34 Comments
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Rob Walker's avatar

Anne will find Randall for us.

Rob Stephenson's avatar

I was thinking the same thing.

Anne Kadet's avatar

I was thinking the same thing!

Irv's avatar

A classic episode of The Neighborhoods with all my favourite features - shoreline with a distant peek of the Manhattan skyline against a pale blue sky, idiosyncratic architecture, wooden trestles/boardwalk, the ephemera of life - a deflated Liberty, a guest appearance by Robert Moses. Wonderful images as usual Rob. Thank you.

Rob Stephenson's avatar

I'm a sucker for those distant skyline views. It's a very picturesque neighborhood. Thanks Irv!

Jon Nicholls's avatar

Wonderful. Thanks for sharing Maureen Drennan’s pictures too. Amazing work.

Rob Stephenson's avatar

Thanks Jon! It’s great when I can feature work by someone who has spent more than just a couple of days in a place. And, I just learned she is working on a Broad Channel book.

Jon Nicholls's avatar

Great. Broad Channel is such an evocative place name.

Maureen's avatar

Thank you and thank you Rob for sharing my photos ! It is such a beautiful neighborhood

Jim's avatar

Another excellent read and a place I had forgotten. Did a lot of work out there after the hurricane.

Rob Stephenson's avatar

Thanks Jim. It was a completely different place in those months (and years) after Sandy.

Rowland Scherman's avatar

Broad Channel was a mystery ever since Randall told me about it at Ft Dix in 1960. Rob’s pictures ended that mystery, but I still have to go and see for myself, because it looks nothing like I imagined. It’s 20 times bigger than I thought it was. Thanks, Rob. Brilliant as always.

Rob Stephenson's avatar

Thanks for the inspiration Rowland. If anything, it’s smaller now (3000 people) than it was in 1960. Still pretty tiny by NYC standards and definitely worth a visit

Rowland Scherman's avatar

By the way, Randall is the ex GI’s last nane

Rob Stephenson's avatar

Well now I’m really glad I didn’t go around asking for someone named Randall…

fletcher's avatar

Great letter this week. Thank you.

mstruck2's avatar

With each of your posts, I learn something new about composition.

Grey Squirrel's avatar

I went here over the winter to hangout in Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

Grey Squirrel's avatar

The main problem I had was crossing that street between the two halves of the park because the signal moves so fast that you basically have to run. The cars drive like maniacs.

Rob Stephenson's avatar

See C.L Steiner's comment below

C.L. Steiner's avatar

Also, Cross Bay Boulevard through Broad Channel was (maybe is?) a notorious drag strip, ruled in the ‘70s by the legendary “girl in the white Camaro.”

Rob Stephenson's avatar

I think there is a pretty robust network of speed cameras there now which is no fun but at least it makes crossing the road a lot safer.

Grey Squirrel's avatar

I have a lot of stress crossing that street as a slow walker under 5 ft tall.

Justin Difazzio's avatar

It feels like the dream of a man who didn't have a great imagination. I love it for that. The photos this issue are top notch! The field of ropes tied with flags stopped me in my tracks. Breathtaking.

Thank you for bringing the joy in an otherwise really subpar week.

Rob Stephenson's avatar

What a perfect description! Sorry for the shitty week. At least it’s Friday?

Justin Difazzio's avatar

Amen.

JJ Stavros Schaffer's avatar

I've been waiting for a post on Broad Channel. I explored it during a walk across the bay in December 2023 and got some nice pictures along the way. Certainly one of the more unusual neighborhoods in the city.

Rob Stephenson's avatar

Top 10 least New Yorkish neighborhood in the city.

Lia Buffa De Feo's avatar

Great overview!

Marguerite's avatar

This is LIT🔥🔥🔥

Rob Stephenson's avatar

There will be a quiz