Signing Off: Thank You

What started as a small hobby during my son's nap-time has become something to which I've become very attached.  Doing this blog has helped me to learn so much more about Sunset Park than I would  have known just from living here. 

I hope that the posts I've put up have been informative and helpful to residents of Sunset Park, and I sincerely wish for more information outlets to develop for this neighborhood.  While The Brooklyn Eagle often gives time to events and news, we rarely get mentioned in The Brooklyn Paper (still no crime blotter for us?) or other more major papers unless it has to do with violence or prostitution.  Even then, we're often ignored.  Sunset Park Chronicled, a recent blog started by a CUNY journalism student, is the only place I've found news about the Thanksgiving shooting murder. 

Anyway, hopefully there will be new blogs to disseminate things like library events, park clean-ups, music in the Rec Center, summer events sponsored by The Friends of Sunset Park, food and toy drives by CB 7 (collecting toys right now!), and other positive developments.  For example, the Friends of Sunset Park and the Rec Center staff are putting on a tree lighting ceremony on Friday night (Read more here). Check out the links on the right side for more Sunset Park weblogs. 

In the meantime, I'm leaving the site up so that it can be searched for various tidbits of information.  Thank you so much to the people who have been helpful and supportive in keeping up this amazing hobby.  It has been a pleasure.

Links for a Lazy Thursday

First the fun stuff: Eating in Translation has licuados from Tonny's.

Then the weird stuff: Our Velazquez is giving money to Brooklyn Heights for lamps? (They are really pretty lamps.)

Now the disgruntled (on my part) stuff: Lutheran provides authentic Chinese meals for patients in the Chinese unit. Why disgruntled? Because when I was there, I had to send my husband out to supplement the bread I got for breakfast. Apparently a vegetarian breakfast is very tough. I wasn't asking for vegan. Yoghurt? Eggs? A PB & J? Something PROTEIN that never had a face to help recover from surgery. Hello? And never mind about the lunch or dinner. I mean, it's not big deal, but I'm still a tad disgruntled. (That, and I like the word disgruntled.)

When the Park was Won - Excellent Photos and Information about the Park

The Then and Now series and the last few photos of Sunset Park in decades past have been some of the most popular posts on this site. They've also brought out some other history buffs around the neighborhood (and in farther flung places).

I received a lovely PDF link in my inbox from a neighbor. The PDF is the 1902 Annual Report for the Parks Department. It details work done on Sunset Park, as well as the acquisition of the space from 43rd to 44th Street - which completed the square footage of the Sunset Park we know today.

And here's the "rustic stairway" leading up to the park from 5th Avenue.



So cool.

Look Both Ways on a One-Way Street

The irony, of course, is that I do look both ways on one-way streets. It's just habit, and good sense, really. And don't worry, I feel an immense amount of guilt about what happened yesterday. No one needs to lecture me about being more careful. Go ahead, if you must, I'm a traumatized mother right now.

Here's the short version:

Yesterday afternoon, I and my two cherubic imps were crossing 44th Street at 6th Avenue to enter Sunset Park at its main entrance. As we must because of the steep incline, I poked my head around the parked cars to look for on-coming traffic. Thanks to a double parked car loading items and another car backing up into a parking space down the street, it looked even more safe than usual. Phew. Then I looked up the street and saw an Elegante car service car backing up at 6th Avenue.

They often idle by the fire hydrant or the entrance of the park, so I figured this guy was backing up to the hydrant. I waited. He stopped, took it out of reverse, and sat there. Okay, so he's staying at the entrance. I looked back down 44th - all clear - and I started across the street.

When we were almost across the street, the Elegante car started backing up again. Into my stroller-bound kid. The handle of the stroller was pushed into my other kid (who was strapped to me), and the bumper of the car and the wheel were pushing my stroller and my son's legs along.

Now, I promised my husband a while ago that I would watch my language in front of my children. Sorry, honey. As I was tried to pull the stroller out from under the bumper, I started screaming about the car hitting my kid. (That was probably the most terrifying second and a half of my life. You can imagine what flashed through my head.) Then the palabrotas began.

With a crying baby strapped to me and a stunned toddler sitting in the stroller, I yelled in a colorful manner various versions of: car service cars are always backing up down the street, what does he think he's doing backing up on a one-way street, I was crossing at the crosswalk, my kids had better not be hurt, car service guys don't care about the residents they serve, blah blah blah.

I don't think the car service man was malicious. I don't even think he was particularly negligent. He explained he has children as well. He was so sorry. Are they alright. (In his nervousness he was smiling and trying to stop the baby's crying. Don't do that.) He was doing what the car culture of this block does. Yeah, I'm pissed off at him. Yeah, I think he was being careless. However, as angry as I am (maybe was) at this guy, I realized that mini-versions of this happen all the time. It's not a unique situation, and it's not something we cannot change.

That brought me back to the traffic calming issues we've been dealing with forever. A stop sign would not have changed this particular situation, but perhaps a painted crosswalk would have been a visual reminder to the driver that people cross into the park here. Look again.

So this morning, while my baby girl napped, I wrote to my friend Marty Markowitz to remind him about the traffic calming we have desired for so long. Perhaps a brush with injury will be enough to get something for our street here. Let's hope that it's not something more serious that draws attention to the need for traffic calming around the park.

So anyway, is anyone up for painting a few crosswalks ourselves?

Enjoy the weather, enjoy the park. Cross with extreme caution.

And, for good measure, here's the link for the traffic calming petition.

Green-Wood Cemetery is Showing Off

IMG_2039, originally uploaded by lostinbrooklyn.

Green-Wood is (even more) gorgeous right now, and it will be for a while thanks to blooming trees. So, if you aren't cursed with horrific allergies to beautiful, flowering arboles - check it out. Here's an excerpt from a posting by lostingreenwoodheights on Brooklynian.com:

"So take my friendly BLOOM ALERT and spend a morning, afternoon, early evening (open till 6pm till Memorial day, then 7pm) in the grounds and see some awesome blooms!"

Thanks to lostinbrooklyn for making several lovely photos of early blooms available on flickr.

IDT is Still Trying to Get Your Business

A Harlem resident sent out an email about IDT agents trespassing in a coop building. The agents are all over the City, including Sunset Park. I haven't seen any nearby lately, nor have I heard of people knocking on doors recently. It seems that they tend to move very deliberately in one direction. Just a week or so after showing up in South Slope and Greenwood Heights, they turned up in the 40s. Keep an eye out!

What you see below is the text from a letter sent to IDT by this Harlem resident. It includes the link to a youtube video of the adorable agents. No really, they are cute. Too bad they're also obnoxious and taking advantage of fellow human beings during tough times.

On Wednesday, 4/15/09, after being asked to leave, your IDT Agents refused to leave my building, located at [West Harlem address here]. They remained in the building after over 25 minutes of being asked to leave, even though I clarified I was an owner. They also refused to stop bothering my elderly neighbors, after being asked to do so. Additionally they refused to give me a phone number or phone numbers to allow me to call a supervisor to assist in asking them to leave. Then I took out my video camera.

There were two female agents, once wore a pink shirt under her coat and the other a gray beret. The agent in the pink shirt said her brother was her boss and he wouldn't like it if she gave out his phone number, nor could I use her phone and use her minutes. (I offered her $5 to use her phone, but that offer was refused.) Your agents stated I could not make them leave even if I was an owner in the building because someone on the 4th floor buzzed them in. I said if they are guests of that person, they are now out of their apartment, so they need to leave my building. The girl in the beret said something like: Oh it’s your building, yeah right. And I clarified again, that I am an owner in the building and I want them to leave immediately. They said that the last building they were just in someone also called the police and that the police came and said they were allowed to be there. That of course is not true.

After asking the agents to leave for over 10 minutes, I called my super at 1:29pm hoping a man's presence would convince the agents to leave but he was not available. I then called IDT at 1:37pm @877-887-6866 and they said they could not call off their agents, and that I'd have to call the police. At 1:41pm I called 311 who transferred me to 911 because your agents were trespassing.

They continued door-to-door and I told each neighbor I saw that I have asked these agents to leave and that I called the police. One agent had already convinced my elderly neighbor to bring them their Con Ed bill and I also told that neighbor I had called the police.

Your agents pretended they called the police to report me and then they began knocking on doors on my first floor, and that is when I went to get my video camera. When officers from the 30th Precinct arrived they said they had received my call but had not received a call from your agents.

Here is the video that I put on youtube, as you will see, per request of your agent [name removed as requested] #6706306. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp1zhXVh_FQ

So far I've submitted it to Channel 7("7 on Your Side"), Fox ("Shame, Shame, Shame"), The Consumerist, The Gothamist, Curbed, NYC bloggers/websites (if they have articles about problems with your agents), and the NYS Public Service Commission.

Under § 140.05 of the New York Penal Law, "[a] person is guilty of trespass when he knowingly enters or remains unlawfully in or upon premises.."

If indeed these are legitimate agents from your company, they have not represented you well. This is the third time in a few weeks your agents have entered my building and have gone to door-to-door. Please stop sending your agents to Harlem.

Then and Now: Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

It's been a long while since I posted up some Then and Now photos. This isn't quite Sunset Park, but it's close, and the photos are both pretty darn cool.


Vicariously_Me uploaded the above photo to the Best View in Brooklyn photo pool, and it gives me the perfect excuse to share the photograph seen below. According to Tony, who sent this photo to me many months ago, the shot was taken around 1963, while the Verrazano was under construction. He says, "the cables had just been completed and the roadway support wasn't put in yet. The opening of the bridge in 1964 caused the closing of the ferry line" on the 69th Street Pier.

What You See in Sunset Park: Rims and Tires

This place on 39th Street always has a pretty decent display. Sometimes the tires are piled up closer to the street. Still, I'd rather buy a "new" tire from Costco; at least then you get a warranty. Now the rims, that's another matter.

Potential New Restaurant: Steak House

I noticed this sign on 5th Avenue and 42nd weeks ago, but then the shutters were down for a while and I figured it was down for the count. On Wednesday, the shutters were back up and the door was open. My neighbor went inside while I snapped a photo. It will be a steakhouse, perhaps Argentinian, and they are working to set it up now. I don't know. Judging from the sign, it might be a while.

Anyone know more about this location?

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.

Happy Parking Problems Monday!

You have to get your car off the wrong side quick. Sometimes you get lucky; other times, you're just seven minutes late and it's a done deal.

This guy looked genuinely stunned that she stuck the ticket on the windshield despite his presence. She had already scanned the information and written it up, so he really was just two minutes too late here. They had a very civilized conversation about the situation. Nice to see. I think he was still in shock, though. It was past 8:30. And it's not like she had been waiting there at 8:25. Afterwards, she walked leisurely to the van and the other car up the street. No staking out today.

The following photos show the worst in un-neighborly behavior.

Now, you might ask, "How the heck did he get his car like that?" Well, HE didn't. The car in front of him did it. Or at least that's what it seems happened, judging from the young man's reaction when he saw the car. The owner of the middle car LOVES his car. He takes really good care of it and he even shows respect when parking. His bumper is clean - without a bumper cover. No squeezing into spaces for him. Then this happens.

I mean, come on people. I know parking is key, but the next block up usually has spaces available. Or doing a round or two will show a parking spot in easy walking distance. Do you really need to crush the signal light and MOVE the car behind you to get a parking spot? (Actually, some people seem to think it is necessary.) If it's that important to you, you should have planned better.

Even though he was pretty upset, the owner didn't go ballistic or take out a key or even leave a nasty note. Those would have been un-neighborly responses. Especially without definite proof. He also couldn't move his car without causing further damage. Hopefully it will all turnout well - little or no damage, little or no negative interactions, and future courtesy on all sides. Perhaps there needs to be an official Etiquette of Parking in general. Double-parking has some unspoken rules.

Fresh Air Fund Looking for Summer '09 Counselors

The Fresh Air Fund is great for young children, but it can also be an opportunity for college students and other older city dwellers to not only get out of the City for the summer, but to have a fantastic time and build a resume. See below for the information to apply for summer 2009.


You love working with children, and that's probably what we like most about you. Running across the ball field, washing off the glitter glue, or swimming in the lake - with your cabin group laughing around you - you'll be in your element.

Are you going to be the counselor the children learn to paint with? The one they play soccer with? The one they want to hang out with? Or perhaps the one they read a bed-time story with? Whatever your role becomes, you'll thrive on the challenge and commit yourself to the cause.

You've got to be 18 or over by June 20th to apply, and you'll usually have completed at least one year of college by the summer. Any previous work with children should always be included on your application.

The experience you're about to apply for will be like no other, and it's going to take patience, flexibility, creativity, and a whole lot of self-motivation. But the rewards will be great... overcoming challenges, meeting new friends, playing games in the sun, jumping into the cool lake, painting face masks, hitting a home run, telling stories around a camp fire...

...and then seeing that smile brighten a child's face.

We're looking for counselors and program staff for all five of our summer camps - but places fill fast, so get your application in today.

We are now accepting applications for the 2009 season.

More Horrific Construction Choices

I don't understand the choices. But then, I rent, and the economics of renovation/construction elude me. Is this simply the cheapest and fastest choice? When I saw this house gutted a few weeks ago, I supposed that the whole thing was coming down. Sad enough, considering the amount of good wood going into their dumpster. But now, I see that the blond-brick aesthetic is proliferating. Oh dear.We see this sort of bottom bricked stuff popping up all over the place. And it's been happening for a while. It's been done on brownstones, red brick, and now, apparently, wood frames. Can someone enlighten me as to what the logic is?

Three Kings Day and Cakes

Happy Three Kings Day!

I think the Three Kings Day tradition is so much more pleasant than the insanity that surrounds Christmas Day (or Christmas Eve for those of us who do the real candle on the tree thing). It makes sense, right? Celebrate the event in a solemn, reverent manner (or just eat a lot and sing songs while trying not to burn your hand on a dripping candle), ten exchange gifts that same day that the Three Wise Men showed up with their myrrh, gold, and frankincense. Besides, then you can still take advantage of all the great post-holiday sales. It's genius!

Today I fully intend to find a King Cake somewhere. I haven't ordered one; I haven't baked one; I haven't planned my search route yet. The photo at the top of this post is what I'm after. That's what I've seen most often around here. The photo just below is what I wish I could find. It's just so pretty, and it looks like it tastes like those yummy buns from 8th Avenue, but with a little less squish to it.

The cake shown last is what I saw in Spain. In fact, I grabbed the photo from this blog that describes the events occurring right about the time I type this out. Well, maybe two hours from now or so. If there is one thing the Spanish have down, it's their holidays. Semana Santa is CRAZY, especially in the south.

43rd Street's Construction

43rd Street has been under construction for a long time...over six months at this point. It has been slow going, and riddled with stops and starts, but things are really moving now!

On my last trip to Ba Xuyen on my once in a while lunch splurge, I walked down 43rd Street to check out the progress. Here's what I saw:

At 413-415, I ran into another interested on-looker. We commiserated about the anticipated changes coming to the block. He owns three building on the 8th to 9th block of 43rd, and he, like I, believes that the new building will look something like the one on 6th Avenue that replaced a brownstone (see left hand photo). The two homes that were town down were not particularly lovely, but they fit in with this side of the block. (This is one of the blocks with some houses that have not used siding to hide the funky faces on the facades.) We both dread seeing the new building...hopefully it won't be as bad as we anticipate.

What we did see were workers who got agitated when they noticed us standing outside (because I'm so scary with my baby carrier and all), and then they tried to close the gate. They failed to fully close it due to items strewn about. That's why, while I didn't get a photo of the very deep hole crisscrossed with steel, I did get a photo of their pile of dirt. That, and the level that was carefully stored on the dirt.

This construction site still has a months' old $2500 fine that has not yet been paid. It was for blocking and injuring the neighboring building's walkway. They have solved several other complaints, including noise...but my guess is there will be more to come.

Speaking of complaints, the other end of the block, at 765, was served by the Supreme Court of NYS. Apparently, it's about unsafe building and structure issues. Someone (not me, I swear!) tried to remove it and has read what's inside the notice, judging from the removed and carelessly re-applied tape. I haven't been able to find anything about the issues yet, but maybe it will show up soon. The site was active, and while only the outdoor staircase remains of this over-sized lot, most of the debris has been removed. No digging has happened yet...maybe before the first snows?

CB 7 Thanksgiving Food Drive to Benefit Local Food Pantries

Now through Monday, November 24th, Community Board 7 is accepting canned goods and non-perishable food items at its office at 4201 4th Avenue - the entrance is on 43rd Street. Suggested items include:

All sorts of canned goods, boxed cereals, cookies, cake mix, canned/bagged (sealed) coffee, rice, pasta, baby food, formula, juice, water. All donations will benefit food pantries serving the CB 7 District; this includes Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace.

If you wish to make a monetary donation, please call the CB 7 office at 718-854-0003 or email communityboard7@yahoo.com for more information.

Consider buying two of a few items you are purchasing for yourself the next time you visit a supermarket, then drop the extras at the CB 7 office. If you shop at the 5th Avenue Key Food, you're just a block and a half away from the office...what could be easier?

Sunset Park is Honored with "Fedders Friday" status

Miss Heather of newyorkshitty is at it again. She had a field day over here in Sunset. First, our Sunset Mickey received enhancement, then a laundromat ready for the holidays was highlighted, and now...our newest brick and balconied buildings are given the grand prize: Fedders Friday recognition.

It's no secret that there is a more than fair share amount of new construction in Sunset, and the ravaging of brownstones has been a topic of concern (and derision) over the last year or so. However, if you want a crash course in the "uglification"* of the area, check out this entry's photos and commentary. I particularly appreciate her keen eye when spotting drying panties in windows. (See photo to the upper-left.) She says there is more to come, and since most of the buildings seem to be in the upper streets, I don't doubt it. There's plenty more northward.

*adding the suffix -ication to adjectives is a blogger favorite. You can see this habit pop up all over web sites. I guess it's the bloggers' version of Californication.

Then and Now: 5th Avenue and 36th Street

I love this photo. It was taken on September 4th, 1916 and looks at the southeast corner of 36th Street and 5th Avenue.

According to Tony, my guru of historical photos of Sunset Park, the building used to be a railroad storage yard, trolley barn, and repair shop. You can see the elevated railroad along 5th Avenue (who knew?!) on the right side of the photograph. The railroad split less than a block farther down 5th Avenue. The left turn-off went towards Coney Island on the Culver line, and the right turn-off went along 3rd Avenue to 65th Street, the last stop.


Today it's the Jackie Gleason Bus Depot; it's the same idea with a different application. The Green-Wood Cemetery's wrought iron fence now cages in the opposite corner. Obviously, the elevated railroad is gone. The building is less than aesthetically pleasing, and I'm partial to the brick and windows of 1916. Now you have to go down to the East River to see anything reasonably similar. Enjoy.

Then and Now: Looking at St. Michael's from 40th Street

St. Michael's tower is probably the most immediately recognizable part of Sunset Park, at least from afar. However, the story behind these photos is the change in 4th Avenue. The medians look lovely, don't they? Much nicer than the skinny, concrete "waiting areas" we have now. There were also gas lamps along the side of the street, and buildings didn't crowd the street with just the sidewalk to separate them from the street. Much healthier for whatever air gets in your window from our modern day traffic, I'd say.

The BPL photo doesn't have a year listed in the description, but judging from the other photos that do have dates attached to them, and the telephone lines seen on the street, it's probably from the early 1900's - 1910-ish? Anyone want to chime in with a more accurate guess?

St. Jacobi Hosts Concerts on the 2nd Sunday of Each Month

I wish I'd known about this a long time ago. Every second Sunday of the month St. Jacobi hosts free concerts for the community. The concerts are with professional musicians from around New York City. The September 14th concert is with The Sepia Ensemble. I haven't been able to find much information about The Sepia Ensemble, so if anyone knows what type(s) of music they perform or some background, please let me know! Concerts are at 4 PM, and they are free and open to the public.

St. Jacobi is on 4th Avenue at 54th Street. It was the first "Then and Now" that I featured here.

Enjoy!