I decided to choose these two subjects to juxtapose because they are so completely different to me. Walking down Jay Street my eye catches this big beautiful building which is the Brooklyn Fire Headquarters, and right next to it is a small café that you can miss you don’t look carefully. What strikes me the most is why they would build a small café right in the middle of these big tall buildings? It just does not fit right. What I want to know is, how long has the fire house and the café been there? What was there before the café was built there? Why did they chose to build a café in that location? As Whitehead said from City Limits “Go back to your old haunts in your old neighborhoods and what do you find: they remain and have disappeared. The greasy spoon, the deli, the dry cleaner you scouted out when you first arrived and tried to make those new streets yours: they are gone.” This applies to this location, because I did some research and discovered there use to be another building where the café now is, therefore when people return to Jay street one day they will want to know what happened to the place that the café replace. That building is now gone and a new one took its place. Whitehead also said “Maybe we become New Yorkers the day we realize that New York will go on without us.” Meaning New York is always changing thus leaving different sensory in our neighborhoods even though we do not want change sometimes New York will keep evolving in the future with or without us.
Category: ENG1101
Project #2 (Location with sensory details)
This is not just a building or an alignment of buildings that create juxtaposition. This is an intersection between Livingston street, Boerum place, and Red Hook Lane. What really caught my attention is that the front building to the right looks old fashion, because of the way the roof top has a crown looking rim around it and how the windows look as if they were tucked into the building. There are also a lot of air conditioners in that building. Then in the background there are modern buildings forming. Which have more of glass windows and are very geometrical even on the roof. They do not have air conditioners either because of how central air has taken over in many new buildings. There is a pattern as well because the second building to the left looks very old fashion too with the beige color and round windows. The pattern is old, new, old, new building. To get to this locations it takes 10 min to walk to from City Tech. When you exit make a right, walking on Jay street straight to Livingston street where you would make a right turn. You will just walk one block and end up at the intersection of Red Hook Lane and Boerum Place on Livingston street.
I have actually never walked this way before. The reason I stumbled across it was because a friend of mine wanted to shop around the area so I followed. As I was walking IÂ thought to myself, let me see if I could find a place where I see juxtaposition. I had found a couple but it was this one that caught my eye the most. I actually did not like the intersection, because it was very busy full of cars beeping every where. It felt stressful just to cross the street.
Eng Project #2: Draft
Everyday, new changes are happening and sometimes we are not aware of it. One place in particular that has been changing over the years is New York; particularly New York City. The city has been known as “The City of Dreams” or “Empire City”. There is always something changing in New York City whether it’s constructing new buildings or adding new businesses. Living in New York, we don’t realize the changes that are happening or we see it but don’t really care too much about it.Â
For this project, the place that I chose to do was the U.S. Polo Association Outlet Store on 468 Fulton Street in Brooklyn. From the City Tech building, it’s only a walking distance to the store. When you get out from the Namm building, you turn right and just walk straight until you’re at the corner of 2 Smith Street. When you’re walking from Jay Street, you’ll pass by the Supreme and Family Court, the Jay Street/MetroTech train station, and some stores on the way. When you get to the corner of 2 Smith Street, cross the street and continue to walk straight. On you’re walk, you’ll pass through many shops such as Gap, Foot Locker, Unique, Macy’s, American Eagle Outfitters, Kay Jewelers, Modells Sporting Shops, Journey’s. When you see Aldo’s, you’ll see the Polo Outlet Store right next to it. You won’t be able to miss it because of the cream colored building and the large blue polo logo on the store.Â
The U.S. Polo Association brand has been going on since 1890 and it continues to grow with many outlet stores opened in New York and other different states. From the five boroughs in New York, three outlet stores are opened in Manhattan, one in Queens, one in the Bronx, and one in Brooklyn. The Polo outlet store in Brooklyn is a fairly tall cream building with a large blue polo logo in the front. There are two glass doors at the front. It is also in between a sneaker shop and Aldo.
In Brooklyn, you see a mix of some name brand stores and some non-name brand stores. On Fulton Street you’ll see a line mixed with name rand and non-name brand stores. For example, the U.S. Polo Association Outlet Store, is between a name brand store called Aldo’s, non-name brand sneaker store and a non-name jewelry store. In Manhattan, you mostly see brand name stores that are next to each other such as Tiffany and Co., Armani, Coach, etc. While the other non-name brand stores are somewhere else and they’re all also next to each other.
ENG Project #2 Draft
New York City is known as “The Concrete Jungle” that is filled with many different sights, smells, sounds, and attractions. When people explore this jungle they get lost in all the diversity that surrounds them. Not lost in a trying to figure out where to go kind of way but more in dream-like state. Each person has a unique experience when being in the city. New York City hold a reputation of being the place of opportunity and miracles. While the outsiders of city are filled with the idea that New York City is a grand utopia, the New Yorkers that have known the reality of this city would tell you otherwise. New York City is not all city considering Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx aren’t filled with the skyscrapers and busy streets. Some New Yorkers choose to live the luxurious lifestyle the city part has to offer. The others choose to live less frivolously in the lesser known areas of New York where it is more residential. Â
When thinking of Manhattan most people would think extravagant, stylish, and a place for opportunity. Manhattan is the borough that is filled with the interpretation of a utopia. With a cluster of tall buildings, bold bright lights filled with ads, many known name brand stores and famous restaurants altogether it’s no wonder Manhattan gets most the attention. To most people this is a place where you would find style no only in the streets but in the people as well. The people have a more chic look that would make you think that everyone is rich and likes to spend their money. Mostly when people hear New York City they think of the borough Manhattan since it has more of the iconic landmarks that New York City is known for such as the Empire State Building, Central Park, and The Statue of Liberty just to name a few. Manhattan is the borough that is more exposed from tourism while not much attention is paid to the rest of the boroughs that make up the city. The rest of the boroughs are not really looked at to be as special even though it is the five boroughs that make up the city as a whole.
However the Bronx would be the polar opposite of Manhattan. When thinking of the Bronx most people would think poor, ghetto, and dangerous. The Bronx is filled with many lesser known small business, smaller apartments and not as much opportunity that Manhattan has to offer. The Bronx is the recognized  birthplace of  hip hop and rap music which made the image of hood that The Bronx is mostly known for. In The Bronx you could most likely get away with crimes such as speeding, stealing and hopping the turnstile at the train station. While Manhattan is seen as a place of welcome , The Bronx is seen as you can’t mess with anyone there without getting mugged or shot. Also The Bronx is known as an impoverished, neglected, and otherwise disadvantaged residential area of a city, usually troubled by a disproportionately large amount of crime. Â
 In the borough of Brooklyn there lies a location that brings a feeling of juxtaposition of two boroughs that would be considered polar opposites from one another. Right where the Fulton Mall and Lawrence Street is located we have two stores known as Dr.Jay’s and Banana Republic right next to each other. Banana Republic is a store that is mainly found the borough of Manhattan. While the store Dr.Jay’s would be mainly found in the borough of the Bronx. These stores are not only contrasting in terms of the boroughs they come from but also in fashion. Banana Republic contains clothing items that portrays a sophisticated, city look. While Dr.Jay’s contains clothing that portrays a ghetto,hood look. For someone who has experienced both boroughs, it feels bizarre placing these stores next to each other given the boroughs they are mainly found in. This part of Brooklyn puts the slum area with the city area making it feel like two other worldly lands are colliding against one another.
This location shows the diversity of what New York is known for. The higher class being next to the lower class is not only shown in these two stores but is shown in the people as well. The location shows people in business suits going about their day with people dressed in hoodies and sneakers. In this location it would feel as though people with their own vision of New York intertwine and make a new vision that could expand both of their views on New York as a whole. Each individual who have visited New York City has their own experience of what New York is to them. Some people may have a fantastic experience while another person may have a terrible one or neutral. New York City is the place to expands one vision on a diverse level. Â Â Â Â Â
ENG Project #2 Draft
There are always changes going on around us whether it be the people around us or the neighborhood we grew up in and that we know of. Change is definitely happening constantly in New York. Every corner you turn you see construction happening, they’re either building new houses, building complexes, fixing up roads, or even adding new businesses but there is always something being changed here in new york. I live I New York and I see a lot of changes going on by my neighborhood like they’re building a new mall by my house and fixing up the roads on the belt parkway/southern state. There are a lot of things that use to be here when I was younger and that are not here anymore. Another change people would notice are overlapping neighborhoods, like there could be a nice neighborhood then when you turn the corner the neighborhood could change in an instant and have run down houses and dirty streets, and even you can see a strip of stores and there could be a lot of little self owned businesses and then you see a nice big store that looks out of places that you wouldn’t expect would be there.
The place I chose for this project is a pretty good example of a store that looks out of place and shouldn’t or not expected to be in that spot. I chose a 99-cent store next to a jewelry store on the corner of Lawrence Street and Helen Keller Place. First you exit out the Namm building from the 300 Jay Street side and turn right. You keep going straight for 2 blocks until you reach Willoughby Street, once you get to Willoughby Street you turn left and cross the street and keep going straight until you reach a jewelry store called Giovanni’s Fine Jewelry and next to it is a 99 cent store called 99 cent City.
When I think of a jewelry store I think it would be next to nicer stores or more well known stores in a nicer neighborhood. This is because when people shop in more well known expensive stores those people shopping will be more attracted to the jewelry store. When you see the jewelry store next to this 99-cent store I think how does the jewelry store get business when both stores attract different types of customers. The 99 cent store attracts customers that look for cheap or inexpensive items to buy, and when I looked in the jewelry store the jewelry was no where near 99 cents. Unless the person is looking for a jewelry store to go to or looking for that jewelry store because its close to them then I don’t know why it would be next to a 99 cent store, and the neighbor hood didn’t look all that extraordinary where you think a jewelry store would be.
Project #2 (Draft)
New York City is often considered to be one of the largest and most diverse cities on the planet. Its reputation consists of a luxurious and beautiful city, with opportunities at every corner, as it’s been portrayed through all types of media throughout the world for many many years. However, an actual New Yorker would know that New York is more than that. For every single individual who lives in this grand city, New York is different. Its unique to the eyes of every person who views it. Though some bask in the luxury and a higher standard of living, there are also those who work and struggle, and take refuge in the lesser known parts of New York. Any two individuals who are in separate parts of the social ladder would have a different view of the city they live in, and would most definitely see New York different than anyone who does not reside here. Â Interestingly enough, there are many neighborhoods and areas where an individual can actually physically see the overlapping of social classes, where there is a distinct juxtaposition of a more lower class and a higher class. Once instance of this can be seen in a particular location by Jay Street, at the corner of Prince Street and Myrtle Avenue.
In this particular location, there are many large buildings surrounding it. These buildings are mostly corporate and business, and are made up of mostly glass and steel. The street and area surrounding these buildings are very clean and well kept. You would hardly be able to find a piece of litter or garbage. Very important people walk up and down these streets, wearing fancy business suits and carrying briefcases and such. There is also lots of construction going on in this area, as there are many projects for even bigger buildings. This gives the area a distinct smell of sawdust and burning materials. It also makes the area very loud, of course. With all kinds of heavy machinery and equipment being utilized, it would be expected. One would notice it instantly upon walking here. However, upon walking across a single street, you would be stepping into a completely different environment. Located in the same area, there is a large community of housing complexes. or Projects as many New Yorkers refer to it as. This area contrasts drastically with its neighboring place. These tenements are run down with age and are not nearly as well kept. There is lots of garbage and residue littering the street up and down, and there are also large dumpsters behind each complex, giving the area an unpleasant smell of waste. This is the “New York” that many never view, and is more a part of a lower class residents vision of the City.
What’s interesting about this particular location is the juxtaposition it holds. Its a very contrasting one, and its very clear to distinguish as well. Literally, one can see both of these areas side by side, by standing at the corner of these two streets. Its an even intersection. Its a perfect example of how New York City is different for everyone. There are individuals who live here who don’t even know that such places even exist, for they have their own view of the city, as they have seen it their entire life sometimes. Then there are those who parts of New York like this one are their entire reality, and is their vision of it. One person might be accustomed to having their morning coffee at a place like Starbucks, while another would go to the bodega at the corner. One might have memories of growing up playing in Central Park during the summer, while others remember playing in the fire hydrant with the other neighborhood kids. These types of contrasts are mostly founded on the grounds of social class. People who reside in the higher class will always have a different vision and reality than those in the lower class, especially when residing in a place like New York City. Same way those who do not live in the New York have a distinct vision of it as well, as they have only seen it through Television or other kinds of media. Though social classes is only one of the endless number of factors that contribute to a persons “personal New York” This is what makes New York City so unique to every single individual. If you were to ask anyone what New York was to them, every answer would be different. And for an infinite number of factors. One could even consider this the true definition of being a New Yorker.
Eng. Project #2 Draft
New York is an ever changing place with many places throughout the city tending to overlap with two different New York’s.  So I went around the surrounding area of City Tech to find one of these Overlapping New York’s, I finally did at Brooklyn Heights. First off I exited the Namm building and turning left down on Jay Street towards Tillary Street. From there I made a left on Tillary until I got to Clinton Street  you know that you’re going the right way because on your left is a small park dedicated to all the Korean war veterans. I continued to follow Clinton Street until I hit Pierrepont Street. When i arrived at Pierrepont Street I followed it noticing all of the nice buildings and how many of them differ from each other and how much they differ from the buildings I’m used to in Times Square, until I finally arrived at Brooklyn Heights.
The overlapping New York in that area is that you can see the huge differences between the small building in Brooklyn Heights and the huge towering buildings of Manhattan. You can see the difference between them in that all the residential buildings in Brooklyn Heights are made of brick while the huge buildings of Manhattan are made of steel. Also from the side of Brooklyn Heights some people may have different views of both Manhattan and Brooklyn. For example some people from the side of Brooklyn Heights may see Manhattan as the place where they work while others like myself see Manhattan as home. On the other hand people on the side of Manhattan looking at Brooklyn will either see Brooklyn as home or either as a foreign place to those who may have never been too Brooklyn. While I was there I also saw a photograph of the old New York skyline with the twin towers tied to the fence. I thought that it offered a bit of insight into someone else’s New York. For example someone who might have lived in Brooklyn heights before 9/11will remember the skyline before the twin towers fell and therefore make that a part of their own New York while those that came after 9/11 only know what the skyline might look like without the twin towers or with the Freedom tower in the skyline. Regardless those are three different New York’s that may belong to anyone that lives in Brooklyn Heights.
Also in view at Brooklyn heights is the Brooklyn Bridge to everyone it represents a connection between both Manhattan and Brooklyn. This bridge is used to bridge two different people, even though they are the people in both Brooklyn and Manhattan are still all New Yorkers they are all entirely different people. So in that sense it is not only a bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn but it is also a bridge between different New York’s
In the photo I took captures the juxtaposition between the small quaint buildings in Brooklyn heights compared to the huge towering buildings in Manhattan. You can easily see the differences between the buildings size and design. It also captures the differences between the different skylines of the different New York’s and how some people may have grown up with one thing while others grew up with another.
Eng. Project #2 Draft #1
World changes with the passage of time. No one knows when things around would be changed to another with the unfamiliar. For instance, there is a store was hot selling, but it closured the next day when you went to there again. Perhaps this is not a big deal for you, but if you just paid a little attention to it for a few minutes, you will realize there are many small phenomenon you could realize in much detail ways.
City Tech (New York City College of Technology) is one of the CUNY college with 4 years program of bachelor degrees. City Tech was founded in 1946 as The New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences. The urgent mission at the time was to provide training to GIs returning from the Second World War and to provide New York with the technically proficient workforce it would need to thrive in the emerging post-war economy. No one in 1946 could have predicted the transformation the College has experienced. Along with the changes of City Tech, vicinity changed likewise. Buildings around are various different and unique. They have different colors like light brown, light green, yellow, etc. The walls carving are beautiful, a section of the lines are very delicate carved out, manual skills seem really high. There are many food selling stores, food trolley, resting place, and clothing stores near by City Tech. One of the best cloth shopping store is Macy. It takes about 15 mins to get there by walk from City Tech. In order to get to Macy, you have to get out from the exit on the ground floor of the Namm Building. Once you are outside, turn right on Jay Street and start walking. On the way you walked, you’ll pass many bike parking lot also the car parking lot as well. Then you’ll pass a resting area where a lot of people will sitting and eating their lunch and there would be two or three trolleys selling the Mexican food. You will pass the Jay Street Metro Tech subway after that, the next minute you saw the signpost mentioned you are on the cross area of Jay St and Willoughby St. At that time you should realize you have only one more block to walk straight on the Jay St. The next block is Fulton St, turn left  when you get on the Fulton St. This street is mainly for shopping the clothes, so you can see many Clothing stores. As you keep walking, you will see a McDonald, Macy is next to this McDonald so after you pass the McDonald you are there.
Macy’s outlooking is laconic and plain. The logo design is composite of a red star with black words “macy”. There are two doors, and the logo is on between those two doors and up above little a bit on the wall. Both doors and windows are made of the same materials of glass and the frames are made by irons. Each window has a dark blue shed with two irons bracing on it. A bus stop for B25, B26, B38, B52 buses is in the front of Macy, an American flag is on the left side next to it. Usually there are many people sitting and standing at the bus stop waiting for the buses. The more buses on stop at the stop, the more people will be there for waiting. There are also many trees beside the street, each one are squared by the flower bed. Orange flowers are facing up blooming, few leaves turn into light brown became wither because of the cool weather. It reveals to us autumn passes, winter is upcoming.
Macy is established in 1858. In addition to shoes and clothing, Macy has a wide variety of housewares, gifts and furniture. This Macy has 6 floors, plus a basement. They sell furniture, mattresses, and rugs in the basement. On the first floor, they sell both women’s and men’s apparel, cosmetics and fragrances, fashion jewelry and watches, handbags, collections, dress furnishings, sportswear, vision express, and watch repair. From second floor through fourth floors are all selling for women’s, coats and swim, dresses and suits, fashion accessories, intimate apparel, shoes, petites, better sportswear, missy sportswear, juniors/ m style lab, and maternity supplies. On the six floors they have customer service, executive offices, foot doctor, hair salon, and human resources. Men’s restroom is on the fifth floor and Women’s restroom is on the third floor. You can get all these information on the board stands next to the stair elevator, also on the wall inside the regular elevator as well. Hope you will have a good time for shopping in this Macy. Explore more with your own eyes, and having fun.
City Limits Summary
The book “The Colossus of New York” written by Colson Whitehead talks about how different people have different views on New York. He also goes on saying how the New York he used to know is no longer there. As time goes on he says that everything will eventually change and the New York people will be used to will be gone. He even gives the best example of this where when he passes Park Avenue and sees the Met life building towering over Grand Central station he will always see it as the Pan am building it used to be. He also explains how textbooks in school and even TV documentaries about New York are lies, because you didn’t witness it. That doesn’t mean that the facts they’re telling you are false but that those facts are not a part of the New York you grew up in. He also talks more about the different perspectives of the people that live in New York. For example at one point in time you used to go to a certain store because it was convenient for you but as years go by the store may close down and a new one may take its place the new people that go to that store may never know of what came before it.
Jerry-Built
Adjective
1. built cheaply and unsubstantially
2. carelessly or hastily put together
Source- Merriam Webster
I found this word while reading city limits: “Over a lifetime, that adds up to a lot of neighborhoods, the motley construction material of your jerry-built metropolis.”
