Closing Bell: Sign o' the Times in Park Slope

Guarantee the Sign was made by a 20something 'artist' from an upper-middle class suburb, who still gets an allowance from his parents.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:15 PM

Amen 4:15! My husband pointed out the demography of most disaffected hipster -- middle class suburban types with -- gasp! -- relatively happy childhoods. And you know what, after surveying the ones I've met, he's mostly right. The more tatoos and piercings, the more likely they came from Westchester Co.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:19 PM

Dont forget about the upper middle class angry youth hipsters from Long Island - There are plenty of us around too.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:22 PM

the fact that you don't like the source of the comment (i.e., well-heeled hipster) has no bearing on the verity of the comment. you don't really think the stroller-smug preciousness of Park Slope is an unfair stereotype, do you?

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:25 PM

They are right and the fact that we get relied up about it (since there is no judgement within the sign) indicates that it does have some artistic merit - I just don't think you should get subsidized housing for creating it.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:27 PM

I was pushing my baby while walking my dog and drinking coffee and saw this sign and I laughed. This is some funny stuff. Lighten up. Dog Bakeries are funny. BKLYN industries is funny. This is real (and gentle) satire and way better than the people who just rant on and on about hating breeders. Laugh at yourselves.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:28 PM

Funny, the hipsters and artists are usually the "gentrifiers", so what's the point here?

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:29 PM

Also, this sign applies to pretty much every neighborhood in Brooklyn, no?

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:30 PM

I think the descriptions are spot on 4:25 but I don't see the "stroller-smug preciousness" stereotype being accurate - nor interestingly do I see that the sign is "concluding" with that presumption (it is essentially neutral) - the fact that you see that reflected and that other see it as attacking means the sign is an effective piece.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:32 PM

I'm a yuppie near 5th Avenue, with a brood of kids in an expensive house (granted, it was half as expensive when I bought it), and I think this sign is hilarious.

Though I don't get how a playground can get "gentrified." I guess because you no longer step on broken beer bottles and needles when you go to it? Yeah, that was a tragic loss to the neighborhood.

BTW, as far as I can tell, that may well be a stroller DAD in the sign.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:33 PM

gentrification! fuel the hate!!!

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:37 PM

Why is that sign making fun of how bald I am? I hate hipsters and the young because they hold a mirror to my flaws and they are not polite.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:37 PM

Some people just have it TOO good. And I mean both the smug breeders and the inconvenienced sign makers.

Dude move to Kansas and face down the Huckabists. What the fuck are you bitching about here?

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:42 PM

4:33, I agree - I thought it was a dad, too.

But, about the playground. It's been gentrified because the new neighbors call the cops every time some teen is hanging out playing basketball after dark. They think it should be reserved for their nanny to take the kids there during daylight.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:43 PM

3 different tags on that sign. obviously, the neighborhood has a way to go before gentrification is complete.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:46 PM

Chip on their shoulder fools.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:48 PM

Funny sign. If you can't take the joke either because you so hate the demographic that it pokes fun at or because you don't believe that demographic should ever be poked fun at then you really just need to lighten up.

How long did it take before it got tagged?

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:48 PM

I'm pretty sure that dog in the sign is the beagle that just won best in show. I'd recognize it anywhere.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:51 PM

I thought the sign was a dig at the whole "I'm cool because I hate Park Slope stroller moms" vibe and the Van's wearing hipsters with their laptops at the Tea Lounge pretending to read Heidegger. Kind of a "see, stereotypes work both ways," type of thing.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:53 PM

4:43 - clearly you are new to Brooklyn b/c at my "gentrified park" J.J. Byrne - those kids with the Basketball aren't practicing ball - they are selling dope.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:53 PM

One question, why are we assuming this was made by a well-heeled hipster? Some of the best street artists I've known come straight from working class families, and happen to be the most insightful social commentators.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:54 PM

I think the sign would be only be accurate if there were also a hipster on it. Otherwise, pot , kettle.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:56 PM

4:54 I see your point but I'd guess hipsters just because this isn't particularly insightful social commentary. It's funny but kind of like shooting fish in a barrel. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if I saw this printed on a pricey t-shirt at the "pricey bk t's" store referenced in the sign.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:57 PM

This sign is only valid as any form of social commentary if its author has been a resident of Park Slope since the 1970s. Otherwise, it's pure hypocrisy.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 4:59 PM

So the sign is unfair because it plays on the Starbucks-drinking stroller mom stereotype, which is mean and untrue, but it's fine to automatically assume it was made by a trust fund Midwestern not-a-real-artist-but-calls-himself-one with Vans and an iBook? Come on. I'm starting to think that Ohio-raised hipster "artists" who don't work and use their allowance to subvert the establishment, man, while taking all the poor peoples' houses and beating up babies only exist on real estate blogs. And I went to NYU.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:00 PM

bohemian & working class brooklyn is dead, thats all this sign is trying to say by pegging that death on a certain segment of bk newcomers. sure, lots of middle class hipsters from the 'burbs bemoan the tranquilized soccer mom, who now wants back into the center city, because said hipster grew up with it.

but thats just part of the larger change, this city is no longer a place of artists, bohemians, intellectuals, slackers, drug addicts, and the working poor. its for workaholics, corner office climbers, and now, eurotrash taking advantage of the shit dollar.

its sad, but thats just nyc, constantly changing for good & bad, depending on perspective. if you can't accept the change, there are PLENTY of cities in DIRE need of some bohemian investment, its just NOT NYC anymore. Dont get angry at some paper pusher who works more hours than you can imagine, if you want new york to reflect you, than thats the life you need to choose.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:01 PM

I found the sign helpful for navigating last Saturday. I hope that the civic council will consider installing more such signs. For instance, I could find the $$$ condos, but not the $$$$ condos. Also, there was no easy way to find which way the coffee was, or where I should park my car.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:04 PM

I thought the more valid critique of the changing Slope was in the NY Mag piece last week. It's not the strollers and dogs per se, but the sort of people pushing them and walking them. The Slope used to be full of a different kind of yuppie - teachers, social workers, public interest lawyers - many of whom could no longer afford to live there and even if they could might not want to. As a Park Slope resident who has witnessed the change, I think that's a fair critique.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:06 PM

Buddy, I draw the line at paper pusher. Where do you get off with that?

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:08 PM

Glad you think that 5:06. Glad you read something that made you feel valid.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:09 PM

The terrorists don't hate us for our freedom. They hate us for our doggy bakeries.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:09 PM

hey! i loooooooove that stroller! where can i buy one?

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:10 PM

"4:43 - clearly you are new to Brooklyn b/c at my "gentrified park" J.J. Byrne - those kids with the Basketball aren't practicing ball - they are selling dope."

4:53:
No respectable stroller mom would allow the nanny to take the kid to that ghetto park. The sign clearly is pointing toward and referencing the playground between Lincoln and Berkeley.

And I've been in the neighborhood since the 90s and my family arrived in Brooklyn in the 20s.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:10 PM

5:06 - just anecdotal but in my $$$$$-new-condo we have a few public-interest lawyers (DA and legal Aid), a herbalist, a designer, a Doctor, NYC school teacher, a NGO aid worker and a wall Streeter or 2. Seems like in my section of P.S. things are as they always were.

The true misnomer is that all these P.S. people are Hedge fund mangers, white shoe lawyers or Wall st traders - sorry but those people live in more expensive neighborhoods (like Manhattan or Westchester)

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:16 PM

5:10 lighten up with that "respectable" and "ghetto" crap that your pulling out your ass. You're a newbie in parkslope.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:24 PM

5:10 - what do they sell at that park?

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 5:25 PM

5:25 - Doggie cupcakes.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 6:02 PM

6:02 - mmmm.... good shit.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 6:15 PM

I think this sign would be more effective in Fort Greene. Park Slope has been "gentrified" for quite a while.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 6:20 PM

Unnecessary apostrophes: $ Free.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 6:25 PM

artists can't spell for their lives.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 6:27 PM

Park Slope has been fully gentrified for a long time now. Have to make sure everything is safe and convenient for the yuppies!

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 6:41 PM

yaaaaaaaaaaawwwwnnnnn.

burp!

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 6:52 PM

"Have to make sure everything is safe and convenient for the yuppies!"

hilariuous.

are you seriously arguing that "safe" is bad? seriously?

i bet you shit your pants if 3 teenagers walk by you after sundown.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 8:41 PM

I live in PS and while I don't mean to be a humorless killjoy, I find the PS stereotypes kind of tiring. I myself am a hard-working mom (juggling a demanding job) and yes, we own our apartment, but only because my husband and I both work hard to pay the bills on it. Yes, we did have a bit of family help at the beginning for a down-payment (which years ago, was a modest affair) and now, yes, we are trying to parlay our apt, which has doubled in value, to a house - but actually, we are finding it very challenging to afford more space in PS. In other words, we are hardly smug hedge fund stroller pushers - more like frazzled parents trying to keep it together and be responsible to our families, co-workers, friends and community. Despite the expense of real estate in PS, we love it here and don't want to leave - why? The park, the coop, the schools, and yes, the sense of community. Sure, there are probably some of the annoying types that the stereotypes are based on, but they are really only a fraction of the population, and it gets boring how that same small group becomes a stand-in for everyone in the neighborhood.

Posted by: guest at February 13, 2008 9:23 PM

i don't shit my pants when i see teenagers, i figure i can make some coin buying them beer!

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 12:05 AM

Smug hedge funders rock.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 6:39 AM

And what the fuck is a gentrified playground? Is the artiste longing for crack vials and rusty swings?

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 6:41 AM

I hate gentrification. I wish we could get back to scumification.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 8:24 AM

well 8:24, with scummy folks like you around, it's a start!

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 9:40 AM

I hate PS stroller moms because they stir up deep rooted feelings of resentment, anger and self-loathing that i am otherwise unable to process and/or reconcile myself.

I want PS to return to a depressed and blighted area so the world i see outside my door is as shitty and woeful as it is within my own home and mind.

-John Q. Hater

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 9:42 AM

You call this funny? This isn't funny.

Funny would be your baby with my cock up its ass.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 9:44 AM

I used to really hate black people, hated 'em. But it never sat right with me y'know.
Then I met a black guy and he was kind of OK.
I don't know any of these new yuppie-types--so I'm gonna hate them instead.

Thank you park slope yuppies!

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 9:57 AM

9.40 - see 9.42.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 9:59 AM

with the housing market collapse scumification may well return, but not in PS.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 10:01 AM

well, we can always keep 8:24 as a scum mascot. shows that we're "keeping it real."

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 10:45 AM

hrmmm posted right around the corner from Union Hall, how fitting.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 11:22 AM

Hey, don't t send 'em my way!

Sincerely,

Ms. Marcy House

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 12:07 PM

This also calls to mind the new generation of little Park Slope kids - I see them walking down the street with their backpacks and starbucks asking their moms "Mom, if Jenny sleeps over can we get Thai?" - they're only 10 and they know more about music, politics and especially fashion than I do - in 10 years they will be very disappointed in learning their isn't a hip enough city on the planet for them. Poor kids

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 12:19 PM

Someone really should start a fund for the poor dears. Some kind of--oh, I don't know--TRUST FUND?

SUCK IT SLOPERS!! Crown Heights RULES!

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 12:29 PM

I think the aim these days is to see how many lame blogs you can get your "art" posted up on and the working masses all riled up about.

Score one, "artist"!

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:01 PM

And score three for the graffiti dudes.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:22 PM

This high-school kid probably got a glowing review at an expensive private school in Brooklyn Heights for her daring-do on this oh-so-clever project.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:23 PM

Frankly, I think Ratner would do better flattening Park Slope from Union and 5th down to 9th street and putting Altantic Yards there. Then at least all these people would really have something to complain about.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:30 PM

Hey 2:30, being in the top tax bracket is tough, leave me alone.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 2:55 PM

Bet you the "tipster/reader" is the artist.

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 3:39 PM

Gentrification today,
Gentrification tomorrow,
Gentrification forever!

Thurston Starbucks III, Hedge Fund Manager and Park Slope townhouse owner extraordinaire

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 4:17 PM

"NIMBYer" or "Gentrifier" would be a much better title for this blog. *JMR

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 4:46 PM

thats derring-do

Posted by: guest at February 14, 2008 6:05 PM

Doggy Bakeries ??? cmon, dogs dont like baked goods. I read right through that sign.

Posted by: guest at February 15, 2008 2:09 PM