33 Comments

Thanks! Shabazz is so good! I briefly contemplated walking through that door. I may have to go back.

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Wow. You are NOT kidding about that Lords of Flatbush theme song. Bad writing, mediocre singing, and a VERY uninspired melody. Oof. That said I sorta want to see the movie now.

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You can watch the whole thing on facebook. I suggest skimming

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What a great issue— thanks for Shabazz, and that green door! All of it.

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I went to Brooklyn College and spent a lot of time wandering the surrounding streets. The cafeteria on campus left a lot to be desired, so I'm very grateful for all of the great Caribbean food around Flatbush ave (also shoutout to the cheap pizza place by the Ave H station).

I'm not a big chocolate person, but I do think that Little Cupcake Bakeshop's Brooklyn Blackout cake is pretty good (though I've obviously never tried the original).

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I should’ve have added you to the distinguished alum list!

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🧐

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I have to imagine the Art Deco Sears is gone like the rest of the company now...

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The building is still there! It's landmarked.

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Nice.

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What amazing connections! I went to follow Jamel Shabazz (who I must admit I'd never heard of...) and he is followed by Maaza Mengiste and Aïda Muluneh and 66 others who I follow on Instagram. Both are extraordinary Ethiopian women!!!! (I grew up in Ethiopia and have done research there and am in limbo until I can return but still writing about it...).

Maaza is the author of "The Shadow King" and "Beneath the Lion's Gaze" and Aida is Aida, an award-winning photographer who amongst other things had some of her work displayed on bus shelters in New York and other places in 2023:

https://www.publicartfund.org/exhibitions/view/aida-muluneh-this-is-where-i-am/

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Small world! I love Aida's "This is where I am" project, such amazing work!

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She's such an amazing mentor to Ethiopian and other African photographers! In her annual newsletter a few years back there was a link to a long conversation with Chester Higgins. I should watch it again sometime if I can find it. I was lucky enough to meet Chester Higgins and Betsy Kissam in a place called Hawassa in Ethiopia... etc etc.

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One of my favorite neighborhoods in Brooklyn! My high school graduation was at the Loew’s Kings (not King) Theater, I hung out at Garfield’s Cafeteria, and was a member of the Flatbush Boys’ Club. Thanks again for the photos and history, Rob!

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Fixed, thanks! Have you been to the theater since the restoration?

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I haven’t. Except for my HS reunion two years ago, I haven’t been to Brooklyn in many years.

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His nice to read the phrase “…and recently restored…” rather than “and recently demolished”.

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It's, not his. And I don't even have autocorrect on.

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Whoa, I had forgotten about the boycotts in the early 90s (I have an aunt and uncle who owned a few grocery stores in the city). Race tensions between blacks and Koreans were so high back then. It was a really tense time in the city.

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Yeah, I was pretty uninformed about that chapter in the city's history. The video footage is pretty intense.

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I would never dare tackle Flatbush. Hats off!

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Why not? It’s a great neighborhood!

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TOO BIG AND TOO MUCH!!!!

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That's why I whittled it down to the smallest possible chunk!

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My fave foto this week: Gate Chair

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Thanks! Might be mine too

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Though the grid of D'usse Cognac labels that look like someone keeping track of days in jail is close

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And favorite #3: the wall in different shades of grey, on the left parts of the paint has peeled off to show grey bricks behind. Fabulous.

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It's such a satisfying photo

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YES! Same here.

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I had a Flatbush t shirt for a while. Rescued fr lost property on an upstate New York summer camp

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Rescued summer camp shirts are the best shirts

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They lasted years! And gave me a lifelong admiration for US tshirts

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