u/Throwawayredditt0

Has anyone else encountered/been disgusted by the people feeding the pigeons and the end result outside of the 72nd Street & 2nd Avenue Q subway stop?

On top of this being illegal I'm pretty sure, it leaves a huge mess on the sidewalk for everyone entering/leaving the station, it attracts rats, roaches, and other vermin, and adds to the trash and chaos that that intersection already sees.

I feel like 311 calls have been useless. Can we do something else? Something that actually dissuades (or prohibits) people from unlawfully feeding?

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Mods/community: if this is the wrong sub for this or flair is incorrect, please let me know :)   

This past Friday evening, 6/17, I (male, 40s), went to Friends and Lovers (641 Classon Ave Brooklyn) with a group of friends (ages 20s - 40s). A good/close friend of mine, "S" (female, mid-20s) also came along. We had all been out at a few bars earlier in the night, we all got to F&L well after midnight. 

At one point, me (white) and my good friend "S" (black) were dancing on the dance floor together. I noticed a guy in front us, probably close to 7' tall, wearing a shirt which said something like '7 Team' on it, and I  commented to "S", I wonder what that means. "S" being the friendly person she is and out of  concern for my curiosity, goes over and strikes up a conversation with the guy, and after a minute or two brings him over to me, and we introduce each other. We chat for a few, everything is cool. He works there. We decide to go have a smoke in the back. "The back" is a smallish, walled-in back yard area. There is 1 door in and out, the one that leads from and to the bar. 

We walk towards the back door, and I turn around for a moment to get either my drink or some water, which means I'm separated from the the two of them walking for a few moments, 20-30 seconds maybe max. So they end up in the back. I arrive at the back yard door, and step through. I'm immediately told by 2 (other) large men that I can't come back there. I quickly look around, and see "S" standing there towards the back, her back is toward the door, surrounded by 4 or 5 large men, all who seemed to be staff (bouncers/security). The two men at the back door tell me to turn around go back into the bar, leaving "S" there. She is the only female is the area at this point, and there is no one else there except for the 4 or 5 men surrounding her. For a little context, "S" is tiny, about 4'11", and even though she's in her mid 20s, she easily looks like she's 17 or something. (she also has no non-platonic interest in black guys). I go back into the bar, and text her shortly thereafter to come out. She does. 

When she meets me, she's astounded by what I told her (that they intentionally separated us by not allowing me to go outside). We left shortly thereafter. 

This was both my and her first time at F&L, but we are well experienced with bk nightlife, and many others in our friend group had been there before numerous times. 

This post is not meant to disparage Friends and Lovers as an establishment (well... maybe a little bit? And it should be?), but it IS certainly meant to disparage those people involved in keeping us apart, even if briefly (luckily). And to remind people be aware and careful. I find it absolutely unconscionable, scary, and flat out wrong that any business or establishment or it's staff would take part in separating individuals in a group from each other, and creating a situation that can potentially become dangerous. 

Thank you for reading, and please be safe. 🙂