Van in the snow

The Friday snowstorm: last of the season? It didn’t add up to much and looked nice coming down. I think I’m having (prematurely) nostalgia for the winter and the snow that didn’t fall.

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Wet and gray parking lot

The drizzle I could take. But when the wind started turning my umbrella inside-out and I was standing in the Lowe’s parking lot, that’s when I decided it was time to take cover then hurry home.

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Dunkins at sea level

Yesterday, at the Dunkin Donuts by Pathmark and the Gowanus Canal, people were preparing for the storm by buying donuts. Mid-afternoon, there were crullers left as well as some misshapen donut sticks, and bagels, too. This little shopping center, in Zone A, will be closed until further notice.

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Gowanus storm surge

We are waiting for the storm, Hurricane Sandy. The authorities are warning everyone to stay away from bodies of water. Think about the Gowanus Canal being four feet higher than normal, and RUN to higher ground.

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A carload of possibility

At the home improvement store. I’d like to see the “after” picture.

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The Eagle sign on a gray day

The Eagle sign is no Kentile sign, but we are fond of it as a local landmark. As the Kentile and Eagle factories are defunct, there will come a day when these vestiges of old Brooklyn fall apart. Gowanus will have a little less personality.

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Where the rain goes

Some of the rain, melted snow, and a what-not from the streets ends up here, at the “Wet weather discharge point” to the lower right. It’s also called the Gowanus Canal, and it was quite fetid when I snapped this picture: green and moldy, trashy, with flower petals and a dead rat floating feet in the air. People heed the warnings not to recreate in the area, without looking at the sign.

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Future home of your organic food

After eight years of discussions, disagreements, and resubmissions, the Board of Standards and Appeals has approved Whole Food’s proposal for a 58,000 square foot store at the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street. The Gowanus is the barrier on the lot’s other long side. Nothing will grow here, except for a few weeds, because of the contamination.

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View of sunset from Third Avenue

The Gowanus Canal, our local Superfund site, sprouts several watery arms along its length – this picture was taken at the end of one, at Third Avenue. The chain link on the bridge here is small-gauge, so people can only throw tiny objects in the water. The Kentile sign is to the left of the setting sun.

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The grand panorama

This is the view from Smith & Ninth, taken last April. I’m hoping to revisit the spot where I was standing, toward the front of the platform, as soon as the subway work is done. It’s not a beautiful view, the Lowe’s parking lot, the poisonous canal, and the elevated highway, but I miss it.

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