Archive for April 2012
repeated lapses
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A new park is open in Queens Plaza, so your humble narrator decided to take a look. I’m probably going to be pilloried for this posting by members of the antiquarian community here in Queens, and excoriated by members of the Manhattan elites, as controversy has surrounded this construction- some of which I’ve been directly involved with. Saying that, read into this post whatever political prejudice or predilection you might, none is intended.
The “editorial policy” of this blog, a term which is often mocked by those offended by this or that posting, has always been “it’s not good, nor bad, it just is”.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
To begin with, the Mayor himself recently held a press event here, unveiling the name of the new park as “Dutch Kills Green”. Unfortunately, I was engaged with other things and was unable to cover the event, but luckily personnel from “Gothamist“, amongst others, were able to make it.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The park itself is built along modernist principles, and offers certain laudable features. Stormwater remediation is built into the design, as are the use of native species. Queens Plaza has historically not been a friendly place for pedestrians, and the new park offers a chance to sit down, which is a rare thing.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Environmental noise from elevated subway and never ending vehicular traffic is endemic, of course, and the clouds of automotive exhaust can be overwhelming. Saying that, such conditions are endemic in Western Queens and one of the great complaints offered by area wags is the lack of open space available to the public.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The detailing in the park is curious, and designed to appear quite “urban”.
One is reminded of set pieces from the science fiction movie “Planet of the Apes” by the consciously rough hewn patina of the place. There are several little touches to the place that confirm careful thought went into its design and implementation. Observation of the spot over recent weeks has revealed that it has already found devotees in groups of teenage students and local office workers.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It is an absolutely brilliant spot for photographing trains and the operations of the MTA at Queens Plaza, which has long fascinated a humble narrator, and offers a nearly 240 degree visual sweep of the enterprise for inspection and contemplation.
Additionally, as the place is a bit above grade, new angles of view are possible.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Were it not for the damned noise, this could be a really interesting place to hang out, and I’ve already decided to use this as a meeting point for some future walking tour. It makes for a ready landmark in a neighborhood unfamiliar to most except as a transit hub.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Long Island City Millstones are back as well, although due to a lack of signage indicating their historical meaning or context, they appear to be just another accoutrement. One would hope that if the municipality is not forthcoming with such signage, local civic groups or historical societies might be able to fill in the gaps. Such signage might be forthcoming, but I haven’t heard anything about it.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The mill stones are artifacts of colonial Queens, and were centrally figured in the controversy mentioned at the beginning of this post. Their presence distinguishes Dutch Kills Green, a welcome addition to the concrete devastations of Western Queens.
Also,
Obscura Day 2012, Thirteen Steps around Dutch Kills
April 28th, 10 a.m.
Your humble narrator will be narrating humbly at this year’s Obscura Day event on April 28th, leading a walking tour of Dutch Kills. The tour is already half booked up, and as I’m just announcing it, grab your tickets while you can.
“Found less than one mile from the East River, Dutch Kills is home to four movable (and one fixed span) bridges, including one of only two retractible bridges remaining in New York City. Dutch Kills is considered to be the central artery of industrial Long Island City and is ringed with enormous factory buildings, titan rail yards — it’s where the industrial revolution actually happened. Bring your camera, as the tour will be revealing an incredible landscape along this section of the troubled Newtown Creek Watershed.”
For tickets and full details, click here :
obscuraday.com/events/thirteen-steps-dutch-kills-newtown-creek-exploration
rarest flowers
A number of “Things to do” have materialized of late, so it is time for your Newtown Pentacle calendar of April events and/or fun things to do.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There are a whole lot of things in the planning phases which I can’t tell you about yet, but suffice to say that this should be an amazing summer. Diversions on land and water will soon be announced, including boat tours of Newtown Creek and the greater harbor beyond.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
First up, today there will be a protest in Manhattan concerning recent City plans- via newtowncreekalliance.org
Rally to oppose Thermal “Waste-to-Energy” Facilities
April 9th, 2012
On Monday, April 9th at 10am, environmental justice groups, environmental organizations, community leaders and elected officials from Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan will rally to oppose the Bloomberg administration’s plan for thermal “Waste-to-Energy” facilities (a.k.a. incinerators). Two of the proposed sites for this facility are on the shores of Newtown Creek, and our communities host 40% of the city’s waste transfer facilities, so we are adding our voice to the cause. Click here for our previous post on the issue, and download two fact sheets on Waste-to-Energy here and here.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Secondly, from workingharbor.com
All About Tugs—Inside the Tugboat Industry
Tuesday, April 17 at 6.p.m.
Special evening program will feature documentary films with commentary by tug captains and crew presenting an insider’s look at the tugboat industry—its colorful history, present-day work, and vital importance.
Community Church of New York, 40 East 35th Street, Manhattan
Tickets are $25 ($20 for seniors). They can be purchased at www.workingharbor.com and include a reception with food, beer, wine and other beverages.
New York, NY, April 2, 2012 — Everybody loves tugboats, those iconic little workhorses that push ships ten times their size through narrow waterways and tow barges laden with fuel oil through busy harbors. “It is like the “Little Engine That Could,” or the mouse that pulled the thorn out of the lion’s paw,” said filmmaker Tom Garber, whose documentary, Tugging Through Time: The History of New York Harbor Tugboats, will be featured, The Working Harbor Committee (WHC), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the history and present-day importance of the Port of New York and New Jersey, is sponsoring the presentation. Since 2002 WHC has taken more than 20,000 people on Hidden Harbor® boat tours to visit behind-the-scenes waterfront places that most people never get the chance to see. “Tugboats are always the biggest hit,” said Captain John Doswell, the organization’s executive director. WHC also runs the annual New York Harbor Tugboat Race. “People always ask what it is like to be on board. Our ‘All About Tugs’ program will answer that question.”
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Third, also from newtowncreekalliance.org
Earth Day BYO Picnic Lunch at the Newtown Creek Nature Walk
Sunday, April 22nd at 1 p.m.
Come join in for this casual celebration of the victory that is the Newtown Creek Nature Walk. Bring your own brown bag lunch and join the Newtown Creek champions who worked hard for years to win this unique waterfront park.
Sunday, April 22nd at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant Nature Walk between 1pm – 2pm.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Fourth, another NCA event, which I for one am pretty stoked about:
April NCA meeting hosts Dr. Eric Sanderson
April 26, 2012 at 6pm
Ridgewood Democratic Club, 6070 Putnam Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385
In addition to important updates from our members – in particular the Bioremedition Workgroup has been very busy! – we will be hosting a special presentation on the “Historical Ecology of Newtown Creek”.
Dr. Eric Sanderson, senior conservation ecologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society and author of “Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City” (Abrams, 2009), will describe recent studies of the historical ecology of Newtown Creek, describing the original wetlands, creek channels, topography and vegetation of the area. He will show a series of 18th and 19th century maps of the watershed of the creek and discuss the process of synthesizing them into an integrated ecological picture that can be used to inform and inspire natural restoration and cultural appreciation of the Newtown Creek watershed. This work is part of the Welikia Project (welikia.org), an investigation into the historical ecology of the five boroughs of New York City and surrounding waters.
Finally,
Obscura Day 2012, Thirteen Steps around Dutch Kills
April 28th, 10 a.m.
Your humble narrator will be narrating humbly at this year’s Obscura Day event on April 28th, leading a walking tour of Dutch Kills. The tour is already half booked up, and as I’m just announcing it, grab your tickets while you can.
“Found less than one mile from the East River, Dutch Kills is home to four movable (and one fixed span) bridges, including one of only two retractible bridges remaining in New York City. Dutch Kills is considered to be the central artery of industrial Long Island City and is ringed with enormous factory buildings, titan rail yards — it’s where the industrial revolution actually happened. Bring your camera, as the tour will be revealing an incredible landscape along this section of the troubled Newtown Creek Watershed.”
For tickets and full details, click here :
obscuraday.com/events/thirteen-steps-dutch-kills-newtown-creek-exploration
visual landmarks
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Just a short posting, as today isn’t just maritime sunday, it’s also Easter Sunday at this- your Newtown Pentacle. Enjoy the holiday, unlike the crews of the many Tugs which are undoubtedly hard at work while you’re reading this.
Project Firebox 39
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Buried to its waist in modernity, this scarred sentinel against the flames of dissolution adorns the driveway of the gargantuan waste transfer station on Varick Avenue in Brooklyn which is maintained by the Waste Management folks.
yellow rays
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Recorded recently in the neighborhood of Dutch Kills, not the waterway but the neighborhood which the waterway once flowed into. It’s confusing, as the waterway is often cited or mentioned in these postings and is “way over there” from the perspective of the neighborhood- which is found between Ravenswood, the East River, and Astoria. Large hotels are on the rise in the area, and there’s a whole lot of construction underway. For street artists, this is a bit of a playground.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Personally, this is my kind of stuff. Garish in color and whimsical, not like the dark sarcasm and obviate ideations often observed in Brooklyn. Moreover, where one would expect to find elaborate renderings of “tags”, figurative cartooning trumps.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A fairly even temper hangs about the brow of a humble narrator today, and this splash of color is much appreciated by this withering shadow.
The Newtown Pentacle 