So, it’s cold here, and just about every garment I brought is already pretty well covered in the blonde fur of my sweet-dispositioned charge for the next two weeks, Gypsy, but I’m already having a blast though I could not empirically tell you precisely why. At first, I was slightly alarmed when I got off the subway and tried haplessly to find the tiny half-block dead end street that was my destination among a lot of boarded up buildings and weave and sneaker shops. There’s nothing like being laden like a packhorse, conspicuously towing a rattling wheely duffle bag past the curious eyes of many inebriated-looking, slurred Spanish-spouting stoop-sitters while trying to surreptitiously scope your location on your uncooperative phone (its last GPS position stubbornly stuck in central Florida) to make sure your exhausted self isn’t headed any farther out of the way than necessary to make you feel nakedly vulnerable with a veritable “TOURIST!!!!!!” beacon beaming from your head.
But I found my destination (turns out I had just another half block to go) and my hosts (a lovely married couple roughly my age — good-looking, intelligent, and interesting) could not have been nicer or more welcoming. Once we took a little practice walk with Gypsy along their normal exercise route later in the evening, I was staggered at how AMAZING the neighborhood is just off the main drag, Flatbush Ave. Total architectural lust area, again!! I also realized what a simple creature I am to satisfy: I can easily pop out to take a quick scenic walk past gorgeous brownstones in the fresh air, and located just steps away are (1) well-stocked bodegas, (2) a good coffee shop, and (3) a store where they call me ‘mami’ and make amazing, enormous Boar’s Head turkey sammiches for just $5. I just took a brisk evening stroll and shot some pics, and got one of the most amazing cups of hot chocolate EVER to warm my chilly hands on my way home….Contentment level = 92%. 😀
this is the general neighborhood viewed from Flatbush Avenue.
the ‘dead end’ is where I’m staying, Beekman Place.
the building I’m in.
view to the Flatbush end of Beekman (i.e., back toward the main street from which you just have entered)
the apartment.
me in the petite kitchen, kitted out in winter gear for my walk.
the cozy bedroom, with all my crap unpacked into it.
this is the first set of houses once you get off Flatbush.
and then the next set of homes: droolicious brownstones. these are zoned for single family ONLY – that’s three floors, counting the basement! – and they have not only teeny front yards, but real back yards as well. serious space and glamour, for NYC.
of course, I don’t want to oversell it – it IS still the city, with the concomitant refuse and filth (note used condom draped artfully over step)
love how Lady Liberty is chained to the door. Just in case anyone might to try to abscond with her down the street.
look at this frickin’ glass entry dome! reminds me of Paris.
at first, there were so many hale and hearty looking flowers here and there in planters and gardens I suspected they were fakes to add a little color. nope, real crocuses and daffodils and tulips are popping up. beautiful.
this block had a little sign saying it was recognized as ‘the greenest in Brooklyn’ in 2011.
look at this shit: these people have little shower windows that look out through a damn TURRET!
this is the bodega where I went and stocked myself up with a ton of fruits and veggies today for just $40. the resident mouse control officer was very cute and friendly.
Awesome pics! Hve fun!
Updates?
Miss your posts.