Happenings ( 72 precinct Council meeting)

The 72nd Precinct Community Council will hold it's meeting this Tuesday March 11. Cop of the month will be announced at the meeting. For more information call the precinct @ 718.965.6326.

When: Tuesday March 11, 2008 @ 7:30 PM
Where: Marien-Heim Senior Citizen Houses, 4520 4th Avenue

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Happenings (Sunset Park Zoning Plans)

The city will be unveiling the new zoning plans for Sunset Park. Representatives from the Department of Urban Planning will make a presentation to Community Board 7.

For further information on this forum you may call the community board @ 718.965.6326

When: Thursday March 13, 2008

Where: 4201 4th Avenue

When: 6:30 PM

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Trying to get back to blogging

The last couple of weeks have been rather difficult in trying to find the time to blog. However, I wish to assure the few readers that I have that we will be getting back to it on a regular basis as soon as I free up more time. At this moment, time for blogging is in short supply but I will make an effort to post when I can.

It's Confirmed, It's a Hotel

I reported when I started this blog a couple of months ago that the construction on 39th street between 8th and 9th Avenues was going to be a hotel. Those were the rumors and buzz going around. One could also see that the architecture seemed to be more fitting for an office building or a hotel. Now we can confirm that it is a Hotel that is nearing completion at the location. It is ideally situated near the 9th Avenue D train station placing it within a half hour of midtown Manhattan and it is also within easy reach of the B35 and B70 bus lines. One of the work permits at the site states that they are in the process of obtaining a certificate of occupancy for a "transient hotel". When construction will be completed we do not know at the moment. But it appears that the building is mostly already built.

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Scandal In Sunset Park

After a hiatus of a week or so I find myself returning to focus on the blog in the midst of a major scandal at one of the local non-profits that is heavily tied to some of our major politicos in our nabe. The story is rife with profligate spending of taxpayer money, bribes and payoff of no show jobs. One has to wonder who else is involved and who will be brought up on the net. It seems that both the state attorney general and the Brooklyn district attorney are investigating the goings on at the Evelyn Douglin Center for Serving People in Need (SPIN) of Sunset Park. Let's see if the fishing expedition traps a wider net or is abandoned if some of our local representatives in government are implicated. It's wait and see time as we await with baited breath the results of these investigations. One has to wonder how a non profit that receives the largesse of taxpayer money with the aid of our local politicians managed to avoid the radar after all these years. Mind you, non of this would have come to light had not someone who worked there blown the whistle. Maybe it may be time to do an audit of all the other non profits that abound in our nabe. That of course will never happen. The Daily News has had ample coverage in the last two days with one story here and another one here.

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Chinese New Year Celebrations mostly a success With Notable Absences

The celebrations of the Year of the Rat/Mouse went off as scheduled on Sunday. At peak time 8th Avenue was packed as tightly as Times Square on New Year's Eve. The celebration lasted a little over the scheduled three hours as such things are wont to do. However, unlike last year there were some people who were conspicuous by their absence. The borough president sent a representative, our own Council person Sarah Gonzales was missing in action sending a minor functionary of her office. Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez was missing as well as was our assemblyman Felix Ortiz. Most of these characters including the district attorney Charles Hynes who attended last year were missing. In fact, what one would consider all the major political players in Sunset Park were out of sight, but not out of mind.

Should the Chinese community consider this a slight? What changed from last year to this one to see such absence? Vincent Gentile was here last year and this one. He probably didn't get invited to the party the others must have been attending to warrant their absence. Of course he represents Bay Ridge where rumor has it a few Chinese live as well. Present this year was Peter Abate who I don't remember seeing last year. He represents mostly Bensonhurst which has a growing Chinese population that is almost rivaling that of Sunset Park in size.

The weather under the command of Mother Nature cooperated in allowing the Suns to shine during the time. The festivities were very delightful with school children performing traditional songs and dances and a very impressive Kung Fu demonstration as a prelude to five teams of Lion Dancers performing at the climax of the presentation. Neeedless to say there was color everywhere. A photographer's eye candy to be had.

Paul Mak was gracious enough to allow me a great vantage point for me to shoot some photographs as he did last year. I managed to pull off some 500 shots and will post the better ones when time permits in the coming days. All in all a great time was had by all. All our parties should be as well orchestrated and organized.

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Foster Parents Needed

Our local Center For Family Life is currently looking for singles or couples interested in helping other families within our community by providing a loving and safe foster home to children in need.

WHEN: Wednseday, February 13, 2008 @ 5 PM

WHERE: The Center for Family Life
345 43rd street
Brooklyn, New York 11232

Please RSVP Stephanie Ruiz or Karen Tesoriero @ 718.788.3500

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Tango Lessons for FREE

I am not much for dancing, but being an Argentine by birth I grew up around tango. I probably have most of the songs that Carlos Gardel ever sang in my collection. So while I was at the library I picked up a flier whose key word Tango caught my attention. So I figure, in a neighborhood that is heavily latin it might be of interest to my readers.

WHAT: Tango Workshop

WHEN: Every Saturday from February 16 to April 5 2008 @ 2 PM

WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library, Grand Army Plaza
Third Floor Parkview Cafe
For information call 718.230.2417

COST: FREE!!!! Everyone is welcome, arrive early workshop is on first come, first serve basis....

From the flier;

"About the instructor: Originally from Venezuela, Luis Alfonso Tarazona has been dancing since the age of four. Tango is hios specialty. He currently teaches an after-school program for the Young Women's Leadership School in the Bronx."


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Chinese Lunar New Year is Today- Year of the Rat

Today is officially the start of the Year of the Rat. All over 8th Avenue some stores are closed. Flower sellers will be on most blocks and some martial arts schools will be visiting the avenue with their Lion Dancers. Then on Sunday at 11 AM the big Celebration will take place on the corner of 8th Avenue and 50th Street. Be sure to bring your cameras for some really colorful images.

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Chinese New Year Preview 2

Here are some more photos of what you can expect this year at the February 10 celebrations. Some shots I took at last year's celebrations.

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Chinese New Year Preview 1

Here is a preview of what you can expect this year at the February 10 celebrations. Some shots I took at last year's celebrations.

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Store Closings February 2nd edition

Innovations Urban Wear on 5th Avenue near 40th street is closing it's doors for the final time tomorrow on Sunday. The owners have decided to go on to do other things, like open a restaurant serving Spanish food called Encuentro located on 14th street and 6th Avenue. They also own a carwash on 4th Avenue. They're not leaving the hood since they also own the building but they are closing their urban wear business to devote themselves to other ventures. So tomorrow the store will close it's doors for the final time. They will be missed, they had a unique inventory of high end urban wear that will be missing from 5th Avenue once they are gone.

The inventory? That will be auctioned off at a future date as soon as the goods are organized into lots. The auction should be a bargain for businessmen looking to get some goods on the cheap. The owners emphasized that the inventory will be auctioned off in large lots. Anyone interested can call Sam at 917-656-4676. Mention that you found out about it on the blog. Remember folks, you heard it here first.

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Store Closings February 1 edition.

5th Avenue Electronics a fixture on 5th Avenue and 52nd street for some time appears to be ready to pack it in. One of the owners I spoke to told me they could not afford the $21,000 monthly rent and a dropoff in business just didn't make the operation viable anymore. They are unsure at this moment if they will open anywhere else. The demographic changes and nature of the clientele has hit many businesses along 5th Avenue that in other times and with cheaper rents were viable. It remains to be seen who will take their place and what type of business it will be.

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Chinese New Year's Celebrations set for February 10

Chinese New Year 2008, the year of the Rat officially begins on February 7th, but since it's a work day the real fun will be three days later. However, expect lion dancers to visit the Avenue throughout the 7th weather permitting. If you happen to be there with a camera you might get a small taste of what trhe following Sunday will look like.

The Brooklyn Chinese American Association that sponsors the annual Chinese New Year's Celebrations on 8th Avenue have set the date for this year's parade on Sunday February 10. The ceremonies are slated to begin at 11 Am and last about three hours. Expect to see every major politician and local celebrity at the ceremonies in front of the BCAA headquarters at 51st street and 8th Avenue.

Last year thousands of people lined the parade route from 51st street to 60th street in a colorful and raucous celebration that included dozens of Lion dancers from various martial arts schools vying for attention as well as traditionally attired Buddhist and Taoist priests etc. If you haven't attended yet, maybe it's time for you to drop by. Bring your camera, it will be a very photogenic day.

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New Warship Made From World Trade Center Steel

A frequent commenter and contributor to this blog Escape From Sunset Park sent me the following via e-mail and suggested I post it. I am posting the e-mail verbatim. In a way, it does have something to do with Sunset Park and New York City and beyond. Never Forget indeed!




Meet the USS New York. She was built using 24 tons of scrap steel from the World Trade Center It is the fifth in a new class of warship - designed for missions that include special operations against terrorists. It will carry a crew of 360 sailors and 700 combat-ready Marines to be delivered ashore by helicopters and assault craft. Steel from the World Trade Center was melted down in a foundry in Amite , LA to cast the ship's bow section When it was poured into the molds on Sept. 9, 2003 , "those big rough steelworkers treated it with total reverence," recalled Navy Capt. Kevin Wensing, who was there. "It was a spiritual moment for everybody there." Junior Chavers, foundry operations manager, said that when the trade center steel first arrived, he touched it with his hand and the "hair on my neck stood up." "It had a big meaning to it for all of us," he said. "They knocked us down. They can't keep us down. We're going to be back." The ship's motto?

"Never Forget"

And I may add, as they used to say in the neighboring nabe of Bensonhurst where I went to high school.

"Always get Even"

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Will the Sunset Ferry Ever Return?

According to our local newspaper the Sunset News New York Water Taxi has suspended ferry service from the Brooklyn Army Terminal Pier. The word suspended appears to mean that it might come back. Several things about the article stuck out at me. One was the fact that they could only get fewer than 250 people to use the ferry. The other was the price for a one way ticket, $5.60 to Wall Street. The ride is about 20 minutes. You have to ask yourself. How did they manage to get so many people to use it at that price? With so many alternatives to the ferry in mass transportation I am surprised it lasted this long. The other problem from day one was also the fact that few people in the neighborhood even know that it's there. Probably true as well in Bay Ridge where I suspect most of the users came from.

An organization called the Sunset Ridge Alliance has been pushing for expanded service and having additional ferry service leave from the 69th street pier. The problem with that is that there is no parking available at the 69th street pier. The only way to get people to the pier would be via Bus as the only mass transportation means available. That would push the cost for a one way ticket at close to $8. At least the 58th street pier at the Brooklyn Army Terminal has an abundance of Parking. I somehow don't think that the ferry service will be back any time soon unless they can get more people to pony up these prices when public transportation by either the N, R or D trains will get you to Wall Street from the 36th street station in about 30 minutes and midtown Manhattan in about 40 for a mere $2.

This brings me to another pet peeve of mine. Most Sunset Parkers aren't even aware that the pier is there. It is an underutilized resource and recreation spot in the nabe and the only spot where you can do some fishing if you are into that sort of thing. Community organizations should use the pier to hold more events and publicize the fact the pier is there.

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In Memorian Ron Ardito RIP 1954-2008

A wake/memorial to Ron Ardito who recently passed away from cancer was held last night at the Rainbow Cafe/bar at 39th and 5th . Ron was born and bred in Sunset Park and was the lead singer/guitarist of The Shirts a local punk rock band that originated in the nabe and eventually found itself as a staple at the roster of the illustrious CBGB's in Manhattan. They have been lauded as a precursor to the Talking Heads, among others. The shirts were a quintessential Brooklyn band and Ron was a quintessential Brooklyn rocker. Their start as a band was doing gigs at the Rainbow Cafe. Although I was a contemporary in the nabe and live only a couple of blocks from the Rainbow I missed much of the local scene since I went to college in Manhattan and hung out there most of the time.

The Rainbow Cafe was packed with people who were either in the band or were followers of the punk rock scene. In any event, Sunset Park has lost another illustrious product of the nabe in those bygone days when the nabe was a quite different place than it is today. Time passes and things change, but we always have our memories, and when we are gone those are gone too.

There are numerous pages devoted to Ron and The Shirts and CBGB's which they loved, please visit them;

http://www.ronardito.com/

http://www.myspace.com/ronarditosbrain

http://profile.myspace.com/RonArdito

http://www.theshirts.net

http://www.myspace.com/theshirtsnyc

http://www.myspace.com/theshirtsbrooklyn

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Searching for Chinese Dumplings in Sunset Park

When my favorite dumpling place closed a couple of years ago in Sunset Park I had to go and find a replacement for it. Restaurants that specialize in dumplings are few and far between in the nabe and borough. Fortunately I did not have to search far and found two places to replace them. The first place to recommend is Family Dumpling on the corner of 7th Avenue and 56th street. This small place caters mostly to the Chinese population of the nabe as do most Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood. It seems to be a common price for dumpling places to charge $1 for 5 dumplings. I usually have $2 at a serving. They have been written up by the Village Voice and they have those reviews on the windows but haven't been able to find them online. You can always find seating at Family Dumpling as it isn't always that overwhelmingly busy. I like my dumplings with soy sauce and if you want it you will have to ask for it on the side. The bottles they have at the tables are filled with vinegar and someone thinking they are soy sauce will get a surprise when they pour it on. All n all their dumplings are far less greasy than most and they use a flat square pan skillet to fry them in. I highly recommend them if you are in the area for a quick cheap meal. Their address is 5602 Seventh Avenue.

Family Dumpling at 7th ave. and 56th street

A friend of mine always told me that if you want to know good places to eat look out for where the local cops eat. That is the case with Kai Feng Fu Dumpling House. You can almost miss it as it is off the beaten path off the corner of 8th Avenue on 48th street. This place is always busy and is frequented by the guys from the 68 and 72 precincts. Their dumplings are a little greasier than the ones at Family Dumpling. Seating during lunchtime or dinner time is on a first come first served basis. You need to grab any chair available, though most people do takeout and yes the bottles on the tables have soy sauce in them. They also have a variety of noodles and soups on their menu and are open every day until 9 PM but they are usually out of stuff by 8:30. Neither place is designed to cater to fine dining. I think the Chinese invented fast food, which means get it fast, eat it fast and get out fast. Kai Feng Fu's address is 4801 8th Ave. but as I said they are about 60 feet off the avenue on 48th street just off the corner.

Kai Feng Fu Dumpling on 48th street and 8th Avenue.

I am still on the lookout for more dumpling places to try out in the area. We'll report on how our search progresses.

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Cultural Happenings in Sunset Park

2nd Sunset Park Neighborhood Summit

What: Neighborhood Summit, All are invited..
When: Sunday January 20 at 1 to 4 PM
Cost: Free
Where: Trinity Lutheran Chruch
46th street and 4th Avenue Sunset Park.

Thanks to Sunset Park Autonomous Zone


Diocesean Mass

What: Mass in celebration of Our Lady of Altagracia (Patron Saint of the Dominican Republic)
When: Monday January 21 7PM
Cost: Free
Where: Saint Agatha Catholic Church
702 48th street Sunset Park


FASTELAVN (DANISH MARDI GRASS)

What: Danish Mardi Grass, dress in custome, eat Danish food, be part of the tradition.
When: Sunday January 27th 3PM to 6PM
Cost: All inclusive $25 for adults, $15 ages 7-17, $10 for under 7
Where: Danish Athletic Club
735 65th street Sunset Park (border of Bay Ridge)
For reservation call Victoria @ 718-748-5950 or Reidun @ 718-748-7844


Chinese New Year Celebration Music

What: Chinese Harmonica virtuoso Jia Yi He
When: February 7th @ 4 PM
Cost: Free
Where: Brooklyn Public Library Sunset Park
5108 4th Avenue at 51st street

Have a cultural happening in the area you would like listed?
Email me at webmaster at sunset-park dot com


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Keeping Our Castle Keep

One of our perennial Sunset Park landmarks was covered recently by the Lost City Blog. It appears that it is in danger of extinction due to neglect. The building at one time used to house the original 68th precinct house. Reminiscent of a medieval castle one would find in southern Europe complete with what looks like a castle keep. Some people have complained that it looks like an eyesore. I have always liked the fact that it sticks out like an archaic sore thumb compared to the surrounding buildings. According to the blog the building which has been designated a Historic Landmark by the city has been bought by the Brooklyn Chinese American Association. One wonders what they intend to do with it. Just recently they also took over the old VFW Post that stood on the corner of 39th street and 8th Avenue. Rather than use that building for any useful purpose they have turned to using the front yard as a parking garage for their buses. Let us hope that they don't do the same with the old precinct house and leave it to be used as a warehouse. The building should be used for some community purpose such as a museum or community center. Perhaps our councilwoman can get off her butt and see if we can get some funding to do just that. In any case, the blog offers a brief history of the building.

Of note also is comments by a frequent contributor to this blog Escape From Sunset Park adding a bit more to the history;

• The day the police moved out, my teenage friends and I busted the lock and put our own lock on the door. We recognized the value of the building and wanted to show the community how important it was to preserve it.
  
  Over the course of a few weeks, we fixed it up well-enough to stage a three day health fair. We attracted 1,776 people to the event. (we "rented" the building to the movie company shooting "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" to raise money to make the place useable for the health fair. Also, the telephone company "switchboard" for the area, now mounted outdoors on a pole was inside the building on a wall - it provided us with free phone service so we could call doctors from a medical directory that we "found" and have them volunteer to fill in blocks of time for the health fair. Our biggest moment came the night before the fair, when we had to lock the police out because they were harrassing us - in "our" building...lol)
  
  After the health fair we held a public meeting to turn the building over to any group that wanted to use it - no one stepped forward.
  
  A year or so later an anti-drug program - (3rd avenue based, primarily heroin, run by a man named Santana - it was a Christ based program) took over the building and they are the ones that painted over the brick & began putting white paint in the mortar lines before they abandoned the building.
  
  The biggest mistake of the building was when the school of music had it listed as a nyc landmark - it made any future repairs unaffordable due to the level of "historic preservation" that had to be met.
  
  For awhile it was in the hands of a group that wanted to put a for profit health spa in the building.
  
  I absolutely love the building and it is a part of my past. There is an old horse stable on the south side of the building (Neighborhood Youth Corps used it for a summer or two - I smashed a chair against a wall in a dispute at one time and almost got my butt kicked by a couple of dozen guys) and a gang - I forget their name - bald headed, darkskinned guys occupied it for awhile - I stepped into their "lair" once with members of the Brooklyn Saints to squash an imminent gang fight - once again I was lucky to escape without a beating...lol. During this episode the police, now in the new 72nd precinct building hung the colors (a gang member's leather jacket on the precinct flagpole to show their contempt for the gang)..
  
  To the west of the building is the morgue that was part of the police operation at the time of its construction.
  I hope that the Chinese American group can save the building.

Check out the post. It makes for interesting reading and we recommend the blog as well.

Earlier this morning as I was passing by I snapped these shots of the building in question.



Let's hope that some of us in the community can band together and save this landmark. Besides giving the neighborhood character it is a bit of our history from a bygone era when New York City and Sunset Park were a different place.

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