My Brooklyn (271)

Ellen Seligsohn-Verni

I loved Brooklyn so much that I wrote a book about it, The Kitchen Chronicles: From the 'D' Train to a Dirt Road. The 'D' train is from Brighton Beach, the Brooklyn neighborhood I lived in before moving to that dirt road in the Catskill Mountains. But you can't leave Brooklyn far behind; it is forever in your heart and soul. And thankfully so; Brooklyn is the perfect example of "power of place." Its uniqueness is due to its people, the most interesting group you will ever encounter.

One interesting story I can relate happened recently, 175 miles from Brooklyn. Living upstate I run across a lot of people, like myself, from "the city," and one couple who are weekend homeowners became close friends. We got to talking one day and I asked Ezra where in Brooklyn he grew up. He said, "Boro Park." I said, "so did I." He said, "15th Avenue." I said, "so did I." He said, "15th Avenue and 57th Street." I said, "so did I!" He said, "5609 15th Avenue." I said "SO DID I!" It turns out we grew up and lived in the same apartment house in Brooklyn, but 20 years apart. We are kindred spirits now, and every time we meet, we smile that secret shared smile. "Power of place."

7 July 2000

Linda (Mockapetris) Greene

What a wonderful trip this has been! One result was a recent return to "My Brooklyn" to look around, take pictures and realize My Brooklyn, though changed, is still very much alive. My family was there through the 40s and 50s and then we moved to NJ where I still live. My Brooklyn was Williamsburg, off Havemeyer St. We attended Annunciation School on N. 5th, played handball, stick ball, punch ball, potsy, stoop ball, street checkers. Rode bikes at Washington Park, went to McCarren Park to the pool. We played ringalevio, soccer, johnny on the pony and jump rope in the play street at school. We flipped baseball cards and played yo-yos and jacks . . . according to the season. My world was a Jewish neighborhood and a Catholic school and I NEVER knew anyone else existed till I was 14! I remember Ebbets Field, Empire Roller Rink, shopping in Greenpoint and on Fulton St., Ginka's Ice Cream Parlor on Grand St., going to Havemeyer Market for fresh produce with my mom, sneaking up on the roof, getting the Sunday papers on Sat. night and then picking up the hot bagels so we could enjoy both before Sunday. I remember pickles, knishes, hot pretzels and baked sweet potatoes on the street for a nickel and having Charlotte Russe, egg creams, world class pizza, hot dogs, halvah . . . can taste it all now! We went to the RKO Republic and the Metro on Grand St. was called the "dumps" but we got a ton of cartoons and the serial movies with a double feature, all for fifteen cents. We were very poor but didn't know it. My dad used to bring home raisin bread from the Polish bakery in Greenpoint on payday and my brother brought us strawberry shortcakes from Steven's on Broadway. Life seemed pretty good then! Thanks to every person who brightened up my life with your entries and helped jog my memory of those days in Brooklyn. There were plenty of tough times but so many sweet ones! To Theresa, Marion, Carol, Camille, Jenny, Jane, Jimmy, Clem, Pee Wee, if you're out there, I remember all of you.

8 July 2000