Hooboy, lots here for me to process. 'Cool neighborhood' doesn't fit with the visions of early 1970's Bushwick that are dancing in my head. In the early seventies I worked near one of the breweries. [I was outta there before the blackout and riots.] Walking to or from a nearby old-fashioned luncheonette for takeout coffee in one of those iconic blue & white paper coffee cups, one might occasionally see a rat in the empty lots. Mary, owner of said luncheonette, was from an island in Italy. Upon learning that I would be visiting Italy in the summer of 1972 she insisted that I go to the island of Ischia - which I did! At that time it was not overrun with tourists and most of the tourists by far were European, not American. I'm sure I wouldn't recognize either Ischia or Bushwick today.
When I told my grandfather I was moving to Bushwick years ago, his face suddenly turned pale and he whispered to me "oh Edela, you don't want to go there." He grew up in Queens and The Bronx and to him, Bushwick would forever be the place you just don't go to.
Like most gentrifying neighborhoods, I feel like there are two different Bushwicks. There's the Bushwick near Roberta's and Denizen (which is actually a dump) and House of Yes that's the "cool" part of the neighborhood. But then there's the part mostly east of the M line that still really feels like a genuine neighborhood. There are always bbqs on the street in the summer, Puerto Rican flags are haphazardly strewn from telephone poles, and the guy next to me keeps pigeons on his roof. I've definitely seen Bushwick lean more and more into that "cool" version in recent years and maybe it's just inevitable, but I'm remaining optimistic that it won't turn into the next Williamsburg 🤞
Yeah, the "East Williamsburg" side of Bushwick feels like..East Williamsburg. It seems like north of Myrtle and south of Myrtle are two different places. I probably should of checked with you for some inside scoop before writing this week!
Yeah, there are definitely 2 bushwicks. I tell ppl this all the time. I think it will become Williamsburg, but I'm more of a glass half empty person regarding this topic. I hope you're right though!
In the early 1960s, the television program "Rocky and Bullwinkle" presented a serial called "Greenpernt Oogle", which involves an island monarchy, "New Greenpernt", commanded by one "Bushwick de Toity Toi'd". Predictably, he spoke with a very broad Brooklyn accent.
Watching this I had to wonder what "Greenpernt" was supposed to mean, but, as you mentioned that the neighborhood of Greenpoint was adjacent to Bushwick, it finally clicked.
No, but photographed through the window a few years ago for my long abandoned Brooklyn/Queens border line project. There's a little something for everyone in there!
My mom used to take us to the Iglesia Pentecostal you photographed near Woodhull hospital. I really like the pics you took in general. It shows both the new Bushwick & old Bushwick. You really did your homework here
Never thought I’d see Bushwick described as a cool neighborhood (except for Roberta’s)!
By the way, conventional Brooklyn wisdom has it that the Galante hit was authorized by ‘The Commission’ because the Bonnanno family under Galante was considered rogue. Just sayin’.
Another great piece, and timely, since I was planning to explore Bushwick this weekend. One bone to pick: you mention that you're concerned about the working class residents whose families have been in Bushwick for generations. Except that, as you outline, the latest wave of working class residents haven't been there for generations - they themselves replaced previous waves of residents who moved elsewhere. If there was huge turnover in the 70s due to the usual suspects of urban decay, that means that the current residents have been in the neighborhood for maybe two generations. Yet community activists act like this is somehow their ancestral home that mustn't me disturbed by any outsiders. Neighborhoods change, as you document beautifully. I don't have much time for the sense of entitlement that comes form those who oppose any change, especially when they have only just arrived themselves.
Hooboy, lots here for me to process. 'Cool neighborhood' doesn't fit with the visions of early 1970's Bushwick that are dancing in my head. In the early seventies I worked near one of the breweries. [I was outta there before the blackout and riots.] Walking to or from a nearby old-fashioned luncheonette for takeout coffee in one of those iconic blue & white paper coffee cups, one might occasionally see a rat in the empty lots. Mary, owner of said luncheonette, was from an island in Italy. Upon learning that I would be visiting Italy in the summer of 1972 she insisted that I go to the island of Ischia - which I did! At that time it was not overrun with tourists and most of the tourists by far were European, not American. I'm sure I wouldn't recognize either Ischia or Bushwick today.
Loved "It’s becoming the kind of place you go to remove your tattoo." Absolutely devastating. 😂😂😂
#noragrets
When I told my grandfather I was moving to Bushwick years ago, his face suddenly turned pale and he whispered to me "oh Edela, you don't want to go there." He grew up in Queens and The Bronx and to him, Bushwick would forever be the place you just don't go to.
Like most gentrifying neighborhoods, I feel like there are two different Bushwicks. There's the Bushwick near Roberta's and Denizen (which is actually a dump) and House of Yes that's the "cool" part of the neighborhood. But then there's the part mostly east of the M line that still really feels like a genuine neighborhood. There are always bbqs on the street in the summer, Puerto Rican flags are haphazardly strewn from telephone poles, and the guy next to me keeps pigeons on his roof. I've definitely seen Bushwick lean more and more into that "cool" version in recent years and maybe it's just inevitable, but I'm remaining optimistic that it won't turn into the next Williamsburg 🤞
Yeah, the "East Williamsburg" side of Bushwick feels like..East Williamsburg. It seems like north of Myrtle and south of Myrtle are two different places. I probably should of checked with you for some inside scoop before writing this week!
Yeah, there are definitely 2 bushwicks. I tell ppl this all the time. I think it will become Williamsburg, but I'm more of a glass half empty person regarding this topic. I hope you're right though!
In the early 1960s, the television program "Rocky and Bullwinkle" presented a serial called "Greenpernt Oogle", which involves an island monarchy, "New Greenpernt", commanded by one "Bushwick de Toity Toi'd". Predictably, he spoke with a very broad Brooklyn accent.
Watching this I had to wonder what "Greenpernt" was supposed to mean, but, as you mentioned that the neighborhood of Greenpoint was adjacent to Bushwick, it finally clicked.
What a good rabbit hole you sent me down! https://youtu.be/M3bFZOKhAaU?feature=shared
Is eight adzes a lot of adzes do you suppose?
That's about one adze per square mile of land so...
Did you go inside the chandelier store? It’s totally bonkers in there!
No, but photographed through the window a few years ago for my long abandoned Brooklyn/Queens border line project. There's a little something for everyone in there!
Green traffic cones WTF?
They're all the rage these days!
Great issue! Also shout out for the Google Earth zoom in, which reminded me of Powers of Ten, and for the Rozenberg project.
oh, man, I haven't watched that in years. Currently questioning the purpose of my existence. Such a fantastic little film
My mom used to take us to the Iglesia Pentecostal you photographed near Woodhull hospital. I really like the pics you took in general. It shows both the new Bushwick & old Bushwick. You really did your homework here
Thank you!
Never thought I’d see Bushwick described as a cool neighborhood (except for Roberta’s)!
By the way, conventional Brooklyn wisdom has it that the Galante hit was authorized by ‘The Commission’ because the Bonnanno family under Galante was considered rogue. Just sayin’.
The drug dealing and Donnie Brasco fiasco were a bridge too far!
Hmm. “Brasco Fiasco”… good name for a Brooklyn punk band.
Fascinating, as always!
Thanks Alon!
Extra great photos this issue. Favorite is Thames St. My other favorite is Blink Twice.
Thank you! Its a very photogenic neighborhood and that Thames facade is special!
That Reingold jingle will be stuck in my head for the rest of my life.
Another great piece, and timely, since I was planning to explore Bushwick this weekend. One bone to pick: you mention that you're concerned about the working class residents whose families have been in Bushwick for generations. Except that, as you outline, the latest wave of working class residents haven't been there for generations - they themselves replaced previous waves of residents who moved elsewhere. If there was huge turnover in the 70s due to the usual suspects of urban decay, that means that the current residents have been in the neighborhood for maybe two generations. Yet community activists act like this is somehow their ancestral home that mustn't me disturbed by any outsiders. Neighborhoods change, as you document beautifully. I don't have much time for the sense of entitlement that comes form those who oppose any change, especially when they have only just arrived themselves.
Thanks for the history of the neighborhood. I live in Brooklyn and often do solo photowalks there.
But I never looked into the history of the place.