Why I Love Living In Brooklyn

When we first arrived here in Prospect Heights, it felt so right. Maybe it was being right by the park. Maybe it was being close to shops and cafes, or being on a tree-lined brownstone block. It also felt right to be just a couple blocks off Flatbush Avenue - because my father grew up in East Flatbush, far southeast of this neighborhood.

My grandparents immigrated from Hungary to Brooklyn in the 1920's and my father (and his 5 siblings) grew up in the glory days of old Brooklyn - watching Dodger's games through holes in the fence at Ebbet's Field; scrounging for bottles on the beaches of Coney Island to exchange for pennies ; accompanying my grandfather who sold canned goods to grocery stores on runs to Williamsburg; attending Yeshiva (and hating it); living just down the street from Jackie Robinson and meeting him during high school; going with my uncle Albie to the grand movie palaces like the Paramount - and later going on double-dates there. But my dad, like many upwardly mobile Brooklyn children of immigrants, yearned for the sophistication of Manhattan. Once he'd finished law school at NYU (going nights so he could work days and send money to his mother) he moved on up into Manhattan and never looked back.

Growing up, we would occasionally visit my the relatives who remained in NY - my Uncle Walter and Aunt Doris in Queens, and my Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Al in Brooklyn. Of course, if you asked me now where it was that Aunt Sylvie lived I couldn't tell you. Until now. My cousin Andrea, Aunt Sylvie's daughter, wrote the following response to my posting about pizza. I love it because it weaves together life in Brooklyn (past and present) AND a classic story about my dad :

I read your blog and laughed when I saw you visited DiFara's. Did you know
that was the neighborhood where I grew up? Yes, Avenue K, one block down.
Only it wasn't an Orthodox neighborhood when I was a kid. Over the years
it's changed drastically. I've been reading all the rave reviews about
DiFara's for the past couple of years and have been meaning to go back
myself and see if it's as good as I remember. Those were the days when you
could get a slice AND a coke for 25 cents! I remember when I was a little
girl your dad (who had just passed the bar) took me there and I asked him
what the difference was between regular and square slices. His answer?
"It's the same thing, but different." Right then and there I knew he had
chosen the right profession!!!!

Thanks for sharing, Andrea, and helping me connect the dots!

When You Need It Bad...

...We've Got It Good. Remember that jingle from the '80s for vacationing in the Bahamas? Well, if you live on the West Coast you may not. Slogging through a New York winter for the first time in 13 years, I am reminded of the ubiquity of advertisements for tropical vacations. The Bahamas has a huge ad campaign in the subways. And oh, we need it bad. Andres and I made a terrible mistake in our approach to winter here. We didn't plan a sunny vacation. We thought about a quick trip to Puerto Rico at the end of this month, but it was too expensive and just around the time Sharon is coming to visit.

We may not live near Hawaii anymore, but next year, bring on Bahamas! Jamaica! Bermuda! Barbados!

Well, it wasn't sunny, but I did have a bright spot in my day yesterday. Last night I went to a monthly party a friend of mine from high school has been throwing for a few years called The Magic Garden. I know this is very snotty, but it's only for people who grew up in New York. I guess she got tired of never meeting natives at parties and bars. Anyhoo, each month the party roves to a different bar owned by a NY native. I'd been a couple times on trips to NY and am always pleasantly surprised to run into old friends. Last night was no exception. Here's who I saw:

- Justin, from my high school class, is the Magic Garden DJ. Warmly embraced me. Turns out he lives just across Prospect Park from us!
- Lara, from high school class also, makes funky clothes and sells in local boutiques. Last sighted at our 10 year reunion in 1999.
- Larry, from high school, last sighted in 1989. Very warm and friendly. Apparently works high up in city government.
- Dina, works at the 92nd Street Y as a teacher in our nursery school. Told me how wonderful a place it is to work - she's been there 7 years. I definitely need to spend some time with her....
- Charlie, grew up in my building on west 86th street in the apartment directly below me. Since he was 3 years younger, I never really talked to him, but he knew exactly who I was, how old I am, and what my older brother's name is. Had a nice chat with him. He works at the U.N. as a speech writer for diplomats.

and last but not least

- Zoe, the party thrower, who was my high school senior class president, and threw great parties back then, too. Studying at FIT (fashion institute) and all around busybody and funny lady.

All in all, a very fun gathering. It's amazing to be welcomed back into a random circle of people who you knew 20 years ago. Made me love New York all over again.