Hazy Days In The Borough

Well I haven't written here all week, it's just been one of those hazy, hot and lazy weeks where the words melt before they even form in my head. I did spend the first few days of the week out of The Borough, in Queens at Riis Beach. Outside of my usual romps in The Borough, Jacob Riis Park/Fort Tilden is one of my most favorite places on earth and I've been frequenting it much more often than any other beach in the area. It is part of the National Park Service - Gateway National Recreation Area - truly amazing to have this within NY City limits.

It's true that it gets really hot out there...but the ocean is amazing - worth every minute of sweating as you lug your supplies across the burning hot beach. Probably the widest beach I have ever seen in my life. The surf is high enough that you don't feel like you're in a stagnant bay - but not so high that you can't swim out (like the rest of LI) - as soon as you get out past the breakers - only 2-3 feet (1m or less) - you can float in chest high clear green Atlantic ocean - which is running at about 75 degrees now...truly awesome.

On cooler days its great to go out there, climb up to the top of the fort and watch the sunset - but I've gone several times this year to watch the sunrise - also very special moments..shared only with the gulls.

It's hard to believe that there is a city beach that is fairly easy to get to (from my house it's like 45 min on train/bus combo - 35 driving), is fairly clean (plastic washes in with the tide...ban plastic water bottles!) and is never insanely crowded - though it can get pretty packed on the weekends - this one coming up with temps over 90 again - it'll be crowded.

Once I'm there I never want to leave.

Hippies In The Borough

So yesterday was a beach day. I really thought I could do a full day at the beach and stay for the free concert called "Hippiefest"- I'm sure that's the name Marty Markowitz gave to the show - (Thank the Universe for Term Limits!).

Now after a few (too many) hours in the sun, I made my way over to the bandshell, which is right next to the boardwalk - at Ocean Parkway straddling the border between Coney Island and Brighton Beach. The great thing about this venue is well it's at the beach- and on a day like yesterday the cool breezes coming off the ocean actually make it comfortable if not a bit chilly. I know I was cold, a welcome change for summer in The Borough.

The show, which had such notable acts as the Turtles (well Flo and Eddie), the guy who used to play with Moody Blues, Country Joe and Wings, Zombies, and Rascals. Not exactly what come to mind first when you think about the 60's Hippie Bands, but close enough.

All I had really wanted was to do, was to see Country Joe - minus the Fish. But after the first two acts and incessant chatter from those who purported to be former Hippies (read middle aged people in khaki's with horrid accents and nothing interesting to say) – my stomach growling and my face burnt I was really to say that I could miss Country Joe and not feel too bad about it After all I had sat through Melanie and I had heard the Zombies do “She’s not there" in rehearsal.

Oh did I mention that I was early- it got too cold, around 5:00, to stay on the beach – ocean breeze kicking in with force– so I moved over to the bandshell – what I didn’t know was that they had changed the time of the show from 7pm to WHENEVER MARKOWITZ stops talking. He went on for half an hour, mostly about money, the man has no tact. I don’t need to be reminded that when it’s free that the artists are not donating their time– oh and a supposedly free concert that is only free IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SIT DOWN. Charging $5 (and on some shows its going to be $10) to have a seat. Then they had the nerve to go around to collect money.

Then the half hour of the DJ Cousin Bruce (?) talking about his career and whatever. Dude, who cares, bring on the music. So the show didn’t start until after 8 – by that point the place was so crowded, my stomache ached from hunger and I was barely keeping my head up – when the a-hole behind me kicked the back of my chair and my head for the 5th time I couldn’t take it anymore.

So there were really no hippies (well none that had stayed Hippies, or even vaguely resembled them) many more were your run of the mill derelicts and strange locals from The Borough and children. I’ll stick to Celebrate Brooklyn and Prospect Park Bandshell.

A Canal In The Borough

When I tell people that there is an inland waterway in Brooklyn aka The Borough, they usually look at me with either complete disbelief that such a place exists or complete disgust that I would actually want to visit it.

As the neighborhoods below the canal (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill) have become hot spots with restaurants and shopping it has become a regular occurence to walk down (or up) Union Street - over the canal. A mostly industrial area - which is now being revamped..complete with old warehouses with faded writing on the exterior and former commercial business sites - they are now being renovated and sold as condo's. The Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation (GCCDC) being the main proponent of this change (there is always a group rallying for change- and controlling development).

The water is still not clear (ok not even vaguely) but on good days you can see fish in the canal (really) and over the years a number of strange visitors - including a seal, have been sighted in the canal system. Oh you don't believe me eh? Well in 2003 a 1-year old harp seal - lost and injured made the canal his home. The fate of said seal is not known - I've searched the web but to no avail - plenty of articles that talk about how filthy and polluted the canal system was, how much it will cost to completely revitalize it and the importance - even in recent times of the canal as a part of the transportation network.

My own experiences with the canal range from walking by and humming "ooh that smell" to stopping to enjoy a sunset. And yes in the summer there is an odor that comes up - not so nice. Even with that there is something about this small stretch of water that brings on instant nostalgia for times past. In the winter the canal frozen over looks trapped in time - I know it won't always be this way - eventually it will be fully capitalized as "waterfront real estate" and YRWP (Young Rich White People) will move in - in droves I don't look forward to that - but I can't wait till someone says "Yeah I live in Brooklyn..where? in Gowanus"- Insert your own "Go-Anus " joke here.

The charm of the bridges and overpasses - of the run down industrial infrastructure that was The Borough always make me pause and smile. The Union Street drawbridge has been a place where I have reflected on life, pondered the meaning of existence and stopped to smell the roses (or dead rotting roses) for as long as I can remember - I hope it retains some of that 'abandoned charm' - but in this new world I'm sure it will become a part of forgotten new york.

The history and details of the Gowanus Canal are definitely worth a read if you're into history. And of course I'd start with wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gowanus_Canal

A Park In The Borough

Probably the best thing about living in The Borough is being so close to Prospect Park. I know the Manhattanites have a thing about Central Park, and it is also worthy of great admiration and respect..but Prospect Park is my own salvation - the green rolling hills that separate people not by class, race or economic standing but only geography.

One of my earliest memories of the park is when my third grade class went for some kind of outing in the park - we decided that in the ravine - down many steps leading off into the woods that there was a creature that lived down there - it dwelled in the darkness waiting for unsuspecting children to wander down so it could eat them all alive!!! . These days I know the only thing going on the side paths and in the ravines is probably too x-rated for most audiences - but by the number of used condoms you can still find, I'd say cruising is alive and well. no monsters here, unless you're some kind of religious right looney tune.

The park itself may not seem as spectacular to those who have climbed Mt. Hood or stood at the top of any state or national park and been overwhelmed by enchanting views and marveled at scenery that goes on to the horizon. Nor, it could be argued, is it as inspiring as the modern marvels of architecture that line city streets. I think that is goes beyond all of these - since within an incredibly confined space they were able to create a place that relates and connects to the buildings and people outside on its periphery, but also welcomes you in and protects you from outside interference - creating vistas and enchanting experiences all within walking distance of a good bathroom (picnic house).

Even with throngs of picnickers, children screaming and playing sports on the open fields and the occasional drumming circle, It still holds its own personal charm, as a respite from the city in a quite civilized way. You can check it all out onine for yourself, including a map and all the good stuff that goes on in the park. http://www.prospectpark.org/

If you;re really interested in the history of the park, here is a good place to start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prospect_Park_%28Brooklyn%29

Rain in The Borough

Ah a Rainy Monday in The Borough. Rainy Days and Mondays. I woke up this morning to torrential rain pouring in my open windows.

It is not so long ago that I was afraid of rain, and not because of any irrational fear of water, it would make my walls cry - ask anyone who has ever witnessed the water damage in my bedroom.

That's one of the things about living in a pre-war building, the brick and plaster really don't hold up well under the elements. My building was built in 1939, a fact I only know because my mother was also built in 1939. The brownstones that make up most of my neighborhood and the surrounding ones, built almost 60 years earlier - hold up much better under the weather (so I've heard).

Summer rain is often a welcomed relief to the excessive heat and humidity of summertime in The Borough. But it has been cooler the last few days and today is downright chilly in my book - ok so its like 65 - but after the sweltering weather we've had here it really feels colder.

These days the water seems to stay outside, but as a reminder that lingers on - I dread excessive rain (please don't even whisper nor-easter!) - always fearing that I'll be dealing with another crying wall or worse chunks of plaster falling in (yes it's happened).

Well at least i don't have a basement.

A Garden in the Borough

A lovely June afternoon I took my mother to the Botanical Gardens in Brooklyn for an afternoon of strolling - we had the best tour guide (she knew her shit!) and we got to experience the gardens in a way neither of us had ever done before, all basically in my back yard.

Usually on a Saturday afternoon the gardens are filled with the creatures that make this city unbearable at times (you stroller people know who you are!) - but this day it was serene, not so crowded. The gardens are so well maintained, the staff friendly and knowledgeable - and best of all they have free times!!. But buyer beware - they are pretty jerky when it comes to eating and drinking in the gardens - so if you're after a picnic go to the park first or after...or eat at home...It used to be that I would bring lunch and sit and sketch all day in the gardens but as you well know a few people can change the way things are done in this city. It's not a huge deal, since I don't want litter or to jeopardize the plants and trees in the park it makes more sense than alot of crazy rules.

Every time I went to snap a picture my mom leaned in to see what I was doing - so I have many funny shots of flowers with mom's head poking out.

http://www.bbg.org/

Welcome Back

Ah, the air always smells sweeter at home. Good to be back in the Borough..not that I ever really left. This will be a forum for me to express my personal views about Brooklyn aka. The Borough and document a way of life that is loosing ground.

The biggest thing for me has been admitting that not only is NYC not the place where I grew up anymore: Brooklyn is fast becoming a place I don't recognize. Aside from ranting about bad and shady development (we hate Ratner!) and the obvious ploys of Mayor Moneyburg ( I mean Bloomburg) - it goes beyond gentrification, and rich white people moving in - I feel more and more that Brooklyn is lost to me - and is it something I need to find or do, something I need to rediscover, reevaluate and try to rise above. or is it just friggin time to "Get out of Dodge".