Tag Archives: Bay Parkway

Rebel Base Brooklyn

8 Sep

September 8, 2015

Brooklyn New York is known for many things. In fact, if it were a city of its own and not a borough of New York, it would be America’s fourth largest city by population. It would be the third largest if you went by sheer density of hipsters.

Famous icon: The Brooklyn Bridge.
Famous residents: Isaac Asimov, Mel Brooks, Mr. Blog.
Famous food: The Hot Dog was born in Coney Island at Nathan’s in the 1870’s. (So was the panhandler, but that wasn’t until the 1970’s.)

But there’s one thing Brooklyn has that hasn’t been widely publicized. During the rebellion against the empire, Brooklyn was home to a secret rebel base.

I’m not talking about the Revolutionary War, I’m talking about the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire. I’m talking Star Wars.

rebel restaurant

This restaurant is in my neighborhood, a few blocks from the secret base of Mr. Blog’s Tepid Ride.

This restaurant’s symbol is very, very close to the symbol used by the rebels in Star Wars.

logo infringement

Is it a coincidence? Probably. While the restaurant has been there for years, and the symbol was always used on the long white sign, the big symbol below the awning is fairly new.

It looks so much like the symbol the rebels used in Star Wars that, if the rebels had a maritime division on the oceans, the one on the left could be their symbol. It looks very much like the rebel logo with some waves added.

And while I won’t go so far as to call this place it a “wretched hive of scum and villainy,” there was a drunk laying face down in the street in front of it last week. Right in the middle of the day at 4:30. Thanks Mayor Di Blassio, That’s a first for this neighborhood!

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The Return of Physical Graffiti! August 2015

21 Aug
 August 21, 2015
 
Back in 2010, I published the post you’ll read below. Don’t worry, it’s short and I’ve edited it down just a bit. At the time, it was one of the little mysteries that seem to take a hold of you for a brief time, then just fades away as other things come and go. That’s life. And while the story was very interesting to me at the time, it was fleeting. But now it’s back. Here’s the original post, which I called Physical Graffiti since back then I had a strange habit of naming posts after Led Zeppelin albums. (See In Through The Out Door for another example.) And afterwards, read the major update at the end.
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From June 28, 2010

I am not a fan of graffiti. Call it spray can art, freedom of expression, whatever, if you spray it on private property it is defacement and a crime.

I’ve also seen strange tags and mottos. This is one I’ve seen in at least three places in Brooklyn: “I NEVER WIPE!” or simply “NEVER WIPE!”

Is the “artist” making a statement about his strange bathroom habits? Are we being encouraged to follow suit? Your guess is as good as mine. But it beats the “I STILL KILL” I’ve seen around Staten Island.

Here is the first one I noticed:

NEVER WIPE!

Greenwood Cemetery

It is sprayed on a wall alongside a bus depot across from Greenwood Cemetery. I have no idea how long it has been there but it feels like forever. I drive past it a few times each week and I can’t remember not seeing it. It is in a slightly odd location and cannot be missed as you drive down as the road does a bit of a zigzag and at one point the tag is right in front of you.

Bay Parkway

This is much more recent, within I’d guess the last year and a half. Unlike the previous one, this one includes the “I.” Does he work from a big stencil and the letter didn’t fit on the other wall? There is an identical tag on the other side of the lot, but without the arrows.

Avenue P (1)

Avenue P (2)

These two pictures were taken on the same block within fifteen feet of each other. As you can see, one is older and defaced. Did the artist do the second one after seeing how bad the first one looked? That brings up an interesting question- does this guy check up on his work?  Does he replace work that has been damaged or defaced? Notice that one has the “I” and the other, presumably older one, does not. Is the “I” a recent addition? Also notice that these both lack the exclamation point.

If anyone has spotted any other “I NEVER WIPE” graffiti, please let me know.

 

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And we’re back to 2015. Most of that graffiti faded away. The ones on Ave. P were painted over. The ones on the blue wall were destroyed when the wall was eventually taken down. A medical plaza stands there now. And the one near Greenwood Cemetery was covered by many layers of new graffiti, the most recent one being the Wu Tang Clan symbol. But just the other day, it was back. Never Wipe has struck again!

NW50

It’s back in the same place! Reclaiming its territory, I guess. And I have no doubt it is the same person responsible. Look at how precise the lettering is, identical to the older ones. But my favorite part? It has been upgraded. Never Wipe 5.0!

I don’t know if I missed 2.0., 3.0., and 4.0. but I am going to keep my eyes open for more Never Wipe graffiti.

The Return of Never Wipe! That would make a better blog title than The Return of Physical Graffiti but I’m stuck with it.

 

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