Day 368


Day 368

Portal of the day

January 1st, 2013


Day 368

Wet Weather Discharge Point

January 1st, 2013



As we learned last January:

Most of NYC's sewers are combined sewers, meaning they collect both sewage from buildings and stormwater runoff from the streets in a single pipe and carry it all to a wastewater treatment plant. During times of significant rainfall or snowmelt, however, the increased volume of runoff entering the sewer can exceed the capacity of the system. In order to prevent a backup, the excess (including untreated sewage) is dumped directly into area waterways.
This outfall is located, appropriately enough, on Flushing Bay. You can see a boom placed on the water to capture discharged floatables, which primarily consist of street litter that has washed into the sewer system.

Day 368

New Year’s Eve leftovers

January 1st, 2013



Perhaps these are the remnants of a dinner eaten in haste by the staff of the World's Fair Marina banquet hall, which, judging by the New Year's Eve paraphernalia strewn about, must have hosted a rather well-attended party last night. The marina was built as a boat basin for the 1939 World's Fair and was expanded to accommodate 800 vessels for the 1964 fair. It has since been scaled back, with a current capacity somewhere around 250.

Day 368

An out-of-season fountain

January 1st, 2013



at the World's Fair Marina banquet hall

Day 368

G is for Giraffe

January 1st, 2013



The Flushing Bay Promenade at the northern end of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park is lined with black granite panels depicting one animal and one plant for each letter of the alphabet. (It's a pretty safe bet that ol' Henry Stern had something to do with this.) The artist didn't shy away from extinct or mythological beasts, including both "Dinosaur" and "Unicorn" in the collection. As I approached the end of the alphabet, I tried in vain to come up with an "X" animal or plant. The official selections were cop-outs: "Oxen" and "Oxalis".

Day 368

Public Health Advisory

January 1st, 2013



The black sign offers a seemingly obvious warning that is often found posted around New York City's waterfront:

Pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and children under 15 years old should not eat fish or eels caught in these waters.

Others should limit their consumption of these fish and eels.

Some fish caught in New York City waters may be harmful to eat.

Day 368

Perpetual Nature

January 1st, 2013



Part of the city DOT's Barrier Beautification Program (and located just outside the DOT's Harper Street asphalt plant)

Day 368

Now that’s more like it!

January 1st, 2013



Our friend gets a holiday makeover.

Day 368

The Iron Triangle

January 1st, 2013



Welcome to beautiful Willets Point, a sewerless, sidewalkless, 60-some-acre preserve of puddles and potholes that is home to more than 200 auto parts and body shops, as well as one lone resident.

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This project is part of Mayor Bloomberg's controversial, obstacle-laden plan to develop Willets Point into New York's "next great neighborhood".

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It sure is

January 1st, 2013


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Hey neighbor!

January 1st, 2013



The $800 million corporate logo-clad home of the Mets stands, hilariously, just across the street from the bombed-out wasteland of Willets Point.

Day 368

Automotive irony

January 1st, 2013



Willets Point, a neighborhood devoted almost entirely to fixing cars, is home to what must be the worst streets in the whole city.

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A National Historical Trail?

January 1st, 2013



This sign must be referring to the 7 train's selection as a National Millennium Trail in 2000 (about six months after John Rocker famously badmouthed the line).

Day 368

Wheel rack

January 1st, 2013



Outside a tire shop

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An optimistic portal

January 1st, 2013


Day 368

The body (shop) of Jesus

January 1st, 2013


Day 368

And now I know

January 1st, 2013



what a muster point is.

Day 368

An old Huber roller

January 1st, 2013



Some age better than others.

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That’ll buff right out

January 1st, 2013


Day 368

Derelict vehicle?

January 1st, 2013



Now this is a derelict vehicle.

Day 368

Best concrete plant

January 1st, 2013



(That's not an endorsement.)

This is just one of many industrial enterprises lining the scenic banks of the Flushing River. (Here's a closer look at part of the plant.)

Day 368

Former bar entrance

January 1st, 2013



These guys apparently did not think very highly of this building's old ornamental flourishes.

Day 368

Peter Haff Huis

January 1st, 2013



Named after an early Dutch settler of Flushing, this building houses several little businesses, including the defunct bar from the previous photo, as well as this Full Gospel Korean church.

Day 368

Back at the Scrap King

January 1st, 2013



Let's see how prices have changed since last January.

Day 368

Good advice

January 1st, 2013


Day 368

A Flushing landmark

January 1st, 2013



The old Serval Zipper factory




by my arch-enemy, Algerian

Day 368

Flushing Mall

January 1st, 2013



Home to one of Flushing's beloved Asian mall food courts