My Brooklyn (330)

John Agapito

My world for thirty years was 75th Street and 18th Avenue. Schools were P.S. 186 , Our Lady of Guadalupe , New Utrecht H.S.

I remember punch ball, flipping cards, king-queen-jack, box base ball, spinning tops, buck buck, and paddle ball. These were the activities that occupied our time and for the most part kept us out of trouble. I remember the sixties with the bell bottoms, peace signs, long hair, my first chopper bicycle, and good music. The '70s will always be dear to my heart. Manhattan Beach, Riis Park, the disco craze, C'est La Vie night club on 86th St. and 5th, the Fun House in Manhattan, the women, sexual freedom, the cars, hanging out and drinkin' beer, cruising 86th St. for girls.

Those were the days, my friend! I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Still get back there as often as I can. My eight-year-old son now competes in our annual 15th Ave. Fathers Day stickball tradition. We eat pizza at Da Vinci's on 18th Ave., play stickball, and finish the day with two large lemon ices from Rispoli's. Life is good!

7 February 2001

Camille

I was born at Long Island College Hospital (1947). We lived at 152 Baltic St. I remember playing in the "big yard" on our corner where the "Towers" were. I went to St. Peter's Elementary School and remember every Christmas or class going on trips to sing in a certain bank, in front of their huge Christmas tree, and at the end we would all get a little something. To us it was so special. Across our street was a small grocery store named Walter's where we always bought our lunch for school. I remember going swimming at the St. George Hotel. My friends were Ann Mauro, Joann (forgot her last name—her sisters were Karen and Christine), Alice Alemar. I mostly remember my brother Sal's friends since we were very close in age. I had a crush on Sal's friend, Jimmy Johnson. He had a twin named Jerry. My brother attended P.S. 29. The movie theater was the Lido on Court St. I was only ten when we moved to Queens but my memories of Brooklyn were always good ones.

P.S. I also remember a vegetable store around our corner who made jelly apples a special way (by dipping them in a soft, hot liquid) and us licking it off and throwing the apple away.

If anyone remembers me please contact me.

10 February 2001