Robert Guskind Memorial Video

I've held back from posting about Robert Guskind's memorial because I feel a tad silly offering up more responses (after an initial posting) since I never met the man, nor did I have anything resembling a personal friendship with him. However, attending the memorial a week ago was moving, and it was reassuring to hear that many others were as affected by his efforts and support in the world of neighborhood blogging as I.

Happily, for my relatively shy self, I arrived just as the memorial video was about to begin. It's an extraordinarily well-crafted montage of interviews, images, and video shot by Bob himself. It's worth a watch, and I hope it will help people to understand why so many have responded strongly to the loss of this particular journalist. This guy loved Brooklyn, Gowanus and Coney Island in particular. And just as many of us love pieces of Brooklyn that others may consider ugly, run-down, or past hope, so did he.

I'm providing the link (above) because - I'm embarrassed to admit - I just have never gotten the knack of embedding video. I know, it's simple, but it's simply beyond me.

The memorial service itself was a collection of amazingly heartfelt appreciation for the passion, work, and support from Robert Guskind; there was also a call for balance and a reality check. I won't go into the details; they are described more eloquently (and links to other sites are provided) than I could share on the Gowanus Lounge site. However, one of the effects of the memorial service that I think Bob would appreciate is that it brought out various bloggers who might not otherwise attend "blog events." It was great to meet the people behind so many creative, informative, hysterical, and thoughtful websites around Brooklyn. I had to leave too soon (which was tough considering the amount of amazing food offered and the people I wanted to meet and talk to), but I did get to chat briefly with the people behind Flatbush Gardener, New York Shitty, Pardon Me for Asking, and other websites that help Brooklyn become a better, closer, more able to laugh at and appreciate itself kind of place.

As I attempted to say (less than clearly due to my distaste for public speaking and my baby spitting up on my shoulder to distract me) at the memorial was that one of the things that Bob Guskind did was to support and encourage those of us who truly care about our neighborhoods but might not feel like we deserve to have any kind of public voice. He got excited about things that seemed like no big deal, and he always asked for more. As a teacher, I know how important a pat on the back (cyberpat or otherwise) can be.* Encouragement means someone keeps trying to get it right - even if he never reaches perfection. It's certainly necessary when the majority of responses in our world are negative.
* A pat on the back is considered a no-no, as is any touching between teacher and student, by the way. Ridiculous, but necessary in very, very few cases.

My hope is that vigilance in our neighborhoods will not decline because Gowanus Lounge is without its publisher and leader. My hope is that those who love Brooklyn (and wherever they happen to live) will keep their eyes and ears peeled, will attend CB meetings and Community Council meetings, will ask questions, will call 311, will appreciate and laugh at the beautiful and funny things and call out the negative things. In that way, the things that Guskind worked for will continue to have champions.

That's all.

New York Times on Bob Guskind and the Future of Gowanus Lounge

* This isn't directly related to Sunset Park, and it's unusual in that it's more editorial than observation. So walk on by if that's not your thing. *

Today's New York Times has a short article pondering what will happen to Gowanus Lounge now that Bob Guskind is not around to plunge into the topics that generate joy and disgust and fear and hope across Brooklyn. I don't know about you all, but Gowanus Lounge was a bit of an addiction for me. It still is, even though new items haven't been posted since the obituary his close friends created as a post. I used to check in during the morning, and then back twice in the afternoon, baby's nap-willing. I always knew that there would be something new up since I last checked.

In the article, different people comment on whether or not Gowanus Lounge should be kept up. That is, whether other contributors could or should continue what Bob Guskind started - without his active input. I have to differ with one of the contributors when she said that new posts would be "pushing Bob's work down." While his work wouldn't be the "newest" postings (and thus not at the "top" of the page), his influence on bloggers across the borough has been so strong that anyone who helped GL to continue couldn't help but reflect some of Bob Guskind's work.

I think that if a small group of people close to RG, or one very motivated person, were to serve as publisher, Gowanus Lounge could continue in the same manner and form. There would be a lot missing; Guskind's passion for Coney Island and his biting commentary on irresponsible development have been echoed, but few have been able to match his in-depth and detailed "analysis" of the events closest to his heart.

Featuring the fun items like the "Street Couch Series" and videos from around Brooklyn could continue. Linking to various other sites that have compelling or just plain strange (or goofy) items could continue. Focus on development (and destruction) in Brooklyn could continue. Hopefully the passing of the Gowanus Lounge founder won't mean the death of something that meant so much to him. Hopefully it will mean that others who relied on Gowanus Lounge for information will be inspired to go out and find it, and then share it themselves. How great would it be if more people got involved in their neighborhoods, Community Boards, community councils, and so on? Imagine, something to talk about other than rents and square footage.

I think that would be a fitting legacy from someone who was intensely vigilant where Brooklyn's well-being was concerned.

Green-Wood Photos from NewYorkShitty

It's almost the season for long walks in Green-Wood Cemetery. (I know, some more hearty folks do that all year long.)

To tide the rest of us over, check out the photostream in this NewYorkShitty post from Miss Heather. Sadly, she visited GWC for the funeral and burial of her friend Robert Guskind, the prolific journalist/writer and founder of GowanusLounge.

The Death of a Journalist

In the sea of blogs that attempt to be clever, controversial, and inflammatory to raise ad revenue, Gowanus Lounge always had content. Robert Guskind was a true journalist. He went outside, he really talked to people, he cared about Brooklyn with an intensity that came from much more than its coolness factor.

Robert Guskind was found dead in his apartment yesterday. The best I can do for him now is to provide anyone who reads this with as much of his work as possible. GowanusLounge.com has been down for a few days, but there is still a lot out there to read. I'll be adding to it as the day goes on.

I never met him, but we communicated several times over email. He was incredibly helpful and supportive to me when I first started BViB. I'm sure he was inspiring to many other blogger types as well.

The most fitting memorial for him is this video posted on NewYorkshitty.com. It shows how he was able to connect to people, and it shows how he truly cared about Brooklyn and its residents.

Even though GowanusLounge.com is down*, you can check out the old site on blogspot.
*It's back up now.

Videos on AOL. Robert Guskind also did a great interview with Jimmy Prince, the Coney Island butcher featured in several news arenas. RG did it first, and he did it better. I'll try to find it.*
*Thanks to a reader for forwarding the link to me!

His photostream at flickr.

Xris, aka Flatbush Gardener, has a post with a link to his photostream.

CUNY TV has Robert Guskind on Brian Lehrer Live here. And here.

Brownstoner, The Brooklyn Paper (don't read if you're feeling fragile about RG's passing), and OTBKB (with several very informative stories) have posts.

Curbed has a lengthy post with links to RG's early work on Curbed.

PardonMeforAsking and Crazy Stable also have tributes. I'm sure there will be more and more as Brooklyn bloggers find out and react.

BRIC has a post that includes RG's "Walk Around the Blog" visit.