a makeover then I urge you to visit and read this young
woman's blog.
This is one amazing young lady and believe me I know
that reading her blog will give you the motivation you may
need to shape up.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Bushwick HS Class of 1960-1961 50th Anniversary Class Reunion
Bushwick HS Class of 1960-1961 50th Anniversary Class Reunion September 04, 2010 6:00 PM
Westchester Marriott Tarrytown, NY
Contact: Carmen Pace at carsonpace@yahoo.com
Westchester Marriott Tarrytown, NY
Contact: Carmen Pace at carsonpace@yahoo.com
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Bushwick High School 1959 Class Reunion
BUSHWICK HIGH SCHOOL HAD THEIR 50 YEAR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION FOR THE CLASS OF 1959 ON SEPT 19,2009..AT THE INN AT NEW HYDE PARK FLORAL PARK NEW YORK..THANK YOU JOSEPHINE RUSSO AT JRUSSO1940@VERIZON.NET
Monday, September 8, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
A NEW BROOKLYN MESSAGE SITE
Join the NEW Brooklyn Friends
Message board.
Share your experiences of the
Fifties,Post photo's,
Post your
Reunions.More......
Contact:
sage150@optonline.net
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
I worked downtown NYC many years and was eyewitness to the 9/11/2001 attack. The Towers were my photographic neighbor and this series is my heartfelt salute to them... First in a series (and Set) about lower Manhattan "Before Ground Zero", all photos focusing on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers. This was taken about 1983-84 before the Brooklyn waterfont - with rotted pier pilings as ghostly sentinels - between the Brooklyn and Manhattan (out of view to right) Bridges was "cleaned up".
Click on picture for unknown writer
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Most Holy Trinity Church~ Montrose Ave.
Betty Smith, the author of the novel "A Tree
Grows In Brooklyn," was born on December 15, 1896 as Elisabetha Wehner (child of
Joannes Wehner and Katharina Hommel); according to the Baptismal Registry of
this church, she was baptized by the Reverend Nicholas M. Wagner here (then
simply known as “Holy Trinity”) on January 24, 1897. In the best-selling novel,
Smith wrote about a fictitious girl named Francie who grew up in Williamsburg,
Brooklyn. Although Trinity is never mentioned by name, the author clearly refers
to her own church.
Did you know . . .
A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
“Francie thought it was the most beautiful church in Brooklyn. It was made of old gray stone and had twin spires that rose cleanly into the sky, high above the tallest tenements. Inside, the high vaulted ceilings, narrow deepset stained-glass windows and elaborately carved altars made it a miniature cathedral.”
Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1943) p 390.
Friday, May 2, 2008
From the Insider
Coney Island
Brooklyn’s "Playground by the Sea"
Disney World or Six Flags Great Adventure it ain’t. For a refreshing alternative to corporate-owned amusement parks, take a day trip to Brooklyn’s Coney Island. One of America's most celebrated beach resorts during the first half of the 20th Century, Coney Island remains a Mecca for summer fun even today.
Yes, many rides are antiquated and the area is battling its way back from urban blight. But don’t let that deter you. It is all part of Coney’s charm.
Over the years, Coney Island has been referred to as a poor man’s paradise. Just an hour by subway from midtown Manhattan, Coney offers an abundance of sun, sand and surf, especially to city dwellers unable to afford costly summer getaways. The beach is free, wide, and groomed regularly. Exiting the train, you can practically taste the salty Atlantic Ocean lingering in the air.
The area has even taken on a chic honky-tonk hipness as of late, serving as a backdrop for music videos, fashion shoots, TV shows and movies. Remember the scene with the house under the roller coaster in the Woody Allen film "Annie Hall"? That was Coney Island’s now abandoned Thunderbolt.
The amusement area is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, although some attractions may be open earlier or later in the season, depending upon the weather. If you have never ventured to this peninsula at the southernmost reaches of Brooklyn, you owe it to yourself and your kids to join the millions who have left their footprints in the sands of Coney Island.
Major Amusement AreasAstroland and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park are Coney Island’s two major amusement areas. Here are the highlights:
The CycloneThe warning posted outside the Cyclone reads "DO NOT RIDE IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, WEAR A PACEMAKER OR SUFFER FROM OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS," and they mean it. This 100-second, 9-hill legendary roller coaster has no upside-down corkscrew loops, but will make you lose your lunch, nevertheless. Winding its way over rickety wooden planks at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, the entire structure feels as if it could collapse at any moment. What’s even more terrifying after the initial 85 foot plunge, is the way this relic of a roller coaster violently jerks you about. Built in 1927, the Cyclone is now included in the National Register of Historic Places. 834 Surf Avenue and W. 10th Street.
The Wonder WheelAt 150 feet, the Wonder Wheel is the world’s tallest Ferris wheel and the centerpiece of the Coney Island amusement area. Built in 1920, this one-of-a-kind ride includes 16 swinging and 8 stationary cars that provide a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Jersey Shore and the NYC skyline. While the Wonder Wheel looks like harmless fun, in reality, the swinging cars are nasty nausea-inducing contraptions. In 1989, the structure was declared an official NYC landmark.
The HellholeYou stand inside a circular chamber with a dozen other sadomasochists, when suddenly, the chamber starts spinning as the floor drops out. Before you know it, the centrifugal force has you pinned to the wall like a sock during the spin cycle of a washing machine. Dare to throw up and the centrifugal force glues your spew to your body. When the nightmare finally ends, you agree to the ride operator’s offer of a second ride at half price. 12th street between Bowery and the Boardwalk.
El Dorado Disco Bumper Cars"Bump, bump, bump your ass off!!!" trumpets the recording over the PA system. Coney Island’s bumper cars are the perfect way to vent your frustrations. If you ever had the urge to ram your car into the jerk who just cut you off, here is your opportunity. And with blaring disco music shattering the decibel meter, your victim will never hear you coming. Surf Avenue and W. 12th Street.
The Parachute JumpBuilt for the 1939 World’s Fair and dubbed the Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn, this designated national landmark has not been operational for years. In its day, the Parachute Jump hoisted riders to its summit, then dropped them into a free-fall before deploying a parachute. While some view the 262-foot tower as wrought-iron wreckage, others value the distinctive structure as a permanent fixture on the Brooklyn skyline.
Coney Island Circus SideshowStep right up and witness the fire eater, the bearded lady, the snake charmer, the human blockhead (who hammers nails into his skull), and a bevy of other human curiosities. You will see 10 live acts in all in this good old-fashioned freak show. Staged by the non-profit organization Coney Island USA, shows last from 45 minutes to an hour. Friday nights from 7 PM past midnight, and Saturday and Sundays from 2 PM past midnight during the summer. West 12th Street off Surf Avenue. (718) 372-5159.
The BoardwalkOn sunny days, Coney Island’s 3-mile boardwalk brings out swells of joggers, bikers, leisurely strolling couples and mothers pushing strollers. Heading east, the boardwalk runs into Brighton Beach, nicknamed "Little Odessa" for the thousands of Russian immigrants who settled here in the 1980s. For a truly ethnic experience, enjoy a bite at one of the outdoor Russian cafes lining the boardwalk in Brighton.
The Aquarium for Wildlife ConservationWhen you have had your fill of cotton candy and stomach-churning rides, get splashed by the dolphins (a "Saltwater Souvenir") at the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation (formerly known as the New York Aquarium). Considered one of the top marine facilities in the country, the aquarium features 10,000 living specimens including beluga whales, sharks, octopuses, penguins, electric eels, walruses and seals. Catch a show at the new outdoor theater, or reach out to a horseshoe crab in the touch tank. Surf Avenue and W. 8th Street. (718) 265-FISH.
Nathan’sNo visit to Coney Island would be complete without stopping off at the original Nathan’s Famous. Opened in 1916, some people swear Nathan’s makes the best damn hot dogs and French fries on the planet. And we agree. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, held every July 4th, is a spectacle in gluttony not to be missed.
Other Rides & Attractions
Other rides and attractions, some of which operate independently of Coney’s two major amusement parks include carousels, a water flume, spook houses, go karts, batting ranges, BB gun shooting galleries and a variety of carnival games, like the watergun game pictured (left) where guys still win kewpie dolls for their sweethearts.
How To Get ThereThe heart of Coney Island is at Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk in Brooklyn. By Car: Take the Belt Parkway to exit 6. Go south on Cropsey Avenue to Surf Avenue. By Train: Take the B, D, N or F trains to Stillwell Avenue-Coney Island (the last stop), or take the D or F trains to West 8th Street.
By Mitch Lemus
Brooklyn’s "Playground by the Sea"
Disney World or Six Flags Great Adventure it ain’t. For a refreshing alternative to corporate-owned amusement parks, take a day trip to Brooklyn’s Coney Island. One of America's most celebrated beach resorts during the first half of the 20th Century, Coney Island remains a Mecca for summer fun even today.
Yes, many rides are antiquated and the area is battling its way back from urban blight. But don’t let that deter you. It is all part of Coney’s charm.
Over the years, Coney Island has been referred to as a poor man’s paradise. Just an hour by subway from midtown Manhattan, Coney offers an abundance of sun, sand and surf, especially to city dwellers unable to afford costly summer getaways. The beach is free, wide, and groomed regularly. Exiting the train, you can practically taste the salty Atlantic Ocean lingering in the air.
The area has even taken on a chic honky-tonk hipness as of late, serving as a backdrop for music videos, fashion shoots, TV shows and movies. Remember the scene with the house under the roller coaster in the Woody Allen film "Annie Hall"? That was Coney Island’s now abandoned Thunderbolt.
The amusement area is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, although some attractions may be open earlier or later in the season, depending upon the weather. If you have never ventured to this peninsula at the southernmost reaches of Brooklyn, you owe it to yourself and your kids to join the millions who have left their footprints in the sands of Coney Island.
Major Amusement AreasAstroland and Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park are Coney Island’s two major amusement areas. Here are the highlights:
The CycloneThe warning posted outside the Cyclone reads "DO NOT RIDE IF YOU ARE PREGNANT, WEAR A PACEMAKER OR SUFFER FROM OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS," and they mean it. This 100-second, 9-hill legendary roller coaster has no upside-down corkscrew loops, but will make you lose your lunch, nevertheless. Winding its way over rickety wooden planks at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour, the entire structure feels as if it could collapse at any moment. What’s even more terrifying after the initial 85 foot plunge, is the way this relic of a roller coaster violently jerks you about. Built in 1927, the Cyclone is now included in the National Register of Historic Places. 834 Surf Avenue and W. 10th Street.
The Wonder WheelAt 150 feet, the Wonder Wheel is the world’s tallest Ferris wheel and the centerpiece of the Coney Island amusement area. Built in 1920, this one-of-a-kind ride includes 16 swinging and 8 stationary cars that provide a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean, the Jersey Shore and the NYC skyline. While the Wonder Wheel looks like harmless fun, in reality, the swinging cars are nasty nausea-inducing contraptions. In 1989, the structure was declared an official NYC landmark.
The HellholeYou stand inside a circular chamber with a dozen other sadomasochists, when suddenly, the chamber starts spinning as the floor drops out. Before you know it, the centrifugal force has you pinned to the wall like a sock during the spin cycle of a washing machine. Dare to throw up and the centrifugal force glues your spew to your body. When the nightmare finally ends, you agree to the ride operator’s offer of a second ride at half price. 12th street between Bowery and the Boardwalk.
El Dorado Disco Bumper Cars"Bump, bump, bump your ass off!!!" trumpets the recording over the PA system. Coney Island’s bumper cars are the perfect way to vent your frustrations. If you ever had the urge to ram your car into the jerk who just cut you off, here is your opportunity. And with blaring disco music shattering the decibel meter, your victim will never hear you coming. Surf Avenue and W. 12th Street.
The Parachute JumpBuilt for the 1939 World’s Fair and dubbed the Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn, this designated national landmark has not been operational for years. In its day, the Parachute Jump hoisted riders to its summit, then dropped them into a free-fall before deploying a parachute. While some view the 262-foot tower as wrought-iron wreckage, others value the distinctive structure as a permanent fixture on the Brooklyn skyline.
Coney Island Circus SideshowStep right up and witness the fire eater, the bearded lady, the snake charmer, the human blockhead (who hammers nails into his skull), and a bevy of other human curiosities. You will see 10 live acts in all in this good old-fashioned freak show. Staged by the non-profit organization Coney Island USA, shows last from 45 minutes to an hour. Friday nights from 7 PM past midnight, and Saturday and Sundays from 2 PM past midnight during the summer. West 12th Street off Surf Avenue. (718) 372-5159.
The BoardwalkOn sunny days, Coney Island’s 3-mile boardwalk brings out swells of joggers, bikers, leisurely strolling couples and mothers pushing strollers. Heading east, the boardwalk runs into Brighton Beach, nicknamed "Little Odessa" for the thousands of Russian immigrants who settled here in the 1980s. For a truly ethnic experience, enjoy a bite at one of the outdoor Russian cafes lining the boardwalk in Brighton.
The Aquarium for Wildlife ConservationWhen you have had your fill of cotton candy and stomach-churning rides, get splashed by the dolphins (a "Saltwater Souvenir") at the Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation (formerly known as the New York Aquarium). Considered one of the top marine facilities in the country, the aquarium features 10,000 living specimens including beluga whales, sharks, octopuses, penguins, electric eels, walruses and seals. Catch a show at the new outdoor theater, or reach out to a horseshoe crab in the touch tank. Surf Avenue and W. 8th Street. (718) 265-FISH.
Nathan’sNo visit to Coney Island would be complete without stopping off at the original Nathan’s Famous. Opened in 1916, some people swear Nathan’s makes the best damn hot dogs and French fries on the planet. And we agree. The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, held every July 4th, is a spectacle in gluttony not to be missed.
Other Rides & Attractions
Other rides and attractions, some of which operate independently of Coney’s two major amusement parks include carousels, a water flume, spook houses, go karts, batting ranges, BB gun shooting galleries and a variety of carnival games, like the watergun game pictured (left) where guys still win kewpie dolls for their sweethearts.
How To Get ThereThe heart of Coney Island is at Surf Avenue and the Boardwalk in Brooklyn. By Car: Take the Belt Parkway to exit 6. Go south on Cropsey Avenue to Surf Avenue. By Train: Take the B, D, N or F trains to Stillwell Avenue-Coney Island (the last stop), or take the D or F trains to West 8th Street.
By Mitch Lemus
Poetry by Bob Friedland
THE LAST KNISH-MAN
There are no more knish-men
on Pitkin Avenue.
No more flat knishes on waxed paper
sprinkled with too much coarse salt
so the crystals that did not adhere
slid off the smooth paper
on to the top of the sheet metal wagon,
or on to the wide sidewalks,
or off into the wind.
No more Litvaks.
No more Galitzianers.
Just black men in surplus greatcoats
burning beef fat in up-ended oildrums by the slaughterhouse.
Rubbing their hands, shaking and blowing on their knuckles,
passing a bottle, swallowing deeply to stay warm.
There are no more old tailors
not even Mr. Koenig, with numbers
tattooed around their wrists.
No more appetizing-store owners slicing lox,
or offering a taste of wooden-boxed cream cheese
to mothers' boys on the tip of a sharp knife.
No more push-carts,
No more delicatessens with spicy brown mustard
rolled up in small cones of heavy brown waxed paper.
Even Harry Cabot, who drove to Spring Valley with my father,
to buy milk, during the strike.
Even Harry Cabot is dead.
BROOKLYN 14, NEW YORK
1956, and
Father Knickerbocker in peeling paint,
Dutch colonial dress, cane
and a beer,
peers down from the wall of Dominic's Grocery
over rectangular reading glasses.
A gallon mayonnaise jar
filled with clear liquid,
and a note taped, hand-written,
on sandwich wrapping paper, says,
"Tears of Dodger Fans.
Wait 'til next year."
Across 18th Avenue
the new two-tone Pontiacs sit idle in the showroom,
the live poultry market is closing,
the men with the horse-drawn wagons,
the one who sells javel water,
the other who sharpens dull knives and collects rags,
are finishing their rounds.
The breeze off of Gravesend Bay
is smooth and salty.
The West End rumbles overhead on the El,
where it turns down toward
New Utrecht.
In Whitey's, the boys drink soda,
smoke,
and re-live the perfect game.
KINGS HIGHWAY
The wind roars up Ocean Parkway
and slices the Sunday morning volunteers
on the spot where Washington marched off
to meet Burgoyne in Long Island.
There's a mural in the high-ceilinged bank.
Now the icy wind freezes the windows thick
with the heavy moist condensate of the bagel bakery
on East Fifth Street.
Inside, platoons of doughy circles are pulled
from hot water, spread quickly on long narrow boards
and advanced into the ovens.
It is warm steamy and loud
with shouted commands and orders.
"A dozen assorted, no salt."
"Six and six."
Under their arms, the volunteers shoulder
the Times, the Mirror, or the Daily News.
The bagels that are almost too hot to hold,
will be frozen by the time they are home.
Its better to eat at least one right away,
plain,
and let the warm doughy softness dissolve.
There are no more knish-men
on Pitkin Avenue.
No more flat knishes on waxed paper
sprinkled with too much coarse salt
so the crystals that did not adhere
slid off the smooth paper
on to the top of the sheet metal wagon,
or on to the wide sidewalks,
or off into the wind.
No more Litvaks.
No more Galitzianers.
Just black men in surplus greatcoats
burning beef fat in up-ended oildrums by the slaughterhouse.
Rubbing their hands, shaking and blowing on their knuckles,
passing a bottle, swallowing deeply to stay warm.
There are no more old tailors
not even Mr. Koenig, with numbers
tattooed around their wrists.
No more appetizing-store owners slicing lox,
or offering a taste of wooden-boxed cream cheese
to mothers' boys on the tip of a sharp knife.
No more push-carts,
No more delicatessens with spicy brown mustard
rolled up in small cones of heavy brown waxed paper.
Even Harry Cabot, who drove to Spring Valley with my father,
to buy milk, during the strike.
Even Harry Cabot is dead.
BROOKLYN 14, NEW YORK
1956, and
Father Knickerbocker in peeling paint,
Dutch colonial dress, cane
and a beer,
peers down from the wall of Dominic's Grocery
over rectangular reading glasses.
A gallon mayonnaise jar
filled with clear liquid,
and a note taped, hand-written,
on sandwich wrapping paper, says,
"Tears of Dodger Fans.
Wait 'til next year."
Across 18th Avenue
the new two-tone Pontiacs sit idle in the showroom,
the live poultry market is closing,
the men with the horse-drawn wagons,
the one who sells javel water,
the other who sharpens dull knives and collects rags,
are finishing their rounds.
The breeze off of Gravesend Bay
is smooth and salty.
The West End rumbles overhead on the El,
where it turns down toward
New Utrecht.
In Whitey's, the boys drink soda,
smoke,
and re-live the perfect game.
KINGS HIGHWAY
The wind roars up Ocean Parkway
and slices the Sunday morning volunteers
on the spot where Washington marched off
to meet Burgoyne in Long Island.
There's a mural in the high-ceilinged bank.
Now the icy wind freezes the windows thick
with the heavy moist condensate of the bagel bakery
on East Fifth Street.
Inside, platoons of doughy circles are pulled
from hot water, spread quickly on long narrow boards
and advanced into the ovens.
It is warm steamy and loud
with shouted commands and orders.
"A dozen assorted, no salt."
"Six and six."
Under their arms, the volunteers shoulder
the Times, the Mirror, or the Daily News.
The bagels that are almost too hot to hold,
will be frozen by the time they are home.
Its better to eat at least one right away,
plain,
and let the warm doughy softness dissolve.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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