My Brooklyn (284)

Leon Spiro

"Brooklyn-born" (1958), I wear it like a badge. Bensonhurst until age 7—84th St. & 20th Ave. P.S. 182; Jahn's, Hy-Tulip, the pickle man on 86th St., and Leader's, where I'd drag dad to buy me another toy whenever I could. Chinese food every Sunday evening (we called it "Chinks" before we knew any better). Summers in the country with my mom and two older sisters (Hylan Bungalows, Swan Lake, NY), waiting for dad's '57 Chevy to come up that dirt road on Friday nights to join us for the weekend.

Then on to East Flatbush—East 45th St., between Linden & Church. P.S. 135 (Hebrew School followed at the East Flatbush JCC, Monday through Thursday), then Winthrop J.H.S. (the girl next door went to Meyer Levin J.H.S., I never knew why). Victor's deli restaurant on Utica Ave., near Church, where my friends and I would scarf down a tray of pickles and leave before the waiter even got to us. They got wise to us before long, and would throw us out as soon as we walked in through the front door. The Rugby Theatre, where we'd sign petitions to "Stamp Out Pay-TV!" before our Saturday afternoon double-features, with cartoons. Wolf's on Church Ave., where I took my first date, and Leader's Toy Store, where we'd follow glue-sniffers who were forced by law to purchase model kits in order to buy model-airplane glue on which to get high. They'd toss their model kits into the weeds in the vacant lot nearby, and my friend Martin Cohen and I would take turns acquiring our new treasures. Many summer days spent fishing and crabbing with my friend, Jeffrey Azar, from small, rented boats at Sheepshead Bay's Bob's or Bay End rentals, after buying bait from Mike's or Stella Maris. And the Curry boys—Billy, Robert, and Steven—where are they now? I was always envious of the great Christmas gifts they'd receive. Mr. & Mrs. Curry let me sleep over their house when my mom would throw me out, for one reason or another. And Tony, the Freezer Fresh man, who'd give Lady, the neighborhood's favorite German Shepherd, a free dish of vanilla ice cream every time. Somebody told me years later that Tony had been shot while being robbed.

Then on to Sheepshead Bay in 1970, at age 12. Shellbank J.H.S., then Sheepshead High, both on Ave. X & Batchelder St. The legendary Martin's Restaurant on Ave. W & Nostrand, open til the wee hours every night. Connie's Pizza, Roma Pizza, Mei Mei's rice and gravy with an egg roll! The first McDonald's in Brooklyn, and Chicken Delight ("Don't cook tonight . . . ") before anybody ever heard of KFC. The original Mrs. Stahl's Knishes in Brighton Beach (still there but not nearly as good). The best bagels in Brooklyn at the Sheepshead Bay subway station—Bagel's 'R' Us—though I'm sure many would argue. And the Saddle Inn bar, across from the projects, which closed before I reached drinking age. No need for late night treks to Wo Hop's on Mott St., or 69 Bayard St., in Chinatown anymore, since Avenue U is now overflowing with real Chinese restaurants - ducks and pigs hanging in the window and everything. I worked in King's Plaza, Brooklyn's first indoor shopping mall, while attending Kingsborough and then Baruch College, CUNY.

I finally grew up a bit and got my first apartment in Bay Ridge, near the bridge. Then on to New Jersey, and finally northern Virginia where I now live for more than 10 years. There is not now nor will there ever be another place like my Brooklyn. Thanks for sharing, everybody.

30 August 2000