Friday, August 31, 2012

The neighborhood opens up as I walk to the wine shop on Franklin Ave.

A quick jog down Van Buren towards Von King Park, past the houses that all have the round gate posts

Right away -- once inside the park -- the 79th Precinct makes its presence known. Cop stands between a tree and a rock, facing the bandstand.

Lonely at the cop.

And inside the bandstand, some rappers, rapping about staying in school, but using lots of swear words nonetheless. Reassuring that rap keeps its ethics.

The audience, my neighbors.

It's someone's birthday, so they get a special notice.



Cop no. 2.



Then further on, on Lafayette Ave., there's a movie shoot. I think the movie's called 'Gun Hill,' but don't quote me on that.

The gear to bring the 'Gun Hill' to life, as it were.


Don't forget the catering services.

Blurry extra stuff.


The last of the 'Gun Hill' trailers.

At Bedford and Clifton there's a building that just can't get built. It's been almost-done for two years. Keep trying!




And on the lamp post, someone's missing a cat.

But not this one...one of many strays sitting on the curb next to one of many garbage bags.

A multi-tasking gate.
At the wine shop, Duchamp's bottle rack comes full circle. The guy in the shop didn't know what I was talking about, however, when I mentioned Duchamp. I've had too much art school, that's for sure.

On the way home. Just a street. My street.

Hey -- more cops. On my corner. What's the f*&#%ing problem? Oh -- lotsa guns in the neighborhood lately. Gun Hill for sure, unfortunately.

Cat sitting, in both senses of the word.


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Last Saturday, Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn

Saturday was the day for the Van Buren Street block party. The giant speakers are ready.

The fire hydrant has been opened (the 79th precinct ok'd it) and the kids are already at it.






One young lady was dancing in the water with a bucket over her head. She was beautiful!
Two blocks down, at the Hattie Carthan Community Garden, there's a drumming circle -- anyone can join in...


... and ladies (including a clown) were doing African dance to the beat.





The clown's stockings

Just beyond the ladies dancing, and the drumming circle, there was a bouncy castle for the kids.


At the end of the day, the bouncy castle gets packed up like a big sleeping bag.