Breaking News: Owen Banks Revealed!

Photo: Brian Griffith

Awhile back I photographed some intriguing artwork painted on a brownstone which had the name "Owen Banks" written above it. However I couldn't find any info on this mystery artist. But this morning, "Owen Banks" has revealed himself to be the artist Brian Griffith. The brownstone mural is entitled Mural of Another Universe / The Alterverse. From his website:

I LIVE & BREATHE MUSIC & ART! IT'S AN EVERYDAY LOVE. I'VE BEEN DRAWING SINCE THE AGE OF 5. IN THE PAST, I'VE STUDIED AT SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS, THE ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF NEW YORK, A FEW COURSES AT COOPER UNION & PRATT INSTITUTE. ONE OF MY BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS WAS AND STILL IS MARVEL COMICS. THE CREATOR HAS BLESSED ME WITH THIS TALENT OF ART & MUSIC AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF MY LIFE TILL THE END OF LIFE ITSELF! SENT DOWN BY THE MASTER TO INSPIRE AND THEN MOVE ON! KEEP IT MOVIN"

The Greatest Danger

The execution of the first quote on this wall is a little wonky, but the quote itself is worth reading:

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michelangelo

"There is no love where there is no will." - Gandhi
Although the second quote contains the word 'love' it is part of Gandhi advocating for violence over passivity. The continuation of the quote is as follows: "In India there is not only no love but hatred due to emasculation. There is the strongest desire to fight and kill side by side with utter helplessness. This desire must be satisfied by restoring the capacity for fighting. Then comes the choice."

I wonder what these two quotes meant to the person(people) who wrote them, especially in conjunction with each other.

Today's Local News: Mission Accomplished

My well-worn map of Bed-Stuy, with each street we covered crossed out in brown marker. In hindsight, I should have used a highlighter so we could read the street names better, but oh well.

So here it is, 63 weeks later, we walked roughly 174 miles (the sum of the length of each street equals approximately 87 miles, but we had to walk to an area from our house then walk back again, so double that figure) to achieve my goal of walking and documenting every single street in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Big Joe and I took our walks around our neighbourhood about three times a month, for three to four hours, pushing Little Joe in a stroller and stopping at every playground, which is why it took as long as it did. But I still feel a great sense of accomplishment, not to mention, wonder and awe at the complexity of it all.

Have I gotten a greater insight into what makes Bed-Stuy tick? Possibly. I do know that it is a neighbourhood of extremes, rough blocks with deserted buildings and trash and dog crap filled empty lots and a negative vibe that we speed-walked through - although there weren't many of those. Well-maintained blocks with gorgeous architecture and abundant greenery and flowers, mostly in the southern end. The Hassidic area that looks like another era and world - a world it's hard to believe is part of Bed-Stuy. Deserted industrial areas full of both hipster and gang graffiti. Mosques and a thousand and one churches of every shape and size and denomination, from an unmarked unassuming door, to impressive spires and towers that reach to the skies. Fast food restaurants, mom and pop cafes, black owned hipster restaurants, bodegas and Chinese food restaurants with bullet proof glass. Flourishing community gardens. Depressing uninspired clusters of buildings that form the projects. Storefronts with an impressive array of Obama memorabilia, chic boutiques with African art, junk shops, dollar stores. Detailed memorial murals and scribbled graffiti honouring everyone from gang members to children hit by cars.

Groups of tough-looking teenagers giving us dirty looks, laughing pre-schoolers, smiling welcoming working-class neighbours, dirty white people on bikes, skinny white hipsters at the laundromat, Mexicans in a block long wedding procession with a live band, black hipsters at recently opened cafes, church ladies selling red velvet cake at outdoor fundraisers. Joyful block parties, smoking barbeques in front yards with families spilling out on to the streets, pre-teens throwing eggs and water balloons at cars and bikes, pit bulls and their owners, Chinese people hanging clean laundry out to dry next to their cars.

It's a colourful, lively, dirty, ugly, beautiful mix - a microcosm of New York City. It's our neighbourhood. It's our home. And now we're going to do it again. Walk every street, take pictures, talk to strangers, make new friends.

Brooklyn weather: Sporadic thundershowers with spots of sunshine.

Making Do

Just because your front door has been uglified, doesn't mean you can't try to make it pretty.

*Save Bedford-Stuyvesant just informed me that this means that someone died at this house. I apologize for making light of their grief. I didn't know. May they rest in peace.

Where Old Bloggers Go To Die

Photo: Kenilworth Weekly News

Not long after a fellow blogger mentioned to me how she thought that the Brooklyn Blogfest was for the over 40 set, I was asked to be one of the panelists at this year's blogfest. And of course I accepted, because, hey I'm 40! (I love btw, how my kid runs around advertising to anyone who cares to listen, how old he is. It makes me want to go up to strangers and say, "Do you want to know how old I am? I'm 40! And soon I'll be 41!")

So if you'd like to pay ten bucks to watch a bunch of geriatric bloggers sit on stage, trim their ear hair, and compare notes on walkers and adult diapers, come to the Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest at powerhouse Books in Dumbo on May 7th, 2009. Admission for seniors is only half price! There'll be old geezers everywhere! I'll also be heading a small group discussion on saving for your retirement while on food stamps and making your own organic wrinkle cream. PLUS, there'll be free prune juice and Bingo games at the after-party at Galapagos. If you happen to be under 40, this is your chance to learn a thing or two from us old farts.*

But seriously, I actually don't know the ages of the panelists at this year's blogfest. And since I've only been to one, I can just say say that at last year's blogfest there were some young whippersnappers like the kids at Super Vegan and others under 40 - like Erica who wrote Dear Famous Asshole, who now is a co-founder of Fucked in Park Slope, Miss Heather of New York Shitty, and Jake Dobkin of Blue Jake and Gothamist.

I actually had a lot of fun at last year's blogfest and met some interesting people. So if you blog, have ever thought about blogging, or just want to see the faces behind the blogs, come to the blogfest. Students are also half price. Even though I'm part of the over 40 set, I'd love to see more younger bloggers, fresh blood. Especially more people of colour as these gatherings tend to be overwhelming white. Also if you've started your blog in the last year, you can announce your blog at the "Shout Out" and get some new readers. Brit in Brooklyn invites photobloggers to submit photos for a video montage that will be projected at the blogfest.

Unfortunately, unlike in previous years, there's no free booze, it being a recession and all. Anyway, here's the official info:

Brooklyn Blogfest 2009 May 7th at 7 p.m. powerHouse Arena in Dumbo
For the most current information and to register online: go to brooklynblogfest.com

Find out why Brooklyn is the bloggiest place in America at the Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest on May 7, 2009 7 p.m. at powerHouse Arena in DUMBO.

Brooklyn Blogfest 2009 is an exciting, idea-filled event for bloggers, blog readers and the blog curious curious, where you will find: Insight. Advice. Inspiration. Resources.

Here's your chance to meet your favorite bloggers; learn about blogging; be inspired to blog.

"Where better to take the pulse of this rapidly growing community of writers, thinkers and observers than the Brooklyn Blogfest?" ~ Sewell Chan, The New York Times

This year's event will take place on May 7, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the powerHouse Arena in DUMBO.

WHY WE BLOG will be the theme of a high-profile panel discussion. This year Brooklyn Blogfest introduces BLOGS-OF-A-FEATHER, special small-group sessions, where you can connect with other bloggers who share your interests.

Once again, there will a VIDEO TRIBUTE TO BROOKLYN'S PHOTO BLOGGERS and the annual SHOUT-OUT: a chance to share your blog with the world!

Whether you live to blog, blog to live or are just curious about this thing called blogging, you won't want to miss Brooklyn Blogfest 2009: the best Blogfest yet.

To find out about sponsorship opportunities for Brooklyn Blogfest, contact Louise Crawford (e:louise_crawford@yahoo.com, c: 718-288-4290).

The Details:

Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest
May 7, 2009
Doors open at 7 p.m.
powerHouse Arena
37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and seniors)

Brooklyn Blogfest After-Party
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(right across the street from powerHouse Arena)

Cash bar and refreshments

Brooklyn Blogfest 2009

Insight. Advice. Inspiration. Resources.

*My mother, who's a senior citizen, read this post and pointed out that even though I include myself in the old people section, that joking about walkers and adult diapers is offensive - as it's a hard thing for people who're getting older to lose their independence. For this I sincerely apologize. I guess I'm not quite as old, or rather, mature as I thought I was. And the great thing about one's parents is that when you're around them, you can usually count on acting like a thirteen year old - thus staying forever young.

10 Points

This wheat pasted flyer was put up around the neighbourhood a month or two ago, but its message is even older. It's an abbreviated version of the 10 point program and platform from the Black Panther Party circa 1966. Here's the original version:

The Ten Point Plan

WE WANT FREEDOM. WE WANT POWER TO DETERMINE THE DESTINY OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.
We believe that Black and oppressed people will not be free until we are able to determine our destinies in our own communities ourselves, by fully controlling all the institutions which exist in our communities.

WE WANT FULL EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE.
We believe that the federal government is responsible and obligated to give every person employment or a guaranteed income. We believe that if the American businessmen will not give full employment, then the technology and means of production should be taken from the businessmen and placed in the community so that the people of the community can organize and employ all of its people and give a high standard of living.

WE WANT AN END TO THE ROBBERY BY THE CAPITALISTS OF OUR BLACK AND OPPRESSED COMMUNITIES.
We believe that this racist government has robbed us and now we are demanding the overdue debt of forty acres and two mules. Forty acres and two mules were promised 100 years ago as restitution for slave labor and mass murder of Black people. We will accept the payment in currency which will be distributed to our many communities. The American racist has taken part in the slaughter of our fifty million Black people. Therefore, we feel this is a modest demand that we make.

WE WANT DECENT HOUSING, FIT FOR THE SHELTER OF HUMAN BEINGS.
We believe that if the landlords will not give decent housing to our Black and oppressed communities, then housing and the land should be made into cooperatives so that the people in our communities, with government aid, can build and make decent housing for the people.

WE WANT DECENT EDUCATION FOR OUR PEOPLE THAT EXPOSES THE TRUE NATURE OF THIS DECADENT AMERICAN SOCIETY. WE WANT EDUCATION THAT TEACHES US OUR TRUE HISTORY AND OUR ROLE IN THE PRESENT-DAY SOCIETY.
We believe in an educational system that will give to our people a knowledge of the self. If you do not have knowledge of yourself and your position in the society and in the world, then you will have little chance to know anything else.

WE WANT COMPLETELY FREE HEALTH CARE FOR All BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
We believe that the government must provide, free of charge, for the people, health facilities which will not only treat our illnesses, most of which have come about as a result of our oppression, but which will also develop preventive medical programs to guarantee our future survival. We believe that mass health education and research programs must be developed to give all Black and oppressed people access to advanced scientific and medical information, so we may provide our selves with proper medical attention and care.

WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO POLICE BRUTALITY AND MURDER OF BLACK PEOPLE, OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR, All OPPRESSED PEOPLE INSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
We believe that the racist and fascist government of the United States uses its domestic enforcement agencies to carry out its program of oppression against black people, other people of color and poor people inside the united States. We believe it is our right, therefore, to defend ourselves against such armed forces and that all Black and oppressed people should be armed for self defense of our homes and communities against these fascist police forces.

WE WANT AN IMMEDIATE END TO ALL WARS OF AGGRESSION.
We believe that the various conflicts which exist around the world stem directly from the aggressive desire of the United States ruling circle and government to force its domination upon the oppressed people of the world. We believe that if the United States government or its lackeys do not cease these aggressive wars it is the right of the people to defend themselves by any means necessary against their aggressors.

WE WANT FREEDOM FOR ALL BLACK AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE NOW HELD IN U. S. FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY AND MILITARY PRISONS AND JAILS. WE WANT TRIALS BY A JURY OF PEERS FOR All PERSONS CHARGED WITH SO-CALLED CRIMES UNDER THE LAWS OF THIS COUNTRY.
We believe that the many Black and poor oppressed people now held in United States prisons and jails have not received fair and impartial trials under a racist and fascist judicial system and should be free from incarceration. We believe in the ultimate elimination of all wretched, inhuman penal institutions, because the masses of men and women imprisoned inside the United States or by the United States military are the victims of oppressive conditions which are the real cause of their imprisonment. We believe that when persons are brought to trial they must be guaranteed, by the United States, juries of their peers, attorneys of their choice and freedom from imprisonment while awaiting trial.

WE WANT LAND, BREAD, HOUSING, EDUCATION, CLOTHING, JUSTICE, PEACE AND PEOPLE'S COMMUNITY CONTROL OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY.
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are most disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpation, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.

We now have our first black president. But has anything really changed for the black community? Or for the 'poor oppressed people'? Or are these demands/requests still largely unfulfilled 43 years later?

Bed-Stuy Architectural Digest - 9 - Shock of the New

In these depressed economic times with building prices going down, power brokers going broke, and brand new condos staying empty, are these half finished buildings destined to be completed or to remain skeletons?

This building looks like someone possibly had plans to renovate it, only now it remains deserted.

Big Joe was fascinated by this ugly new building's brick and concrete housing for its trashcans.

This unusual ultra-modern building was recently completed and is yet unoccupied.

Whoever bought this property decided to keep the wall of the previous building intact, demolish the rest, and then build another house on the inside lot. I admire their creative thinking.

While this new (and empty) structure sports thin long windows on the side.

Palm Trees and Sailboats

Boy Toys

Walking home with Little Joe the other day I discovered this bullet on the sidewalk. I took a quick photo and kept on walking. Had I brought it to my son's attention, he surely would have wanted to take it home to add to the other treasures he's found on the ground - pieces of broken plastic toys, hair ribbons, rocks, sticks, marbles, barrettes, washers, nails, movie ticket stubs, the list goes on and on. And if we didn't live in an urban environment where gunshots are heard too often I would have indulged him. Perhaps this stray bullet came from some kid who just fired it into the air because he (it may have been a she, but I'm guessing it was a he) was joyfully celebrating something. This happens, some kids think shooting a gun is akin to fireworks. Or not. At any rate, guns are the one thing I've never wanted my son to play with, plastic, water or otherwise. Although last summer I did give in to his begging and got him a neon green water 'blaster.' I thought anyway that it looked more like a space gun than a real gun. But in the end, a gun's a gun. Space gun or earth gun - they're both made with the intent to kill.

What is it with boys and guns? Of course if I had a little girl I guess I'd have to deal with pink fixations, barbies and princesses, which are no less vile. But at least they don't have anything to do with death. And when I think of all the children who are killed simply by accidental gunfire, from finding their daddy's gun in a drawer and thinking it was a toy, or by being in the wrong place at the wrong time...I wish they didn't even make toy guns. Guns are not toys.

When Big Joe was a kid, his dad made him and his brother a blow dart gun, slingshots, throwing stars, and other dangerous toys I wouldn't even think of letting my son near. I'm surprised his mom allowed it. But then again I did get Little Joe an Easy-Bake Oven, which in 2007 was recalled, after there were reports of 249 children getting their fingers caught in the opening, 77 reports of burns, one so serious, it led to a partial finger amputation of a five year old girl. While the list of 10 most dangerous toys in 2008 includes magnetic earrings, a lip balm and lip gloss make up set, and a Dora the Explorer lamp. So really you just never know. Best to ban toys altogether and let him play with the cardboard boxes in our recycling pile.

Breaking News - Fresher Paint

Animal reports that the face of the Ol' Dirty Bastard mural has been repainted again. This clearly has become a war of sorts. Well better a war with paint than a war with guns.

Photo: Animal

And further details from the completed Chris Stain/Billy Mode wall:

Urban Gravestones - 22

R.I.P RiCO W.P.
(location: Madison St. at corner of Bedford Ave.)

The Writing on the Wall - 3

I M HELL A BORED

DON'T LET 1% CONTROL THE OTHER 99 - KNOX

RED - FOX - FOGIVE - YOURSELF - GET UP - GET GOD! 07

Auto Spa

Looks like these cars are catching up on some much needed beauty sleep. Wish I could do the same. I'm looking a little rough around the edges myself.

We Like Bikes

At first I thought this was a real bike. How original, I thought, to be able to have real plants adorn your bike instead of plastic flowers. It is a nice planter though. However, I wonder if, like many of the odd and kitschy decorations I've been appreciating in our hood lately, if it just came from Home Depot.

This is definitely a DIY cargo bike. A lot of work went into this one.

This looks like a coffee cart bicycle. If so, has anyone seen this in action? And how's the coffee?

This bike rack is the kind that one usually finds installed by the city on public sidewalks. Although you can request to have one installed in your neighbourhood, I highly doubt they'd install one in your front yard, as found here. Unless they're available for private purchasing?

Bed-Stuy has a strong car culture, but bicycle culture is starting to make some headway. Our new bike lanes over the past year or so have helped a lot. We still get eggs and sometimes rocks thrown at us, people yell irate and obscene things out their car windows, and insist on double parking in the bike lanes. While riding down narrow, pot-hole ridden, crazy car driver infested Broadway, which is the most direct route to the Williamsburg Bridge, is a death wish. I don't think New York will ever be a bike friendly place like Amsterdam, or Portland for that matter. But we can hope. I would love to be able to take my kid to school via bike instead of the train without fear that we might get killed on the way.

The Week in Review - Caterpillar Turds and Attempted Manslaughter

So last Sunday, Little Joe and I were taking it easy, watching movie previews, lazing around in our pajamas way past noon, eating second breakfast, and I was getting around to some much needed house cleaning that I didn't have time to do all week. Like bleaching our moldy Sigg bottle tops, which is the only time we ever use a non-biodegradable cleaner in our house. Sigg bottles are the best, we use them all day, every day, but the tops are prone to black mold on the rubber rings.

Big Joe, as usual, was working in his studio, but was taking a quick break to grab some trail mix and check out the Coraline preview I had open on my computer. I was getting food out of the fridge to make lunch when he stopped in, gave me a quick hug and left. When I turned around I noticed a full glass of water on the kitchen counter which I swore wasn't there before. Big Joe tends to be like an absent minded professor when he's working - pouring himself a glass of water and then leaving it in odd places like on top of the bookshelf or on the lid of the toilet. So I figured it must be his and brought it to him. "Here," I chided, "you forgot this in the kitchen." Not looking away from the movie preview he took the glass, raised it to his lips and took a large swallow. Instantly his face distorted, he spat the liquid on to the floor, and ran to the bathroom sink. Simultaneously I realized that the glass of 'water' was actually the glass of diluted bleach I'd used to soak the bottle tops in. Normally, once I remove the bottle tops I toss out the bleach, but that day I thought I'd be thrifty and re-use the bleach on the moldy grout in our shower. Only I'd forgotten that I was going to do that. "It's bleach!" I gasped. "I'm so sorry!"

Big Joe, to his credit, in between pouring copious amounts of water into his mouth and gargling furiously, started laughing. "You gave me bleach to drink?" In panic mode, I ran over to the hall closet to grab the bleach bottle to figure out what to do if someone swallows it. But not only did the Clorox bleach bottle not have big toxic warning symbols on it, but the fine print was so tiny I could barely read it. Especially as I was freaking out. All I could find were instructions if bleach were to get on your skin or in your eyes. Nothing for ingesting it. However, I vaguely remembered reading somewhere that the best thing for swallowing bleach is a glass of milk. So I got him that, which helped.

Fortunately he hadn't swallowed the bleach solution completely, it had gone part of the way down his throat and then promptly came back up. After he managed to calm the burning sensation in his mouth and throat a little, he tried to get back to work, but then felt dizzy and sick and had to lay down for the rest of the day. He still thinks it's funny. His scorched tongue and throat recovered. And his teeth are much whiter. But oh my god. What if I'd killed him? And what is it called if you almost unintentionally kill someone? Attempted manslaughter is an oxymoron. I guess you just call it near fatal stupidity. He kindly didn't tell anyone about my moronic tendencies that nearly took his life. Thank the powers that be I didn't give that glass to my son. And wow, I still can't believe Big Joe took it so well. If it had been me, I'd have been livid. Did I choose a good man or what?

This incident suddenly made me think about this guy at the food co-op who was a squad leader. I'd been assigned to his squad many years ago and he'd sexually harrassed me several times, until I left. Feeling embarrassed and angry, and having had an experience in college where a teacher had sexually harrassed me and I'd reported it and nothing was done, I chose to just avoid him. Then several years later, I ran into him at the co-op and he harrassed me again, I came out in tears, and Big Joe spoke to the office to see if anything could be done. They told him I should write a letter and a formal complaint was filed, which was the precursor to a formal hearing where we'd both have to be present. Having to face him and talk about everything that had happened made me want to drop the case altogether. Only a month and half later, he died. Apparently he'd had a bad heart.

So don't mess with me. I absent mindedly almost kill my loved ones and inadvertently bring on heart attacks for the ones I despise. I'm like Serial Mom and Mr.Magoo combined.

-------------------------

On a lighter note, I found some budget toys to supplement the cardboard ones I make for Little Joe. Basically most anything in the cellar at Pearl River - our favourite store. Last week he was enamoured with a foam rubber (?) caterpillar he discovered for only $1.25. You put this caterpillar in a jar of water and three days later it grows 600% bigger (according to the package insert.) Big Joe said it looked like a big turd. But Little Joe couldn't have been happier. It reminded me of the toys I sent away for on the back of comic books when I was a kid. I futilely tried to 'throw my voice' with this little piece of metal that you stick under your tongue, watched in vain for my 'sea monkeys' to grow and look like the cartoon illustration, and continued to buy various other crap that never worked but kept me entertained for hours. The caterpillar turd at least grew just like it said it would.

Lions, Tigers and Bears

This is the first plaster lion I've ever seen with glass eyes. And they seem to follow you wherever you go. Kinda creepy.

Saber teeth are all well and good unless you get stuck in a tree.

Okay, so I'm not really sure it's a bear. An oversize chimp perhaps? A very bear-like oversize chimp.

Lost Cat

This notice was posted in the southwest part of Bed-Stuy. The 'we miss her horribly' part gets me the most. Here's a photo of a 'Russian Blue' cat in case you don't know what kind of cat that was (I didn't.)

photo: catfacts.org

Today's Local News - Fresh Paint

Not long after the face of this mural of ODB was repainted, by an anonymous artist after its literal defacing in December 2007, it has been defaced AGAIN. This time the person also took the liberty of painting over the 'Bastard' part of the signature. Which makes me think that the person doing the defacing is unhappy not just with the memorialization of ODB but the name he chose to call himself. Angry church lady? Or just not a hip hop fan?

While in another part of the neighbourhood, a new Chris Stain piece goes up on a wall, and the paint's still wet. Billy Mode in action on the right.

Apparently, although this boy has his hands over his mouth, a quote, not yet decided on when we passed by this afternoon, may be added to give this piece words and a deeper context soon.

Brooklyn weather: Overcast and colder than we expected for highs of 57 degrees.

Car Culture - 7

This auto repair business has the best collection of handmade signs in the hood.

But this auto repair business, has a kick ass car mural.

And does expert work.

Weeksville

Little Joe and I have got miserable colds, and judging by my fellow commuters coughing and hacking on the subway today, so does half of New York. Anyway I'm way too tired to blog. Fortunately for me, Daniel Ross, web producer at WNET/Thirteen, alerted me about the latest episode of their program, "The City Concealed," which focuses on Weeksville, which is technically in Crown Heights but either because of its history, or because of redefined borders, is considered part of Bed-Stuy.

The Hunterfly Road Houses of Weeksville are the discovered remnants of a free African-American enclave of urban trasdespeople and property owners. The community provided safety for fugitive slaves and those later fleeing the Civil War draft riots of lower Manhattan. By the time of the Emancipation Proclamation, Weeksville was a thriving area with its own doctors, teachers, publishers, and social services.

The Houses help fill a historical gap between slavery and the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The Weeksville staff clearly promote the idea of a successful African-American project that can be remembered with pride.

For those of you who haven't had a chance to check it out in person, here's a video. Now go check out this important part of America's history for yourself. The Weeksville Heritage Center offers tours Tuesday through Saturday.

Hunterfly Road Houses
1698 Bergen Street, Brooklyn, NY 11213
(between Buffalo and Rochester Avenue)

Weeksville: An African-American Community Established in the 1800s



The City Concealed: Weeksville from Thirteen.org on Vimeo.

Bed-Stuy Meadow

Imagine if these wildflowers were the first image that popped into people's minds when you mentioned you lived in Bed-Stuy.

Artist and Bed-Stuy resident, Deborah Fisher is hoping to change our trashy image:

I'm hoping that you'll want to spread the word about a new Brooklyn-based project that I have launched called 21st Century Plowshare. It's a website that propagates environmental actions that matter to people who are not already environmentalists. Instead of being oppositional, these actions are seductive. They harness the small contributions of many people into high-profile, visual changes that focus on making the environment into a place instead of a concept, and are about infecting people with joy instead of guilt.

The maiden action is called Bed Stuy Meadow--we will be turning the entire neighborhood of Bed Stuy (where I live) into a meadow by planting wildflower seeds in every single neglected patch of soil available this April. This seems do-able. Wildflowers grow easily when seeds are cast, and Bed Stuy has a surfeit of neglected patches of soil. The profusion of wildflowers that result from this minimal effort will hopefully be relentless and visually unifying, and this relentless unity of wildflowers will hopefully make everyone walking the streets of Bed Stuy feel really, really good. I am hoping that this project will be so successful and so beautiful that Google Earth feels compelled to rephotograph the neighborhood, so I really need your help creating a buzz.

Sounds good to me. Planting starts in three weeks. To donate or volunteer to throw a seed bomb or two, check out her website.

Books on the J,M,Z - 6

I'd probably only read this if there was nothing else and I was stuck at an airport in a snowstorm overnight. But I do think the second part of the title, 'Around the World in Spandex,' is brilliant.

As usual, a huge variety of literature, read by a diverse group of people. Which is one of the main reasons I love New York.

Baby Proof - Emily Giffin - the heroine is a 35 year old woman working in publishing who doesn't want kids, although her partner does. According to Booklist she's one of the best 'chicklit' writers around. Still doesn't make me want to read it, however.

Lisey's Story - Stephen King - read by older Latina woman. Psychological horror. The NY Times gives it a glowing review, calling it "Mr.King's most honest work." They say Stephen King is the only writer out there making any money. If nothing else, he's extremely prolific. Horror's not my thing, however, when I was a little girl I used to sleep with the covers up over my neck to protect myself from vampires. I still don't like having my neck exposed in bed.

Dave Barry Turns 40 - Dave Barry - coincidentally, the author plays lead guitar in a literary rock band called the Rock Bottom Remainders, whose other members include Stephen King, Amy Tan, Frank McCourt, Ridley Pearson and Mitch Albom. The person reading this book on the train was an enormous white man who looked like a sumo wrestler, shaved pear shaped head, no eyebrows, listening to his iPod, and shaking his head in time to the music. This head shaking was punctuated by his thin lips spreading in a wide grin over what he was reading. He was so clearly enjoying himself in his own world and completely oblivious to everyone around him. Although I'm not a Dave Barry fan, watching this man almost made me want to pick up a copy.

The Suspect - John Lescroart - NY Times bestselling author. Thriller. Not one of my preferred genres.

The Tragedy of Richard III - William Shakespeare - read by black man with short hair and a short pointy beard looking very similar to the illustration on the cover.

Primate Behavioral Ecology - Karen B. Strier - read by bucktoothed lanky white male hipster wearing brown suede shoes with bright blue laces. Possible anthropology college student - surely not reading this for personal enjoyment?

A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex - Chris Jericho - read by Hispanic man with a beard. Autobiography by professional wrestling superstar "Lion Heart Jericho." As a kid, I remember my dad's favourite time of the week was Saturday afternoons when he'd sit in the lazyboy with a big bag of potato chips and a pint of chocolate ice cream, roaring over pro wrestling on the t.v. Although I watched this show occasionally with him, I never saw the attraction.

Black Seed: A Cure For Every Disease Except Death - read by a Latina with hip length wet wavy hair carrying a Chanel bag. Although more of a pamphlet than a book, it had such an intriguing title I had to include it. Black seed, also known as black cumin seeds or Nigella Sativa, is an ancient herb that has been mentioned by both the Bible and the Prophet Mohammed. Being a devout follower of herbology and homeopathy, I'm surprised I've never heard of this one before. The things you learn on the subway.

Siddharta - Herman Hesse - I saw this book peeking out of the back pocket of a stylish young black man getting off at the Myrtle stop. When I was 18 and devoured romance novels, my first boyfriend who was 11 years my senior, tried to get me to improve my mind by suggesting I read certain books. This classic tome on enlightenment was one of them.

Boyz in the Hood

Willie

Luis

Errol

Howard

Winter's End

This fine weekend of balmy temperatures hints at the coming of spring. Oddly enough, although I can't wait for spring to arrive, I'll miss the trees in their winter nakedness. There's something so vulnerable about them.

This little one looks like it will barely survive, shoved against the corner walls by the rotting cellar door.

While this one, even in hibernation, is clearly flourishing, and reaches its arms not only across a second neighbouring property, but has ambitions to claim a third.

As a recovering Catholic, turned atheist, turned agnostic, turned somewhat Buddhist and back to agnostic again, all I can honestly say about a higher power is, I believe in trees. Their incredible growth, their strength, their beauty, their life giving oxygen, the state of grace I feel when walking through a forest grove. Trees are my religion.

There is someone in my life whom I think about everyday, who is suffering, has been suffering for the last twenty years if not longer, who is numb, who cannot seem to find his way out, whom I love so very deeply that every time I think of him my chest aches. And I want so badly to help but I can't do a damn thing. Living at the other end of the country doesn't help matters either. All I can do is pray. Even though I don't believe. But just for this evening, I'm going to pretend I do believe in a greater power who will cradle this person in her loving arms, smooth his hair across his brow, and whisper, "It's going to be okay. I love you until you can learn to love yourself. Hang in there, this too shall pass," and who will be there for him when he needs help the most.

Breaking News: Bedbugs Move To Northern Bed-Stuy

INFESTED. DO NOT USE. TRASH.

This box spring was on the sidewalk in our part of the hood. While standing at the top of the stoop was a white male hipster furiously scratching himself. And this passage from Bob the Bugman only increased my paranoia:

There are several means by which dwellings can become infested with bedbugs. People can often acquire bedbugs at hotels, motels, and bed-and-breakfasts, as a result of increased domestic and international tourism, and bring them back to their homes in their luggage. They also can pick them up by inadvertently bringing infested furniture or used clothing to their household. If someone is in a place that is severely infested, bedbugs may actually crawl onto and be carried by people's clothing, although this is atypical behavior, except in the case of severe infestations, bedbugs are not usually carried from place to place by people on clothing they are currently wearing. Finally, bedbugs may travel between units in multi-unit dwellings (such as condominiums and apartment buildings), after being originally brought into the building by one of the above routes. This spread between units is dependent in part on the degree of infestation, on the material used to partition units (concrete is a more effective barrier to the spread of the infestation), and whether infested items are dragged through common areas while being disposed of, resulting in the shedding of bedbugs and bedbug eggs while being dragged.

I'm feeling itchy already.

R.I.P. Bob Guskind 1958-2009

I'm devastated to learn that Robert Guskind, founder of the esteemed Brooklyn blog, The Gowanus Lounge, died in his home yesterday. I didn't know him well, but his links to my blog from GL and Curbed are one of the main reasons I have any readers at all. I do know that he was always kind and generous of spirit with me. He will be missed. My sincere condolences to his loved ones. Miss Heather, a close friend of Bob's, shares a video they shot together on her blog, New York Shitty. More about Bob, with links to tributes can be found on Flatbush Gardener.

Clogged Windows and Brains

I've been participating in this fantastic job readiness program at the Henry Street Settlement. Although it's in Manhattan on the Lower East Side, anyone can go there. At first I wasn't sure it was for me but I figured it was good to do something different, something I'd never done before in regards to my job search - because clearly my job hunting approach of the past four months was getting me nowhere. If nothing else, I figured it would get the energy moving in a positive vein.

But I got a thousand times more than I expected. The resume and job interview workshops were of course helpful - especially having been out of the workforce for a number of years. But best of all they've given me my confidence back. And for that I'll sing their praises forever. Today I had to fill out assessment forms about their program and I just raved and raved, giving them the highest ratings on everything. Funnily enough, it seemed that many of my fellow classmates, whom I'd thought were more likely to appreciate what HSS was offering, were less than pleased with the program. As evidenced by their grumbling, snide remarks and back talking to the instructor. I don't know why. I would recommend this program to anyone who's been banging their head against the job hunting wall and giving themselves concussions. That is unless they already had an ace resume and exceptional interviewing skills. Or were looking for jobs in the six figure salary range.

Anyway, speaking of concussions, being a food stamp recipient I had also had to do a multiple choice Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE) today. The instructor had mentioned it yesterday only she just mentioned the acronym which I misheard in her heavy Russian accent as NABE. Either way, TABE or NABE, it meant nothing to me, but if I had known exactly what it was I would have studied for it.

The English component was easy for me - of course it was - I'm a voracious reader and avid writer. But the math part. Oy vey. OMG. AAAARGGGGHHHH. I remember I did better than average in highschool math. But I haven't done algebra in over 20 years. And the Applied Math section had me gnawing on the back of my chair. The math part of my brain was so rusty it had completely clamped down and refused to move. Three hours, several wild guesses and a raging headache later, I was done. Although I'm glad to have those gears working again, albeit slowly and spewing out plaster dust, wood shavings and mud.

Bed-Stuy Circa 1968

Type in 'Bedford-Stuyvesant 1968' into Google Images and what comes up is a 1968 LIFE magazine photo essay profiling the 'slums of Bed-Stuy.' Which apparently was what the media chose to focus on at that time.

LIFE Magazine photographer: Bob Gomel

Instead of featuring more positive stories such as the election of Shirley Chisholm.

"In this Nov. 6, 1968 file photo Shirley Chisholm is surrounded by campaign workers flashing the victory sign, shortly after she won election to Congress from New York City's Bedford-Stuyvesant district, on Nov. 6, 1968. In 1972 Chisholm became the first black woman to pursue the presidency, waging a campaign to end the Vietnam War and give voice to the silent in the nation's policy-making. Jesse Jackson followed in 1984 and 1988, paving the way for the candidacies of Alan Keyes, Al Sharpton and Carol Moseley Braun."
Photo and description: AP

WNET sent me an email about their recent broadcast of a television show from 1968 called 'Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant.' Here's a description of the show from their website:

Forty years ago, the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn was one of the largest and most dynamic African-American communities in the country – 400,000 people made their home within its three square miles. But Bed-Stuy became synonymous with crime and poverty when the mainstream media focused on urban unrest during the ’60s. One television show decided to change all that.

Charles Hobson was a producer for WBAI radio when he was approached to produce a news program about Bedford-Stuyvesant. Robert F. Kennedy conceived a television series that would show the ‘real’ Bed-Stuy -– a neighborhood of working families, students, artists and professionals. “Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant” came to New York’s airwaves in 1968.

On “Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant”, Charles Hobson captured his neighborhood in black and white — local celebrities, activists, musicians, and regular residents all made appearances on the weekly show. The program ran for two years, and Hobson moved on to produce shows like “Black Journal” and “Like It Is”.

The Leroi Jones Young Spirit House Movers and Players (9:33), introduced by Inside Bedford-Stuyvesant host Roxie Roker:

The production values of this show are crappy, as to be expected from that time, however it's definitely worth viewing. More excerpts from the show can be found here.

High Jump

Although it seems that these pointe shoes are just another variation on the sneakers hanging from a telephone wire. I like to think that this ballerina jumped so high, she jumped right out of her shoes.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

REDUCE
We've reduced our trash output by at least half by composting consistently. Check out the NYC Compost Project for free composting classes and discounted compost bins.

REUSE
Some creative Bed-Stuy resident made a public doggy poop bag dispenser out of an old soda bottle and the multitude of plastic bags that most of us take home everyday. However, judging by the amount of poop on this particular block, the local dog owners either have no idea that's what this object is - I for one was mystified until Big Joe explained it to me - perhaps a sign would help. Or else they don't care.

RECYCLE
More creativity. This unusual bench was made from old bicycle tires.