The Williamsburg Nerd

I Envy Those Who Can Dream on a Train

2008-05-05T10:39:58Z

Photos taken on the J line traveling into Manhattan. Collage from iPhone photos taken on April, 2008.

Hope and Keap

2008-04-28T10:39:58Z

Yet more new buildings going up... Collage from iPhone photos taken on April, 2008.

Nina Hagen vs. Don Rickles

2008-04-21T10:39:58Z

This entire clip is so strange as it's hard to think of Nina on daytime talk TV — my best educated guess is that the clip dates from around 1986. Found via mediafunhouse.

Stairway-to-Turmoil

2008-04-14T05:26:08Z

This is a collage I made from two photos, the texture is a from a wall in Williamsburg and the subway escalator from the Bowery station (I guess I'm a J train man). This photo was taken with my new iPhone from March 26th through the 29th, 2008. Click on the image to view it at full size...

The Condos are Due on Keap Street

2008-04-07T05:26:08Z

This is the now empty lot that's behind the Kellogg's Diner on Keap Street and Metropolitan Avenue (to see the image full sized click here). Being located next to the second stop of the L train one can only guess that more luxury housing is on the way. Next door to this location is a building which use to house a gallery and now is also going condo too. Photographed March 15th, 2008.

Traveling Amp

2008-03-31T05:26:08Z

I always see this musician performing on the J train, I always give him something as I'm impressed that he goes through the trouble to bring his own mini-amp with him. Photographed March 14th, 2008.

Animal Crossing Diary

2008-03-24T05:26:08Z

Shown above is a cool illustrational video from the Netherlands which has something to do with this website. Found via Jemibook.

Construction on Keap and Ainslie

2008-03-17T05:26:08Z

This is the space behind the gas station at the north edge of Keap Street by the second stop of the L train (to view the image at a larger size click here). There use to be an industrial one story building here with a parking lot — but now it's going upscale... Collage created from two photos taken on March 15th, 2008.

Diary of a Telephone Operator

2008-03-10T05:26:08Z

Diary of a Telephone Operator was the Americanized title of the 1969 Italian film Certo, certissimo, anzi... probabile (translation: Certain, Very Certain, As a Matter of Fact...Probable.) directed by Marcello Fondato and starring Claudia Cardinale. Below is a film poster on the left and a photo of Claudia Cardinale on the right:

Taco Bite: Best Mex This Side of the BQE

2008-03-03T00:23:12Z

Up until now for Mexican in Williamsburg I've always had to walk west over the BQE to get good Mexican (places like Zocalo, Buffalo Cantina and Taco Chulo) so I was very happy to discover Taco Bite which just opened on Rodney by South 4th just a block from my apartment on Keap Street. The first thing that hits you is that the food is authentic and tastes great. My "regular" on the menu is their vegetarian burrito which always includes fresh veggies in addition to the usual rice and beans and always includes some chips and a very sharp salsa. I haven't tried it yet but they also have fried ice cream on the menu which looks amazing. In addition to the usual Jarritos they also have margaritas and espresso too. The decoration and service is nice, so you wouldn't mind hanging out there with your friends for a relaxing afternoon. I haven't checked it out yet but they also offer a breakfast menu which includes non-Mexican treats like waffles and pancakes (they open at 7am if you're an early bird). Most nights they're also open late until 10pm, and on Friday and the weekend they're open until 11pm — although on Mondays they're closed. If you like to order in they have free delivery for orders over $10 (and they accept credit cards): Taco Bite Restaurant 310 South 4th Street (by Rodney) Brooklyn, New York 11211 (718) 302-1117]]> Here's the breakfast menu (click to see at full size):

Blast-Off Girls: Jumping Young Teenieboppers!

2008-02-25T05:26:08Z

It's what happening baby, and it's happening right here! This groovy 1967 film directed by Herschell Gordon Lewis was trying to somewhat imitate the Monkees who were designed to imitate the Beatles, although the cool thing about the film is it features a cameo of none other than the real Colonel Sanders (yes of Kentuky Fried Chicken fame). I'd write more, but I dont think I can quite top this great review I found of the film: "Boojie Baker is a slimy, crooked manager of bad garage bands. He whores women, bribes record producers, and cheats his bands out of money. After getting the brush off from a band he’s managing, Boojie comes upon “The Big Blast.” He decides to make them the next big thing and blurts out his catch phrase, “Have a blast!” constantly. “The Big Blast” performs very badly produced garage pop-rock. A lot. They make it big and party. A lot. Not too much else happens." ...it sounds like the music industry can use someone like Boojie today!

Do the Lambretta Twist!

2008-02-18T05:26:08Z

Do the Lambrett Twist! The scientists are the Quartetto Cetra, an Italian act formed in 1940 that became big for doing spoofs of popular songs from the the 50s and 60s. Here's a cool album cover that I came across: Found via zaeega.com.

Hatzlocha Baby Furniture

2008-02-11T05:26:08Z

I'm a real fanboy when it comes to typography which is why the above worn out signage caught my eye. Hatzlocha Baby Furniture is located at 236 Broadway. Click on the image to see it at full size... Photographed December 30th, 2007.

The Music Video Ghosts of Keith Haring and Andy Wharhol

2008-02-04T05:26:08Z

The other day WOXY Vintage was playing the old 80s not-quite-a-hit-song Monster by B-52s front-man Fred Schneider. So on a lark I dug up the music video which I haven't seen in eons — and looking through the video I got a nice surprise: There are few shots featuring none other than 80s art great Keith Haring! It brought to mind that in the 80s that it was pretty common to have a fun guest star to a cameo - and this wouldn't just be some like Leonard Nimoy, but also fine artists like Andy Warhol (note this is the uncensored version of the music video): By the way the blond lady at the start of the video is none other than Dianne Brill who was a fixture of the 80s club scene in NYC.

Design Police

2008-01-28T05:26:08Z

What a great idea! Design Police is a website that allows graphic designers to print out labels so they can critique examples of bad design that they see in public. Found via Waxy.org: Links.