Remember Rene I Am The Best Artist? His stuff was all over Soho. I used to be all like “What a pompous ass!” Where is he now? According to his website, it looks like he may have died in 2003, but the whole thing is tongue in cheek, so I think that could be false.
Before it was hip to be green, Mr. Purple was a green hipster. The vegetarian squatter freegan who lived without electricity on the Lower East Side was seen riding his bike everywhere back in the day. He lost his Garden of Eden to bulldozers back in 1986 and became homeless after his tenement building gave way to gentrification. Where is he now? Closest thing I could find was this 2007 blog post.
Lulu’s on 5th is breeding again. Brigitte, the owner of the two shops on 5th Avenue in Park Slope teamed up with my pal Ann Marie to open up a used clothing store for the kiddies.
Lulu’s Then and Now is set to open around Labor Day and they are currently accepting gently used clothing and toys. Ann Marie will be watching the new store at 75A 5th. She was the woman behind the now closed City Cricket in the W. Village. Ann Marie is lovin’ the Brooklyn thing!
The shop will include less expensive items from places like Old Navy to higher end designer clothing. Pretty much what folks donate. When I first walked in, I didn’t realize it was a used clothing store. The stuff is VERY gently used.
The best thing about the location is that it’s right across the street from Beacon’s Closet. So when your done shopping for the kid, pick up something nice for yourself.
There’s a big ole abandoned building on the east side of Main Street in Beacon. In the town’s heyday, it was the electric blanket factory. Today, each window is covered by a fabulous work of art.
This Saturday, July 31st, the street artists will converge on Beacon once again to do a live installation. They’ll create the works of art right in front of the building during “Electric Windows“. There will also be music,vendors, the works!
If you plan on spending the night in Beacon, there’s an after party at The Piggy Bank starting at 10pm.
Then you can fall in love with Beacon and go buy my house.
Hey Brooklyn Photographers, think you can capture the essence of Brooklyn? If so, there’s a juried exhibit called Capture Brooklyn accepting submissions through August 29th. Eighty photographs will be exhibited at the Power House Arena during the Dumbo Arts Festival.
Yours truly just signed up. It’s been a looonnnggg looonnnggg time since I shot anything for art’s sake. Gotta light that fire under my butt!
Ansel Adams Find @ Garage Sale. CNN
Floating Plastic Dining Room. Treehugger
Bed Stuy Soda Fountain Opens! Bed Stuy Blog
Mold Sniffing Dog. Bob Vila
The Atlantic Avenue tunnel tour has been going on for a few years now and I never even noticed people climbing down a manhole in the middle of the Atlantic/Court intersection. Well, I finally figured it out and had a look for myself yesterday.
The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association runs the tours. Just go to their website and call to reserve. It’s well worth the 15 bucks and the next tour is August 8th. Bob Diamond, who rediscovered the hidden tunnel in the early 80′s, is the guy giving the tour. He’s a hoot! As if the history isn’t interesting enough, he’s quite the character himself.
You’ll have to wait on line for a bit as it takes awhile for each individual to get down the ladder. Wear comfortable shoes because Bob likes to talk and you’ll be standing for a couple of hours on uneven ground. There’s more standing and listening than walking.
So, about this tunnel.
It was built in 1844, making it older than the London Tube. The “oldest subway” thing is a bit of a stretch since this was not part of the NY subway system, but rather the Long Island Railroad. It’s still an underground rail system even if it’s only 1/2 mile long.
Diamond shares the folklore surrounding the tunnel. There are tales of heads buried in the wall, bootleggers, greedy politicians, pirates and even a John Wilkes Booth connection. His own story is as interesting as any of these. He first learned of the existence of the hidden tunnel when he was a Pratt student. For years, experts were denying it was there, claiming it would be too dangerous to explore anyway because of gases, water and 5 foot man eating rats.
There’s a deal in the works with National Geographic. Supposedly there’s still a steam engine buried behind a wall! They’re looking to unearth it later this year.
I could share more, but you know what? You should go yourself. Trust me. Just do it.
I don’t care what anybody says. I like that soy fake meat stuff. Yeah, I try to eat whole foods as much as possible, but beans all the time? You know what they say….good for your heart, but….
Anyway, if you’re a vegetarian New Yorker, chances are you’ve tried all the mock meat dishes at House of Vegetarian, Vegetarian Dim Sum House , Vegetarian Paradise and Zen Palate. Well, this is the place that sells to those restaurants. Ok, maybe. I just made that up.
Tian Yuan Veg is located at 6016 7th Avenue in Brooklyn’s Chinatown, Sunset Park. Can you get this stuff in Manhattan’s Chinatown? Yes. Can I buy it around the corner from my Bed Stuy house at Tony’s Country Life? Yes. But I felt the need to schlepp to Sunset Park to check it out.
So, was it worth the trip? Well, my freezer is fully stocked now. Plus, here’s the thing I love about Chinatown….the groceries are so inexpensive! I bought 2 FULL bags of vegetables for $7. Do you know what that would cost at Fairway? (I love you anyway, Fairway.)
Problem is, now I have to (get my husband to) cook all this shit.
Brooklyn Eagle’s Rooftop Farm. Inhabitat
City Heat. City Room
BP and the Photoshop Problem. Tree Hugger
Where to Buy Cute Stuff. Nesting Place
Move over, Groupon. There’s a new kid in town. Lifestyler
I bought a Groupon for Pure Power Boot Camp a few weeks ago and I had been dreading my first day. That was yesterday and I’m still alive to talk about it.
The “tour of duty” is an hour per day either 3 times per week for eight weeks or four times per week for six weeks. That costs about $1000. For 80 bucks, I’m getting 6 classes over 2 weeks. That should just about do it for me. Worth it to look for the Groupon, which they sometimes run, just in case you give up midway. Hey, then you’re only losing $40.
When I first walked in I had to drop down and give them 5 push ups. This is what I was nervous about beforehand because I lack upper body strength. But girlie push ups with knees on the ground are fine. Thank God!
Ok, first thing I noticed was the lack of air conditioning. Shit. I hate the heat! And they don’t mess around. I tried to take a drink of water during the laps (that almost killed me) and was told to keep going.
The second thing I noticed was that everyone was half my age and in better shape than me.
So, let’s cut to the chase. Is it tough? Well, ye-ah. Like any work out, it is what you make of it. There are things that I could hardly do and then are were things I do better than others. The push ups are timed not counted, so I can just go r-e-a-l-l-y s-l-o-w. Same with the running laps.
The best part is the obstacle course. I mean, let’s face it….without that, it’s just like any other boot camp gym class. Only not air conditioned. This is like a jungle gym for adults. It tests your stamina, agility and strength. I managed to get through all of them with the help of the instructor. Hey, all of the chicks and some of the guys needed his help! I have the special disadvantage of being a friggin dwarf, so I needed a boost from time to time.
There are walls and tires and logs and hurdles and rope things. Fun! And yet, it’s a work out. Only you don’t realize that part is so bad because it’s a new experience.
Read the whiny reviews on Yelp. Sounded like Private Benjamin. Just keep in mind that this isn’t for pampered sorts. You change in a tent and there are no private lockers. I believe there’s only one shower and you need to bring your own towel. No vending machines, so don’t forget your water that you can only drink when they allow you to. You sweat like mad, as does everyone and they probably don’t clean the mats or obstacle course between classes. And I mentioned the A/C.
The two locations are Chelsea, NYC and Jericho, LI.
Check back with me at the end of the two weeks to see what I have to say about Pure Power Boot Camp. For now, it’s a thumbs up after one class.
Computer Monitor by AlpineButterfly. $200
Suitcase by LoveNostalgicWhimsy. $65
Soda Crate by Sleepurrz. $55
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You just brought back so many memories. I remember Rene and Mr. Purple from my younger days hanging out in Soho.
Comment by Claudette — July 31, 2010 @ 5:36 am