Algernon Visits Green-Wood Cemetery

Algernon wanted to spend some time thinking about Memorial Day this year because war and death and freedom aren't always easy to understand. So he headed off to Green-Wood Cemetery to visit a friend who could help him out.

The flying buttresses at the entrance to the cemetery made Algernon wonder: can something be beautiful and sad at the same time?

Algernon was quiet as he started up Battle Avenue. Did you know that the first battle fought after the signing of the Declaration of Independence was fought in Brooklyn? 

While Algernon was flying towards the Civil War Lot, he tried recalling the different names of the Civil War, but gave up. He was overwhelmed by the number of headstones.

The Civil War Lot was quiet except for the flags flapping by the headstones of people that fought in the war. He thought about the reasons for the Civil War and his favorite line from the Declaration of Independence: "all men are created equal." This raised a big question in his mind: if all men are created equal, then why is there war?

Even though Memorial Day was created to remember people that have died in service to our nation, Algernon couldn't help stopping by the beautiful headstones of everyday people that had died serving other everyday people.

Algernon made his way to the Altar to Liberty to meet his friend. Standing on the altar, lost in thought, he heard a strong but gentle, familiar voice, "Come sit on my shoulder, old friend." Algernon smiled and flew up to perch on Minerva.

"If all men are created equal, then why is there war, Minerva?" The Goddess of Wisdom spoke softly and kindly, "No matter the time or place, war is never easy to understand. But friendship is. War happens because people forget their commonality with one another. Friendship is remembering our commonality with one another. War happens because people forget their equality with one another. Friendship is remembering our equality with one another. War happens because we allow our differences to divide us. Friendship is remembering that our differences enrich us."

Did you know that Minerva salutes and faces her friend, The Statue of Liberty? Did you know that The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France to America and that the two nations were called "sisters?"

As Algernon paused to reflect on Minerva's words, a simple theory distilled in his heart:

if time and distance come between friends, nothing can separate them if they keep each other in sight and remember to wave.

Watching visitors of the deceased arrive at the cemetery helped him realize that friendship and love transcend time and space. Remembering others that serve the Greater Good will always be important.

And that's why on his way out, Algernon stopped at the entrance gate to make friends with some feral monks: the parrots of Green-Wood Cemetery.

Green-Wood Cemetery
500 25th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11232
718-768-7300
www.green-wood.com

Penny Strikes Black Gold

The other morning Penny was running somewhere (as usual) and ran across a window that made her stop fast in her tracks. As she stared at the gorgeous gold-lettering she saw a magical place beyond the window. Though she was pressed for time, she hopped into Black Gold to take a spin.

She met an old, chipped Boston terrier and asked him how long Black Gold had been around. "I've been around for decades but this place will be a year old this coming Memorial Day." When she asked him about the name Black Gold he directed her to the pretty lady at the counter.

The pretty lady, Sommer, told Penny, "The name Black Gold ties all of our ideas and offerings together. We wanted a warm and inviting place. It's pretty much a cleaner and more organized re-creation of my living room, except everything is for sale."

Did you know a gold record is a musical recording that has sold over 500,000 copies for an album and over 1 million copies for a single? (When Penny saw a record of Band of Horses she spazzed out, did a beak stand and started singing For Annabelle).

Did you know "black gold" is another name for "cup of Joe" which is another name for "mud" which is another name for "tar" which is another name for coffee? (Penny raced along Black Gold's Rook.)

Did you know these kind of light cages are called "trouble lights"?

Did you know that Foxy Loxy was reading Mein Kampf in the 1943 version of Chicken Little? When Penny heard this, she ran right up to stare Foxy Loxy in the eyes and dared him to a race. He growled at her due to his taxidermic condition so she did a victory dance on his nose, "This one is for Henny Penny!"

To calm herself down, she buzzed over to the turn-table. The now-docile spotted hyena was informing the ceramic cherub that female hyenas dominate the male hyenas and outweigh them by three pounds. Penny couldn't help yelling "Girls rule!"

Penny posed for a picture with some other female folk which led to a discussion of Black Gold's name connection to HW Brands' book about the gold rush. Not primed for a book review, Penny decided she'd rather spend some quality time with the pastries.

Black Gold's selection of SCRATCHbread's V-bars and gold bars gave Penny a good reason to tack on an additional 6 miles to her daily run.

Before she left, Penny asked Sommer, "If you could bring anybody to Black Gold, who would it be?" Sommer smiled, "Lux Interior. But any time my dad stops by, he tells me a new story from his life as a musician. He never ceases to blow my mind." This reminded Penny to get in touch with her dad and tell him how great he was.

When Penny turned to leave, Sommer stopped her and pointed at the mural in the back, just beyond the curtains. "The mural will take you wherever you want to go. It's faster. Just say "Black Gold" as you run towards it." Penny blinked twice and then ran as fast as she could towards the mural. In a flash of feathers she found herself laughing and running over the river and through the woods.

Black Gold
461 Court Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
blackgoldbrooklyn.com

The Twins & Olaf's

With Spring springing, The Twins have been talking about new duds. They are the first to admit they aren't Scott Schumann (aka The Sartorialist), but since they see twice as much as the rest of us, they have a good knack of finding the quizzical and the curious. That's how they spotted Olaf's Men's Vintage.

Entering the front door, they immediately spotted the typewriter. "It isn't a Sholes & Glidden," said the first, "And it ain't no MacBook Air, either," said the second. "They just don't make them like they used to," they said in unison.

One of The Twins spotted a nice pair of wingtips, ideal for weekend trips to the shore. Suddenly, a voice from above asked, "Are you poaching my Brogues?" The Twins blinked, unsure of what to say. "I'm kidding. Their yours. I have 3 pairs. And hello. My name is Edward. Edward Ian Script. Shall I show you around?"

The under-Twin hefted the other birds up to the upper-body rack. "They've got everything," chimed Edward, "but if you're in Brooklyn, you wear plaid. I prefer Pendleton to Penguin."

Next, Edward pulled them over to view his favorite antique in the store: a rotary phone. As he nestled up to it and waxed eloquent, The Twins faded from the history lesson because they spotted a relic Rolling Stones sticker. This quickly initiated a debate between who was better: The Rolling Stones or Queen.

They tried helping Edward find some "seasonal appropriate" boots. 

The Twins found more collectibles: pewter steins, burlap sacks, coin-collecting books, and even a pair of antlers mounted on crushed red velvet.

Ever the gentlemen, Edward took some time with the Lampshade Ladies discussing the Victorians' effect on modern-day sports. "Without the Victorians, we'd all be a bag of bones." Immediately, the ladies' eyes narrowed and they asked if he'd like to volunteer to join their badminton game: "We've lost our birdy." Edward bowed just in time to dodge the racquet. 

Trying to see the bright side of his NDE and knowing his love for the game, The Twins suggested Edward consider donating his feathers to shuttlecock-science. An awkward silence followed.

"Or how about Tennis? What's more American than tennis?" The Twins asked. "Well, for starters: corn flakes, The Fourth of July, baseball, Chow mein, and Virginia Ham..." Edward melodically mumbled.

All three birds sat and stared at the Grundig Majestic. "German designers... they just don't make them like they used to," Edward whispered. The Twins readily agreed with him.

But maybe the best treasure they found was something that hit close to home for all of them: an old typography book. The Twins had examined the typeface earlier when they were looking through the "O" at the window. Now with Olaf's logotype in front of them, Edward did some sleuthing: "From the looks of it, I'd say Engravers Shaded. I wonder where the birds are?"

The Twins looked at the antiquated clock on the wall and realized they were out of time. "You should come meet The Jolly Troop, Edward," the over-Twin suggested. "It would be my pleasure," he replied. And with that, the three flew over the heads of two french men, a beautiful lady, and a black dog into the Court Street air of Brooklyn.

Olaf's Men Vintage
453 Court Street
Brooklyn (Carroll Gardens)
(347) 457-5796
www.olafsmensvintage.blogspot.com

Jolly en La Jolla

Magnus took some time off this weekend to heat up his blood (the Brooklyn winter chilled him), open his mind (even he has to brain-dump), and reconnect with an old friend, Silas Savoye, in La Jolla.

Silas suggested they meet at the tree in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, just beneath the Nancy Rubin sculpture.

From there they met up with a local that gave them the dish on the recent developments of the beach they were visiting: Seal Beach / Children's Pool Beach. Apparently, the seal-folk and the people-folk seem to be sparring for beach usage.

But before they got too involved in the political/environmental discussion, they debated whether Dorthy & Co were simply in California instead of Oz. "Si, you have to recant! She was surrounded by the state flower!" Magnus interjected. The fact Silas couldn't see Magnus all that well added to the heat of the debate.

They headed to the seaside next. Magnus hovered a bit, mesmerized by intensity of the algae. "This is fascinating Chlorobionta" he said. "You mean rock fur?" Silas mumbled under his breath.

Did you know that Native Americans called this area "Land of the Holes"?

Magnus said flying the coast with the pelicans was a rush!

After a number of spins with the pelicans, Magnus was completely surprised when Silas got melancholy when they landed near some sandstone graffiti. Silas warbled on and on about "Ashley" and that "the rumors must be true." Magnus was quick to do the math and decided to stand by his friend in silence so that Si could have his moment. That's what friends do. He would ask about the graffiti later.

Finally, Silas shook off the sad. They plunged their heads into a nearby shallow pool and dared each other to stick their beaks into the anemones. "Whoever can't spell it goes first," Magnus suggested.

They spent the next few hours talking about school days, road trips, and past crushes. When Silas told Magnus Ashley had feelings for him years ago, Magnus fell out of the tree. "Man can't take a joke," Silas sighed to himself.

Finally, they spent some time with the seals and got the details on the controversy of the Seal Beach/Children's Pool Beach. Apparently, the seals simply want some space to lay and the local human-folk are having a hard time allowing it. It's to the point that people have been seen throwing rocks at the seals, trying to get them to leave. "My pup was hit on the noggin," one she-seal shared. Both Magnus and Silas felt their feathers fluster at the thought. They told her they would happily offer their "white-wash" services on some oblivious, nearby humans.

Evening crept in and the friends looked at the sinking sun. "I better get going," Magnus said. "Why don't you come back with me and join up with The Jolly Troop?" "Sounds tempting and like a good offer," said Silas. "Can I think about it and let you know?" "Can you spell anemone yet?" They laughed a bit more and Magnus took off, leaving Silas with some good thoughts to stew on.