tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-119779272024-03-13T12:20:47.631-04:00Bay Ridge BlogThe world from my corner of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn-- Free Speech Zone -- E-mail me at bayridgephantom@gmail.com--Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger633125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-49172056310650429032023-10-17T21:18:00.000-04:002023-10-17T21:18:10.368-04:00Test message<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dysTbVT_s7eJIlCWpF-0vzDDPNAZhZMC4WEht9fBDergjTcXQZ83C3PkmWtXlpgKVMtmEQseb2xWEc' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-39003220254813574052023-04-03T10:06:00.000-04:002023-04-03T10:06:15.915-04:00Test time<p>😖 </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-53079484214011476172011-05-25T16:57:00.004-04:002011-05-25T17:32:31.049-04:00Check Out My Internet Radio!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YJtm3TsQ8F0/Td1tar7hK9I/AAAAAAAABIs/PTPUR5SNvjc/s1600/Internet%2BRadioi.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YJtm3TsQ8F0/Td1tar7hK9I/AAAAAAAABIs/PTPUR5SNvjc/s400/Internet%2BRadioi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610761016009894866" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'd been hearing about these things for a few years. A couple of weeks ago, I bit the bullet, and bought a Logitech " Squeezebox " internet radio.<br /><br />This " internet radio " is a radio that doesn't pick up stations the normal way. It picks them up in streams from the internet via an Ethernet physical connection or via your Wi-Fi signal.<br /><br />With internet radio, you are no longer limited to what is likely a lame selection of local stations. Almost every " over the air " radio station puts their signal on the internet now without charge.<br /><br />I've played around with internet radio for maybe ten years, via the computer. But the advantage of having a dedicated " internet radio " is that it works even when the computer is off, at any location in the house, with a very good quality audio signal.<br /><br />I recommend this device - especially if you want to get a get a broader music selection than your crummy local station offers, or someone who wants to follow the news, especially the news from another part of the world.<br /><br />It's really easy to set up and use - and makes a great present for an older relative who wants to hear the sounds of the " old country "<br /><br />There are six preset stations. My current selections:<br /><br /><ul><li>RTE One, Dublin</li><li>BBC LW</li><li>Deutsche Welle News, Germany<br /></li></ul><ul><li>WFUV New York</li><li>KPOA Hawaii</li><li>WWOZ New Orleans</li></ul><br />I recommend this product, which is available on Amazon or at quality stores such as J&R.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-42945548174018431492011-05-01T23:25:00.004-04:002011-05-01T23:56:53.359-04:00Thoughts on the Death of Osama bin Laden<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKOTGT-1Fvo/Tb4kRZs5mvI/AAAAAAAABIc/WGLte3GkHqo/s1600/bin%2Bladen.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iKOTGT-1Fvo/Tb4kRZs5mvI/AAAAAAAABIc/WGLte3GkHqo/s400/bin%2Bladen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601954867871062770" border="0" /></a>They got him.<br /><br />Nearly ten years ago, my city and my country suffered the worst terrorist attack in world history.<br /><br />This unspeakable act impacted people from all over America. Even if you were from a small town in say Alabama, miles away from the attacks, it was as though it was your family who had lost somebody. Because you had. This was personal.<br /><br />Today, US forces have finally delivered justice to the man responsible for the destruction of the building I worked in, as well as the other atrocities done on September 11, 2001.<br /><br />Let's take a moment to honor those who died nearly ten years ago. And to remember how very grim it was that day.<br /><br />God bless the US Military, including the Special Forces, and the CIA, FBI, and our brothers from in Britain and many other lands, and all in the Obama and Bush administrations who played any part in bringing Obama to justice this day.<br /><br />The mills of God grind slow, but they grind exceedingly fine.<br /><br />God bless America.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-11028377461679614422011-04-01T14:04:00.006-04:002011-04-01T14:29:46.704-04:00R Train Service Cancelled on Nights and Weekends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ASSvdHV1QpY/TZYV-jJUSWI/AAAAAAAABIU/gKfMyuBGEGk/s1600/R%2BTRAIN%2BBLURRY.jpeg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 121px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ASSvdHV1QpY/TZYV-jJUSWI/AAAAAAAABIU/gKfMyuBGEGk/s400/R%2BTRAIN%2BBLURRY.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590680151757441378" /></a><br /><br />( Bay Ridge News Service )<br /><br />The MTA announced a new series of service cuts that are to take effect immediately. <br /><br />Of special interest to Bay Ridge / Sunset Park residents is that the R train will no longer run between the hours of 10pm - 6am Monday - Friday, and that it will not run at all Saturdays or Sundays.<br /><br />" We are dealing with an unprecedented financial state of chassis " said Mayor Bloomberg at City Hall. " Someone has to pay the price. They need to suck it up. Besides, my kind of people don't ride that train during those hours "<br /><br />City Councilman Vincent Gentile, reached at Circles restaurant vowed to restore the service. " Not everyone has a car " he said. " This is so unfair, especially after they reduced the Express Bus service last year "<br /><br />State Senator Marty Golden was promising to organize a sternly worded petition. " This isn't the end of this " he said to the Home Reporter.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-76602902185299886132011-02-20T23:18:00.002-05:002011-02-20T23:21:30.677-05:00" Oh You Pretty Woman " , Willie and the Wheel<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nXHQErygXj8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I like Willie Nelson, and for a quarter century have been a huge fan of the Western ( Texas ) swing band <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asleep_at_the_Wheel"> Asleep At The Wheel</a><br /><br />The other night I caught <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_City_Limits">Austin City Limits</a>, the great live music show from Austin, Texas, and caught 'em singing together.<br /><br />The show was killer, from a joint album called <a href="http://www.willieandthewheel.com/album.php">Willie and the Wheel</a>. It's got the boys and the girls, and righteous fiddle players, and even a New Orleans sound which I never heard before from them, and I do believe I will be buying this CD soon.<br /><br />Sorry I've been AWOL a bit. See you in ten days or so.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-26111464688676884862011-01-03T10:56:00.012-05:002011-01-04T15:36:49.217-05:00( Edited - see below ) Incompetent Bloomberg Administration to resume Alternate Parking Tuesday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TSIBCg6aZfI/AAAAAAAABGs/gFNBODAJ0xc/s1600/garbage%2Bsnow.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 249px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TSIBCg6aZfI/AAAAAAAABGs/gFNBODAJ0xc/s400/garbage%2Bsnow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558006032834913778" border="0" /></a><br />The City, who along with the corrupt Sanitation Unions, has screwed up the aftermath of last week's snowstorm to a fare-thee-well, is stating on 311 that Alternate Side Parking resumes this Tuesday.<br /><br />Many parking spaces remain unavailable due to snow. The premature resumption of Alternate Parking will cause unnecessary traffic congestion and frustration tonight and tomorrow. They will make a bad situation worse.<br /><br />I hate to say it, but it looks as though Bloomberg and his administration doesn't even care anymore<br /><br />- - -<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">3<span style="font-weight: bold;">30pm -</span> The City has decided to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> suspend Alternate Parking regulations for Tuesday as well.</span> Well they could have made this announcement this morning, but better late than never</span><br /><br />- -<br />Tuesday<br />There will now be a <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/01/04/2011-01-04_nyc_blizzard_feds_open_criminal_probe_into_alleged_city_worker_conspiracy_during.html">federal investigation</a> of the illegal union slowdown during and after the snowstorm ( NY Daily News ) <br /><br />Sanitation workers destroyed headstones at a <a href="http://www.sheepsheadbites.com/2011/01/washington-cemetery-gravestones-broken-sanitation-department/">Jewish cemetery in Brooklyn</a> during a belated cleanup of Bay Parkway ( Sheepshead Bites )Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-75528460069834666692010-12-28T23:24:00.009-05:002010-12-29T14:09:46.739-05:00Mayor Bloomberg's Block Doesn't have Snow!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TRq4heLp9yI/AAAAAAAABGk/6CnsuzAQLUU/s1600/bloombergVme.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 149px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TRq4heLp9yI/AAAAAAAABGk/6CnsuzAQLUU/s400/bloombergVme.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555955975492073250" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The image to the left - Mike Bloomberg's block<br /><br />The image to the left - a block in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn<br /><br />Image courtesy of <a href="http://www.sheepsheadbites.com/2010/12/go-to-hell-mayor-bloomberg-this-is-why-were-angry/">Sheepshead Bites</a>. I like their attitude.<br /><br />---<br />In Staten Island, the street in front of the Sanitation Commissioner's house is in <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/12/29/2010-12-29_a_madhouse_out_there_but_not_for_boss.html">great shape</a> The rest of Staten Island, not so much. ( NY Daily News )<br /><br />NYC, its mayor, and its Sanitation Department have performed horribly over the past few days. This has been a collapse of management, and there are reports of large numbers of Sanitation Dept employees calling in " sick "<br /><br />- - -<br /><br />A bunch of good Bay Ridge snow pictures <a href="http://bayridgejournal.blogspot.com/2010/12/big-storm-still-floundering.html">here</a> in Bay Ridge Journal. ( click photos to enlarge )<br /><br />- - -<br />More good pictures <a href="http://www.bayridgetalk.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3472">here</a> at Bay Ridge TalkUnknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-79219653221005513752010-12-27T12:18:00.004-05:002010-12-27T12:43:14.459-05:00Snow Day In Bay Ridge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TRjKjcexIPI/AAAAAAAABGU/Jd41Jfvz2KY/s1600/snowstormdec2010%2B004.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TRjKjcexIPI/AAAAAAAABGU/Jd41Jfvz2KY/s400/snowstormdec2010%2B004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555412850650980594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Man walking up 68th Street towards Fourth Avenue, 1030 this morning</span><br /><br />This reminds me of the major snowstorm in 1996. A storm that wasn’t noticed by most snuck up on us on a Sunday evening into the night, enveloping the Northeast in a massive blanket of white.<br /><br />In 1996, I was visiting family in Mountain Top, PA. I didn’t have a car then, and took the bus back into Manhattan from Wilkes Barre PA. We barely made it in to Gotham City, as the snow got heavier and heavier along the route. Our excellent bus driver was able to barely make it into the Bus Terminal, passing stranded cars all along the way.<br /><br />Once there it was cake. The underground portions of the subway system were running great, and I made it home without any problem.<br /><br />This weekend, I was in suburban Philadelphia, again with family. Though I have a car now, I decided not to take it, and went down by mass transit instead ( Boltbus down, Septa / NJ Transit trains back )<br /><br />There was no sizable snow on the way home yesterday – the serious snow came upon upon us later in the evening. But there was vicious winds and whiteout conditions at times, which made me happy that I wasn’t driving anywhere.<br /><br />Overnight, heavy soft snow everywhere, with big drifts of over two feet in many places. There are cars stranded on many sidestreets.<br /><br />But all night long, I heard the rumble of the R subway line. While major snowstorms wreck havoc on the outdoor train lines, this entirely underground line remains unaffected by any snow condition. Its a great service for us.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TRjPxKN44ZI/AAAAAAAABGc/ar0823DxYgg/s1600/snowstormdec2010%2B012.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TRjPxKN44ZI/AAAAAAAABGc/ar0823DxYgg/s400/snowstormdec2010%2B012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555418583824654738" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Stranded vehicle in the middle of 68th Street, just east of Fourth Avenue</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-43914409348471039262010-12-15T21:54:00.010-05:002010-12-16T12:31:24.726-05:00Take the N or R Train to All NYC Airports!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TQl_1gfKXQI/AAAAAAAABGI/SA3W4bkr0Ds/s1600/A%2BTRAIN%2BCONNECTION.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TQl_1gfKXQI/AAAAAAAABGI/SA3W4bkr0Ds/s400/A%2BTRAIN%2BCONNECTION.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551108572941278466" border="0" /></a>I've passed through the Jay Street Metrotech ( formerly Lawrence Street ) connection a few times. Its easy as pie.<br /><br /><br />It now makes it easy for Bay Ridge / Sunset Park / other Brooklyn residents to take the subway to JFK Airport. But there are surprisingly easy mass transit options to each of the three area airports. Here's how you do it.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">To JFK Airport</span></span><br /><ul><li>Take Manhattan bound R train to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Jay Street / Metrotech. </span>Take the escalator by the second car.<br /></li><li>Transfer to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Far Rockaway </span>or Rockaway Park bound A train to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Howard Beach / JFK </span>station. ( second or third car )<br /></li><li>Take the JFK Airtrain ( $5 fare, paid with MetroCard ) right to your terminal.</li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">To LaGuardia Airport</span></span><br /><ul><li>Take N train through Manhattan and into Astoria. Get off at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Astoria Boulevard</span> and take the stairs by the second or third car</li><li>Follow the sign to LaGuardia bound <span style="font-weight: bold;">M60</span> bus and take the bus to your terminal. Free transfer with MetroCard.<br /></li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">N/M60 to LaGuardia not recommended if you have heavy luggage as the bus gets crowded.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >To Newark Airport</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><ul><li>Take R train to Cortlandt Street. Exit by the front of the train</li><li>Walk 2-3 blocks to the PATH train. Use your MetroCard to pay $1.75 fare. Take PATH to last stop at<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Newark Penn Station</span>.<br /></li><li>Walk down " Westbound trains " ramp. Using the NJ Transit ticket machine on the platform, use debit / credit card or cash to buy NJ Transit ticket to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Newark Airport Station</span> ( $8.25 each way ) . Take the next westbound NJ Transit train that will stop at " <span style="font-weight: bold;">EWR</span> ". ( Some, not all Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line trains stop at EWR - ask the conductor to make sure you are on the right train ) Hold on to your ticket<br /></li><li>Exit at Newark Airport station. Take the escalator up to the gate where you use your ticket to pass to the Newark Airtrain.</li><li>Take Airtrain to your terminal</li></ul>I travel, and have taken the train to the airports many times.<br /><br />I personally find the N/M60 route to LaGuardia the easiest, since the trains and buses run frequently at all hours. The R /A/ Airtrain to JFK may now be just as easy. The connection to Newark is slower and more involved, and is not recommended at past the night rush hour when there can be long gaps between NJT trains. But when the stars are right it works fine- especially <span style="font-style: italic;">during</span> rush hour, when cars run slow.<br /><br />Save a few bucks, and give 'em a try. Your next trip to Honolulu or London begins with the N or R train!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-56770480609047682212010-12-08T18:01:00.014-05:002010-12-10T17:58:30.527-05:00R Train to Have New Lawrence St Connection this Friday at 1pm<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TQAQ3LCOpMI/AAAAAAAABGA/N7ykoefhgtE/s1600/jayaright.png"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 366px; height: 89px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TQAQ3LCOpMI/AAAAAAAABGA/N7ykoefhgtE/s400/jayaright.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548453280961438914" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ny1.com/content/130033/long-awaited-subway-transfers-to-open-in-brooklyn--queens">NY1</a> reports that the new direct tunnel connection between<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Lawrence St </span>( R train ) and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jay St / Borough Hall</span> ( A, C, F trains ) will open Friday, Dec 10.<br /><br />This will allow free transfers between the stations. Each station will be renamed<span style="font-weight: bold;"> " Jay Street Metrotech </span>" ( since they will henceforth be a single station )<br /><br />This will be a handy connection for Bay Ridge commuters heading to destinations on on Eighth Avenue or near the South St Seaport ( A, C) or to the lower East Side or Sixth Avenue, or 63rd St / East Side( F )<br /><br />There of course has always been a connection with the F at Ninth St, but this connection will involve far fewer stairs.<br /><br />I will try to take a photo of the new connection this Friday.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Friday reportage from <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/12/10/2010-12-10_35000_riders_set_to_use_new_bklyn_walkway_lines_linked_up.html">NY Daily News</a><br />and<br /><a href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/12/10/new-underground-subway-walkway-opening-in-brooklyn/">CBS</a><br />and<br /><a href="http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/130386/mta-unveils-new-jay-street-metrotech-station-in-downtown-brooklyn">NY1</a><br /><br />Photos <a href="http://gothamist.com/2010/12/10/welcome_to_jay_stmetro_tech_station.php">from Gothamist</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-11497159544067902282010-11-01T17:41:00.008-04:002010-11-02T01:11:45.063-04:00Chilean Miner Will Run Through Bay Ridge As A Participant In the New York Marathon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TM80KaOvD1I/AAAAAAAABF4/JI4DU9VIWFI/s1600/Chilean+Miner.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TM80KaOvD1I/AAAAAAAABF4/JI4DU9VIWFI/s400/Chilean+Miner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534699820506091346" border="0" /></a><br />The great story just got even better.<br /><br />Bay Ridge will have a distinguished visitor this coming Sunday, as Edison Pena, one of the <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/11/freed-chilean-miner-to-run-in-new-york-city-marathon.html">rescued miners</a> from Chile will be paying us a visit.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Pena also ran a 10.5-mile leg of a triathlon in Chile on Oct. 24. He was one of 33 miners who were trapped underground for 69 days after the Aug. 5 mine collapse.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He became known as "The Runner" for his daily workouts.<br /><br /></span>I think I know who will get the loudest cheers.<br /><br />Si se puede indeed!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-145467034306605682010-10-16T10:34:00.005-04:002010-10-16T12:38:38.502-04:00Japanese " Home Library " in Bay Ridge!<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qWd-9lPgxek?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qWd-9lPgxek?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><i>When Natsuko Garcia moved to Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, she realized that the dozens of Japanese families that had recently settled there could really use a children's library. So she decided to build one—in her living room.<br /><br />"We have so many Japanese kids in this neighborhood, and they don't have enough Japanese books to read," Garcia says. "So, they come here to borrow books from me." </i><br /><br /><br />I've never heard of someone having a public library in a private apartment. And I've not heard much about a Japanese community in Bay Ridge. <br /><br />Which is why I found this video so interesting.<br /><br />From the WNYC <a href="http://culture.wnyc.org/articles/know-your-neighbor/2010/oct/04/bay-ridge-brooklyn-natsuko-garcia-home-library/">Know Your Neighbor</a> series ( see links inside )<br /><br />Thanks to Jonathan Korzen, with New York Public Radio for bringing this to my attention!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-34000110372199844052010-09-25T15:07:00.001-04:002010-09-25T15:09:59.746-04:00A Walk Down Shore Road<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JrbP00uorv0?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JrbP00uorv0?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />A lovely, dreamlike walk down the length of Shore Road. Good job <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/apogeus1">apogeus1</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-49130891916229770882010-09-03T17:00:00.001-04:002010-09-03T17:03:04.405-04:00Off to New Mexico<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TIFiBN32eSI/AAAAAAAABFo/qKQ3_hm6QmM/s1600/New+Mexico.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TIFiBN32eSI/AAAAAAAABFo/qKQ3_hm6QmM/s400/New+Mexico.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512795191921506594" /></a><br /><br />Tomorrow, I fly to Albuquerque New Mexico, where I will traipse around the northern part of the state - Santa Fe, Taos, Raton, Las Vegas ( NM ).<br /><br />I have enjoyed my many forays into Europe and Asia, but it's time to dig a little deeper into the vast and glorious American continent. Can't wait.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-65381421370674075002010-08-26T23:19:00.002-04:002010-08-26T23:25:58.791-04:00An Actual Ad for a candidate for Congress from Arizona, USA<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GqnjzONrPiA?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GqnjzONrPiA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br />This is not a joke - not an intentional one anyway.<br /><br />This is an actual campaign ad for Pamela Gorman, candidate for Arizona's third Congressional District.<br /><br />She was crushed in the Republican primary this past Tuesday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-74473671530177600972010-08-01T22:46:00.005-04:002010-08-01T22:58:27.960-04:00May the Circle Be Unbroken<p><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KB1-1zuDGJ0&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KB1-1zuDGJ0&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object></p><br /><p> <em>(Michelle Wright-Iris DeMent-Mairead Ni Mhaonaight perform " May the Circle Be Unbroken " )</em><br /></p>Aasne Lorentzen, who we were proud to have as a neighbor in Bay Ridge for all these many years, passed away this past Thursday.<br /><br />She will be laid to rest on Monday morning, in Ocean View Cemetery in Staten Island.<br /><br />She leaves behind her son Kenneth and many friends in the neighborhood.<br /><br />May God bless.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-81873797570784272182010-07-17T20:14:00.004-04:002010-07-17T21:37:54.622-04:00Localized Flooding In Bay Ridge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TEJH8XTrqsI/AAAAAAAABFY/_9Or7MGT7ss/s1600/WTC+and+Flooding+019.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TEJH8XTrqsI/AAAAAAAABFY/_9Or7MGT7ss/s400/WTC+and+Flooding+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495033597719718594" border="0" /></a>Did anyone else have water in the basement Friday?<br /><br />I did, and at first I thought it was due to a defect in the hot water / boiler system.<br /><br />But now I read that there was localized flooding caused by clogged city drains<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38250929/ns/local_news-new_york_ny/">not that far away</a> in Gowanus, Brooklyn " near Fourth Avenue ". And I'm only steps from Fourth Avenue. <br /><br />The water surge- apparently from the city water drains - messed up my hot water and heating system - whose controls had to be reset. It appears that there was a reverse surge of water that put filled up the radiators up to the first floor- where the floor near the radiator is still wet. ( I have a natural gas / steam system )<br /><br />Did anyone else have this problem?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-6331758963284075902010-07-11T21:50:00.007-04:002010-07-18T15:36:36.613-04:00Biking from Bay Ridge to Westchester County<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UFGFgJcV234&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UFGFgJcV234&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />I found this on youtube - a perfect video of what it's like to bike over the Brooklyn Bridge.</span><br /><br />I've been getting into biking a bit more lately, and this past Sunday I decided to go for a long ride. From Bay Ridge to Hartsdale, NY, to pay a short visit to my Uncle Brendan.<br /><br />I left at about 7am, before the sun was bad, and hung a right at Third Avenue. Third Avenue north of 65th Street is an industrial hell, but on early Sunday morning, it's not so bad. Even the nasty curved passage under the Prospect Avenue connector was easy.<br /><br />Left turn on Ninth Street, right turn on Smith Street, left again on Atlantic Avenue, then a quick right for the few blocks along Adams St to the Brooklyn Bridge.<br /><br />While the roads between Bay Ridge and downtown Brooklyn are not very bike friendly, once you hit the Brooklyn Bridge, you're where you want to be. The bridge is of course glorious, with a gentle incline that takes you past the tourists and joggers into the Oz of lower Manhattan.<br /><br />Once in Manhattan, it only gets better. There are dedicated, protected bike paths along almost the whole length of the Hudson River in Manhattan now. I rode up to 181st Street, treated myself to a gourmet breakfast at the McDonalds on 181st and Broadway, then continued north on Broadway into the Bronx and Westchester.<br /><br />I had plotted the route with Google Maps, which now has a " bike directions " option along with their driving, walking, and mass transit options.<br /><br />The Google maps directions contained a significant error - its still in beta - , but I knew the terrain well enough to know how to keep going north. And when once in Westchester, I found the Harlem River Metro North line, and got to Hartsdale by following the tracks north as best I could.<br /><br />I was a sweaty mess by the time I got to Brendan's house, but a cool shower and a few Budweisers took care of that.<br /><br />As for the ride home? My cousin gave me a ride to 205th Street, and I rode the bike friendly D train home from there!<br /><br />I like long distance biking and will do more of these runs.<br /><br /><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Brooklyn,+New+York+11220&daddr=New+York+9A+N%2FWest+St+to:40.736852,-74.009399+to:Hartsdale,+NY&hl=en&geocode=FTsYbAIdpZ2W-ylx8f4PslrCiTF7PoAOZwb7Ww%3BFU5qbQIdLq6W-w%3B%3BFWrmcQId1O2Z-ynFubDWkJTCiTEKnBrb6mt0qA&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=10&via=1,2&sll=40.82728,-73.909925&sspn=0.444754,0.883026&ie=UTF8&ll=40.82728,-73.909925&spn=0.444754,0.883026&output=embed" frameborder="0" height="350" width="425" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Brooklyn,+New+York+11220&daddr=New+York+9A+N%2FWest+St+to:40.736852,-74.009399+to:Hartsdale,+NY&hl=en&geocode=FTsYbAIdpZ2W-ylx8f4PslrCiTF7PoAOZwb7Ww%3BFU5qbQIdLq6W-w%3B%3BFWrmcQId1O2Z-ynFubDWkJTCiTEKnBrb6mt0qA&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=2&sz=10&via=1,2&sll=40.82728,-73.909925&sspn=0.444754,0.883026&ie=UTF8&ll=40.82728,-73.909925&spn=0.444754,0.883026" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-1586068735821300632010-06-27T12:51:00.001-04:002010-06-27T12:53:11.477-04:00Last B37 Third Avenue Bus<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3l5G7_j5fEI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3l5G7_j5fEI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Saturday, June 27, 1150pm. <br /><br />The last northbound B37 bus pulls out of the Bay Ridge Avenue stop, pauses at the light, and then heads to downtown Brooklyn, never to be seen again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-23261141157860696072010-06-25T22:09:00.001-04:002010-06-25T23:48:48.151-04:00The M Train's Last Run<object style="background-image: url("http://i3.ytimg.com/vi/NOWGblJ2uSo/hqdefault.jpg");" height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NOWGblJ2uSo&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NOWGblJ2uSo&hl=en_US&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Today, I joined about ten train fans and a few normal commuters on the last M train passing south through lower Manhattan into Brooklyn's Sunset Park, Borough Park, and Bensonhurst.<br /><br />Here, the last M train pulls out of 36th Street, on the slow chug to Bay Parkway and into history.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-79832952906341506972010-06-25T08:28:00.010-04:002010-06-25T22:20:26.720-04:00Last Days for Third Avenue BusThis morning, I commuted to work using the B-37 ( Third Avenue ) bus.<br /><br />There were a lot of regulars on the bus, for whom this was their normal means of commuting. They greeted their fellow passengers with hellos, hugs and kisses. One woman hugged the bus driver upon leaving.<br /><br />They'll all have to find a new way to get to work come Monday.<br /><br />A woman in dark glasses drove the bus. " I used to take the bus all the time when I was a girl ", she said. " I grew up in the neighborhood ".<br /><br />I wished her well, and transferred to the A train at Hoyt Schermerhorn for the ride to lower Manhattan.<br /><br />Tonight, I plan to take the last-ever M train out of lower Manhattan. It will leave Fulton St at just after 7pm. I'll get off at Lawrence St and catch the Third Avenue bus at Willoughby St, for my last ride on the B37.<br /><br />The B37 fades into history at 1201am Sunday. If you want to ride it for the last time, you'd better get going<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxtpi_M0TUaII1ZRj6wfSvrm9W2YaG3Ve0-LprHMYC2IVUQjOsI02n_jV84zJ_aJrYLQQFZbiUct0M' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />The B37 stops at Third Avenue and 37th St, Friday, June 25, 740pmUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-89869919568973211402010-06-15T20:57:00.010-04:002010-06-15T21:27:51.803-04:00Bloody Sunday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TBgiyOPT0zI/AAAAAAAABEw/hEwm8HNfuew/s1600/BLOODY+SUNDAY+002.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TBgiyOPT0zI/AAAAAAAABEw/hEwm8HNfuew/s400/BLOODY+SUNDAY+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483170792534692658" border="0" /></a>In 2007, I was in Ireland. Much to the amazement of some of my friends in New York and Dublin, I decided to go north of the border. To Belfast. Then out west, to Derry, without an agenda.<br /><br />I checked into Joan Pyne's Bed & Breakfast on Great James Street Saturday morning. Roamed the Walls of Derry, had a pint or two, spoke to a few locals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TBgiJ96rbcI/AAAAAAAABEg/FUMQycDEAjs/s1600/BLOODY+SUNDAY+005.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TBgiJ96rbcI/AAAAAAAABEg/FUMQycDEAjs/s400/BLOODY+SUNDAY+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483170100958424514" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And learned that the next morning was the 25th Anniversary of the Bloody Sunday killings.<br /><br />And that there would be a commemorative march along the route of the original march in 1972.<br /><br />I walked with them that beautiful Sunday morning, up the hill to the Creggan Estate, back into the town I saw no angry people - this was a day to remember, not to vent. One comment I remember was about how completely unnecessary the violence was.<br /><br />One of the people I spoke with gave me a small pin. I thanked him, and promised that I would keep it, and that I would show it to people. Here it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-67491426002913892232010-06-14T23:12:00.009-04:002010-06-20T22:22:41.481-04:00Bay Ridge Bus Cuts - What's Not in It For You<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TBbwLk0rP2I/AAAAAAAABEQ/gjIJCK4Ubso/s1600/B37+BUS.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TBbwLk0rP2I/AAAAAAAABEQ/gjIJCK4Ubso/s400/B37+BUS.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482833678023999330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Third Avenue Bus - No More B37. Get Ready for the B70</span><br /><br />Take a look at this <span style="font-weight: bold;">B37</span> bus, parked in front of the Fu Lai Kitchen by 69th Street. It won't be around for long.<br /><br />The Third Avenue bus began service in 1942 if I read wiki correctly, and there was streetcar service on Third Avenue before that. I believe that it always pretty much on its current route - from Fort Hamilton, all the way down Third, past the Fulton Street shopping area, up to Borough Hall.<br /><br />There's one problem with a full length Third Avenue bus today - not enough people ride it between Bay Ridge or Sunset Park to downtown Brooklyn. Maybe back in the old days the service was needed, perhaps to to shop " downtown" in Fulton St - but Fulton St has been shabby for decades now, and you'll have an easier time buying most things in Century 21 anyway.<br /><br />There will still be a Third Avenue bus for Bay Ridge and Sunset Park though. An existing bus, the <span style="font-weight: bold;">B70 ,</span> which currently runs on Seventh and Eighth Avenues, will be rerouted <span style="font-weight: bold;">so that there is a segment on Bay Ridge Avenue ( between Third and Eighth Avenues ) , and along Third Avenue ( from Bay Ridge Avenue to 95th St or wherever ) then turning up to terminate at the VA Hospital.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">( edit from initial post ) </span><br /><br />This is a creative solution that allows continued bus service for our neighborhood and for the largely senior citizen ridership that like taking the bus and who don't want to take the subway.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The B1 and B64 Switcheroo</span><br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">B1</span> currently runs up Bay Ridge Avenue ( 69th St ), hangs a right on 13th Avenue, takes the left on 86th St, then terminates in Manhattan Beach. The <span style="font-weight: bold;">B64 </span>runs up 86th Street, swings over to Bath Avenue, then winds up in Coney Island, by the subway terminal.<br /><br />These routes will basically reverse their eastern terminals. The new B64 will run up Bay Ridge Avenue and end up in Coney Island. The new B1 will run up 86th St, and wind up in Manhattan Beach. I think that the reason they're doing this is to have one bus ( the new B1 ) run pretty much the entire length of 86th St.<br /><br />It's fine by me - I live near Bay Ridge Avenue, and will now have one-seat service for the occasional trip to a Brooklyn Cyclones game.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">No More Express Buses on the Weekend</span><br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">X27</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">X28 </span>Express buses will no longer run on Saturdays or Sundays. To be honest, I have no problem with that. These buses have an astonishingly low ridership on the weekends - some of the buses run completely empty to and from Manhattan during daylight hours. Anyone who says that this is an essential service is full of it.<br /><br />The bus service changes will inconvenience some of us to be sure. But these are tough times, and we can't afford to have services that not enough people use. Use it or lose it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Debate welcome, and if I have made any errors, let me know. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11977927.post-58929076790037467682010-06-13T21:49:00.011-04:002010-06-14T08:13:06.100-04:00New York Subway and Bus Cuts - The Impact on Bay Ridge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TBWK9aSS2LI/AAAAAAAABEA/MR3k0faHQ6g/s1600/BRENDAN+AND+SUBWAY+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_tPbK8qTYtjM/TBWK9aSS2LI/AAAAAAAABEA/MR3k0faHQ6g/s400/BRENDAN+AND+SUBWAY+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482440909026154674" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Brooklyn bound M train at Broad Street, 630 pm one day last week.</span><br /><br /></span>On midnight, Friday June 25,<span> a number of changes will take place in NYC bus and subway service. Some routes will be eliminated, others will be altered, some will see frequency of service reduced.<br /><br />But how will this impact Bay Ridge</span><span style="font-style: italic;">?<br /><br />Lets look at the subways first. And to properly look at this, we need to look at the M train and the W, which don't serve Bay Ridge.<br /><br />I believe that the changes will be as follows:<br /></span><ul><li>the <span style="font-weight: bold;">W </span>train, which runs from Astoria to Whitehall Street, will be eliminated.<br /></li><li>the<span style="font-weight: bold;"> M </span>train, which during morning and evening rush hours went from the Fulton St / Wall Street area to 36th Street ( and then on to Bay Parkway ) will be completely rerouted and will no longer come anywhere near Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, or Bensonhurst.<br /></li><li>The<span style="font-weight: bold;"> N</span> train won't run as an express train in Manhattan anymore. It will run over the Manhattan Bridge, but will then run local from Canal Street and midtown<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">R</span> train service will not be directly affected. They will run as frequently as before</li></ul>The W train wasn't heavily used, and at times, the W trains would bunch up approaching Whitehall Street, causing delays for us R train riders. But it did take some passengers who otherwise would take the R train. Without the W, the R train will be more crowded in Manhattan.<br /><br />The M train has never made sense in this part of Brooklyn. It had a very low ridership - the one line on the subway system where you could always get a seat on rush hour. I take it a lot, and would refer to it as my " private limo " - more than once, it I've taken the last M train to Brooklyn at around 704pm, I'd be the only passenger in the car. I will miss my private limo, but it makes sense to get rid of the M train to this part of Brooklyn.<br /><br />The loss of the N express in Manhattan is really bad. Since the Sea Beach line was fully restored some years back, it's been one of the best lines in the city, a great service for Bay Ridge and Sunset Park riders. Now that its not an express in the city, we've lost something.<br /><br />The R train? Well, lets just say the Fourth Avenue Local will be more crowded during peak hours. Especially as of Whitehall Street going into work, when the Staten Island commuters get on board. There will be no more W train to take the pressure off.<br /><br />These changes have not been fully explained by the MTA. There are posters in the subway stations explaining some aspects of the changes - you should check them out. If I've made any errors above, please set me straight.<br /><br />Tomorrow- how the Third Avenue bus and other bus changes will affect Bay Ridge.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8