Neighborhood Threat

It’s been an exceedingly pleasant August in our corner of Greenpoint. Our electric bill was cut in half, because we weren’t have to run the air conditioner every night (whether we really needed it or not) in order to drown out the Studio B Idiot Noise.

We came home on Saturday around 11:30 and found a huge crowd gathered outside Studio B. Since we hadn’t seen any movement, nor heard that any permits had been approved, this was odd to us. There was nothing on their calendar, or on any of the local concert websites about a show at Studio B. We asked someone what was going on and all we got was that the club wasn’t open yet.

Finally, when half a dozen yellow school buses pulled up onto Banker and began discharging hipsters, and one of the buses couldn’t control its alarm system, the boyfriend went out to investigate. Apparently this was a private after-party following some event in Coney Island. Many of the people who had been bused up to North Brooklyn had no idea where they ended up, nor did they have any idea how to get home. Two patrol cars drove by slowly, which prompted the security at the club to yell at the bus drivers that they couldn’t leave their buses parked there.

As the night went on, I heard regular yells from someone about how “You can go in, or you can go home, but you can’t stand outside.” I think the yelling was louder than the people outside. The loudest noises to us were the people who regrouped and tried to find taxis right underneath our windows. Neighbors whose backyards abut the club’s back wall report that it was slightly quieter, but still pretty damn loud.

This means that:
1) They didn’t do any of the work that they promised they would
2) They probably won’t do any of that work
3) They’re still flouting the law, because there was definitely dancing, and definitely people, and they definitely don’t have a cabaret license or a C of O (at least that we can find online)

But maybe I am wrong on the law when it comes to private functions. Who really knows with these people?

At least the winter is coming and the windows will be shut.

UPDATE:

There are a lot of links about Saturday night’s escapades, but the most telling one is in the comments here:

then arriving at studio b, complete chaos. a totally disorganized line on arrival, followed up by a 4 bus loads of heads that simply crushed the front door. trapped in a mass of guests several hundred deep while chaos ensues. thankfully the pro’s at studio b take control of the situation by will let all in and actually do so promptly.

music stops. lights go up at 3am and we left. several hundred poorer, a weekend lost and a load of bad vibes banked up on this minimoo/minitek bullshit crew, we depart.

When I first arrived in Greenpoint, I despaired at finding decent Chinese food. I was ordering from Grace on Franklin for the first month or two until it became completely inedible. Then, I found the Chinese Musician, which is of course everyone’s Chinese stalwart in Greenpoint - and one of the few places that is open until 11pm (and *delivers*).

Until recently.

First, the prices went up drastically. Every restaurant’s prices have gone up, but this was a marked increase.

Then, the quality started to suffer. This ended up not being such a big deal, because it made me eat Chinese (and takeout in general) less. But we regularly put restaurants on a banned list in our house - bad health inspection, bad service, bad quality or any combination of things (for example, Brooklyn Label is on permanent ban because of the service and the prices).

A few weeks ago, I was hungry and it was late so I gave in and went into the Musician. A basic order: sesame noodles, egg rolls, broccoli with garlic sauce. It was the broccoli that did me in. I like crispy vegetables but the broccoli was barely cooked. This is not something I’m going to check for (and I picked up my food, I didn’t have it delivered). That was it. Back on the banned list.

I was sick yesterday afternoon and craving won ton soup. I didn’t want to send the boyfriend into Manhattan, so I ordered from the newly remodeled Grace. now Shanghai Lee (thanks, commenters). A simple order - won ton soup, egg rolls, broccoli with garlic sauce. I’m not expecting Flushing-level quality, but this was at least tasty and edible. Maybe the remodel was more than just that fancy glass front? I’m cautiously optimistic.

I started this blog about a year ago, imagining a place for a photoblog and some occasional commentary. And then I spent most of my time on flickr, and it seemed like duplicate effort. However, that never stopped me from commenting on other neighborhood blogs, which made me realize I still have 1) a unique viewpoint and 2) something to say.

So 11222 is back.

Flushing Ave., near corner of Morgan

Originally uploaded by jukeboxgraduate.

I was in a hardware store across the street from here getting keys made, and was standing still long enough to notice it.

VERY windy day, too hard to shoot much, missed a lot I need to go back to when it warms up again.