Velvet Sea: November 2007

Tree is Just a Shadow of Former Self

Keeping with the Fall theme, here's the shadow of a bare tree on Garfield Place.

I actually like this 2nd version below better compositionally with the pile of leaves at it's base, but it came out a bit overexposed.

Interestingly, I'm pretty sure that this is the same tree in the photo I took here, back when the Garfield Glass building was still standing. They demolished it rather quickly, but it doesn't appear that any construction has happened beyond the plywood fence.

Fall Leaves in Park Slope

Some fallen leaf action on the extra wide sidewalk of 3rd Street in Park Slope. I'm not sure what type of tree that is, but it's leaves are still soft and plush after they've fallen on the ground so they don't tend to blow away beyond where they've dropped. It's very nice to walk on!

Brooklyn Bean Comes to 4th Avenue

Fourth Avenue has officially arrived!!!! Coming soon to the corner of Carroll St. on the Gowanus side of the street is Brooklyn Bean, which I presume is an outpost of Brooklyn Bean & Tea Company, a recently opened coffee shop on Atlantic Ave. Interesting that it's opening a bit in advance of the completion of all the forthcoming "luxury" residential condo developments on 4th Ave.

Brooklyn Bean replaces Family Car Service- relocated to the rear of the building. They will have some coffee competition, as there is El Cafetin in the Lyceum and McDonald's with it's "69 cents any coffee any size" diagonally across the street in either direction as well as Ozzie's and Trois Pommes (which serves Gorilla Coffee) just up the block on 5th Ave.

I wonder if they used the paint brand advertised on the billboard above the building.

Found in Park Slope..Awwwww

Awwwwwwwwwwwww. Is this for a real dog or a stuffed one?? It says 6 inches tall, which is pretty small. Either way, so cute. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Eureka Mind Control

I love how the old garages have the winged wheel over the doors. Don't even think of parking in front of this Gowanus building. I know you're thinking about it now but don't. Seriously. Erase the thought.

Bitchin' Camaro

Bitchin' Camaro out in Gowanus. This is the 1982-1992 third generation Chevrolet Camaro and is known to be the most bitchin' of all Camaro styles. Not sure if this is the IROC version aka the official car of the Jersey Shore for most the '90's (strictly hearsay! I only went to the Jersey Shore once during that time period... check NJGuido to confirm the scary facts).

Bogged Down in Rockefeller Center

Last week Ocean Spray took over the Rockefeller Center Plaza to create New York City's largest (only?!) cranberry bog. Workers stood in the middle and answered questions about cranberries and life.

While office workers scurried about their own business, cursing the large obstacle that was blocking them from retrieving their standard lunch at the substandard deli on 48th Street in a timely fashion.

The bog is gone now, replaced by the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree which at this point is more like the Rock Center giant regular tree. Soon it will be covered in scaffolding and decorated. They usually light it up on the Monday or Tuesday before Thanksgiving with a large televised event with many musical and celebrity guests.

REVS in Brooklyn

The chain link fence is temporary, so I'll have to head back here in a few years when the DOT is done fixing this Gowanus bridge to get a clearer shot. Apparently I missed a REVS iron sculpture right below the frame of this shot that was welded onto the permanent fencing below this chain link. REVS graffiti is awesome; it's amazing how he was able to hang or climb into some of those places and the fact that it hasn't been gone over 5, 10, or 20 years later is a testament to that skill.

2007 NYC Marathon part 2

Here's a marathon of pictures and videos from yesterday's 2007 ING New York City Marathon. First the lead pack racing by:

Next is a video from the middle of the pack- you can get a real sense of the crowd excitement here:

And now on to more interesting runners. These are all shown to you in the order these runners passed.. here's a feather hat guy:

Viking horns:

French & American flags:

Big flagpole guy- this looked difficult to run with since he couldn't move his arms much:

The ever popular beer guy:

The Incredible Hulk:

The march of the penguin..

Superman trying to catch up to the Hulk:

Double shot!! Tuxedo man plus gas mask guy...that's got to be difficult to breathe in:

Next up was the Star Wars crew...Darth Vader was in the lead (not pictured) followed by Yoda (far right with backpack) and Chewbacca guarding the rear:

Firefighter in full gear:

Run people run.. you're getting beat by a clown!

Elvis spotting! Elvis was saying "thank you very much" to anyone who cheered him specifically.

And last but obviously not least.. Larry the Lighthouse! Look at the size of that costume thing. Watch out for the traffic lights Larry.

So in case you want to pick out a fast running outfit for next year, here are the official Velvet Sea 2007 NYC Marathon at mile 7 in Brooklyn standings are:
1. Feather Hat Guy 2. Viking 3. Dual Flags 4. Flagpole Holder 5. Beer Man 6. Hulk 7.Penguin 8. Superman 9. Gas Mask 10. Tuxedo 11. Darth Vader 12. Yoda 13. Chewy 14. Firefighter 15. Clown 16. Elvis 17. Lighthouse Larry. Good luck next year runners!

New York City Marathon

Today was the NYC Marathon. This was the first one I have caught from 4th Ave in Brooklyn, my normal spot was up on 1st Ave in money making Manhattan. It was interesting because the gap between the lead pack and everyone else is much smaller (in past years I'd catch the lead pack and then go home for an hour).

The French really like to get dressed up for it: