Archive for the ‘Astoria’ Category
lurking spark
– photo by Mitch Waxman
…Back in session…
So, whilst kicking the dust around in DUKBO a couple of weeks back (preparing for the recent Poison Cauldron tour), your humble narrator found himself on the eastern side of the Kosciuszko Bridge. Needing to clear my head of the myriad horrors witnessed on the west side and under the bridge, and to find a pack of gum on sale somewhere, my scuttling was directed toward Beadel Street with the eventual goal of crossing under the BQE- the technical border of Greenpoint and Bushwick.
The Real Estate Industrial Complex view of this border is somewhat different, of course, and to them- Williamsburg’s eastern border is probably Lake Ronkonkoma.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Moving in my normal fashion, this scene was noticed, but I’m afraid that I startled these fellows somewhat. Can’t blame them, imagine what they saw, a shabby monster covered in Creek dust. They were building these odd bug cars which seemed to be constructed upon the chassis of a golf cart or small security vehicle.
Weird enough to notice, I waved and got some shots of them.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Of course, the second I put my camera away, that actor who plays the “Mayhem” character in the Allstate Insurance ads popped into view, but I was already moving on to other locales. A tour needed to be fleshed out!
more sights
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A short one today, just a shot of a cool van recently spotted in Astoria. Today’s a summer friday at this, your Newtown Pentacle, it would seem.
invisible walls
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I just might have proof that God hates me.
It may have been noticed that my postings over the last week have been somewhat erratic in both content and timing. Normally, the Newtown Pentacle updates on a daily basis, and is scheduled for publication at 12:15 am. Under normal circumstance, this schedule is something I’m quite capable of maintaining, but there are a lot of things in New York City which are beyond ones control.
Intermittent outages of internet service, power system irregularities- all are par for the course- but then you’ve got events like the electrical storm which swept through Queens on Wednesday the 18th of July.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Working as a freelancer, your humble narrator is often in the home office on any given weekday, which I’ve referred to in the past as “Newtown Pentacle HQ”. Last week, a heat wave broke and the rain started when a cold front moved in, generating a powerful storm. My little dog, who is quite garrulous and playful, enjoys dancing around in the rain so we stepped outside onto the porch. Within minutes, we both realized that this wasn’t going to be a pleasant shower, but rather a dangerous lightning event.
A sudden flash and booming retort put us on notice to seek indoor shelter. Lightning flashes were occurring every few seconds, and that’s when “it” happened.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the bolt, and the dog and I both startled as it was mere yards from us.
Seeking safety within, I noticed that the standby lights on various electronic devices installed about the house had gone out. After conferring with the neighbors upstairs, who had also lost access to their suite of electronic devices, we realized that lightning had struck the street and that the charge had travelled up and into the building. Casualties of the strike include two televisions, an entire DirecTv setup, a wireless Internet base station- additionally my neighbor’s security camera setup was destroyed (one of the camera units actually appeared to melted).
Additionally, the computer, wireless phones, and refrigerator upstairs were also rendered non functional.
Restoration of both home comforts and necessary equipment has been ongoing, but has introduced a random and quite expensive series of purchases and tasks into my day to day which has negatively affected my productivity, and accordingly delayed substance and quality of postings here.
Apologies are offered- but, as mentioned, God does -in fact- seem to hate me. I’m trying to dig out of the hole, but it may take a few days to catch up.
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Upcoming Walking Tours:
July 28th, 2012- Working Harbor Committee Kill Van Kull walk- This Saturday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Kill Van Kull, or tugboat alley as its known to we harbor rats, is a tidal strait that defines the border of Staten Island and New Jersey. A busy and highly industrialized waterfront, Working Harbor’s popular “Hidden Harbor – Newark Bay” boat tours provide water access to the Kill, but what is it like on the landward side?
Starting at the St. George Staten Island Ferry terminal, join WHC Steering Committee member Mitch Waxman for a walk up the Kill Van Kull via Staten Islands Richmond Terrace. You’ll encounter unrivaled views of the maritime traffic on the Kill itself, as well as the hidden past of the maritime communities which line it’s shores. Surprising and historic neighborhoods, an abandoned railway, and tales of prohibition era bootleggers await.
The tour will start at 11, sharp, and you must be on (at least) the 10:30 AM Staten Island Ferry to meet the group at St. George. Again, plan for transportation changes and unexpected weirdness to be revealed to you at MTA.info.
for July 28th tickets, click here for the Working Harbor Committee ticketing page
August 5th, 2012- Newtown Creek Alliance Walking Tour- The Insalubrious Valley
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Newtown Creek Alliance historian Mitch Waxman will be leading a walk through the industrial heartlands of New York City, exploring the insalubrious valley of the Newtown Creek.
The currently undefended border of Brooklyn and Queens, and the place where the Industrial Revolution actually happened, provides a dramatic and picturesque setting for this exploration. We’ll be visiting two movable bridges, the still standing remains of an early 19th century highway, and a forgotten tributary of the larger waterway. As we walk along the Newtown Creek and explore the “wrong side of the tracks” – you’ll hear tales of the early chemical industry, “Dead Animal and Night Soil Wharfs”, colonial era heretics and witches and the coming of the railroad. The tour concludes at the famed Clinton Diner in Maspeth- where scenes from the Martin Scorcese movie “Goodfellas” were shot.
Lunch at Clinton Diner is included with the ticket.
Details/special instructions.
Meetup at the corner of Grand Street and Morgan Avenue in Brooklyn at 11 a.m. on August 5, 2012. The L train serves a station at Bushwick Avenue and Grand Street, and the Q54 and Q59 bus lines stop nearby as well. Check MTA.info as ongoing weekend construction often causes delays and interruptions. Drivers, it would be wise to leave your vehicle in the vicinity of the Clinton Diner in Maspeth, Queens or near the start of the walk at Grand St. and Morgan Avenue (you can pick up the bus to Brooklyn nearby the Clinton Diner).
Be prepared: We’ll be encountering broken pavement, sometimes heavy truck traffic as we move through a virtual urban desert. Dress and pack appropriately for hiking, closed-toe shoes are highly recommended.
Clinton Diner Menu:
- Cheese burger deluxe
- Grilled chicken over garden salad
- Turkey BLT triple decker sandwich with fries
- Spaghetti with tomato sauce or butter
- Greek salad medium
- Greek Salad wrap with French fries
- Can of soda or 16oz bottle of Poland Spring
for August 5th tickets, click here for the Newtown Creek Alliance ticketing page
extreme aspirations
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Obligation had carried me away from Astoria yesterday, and upon my return, I discovered this scene playing out. A police cruiser, taxi, and two other vehicles had been smashed. I checked with one of the officers on the scene, who told me that it seemed as if his compatriots who were in the wreck were going to be OK. I missed all the action, apparently.
Additional inquiries regarding the event were offered to the multitudes of neighbors milling about, and one of them volunteered to guest blog.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The following text was received from today’s guest blogger- a member of our local gentry, a yenta, and itinerant area wag who wishes to be called Mr. Blogovich.
Blogovich is a respectably sturdy Croat of long neighborhood affiliation and good reputation, despite his bizarre and unconventional manner of dress. His comments and observations follow in italics:
“Pieced together from many perspectives:
The police car came into the intersection doing 80-100, sirens and lights going.
It clipped the dip in the street, back right tire probably popping and locking there.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It went down about 200-300 feet, fishtailed to the right, its back right bumper slapping into the bumper of the white Nissan Sentra.
Impact and momentum pushed it to the left side of the street. It went about 30 feet to impact with a black SUV with cement bags in its back hatch.
This lifted the black SUV up a bit and piled it directly into a taxi cab that was parked in front of it, with a spray of cement powder flying everywhere.
Three very lucky people were standing about 6 feet from the place of initial impact. A foot worth of tilt to the left and the cop car would have plowed into them and taken them out.
– photo by Mr. Blogovich
Directly after the impact with the black SUV the back end of the cop car swerved to the left and impacted with the black iron fence next to XXXXX’s house.
It was at this point I booked down the street shirtless.
I got there in time to see the two cops staggering slightly out of the car. The airbags deployed. I shouted, “Are you guys okay?”
The driving officer immediately asked, “Did anyone see the little girl I swerved for?” or some such.
Why did he not ask, “Is the little girl alright?”
– photo by Mr. Blogovich
Oil was cascading out of the bottom. The car was still on. A bystander told the passenger cop to turn the motor off.
I offered them water if needed, asked them if they were ok. The driving officer said, ” I’ll be okay if I get a witness who saw the little girl.”
The response sirens were almost immediate. Not ten seconds after I arrived on the scene.
The response was IMMENSE.
- Conservative estimates:
- 8 cop cars, all told.
- 4 fire trucks.
- 4-5 ambulances. These are not counting the response vehicles that didn’t even turn down the street.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The street became congested with the response team.
Cops pulled all tools and gear out of the car. The two cops service belts were stored away.
All the owners of each vehicle were interviewed.
Oddly, at least initially, the three main witnesses who could have nearly died, were not.”
Wow, says a humble narrator. Thanks to Mr. Blogovich for all the details, and use of his photos.
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Click for details on Mitch Waxman’s
Upcoming boat tours of Newtown Creek
July 22nd, 2012 NEXT SUNDAY- There are Just a few tickets left, don’t miss out
Working Harbor Committee Newtown Creek Boat Tour
Project Firebox 48
– photo by Mitch Waxman
At the farthest corner of noble Astoria lies the hulking remains of the Poletti Power Plant, as well as the somewhat archaic Bowery Bay Sewage Treatment facility. Slung in a manner unceremonious, this Firebox adorns its mount in good standing. Whether serving residences or industrial zones, the Fireboxes of New York City stand constant vigil, no matter how hot or cold it gets.
The Newtown Pentacle 