Monday, March 30, 2009

Go, Go, Gowanus

Explore the wide banks of Brooklyn’s most famous canal. Before crossing one of the oldest retractile bridges in the United States, we’ll visit the Carroll Gardens Historic District, a singular brownstone enclave distinguished by a remarkable street plan. Learn the history of the canal and the surrounding, though faded, industrial zone. Leader: Matt Postal, architectural historian.

Meet at Smith and President streets, outside the drug store. (Transit: F, G trains to Carroll St.) $15, $10 MAS members.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Litchfield Villa


Visiting Litchfield Villa is something you have to do during the week. Inside it's used as park offices, but there's still enough architectural splendor to make it a point to stop by. There's a magnificent rotunda opening to the second floor in the entryway, Minton tiles and an attractive (and completely level after 150 years) iron staircase. The home was designed by Alexander Jackson Davis or Edwin Litchfield, a railroad magnate.

Munchinette


Home of simple, good food in Sheepshead Bay. Try the salmon burger.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

From Brooklyn?

Old Brooklynites (and neighboring areas) Understand
If you ain't from Brooklyn, just forget this; you wouldn't understand.


You're truly from Brooklyn if you can relate to any of the following:

1.Alternate side of the street parking.

2.Ate at Chock Full O' Nuts Shops (date nut bread and powdered donuts that were crunchy).

3.Ate dinner every Sunday night at Fong Fongs on Church Avenue.

4.Ate Italian food at Collaro's on Coney Island Ave.

5.Bought bobka at the original Ebingers on Flatbush Avenue. Or AT Butterbun on Nostrand Ave.

6.Bought Ebinger's Black-Out Cake (and didn't count the calories)

7.Bought knishes from Mrs. Stahls in Brighton, or Ruby the Kinish Man.

8.Bought knishes on the beach and didn't mind the sand.

9.Bought pickles out of a barrel. The salt made you pucker.

10.Can name all the Brooklyn High Schools. Just try and do that today (impossible).

11.Don't speak with an accent - everybody else does.

12.Drove over the Marine Park Bridge for a 10-cent toll, and Brooklyn Battery Tunnel for 35 cents.

13.Everybody knows somebody from the neighborhood, even if it is your mother's cousin's son-in-law's sister's boyfriend.

14.Got a "Kitchen Sink" at Jahn's.

15.Got a J.D. card and feeling like Al Capone.

16.Had a prom date at the Club Elegante.

17.Had roller skates with keys.

18.Hand ball in the park.

19.Hit two sewers in punch ball.

20.It's not the "shore", its the "beach" idiot.

21.Kings Plaza.... how come we get the crappy mall?

22.Knew who the neighborhood wise guy was, but you'd never tell the cops.

23.Know that NBC's main production studio is on Avenue M.

24.Know what the F.W.I.L. on the Lundy's Restaurant in "The Bay" stands for(It's the brothers, Frederick, William, Irving and Louis).

25.Know, or at least your hips do, what a Charlotte Russe is.

26.Owned a pair of pumps from Miles or National's.

27.Played at ( Eddy) Faber's Fascination and Skeeball - saved tickets for junk gifts

28.Played hide and go seek at dusk.

29.Played Hit The Penny, Stoop Ball, Skelly, and Potsy.

30.Private beach? What's that?

31.Remember a time when the Greeks didn't own ALL the diners and the Koreans didn't own ALL fruit stands. Except the Greeks on Utica and Church, where you just said going to the Greeks for lunch.

32.Remember Bohack's, Packer's, and Smilen Brothers fruit stand.

33.Remember Coney Island fireworks every Tuesday night in the summer. Watching from your roof.

34.Remember submarine race watching at Plumb Beach. Heck, if you even know where Plumb Beach is.

35.Sheepshead Bay is for fishing and seafood.

36.Shopped on Fulton Street and Pitkin Ave. before the mall.

37.Swear that Grabstein's Deli had the l-e-a-n-e-s-t pastrami.

38.The first bar that you hung out in when you were 15.

39.There is a bagel bakery a few blocks away.

40.There is at least one pizzeria within 1 block of your house and a candy store on the corner.

41.Thought "Buddy's Fairyland Kiddie Park" on Utica Ave. was a major amusement park.

42.Thought going "away to college" means NYU, Pace, or Pratt.

43.Waited for the Good Humor or Bungalow Bar guy to come around your block.

44.Walked along the Coney Island Boardwalk, with a Shatzkins knish.

45.Washed it down with a Sunny Boy orange drink.

46.Went to a Bar Mitzvah at the Colonial Mansion, sometimes two on a weekend.

47.Went to Big Daddy's on Coney lsand Avenue as a change from Nathan's.

48.Went to Brennan and Carr for a double dip roast beef that dripped all over you.

49.Went to Murray the K rock concerts at the Brooklyn Fox or the Brooklyn Paramount. Went the night before for good seats.

50.Went to Saturday matinees at the Boro Park, The 46th St, Oriental, Canars=ie, Kingsway, Avalon, Rugby, Sheepshead, Mayfair or Marlboro theaters.

51.You ate at the Horn and Hardart Automat.

52.You can correctly pronounce places like Long I-land, but aren't exactly sure where it begins.

53.You curse A lot. Or can at least out curse anyone from anywhere else.

54.You don't go to Manhattan, you go to "The City."

55.You have no reason to go to Queens, except for Met games.

56.You know and go to the REAL Nathan's - Coney Island.

57.You know someone with mob ties.

58.You know the difference between going with, seeing, fooling around with and going out with someone.

59.You know what a "johnny pump" is.

60.You love "Welcome Back Kotter" (and not because of the crisp writing or great acting).

61.You made a scooter from orange crates and an old skate.

62.You made carpet guns that shot old linoleum projectiles.

63.You never realize you have an accent until you leave.

64.You waited for the rides on a truck to come to your neighborhood for 10 cents a ride.

65.You walk down "The Avenue" and see at least a handful of the people you knew growing up.

66.Your friends came over to hang out on the stoop.

67.You've had a pigeon crap on your car and/or your head.

68. Went roller skating at Park Circle, Bay Ridge Roller Rink, Empire Rollerdrome or Rollerama.

And the most important reason that you are a Brooklynite, or at least have the soul of one, is that You're still angry that the Dodgers left

Friday, March 20, 2009

New York's Best German Restaurant


When I went online looking for New York's best German restaurant, I thought Manhattan was in my future. Instead, Schnitzel House was to be found in the Brooklyn Neighborhood of Bay Ridge. I suggest the Rouladen and an Optimator on tap!

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

ASPCA offers SPAY and NEUTER


The ASPCA Mobile clinic will be at the Central Library at the corner of Eastern Parkway and Flatbush Ave on Saturday April 4 and April 11 to SPAY and NEUTER your pet. In-take begins at 7:00AM and surgeries will be completed the same day. A fee of $75.00 will be required from pet owners not on Public Assistance.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Historic Photos of Brooklyn


Professor John B. Manbeck was on hand at the Central Library to give a talk on his history books about Brooklyn including Historic Photos of Brookyn. I think I noticed from a photo of the old Brooklyn Eagle newspaper building that the eagle in the library lobby (above the doors) is from the Brooklyn Eagle. I should have headed back in to ask, but the sunset was enticing. Link to the book

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Art Outdoors


The sculpture in front of a home on 2nd Street in Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighborhood may be an exception to having personal public sculpture. It blends in so well it looks to be part of the living green, rather than an object of art–especially now that the trees are bare. I’m not sure who created it, or the idea behind it, but I did find it to be a tasteful whimsical addition to the landscape. READ MORE

So This Is Brooklyn


John Manbeck, former borough historian, gives an illustrated talk on the history of the borough and signs copies of his books: Brooklyn: Historically Speaking, Historical Photos of Brooklyn and Neighborhoods of Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Collection Reserve Room at Brooklyn Public Library (central). March 11, 7 p.m.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Catch a Flick in Brooklyn

I was on a walk past the Pavilion on my way to Cafe Steinhof. It seemed like just as good of an idea to stop in for a flick. Check shows and times

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Greenest Block in Brooklyn


In 2009 Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest celebrates its 15th anniversary. BBG is offering a workshop is for new participants or those who want tips for improvement. We discuss street trees, front-area gardens, containers, and window boxes, with examples that will inspire you. Thursday, March 26 6–8 p.m.

Monday, March 2, 2009

A Snowy Monday


It wasn't the Storm of the Century, but it was enough to make Monday Morning a bit problematic for many of us. Once in a while, you have to shovel in March.

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Wyckoff on Facebook


The oldest house in the city seems to be up to date with a Facebook page. You can follow the house and its events by following on Facebook. ClickHere