The Bushwick ‘Paper’ Chase
The latest issue of Paper Magazine asks, “Can the hipster ghettos of Brooklyn really replace Manhattan?” It’s really just a more sophisticated way of asking whether Bushwick is the new black. And after an afternoon investigation, Paper Magazine editor and publisher Kim Hastreiter has the answer: no. Though she enjoyed Bushwick’s colorful street art (some even not in a gallery) and tasty lunch at Northeast Kingdom, the “lone, yummy and cool restaurant in the nabe,” it was no match in her mind for the “powder keg of international culture, commerce, wealth, power, ambition, grit and danger” that is Manhattan, at least before it became “too clean, safe, uncreative and slick.”
Besides nostalgia trips and comparisons between apples and oranges, the August issue of Paper includes “Bushwicked,” a fashion shoot by photographer Jeffrey Kilmer featuring some “cute kids” from Bushwick. Two years ago, Paper would have called their vegan food cute and the kids dirty, but that was back when Bushwick was just “whiskey bars with iPod DJs and hastily but lovingly produced rock shows in little shit-hole venues,” not a “super-cool-kid ghetto” like it is now.
God I miss the old Bushwick…these fuckers wouldn’t last a second on the street.
By Wza on July 22nd, 2008 at 12:30 pmshameful ?
Shameless ?
Used to be a time when we at least knew better…
Fashion/trends->$$$ and that my friends rules over any bygone hipster cool/ethics…
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By An Other Greek on July 22nd, 2008 at 1:13 pmDid anyone else read the magazine article and feel like Paper was talking about people (ie. white cool kids) in Bushwick as if they were exotic zoo animals?
By LES on July 22nd, 2008 at 4:21 pmI’d like to see you mindless hipster cock guzzlers go to East New York or point to South Brooklyn on map. I’m sure all of you assholes were holding your breath on the train to siren fest… “WOW, we’ve like never been here? Is this still like Brooklyn?” By the way, SUNSET PARK IS NOT THE SOUTH SLOPE! AND BUSHWICK IS NOT EAST WILLIAMSBURG! The second you get a dose of the real brooklyn, you’ll probably move back to Kansas before Dorethy can click her fucking heels once. You’re all trash. Why doesn’t the city decide to help fund the actual communities and help the people already there instead of kicking everyone to the curb to accommodate you pseudo-artist, coke head, trust funding pieces of shit and your retarded watering holes. You’re nothing special, just another bunch of people who think they’re sooo original, but are just a bunch TOOLS. Go pour a burning PBR in your ass!
By Gentrify This!!! on July 22nd, 2008 at 4:33 pmI lived in buchwick briefly last summer, and yes i was on the J line, which by no means is the L. But in comparison to manhattan and brooklyn (ie kool kid ghettos) i dont understand how you can compare the two. honestly, the emerging neighborhood that is bushwick, is being called east williamsburg so that people who dont know any better buy into this idea of urban hip and chic exclusivity, when in reality all you need is a 4 year liberal arts degree, a lack of respect for the communities around you, and an overwhelming ability to kiss the asses of everyone who came before you in order to have a “hipster” life. What i dont understand is where the editor for paper magazine comes off thinking that she is an authority on current and future trends, especially after allowing that photo spread to be published. besides the one person wearing orange wayfarers (which are over.. thanks douche bags) not one up and coming trend was really touched upon. people who think that being hipster means dressing like a mix of morrisey with a dabble of Bourgeoisie. the fact is that hipster is no longer a foward thinking movement mixing art, culture, and fashion, but is simply the new term for Yuppy. However, of course, the connotations for yuppy draw up these vague ideas of dark under designed flaccid coutoure, greased combed hair, and an elitist white upper class (wait i think i just hit on something here)… yes thats right… hipsters are yuppy’s… doing nothing new. and now i am rambling… but this is a purely upsetting article indeed… and besides its just paper.
By Fashion Forecaster on July 22nd, 2008 at 4:53 pmFUCKING CHARLATANS!!!
By Gentrify This!!! on July 22nd, 2008 at 5:07 pmHaha! That’s Francis!
By buddy on July 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 pmWhat, Paper doesn’t think black or Latina kids are cute? Everybody in that god awful photo spread was white, except for the one Asian girl.
By MikeM on July 22nd, 2008 at 9:44 pmi agree with all the comments listed!
By Wza on July 22nd, 2008 at 10:36 pmHow in the hell did these ugly, tasteless and probably VD-infested white people of means become tastemakers?
By Josef Ballin on July 23rd, 2008 at 1:40 amthe whole thing is gag-o-rrific, but this line really got me: northeast kingdom is the “lone, yummy and cool restaurant in the nabe?” … is she for reals????? in a part of the neighborhood that is entirely latino, i find it interesting that i’ve never seen any in that god forsaken restaurant. take northeast kingdom back to manhattan where it belongs, so that i may better enjoy my roasted chicken joints, taco stands and peruvian spots, free from having to look at disaffected manorexics in saucer-sized sun-glasses.
By C-Monster on July 23rd, 2008 at 7:43 amYes, the article was stupid, and yes, the people cast in the fashion spread were primarily white. This is all totally valid and fucked up and I completely agree. But isn’t this article really just re-confirming everything we read in the times article about the McKibbin Lofts a few months back, and all of the overriding sentiment about the neighborhood?
Like since when is it all right to make comments like:
By Gregg on July 23rd, 2008 at 8:19 am“I’d like to see you mindless hipster cock guzzlers go to East New York or point to South Brooklyn on map.”
Since we’re making fun of “hipsters” it’s perfectly acceptable to be mindlessly homophobic? Give me a break. It’s only Paper, it’s not the end of the world.
Gregg, to answer your questions in order — yes and no. And you’re right. It’s just Paper.
By Nick on July 23rd, 2008 at 8:26 am” Gentrify This” statement should be considered for the Pulitzer Prize. That statement hit hit on right on the head and took the words out of my mouth. LOL
By KARITAKON on July 24th, 2008 at 11:17 amGreat comment “Gentrify this!”
http://www.diehipster.com
By Josh Van Bedford on July 29th, 2008 at 4:55 pm