My Brooklyn (287)

Raymond Alvin

I caught the tail end of the golden era of Brooklyn. I grew up in the 1950s/60s. My neighborhood that I remember with much fondness (probably more than necessary) was East New York. Before it became the metal detector and murder capital of the country. We lived at 612 Belmont Avenue between Jerome & Barbey Sts. Me and my friends would play punchball. Half the time was spent looking for the ball down the sewer or waiting for cars to pass. Ringo-leaveo, Johnny on the pony, red light-green light, box ball, off the wall, stoop ball. There was a yeshiva across the street from our house and P.S. 158 was a block and half away. It was an adventure as a boy to grow up in Brooklyn. Every block was different. My grandfather owned a brownstone and we lived on the top floor. They lived on the first floor and we always had a boarder in the basement. I remember so many things; it was the first glimpse of the world I was catching. Seeing Brooklyn through a kid's eyes was very different. Mostly I remember the Kinema and Embassy Theaters, hot summers. Losing my first dog Rexy to disease was unbearable and the first experience I had with loss. I was devastated. I'm still not over it. I remember the hydrants open, playing in the yeshiva schoolyard, the knish man, Herb's corner grocery later Abe's; the candy store (Lapatos) on the corner of Warwick & Belmont was our hangout, Saturday morning TV, Mighty Mouse Playhouse. Watching the Ed Sullivan show gave me a sickening feeling because it symbolized the end of the weekend and school was coming. I always found Sunday evening kinda depressing, It just didn't have the exuberance of a Saturday. Martin & Lewis comic books for some reason caught my eye and now as an adult I collect them—have almost all. I went to P.S. 64, my brother went to P.S. 149, graduated J.H.S. from the Pitkin Theater. The thing I remember most was eating out at a Chinese Restaurant called "The Imperial House" (Rockaway Blvd.) in Brownsville. It was a warm feeling when we ate out. The Big Bow Wow, Weisses on Cross Bay Blvd. Later moved to Hendrix when Hegeman St. was still dirt. My best memories were from Belmont Avenue. "I never had friends like I had when I was a kid." If I saw my friends playing punchball without me, I'd rush like hell to be there.

10 September 2000

Vicki Hudes Cavaseno

My Brooklyn is the 50s and 60s of Sheepshead Bay near Marine Park and Gerittsen Beach. Waiting for the Ave. U or Gerritsen Beach bus to take me home from my commuter trip to college, LIU. I remember the snow storm in Jan. 1964 and trying to get home after the train made it to the Ave. U station. It was such a freezing walk to Brigham Street,it seemed I would never warm up. My Brooklyn was the aromas that hit me when I entered my apartment building. All the mothers cooking for their families, each one unique. Each building was its own little town and everybody knew your business. But in a good way although there were some strange folks. It amazes me that most people's memories are so filled with Brooklyn delicacies. I also hunger (no pun intended) for pizza, corn beef sandwiches, bialys, thinly sliced nova, Good Humor, Nathan's and especially a Mrs. Stahl Knish after a day at the beach. I live in Boston and it is nice but my heart and soul are always in Brooklyn.

12 September 2000