Mr. Softee needs gas

The song kept playing, but there were no customers while the Softee truck gassed up. The driver had to get out because the gas tank is in a secret location in the back, by the rainbow sprinkles.

Water in the watermelon

It was a rather surreal sight, the waterlogged watermelon. Bits of it were scattered around the sand. I suspect people on the beach had a snack and were too lazy to tote their garbage to the boardwalk. Those *&#(*^@!.

A flat place with arrows

The road is decorated with spray paint; no road work has been done, though. After Prospect Park and Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn levels out, flat as a pancake, all the way to Coney Island.

Where are we?

Brooklyn has tourists! They are looking at a big metal sidewalk map and the buildings on Court Street. Those of us who live here full-time are not moved by the architecture; we are more concerned with the spring weather. One minute it’s hot, the next it’s chilly.

Say good-bye to April

Powerhouse Books is Dumbo’s bookstore and an exhibition and performance space as well. It’s the kind of place you might walk into thinking about one kind of book and walk out with another in your hand. Willem Dafoe was on April’s card announcing store events.

All new Smith & Ninth Street subway station

I haven’t tried out the escalator yet, but how often do you get to stand on a brand new subway platform? It’s a rare and special thing:  the Smith & Ninth Street station reopened today after  extensive renovations. Three-second rules for dropped food don’t apply, that’s how fresh and clean this station is!

Free Hugs

This guy was giving out free hugs. Fortunately it wasn’t as icky as it sounds. He was friendly and some young people hugged him and posed for snapshots. There were a few foreign tourists on the boardwalk, but I don’t think they could make sense of what was going on. They steered clear of the hugger.