It was only a couple of weeks ago that I enjoyed a full afternoon in Brooklyn, first visiting the new Brooklyn Grange in the Brooklyn Navy Yard then walking around and soaking in the warm sunlight in DUMBO.
Brooklyn Grange, its flagship location in Queens and now in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, is a massive rooftop farm that includes chickens and bees. Both locations are closed now for the winter season, but they sell their own produce, eggs and honey during the open hour to the public once a week.
About 20-minute leisurely walk from the Brooklyn Navy Yard is DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, which I didn't know until I started writing this post) which cannot be described in just a few words - an art district, an indoor marry-go-round, water-taxis to Manhattan, and the usual waterfront ammenities - parks, bars, ice cream, pizza... along with amazing views and a different, relaxed yet energetic vibe in the air. I even felt a bit embarrased that I finally made it to DUMBO for a proper visit after living in NYC for so many years.
Now in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, after hearing sad news about so many places all around New York City, but especially the places I've just been, it's... surreal to say the least. I hope all these places come back to life soon.
I didn't think Brooklyn Grange would be affected, but apparently 1 million bees in the Brooklyn Grange bee farm have been wiped out (Link to Sandy wipes out biggest beekeeping operation in New York City).
I also found pictures of the completely destroyed River Cafe, where I thought I'd go back soon for a lazy evening drink.
I even caught a glimpse of shooting a Samsung commercial... of some Note (Obviously I'm not up to date on technological devices, my friend told me what it was but I forgot). The model was in that pose for 15 minutes or so that I was watching. My guess is that she was in that pose long before I started watching and after I left. I wonder how she woke up the next morning.
I am very lucky that Sandy didn't affect me much at all. It's a very weird feeling of having taken pictures in these places only earlier this month and seeing the disastrous pictures of the same area in the past couple of days.
It's like the whole city and its people are in a bad movie. But it's not a movie.
The city is picking up its life.
