to 4pm ), but remember to keep a six foot distance from others to maintain social distancing.
Following CDC recommendations, Mayor de Deblasio is now asking that everyone wear face masks when out in public. The precautionary measure helps to stop the spread of coronavirus by people who are asymptomatic.
“We’re advising New Yorkers to wear a face covering when you go outside and near others. It can be a scarf, a bandana or one you make at home. But PLEASE: save medical masks for our health care workers & first responders who truly need them,” de Basio said in a statement.
For all of the butter-milk fried chicken and beer fans out there, Greenpoint Beer and Ale Co. is offering a takeout feast this weekend complete with house made mac and cheese and cole slaw; call ahead to place your order.
Stay safe and healthy, and in the meantime catch up on this week’s headlines from around the neighborhood: Continue reading →
Construction will continue at 77 Commercial St. as “essential”
Last Friday, Governor Cuomo ordered all non-essential construction to cease to help stop the spread of coronavirus, but allowed for developments that include affordable housing to move forward.
Greenpoint’s coastal highrise construction sites will mostly continue through the pandemic according to a map released by the city on Friday.
The “Essential Active Construction Sites” map shows that work can proceed at 30 Kent St., 144 West St., 19 India St., 10 Huron St., 77 Commercial St., 1056 Manhattan Ave., 211 McGuinness Blvd. and Greenpoint Landing.
The map released by the city on Friday shows where construction is considered essential.
A note posted on Thursday night by Notaro’s family explains that he was battling dementia at the time of his passing:
It is with deep sorrow that the family of Carmine Notaro share with you that he passed away peacefully this evening after a long battle with dementia. Carmine loved his customers. He was proud to serve you and always wanted to make the best food for you to enjoy. Sharing his food and sharing his stories with each of you brought him great joy. After this crisis has passed, we will celebrate his life!
A contested MTA-owned warehouse abutting the future Bushwick Inlet Park could be purchased by the state and preserved as park space instead of being developed into condos, New York Assembly Member Joe Lentol announced on Thursday.
The one-story, 72,600 square-foot building known as the mobile wash unit site at 40 Quay St. was explored as a possible development site as the MTA released a Request for Proposals for Development in the summer of 2019.
Rendering via Friends of Bushwick Inlet Park
Over the past year, local leaders and activists called on the MTA to suspend development plans at 40 Quay St. to prevent another high rise apartment building and to extend the future Bushwick Inlet Park. Continue reading →
