37 Comments
Nov 21Liked by Rob Stephenson

Thanks for the shoutout about the Arbuckle Mansion! I actually can’t believe I got to go inside that building, it’s so gorgeous. Here’s hoping more Clinton Hill cat owners need a cat sitter soon 🤞

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If I hear of any cat sitting gigs in the homes of former durable goods tycoons, Ill pass on your info.

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The dream 👏

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Nov 21Liked by Rob Stephenson

This is always the best email I receive each week that isn’t written by a loved one. And this is my hood, so extra special this week.

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That's so nice of you to say, thank you!

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MY HOOD <3

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I thought you lived in Amsterdam? Hope I did your neighborhood right!

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“I have a temper, and it was then aroused.” An understatement, no doubt.

When is the Brooklyn Enigma getting her bio movie? She needs to get attention back from Big Poppa...

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I don't know how well a movie depicting one woman's 50 years of convalescence would do at the box office!

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No- it would focus on her falling ill and becoming psychic.

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Ok, but you would need some star power to get people in seats. Nicole Kidman?

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Nov 22Liked by Rob Stephenson

“Who is your favorite persona, and why is it Ruby?” I’ve been laughing a lot all day today but this was the best laugh by far.

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author

Yes! Who did you vote for?

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Nov 22Liked by Rob Stephenson

I abstained. And this was after a considerable period of contemplation!

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I should've left a section for write in candidates.

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Nov 22Liked by Rob Stephenson

What kind of cracker?

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Cheez It probably

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Nov 22Liked by Rob Stephenson

Welches Grape for real?

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author

The juice not the jelly

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Nov 22Liked by Rob Stephenson

THATS WHAT I WAS HOPING

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Nov 21Liked by Rob Stephenson

Now I'm gonna have to find a good book about the Brooklyn Enigma. That's some fascinating shit.

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author

There was a great New Yorker article from 1934 if you're a subscriber (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1934/09/08/the-brooklyn-enigma) and there is the original authorized biography you can get for free on archive.org https://archive.org/details/molliefancherbro00dailrich but its a little dated!

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Nov 21Liked by Rob Stephenson

I really appreciate your sense of humor

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Thanks Dana, but if this is in reference to my attempted murder joke, I kind of stole that...,

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Also love the attempted murder (of crows) joke😆

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I lived over there during the Biggy funeral. That day was wild.

Great job, as always.

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Thanks Travis. Amazing that you were there to witness the funeral. When did you move out of the neighborhood?

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I think I was a freshman at Pratt the year he was killed. I had a job checking IDs at the school gym, and my supervisor, a man named Castro from East New York, said, "When we're done here, we're walking over to Biggie's funeral." So, we did. I remember the neighborhood being covered in RIP B.I.G. stickers.

I left the neighborhood around 2002. I lived on Willoughby, Carlton, and then Clinton, on the other side of Myrtle Avenue—which, as I learned from you, is in Wallabout.

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22 hrs agoLiked by Rob Stephenson

Thank you for this wonderful essay and pictures, quirky personalities and all.

Love the comic strip Garfield the Cat and had to look up the origins of Jon Arbuckle’s name (Garfield’s owner) and bingo! It came from a 1950s COFFEE commercial!

Never knew there is a formal organization of world mechanics, western hemisphere.

Thank you too for the Stop sign at the end and the pumpkin “pi.” Happy Thanksgiving to all!

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I can't believe that about Jon Arbuckle, that's some good research! Couldn't find a dead end this week so...

Hope you have a mice Thanksgiving!

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I've lived in Clinton Hill for 24 years and every time I get the itch to look around somewhere else, I just can't bear to leave it. Thanks for this and loved learning about the Enigma (and fellow Gates Ave resident)! Long live Ruby!

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I’m sure it has changed so much since 2000, but it is still such a vibrant and beautiful neighborhood. Thanks Lili!

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Nov 21Liked by Rob Stephenson

... I have to ask: what makes that car on Hall Street the most photographed car in Clinton Hill?

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Well first of all, it never moves. Second, it’s right across from an art school. Third, I’ve seen half a dozen picture of it on instagram

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Nov 21Liked by Rob Stephenson

As a former Lefferts Place resident, this warmed my heart. Incredible work- so happy to find you

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Thanks, happy you found me too! I was going to do a little write up on the artist collective at 70 Lefferts Place but ran out of steam (and room).

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I love the green & white awning shadows shot.

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