#lifeinbrooklyn — Public Fediverse posts

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 08-26-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-08-26-26/

Sensationalist Economics Reporting in Morning Brew

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/sensationalist-economics-reporting-in-morning-brew-08-17-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 06-15-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-06-15-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 06-15-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-06-15-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 06-12-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-06-12-26/

Touching the Gowanus Canal?

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/touching-the-gowanus-canal-04-06-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 04-06-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-04-06-26-2/

Toothpaste Expiration Dates (NLJ Link)

https://social.emucafe.org/newleafjournal/nlj-toothpaste-expiration-dates-04-03-26/

Toothpaste Expiration Dates (NLJ Link)

https://social.emucafe.org/newleafjournal/nlj-toothpaste-expiration-dates-04-03-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 03-22-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-03-22-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 03-22-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-03-22-26/

Bossert Hotel Work in Brooklyn Heights (March 2026)

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/bossert-hotel-work-03-21-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 03-18-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-03-18-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 03-18-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-03-18-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 03-18-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-03-18-26/

Pook-Emu Bee: Links For 03-18-26

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/pook-emu-bee-links-for-03-18-26/

Mid-March Snow in Brooklyn (2021 and 2026)

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/mid-march-snow-in-brooklyn-03-12-2026/

Mid-March Snow in Brooklyn (2021 and 2026)

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/mid-march-snow-in-brooklyn-03-12-2026/

Things I Learned: Berlin’s Road Salt Ban

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/berlin-road-salt-ban-02-11-26/

Things I Learned: Berlin’s Road Salt Ban

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/berlin-road-salt-ban-02-11-26/

Things I Learned: Berlin’s Road Salt Ban

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/berlin-road-salt-ban-02-11-26/

Things I Learned: Berlin’s Road Salt Ban

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/berlin-road-salt-ban-02-11-26/

Early Rotting Carved Halloween Pumpkins in Brooklyn

https://thenewleafjournal.com/early-rotting-carved-halloween-pumpkins-in-brooklyn/

https://thenewleafjournal.com/coca-cola-liquid-death-tag/

I saw glass bottles of Coca Cola next to Liquid Death at a small produce store. Curiously, the Liquid Death price sticker was under the Coke.

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/protecting-new-trees-in-greenpoint-brooklyn/

Mary Frost of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that “[t]he NYC Department of Parks planted 200 new trees in Greenpoint and Williamsburg over the past two weeks, with over a thousand more will becoming to [Council] District 33 within two years…” [Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 11, 2025]. City Councilman Lincoln Restler, who announced the new trees, noted that the young new residents of northern Brooklyn will require maintenance:

Planting trees is just the first step, Restler added, urging locals to pledge to ‘adopt’ one to water and keep healthy and to check out a tree map showing the newly planted saplings.

I do not spend much time in either Greenpoint or Williamsburg, although I have written about both on The New Leaf Journal (see e.g., Donut Fender in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and BLOB DYLAN Seen in Williamsburg (May 2025)). But having granted that I do not spend much time that far north, I have enough of a feel for Brooklyn and areas like Greenpoint and the trendier parts of Williamsburg to note a curious omission in Mr. Restler’s statement. Mr. Restler wants residents to work together to water the new trees. I would be concerned about how residents water the new trees. The quality of dog owners and dog behavior in Brooklyn fell off a cliff beginning in 2020 and shows no sign of improving.

#brooklyn #dogs #greenpoint #lifeInBrooklyn #nyc #trees #williamsburg

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/protecting-new-trees-in-greenpoint-brooklyn/

Mary Frost of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported that “[t]he NYC Department of Parks planted 200 new trees in Greenpoint and Williamsburg over the past two weeks, with over a thousand more will becoming to [Council] District 33 within two years…” [Brooklyn Daily Eagle, August 11, 2025]. City Councilman Lincoln Restler, who announced the new trees, noted that the young new residents of northern Brooklyn will require maintenance:

Planting trees is just the first step, Restler added, urging locals to pledge to ‘adopt’ one to water and keep healthy and to check out a tree map showing the newly planted saplings.

I do not spend much time in either Greenpoint or Williamsburg, although I have written about both on The New Leaf Journal (see e.g., Donut Fender in Greenpoint, Brooklyn and BLOB DYLAN Seen in Williamsburg (May 2025)). But having granted that I do not spend much time that far north, I have enough of a feel for Brooklyn and areas like Greenpoint and the trendier parts of Williamsburg to note a curious omission in Mr. Restler’s statement. Mr. Restler wants residents to work together to water the new trees. I would be concerned about how residents water the new trees. The quality of dog owners and dog behavior in Brooklyn fell off a cliff beginning in 2020 and shows no sign of improving.

#brooklyn #dogs #greenpoint #lifeInBrooklyn #nyc #trees #williamsburg

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/banning-gas-powered-leaf-blowers-07-11-25/

Morning Brew published an August 10, 2025 article by Brandon Casgrove titled The war on gas-powered leaf blowers. I have thoughts. But first, what is the cause of this so-called war?

Gas-powered leaf blowers are greater polluters than cars, pound for pound, since their engines are smaller and often less efficient.

I do not think that small leaf blowers are moving the needle much here. You need to bring something better than that for a war.

Leaf blowers also kick up particulate matter, which can cause respiratory and heart problems. Plus, gas-powered versions of the lawn care tool can hit 106 decibels, enough to damage hearing, per the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

There we go. That is better. From the perspective of a resident of Brooklyn, New York (brownstone Brooklyn, colloquially speaking), the best reason to crack down on leaf blowers is because they kick up a ton of “particulate matter” on the sidewalk. The second reason is because blowing leaves from the stoop to the street is rather pointless in that the “work” can be undone by an ill-directed gust of wind. I should write an article about this, so I reserve further thoughts for that time.

#brooklyn #leafBlowers #lifeInBrooklyn #nyc

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/amny-shooting-report-questions-07-11-25/

On August 10, 2025, amNY reported on a lethal shooting in Sunset Park (Brooklyn) the night before:

Police said officers from the 72nd Precinct responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting at 57th Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park.

I have not been to Sunset Park in a while (I discussed it briefly in one NLJ article). I was last there in October 2021 when I walked through the entirety of Sunset Park in the evening (probably starting around 8:30-9:00 PM) on my way home from Dyker Heights/Bay Ridge. It struck me as mostly fine then, but I could see it coming off worse with block parties. But that aside, one part of this article puzzled me:

When they arrived, they found 45-year-old Roberto Cuevas with a gunshot wound to the back amid the remnants of the party.

“[R]emnants of the party” is doing some work here. Were the “remnants” still there waiting for the police to arrive or were they still partying? In light of the fact that someone (possibly a party-goer) shot dead another man (also possibly a party-goer), I suppose both are possible. This phrasing is too open-ended. But setting that aside, I am glad I do not live somewhere where late night/early morning block parties are a thing.

#brooklyn #crime #journalism #lifeInBrooklyn #sunsetPark #walking

Sharing Handwritten Review of the Els Pet “Spaceship”

https://thenewleafjournal.com/sharing-handwritten-review-of-the-els-pet-spaceship/

I found a negative review of a “smart” automated litter box left outside in Brooklyn, New York. I re-print and share the review along with my review of the litter box’s website.

Sharing Handwritten Review of the Els Pet “Spaceship”

https://thenewleafjournal.com/sharing-handwritten-review-of-the-els-pet-spaceship/

I found a negative review of a “smart” automated litter box left outside in Brooklyn, New York. I re-print and share the review along with my review of the litter box’s website.

Sharing Handwritten Review of the Els Pet “Spaceship”

https://thenewleafjournal.com/sharing-handwritten-review-of-the-els-pet-spaceship/

I found a negative review of a “smart” automated litter box left outside in Brooklyn, New York. I re-print and share the review along with my review of the litter box’s website.

NYC Open Streets Traffic Cone Shortage

https://thenewleafjournal.com/nyc-open-streets-traffic-cone-shortage-05-13-2025/

I read about a possible traffic cone shortage in Brooklyn. One day earlier, I watched a truck back over and crush two traffic cones in Brooklyn Heights.

Portico Zebra on Cambridge Place in Clinton Hill

https://thenewleafjournal.com/portico-zebra-on-cambridge-place-in-clinton-hill/

I encounter a zebra on what I believe was my first stroll down Cambridge Place in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn.

Amazon “Cargo Bikes” in Brooklyn

https://thenewleafjournal.com/amazon-cargo-bikes-in-brooklyn/

Amazon “cargo bikes” have taken over my neck of Brooklyn in the last few months. I took a chance to photograph an unattended one in Brooklyn Heights before launching into a mini research project.

“Like Literally Like” – Unclear Thinking and Speaking

https://thenewleafjournal.com/like-literally-like-unclear-thinking-and-speaking/

I would say that the quote “but I’m like uh like literally like” speaks for itself. However, the problem may well be that it does not speak for itself (or anything at all).

Hip Green Smoothies For April Fools

https://thenewleafjournal.com/hip-green-smoothies-for-april-fools/

Justin has noticed that the “cool” people walk around with unappetizing green drinks in clear cups. This inspires in Justin a plan to have his shake and drink it too.

Hip Green Smoothies For April Fools

https://thenewleafjournal.com/hip-green-smoothies-for-april-fools/

Justin has noticed that the “cool” people walk around with unappetizing green drinks in clear cups. This inspires in Justin a plan to have his shake and drink it too.

Budding Trees on Red Hook’s Coffey Street

https://thenewleafjournal.com/budding-trees-on-red-hooks-coffey-street/

One blossoming tree in Red Hook anticipated the coming of spring.

Dirty Grubhub Delivery Bags in Brooklyn

https://thenewleafjournal.com/dirty-grubhub-delivery-bags-in-brooklyn/

Tackling a disturbing contemporary New York City issue: The disturbingly shoddy state of insulated Grubhub food delivery bags.

A vacant office location for Ageless Men’s Health in Brooklyn Heights. Surely a pun will follow.

https://thenewleafjournal.com/brooklyn-ageless-mens-healths-brt/

Dunkin’ Donuts Are Not All The Same

https://thenewleafjournal.com/dunkin-donuts-are-not-all-the-same/

I frequented an excellent Dunkin’ Donuts location in Bay Ridge in the late 2000s when I was in high school. I then learned that not all Dunkin’ Donuts are the same.

Too often, decorative pumpkins are left outdoors to rot in later months. But sometimes, as I saw in Carroll Gardens on December 19, 2024, the Pumpkin Taker does his job.

https://thenewleafjournal.com/putting-pumpkins-out-to-pasture/

Free “Hardly Used” Toilet Seen in Brooklyn

https://thenewleafjournal.com/free-hardly-used-toilet-seen-in-brooklyn/

Toto seeks to dominate the U.S. toilet market. That will be hard when you can find free “hardly used” toilets for the taking while walking through Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn.

Sell by November Cashew Milk in December

https://thenewleafjournal.com/sell-by-november-cashew-milk-in-december/

I was about to add a carton of on-sale Silk cashew milk to my shopping basket on December 12, 2024 before I noticed that the sell-by date was November 2, 2024.

Musing About Tesla Cybertruck at Brooklyn Bridge Park

https://thenewleafjournal.com/musing-about-tesla-cybertruck-at-brooklyn-bridge-park/

After documenting an unexpected Tesla Cybertruck sighting in scenic Brooklyn Bridge Park, I thought about what the Cybertruck reminds me of. I thought back to Virtua Racing Deluxe for the Sega 32X.

Inflatable Halloween Pumpkins, Ghosts, and Spiders

https://thenewleafjournal.com/inflatable-halloween-pumpkins-ghosts-and-spiders/

Reviewing inflatable Halloween decorations in Brownstone Brooklyn, seen and photographed in October 2024.

Justin and Justina Ikea Seat Cushion

https://thenewleafjournal.com/justin-and-justina-ikea-seat-cushion/

Justin goes to Ikea without Justina, shares live photos from his trip with Justina, including a photo of JUSTINA (which may or may not be an Ikea seat cushion).

When you see an odd-looking bug inside your building for about five consecutive days, there is only one thing to do (after repeatedly forgetting). It’s time to be a hero.

https://thenewleafjournal.com/rescuing-an-ailanthus-webworm-moth/

April showers bring May flowers; August showers bring August mushrooms (or so says my photographic evidence).

https://thenewleafjournal.com/reishi-mushroom-in-brooklyn-tree-pit/

I recently published a short post on overhearing a woman abusing the word like in an atrocious sentence. On the same day I published that post, I overheard something more articulate, but nevertheless unusual. This was a gentleman in Brooklyn Heights: “They’re not kidding when they say you shouldn’t put pressure on the artery where they went in.” Duly noted. According to my doctor friend, they went with radial access on the man. At least he is on top of things!

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/overheard-on-street-2/

#anecdotes #lifeInBrooklyn #overheard

Free as a bird. Free as in bird.

https://thenewleafjournal.com/free-as-a-bird-free-as-in-bird/

The New Leaf Journal’s resident dialogue duo, Justin and Justina, consider the true meaning of the assertion that a New York City pigeon is free.

Carroll Gardens Library Renovations

A short report on reports about the temporary closure of the Carroll Gardens Library with original photographs.

https://thenewleafjournal.com/carroll-gardens-library-renovations/

#CarrollGardens #LifeInBrooklyn #RedHook

Choosing to believe that the big fireworks display I hear going on outside my window is for the New York Liberty clinching a trip to the Finals 🤷🏽‍♂️ 🎆 🗽 🏀 #LightItUpNYL #WNBA #WNBAFinals #NewYorkLiberty #LifeInBrooklyn

I saw a copy of Tom Cantor’s Changed, a self-published religion conversion story that makes the rounds through an unsolicited direct mail campaign, sitting on a step in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Why might I care? Over at The New Leaf Journal, I published what I hope was a humorous article on the cover design of the book after receiving a short-lived copy in July 2022. To my surprise, the article performed very strongly in terms of page visits in December 2022 and January 2023, which I inferred was a result of the direct mail campaign, before becoming a proverbial non-entity shortly thereafter. While I know that many people were weirded out about receiving Mr. Cantor’s strange book, The New Leaf Journal would benefit from his resuming his strange pastime with abandon.

https://social.emucafe.org/naferrell/cantor-sighting/

#lifeInBrooklyn #nlj

Blinded by Headlights Dialogue

https://thenewleafjournal.com/justin-and-justina-blinded-by-headlights/

A dialogue addressing the question of why drivers refuse to dim their extraordinarily bright headlights.

Into the Car Headlights in Brooklyn

https://thenewleafjournal.com/into-the-car-headlights-in-brooklyn/

On blinding headlines seen on evening walks in Brooklyn.

The Seizure-Inducing Ambulance Lights

https://thenewleafjournal.com/justin-justina-the-seizure-inducing-ambulance/

At least the ambulance is there if its lights cause an incident.