If I Were Embarking On An Amazing Adventure…
…I’m pretty sure this van would be the optimal choice for transportation. Canoe? Check. Extra gallon of gas? Check. Antlers on the hood? Check. Let’s roll. (Seen in Williamsburg, of course). -SCOUT
Pirate Treasure at Dungeon Rock
During the Thanksgiving break this year, I took some time to visit the Lynn Woods in Lynn Massachusetts, a beautiful nature reservation encompassing lakes, swamps, rock formations, a small mountain, endless woodland… …and, according to legend, a pirate treasure that has been buried for centuries. Growing up near Lynn, I’d always heard the stories about…
The Abandoned Palace At 5 Beekman Street
Update 9/11/2013 – Been meaning to update for a while. 5 Beekman is NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR FILMING, EVENTS, OR ANY OTHER RENTAL PURPOSE due to ongoing construction. 5 Beekman Street has a secret. You’ve probably passed it a million times in your travels through downtown Manhattan. Certainly anyone who has ever visited J&R Row…
Eagles on the BQE
The Brooklyn Queens Expressway, or BQE, is one of New York’s more miserable driving experiences. For some reason, the BQE is endlessly under construction (yet never seems to get any better), is barely wide enough to support its six lanes, and at any time of day, there’s a solid chance you’ll hit bumper to bumper…
The Coney Island Bank Building Is Gone Forever – R.I.P.
You know, all this time, I secretly believed the Coney Island Bank building would somehow be saved. Sure, it’d take a miracle, but when I saw this conceptual idea of one way it could be restored, I thought: maybe it’ll all work out in the end. Maybe one of the last few historic Coney Island…
Williamsburg’s Secret Beach
Though it borders the East River, no one really thinks of Williamsburg as a beachside community. But go behind some of the buildings on Kent Ave, climb down this rickety ladder taking care not to kill yourself on the rocks below… …and you’ll find that Williamsburg does indeed have its own beach! Sure, it’s not…
Ironic Sign Fail in Brooklyn
Seen near Gowanus… Well, nobody’s erfect, right? -SCOUT
Exploring An Empty Church In Brooklyn
This is Greenpoint’s beautiful St. Elias Church, located on shady Kent Street. And yes, that’s a FOR RENT sign on the front. Once serving the community as both a church and Sunday school for more than 140 years, St. Elias is now completely empty, and has been since 2007, when the property was purchased by…
The Smallest Plot of Land In New York City
One of my favorite bits of unusual New York City history is located on the sidewalk in front of West Village’s iconic Village Cigars store. It’s pretty well known, but I’m going to re-tell it because it’s such a great story. Set into the sidewalk is a small triangle (see my sneaker for size comparison),…
Shopping Cart Gets Cement Shoes In Williamsburg Park
Note: This is no longer there. I was walking by the small, triangle-shaped Macri Park in Williamsburg near the Lorimer stop today… …when I noticed something that I think is new… At the corner by Metropolitan and Meeker, someone has dumped a 4-foot x 4-foot mound of cement with a Home Depot shopping cart embedded…