Certain sections of Greenpoint and Williamsburg are infamous for the ubiquitous vinyl- and aluminum-sided houses that line their streets. While these buildings are often rather bland and featureless, I think they also possess a certain humble, homely charm, particularly when they branch out along the color spectrum. Buildings like the one pictured above — where you see some loftier architectural elements poking out through the siding — are especially endearing, in my opinion (we saw another nice example of this back in January). For a good sampling of Greenpoint siding, just start right here and take a stroll down Newel Street.
This is how they transport that invigorating pine scent from the Rockies to your air freshener.
From the Met Life Tower to the Bloomberg Tower, there are an awful lot of Wikipedia articles represented in this view.
At least it was, before the grisly murder of its sign
Read this wonderful interview with him at Street Art NYC:
Like a fool, the first pole piece I ever put up almost got me busted. I didn't even slide the bolt completely in when this cop car comes whipping around the corner and out rolls T.J. Hooker. He asked what the hell I was doing to which I quickly replied, "I'm taking this lovely piece of art down because I just had to own it for myself." After his brow-beating, I suggested I'd put the work back "where I found it" (wink, wink) to which he replied, "Yeah. You do that." So at this point, I'm standing there bolting in my art while two cops made sure I did so. People are passing by looking at me as if to say, "Do you not see these two cops next to you?" My friend later called it "sanctioned street art".
A response to this poster, part of the MTA's paranoia-inducing "If you see something, say something" campaign. Here's another good variation on the theme.
Like the one we saw over by the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, these rocks are (presumably) glacial erratics carried here by the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the Wisconsin glaciation.
A couple of years ago, another mysterious box of this guy's books caused a bomb scare at Yale University.
We just saw him a few weeks ago in Little Italy! But what really blew my mind is that about fifteen minutes after I took this photo, another friend of ours came driving down the very same street!
They just have to know what's on the other side.
Or you could go for a (somewhat) more literal interpretation.
This watery little stub was once the mouth of Bushwick Creek (which has long since been filled in) at its junction with the East River. Continental Iron Works stood over on the north bank, and that's where the USS Monitor was launched on her maiden voyage before heading south to Hampton Roads to face the CSS Virginia in 1862, a battle commemorated by a statue we saw back in McGolrick Park.
is the name of this mural. It feels vaguely 9/11-related, but not enough to be included in the official memorial count. Take a look!
