Plane Crashed in Park Slope 50 Years Ago Today

I found these proofs of the event in a collection of old photos that were in my possession. Here is the story on what happened.

Found on Union Street

Found in Coney Island...

My eagle eye found this golden plaster elephant in a shadowy alley in Coney Island last Friday night. I would love to know where it came from. The elephant was double sided and had tusks and jewels. It was broken off of something. From a ride? From a fortune tellers lamp? All I know is that it was very Aladdin like. Elephants are supposed to bring good luck, so I made a wish and left it where I found it. The next day when I passed by, it was gone.

Couch & Lamp

Artic Blast From the Past

Pacific Street

I don't know why but I like it!

Found on Third Street

Been finding loads of classical music albums on the streets these days...I am partial to Chopin myself.

Found on President Street

Memorial Weekend *Free*dom

Memorial Day weekend. If I had a yard myself I would be lying in a lounge chair sipping a refreshing beverage but since I live in an apartment in Brooklyn I'm not.
In honor of all our dead veterans I would like to say BRING OUR TROOPS HOME! Enough have died already (4400in Iraq to be exact).

The world feels like it's spinning off it's axis and I know you are all feeling it too. Wars, Earthqaukes, Oil spills, Floods, Recession (depression?)budget cuts for education, libraries closing down and the list goes on. On the bright side, it is in hard times such as these creative thinking and resourcefulness often flourishes. A prime example of this would be the swap meet at the Yard that F.I.B attended over the weekend.

This was not a flea market, this was a FREE market! And F.I.B hauled home a bunch of high quality merch.

What did I get? Since shopping confessions are all the rage on YouTube, I know you want to know!

I took away:

1. A RCA dvd player. It works and is the newest looking appliance in my house, all slim and black and shiny. Crazy how that is already outdated to someone!
2. Two pairs of Levi's that actually fit
3. A really nice drinking glass
4. An elegant crystal paper weight that is also a magnifiying glass
5. A stunning black and white print silk Liberty of London top

Hard to believe folks gave these things up! But then again I saw people fighting over a pumpkin orange leather jacket from the 70's that sat in my closet for three years untouched(which was found on 3rd Street in Park Slope. Was it yours once?) validating that old cliche about one's trash being anothers treasure.

While at the swap I stepped back and watched and was blown away by the quietness of the crowd. These freegans were FOCUSED!

This idea was brilliant. We have so much STUFF we don't want, when things get put to the curb they just go to the landfill, Knowing and actually seeing that your unwanted goods go to some one who appreciates them is awesome. What remained at the swap meet got donated to charity and all textiles were recycled.

Kudos to the Yard for hosting this fab event.

Haven't they heard the news?

Found on Sackett Street, not the usual books or housewares buttop soil anyone? GOWANUS TOP SOIL?!!! HUH?!

Calvacade of old electronics...

Found on Bond Street.

Found on President Street

Mystery Solved!

Last month F.I.B stumbled upon a stack of paintings and speculated about just what the story was behind their abandonment. Well, the mystery is solved!

These are all the works Jesse Jones. A friend of his happened upon the original blogpost and sent it on to him...here is Mr. Jone's response.

"The paintings were mine. I lived in that house for 30 years and it's being sold so I had to move out. I had so much stuff that I had to make tough choices about what to keep.

I'm pleased some of them found a home at least! I hope you enjoy them.

I have painted a lot of Lucha Libre Masks and Apes."
Yup, they found a good home alright!

Check out Jesse Jone's portfolio, which is chock full of great images here.

I would like to add that F.I.B and Mr. Jones have probably crossed paths as we were both teenage regulars at the CBGB hardcore matinees in the early 80's and he also went on to be in the band Yuppicide which I recall going seeing one time. Small world!

Was the Artist Sick of These or Were They Getting Thrown Out Themselves?

Midafternoon casts brownstone gate shadows...


Found on Clinton Street yesterday afternoon.

Found on Sackett Street (for real this time)

Why it's some snow, some mosaics in the sidewalk and an amazing Buick 8! Does anyone know if this is a station wagon, delivery van or a hearse? All I know is that it is a real beauty...and has traveled all the way to Brooklyn from Maine.

Another year has gone by and thanks to everyone who has stopped by F.I.B. It's been a pretty good year personally for me, lots of changes going on which has prevented the frequency of blog posts in 2009 but I hope the blog inspires all to notice for themselves what is on and what is happening on the streets of your neighborhood a little bit more! Wishing you all a peaceful New Year!

Phones of the Brooklyn Public Library Pt.1

Found on Carroll Street

Stumbled across another forgotten belt around the Gowanus. I really don't know what to think of this picture except that that belt just looks like it just BELONGS there.

Found on Sterling Street

I was lucky enough to find this very cool gothic style (from a victorian era brownstown I'm sure) tin wall detail on Sterling Street last night. Not perfect but pretty cool.

Ghost of a Used Car Lot on Fourth Avenue

Found on 4th Avenue between the Brooklyn Lyceum and Union Street.

For more old signage, check out the blog by the man who coined the term "fading ad" here.

Found on President Street (again)