northern exposure

January 20th, 2010 | Posted by Jill in dumbo | parks and museums - (0 Comments)

northern exposure

We here at Love of Brooklyn are getting a little film-obsessed in 2k10. There’s something about the way the grain and old school tones portray my neighborhood that has me melting, in love with everything I see. The shot above is from my new-to-me vintage medium format camera, looking north across the East River from underneath the Manhattan bridge in DUMBO.

Even in the austerity of winter, it’s a fabulous place for a bundled-up picnic, perched on the shores of Brooklyn and with the world at your fingertips!

through the rainforest

October 26th, 2009 | Posted by Kruger in park slope | parks and museums - (0 Comments)

in the clearing

It was quite the rainy Saturday this past weekend. My friends and I decided to explore Prospect Park at night.   So we set out and went into the woods of the Park around midnight.  Walking on the paths in the woods was by far the darkest NYC experience I’ve had.  Naturally, I wanted to see if I could get a picture so I set the camera to ISO 25,600 and tried taking a few (no tripod that night).  You can see the ones below (2nd and 3rd photos); they’re both blurry in some odd way.  It was interesting to say the least.  While walking through the woods, we happened upon some forest elves and nymphs.  It was interestingly surreal.  You can see traces of them in the photos, but they only showed themselves in the form of neon lights.

light pollution

October 19th, 2009 | Posted by Jill in park slope | parks and museums | south slope | windsor terrace - (2 Comments)

light pollution

I admit: I have a love-hate relationship with the Prospect Expressway. I know Sufjan Stevens already got dibs on the BQE, but I would be more than happy cursing and praising the Expressway while I’m hula hooping in the South Slope.

The majority of my hate (or serious dislike, since we’re all about the love here) stems from living next to the Expressway three stories up from the traffic below. Its lovely dim roar was a kind of post-apocalyptic urban lullaby from which I could never escape. It also afforded beautiful views of Manhattan and the Empire State Building… as long as you could drown out the noise.

On the flip side, because the city knew what a grand gesture it was to split the South Slope up with a massive highway in the 1950′s, they planted a beautiful series of parks which line the Expressway with benches and picnic tables and trees and dog runs and small community gardens. Whew.

And lots of nice walking paths. I love them especially.

Check out a map here to see how these 15 small parks are laid out. And do yourself a favor next time you’re in the neighborhood — Take a walk, even if it’s nighttime!

[ed. note - Thanks to the fine folks at Brownstoner for featuring this shot. I learned from one of the commenters that the dog run along this stretch of the Expressway is unofficial, but there is a petition out to get it recognized by the city. If you're so inclined, sign it here!]

100 years old

October 2nd, 2009 | Posted by Matt in dumbo | parks and museums - (1 Comments)

Manhattan Bridge 9.09

The Manhattan Bridge turns 100 this weekend, complete with fireworks by the Gruccis.  Festivities will commence at 7:00pm this Sunday (10/4).    Apparently the Manhattan School of Music Brass Quintet will perform at the East River Park Amphitheatre, but I say and skip the music stay in BK.  I work in DUMBO and took this photo on my lunch break.  If you haven’t spent much time in DUMBO I recommend you make an evening of it. 

Get here early, head over to Grimaldi’s for their coal brick oven pizza.  Expect to wait a long time, especially during peak eating hours.  (It’s worth the wait).  Check out the free fireworks, maybe even get some ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.