Contest Winner: OLPH

Thank you to everyone who sent in contest entries (serious or silly) to vie for a copy of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Some of the other suggestions for the contest from last week included St. Michael's spire, Maria's Bistro Mexicano, Polish Delis, and the guy who wanders around pushing a shopping cart and wearing a Lady Liberty foam hat on his head. However, the clear stand-out was an entry that seems strange considering its subject has been such a fixture in Sunset Park.


Thanks to Tony Giordano for sending in this photo and explanation about Our Lady of Perpetual Help on 5th Avenue. He explains why such a long-time piece of Sunset Park could still seem "out of place." Naturally, OLPH doesn't need much explanation as to how it adds to the community.

See Tony's explanation for his choice below:

My nomination is OLPH - Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The scale of the building is far beyond that of any other building in the community (well, I would have to leave out the Brooklyn Army Terminal and the public housing unit on 4th Avenue & 24th Street)...it is monumental in size and architecture. It is surrounded by extra wide sidewalks on two sides, setting it apart from the two and three story buildings that are nearby. It is designated as not just a church, but a basilica - making it a special structure in the Roman Catholic religion. I believe it may be the largest church structure on all of Long Island - installation of Bishops take place there. While there are over 150 cathedrals in the U.S. there are only 15 basilicas. There are over 20 organizations associated with the building - including a school, youth groups and ethnic groups meeting to support their mutual faith in their native languages.

OLPH certainly is unusual for any community and is certainly an important, crucial element of the community.

Need A Good Read? Enter This Contest!

I can guarantee that at least 60% of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (2009, Quirk Classics) is lovely, well-written, and filled with social commentary. But then, I find Jane Austen's genius awe-inspiring. The other 40%, written by Brooklyn writer, Ben Winter, features Sea Monsters and Fang-Beasts. I haven't read it yet, but I think it will be bedside once I have a night table.

Usually, I really hate when someone messes with stuff that doesn't need improving; the most recent egregious example is the Demi Moore as Hester Prynne film that ends happily for Pearl, Hester AND Dimmesdale. Argh! Or maybe it was the watered-down, simpering film version of The Handmaid's Tale.

Anyway, the previous Jane Austen mash-up, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, sold an insane 600,000 copies. According to a publishing insider, "Whoa." Hopefully, that bodes well for the SS&SM this holiday season.

I tried to come up with some clever idea to inspire Sunset Park residents to get out there and learn something new about their neighborhood, but all I came up with was the following:

Send in your suggestion to bestviewinbrooklyn@yahoo.com for a place in Sunset Park that seems like it doesn't fit in with its surroundings, but actually works and adds to the community. It could be a new place of business, an establish gathering place, something that truly surprised you about Sunset Park when you first learned about it. Pretty much anything that is unusual or abnormal (in a good way) in Sunset Park. Priority will be given to "entries" that have a photo and a detailed explanation as to why it was chosen. Deadline is this coming Saturday - that's November 14th, 2009!

Considering that the amount of commenters on this weblog is only about 2% of the unique visitors it gets, your chances are pretty good if you actually follow through with an entry. Free book! Whoooo! You can keep it to read or give it as a gift. It's brand new from the publisher!