Saturday, March 27, 2010

St. Patrick's Day Parade Tomorrow





The Bay Ridge/Sunset Park St. Patrick's day Parade is slated to be held tomorrow at 1 PM. A bit late as compared to all the other Parades but nevertheless it will be a day for the Irish to show their colors. The parade begins at 1 PM @ St. Patrick's Church on 95th street and 4th in Bay Ridge and ends @ OLPH RC Church here in Sunset Park at 59th street and 5th Avenue. There will be a grandstand set up at 75th street and 5th Avenue. It will be an opportunity for some photographers to capture some good images of the cultural diversity of our nabe and borough.



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Rainbow Cafe Sells for $1.65 Million






The Brooklyn Eagle reports that the Building Housing the Rainbow Cafe a venerable institution of our neighborhood which has been closed for over a year has been sold for 1.65 million. The Rainbow which used to be a venerable hangout of longtime residents and a place where some rock bands got their start was reportedly purchased by a local investor. Perhaps the new owner will do something with the building. I hope it is not torn down and replaced by a condo as appears to be the pattern and fate of many other buildings in the nabe.

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Sunset Polish Deli on Fourth Avenue to close it's doors




The Sunset Polish Deli on 55th and 4th Avenue that was a staple of the neighborhood for almost twenty years and provided Sunset Park's small Polish community with Polish staples and products will be closing it's doors next month. The sad news leaves only one place for Polish goods in the southern part of our nabe. The owner cited the fact that the Polish population of Sunset Park is dwindling and many Polish immigrants are returning home to Poland because of the better economy there. I reported last December the closing of the other Polish Deli in our neck of the woods. The Sunset Deli will be missed, it gave the neighborhood a more varietal ethnic flavor. I suppose it is just a sign that the more things change, they just keep on changing. On another note, the owner informed me that Chinese bought other buildings on the block. Part of a larger sign that the Chinese community on eighth avenue is moving westward towards fourth avenue as more and more hispanic stores on the avenue are being replaced by Chinese owned 99 cent stores and bakeries. Whetehr this is a sustainable trend remains to be seen.



The only remaining place in our neck selling Polish goods remains the Podlaise Meat Market on the corner of 48th and 8th Avenue. It may be only a matter of time before they too sucumb to pressure and alos close their doors. The Norwegian and Finnish stores that once pockmarked the avenues 30 years ago are also long gone. Remaining only in the memories of long time residents that have seen the changes, but they too are increasingly moving out and with them the history of the nabe fades away. The new residents replacing them not having a clue of the rich history of the nabe.

The only Polish Deli and Meat market left in the neighborhood on the corner of 48th and 8th..


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