Imagine seeing all these names like New Utrecht or Breukelen (Brooklyn), but also New York was originally New Amsterdam, and knowing we swapped it (with a slightly heavy conviction from England) for Suriname.
That shirtless jogger probably does that in every weather condition. God bless him for that. It's funny (not "funny haha") to see the same grifter bullshit coming out of that bloated orange windhole even then. To think that this laughingstock would get to where he is now...also not funny.
The photos with the shadow of the person on the roof are great! Glad you pushed through to cover this neighborhood. Lots of links to dig into with this one
Your comment reminded me to research the Loyal Order of Moose (LOOM), which led me to the Gustin–Kenny incident.
During an initiation ceremony in 1913, two Moose candidates were shown a glowing brand with the Moose emblem on it. They were then blindfolded and disrobed, while a chilled rubber emblem was pressed against their chests and electric shocks were applied to their legs—creating the illusion that they were actually being branded. Both men had heart attacks and died. So, thanks for bringing this to my attention. I think.
Bensonhurst was the first neighborhood I lived in when I moved to Brooklyn! I lived in a room in a couple's basement and they would frequently invite me upstairs for dinner to eat something called "veal" that I'd never tried before. They had multiple birds that flew freely through their home and a little dog named Fefe. It was a perfect introduction to the neighborhood.
Even then in 2007/8 I could tell there were some serious tensions between the longstanding Italian population and the newer Asian immigrants; I overheard quite a lot of racist shit (not from the people I lived with thankfully). I really miss the delicious and actually affordable Asian food in that area though! Pho Tay Ho has my favorite bowl of pho and I miss living super close to a Yaya Tea location.
That sounds like the setting for a Gabriel García Márquez novel set in Brooklyn. I heard good things about Pho Tay Ho! Bensonhurst changed fast. What other neighborhood has a Pastosa Ravioli and a Jmart?
Been following this series since last year and was anxiously awaiting the day you would cover my home? Been reading almost every post (and returning to your Bay Ridge one) since I enlisted with AmeriCorps last summer, and can't even begin to describe how bizarre yet fascinating it is to have my home written about like this.
As a Chinese-American who's only known Bensonhurst as how it is now, it's just so bizarre seeing the ethnic succession and how different your haunts were decades ago. I occasionally watch videos of street tours of 86th Street or 18th Avenue or Dyker Heights or keep up with local news (especially the protest against the construction of the nearby homeless shelter) and it's heartbreaking to hear and read posts by some of the old Italian community - most reminiscing the "old Brooklyn" politely, some spouting the usual crap of how dirty and "different it looks." I used to live next door to an Italian-American vet my aunt and parents would call "Grandpa Tammy" in Cantonese. I think he or his wife ran a dessert shop or bakery nearby, on the same street of Lioni's Heros, but he passed during COVID and I never saw him much before that - and I was much too young to ask him.
I remember going on YouTube and looking for everything I could on Bensonhurst online. I remember finding this comment, I think on a video related to Saturday Night Fever and Lenny's shutting down; "All of a sudden, it’s fifty years later. You’re retired and wondering where did it go. No more baby showers, no more weddings, just wakes and funerals."
Wow, that is a rather poignant comment which is, I guess, the trajectory we are all on. One of the main takeaways from this project is how the city is always in a state of flux, and how quickly that change can happen. I'm sure those who preceeded the "Old" Brooklynites weren't too thrilled with the change they brought either.
Thanks so much for commenting and reading and good luck with AmeriCorps, what a great program!
Ha- Gerben-Jan! An interesting neighborhood and wow more than 200 to go - although I hope you will restart when you get there- because you articles are amazing!
Imagine seeing all these names like New Utrecht or Breukelen (Brooklyn), but also New York was originally New Amsterdam, and knowing we swapped it (with a slightly heavy conviction from England) for Suriname.
Well, maybe its time to support Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy's plan.
😆 I do like his plan, it will be a seamless integration 😆 Half-seriously, I would love to see FDR Drive turned into a European style riviera.
I love your photographs...the shadows, light, colors, textures....your eye is just wonderful! thank you
Thank you Gaye!
Where is the best and most colorful bakery in Brooklyn: Villabate??? 18th Ave.
Love your blog!!!
Thank you! Grabbed a couple of sfogliatelle from Villabate this week!
That shirtless jogger probably does that in every weather condition. God bless him for that. It's funny (not "funny haha") to see the same grifter bullshit coming out of that bloated orange windhole even then. To think that this laughingstock would get to where he is now...also not funny.
Running is painful enough as it is, no need to add frostbite to the equation!
At least the cheetoh in chief has been consistent?
Wow. I had no idea that the Italian population had dwindled so much in Bensonhurst
So crazy!
And those numbers were from a few years ago, so I'm sure it's gone down further. Everyone moved to Staten Island or New Jersey
The photos with the shadow of the person on the roof are great! Glad you pushed through to cover this neighborhood. Lots of links to dig into with this one
Thanks, Scott! Channeling my inner Paul Graham.
Good to know the Loyal Order of Moose have some branches in the UK, although it’s not an organisation run by elk-like creatures.
Your comment reminded me to research the Loyal Order of Moose (LOOM), which led me to the Gustin–Kenny incident.
During an initiation ceremony in 1913, two Moose candidates were shown a glowing brand with the Moose emblem on it. They were then blindfolded and disrobed, while a chilled rubber emblem was pressed against their chests and electric shocks were applied to their legs—creating the illusion that they were actually being branded. Both men had heart attacks and died. So, thanks for bringing this to my attention. I think.
It's my... er, pleasure.
Wow
Bensonhurst was the first neighborhood I lived in when I moved to Brooklyn! I lived in a room in a couple's basement and they would frequently invite me upstairs for dinner to eat something called "veal" that I'd never tried before. They had multiple birds that flew freely through their home and a little dog named Fefe. It was a perfect introduction to the neighborhood.
Even then in 2007/8 I could tell there were some serious tensions between the longstanding Italian population and the newer Asian immigrants; I overheard quite a lot of racist shit (not from the people I lived with thankfully). I really miss the delicious and actually affordable Asian food in that area though! Pho Tay Ho has my favorite bowl of pho and I miss living super close to a Yaya Tea location.
That sounds like the setting for a Gabriel García Márquez novel set in Brooklyn. I heard good things about Pho Tay Ho! Bensonhurst changed fast. What other neighborhood has a Pastosa Ravioli and a Jmart?
Italians aren't alone re intolerant. Others hide it better, but have impacted minorities lives pretty badly.
Hmmmmm wonder what that shadowy person on the brick wall was up to?
That's probably what the people who were watching me take the photograph were wondering about me.
😂
"...unlawful possession of a jackpot." Journalists in NYC really had yarn-spinning capabilities then.
I have to wonder if choirmaster William Crane was in any way related to NYC-chronicling novelist and short story writer Stephen Crane...
That was a particularly evocative retelling of the situation!
Wonderful read as always!
Thanks Ana!
I am so late to this party!
At least you're not sweating profusely!
Six cans of what?
ZYN
Ooohhhh how can I join the street flogging committee?
You can start your own!
Oh. “Flagging.” Dern.
EVERY PHOTO!
Been following this series since last year and was anxiously awaiting the day you would cover my home? Been reading almost every post (and returning to your Bay Ridge one) since I enlisted with AmeriCorps last summer, and can't even begin to describe how bizarre yet fascinating it is to have my home written about like this.
As a Chinese-American who's only known Bensonhurst as how it is now, it's just so bizarre seeing the ethnic succession and how different your haunts were decades ago. I occasionally watch videos of street tours of 86th Street or 18th Avenue or Dyker Heights or keep up with local news (especially the protest against the construction of the nearby homeless shelter) and it's heartbreaking to hear and read posts by some of the old Italian community - most reminiscing the "old Brooklyn" politely, some spouting the usual crap of how dirty and "different it looks." I used to live next door to an Italian-American vet my aunt and parents would call "Grandpa Tammy" in Cantonese. I think he or his wife ran a dessert shop or bakery nearby, on the same street of Lioni's Heros, but he passed during COVID and I never saw him much before that - and I was much too young to ask him.
I remember going on YouTube and looking for everything I could on Bensonhurst online. I remember finding this comment, I think on a video related to Saturday Night Fever and Lenny's shutting down; "All of a sudden, it’s fifty years later. You’re retired and wondering where did it go. No more baby showers, no more weddings, just wakes and funerals."
Wow, that is a rather poignant comment which is, I guess, the trajectory we are all on. One of the main takeaways from this project is how the city is always in a state of flux, and how quickly that change can happen. I'm sure those who preceeded the "Old" Brooklynites weren't too thrilled with the change they brought either.
Thanks so much for commenting and reading and good luck with AmeriCorps, what a great program!
Ha- Gerben-Jan! An interesting neighborhood and wow more than 200 to go - although I hope you will restart when you get there- because you articles are amazing!
He has some good ideas! Thanks for following along, though I imagine after 200 more, everyone is going to be sick of this project!
nope- not gonna happen ...well maybe you will be tired of it LOL- but we won't