More Excellent Historical Photos from Another Sunset Park Blog

As much as I love today's Sunset Park, the old stuff sure is cool. Check out these four photos on Sunset Parkour, a new Sunset blog.

Sunset Park Chronicled found these as well and went the extra step to ask old-timers about the elevated train. Check it out here.

4th Avenue Improvement in 1902

What's old is new again. In 1902 the City was all about adding trees as an improvement. Now the City is working its way towards adding one million trees as more improvement. The photo is from the 1902 Parks Department Annual Report.

After the Storm on Friday

Thanks to kittylittered (who has a fantastic photoblog - New York Portraits) on flickr for uploading this to the Best View in Brooklyn photo pool. The sky was amazing. So were the itsy bitsy pieces of hail that fell from the heavens.

OLPH in a Different Light

This photo of Our Lady of Perpetual Help was added to the Best View in Brooklyn photo pool by Pro-Zak. Its haunting version of the cathedral is stunning.

On the Other Side of Third

_MG_8353, originally uploaded by adi_01.

This is Industrial Beauty. For those of us who occasionally (or often) venture down to 1st and 2nd Avenues, the lines and lines of windows are intriguing. In many buildings, it seems like it's deserted inside until a shadow passes by the window pane or someone actually leaves or enters the building.

This comes from adi_01 in the Best View in Brooklyn photo pool. If you have great Sunset Park photos, join the flickr group and add your photos!

I Heart Sunset Park

I Heart Sunset Park, originally uploaded by veesvision.

This is from the new photo pool for Best View in Brooklyn. Join up and add your Sunset Park photos! This photo comes from veesvision, who has offered up several fantastic photographs in the past.

She says, "I have lived in Sunset Park for many years. This bumper sticker has always been there. (7th ave btw 46 & 47 st) I shot it because it might not be there the next time I walk past it."

Where can we get these bumper stickers? CafePress?

Looking Up on 5th Avenue

I like how the window "dressing" gets more and more elaborate the higher you go. Lovely.

Join the Photo Pool for BViB

There have been so many amazing photographs on flickr from around Sunset Park lately that I thought this was a good idea:

See things around the neighborhood that deserve some attention? Have photos that show what Sunset Park is all about? Love to observe and record the quirky things that go on around the neighborhood? We want it all, the beauty and the beastly (oh yes, dogs too!). So, please join the Best View in Brooklyn flickr Photo Pool and add your photographs.

Any and all photographs that end up posted on Best View in Brooklyn will receive full attribution (as full as the photographer wishes). I'm not one to steal credit from another.

When adding photos, please include when, where, and even why the photograph was taken so that we can all fully enjoy your observation.

Thanks!

What You See in Sunset Park: Cardplayers

Cardplayers, Sunset Park, originally uploaded by colorstalker.

This is from colorstalker's amazing flickr photostream (click on the photo to see more). Soon enough, these guys won't have to play in the cold. And they'll have a lot more company.

Check out colorstalker's blog as well. Excellent photos from all over.

Sunset Park in the Snow

Flickr is getting better and better, at least where Sunset Park is concerned. Here is a fantastic shot of how the snow makes red swings look even more luscious. (My garden envy is starting early this year.) Below is another photo of snow loveliness. These are courtesy of flickr member A Little Dab'll Do Ya. She also has a gorgeous blog called dabble: creative inspiration that has lots of fun links and some really fun posts. Check it out!

The Morning Diner

The Morning Diner, originally uploaded by Steve Selman.

Munchy's Coffee Shop looks relaxing and sterile in this lovely black and white photo from Steve Selman's photostream on flickr (click on the photo to go there). Too bad about the recent inspection; I'm sure they've fixed any problems by now.

Raise the Red Lantern

If only this were Sunset's Red Light District. This is a gorgeous photo from jen (pluie latéralement)'s photo stream on Flickr. It actually makes those silver gates look really good. Thanks to Jen for letting me use the photo!

What You See in Sunset Park: Weathered Picket Fence

I like it. Granted, this picket fence is attached to plywood. And this picket fence looks like it has been through a few lives. But this picket fence has character. And a sturdy lock.

What You See in Sunset Park: Cat on a Cold, Snowy Lid

I didn't even notice the cat until I had already stopped to take a shot of the cans. It's quite a collection of recycling bins. City bins, no less. The cinder blocks accompanying them are also tagged with a variety of colors. Forget street art, here's front patio art.

Local Slide Show from a Local Photographer

If you're longing for Sunset Park in warmer weather, check out this slide show from Vanessa at veesvision. It takes you through a few seasons, and it's a lovely tour around the neighborhood.

Focus on Sunset Park from Other Neighborhoods

Continuing NewYorkShitty's Sunset Focus, here's the latest installation in the joys of Sunset Park Architecture with a Greenpoint Point-of-View.

And Bay Ridge also has interest in Sunset Park. The Bay Ridge Journal headed slightly north on a walk through our neighborhood. There are some sweet photos of streets, the park, and even a live poultry market. Of course, the new-ish building on 6th Avenue has been highlighted as well. Check the post out here.

What You See in Sunset Park: Jesus and a Dove

I missed a great shot because my battery pack needed to be changed. A moment before this was taken, the entire slab (covered in bird seed) was full of sparrows and doves. This one mourning dove was left by the time I was ready. This particular block of 55th Street has several front gardens dedicated to religious icons. It makes for an interesting stroll.

What You See in Sunset Park: Kids Running

This interesting view of Sunset Park comes from Vanessa Velez of A Fresh Photograph; she's a Sunset Park resident who has supplied photos of events and scenes in the past as well. I think it's wicked cool.

Then and Now: Methodist Episcopal on 4th and 47th

Some things truly do stay the same. Not much difference shows up between this shot of Methodist Episcopal Church on 4th Avenue and 47th Street in 1945 and the same location in 2008. A little paint, different fencing, and more placards on the side of the building are about it. Well, that and a street light that blocks the view on the front door. Enjoy.

Then and Now: 4511 8th Avenue

Thanks to a reader who has much more experience than I do with finding historical photos of the neighborhood and beyond, I can show you a photo from around 1970 of 4511 8th Avenue. What used to be the Ritz Theatre became DANS SUPREME and later, Steve's C-Town Supermarket. If you enlarge the photos, you can compare prices on items like apple juice.

One of the changes is that two of the bricked up windows are now open again. The Steve's red paint also highlights the top facade a little bit more. Other than that, you can still see the closed up windows on the second floor haven't been touched or re-touched.

Thank you, Tony, for the DANS photo and more to come!