These were all taken within a 1-block radius, at the park disturbingly close to my house. For my part, I was working and just saw the sky turn real ugly green, and saw people running around in crazy winds and rain. Austin and I also saw the neighboring building’s rain gutters go completely nuts, waterfalling all over the place. I didn’t even actually hear the word “tornado” until Sam said it to me around 11pm.

There are some real good photos over at Gridskipper, Brownstoner and NY1.

The Greenpoint Gazette – the voice of Greenpoint – is a neighborhood newspaper in Brooklyn, NYC

via Greenpoint Gazette:Two 80 Café.

Tandem is a lovely little joint located at 236 Troutman, right off of Knickerbocker in Bushwick, literally a block and a half from my house. The bartenders are very friendly (well beyond the professional friendliness you hope to experience from any bartender), the lighting is low and the ambience classy. During happy hour they have the best deal ever: a 16 oz. can of PBR and a shot of whiskey for THREE BUCKS. Austin might possibly get a job there, but he won’t know for a bit because the owner just had a baby.

Also, on Saturdays they have crazy smoke-machine-and-DJ parties in the back room. Those scare me a little bit. I peeked inside and everyone was dancing, but in a really mellow way, kind of like a rave on percocet.

Truly, the bathroom is fucking immaculate. Austin reports that he has pooped in all 3 stalls, and has never felt uncomfortable dropping a deuce there. He gives his seal of a-poo-val. He made me write that.

There’s also no graffiti, which isn’t categorically a good thing, but fits well with the air of cleanliness in the rest of the bar. All 3 stalls open onto a communal sink, which is made out of some sort of stone that looks attractive and doesn’t show stains – like a really nice classroom carpet. Only downside: no paper towels at time of review.

While this might be my first quiet moment I’ve had in New York I feel almost too tired to write. This is only because I’m trying to refuel my tanks for the rest that is to come. But, before I tell you all about that, let me tell you about what has happened so far.
Thursday I arrived into NY at 11:50pm! Joe Petersen, who I am staying with for part of my time here, said he was going to pick me up from the airport but didn’t. This part was rather exciting for me because I now had to figure out the New York subway system in a matter of minutes. Let me tell you this: The New York Subway system is the easiest and most understandable system in the world. You would have to be deaf, dumb and blind to not figure it out.
Moving on, and finally meeting up with Joe, and his two friends from SF, CA (who are also visiting for the weekend) at a bar in Williamsburg, Brooklyn – I was ready to party. From about 12:30pm to 4am we drank and took photo booth pictures. Continuing the party we decided to go to Manahattan (where the SF guys were staying) and see everything until the sun came up. I went to Grand Central station and spoke into the whisper arch, the NY Library and saw where Billy Murray & Dan Aykroyd stood in one scene of Ghostbusters, sacraficed the Chrysler building to the blood god and lastly saw Bryant Park.
At this point in time is it now 8am…

On friday I awoke midafternoon feeling like crap. But I had to suck it up because I was meeting my friend and former co-worker Katie and her friend Alex at the NY MOMA for free day. These two gals have turned out to be the coolest, and cutest, guides in NY.
At the MOMA we went into a film, that we didnt know anything about other then it being Canadian cinema. IT WAS THE MOST DEPRESSING MOVIE EVER! But it was also very beautiful. It was called “Polytechnique” (2009), and it’s about the Montreal Massacre of 1989.
To lighten our moods we went to the main exhibit which was Tim Burton’s art. Deciding that was enough to make us feel happier, we went for drinks in west village then went back to Brooklyn to get dinner. The three of us ate at Robertas pizza where we ordered a delicious pizza to split and also BONE MARROW. It was served in the bone and when taken out and spread onto bread it looks like a thick red cream. BRUTAL!
After dinner, the two ladies had to depart and I went off on my own to find the Gotham City Lounge. I found it, and holy crap, it was awesome. With action figures and other comic collectibles hanging from the ceiling, large posters plastering the walls and the tables covered in comic book panels – I was in shock and awe. Joe was just getting off work and I was headed to his place to finally drop off my bag. From here, Joe and I decided to take me to his favorite neighborhood bar called Ali’s Two80. Ali, who is the owner, bartender, cook and cleaner he is 56 years old and 100% bad-ass. After a couple of rounds talking with old school Brooklyn Italian dudes who work in “construction” and are slightly racist, Ali closed down the shop and let Joe and myself stay in the bar. He cooked us food, gave us free whiskey and beer and told us stories about times he uses his ‘shovel’ to kick people out.
Again, 100% BADASS DUDE.
We get back at 6am.

From here on out, I’ll be a little quicker with my experiences:
Saturday, Joe and I got up to meet with his friends for brunch in Hells Kitchen at a place that had bottomless mimosas, screw drivers or bloody marys. YES!
After brunch we went to Chelsea to meet with a friend of Joe’s from college.
CHELSEA is a giant gay night club all the time. And 90% of the dudes have sixpacks there.
Meeting up with Ricky, we went to the legendary Stonewall Inn and had a couple of drinks there. Did you know? Stonewall in always serves free hot dogs – hey, get your mind out of the gutter. I mean real hotdogs with buns, ketchup and mustard.
After Stonewall Inn, Joe, Ricky and myself went to the Comix Comedy Club to meet up with Alex and see Garfunkle & Oates preform – FOR FREE (the girl I sat next to on the plane works there and got us all in!!!). The show was beyond cute. So cute. My hearted melted. To be honest it was too cute for words I’m moving on…

After the show Alex and I went to Brooklyn to meet up with Katie at her work in Williamsburg. She got off work, we got food and drinks and then went to a bar till 4am playing telephone-pictionary.
Here is what happened. I am staying at Joe’s place. My phone died and so did his. I know where he lives (yeah, really good visual memory) but I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get back into his house – or even if he was going home.
I took a chance and rolled the dice. I took the subway back to bushwick alone. And waiting at the platform for 20min alone while waiting for the train is scary and cool all rolled-up into one. Walked to his house and rang the button. Whew – Vernon, his housemate, was awake and buzzed me in. Joe never showed up, so I got his bed.

That’s all for now. Tonight I’m off to Williamsburg to see Michael Showalter preform comedy with his friends.

see you soon internet!