Desktop Day: Christmas Yards

Mac and PC versions of the holiday spirit down on the Atlantic Yards footprint.

Desktop Day Double: Atlantic Yards, No

Two images sized to go up as your computer wallpaper. Kind of ideal if you are lucky enough to have two monitors, as you can juxtapose the shots for a snazzy visual statement. Instructions Left-click on the image first to open up the large version. Windows PC: Right-click on the large image and select 'set as desktop background'. You can also right-click and 'save as', then use your desktop properties settings to add the file you just saved and format it how you prefer. There's more info on customising your PC desktop here.

Mac: Macintosh instructions can be found here.

Carlton Avenue Bridge Set to Close

The closure is part of the preparation by Forest City Ratner for the Atlantic Yards development. It will shut over the next few weeks. Here's the location.
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Pacific Pavement Clean Up

Faith Gertner, a resident of Brooklyn for over twenty years, helped with the clean up on Pacific Street on Sunday. Under the Forest City Ratner plan the street is to be de-mapped. But there is an alternative... Photos courtesy of Deb Goldstein.

Atlantic Yards: Clean Up Day

Pacific Street Pavement Residents and neighbors of Atlantic Yards are getting together for a tidy up around the footprint. "We still live here! Clean up day!" is on Sunday from midday to 5pm. Everyone is welcome to come and join in.

It's a Jungle Out There

Nature is trying to reclaim Pacific before Ratner removes the street altogether.

Puff on Pacific Street

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys. One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.

Pacific Street Symbols

Anyone care to translate?

Pacific Street Slab

Atlantic Yards Pile Driver

This contraption, pictured in front of the shrouded Ward Bakery, is for punching foundations deep into the ground. Pile drivers are an increasingly common sight (and sound) of Brooklyn's development frenzy. The origin of the pile driver is dated variously from as far back as 5000 years ago in Scotland up to the renaissance starchitects Francesco di Giorgio and Leonardo Da Vinci. Here is a pile driver you can drink. 1/3 oz vodka 1/3 oz orange juice 1/3 oz prune juice Pour all ingredients into a shot glass, stir and serve. UPDATE: An anonymous tipster informs us that the alleged pile driver is in fact a mere drill. We are investigating.

Narrow Streets: Pacific

Since my last wander round the Atlantic Yards footprint a large new fence has been erected and a footpath closed. Pacific Street is now narrower by about a quarter.

Belatedly

We've been busy with the day job, so we're just getting round to posting this, but we were thrilled to share some real estate in the Gray Lady this weekend with Flatbush Gardener, Dope on the Slope, and other illustrious personages.

Desktop Day: Tasty Provisions

This week we present a victim of the Atlantic Yards project. Our version is Ratner-proof and is sized as a PC wallpaper. Instructions Left-click on the image first to open up the large version. Windows PC: Right-click on the large image and select 'set as desktop background'. You can also right-click and 'save as', then use your desktop properties settings to add the file you just saved and format it how you prefer. There's more info on customising your PC desktop here.

Mac: Macintosh instructions can be found here.

Sunset on Pacific Street

Ward's Bakery: Save It

This handsome 1911 white terra cotta clad beauty is scheduled for demolition as part of the preparation for the Atlantic Yards development. If you feel it should be developed rather than destroyed you can sign an online petition.