Anne Burrell’s Poignant Tribute to Brooklyn’s Fading Green Lady Icon
So, picture this: Chef Anne Burrell strolling through Brooklyn, but she’s not scouting for the next hot food spot. Instead, she’s on the lookout for the famously moody “Green Lady” neon sign perched atop the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg. In what’s now being called the sign’s “sad final photo,” Burrell snapped a wistful shot with that emerald glow just hours before the landmark was scheduled for removal amid a major hotel renovation (New York Post, Brooklyn Eagle).
Fans immediately felt that pang of nostalgia. The Wythe’s Green Lady has been a low-key borough beacon since 2011, its glow cutting through nighttime fog like a modern ghost story. When Burrell captioned her Instagram pic “keeping an eye out for the Green Lady of Brooklyn,” followers flooded the comments with their own memories—late-night rooftop hangs, spontaneous photo shoots, random meet-ups under her flickering light. Some even tagged the hashtag #SaveTheGreenLady, though city records (Brooklyn Eagle) confirm the sign is coming down as part of a permitted façade overhaul.
Here’s where it gets interesting: insiders say Burrell wasn’t just being poetic. Word on the street is that she loved quirky local lore—and this neon dame fits the bill. Sources tell us Burrell has been known to slip off the culinary calendar for mini art-crawl adventures, scoping out street art and pop-up galleries. This little urban pilgrimage felt right up her alley. And with the demolition crew scheduled at dawn the next day, the chef’s snap doubled as a low-key last call for anyone wanting to toast its final glow.
Social media definitely caught wind. Within 24 hours, the photo amassed thousands of likes and comments—proof that a single frame can jam-pack a lifetime of memories. A few hardcore urban explorers even offered to livestream the take-down, promising “exclusive footage of the Green Lady’s grand exit” (Instagram, TikTok chatter). Renovation plans have since been updated to include a “tribute wall” in the lobby, featuring archival shots and a short write-up on the sign’s run as a neighborhood muse.
Whether you’re here for Burrell’s wanderlust energy or the bittersweet farewell to an indie art icon, there’s something undeniably touching about this moment. It’s a reminder that cities evolve, but our attachment to small-town vibes—like a neon green silhouette over the East River—never really fades away. Anyway, that’s the skinny on Anne and the Green Lady. Do what you want with it.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, Brooklyn Eagle
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
