There are a few things that just make you stop dead in your tracks and smile. Maybe you’re even in a hurry, rushing along down the street, and then that wondrous sound comes to your ears – a voice and some sweet strums of an instrument playing a favorite song of yours. I’ve always thought musicians are to a neighborhood what fish are to a stream – an indicator of health and liveliness. If you can walk around for a whole day and not see anyone walking down the sidewalk carrying an instrument or sharing a song, you might want to think twice about what that says about the creative vitality of the place. Luckily for us, Greenpoint is full of musicians, and so today’s photo essay honors these minstrels and everyday suppliers of soul.
I found Jack Simchak breaking in a new guitar of his in McCarren Park. He was playing some beautiful classical guitar arpeggiations, which fit the feeling of a gorgeous late October day perfectly. Check out Jack’s project, Resident Electric.
With dog parks in both McGolrick and McCarren Park, lots of canine-conscious businesses that leave water bowls out for pups, and many great dog owners, Greenpoint is a pretty sweet place to be a dog. In celebration of man’s best friend, this week’s photo story is on our noble four-legged friends, because without them, our days would definitely be a little longer!
Snow is a female Westie mix. She loves the McGolrick dog park and is very playful!Meet Huey Lewis, who loves Transmitter Park and the power of love.Chewy is a mix. He can be a little bit of a grumpy old man, but he loves walks in McGolrick.Nina is a female rescue pup all the way from Georgia. She can entertain herself for hours chasing a ball.Haru is a year-old Pomeranian. Her name in Japanese means “little bit of sunshine”.Ari is a husky! She is sweet, strong willed and loves the outdoors. Transmitter Park is her favorite!Meet Olive. She’s a French Bulldog and she is definitely aware of how cute she is.Bazie is a Beagle. She LOVES smelling things.Lily is a seven year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She loves the McGolrick dog park.Eloise is a nine year old French Bulldog. She likes to sing along when her owner plays harmonica!
Snitches is a seven year old rescue pup. According to his owner, he is “part deer, part squirrel, part everything.” He always walks in Transmitter Park as part of his routine!
Halina, of Sky Flowers (164 Driggs Ave.), is originally from Warsaw, but has lived in Greenpoint and provided beautiful flowers at her store for almost twenty years. Of the Polish penchant for flowers, she says: “If you go to Poland, you will see beautiful gardens everywhere, it is part of the tradition.”
This week’s photo essay focuses on people that have been in Greenpoint a while and have stories to tell about it. Whether they remember movies at The Chopin Theater or when McGuinness Boulevard was still cobblestone, these folks are everyday guardians of the neighborhood’s history and traditions. If you are lucky enough to see them walking down the street, say hello, politely ask them about their memories of the neighborhood, and get ready for the best history lesson of your life… Continue reading →
A few shots from this week’s strolls through the neighborhood…
Egyptian photographer and new Greenpoint resident Owise Abuzaid sells some of his shots from recent travels in Egypt and Nigeria. Look for Owise on the sidewalk at the corner of Franklin and Noble on Saturdays.A hawk spotted in McGolrick Park. Look at that wingspan!
On the evening of July 3rd, a rainbow was photographed from infinite angles in Greenpoint, Brooklyn – Land of a Thousand Raindows! This happens every year around this time and it’s always magical.
Thanks to the following Instagram friends for taking these gorgeous photos – and tagging them “greenpoint”!
Do we all agree that spring sucks this year? Those electric blue skies, humping brown birds, bursting daffodils and even blooming cherry blossoms – but the damn cold won’t quit! Spring, stop sleeping in and get up and go to work! What a lazy season.
Share you Greenpoint snaps with us tag #greenpointers @greenpointers on Instagram.
I remember having a conservation with a architectural historian about Greenpoint. He remarked at how beautiful our landmarked blocks are and I said, “how about landmarking the siding? That is quintessential Greenpoint!” And Connie O’s, of course.
