My Brooklyn

26 July 1999

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Nick Duquette

I was so happy to find this, My Brooklyn. . . . It brings back a lot of memories growing up in Sheepshead bay,then to East 38th St. between Church Ave. and Synder.

Went to St. Catherine's of Genoa and from there a short stint at Walt Whitman before going to Wm. E. Grady V.T.H.S. in Brighton Beach.

Scully,stoopball and stick ball were my favorites as well as ringo-reveleo. I guess what I miss most was the culture I was brought up on, being half French and half Italian. Everybody on my Mother's side either lived in Brooklyn, Queens or Long Island.

Watching the old timers playing bocce ball under the el or going to Lundy's was a real treat! Vanilla eggcreams and square potato kinishes were and still are my favorite. Brooklyn was, is and always will be my own!

27 July 1999

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Anonymous

My Brooklyn is East Flatbush in the 50s and '60s. P.S. 268, Winthrop J.H.S., and Wingate H.S. The Rugby Theatre on Utica Avenue, double features. Going to Carl's Luncheonette on the Remsen Avenue/Winthrop Street "Triangle" on Saturday afternoon for a tuna sandwich and malted, or to Nom Yuen for a Chinese dinner for less than $2.00 (combination plate, including tip). Playing Chinese handball; stoop ball; "box baseball"; stickball against the garage doors where a homer was a ball that made it to the roof across the street; "red light, green light, 1-2-3"; hit the penny. The barbershop where I'd read Superman comics waiting for my turn. Morris' candy store where we'd buy button candy, those sugar drinks enclosed in wax, and "Pennsy Pinky" rubber balls which we preferred over "Spaldeens" because they were softer and bounced higher. Buying fresh bagels and bialys (84 cents for a baker's dozen of 13); flying saucers and "brown bonnets" at the Carvel. Best deli at George & Sid's.

Great memories of a place and a time rich in character and personality.

29 July 1999