5th Avenue Sidewalk Card playing?

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

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.

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!!

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.

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

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.

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!

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 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'...

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.

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.

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.