5th Avenue Sidewalk Card playing?

Did anyone else notice the group of people who setup a card table on the sidewalk of 5th ave (around President St) and were playing a cards?

Maybe I am nuts but WTF?

why would you have an issue with folks playing cards on the sidewalk?

Because it is a sidewalk - for walking - not a park for setting up a bridge table and chairs and playing cards. Not to mention they were extrordinarly loud.

They've been doing that for years. 5th & Prez used to be a real hangout corner and that's one of the remaining vestiges. Doesn't bother me at all.

Fifth and St Marks, too. I don't care, except when it goes until midnight and people are loud. The group that congregates is sort of up in everyone's business, which amuses me. It's like having a watchdog outside at all times--they know the people who own the buildings and who live there and they keep an eye on things.

Now, BBQing on the sidewalk--that's another matter.

I grew up in Brooklyn.. in Brownsville.. people played cards on the street all the time in good weather.. I am sure they were either closer to the building or sidewalk edge so people could pass by. Now I am expecting a post on how stoop ball should be illegal.. It is Brooklyn, you know!! LOl!!

lmboogie wrote: why would you have an issue with folks playing cards on the sidewalk?

sidewalk card dealing is the gateway game to domino playing

beware

Subject: Re: 5th Avenue Sidewalk Card playing?

I received a rude comment from some people who were hanging out at that corner a few years ago. They were sitting on chairs on the sidewalk and it was difficult to walk by them and remain on the sidewalk. There was not a street fair and traffic was normal, but the sidewalk was cluttered. They were not playing cards though and since this was years ago my interaction probably involved different people.

As a Midwestern gal I've always been charmed by seeing old guys playing dominos ...

erikka wrote: Fifth and St Marks, too. I don't care, except when it goes until midnight and people are loud. The group that congregates is sort of up in everyone's business, which amuses me. It's like having a watchdog outside at all times--they know the people who own the buildings and who live there and they keep an eye on things.

Now, BBQing on the sidewalk--that's another matter.

See the know everything that is going on on the streets is really a good thing to me.. If people are out on the streets in to evening hours it keeps the streets safer in any City. In the late 70's we lived in Boerum Hill (off of 4th Ave) and the hood was sketchy at that point.. Lots of ladies of the night and the scene that goes along with that but the neighborhood people hung out on stoops day and night and I can remember many nights where I initially feared walking from the pacific street station to the house if it was late but the reality was I met 3 neighbors hanging outside on my way home.

I am not saying we need noise but if people are well behaved on the street playing cards I have no problem.

I think it's great - I love stoop-sitters.

I am rather Boo Radley by nature myself but I very much appreciate the stoop and street culture ... makes me feel safe and neighborly.

"Street culture"!!!

It is so funny the bias on these boards

Oh the outrage expressed at mothers w/strollers for taking up sidewalk space (and god forbid a mother have one of those double wide strollers!!)
BUT
a bunch of loud degenerates setting up a TABLE on the sidewalk (of a busy commercial strip) playing cards is praised as culture!

Your right maybe its me...next time I'm going to sit down with some beers (in paperbag of course) and a blunt and try to get with the program.

It wasn't my intention to praise obnoxiously loud people. All I meant was that I like seeing people hanging out on stoops, playing dominos, etc., as opposed to the kind of neighborhood where the sidewalks are deserted. If they're being assholes, that's something else.

I live at that corner, and I can't figure out who you are talking about...?

The guys who sit on President St, right next to the kitchen exit of Mezcals? They sit there all the time when it's nice out. They do take up some of the sidewalk, but I just walk in the street for those 3 seconds. It's really not a big deal. And its usually just some old guys sitting around in the summer...

But I've never seen a table set up in the middle of 5th avenue. (I assume that's what you mean by "busy commercial strip.") Where exactly were they?

"Degenerates"? Jeez, that's kinda rough. Are they visibly drunk and/or high? And what time of day was this?

Quigley wrote: "Degenerates"? Jeez, that's kinda rough. Are they visibly drunk and/or high? And what time of day was this?

The first big step on the road
To the depths of deg-ra-Day--
I say, first, medicinal wine from a teaspoon,
Then beer from a bottle.
Next thing you know they're playin cards
Which starts with C which rhymes with T which stands for TROUBLE!

Quigley wrote: I live at that corner, and I can't figure out who you are talking about...?

I believe that they live in the building next to or above the nursery school/day care center (don't know the name of the place) - which is where they were located.

So next to bageltique, basically?

That's really funny. I have never, ever seen that there. I'm just really curious... what time was this?

Where is this cardtable and folding chair Vegas full of degenerates? It sounds like a lot of fun and I'm thinking I might want in on it.

Quigley wrote: So next to bageltique, basically?

That's really funny. I have never, ever seen that there. I'm just really curious... what time was this?

I walked past at approx 7:30PM (Wed) and then again at 9 - there both times.

This was the first time I saw this although a few times in the past I have seen one of the guys sitting in the doorway of the building drinking a 40.

Sometimes I sit out on my front steps with a beer and chat with people too. It's not a 40 cause my stomach won't hold that much. But sometimes its just nice to sit on the stairs with a beer on a hot summer day and talk to the neighbors.

lighten up a little. not everyone is a "degenerate."

Oh please - I've lived in NY my whole life - I know a degenerates when I see them.

friendlypitbull wrote: I know a degenerates when I see them.

I think I may have to make that my new signature.

I know the guy you're talking about. He sits in the doorway with his beer all the time. He's probably an alcoholic. I guess he might be a "degenerate." (Although, you say you've lived in new york your whole life... I don't know how a "degenerate" can surprise you. They're everywhere!)

But like, whatever. He never seems to cause any harm. He certainly doesn't bother me. In fact, I would say he, and his card playing friends, affect my life much less negatively than the restaurant across the street that blares its so-called fancy live music into the streets! I'm just sayin'...

laura wrote: [quote=friendlypitbull]I know a degenerates when I see them.

I think I may have to make that my new signature.

LOCK YOU DOORS warning has been extended to North Park Slope. Reported incidences of people enjoying a nice summer day and the company of their neighbors. Call 311 immediately if you are witness to these dangerous board game playing hooligans! We must prevent families from congregating in front of their own homes!

Strangely enough, I walk by these degenerates every day and have lived to tell the tale! They just sit there....minding their own business! It's a disgrace!

Subject: Re: 5th Avenue Sidewalk Card playing?

friendlypitbull wrote: Did anyone else notice the group of people who setup a card table on the sidewalk of 5th ave (around President St) and were playing a cards?

Maybe I am nuts but WTF?

Where on earth are you from? Being born and raised here, I desperately miss stoop sitters, nosy neighbors who scream out the window, and lively domino games. Ahhh...the Brooklyn summer.

But "street culture"? Yikes.

Subject: Re: 5th Avenue Sidewalk Card playing?

bklyngirl wrote: But "street culture"? Yikes.

Um, meaning what?

friendlypitbull wrote: "Street culture"!!!

It is so funny the bias on these boards

Oh the outrage expressed at mothers w/strollers for taking up sidewalk space (and god forbid a mother have one of those double wide strollers!!)
BUT
a bunch of loud degenerates setting up a TABLE on the sidewalk (of a busy commercial strip) playing cards is praised as culture!
.

But by praising "street culture" and bashing strollers, some people are desperately "tryin' to keep it real". (A bit late for that in the slope). My landlord used to start his dominos game at 10:00, be trashed by 11:30 and 2 nights out of 10 beat the crap out of his wife. Can't say I found it so charming to live above and listen to when I had a new baby and wanted nothing more then sleep and didn't want an AC blasting to drown out his noise. Walking past it--totally fine and glad to have people on the street. Drunk or sober, I didn't want to listen to him and his budies playing dominos at 1:00 in the morning.

Subject: Re: 5th Avenue Sidewalk Card playing?

bklyngirl wrote: Where on earth are you from? Being born and raised here, I desperately miss stoop sitters, nosy neighbors who scream out the window, and lively domino games. Ahhh...the Brooklyn summer.

But "street culture"? Yikes.

I myself am trying to keep that "culture" alive. I am that stoop sitter, nosey/noisy neighbor who screams out and up to the window and just because of this thread I will be outside this weekend playing domino or since I'm watching my neice and nephew this weekend maybe monopoly.

ljnd wrote: I think it's great - I love stoop-sitters.

I once stepped outside and discovered an entire family of two adults and three plus kids having a goddamn pizza party on my stoop. Their near-by car, parked with open doors, had more people spilling out. They looked like tourists with pizza dripping out of their mouths and terror in their eyes as I erupted with the snarls of a rabid raccoon.

Subject: Re: 5th Avenue Sidewalk Card playing?

seven24 wrote: [quote=bklyngirl]

Where on earth are you from? Being born and raised here, I desperately miss stoop sitters, nosy neighbors who scream out the window, and lively domino games. Ahhh...the Brooklyn summer.

But "street culture"? Yikes.

I myself am trying to keep that "culture" alive. I am that stoop sitter, nosey/noisy neighbor who screams out and up to the window and just because of this thread I will be outside this weekend playing domino or since I'm watching my neice and nephew this weekend maybe monopoly.

I am a stoop sitter too. One of my favorite pastimes.

My interest in the phrase "street culture" is that it sounded...quaint, and like something that is to be watched when others "do it", but not to participate in it.

I don't know...just sounds a little demeaning to me, like the "new people" move to the neighborhood for it, but would NEVER participate in it. :?

MOD NOTE: Edited to fix tags