Remembering Brazenhead Books

Wow. This just really brought me back to the mid 2010s era of exploring NYC.

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Brazenhead Books a long time ago. The pseudo-bookstore, illegally run from inside an apartment owned by Michael Seidenberg on East 84th St. You would go to an unassuming normal NYC apartment building, take the elevator up, and enter a slightly cracked door in a hallway to the sights of books stacked at every turn. It was just wonderful.

Michael was often there co-leading a talk or a discussion, but also acting as the sole employee and cashier. Books had prices, but they were never set in stone. His apartment was one of the most unique book stores I’ve ever been to. It was eventually shut down and Michael “retired” elsewhere and eventually passed away in 2019.

Documentary about the building of Lincoln Center

A slightly rosier retelling of the destruction of a community to build today’s Lincoln Center. The archive footage is maybe some of the only existing video of what was formerly San Juan Hill.

NYC's San Juan Hill, before it became Lincoln Center

Lincoln Center recently acknowledged its role in the displacement of an entire neighborhood in NYC with the screening of a film called San Juan Hill: Manhattan’s Lost Neighborhood, directed by Stanley Nelson.

This 60-minute film has a very limited release and I’m trying to find a place to watch it. For now, enjoy this trailer for the film.

Three WTC towers on this Rite-Way demolition truck

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I seriously love these Rite-Way demolition trash trucks. Bright yellow, immaculately hand-painted signage, and this wonderfully drawn WTC tribute that not only includes the old World Trade Center towers but also the new 1 WTC.

Bryant Park’s frozen fountain

In case you’re wondering, yes, it is so cold in New York that Bryant Park’s water fountain is frozen.

Compact Disc safety sign in Times Square

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I guess the NYPD and the Times Square Alliance are sick of people getting scammed and coming to their precinct to file a report! These signs telling tourists (and locals!) about compact disc scams in Times Square are basically saying you can walk away with the discs if you’re dumb enough to open your hand to them. Honestly, this might cause more trouble than just handing it back and walking away. But I guess if you did end up holding one, now you know the NYPD has your back so you can just walk away with it…?

Fading Smile by Wes Knoll

Photographer Wes Knoll talks about a new book called Fading Smile in which he documents New York, the people of the streets, and his overall philosophy of life. I really admire photographers like him because of their ability to talk to strangers and really get a good enough conversation going to eventually leave with a photograph.

Unfortunately, his book is currently sold out at Printed Matter.

What’s happening at the Windmere at 57th St?

Pretty much as long as I can remember, the huge apartment building on the corner of 9th Avenue and 57th St has stood abandoned and in severe neglect. That building, seen above in a recent photo, is the Windmere, an early apartment-style building complex built in 1880. The building has landmark status with historical significance in the late 19th century for housing young women and female artists at a time when housing for single women was not common.

The Windmere has quite a storied past with tenants fighting each other, cats overtaking the place, and the Ninth Avenue elevated train tracks crossing right on front of the building.

Today, the building remains closed and work on its renovation has been slow-going but consistent. Maybe one day in my lifetime this building will be open and available for rent again.