Trunks and Tapes

Spotted in the Slope on 11th Street and 5th Ave:

"You touch, you buy"

I've decided that this elephant isn't abandoned.  No sir - he's an independent business owner, running a small resale audio cassette shop.  And despite a dwindling market base, he's still a real bitch to haggle with.

Off Roadin'

Spotted in the Slope on 11th Street and 7th Ave:

Trash or the aftermath of an extreme tricycling incident?  You decide.

Polly Wants... a Second Chance

Today's post comes via reader Mike, who spotted the below atrocity in Sunset Park:

I sort of expected to see pigeons in mourning, surrounding their fallen kin...

Sadly, this is the second bird-related posting in as many months (we all remember the tragic rooster incident from earlier this summer). 

I personally like to think that somewhere, perhaps as near as the shores of Ikea in Red Hook, a pirate is frantically searching for his lost parrot.  However, I fear that this bird's sad fate is more likely the result of some toddler's capricious wrath. 

There are no honey pots where you're going, buddy...

Spotted in the Slope on 6th Ave and 9th Street:

Brave little guy - be strong, Pooh, be strong...

Just because his name is Pooh does not mean that he should be treated like a piece of crap.

Private Dancer?

Spotted in the Slope on 12th Street and 6th Ave:

Note the ballerina stick figure on the ground with its head snapped off.  Accident?  I think not.

And I thought that Black Swan was dark... yikes.

Timely Smurf Abandonment!

Spotted in the Slope on 6th Street and 5th Ave:

Whaaaaaa?  No Gargamel?

Just in time for the new Smurfs movie!  I wonder if the former owners were waiting for the film (and I use that term loosely) to come out before attempting to give away their neglected 1980s cartoon merchandise?

In any event, I was almost impressed with this stoop's presentation - however, some additional care could have been put into lining up the toys - in particular, poor Smurfette could have been placed upright.

(Important side note: as I was taking this photo, an elderly neighbor informed me that I could likely take any of the toys if I was interested.  He also felt the need to inform me that they were really, really old and kind of dirty.  I wish I could have snapped a photo of HIM...)

So this is what affordable NY housing looks like, Pt 4: Retail Space

So far, my posts on affordable NY real estate have focused on residential domiciles (for a refresher, take a look at my first, second and third housing posts).  This week, I consider the impact of rising rents on small business owners in Brooklyn.

Take, for example, the below Animal Hospital, spotted in the Slope on 11th Street and 7th Ave:

Note the reading material thoughtfully provided in the Vet's "waiting room"

There is a clear vacancy at the hospital, as evidenced by the open purple door (alternatively, there is a rabid dog on the loose - but that's a different post...).  Will the Vet be able to continue to afford to pay an astronomical Slope rent without full occupancy?  Or will this local hospital suffer the same fate as so many other small businesses in the neighborhood?

I know one little guy (also spotted on 11th Street and 7th Ave) who's counting on the hospital remaining open:

It appears the horse may have lost his legs in some sort of farming accident, given all of the machinery piled up to the left of him

Poor fella - just one short, errrr, step away from the glue factory...