Exit Be the BQE

The BQE, glimpsed across the New York harbor from the Staten Island ferry. Feels distant, in time as well as space. The replacement span of the new Kosciuszko Bridge has opened, and I haven't even driven across it. The old bridge, with its spectacular slow-motion views of Manhattan, will be dismantled piece by piece--not, as rumored, dynamited in one spectacular farewell show. At some point, work will (must? may?) begin on the "layer cake" of lanes under the Brooklyn Heights promenade. I will mostly, and gratefully, experience that as a spectator.

Be the BQE has taken more than a few detours and diversions and breaks since its first post in April 2011 (two years after Lawrence Weiner's At the same moment above). Now seems as good a time as any to call it a day. The boys in Research Bureau have moved on to other projects. Getting a line on Staten Island looks like a full-time job, and then some.

Thanks to all regular readers, and all visitors to the page, whether they meant to stop in or not. Watch out for the lane drops!

Ghost Garage

Still receiving mail, but the garage is long gone.

Grant Street, Staten Island.

Red Blue Red

An otherwise cookie-cutter Mobil station on Victory Blvd. at Manor Road adds some color on a gray day with its two mini Fiats and, I'm going to guess, '50's Nash coupe (or kit).

Pinhead on the Pike

Moving always turns up odd artifacts. Going through some books to give away or sell, I came across this Zippy I'd clipped from the Boston Globe, probably sometime in the early 2000's ("you could look it up").

Route 82 in Norwich is also known as the Salem Turnpike. Yup, there is a Wal-mart there these days.

Turnbuckles off the Turnpike

Quiet morning at the Brown & Perkins loading dock in Cranbury, NJ. B&P is the place to go if you want soft rope, eye bolts and hoist rings, turnbuckles, chain buckles, shackles and more. Wholesale only, of course.

Tiresome Art

If you've ever wanted to prowl around the upper floor of a century-old Manhattan garage, now's your chance. The Irish Arts Center is staging Enda Walsh's theatre installation, Rooms, in the second-floor storage space of Cybert Tire on Eleventh Avenue.

Eventually, the IAC will have the whole building as its new home, while Cybert's moves to a new home around the corner on 52nd St. For now, enjoy the well-trod wooden steps, the (empty) gumdrop dispensers, double-stacked radiators, the corner sink, and, yes, the smells of a century of rubber. The art is pretty good, too, if a tad depressing. But that's Ireland, right?

Sunrise at Snug Harbor

The handsome Sunrise Automotive Center on Lafayette Ave., just off Richmond Terrace.

A plasticky CITGO station peeks out from around the corner.

Get Happy

Another post from the grassy shores of the SIE. Somewhere there's a sad child or a denuded open house sign.

Future Tire

The future takes a break on Narrows Road North, just off the SIE.

Gowanus Blue

Heading the other way, across the Gowanus viaduct, I heard reports of delays at the new Kosciuszko Bridge span, as drivers adjust to new traffic patterns. Well, things should clear up by 2020 when the second span is open.

Distant Friends

Saturday traffic on and off the BQE offered chances to catch up with some old friends. The flag on top of the Hamilton Ave. Asphalt Plant , the "R" sign in Red Hook, which according to Lost City blog used to belong to the paper goods maker, E.J. Trum.

Bridge It On

Approaching the end (November, 2016)

Yesterday, the first of two replacement spans for the old Kosciuszko Bridge was opened to traffic. The original will be destroyed in July. In the front page story, the Times' David Dunlap described the old bridge as "deeply loathed." I object, sir. The bridge was not loathed, at least not by all drivers. In fact, it afforded one of the most beautiful views of Manhattan--once you achieved it. The new spans will be lower. Traffic will, god willing, move more rapidly across the Newtown Creek. Life may go, perhaps with fewer delays, but it will be just a little bit less interesting.

Downward Mobilitiy

There aren't too many busier spots on S.I. than North Gannon St. and Richmond Road, just off the expressway. I wonder why this Mobil station had to close.

A gasjockey's stool keeps a lonely vigil.

Wave Street

The Sanitation Department's garage on Wave St. is an handsome building.

The signage around the door is a bit improvised, though, given that it's the department's sign shop.

Joe Friday?

(Photo: F.A. Someki)

Caught up with this vintage early 80s Camaro on the SI Expressway. The sponsor is Routine Patrol Coffee. The boys in the Research Bureau were tracked down the company on Facebook, begun by Marc Cosentino, a police officer and restaurant owner in search of the "perfect cup of coffee."

He seems to have a good sense of humor. Note the doughnut on the dash.... (And no cupholders.)

Castleton is Autotown

A cluster of auto repair shops on Castleton Avenue on the North Shore. Half Price Mufflers is the big dog.

But don't miss My Repair Shop next door, and George's Auto squeezed in on the left.

A good place to buy a used RV, a vintage early 70s Mustang, an LTD, or a Rolls.

No Revival?

Another garage for sale. The CC&R II garage on Richmond Road near Forest Avenue is on the block.

Looks like the original (I suppose) one-bay brick building is in better shape than the addition.

New Morning Newark

Off Route 21. Can't quite make out what animal is stuccoed above the bays. A bulldog? Sheep?

Early Sunday Afternoon

This row of housetops glimpsed in passing from the BQE has always reminded me of Edward Hopper's Early Sunday Morning (1930).

Unswerving Stadiums

There's a shop called Yoga and Melody on Richmond Road in Staten Island. Stopped at the light nearby, it took a while to make out the third claims on its awning. "Calm Strength" (check) and "Inner Peace" (check) were easy but ... "Unswerving Stadiums"? "Unserving Studiousness"? Didn't sound quite right. It turns out to be "Unwavering Steadiness." That seems like a good thing to strive for in icy weather.