Bay Ridge Blog

" Heart of a Soldier " Opera, About Rick Rescorla, Opens

2011-09-12T08:29:00.002-04:00

Let me speak of Risk Rescorla.

Born in 1939 in the village of Hayle, Cornwall, England. Among his earliest memories were those of US troops preparing for the D-Day invasion.

A natural leader of men, he chose the life of a soldier. He joined the British Army and served in Cyprus, then in present day Zambia, Africa.

He later emigrated to the USA. As soon as he could, he enlisted in the US Army. He quickly became an officer, and as a young lieutenant, was a patrol leader in some of the nastiest fighting in a very nasty war.

Rescorla was known for great personal courage in the battle of Ia Drang. In the highlands of Vietnam, he raised the spirits of his men by singing Cornish and Welsh songs. He had great compassion for his men, for the wounded and the dying.

That's a young Lt. Rescorla on the cover We Were Soldiers Once, and Young. The co-author of the book called Rescorla "the best platoon leader I ever saw"

Rick Rescorla, Vietnam, 1965

Fast forward.

An older Rick Rescorla is the head of security at Morgan Stanley. In Two World Trade Center, some floors below where I worked.

Rescorla warned the building management in 1991 that the building was vulnerable to a truck bomb that might be planted in the unsecured basement parking garage. They didn't listen. In 1993, the building was hit with a truck bomb in the basement parking garage.

Later, Rescorla, on the advice of his great Army friend Dan Hill, is led to believe that the building remained a terror target, and that the next time the attack would come from the air. He asks his employer to move to a low rise building. They refuse. The lease won't expire until 2005.

Rescorla does the best he can. He puts Morgan Stanley employees through up to four full scale evacuation drills every year, where they had to walk down up to 70 flights of stairs in an organized, floor by floor fashion. The stockbrokers hated the hassle. This type of frequent, full scale drill is completely unheard of in NYC.

When the plane hit the nearby One World Trade Center, building management announced that Two World Trade Center was secure, that they everyone should stay put. Rescorla ignored these instructions, and instead ordered a full scale evacuation. More than 2000 Morgan Stanley employees marched down the stairs, two by two, first one floor, then the next, then the next.

When the plane hit Two WTC, he kept his charges as calm as he could. " Today is a proud day to be an American," he said over his megaphone. As he had done in Ia Drang, he sang to his people to keep them calm - " God Bless America ". And his much beloved songs from back home. " The White Rose " and " Men of Harlech"

Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming
Can't you see their spearpoints gleaming
See their warrior pennants streaming
To this battle field

Men of Harlech stand ye steady
It can not be ever said ye
For the battle were not ready
Welshmen never yield

He got nearly every one of his 2700 men and women out. Except himself, his security team and one or two others. Afraid that someone had been left behind, he went back up. His body was never found.

I first read of Rescorla in this article in the New Yorker which I couldn't recommend highly enough.

There are many other articles about Rescorla, many quotes from his US Army comrades and from his Morgan Stanley co workers which back up everything said here, and more.

Today, we are on the eve of the tenth anniversary of the attacks, of the day when Rescorla got his people to safety.

Saturday, in San Francicso, Heart of A Soldier, a newly commissioned opera, will open. It's about Rescorla.

And about courage, duty, of the love and loyalty for soldiers for one another, these and other themes could make for a great story. I hope that the San Francisco Opera pulls it off.

From the hills rebounding
Let this war cry sounding
Summon all at Cambria's call
The mighty foe surrounding

Men of Harlech on to glory
This will every be your story
Keep these burning words before ye
Welshmen will not yield

Bay Ridge Bike Path, After the Storm

2011-08-29T07:13:00.001-04:00

Bay Ridge Bike Path, 530pm today. Strong, glorious winds, and waves a bit stronger than normal.

Right after I took this, the path was reclaimed by the usual bikers, runners, and rollerbladers.

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R train ran normal today at 6am.

Illegal Key Food Sign on Third Avenue!

2011-07-02T21:42:00.004-04:00

You gotta be kidding!

Here, an advertising sign extends all the way over the Third Avenue sidewalk and is attached to a city light pole.

I believe that breaks at least two city ordinances - since you can't hang advertising banners all the way across the sidewalk, and you can't use city poles for your advertising.

I like the 69th St. Key Food - I shopped there today - but this sign must go, now!!

Check Out My Internet Radio!

2011-05-25T16:57:00.004-04:00

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 "

There are six preset stations. My current selections:

RTE One, Dublin
BBC LW
Deutsche Welle News, Germany

WFUV New York
KPOA Hawaii
WWOZ New Orleans

I recommend this product, which is available on Amazon or at quality stores such as J&R.

Thoughts on the Death of Osama bin Laden

2011-05-01T23:25:00.004-04:00

They got him.

Nearly ten years ago, my city and my country suffered the worst terrorist attack in world history.

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.

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.

Let's take a moment to honor those who died nearly ten years ago. And to remember how very grim it was that day.

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.

The mills of God grind slow, but they grind exceedingly fine.

God bless America.

R Train Service Cancelled on Nights and Weekends

2011-04-01T14:04:00.006-04:00

( Bay Ridge News Service )

The MTA announced a new series of service cuts that are to take effect immediately.

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.

" 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 "

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 "

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.

" Oh You Pretty Woman " , Willie and the Wheel

2011-02-20T23:18:00.002-05:00

I like Willie Nelson, and for a quarter century have been a huge fan of the Western ( Texas ) swing band Asleep At The Wheel

The other night I caught Austin City Limits, the great live music show from Austin, Texas, and caught 'em singing together.

The show was killer, from a joint album called Willie and the Wheel. 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.

Sorry I've been AWOL a bit. See you in ten days or so.

( Edited - see below ) Incompetent Bloomberg Administration to resume Alternate Parking Tuesday

2011-01-03T10:56:00.012-05:00

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.

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.

I hate to say it, but it looks as though Bloomberg and his administration doesn't even care anymore

- - -
330pm - The City has decided to suspend Alternate Parking regulations for Tuesday as well. Well they could have made this announcement this morning, but better late than never

- -
Tuesday
There will now be a federal investigation of the illegal union slowdown during and after the snowstorm ( NY Daily News )

Sanitation workers destroyed headstones at a Jewish cemetery in Brooklyn during a belated cleanup of Bay Parkway ( Sheepshead Bites )

Mayor Bloomberg's Block Doesn't have Snow!

2010-12-28T23:24:00.009-05:00

The image to the left - Mike Bloomberg's block

The image to the left - a block in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn

Image courtesy of Sheepshead Bites. I like their attitude.

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In Staten Island, the street in front of the Sanitation Commissioner's house is in great shape The rest of Staten Island, not so much. ( NY Daily News )

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 "

- - -

A bunch of good Bay Ridge snow pictures here in Bay Ridge Journal. ( click photos to enlarge )

- - -
More good pictures here at Bay Ridge Talk

Snow Day In Bay Ridge

2010-12-27T12:18:00.004-05:00

Man walking up 68th Street towards Fourth Avenue, 1030 this morning

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.

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.

Once there it was cake. The underground portions of the subway system were running great, and I made it home without any problem.

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 )

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.

Overnight, heavy soft snow everywhere, with big drifts of over two feet in many places. There are cars stranded on many sidestreets.

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.

Stranded vehicle in the middle of 68th Street, just east of Fourth Avenue

Take the N or R Train to All NYC Airports!

2010-12-15T21:54:00.010-05:00

I've passed through the Jay Street Metrotech ( formerly Lawrence Street ) connection a few times. Its easy as pie.

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.

To JFK Airport

Take Manhattan bound R train to Jay Street / Metrotech. Take the escalator by the second car.
Transfer to the Far Rockaway or Rockaway Park bound A train to Howard Beach / JFK station. ( second or third car )
Take the JFK Airtrain ( $5 fare, paid with MetroCard ) right to your terminal.

To LaGuardia Airport

Take N train through Manhattan and into Astoria. Get off at Astoria Boulevard and take the stairs by the second or third car
Follow the sign to LaGuardia bound M60 bus and take the bus to your terminal. Free transfer with MetroCard.

N/M60 to LaGuardia not recommended if you have heavy luggage as the bus gets crowded.

To Newark Airport

Take R train to Cortlandt Street. Exit by the front of the train
Walk 2-3 blocks to the PATH train. Use your MetroCard to pay $1.75 fare. Take PATH to last stop at Newark Penn Station.
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 Newark Airport Station ( $8.25 each way ) . Take the next westbound NJ Transit train that will stop at " EWR ". ( 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
Exit at Newark Airport station. Take the escalator up to the gate where you use your ticket to pass to the Newark Airtrain.
Take Airtrain to your terminal

I travel, and have taken the train to the airports many times.

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 during rush hour, when cars run slow.

Save a few bucks, and give 'em a try. Your next trip to Honolulu or London begins with the N or R train!

R Train to Have New Lawrence St Connection this Friday at 1pm

2010-12-08T18:01:00.014-05:00

NY1 reports that the new direct tunnel connection between Lawrence St ( R train ) and Jay St / Borough Hall ( A, C, F trains ) will open Friday, Dec 10.

This will allow free transfers between the stations. Each station will be renamed " Jay Street Metrotech " ( since they will henceforth be a single station )

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 )

There of course has always been a connection with the F at Ninth St, but this connection will involve far fewer stairs.

I will try to take a photo of the new connection this Friday.

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Friday reportage from NY Daily News
and
CBS
and
NY1

Photos from Gothamist

Chilean Miner Will Run Through Bay Ridge As A Participant In the New York Marathon

2010-11-01T17:41:00.008-04:00

The great story just got even better.

Bay Ridge will have a distinguished visitor this coming Sunday, as Edison Pena, one of the rescued miners from Chile will be paying us a visit.

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.

He became known as "The Runner" for his daily workouts.

I think I know who will get the loudest cheers.

Si se puede indeed!

Japanese " Home Library " in Bay Ridge!

2010-10-16T10:34:00.005-04:00

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.

"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'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.

Which is why I found this video so interesting.

From the WNYC Know Your Neighbor series ( see links inside )

Thanks to Jonathan Korzen, with New York Public Radio for bringing this to my attention!

A Walk Down Shore Road

2010-09-25T15:07:00.001-04:00

A lovely, dreamlike walk down the length of Shore Road. Good job apogeus1

Off to New Mexico

2010-09-03T17:00:00.001-04:00

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 ).

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.

An Actual Ad for a candidate for Congress from Arizona, USA

2010-08-26T23:19:00.002-04:00

This is not a joke - not an intentional one anyway.

This is an actual campaign ad for Pamela Gorman, candidate for Arizona's third Congressional District.

She was crushed in the Republican primary this past Tuesday.

May the Circle Be Unbroken

2010-08-01T22:46:00.005-04:00

(Michelle Wright-Iris DeMent-Mairead Ni Mhaonaight perform " May the Circle Be Unbroken " )

Aasne Lorentzen, who we were proud to have as a neighbor in Bay Ridge for all these many years, passed away this past Thursday.

She will be laid to rest on Monday morning, in Ocean View Cemetery in Staten Island.

She leaves behind her son Kenneth and many friends in the neighborhood.

May God bless.

Localized Flooding In Bay Ridge

2010-07-17T20:14:00.004-04:00

Did anyone else have water in the basement Friday?

I did, and at first I thought it was due to a defect in the hot water / boiler system.

But now I read that there was localized flooding caused by clogged city drainsnot that far away in Gowanus, Brooklyn " near Fourth Avenue ". And I'm only steps from Fourth Avenue.

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 )

Did anyone else have this problem?

Biking from Bay Ridge to Westchester County

2010-07-11T21:50:00.007-04:00

I found this on youtube - a perfect video of what it's like to bike over the Brooklyn Bridge.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I had plotted the route with Google Maps, which now has a " bike directions " option along with their driving, walking, and mass transit options.

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.

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.

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!

I like long distance biking and will do more of these runs.

View Larger Map

Last B37 Third Avenue Bus

2010-06-27T12:51:00.001-04:00

Saturday, June 27, 1150pm.

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.

The M Train's Last Run

2010-06-25T22:09:00.001-04:00

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.

Here, the last M train pulls out of 36th Street, on the slow chug to Bay Parkway and into history.

Last Days for Third Avenue Bus

2010-06-25T08:28:00.010-04:00

This morning, I commuted to work using the B-37 ( Third Avenue ) bus.

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.

They'll all have to find a new way to get to work come Monday.

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 ".

I wished her well, and transferred to the A train at Hoyt Schermerhorn for the ride to lower Manhattan.

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.

The B37 fades into history at 1201am Sunday. If you want to ride it for the last time, you'd better get going

The B37 stops at Third Avenue and 37th St, Friday, June 25, 740pm

Bloody Sunday

2010-06-15T20:57:00.010-04:00

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.

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.

And learned that the next morning was the 25th Anniversary of the Bloody Sunday killings.

And that there would be a commemorative march along the route of the original march in 1972.

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.

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.

Bay Ridge Bus Cuts - What's Not in It For You

2010-06-14T23:12:00.009-04:00

Third Avenue Bus - No More B37. Get Ready for the B70

Take a look at this B37 bus, parked in front of the Fu Lai Kitchen by 69th Street. It won't be around for long.

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.

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.

There will still be a Third Avenue bus for Bay Ridge and Sunset Park though. An existing bus, the B70 , which currently runs on Seventh and Eighth Avenues, will be rerouted 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. ( edit from initial post )

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.

The B1 and B64 Switcheroo

The B1 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 B64 runs up 86th Street, swings over to Bath Avenue, then winds up in Coney Island, by the subway terminal.

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.

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.

No More Express Buses on the Weekend

The X27 and X28 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.

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.

Debate welcome, and if I have made any errors, let me know.

New York Subway and Bus Cuts - The Impact on Bay Ridge

2010-06-13T21:49:00.011-04:00

Brooklyn bound M train at Broad Street, 630 pm one day last week.

On midnight, Friday June 25, 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.

But how will this impact Bay Ridge?

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.

I believe that the changes will be as follows:

the W train, which runs from Astoria to Whitehall Street, will be eliminated.
the M 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.
The N 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
R train service will not be directly affected. They will run as frequently as before

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tomorrow- how the Third Avenue bus and other bus changes will affect Bay Ridge.

Lief Erickson Park Reconstruction

2010-05-31T22:36:00.003-04:00

They've removed the ugly " temporary " classroom building that has defaced Lief Erickson Park near Fourth Avenue for maybe 15 years.

Looks as though they are landscaping the park, and putting in a new walk path.

But will they maintain it once they rebuild it?

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The Key Food on 69th St is doing well, but not too many people are using the valet parking garageacross the street. I don't think valet parking ( and the expectation of tipping ) makes sense when you go to buy groceries. Also the fish market that in the garage ( who thought of that idea? ) does not look like it is doing well at all.

Visit Your Brooklyn Public Library!

2010-04-11T23:40:00.009-04:00

Bay Ridge Public Library at the corner of 73rd Street and Ridge Boulevard

I had fallen out of the habit of going to the library in Brooklyn. The selection of books for adults at any one time is pretty limited.

But recently, I've started using the library more than at any time since I was an elementary school kid at OLA. Because I don't look for books at the library anymore! I look for them online - where they tend to have what I want.

Here's how you can do it too. First, go to your local Brooklyn Public Library and get a Library Card.

Then go to the Brooklyn Public Library website and create a username and password.

To find a book, go to the site and log on. Enter the name of the book or author in the library search box. If you find it in stock, click the gold " Place a Hold " button and tell them which library branch you wish to pick the book up in.

If it's in stock, they'll find the book for you in one of the BPL branches. When it arrives at the branch you designate, they send you an e-mail or text message, after which you have ten days to pick it up.

Then you walk in, go to the designated book pick up section where the books are organized by last names of those who placed the orders.

The other day, I picked up two books I had ordered, and spent a total of maybe three minutes in the Bay Ridge Branch finding them and checking them out.

The online reservation system is really good, perfect for busy people.

See you at the Brooklyn Public Library!

Coffey Street, Red Hook, Brooklyn

2010-04-04T22:09:00.005-04:00

The woman who owns this house put this sign up sometime after 9/11. She updates it every morning.

Photo taken at 915 am today.

( Click once or twice to enlarge photo )

The Destruction of Yankee Stadium is Almost Complete

2010-03-28T17:56:00.002-04:00

The Yankees had their greatest moments here. The NY Giants played an NFL title game here. Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali won heavyweight title fights here.

But soon, it'll all be gone. See part of the upper deck come tumbling down at 2:35.

I'm glad I saw it when it was there.

Bay Ridge Avenue Key Food Opens

2010-03-11T22:54:00.005-05:00

The long-delayed Bay Ridge Avenue Key Food store opened this morning at 7am. To say that it was a big success would be an understatement.

This area has been starved for a proper supermarket for over a decade. Now we have a large ( by Brooklyn standards ) and attractive store right where it's most needed.

I arrived there at about 6pm. The customers were pouring through the door. One woman said " hallelujah ".

There's " free parking " in the building across the street. But it's valet parking only if you can believe that. The parking building has very tight turns, and they probably don't allow self parking because there would be too many fender benders otherwise. But with valet parking, the parkers will expect tips, so the parking isn't free- first time I've ever seen such a thing at a supermarket.

But I can walk to this beautiful new Key Food, and I look forward to walking to it often.

Store hours are 7am - 11pm seven days a week. It is an welcome addition to the neighborhood. You can find the weekly circular on the Key Food website.

Key Food
242 Bay Ridge Ave
Brooklyn, New York 11220
718-627-7406

---
Article about the grand opening in Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Bay Ridge Key Food News Flash!

2010-03-04T13:47:00.004-05:00

We hear from a reliable source that the 69th Street Key Food ( on Bay Ridge Avenue, between Third Avenue and Ridge Boulevard )will open its doors Thursday March 11 at 7am! Be there!!

---

City Councilman Gentile's web page has been added to the blog roll to the right.

Happy Birthday Johnny Cash

2010-02-27T10:28:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was Johnny Cash's birthday.

People sometimes forget how important his Christian faith was to him. The recognition of sin, forgiveness and redemption. They were always in his work.

Happy Birthday, John.

Snow Day In Bay Ridge

2010-02-26T09:54:00.002-05:00

Lots of snow, but that's a good thing.

Plenty of folks had the day off, but if you needed to come in to the city, the buses and subways were right on time.

Below, the B9 bus on Fourth Avenue / 69th at about 745am.

Let it snow. Take the kids down to Bliss Park!

Friday, Feb 26 - Snow Day

2010-02-26T09:21:00.004-05:00

Snow coming in wave after wave. It's good to have a real winter after some subpar ones.

If you're fortunate enough to live in a place with four seasons, this is what you get in wintertime. Snow, and lots of it.

The NY subways and buses performed admirably today. Plenty of people came in to work. Above, the exit at the Cortlandt St subway station, right by the World Trade Center. Where the construction guys were working today.

A snowman made by the workers in front of the Jubilee supermarket on John Street.

" Goodnight Irene " by the Weavers

2010-02-21T21:49:00.004-05:00

The Weavers were a New York City based folk group who was pretty famous from the late forties to the mid sixties.

They were lefties who got caught in the McCarthy thing. But they sure could sing, and if this is what a bunch of Commies sounds like we could use more of them.

---

The first R train to Manhattan leaves 95th St at 521am tomorrow. I hope to be on it.

And then I'll be at the Knicks game Monday night. By pure luck, I will be there on the second annual Legends Night where Willis Reed and Walt Frazier will be honored at halftime.

And then its to Bermuda Tuesday and Wednesday for work. Meet me at the Hamilton Princess for a beer Tuesday night.

Back during the wintry mix on Wednesday. Cheers.

---

I called Key Food corporate HQ in Staten Island on Monday - they say that the 69th St store is projected to open in another six weeks. I give up - someone's not been giving us the whole story on this.

Everyone in New Orleans Hits the Lottery on the Same Night

2010-02-08T00:16:00.001-05:00

I don't know how many of youze have been to New Orleans, but if you haven't what the hell's wrong with you?

In it's deeply flawed on so many levels way, it's one of the great cities of America or anywhere else. There's a gentleness and a relaxed air there that is unlike what you will find in any other US city. And an accent that will make you think you're in NY or Jersey. And lots of great food. Plus you can drink an open beer walking down the street. But I digress.

Hearing the old timers growing up, I heard of the night when the Brooklyn Dodgers won the World Series in 1955, beating the hated New York Yankees after decades of trying. People were overcome with joy. The little guy finally beat Goliath. The bars, which normally closed at 4am in the afternoon, stayed open till way after the sun rose the next day. Everyone was filled with joy, as though everyone hit the lottery at once.

I think this night is like that in New Orleans. They've been kicked in the head a few times, but they get back up. It's been proven that they know how to party. But the party they have tonight, is gonna be way better than the one they get at Mardi Gras, which comes soon. This may be better than ten Mardi Gras.

I wish I was in New Orleans tonight, for the mother of all parties.

New Orleans Saints will win National Concussion League Super Bowl!

2010-02-06T09:08:00.006-05:00

Word is that there will be a football game this Sunday night. The New Orleans team will face the team that used to be the Baltimore Colts, before the drunken bum who owned the Baltimore Colts snuck the team out to Indianapolis in the middle of the night.

I'm not a big fan of the NFL. I can't be a big fan of a sport where there are so many long breaks for commercials ( the game is really terrible live. You really notice all the stoppages ) or where the gangsters who run the sport have turned a blind eye to the high rate of concussions / brain injuries / other injuries by its athlete for about 75 years. It's ugly beyond words.

But this Super Duper Bowl is important to some people, so I guess you have to say who you want to win. I'll go for the New Orleans Saints. Because of New Orleans. If the Saints win, you'll see the mother of all parties in New Orleans, Sunday night going into Monday morning.

Hope noone gets a concussion, and that noone is paralyzed for life like Darryl Stingley. Lets go NFL.

--

Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. He was the grandson of slaves, and was born into great poverty. His father abandoned the family, and then the mother left too.

He overcame this background to become one of the best musicians the world has ever seen.

He died in Queens NY in 1971. His honorary pallbearers included Governor Rockefeller, Mayor Lindsay, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Guy Lombardo, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Pearl Bailey, Count Basie, Harry James, Frank Sinatra, Ed Sullivan, Earl Wilson, Alan King, Johnny Carson, David Frost, Merv Griffin, Dick Cavett and Bobby Hackett.

Key Food on Bay Ridge Avenue

2010-02-05T15:16:00.002-05:00

Informed sources say that the new projected opening date for the 69th St Key Food is Sunday Feb 28.

They didn't say which year

---

Kenny advises that he saw them cleaning out the Sunnydale Farms store on Third and 68th the other day. Hopefully some reconstruction is on the way?

Tony Blair Was Right

2010-02-02T00:40:00.004-05:00

As our British friends are well aware, the UK has recently seen the Chilcot Commission hearings, meant to investigate " how the decision to invade Iraq was made, and consider the lessons learned."

The Iraq war has been long and terrible. The former PM has many enemies on the left and many on the right. They all wanted Blair to back down, to apologize, to be humbled in some way. Except Blair did not go along with the script

From an opinion piece in Monday's Wall St Journal: Mr. Blair offered a ringing defense of the decision to invade Iraq, and a very different set of lessons for the present. "This isn't about a lie, or a conspiracy, or a deceit, or a deception. It is a decision," Mr. Blair told a packed room that included relatives of soldiers killed in Iraq. "And the decision I had to take was, given [Saddam's] history, given his use of chemical weapons, given the over one million people whose deaths he had caused, given 10 years of breaking U.N. resolutions, could we take the risk of this man reconstituting his weapons program?"

The article goes on to say Every Western country, including those opposed to the war, believed Saddam had WMD, a fact forgotten by many now, but which was the essential basis on which any leader had to make decisions at the time.

Blair adds "What we now know is that he [Saddam] retained the intent and the intellectual know-how to restart a nuclear and a chemical weapons program when the inspectors were out and the sanctions changed, which they were going to do. . . . "Today we would be facing a situation where Iraq was competing with Iran, competing both on nuclear weapons capability and competing more importantly perhaps than anything else . . . in respect of support of terrorist groups. . . . If I am asked whether I believe we are safer, more secure, that Iraq is better, that our own security is better, with Saddam and his two sons out of office and out of power, I believe indeed we are.". And of course, Mr. Blair is correct.

It's been seven years since the Iraq war started, a war that began as a cakewalk, and which unfolded as a moral horror, one compared with Vietnam. Despite recent sectarian atrocities , things have steadily gotten better . A civil resolution is not unthinkable, not now.
But I'm not here to convince anyone that the war was correct - I think that not deposing Saddam would have led to a vastly greater horror ,but probably most here disagree and that is fine.

I only ask you to reconsider something that I've said on these pages many times. That the oft-repeated cliche that Blair was " Bush's poodle " was never accurate. It was always a wicked, untrue slander.

Tony Blair was a strong advocate of coming to terms with Saddam's Iraq before 9/11 and before Bush even took his oath of office. He was at least a co author of the move for regime change in Baghdad, and as national leaders went he may have been its father.

I don't care to speak of his performance on other matters - but on Iraq, Blair continues to exemplify a political courage and a clarity of thought rare in any time. A tip of the hat to Mr. Tony Blair, who continues to speak the truth on Iraq.

And may God bless the men and women who serve in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Leif Ericson Park - " Temporary " Classroom Removed

2010-01-31T23:05:00.005-05:00

The " temporary " classroom that Bay Ridge High School dumped onto Leif Ericson Park west of Fourth Avnue over a decade ago was removed last week. A wide perimeter has been fenced off, and part of the wrought iron fence by on the Fourth Avenue was removed, presumably to allow for the removal of the modular building. It looks like there's a hole in the fence into which the missing section can be put back in.

Let's hope the park can be restored in time for spring.

This used to be a nice, small park in a neighborhood that does not have enough parks. Is it to much to hope that they can restore this park, and , actually maintain it once in awhile?

---

No exact word of when the 69th St Key Food will open --maybe in a week or two?

---

The scaffolding has been removed from 6802 Fourth Avenue, now that the repairs to the parapets on the roof have been completed.

Belfast Beer Summit

2010-01-13T22:29:00.016-05:00

Just north of Castleblayney. Where's the snow?

Work meant that I was going to be in London this past Monday. I was with a major client, meeting with four insurance companies not far from Liverpool Street station.

I decided to take a side trip. I flew into Belfast, so I could have a couple of days in Ireland before I went to London.

I flew the Continental Airlines nonstop from Newark to Belfast.

Ryanair at Belfast City, with the famous Harland and Wolff shipyards in the background.

When you tell people you're spending free time in Belfast, some will react as though you're spending your holiday in Mogadishu. Well, the Guinness is better in Belfast.

On Day One, I made my way from Belfast International Airport down to Co. Monaghan where I met up with relatives that I'd not seen in way too long a time. In between conversation, we watched BBC and RTE accounts of an overhyped snow storm, which had half everyone in the islands hiding under the bed and muttering about " grit " shortages.

At the Crown Bar.

On Saturday, I was given a ride up to Belfast. I stayed at the Europa Hotel, which was bombed many times during the bad old days. It's a good hotel, right in the middle of town, and a good value - a superior double cost me $120 US.

The Beer Summit was right across the street at the historic Crown Bar, lovely and as comfortable as an old shoe.

Here, we see Gerard, some guy in the back, the famous David Vance, and Peter, who was as sensible in person as he is in print. G was a shy subject but an excellent photographer. I'd tell you what we spoke of, but what happens in Belfast stays in Belfast I always say.

I flew out of Belfast's City Airport, a small facility much closer to town than the larger Belfast International. It's just right for Ryanair, with whom I flew to London Stansted. In an airport like this, there are no delays. The plane lands, heads right to the gate. Two minutes later, the passengers are streaming out of the plane. There are no delays, and turnarounds are very fast.

The Ryanair cabin is cramped and no frills unless you're willing pay for them, but they stick to a schedule and the flights are cheap and cheerful. I flew to London for $68, including all charges including the one for the checked bag. I will fly Ryanair again, and I hope to see London and maybe Ireland again in February.

Belfast in January

2010-01-05T17:39:00.003-05:00

P1000358, originally uploaded by dals0.

The bricks they may bleed and the rain it may weep
And the damp Lagan fog lulls the city to sleep.
It's to Hell with the future, we'll live in the past
May the Lord in his mercy be kind to Belfast

I'm off to Belfast tonight to partake of the good weather. Keep an eye on things
when I'm gone. Two days in Ireland, then off to London, and then back home on
Tuesday night.

And about the 69th St Key Food? I just called. It won't be opening this weekend
after all. I think that the Second Avenue Subway and Freedom Tower will both be
long built before we go to this Key Food!

NYC 2010 Alternate Side of the Street Parking Suspension Calendar

2010-01-03T10:41:00.004-05:00

Asterisk (*) indicates Major Legal Holidays.

2010 Alternate Side Parking (Street Cleaning) Rules Suspension Calendar

Holiday Date/Day
New Year's Day* January 1, Fri
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday January 18, Mon
Lincoln's Birthday February 12, Fri
Asian Lunar New Year February 14, Sun
Washington's Birthday (Pres. Day) February 15, Mon
Ash Wednesday February 17, Wed
Purim February 28, Sun
Passover (1st/2nd Days) Mar 30-31, Tues-Wed
Holy Thursday April 1, Thurs
Holy Thursday (Orthodox) April 1, Thurs
Good Friday April 2, Fri
Good Friday (Orthodox) April 2, Fri
Passover (7th/8th Days) April 5-6, Mon-Tues
Solemnity of the Ascension May 13, Thurs
Shavuot (2 Days) May 19-20, Wed-Thurs
Memorial Day* May 31, Mon
Independence Day* July 4, Sun
Independence Day (Observed)* July 5, Mon
Feast of the Assumption August 15, Sun
Labor Day* September 6, Mon
Rosh Hashanah September 9-10, Thurs-Fri
Idul-Fitr September 10-12, Fri-Sun
Yom Kippur September 18, Sat
Succoth (2 Days) September 23-24, Thurs-Fri
Shemini Atzereth September 30, Thurs
Simchas Torah October 1, Fri
Columbus Day October 11, Mon
All Saints Day November 1, Mon
Election Day November 2, Tues
Diwali November 5, Fri
Veterans Day November 11, Thurs
Idul-Adha November 16-18, Tues-Thurs
Thanksgiving Day* November 25, Thurs
Immaculate Conception December 8, Wed
Christmas Day (Observed)* December 24, Fri
Christmas Day* December 25, Sat
New Year's Day (Observed)* December 31, Fri

Top Twelve Predictions for 2010

2010-01-01T18:45:00.011-05:00

The US withdrawal from Iraq begins in earnest. Iraq is far more peaceful than anyone would have expected.

The Afghanistan surge strategy shows gains, but the country remains a ungovernable mess. Karzai remains the corrupt mayor of Kabul, rather than a true national leader.

The Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility will remain open. President Obama privately concludes that Bush was right on this one, that it is the best of a series of unpleasant choices.

The Republican Party retakes the House of Representatives and makes major gains in the Senate in the 2010 midterm elections. Their winning issues are Obama's out of control spending and corruption and a pledge to perform major surgery on Obama's health care reforms.

The Republican Party remains without a national leader. Their midterm election successes reveal Democrat / Obama weakness, rather than to any inherent GOP strengths.

David Paterson defies the odds and is reelected Governor of New York State, running on a platform of fiscal conservatism.

Robbery, murder and other violent crime in New York City continue their dramatic fifteen year decline which started under Giuliani / Bratton, and which continue under Bloomberg / Kelly.

Apple's new " tablet " computer is an immense global success.

Ryanair defies air travel slump and announces a new route between London Stansted and New York's Stewart Airport, along with a summer service between Stewart and Dublin. Both are smash hits. Low fares is the winning hand.

Consumption of meat and dairy products is outlawed in San Francisco, as part a concerted campaign against Man Made Global Warming.

The American League repeals the designated-hitter rule, and the sport rises to new levels of popularity.

The 69th Street Key Food supermarket does not open on time on January 10, due to engineering reasons. The new projected opening date is January 15, 2012.

Soccer Tavern

2009-12-20T22:08:00.002-05:00

After work on Friday, I met up with the Kong and James in the Soccer Tavern, at 6004 Eighth Avenue.

This bar opened about thirty years ago, at at time when Eighth Avenue was still kinda sorta a Scandinavian neighborhood. Three decades later, this is a Chinese neighborhood, but there's still some remnants of the old Norwegian, Swede and Irish influence.

I arrived first, since the plan was for James to give the Kong a ride and for me to arrive straight from work. I arrived from work right on time, but James was lost somewhere near Father Capodano Boulevard in the wilds of Staten Island.

When I got there, the crowd was mostly Chinese men. A bunch of customers " right off the boat " hung out in the back benches, while I grabbed a seat by the bar and tried to save two seats for Kong and Jimmy, if Jimmy was ever gonna show up.

Its a comfortable, neighborhood place. The barmaid used to work in Bay Ridge's long lost Glenroe, and was well accustomed to the magnificent tradition of the buyback. Mugs were kept in the freezer.

The day bartender was sitting at the far end, and, wobbly legged, had to be helped from his chair when it was time for him to head home. You have to like a place where the employees like what they sell.

The Chinese guys left after a while, and a mixed Chinese, Scandinavian and Irish crowd carried on after that. Someone played " Fairytale of New York ".

This was my first visit to this bar, but it won't by my last. It's near a large number of good Chinese restaurants, and is in walkable distance of home, so why not?

---

Our sources say that the new Key Food supermarket on Bay Ridge Ave. / 69th Street will open on Sunday January 10

Liam Clancy, RIP

2009-12-05T12:07:00.002-05:00

Response to post in ATW

Bob Dylan once called Liam Clancy "the best ballad singer I've ever heard." Clancy died Friday at a hospital in County Cork, Ireland. He was 74.
From NPR

John Batchelor Show Back on the Air Five Nights A Week

2009-12-04T18:30:00.004-05:00

Effective this week, the John Batchelor Show is back on WABC 77 New York, from 9pm - 1am , Monday through Friday.

John Batchelor is the best public affairs talk host on the US radio airwaves. He's not a screamer, and he does not fit into any right or left wing cubbyhole. He's got serious international connections, and on every show you'll hear detail and frankness on domestic and international issues that you won't hear elsewhere.

Check it out, on radio or on the WABC stream. Highly recommended.

Ticket Trap on 67th Street / Lief Erickson Park

2009-11-28T22:39:00.026-05:00

View Larger Map
There is a ticket trap on 67th Street, just west of Fifth Avenue, on the north side of the street, by the Lief Erickson basketball courts .

( click on photo to enlarge. Photos taken early Thanksgiving morning ) My sister came in from out of state to visit. This past Monday, on or about 5pm, she parked on 67th Street, a few car lengths from Fifth Avenue. She made sure to double check the closest Parking Regs sign which is shown here. It says " No Parking " only for 8:30 - 10am Monday morning.

Imagine her surprise when she came back Tuesday to have a parking ticket that said she had violated a " No Parking Anytime " sign.

I walked up there last Tuesday night trying to figure out what had happened. One space down from the " No Parking Except for 830-10am " sign was a lightpole with brackets where a sign might be placed. But there was no sign. Maybe it fell out. Maybe there was never one there.

Only if you walk way, way down the block, past the light pole, past the fire hydrant, will you see this sign, which says " No Parking Any Time ".

It looks like there is one missing sign, leaving two signs in conflict. One says " OK to park at any time except Monday morning ". Another sign, quite far away says " No Parking Anytime "

On Thanksgiving morning, I saw that the 68th Precinct had given two additional tickets. People thought that they were parking legally, and their Thanksgiving present was to get bad faith parking tickets.

On tomorrow, I will call the 68th Precinct at 718-439-4211 to report this Parking Trap.

On Monday, I will call City Councilman Gentile's office at 718-748-5200. to see if they can help.

Please:
take a walk over to see this situation for yourself
call the Councilman and 68th Precinct to complain. There is power in numbers
Report any nearby Bay Ridge Parking Traps. I'm certain that they're out there.

Shanagolden

2009-11-28T16:01:00.010-05:00

It has been found. Thank you, youtube.

I think it was from the early 1970s. My mother, like so many Irish, would listen to various Irish radio programs. They could be heard on college stations like Bronx based WFUV, whose FM signal was barely strong enough to push past the Manhattan skyscrapers into Bay Ridge. The Sunday night program was hosted by Adrian Flannery I think. If you positioned the radio just so, you could hear a song or two. Then the signal would shift again, and you'd get more static than song. You'd fiddle with the controls, move the radio around, and you'd have the signal again. Maybe.

It was from such a tenuous link that I recall the heard " Shanagolden ". For maybe two years in those old days, it was one of the most popular songs in the micro-universe of Irish-American radio. They'd play it every week.

It was written by one Sean McCarthy, a Kerry man who wrote his first song at the age of seven. Many of his songs dealt with sadness and death.

The protagonist of this song is a woman, whose husband died fighting " the Saxon stranger " in Limerick a long time ago. There are good versions by female singers, but to me the best is this one, by Brian Day.

The audio imperfections make this all the better to me. The words harken to a distant past, to long ago battles in Limerick, to long ago broadcasts from the Bronx.

Three Oak Trees Planted on 68th St

2009-11-22T23:35:00.004-05:00

Three young English Oak trees have been planted in front of 374, 370, and 366 68th Street. These replace trees that were destroyed during the freak tornado that hit the block in 2007. ( Will post a photo of the trees soon )

---

Our crack sources tell us that the new Bay Ridge Avenue Key Food will open on Sunday December 13. Some of the shelves have been stocked, things are finally rounding into shape there.

2009-11-09T18:31:00.004-05:00

This morning, I went to visit the USS New York at Pier 88 with some friends.

The line to get on board was not long. The troops could not have been more friendly.

---

Giving some marksmanship tips :)

Be safe, boys.

2009-11-09T16:54:00.000-05:00

message in message in

USS New York Comes to Town

2009-11-02T22:10:00.005-05:00

The USS New York is an amphibious transport dock ship.

It was built near New Orleans. It will be commissioned as a US Navy warship on November 7, after which it will be based in Norfolk, Virginia.

What makes this vessel very special is that it's bow was made with 7 1/2 tons of steel from the ruins of the World Trade Center. Ruined ploughshares turned into a righteous naval vessel.

This morning, the USS New York sailed under the Verrazzano Bridge into New York Harbor. I didn't see it enter the harbor, but I hope to see it later on this week.

The public can visit this important ship when she is docked at Pier 88 at 12th Avenue and West 48 Street., next to the Intrepid. The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, November 4 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 5 - 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 8 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Monday, November 9 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 10 - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 11 - 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Please note dates and times subject to change.

Members of the general public wishing to tour the ship should:
- Arrive early as lines my be long, especially on the Sunday, Nov. 8.
- Enter at West 46th Street and 12th Avenue (by the Intrepid).
- Bring a photo ID (adults).
- Wear comfortable shoes.

---
Ships have websites these days. Visit the USS New York web site here.

Election Day Tuesday November 3

2009-11-02T17:35:00.003-05:00

Polls open from 6am - 9pm
Alternate Side Parking Suspended
No Trash Pick Up

----

They're moving, and probably ticketing, cars on Senator Street on both sides of Fifth Avenue. Movie shoot
Bloomberg people put a yard sign in front of my house today, without my permission. Guess they figure they can do anything that they want. No way I am voting for this creep tomorrow.

Hold Your Nose and Vote for Mike Bloomberg?

2009-11-01T23:50:00.003-05:00

Maybe I should hold my nose and vote for this Mike Bloomberg, but I don't know if I can.

He's a sneak, and I don't like him.

I oppose smoking and don't think that anyone should smoke, but I didn't respect the way that he imposed smoking bans without ever mentioning the possibility when he was running for mayor. He kept his opinions to himself like a sneak, and then rammed home the bans once he was in.

I oppose term limits and voted against them, but the people of NY City voted in term limits. But Bloomberg decided that he himself was indispensible. Instead of having the matter brought before the voters again, he snuck in a term limits exception for himself with the weaklings of our City Council. Don't you ever say that there were quid pro quos.

He's continued the good work initiated by Rudy Giuliani in policing, and has been a good actor as respects public schools

But still. He is supposed to be this hands on genius who gets everything done.

Yet every day I pass by a small public park ( Lief Erikson Park ) that has been marred with a " temporary " building necessitated by construction work at Bay Ridge High School. The major construction at Bay Ridge HS has been finished for well over two years, yet the ugly and abandoned building remains in the park, ruining it.

Everytime I see this mess, I think of Mike Bloomberg.

Bloomberg has a weak joke of an opponent in Bill Thompson, a guy who is not worthy of a keystroke. Yet I don't know if I can pull my nose and vote for the sneak and opponent of democracy that is Mike Bloomberg.

Marty Robbins: " Billy The Kid "

2009-10-24T11:55:00.005-04:00

Marty Robbins was a major American singer - songwriter in the fifties and sixties back when there was such a thing as country and western

----
The work at the 69th Street Key Food has continued steadily. The wooden fence and scaffolding has been removed, and looking through the door you see some signs, and, along the right hand wall, a row of brand new freezer cases.

One of the guys working there said that they'll open the new supermarket in about four to five weeks.

Message from the Bunker

2009-10-21T21:47:00.002-04:00

I've not stopped blogging - things just got insane at work etc. I will write about something soon. If you liked it before, you'll like it again soon. Promise.

Sunday Music ; Skip A Rope, Henson Cargill

2009-09-20T20:36:00.003-04:00

Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King were still alive in early 1968 when Henson Cargill's " Skip A Rope " became a No. 1 Country hit, which it remained for a number of weeks.

It was his only hit song, but it was important. It stays in the mind.

Mary Travers and Friends : I Shall Be Released

2009-09-16T23:55:00.000-04:00

Jim Carroll Joins the People Who Died

2009-09-16T22:47:00.007-04:00

I got around to reading yesterday's NY Times only today. A story kicked me in the head near the end of the main section. Jim Carroll, poet, writer and musician had died of a heart attack at 60.

I didn't know he was 60. I don't know how in the hell he got to be 60 with the life that he lived.

Jim Carroll was an Irish-American kid who grew up in Manhattan. He was a tremendous basketball player at Trinity High School. He kept a diary during high school. When he began the diary, he was full of hope. By the end of the diary, he was a heroin addict, " hustling " in the old, horrible Times Square of the Sixties.

He was befriended by Patti Smith, who called him the " best poet of his generation ". She brought him onstage to read poetry while the band played background. He later wrote lyrics for Blue Oyster Cult and Boz Scaggs. Keith Richards helped him get his own deal with Atlantic Records. His most famous song " People Who Died " came from his album Catholic Boy.

Punk wasn't my thing at all, but this guy had something, and I salute you Jim Carroll, a troubled, brilliant soul hopefully now at peace.

For extra credit, his song Catholic Boy

People Who Died
Jim Carroll

Teddy sniffing glue, he was 12 years old
Fell from the roof on East Two-nine
Cathy was 11 when she pulled the plug
On 26 reds and a bottle of wine
Bobby got leukemia, 14 years old
He looked like 65 when he died
He was a friend of mine

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

G-berg and Georgie let their gimmicks go rotten
So they died of hepatitis in upper Manhattan
Sly in Vietnam took a bullet in the head
Bobby OD'd on Drano on the night that he was wed
They were two more friends of mine
Two more friends that died

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Mary took a dry dive from a hotel room
Bobby hung himself from a cell in the tombs
Judy jumped in front of a subway train
Eddie got slit in the jugular vein
And Eddie, I miss you more than all the others
And I salute you brother

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Herbie pushed Tony from the Boys' Club roof
Tony thought that his rage was just some goof
But Herbie sure gave Tony some bitchen proof
"Hey," Herbie said, "Tony, can you fly?"
But Tony couldn't fly, Tony died

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Brian got busted on a narco rap
He beat the rap by rattin' on some bikers
He said, "Hey, I know it's dangerous, but it sure beats Riker's"
But the next day he got offed by the very same bikers

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Teddy sniffing glue, he was 12 years old
Fell from the roof on East Two-nine
Cathy was 11 when she pulled the plug
On 26 reds and a bottle of wine
Bobby got leukemia, 14 years old
He looked like 65 when he died
He was a friend of mine

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

G-berg and Georgie let their gimmicks go rotten
So they died of hepatitis in upper Manhattan
Sly in Vietnam took a bullet in the head
Bobby OD'd on Drano on the night that he was wed
They were two more friends of mine
Two more friends that died

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

Mary took a dry dive from a hotel room
Bobby hung himself from a cell in the tombs
Judy jumped in front of a subway train
Eddie got slit in the jugular vein
And Eddie, I miss you more than all the others
And I salute you brother

Those are people who died, died
They were all my friends, and they died

September 11, 2009 - Photos

2009-09-13T22:30:00.011-04:00

The Towers of Light were up, but you could barely see them through the clouds. I walked down to the entrance of the Battery Tunnel and captured them.

The FDNY Memorial down at Engine Company Ten is just south of the WTC site. It was hard to photograph Friday night, as it was raining, and there were many visitors, including a group of middle aged and trainee firemen from the Anaheim California Fire Department, and various US military.

There was an FDNY Honor Guard. Here, the senior officer is about to dismiss them.

One small block south, O'Hara's pub did a roaring trade.

---
Bay Ridge Avenue Key Food to Open Sometime in Indefinite Future

Spoke to a construction guy down at the Bay Ridge Key Food site. He says that it will be open " in two months ". This project makes the WTC rebuilding look like a model of efficiency. I'm looking forward to doing my Christmas food shopping there. Christmas 2010.

---

6805 Third Avenue

Construction crews have been hard at work over the past couple of weeks gutting the place. A construction foreman said that the building might reopen " in eight months "

This would be much better than any of us expected.

Spoke to a neighbor who says that the owner, Bill, is a well respected guy who tried to keep the building in good shape.

Perhaps this building will reopen before the Key Food opens?

- - -

Garage Wanted

One of our readers is returning from Italy at the end of September, and is looking for a private garage in the Bay Ridge / Dyker Heights / Fort Hamilton area. If you know of one, let me know and I will relay it to him. His car is 193 inches long, 71 inches wide, and is 58 inches high.

September 11, 2009

2009-09-11T06:03:00.001-04:00

Eight years on, to the hour.

I passed by the World Trade Center site this morning. The Fire Department Pipe Band played a lament on the corner of Cedar and Church Streets. They gather here as they have gathered for each of the anniversaries, as they will gather for the next hundred years.

Many of us who worked in the World Trade Center remember in our own way. Many don't come in to work on 9/11 and will never do so. Some gather in places such as Jeremy's Ale House in lower Manhattan where they paused eight years ago before they walked some miles across the Brooklyn Bridge.

I vary the routine each year. In 2002, I spent 9/11 morning in London, and flew home on a near-empty American Airlines flight to JFK that night. In other years, I have stayed away from work and gathered with others in lower Manhattan.

Today, I come in to work, and will pass by the WTC site in the morning, in mid-day and on the way home. I see what is, and remember what was.

I worked on the 103rd Floor of the World Trade Center, and was there late September 10, 2001. I remember it, and the many fine people I knew there, so very well.

Italy Vacation : Bologna's Twin Towers

2009-08-24T20:47:00.015-04:00

As when one sees the tower called Garisenda
from underneath its leaning side, and then a cloud
passes over and it seems to lean the more,
thus did Antaeus seem to my fixed gaze
as I watched him bend...

Divine Comedy, Inferno, XXXI, 136-140^[1]

Ten days ago, I returned from an all too short eight day vacation to Bologna, Florence and Rome.

I went solo some days, and met up with friends from North Carolina on other days.

I flew into Milan's Malpensa Airport, took a bus to the main train station, then took a train south to Bologna.

Bologna is a city of about 375,000 population in the metro area. It's not on the main tourist trail, but that's not really fair.

Bologna is just a lovely town - clean, safe and walkable. Like seemingly all of Italy, you can't walk two blocks without running into history and beauty. And terrific restaurants that cost less than the ones back home.

Walking down to the Piazza Maggiore, to my left I saw the impressive Towers of Bologna, which brings the World Trade Center to mind.

The taller one is called the Asinelli while the smaller but more leaning tower is called the Garisenda.

They were built in the early 12th Century, and probably had some sort of military purpose. Apparently, at one time Bologna had about 180 towers, which must have been one amazing sight.

---

I walked past the 69th Street Key Food site yesterday. They were working there on a Sunday, and progress continues to be made. The foreman said that it will open in about six weeks. We'll see.

Don't know about the parking lot across the street. It looks awfully cramped and small in there, no matter what they do to it.

Fundraiser for 6805 Third Avenue Fire Victims

2009-08-07T23:57:00.000-04:00

Thanks Kelly

Hello,

I came across your blog about the fire that happen last week. There is going to be a benefit at Shenanigans on 89 and 3rd this Sunday, August 9 from 1-6. You can find it on facebook, I copied and pasted the information for you.

Host:	Jill Brown and Shenanigans
Type:	Causes - Fundraiser
Network:	Global
Price:	Donations at the door, Drink Specials, 50/50, Raffle

Date:	Sunday, August 9, 2009
Time:	1:00pm - 6:00pm
Location:	Shenanigans
Street:	89th and 3rd Avenue

-Kelly

Ciao, Bella

2009-08-06T00:40:00.005-04:00

Italy wasn't like a Fellini movie when I was there before.It was more Felliniesque than that.

Off to Italia tomorrow night, back a week from Friday. Let's see if Italy is still Italy, in all its insane beauty.

---
Silver Gull Beach Club

Manny Fernandez, a reporter for the NY Times, is writing a story on the Silver Gull Beach Club. If you're a member or a former member who'd like to chat, please give Manny a call.

Broken Car Mirrors - The Sign of Bloomberg's Bay Ridge

2009-08-05T23:21:00.009-04:00

Broken Mirror
Originally uploaded by Mirandala

Mayor Giuliani acted on the
Broken Windows Theory, driving historic reductions in " quality of life " and more serious crime.

In Bay Ridge, Mayor Mike Bloomberg deserves to be known for the Broken Mirrors Theory. Under Bloomberg's theory, crime stats continue to decline. It's an excellent theory. If only it were true.

Are any of Bloomberg's stats real? We keep getting reports of vandalized cars all over Bay Ridge. Is the 68th Precinct doing anything to prevent these incidents? Are they even reporting these incidents? Are you?

If your car has been vandalized in any way, don't you dare keep it to yourself. First, report it to the 68th Precinct at 718-439-4211. Then report it here.

I want less talk from this " can't get it done " Bloomberg. I want results from this malingerer.

News 12 Brooklyn is looking into this story. If anyone has had their car vandalized in Bay Ridge recently, please call them at 718-861-6818 or email them at news12bkln@news12.com. ( News 12_ I gave Tom your phone number tonight. His car is in the prior post. Hopefully he will call you tomorrow ).

News 12 did a good report on last week's fire, we should pay attention to them.

----

I'm flying off to Italy tomorrow night, where it is impossible to have a bad meal or a bad glass or red wine. Will be back a week from Friday. Keep an eye on things, guys.

Cars Vandalized on 68th Street at 5pm ish Today

2009-08-03T22:58:00.006-04:00

Tom was able to put the unit back in-it had been hanging loose. But the mirror was smashed

At appx 5pm at least two cars on 68th Street between Third and Fourth Avenues had the drivers side rear view mirrors ripped off the vehicle.

A group of 17-18 year olds described as " Albanian " in appearance were observed by kids playing on the block. The vandalism was reported to the 68th Precinct, who sent officers to take a statement from one of the vehicle owners.

This is not the first time this has happened in this general vicinity.

Is the Post Office Committing Suicide in Bay Ridge?

2009-08-02T22:54:00.010-04:00

Yeah, I know that the Post Office has to do something.

First class mail must be way down - no one writes letters anymore, and it seems most of the young and middle aged switched to electronic bill payment years ago. I understand.

This past Monday, the NY Daily News reported that the US Postal Service may close 40 smaller retail post offices

I live close to the Ovington Retail Station at Fourth Avenue near 68th Street. It's open Mondays through Fridays, so I don't visit it often - I'm at work in Manhattan during the week. But, every time I do go there, I see a line of people - buying stamps but also mailing packages.

If this small post office closes, the many older people, businessmen, and immigrants will be asked to schlep all the way to 88th Street and Fifth to the Fort Hamilton Post Office or to the Bay Ridge Post Office at 55th Street and Seventh Avenue.

Guess what? No one will do that. Not for packages anyway.

Everyone from this end of Bay Ridge who wants to send a package will walk to the UPS Store at 7105 Third Avenue ( 718-238-1805 ) . They're open from 8:30am-7:00pm; Monday through Friday, Saturdays 10am-5:00pm;and Sundays 10:00am-3:00pm. They'll be happy to take the customers that the US Postal Service is running away from. Tell 'em the Bay Ridge Blog sent you.

The USPS must do something - but if they abandon this community, its their funeral.

Luke Kelly and the Dubliners: " The Black Velvet Band "

2009-08-01T10:30:00.006-04:00

Luke Kelly was born about a quarter mile from O'Connell Street, in 1940. His dad worked in the Jacobs Biscuit factory.

Luke performed in clubs and as a busker throughout England and Scotland for years.

He was a founding member of The Dubliners, with Ronnie Drew and the rest, in 1962. He gave sensitive, beautiful renditions of many old and new songs.

On 30 June 1980 during a concert in the Cork Opera House Luke Kelly collapsed on the stage. It was a brain tumor. Which killed him four years later. He performed until the end.

Above, see Luke Kelly at the peak of his powers as he performs " The Black Velvet Band " on the BBC's " The Talk Show " way back in 1970. Wish I was there.

6805 Third Avenue

2009-07-31T07:45:00.006-04:00

7am this morning.

( Click photo to enlarge )

--
story as reported by NY Daily News

6805 Third Avenue Bay Ridge Fire

2009-07-30T20:29:00.013-04:00

The fire began about 1130 Wednesday night, and wasn't put out until nearly 3am.

Amazingly, everyone in each of the sixteen apartments got out. The Red Cross took good care of them.

It was a four alarm fire. That would mean Engine Company 241 and Ladder Company 109 from just down Third Avenue, along with the guys from three other firehouses.

There were 14 injuries - 12 to firemen, two to residents.

The Sunnydale Farms deli has been at this location since the 1970s. I worked there over 30 years ago, along with a bunch of troublemakers. It was owned by John Bae, from Korea. It had been owned by different Korean families ever since. I've shopped there hundreds and hundreds of times. It was a clean and friendly place, just what you want on your block.

I knew the current owners by sight. They normally closed at eleven. So, last night, they would have left right before the fire started. They came by today. As you might expect, they were devastated.

At seven tonight, scaffolding was being put up around the building.

I hope that they can find a way to save the structure. And that the residents find new apartments that they like. And that Sunnydale Farms reopens soon, in a place very close to the corner of 68th Street and Third Avenue.

FromNews 12 Brooklyn including a video interview with Sunnydale owner Sung Ho.

Major Fire at 6805 Third Avenue

2009-07-30T08:25:00.015-04:00

There was a major fire last night in the apartment house at the southeast corner of 68th Street and Third Avenue. The building appears intact, but I think that all or nearly all the windows on the street side were smashed in. The building appears empty and smoke damaged, including the Sunnydale Farms store on the corner.

I couldn't take a photo this morning but will try to do so this evening.

There was an army of media trucks there at 7am today. A woman reporter from WABC said that everyone got out.

---
From Brooklyn Paper

From NY1

WPIX Eleven reports that there were 14 injuries, including 12 firefighters.

Very good video from WABC Channel 7

Photos in NY Post

The fire took place from around 1130 - 2am last night.

There are reports of " severe " damage to the building.

---

I feel very bad for the residents, and for what appears to be the loss of the Sunnydale Farms deli. For decades, that store has been a clean, friendly place with good prices. The Korean owners were constantly tinkering with the place, trying to make it just a bit nicer and better. I hope that they can reestablish the business soon. I shopped there maybe twice a week, and was there this past Tuesday night.

Why I'm Leaving the Republican Party

2009-07-22T20:37:00.017-04:00

These days, the Republican Party doesn't stand for very much. And I don't like some of the things that it stands for.

Today, a bill sponsored by South Dakota's Republican Senator John Thune came within two votes of largely overriding state laws restricting the right to carry concealed firearms. Basically, someone who had the right to " carry " in North Carolina would by virtue of this law be given the right to carry that concealed weapon even when visiting states like my own state of New York. A state which requires, but rarely grants, permits in order to carry hidden firearms.

New York has had sensible restrictions on weapons since 1911, when the Sulliaan Law was passed. They're a major reason why New York City is the safest big city in America, and why New York State has lower violent crime rates than the large states with loose rules on who can carry a firearm in public.

These laws are immensely popular around here, among both Democrats and Republicans.

Today, Senator Thune essentially pulled a gun on the populations of New York, New Jersey, California, Massachusetts and a number of other states. The Republicans talk a good game about local control and states rights, but, here, the citizenry in the Northeast / West Coast / urban Midwest were told that their views don't count at all.

Senator McCain shamed himself by voting for this bill. Senator Spector, the new Democrat from Pennsylvania voted against it. Specter may have been the deciding vote on this, as some Democratic senators - Reed, Feingold, probably voted against their conscience for tactical and political reasons. But, no doubt about it - this was a Republican shot at the heart of responsible gun control and the right of states to reflect the wishes on this issue.

States like New York would no longer have any real right to tailor gun laws to local needs. They could presumably have controls on their own citizens, but not on the millions of out of state residents who pass through. That's ludicrous and irresponsible.

This is one of the more divisive issues in America now. You might think that a good solution would have Texas values prevail in Texas, while the values of New York apply in New York. Not according to the Republican Party. The views of urban America on these matters are not to be taken into account.

The Sullivan Law has been around for nearly a century, and now they decide to go after it.

I've had some serious problems with the Republican Party over the past decade, over budgetary and some other issues. But here, they're attacking my rights and the rights of my city and state to maintain the level of safety we've enjoyed.
Since the Republicans appararently don't stand for much, and since they don't respect my rights, I'm going to fire a shot right back at them. In tomorrow morning's mail will be a signed " change of party " form to the NY Board of Elections. I'm leaving the Republican Party. I won't be going to the Democrats - there's nothing there for me. As soon as the paperwork is processed, I will officially be an " independent " - allied to no party.

To paraphrase what President Reagan said about the Democrats: I didn't leave the Republicans. The Republican Party left me.

I Resign!

2009-07-22T13:27:00.002-04:00

I resigned from an organization today. Details and reasons why to be provided by 10pm Brooklyn Standard Time tonight.

Speculation invited.

Over and out.

The R Train is Not the Dirtiest Subway Line!

2009-07-13T22:23:00.010-04:00

R Train: Bat Signal, originally uploaded by specmotors.

A recent survey by the borderline useless Straphangers Campaign atated that the 7 train was the cleanest line , while the R train was the dirtiest line in the system.

The survey was done by means of 2200 observations made by 29 volunteers from September-December 2008. They checked exactly 100 subway cars on each line Astonishingly, litter was not one of the things that was measured!

I ride the NY subway more than most people, at all hours. While I have a lot of complaints about the R train, as to most people, the simple fact is that it is not dirtier than other train lines by any objective measurement. Try riding the A train to Kennedy Airport at 5am some day and then you'll see some dirty subway cars.

The sample was too small to be meaningful. And as it did not include litter, what was measured didn't make sense.

--
Speaking of the R train, I've noticed a lot of really old cars being used on the R line over the past couple of weeks. Including lots of the R 42 models which haven't been seen much on the R until recently.

These now old trains will all be " retired " soon. They were widely used on the " RR " back in 1970. ( See the nice graffiti on the pole )

Baracklyn Cyclones - Phantom Meets Barack Obama

2009-06-23T23:42:00.014-04:00

Minor league baseball is great fun - you see good athletes who hope to play in the big leagues some day in a small arena setting. For much less money than the thieving major leagues would charge you.

But its a lot more than that. The minor leagues are fun . The low cost regime allows for the stands to be jam packed with families and young kids. There are loads of activities designed for those kids, and their parents.

And the teams will do anything for the sake of fun. Tonight, the Brooklyn Cyclones, who play their games beneath Coney Island's Parachute Jump, made the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of fun. They re-named their team for one night in honor of the election of Barack Obama. They became the the Baracklyn Cyclones

And the world was amazed when Barack Obama himself arrived at Keyspan Park to throw out the first ball. He made it a point to seek out the Phantom. Here, we shook hands after some extended policy discussions on Iran or one of them countries that begins with an I. It was like Nixon traveling to China, but I'm not sure who the Nixon is in this situation.

Barack Obama was not the only celebrity to attend the Cyclones game tonight. King Henry himself was there, from England or Bensonhurst, or one of them foreign places. Here, he says hello to Angelina, Bobby, and Keri, as we move from left to right.

Tonight's tickets cost $5 each. For that, we all had the best time. They announced Keri's birthday on the PA system, and she so loved that. If you're in the Brooklyn-centric universe, I highly recommend a trip to see the Brooklyn Cyclones

If you're in the US or Canada but not in near Brooklyn, I recommend that you attend a minor league game near you. It's good, it's very good, and I intend to see the Cyclones again this year.

---

Baracklyn Cyclone night as reported by Brooklyn Eagle
and
NY Daily News
and
the Staten Island Advance which reports that some Brooklyn fans hated the "gimmick"

Canadian Invasion - Fleet Week, May 2009

2009-06-14T21:12:00.014-04:00

( click on image to enlarge )
My nephew Bobby and I went to the Phillies- Yankees game on Saturday, May 23. I went to get him at grandma's house in NJ. We parked the car near Tottenville, Staten Island, and went to traveled to Yankee Stadium by the Staten Island Railway, Staten Island Ferry, and the No. 4 train.

As we passed the Stapleton SIR station, we saw a cluster of navy ships, in for the annual friendly Fleet Week invasion.

On the ferry, we met up with Jordan Payne, from Prince Edward Island, and Renee Blais, and Philippe, both from Quebec, from the Halifax-based HMCS Fredericton, one of those ships off Staten Island.

Gents, hope that you had a good time in the Big Apple. Come again.

Is Verizon FIOS In Bay Ridge Already?

2009-06-06T10:39:00.011-04:00

I saw a Verizon truck just now, and I asked the employee ( Rick ) if FIOS was going to be coming to Bay Ridge anytime soon. He said that the lines were already being installed along 71st Street, and that you could expect it to be available in much of the neighborhood by the end of the summer.

This fiber optic technology offers the fastest internet connections available in the US, and, I am told, the best TV images.

Plus, Verizon includes the BBC World 24 News Channel, which neither Time Warner nor the satellite TV companies have chosen to offer. That's a big deal to a news junkie like me.

I love my Directv, but when FIOS comes to 68th Street, I expect to switch.
---

More than one year after the construction ended, the incompetent Bloomberg Administration has removed the No Parking signs on Senator St, by Bay Ridge High School. In another city, this could have been done in a week. In Bloomberg's New York, it takes more than a year to execute the removal of a " No Parking " sign.

Manhattan ALS Walk - May 16, 2009

2009-05-17T21:55:00.012-04:00

Team Duffy assembles before 11am on Saturday, on Charles St ( West Village ) before the walk up to 55th Street, along the banks of the Hudson River. It was an overcast day, a good day for a three mile walk.

Team Duffy and its magnificent supporters in America, Ireland, England, and Australia ( yes! ) raised $2680 for medical research and for important services for patients and their families.

Warm thanks to all who contributed. If you'd still like to throw a few bucks to a great cause, it is not too late. Take out your credit card - click on this, follow the instructions, and thank you very much.

C'mon kids. It was only three miles. Get back up there!! Give me three more miles!!

Sunday Music: " The Dark Eyed Sailor " by Steeleye Span

2009-05-10T23:27:00.006-04:00

In the midst of rock's unquestioned rule, the British "electric folk " band Steeleye Span began its life in 1969.

The voice of the great Maddy Prior leads here. I really like the languid, intentional, lack of sync between her voice and that of Dublin's Gay Woods here.

I heard this song ages ago. It stays in the mind. The usual cut the ring in half / love lost and then found deal.

It's quite wonderful. Steeleye Span is still around. That's even more wonderful.

---

as i roved out one evening fair
it bein' the summertime to take the air
i spied a sailor and a lady gay
and i stood to listen
and i stood to listen to hear what they would say.

he said "fair lady, why do you roam
for the day is spent and the night is on"
she heaved a sigh while the tears did roll
"for my dark-eyed sailor
for my dark-eyed sailor, so young and stout and bold."

"'tis seven long years since he left this land
a ring he took from off his lily-white hand
one half of the ring is still here with me
but the other's rollin'
but the other's rollin' at the bottom of the sea."

he said "you may drive him out of your mind
some other young man you will surely find
love turns aside and soon cold has grown
like the winter's morning
like the winter's morning, the hills are white with snow."

she said "i'll never forsake my dear
although we're parted this many a year
genteel he was and a rake like you
to induce a maiden
to induce a maiden to slight the jacket blue."

one half of the ring did young william show
she ran distracted in grief and woe
sayin' "william, william, i have gold in store
for my dark-eyed sailor
for my dark-eyed sailor has proved his honour long"

and there is a cottage by yonder lea
this couple's married and does agree
so maids be loyal when your love's at sea
for a cloudy morning
for a cloudy morning brings in a sunny day.

New Bay Ridge Key Food Coming Soon

2009-05-10T22:00:00.006-04:00

There's been a lot of activity inside and outside the new Key Food supermarket on 69th Street, between Third Avenue and Ridge Boulevard.

Nothing noticeable going on in the projected parking facility across the street, but this afternoon I saw a couple of construction guys taking a look inside there.

This new supermarket will be a very welcome addition to Bay Ridge and hopefully will give a jumpstart to economic activity in the 69th Street and Third Avenue areas.

Support the Greater NY March to Defeat ALS

2009-05-09T00:30:00.015-04:00

Brendan ( Pete ) Duffy, with grand-niece Keri, at New York Mets baseball game, July 2006.

Brendan ( Pete ) Duffy grew up in the country in County Monaghan, Ireland. Crossed over to New York in the mid 1950s, the old fashioned way, on the ship. Built a life for himself and his family in the Bronx and nearby.

Strong and cheerful, great with adults, a hundred times better with kids.

With his much beloved children, played the pipes with the Monaghan Pipe Band many times in the NY St. Patrick's Day Parade, and in many other events.

Now, not so good.

In late 2008, he was diagnosed with ALS, or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Which was not a surprise. His legs had started to fail long before then. He no longer walks.

On Saturday, I'll be joining Brendan's daughter Annette and many others as we walk in the Greater NY Walk to Defeat ALS. These funds will help the ALS Association provide research for a cure - and to provide essential assistance to ALS patients.

If you care to make a contribution, please click here.

I am registered under the name " The Phantom ", so hit the button above the total calculator that says " Support The " and give what you can. It's a really good cause

Thank you. I will have photos of the march here a week from today.

New Yankee Stadium- Authentic or Fake?

2009-05-04T23:22:00.010-04:00

I went to the Angels-Yankees game this past Thursday. It was strange entering the new ballpark, with the magnificent old Yankee Stadium still there, on Death Row, right across 161st Street.

As with the new Mets Stadium, this stadium offers a slow and expensive wait for very poor food. Do not believe the hype. My brother in law went to the " Johnny Rockets " fast food place and had to wait a long time. The staff were told in the fourth innning to say that they didn't serve french fries, which is funny as it is a fundamental part of their, ahem, " menu". After 25 minutes at the counter, I think that they discovered that they did have fries after all.
The new ballpark is interesting, but it has a lot of design flaws. There were lines at the mens rooms, which may help curtail beer sales. There are many severely obstructed bleacher seats.

It's mostly good, but is it Yankee Stadium? After so many days and nights, I don't know. Is the new place real or fake, an improvement over the House That Ruth Built or a formula new stadium by HOK Sport for the suits, with a fake facade slapped on the roof?

As fog rolled in, some memories of the old 1973 and before true Yankee Stadium came to mind.

The jury is still out.

Flying Monkeys, Green Witches and No More Third Avenue Bus?

2009-05-02T13:48:00.014-04:00

I did a little free association search on youtube yesterday, and came up with this little gem. It's as though every word and every note of this Beatles song was made with " The Wizard of Oz " in mind!

The B-37 ( Third Avenue ) has served the Bay Ridge to Downtown Brooklyn communties since 1942. And before then, trolley cars ran the same route.

This important route, a lifeline for our many seniors and others, is slated for elimination unless the MTA finds a lot more money. The politicians claim to be concerned, and perhaps something will be done.

So what is the MTA spending it's money on these days? A couple of weeks ago, they built this fancy shelter at 72nd / Third. Others have been built elsewhere on Third Avenue. For a route that supposedly won't be here soon.

Either someone's bullshitting somebody, or these people cannot be trusted with money.

( The NY Times reported on the same phenomenon - new shelters being built on Cortelyou Road for bus routes about to be eliminated -on April 10)

---

On the bright side, saw five construction guys clearing debris from the projected new Key Food site on 69th Street. I'd noticed a bunch of fresh permits there the weekend before. Think we'll have our much needed supermarket before too long now.

--

I treated myself to a lithograph, and it ( along with something they gave me when I left the Navy base in Naples Italy ) needed to be framed. I went to Polizzi Fine Art on 7813 Third Avenue yesterday. The husband and wife team there gave me some good ideas, and I'll have my custom framed works in a week or two. These guys appear really good, and the prices were fair. Can't wait to see the final result.

Nationals - Mets, April 24, 2009: K-Rod Gives Up A Hit

2009-04-25T11:32:00.012-04:00

Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez ( K-Rod ) pitches against Washington right fielder Kearns in the ninth inning last night, and gives up a ground ball single just left of second.

The new Mets stadium is gorgeous.

One complaint- the food is not nearly as good as they've been saying. I had an Italian sausage that had clearly been sitting around for a while. And customer services is surprisingly slow.

Had a short conversation with one of the staff, who used to work at Shea. He said that he much preferred Shea to the new place, which he referred to as a " theme park ". Said that Shea attracted real fans, while the new place attracted those who " don't care about the game ".

The new Shea is a nice theme park, though. Even if the food service is slow.

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Bag policy far more liberal than that of Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won't let you bring in any backpacks. The Mets will allow you to bring in normal size backpacks, but of course will search them.

Parking lot very congested. Don't drive, or if you do, don't park in the stadium lots. Subway or LIRR a much better bet.

Sunday Music: Brooklyn Owes the Charmer Under Me

2009-04-18T23:23:00.006-04:00

Steely Dan has Brooklyn roots and have a proven inability to make bad songs. Here, one of my many favorites. Off to Orlando tomorrow for the big conference.

( from the great wikipedia )

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker met at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in 1967. Fagen was passing by a cafe called The Red Balloon when he heard Becker rehearsing the electric guitar.[11] He would later recount the experience during an interview: "I hear this guy practicing, and it sounded very professional and contemporary. It sounded like, you know, like a black person, really."[11] He immediately introduced himself to Becker, and asked him "Do you want to be in a band?"[11] They quickly realized that they enjoyed similar music, and even listened to the same jazz radio stations; not long after, they began writing songs together.

The two soon began playing in local groups. One of these bands, first known as The Bad Rock Group and later as The Leather Canary, included future comedy star Chevy Chase on drums. They played covers of songs written by The Rolling Stones ("Dandelion"), Moby Grape ("Hey Grandma"), and Willie Dixon ("Spoonful") along with a handful of originals.[11] Terence Boylan, another Bard musician, remembered that Fagen immediately took to the Beatnik lifestyle while attending college: "They never came out of their room, they stayed up all night. They looked like ghosts — black turtlenecks and skin so white that it looked like yogurt. Absolutely no activity, chain-smoking Lucky Strikes and dope."[11] Fagen himself would later remember it as "probably the only time in my life that I actually had friends."[12]

After Fagen graduated in 1969, the two moved to Brooklyn and tried to peddle their tunes in the Brill Building in midtown Manhattan. Kenny Vance, a member of the pop group Jay and the Americans, who had a production office in the building, took an interest in their material that led to work on the soundtrack of the low-budget Richard Pryor film You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat in 1971. Becker later spoke bluntly of the soundtrack: "We did it for the money."[13] A series of demos made between about 1968 and 1971 are available in bootleg form.[14] This collection features approximately twenty-five tracks, and is notable for the stripped down production and decidedly lo-fi nature of these tracks (many songs are just Fagen and his piano) is contrary to many other Steely Dan works. In addition, although some of these songs ("Caves of Altamira", "Brooklyn", "Barrytown") re-recorded for Steely Dan albums, the majority of them were never officially released.

More here

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Susan Boyle Makes the World Rock

Of course, as Left and half the world will tell you , this should be the song of the week on this and on everyone's blog. I'm not a fan of these contests, but this triumph of the human spirit makes me want to change my mind. Blow it up, watch every second of it two or three times. The performance, and the story, is that good.

Until last weekend she lived a self-contained existence alone with her cat Pebbles, listing her hobbies as watching television and reading. She is a volunteer at Our Lady of Lourdes church, visiting elderly members of the congregation several times a week. It seems a far cry from being tipped at odds of 1-2 by Ladbrokes, the bookmaker, as the winner of the UK’s most popular talent show. ( from timesonline article

( Performance from " Britain's Got Talent" live talent contest in Glasgow, Scotland )

Easter Message to the Somali Pirates

2009-04-12T14:29:00.005-04:00

When you see a US flag ship, stay very, very far away.

Don't f*** with the US Navy. They don't play. Trust me on this one.

The US has had an effective strategy in dealing with pirates since the days of Thomas Jefferson. The strategy is to destroy them, without mercy.

Good work, men of the Alabama and the men of the US Navy.

Semper fi.

Philippe Petit High Wire Walk At World Trade Center

2009-04-12T09:10:00.006-04:00

A short tribute film of Philippe Petit's walk between the Twin Towers on August 7, 1974.

An act of the greatest beauty and courage, which only becomes more great the more you think of it.

See Man on Wire to see how he did it.

An interesting 2006 article from the NY Times- A High-Wire Artist Touches Down

Sunday Music ; : " Bay Ridge Avenue " by David Lind Band

2009-04-12T08:44:00.005-04:00

Did you go to OLA or did you go to PS 102?

Making its Bay Ridge Blog debut, here is " Bay Ridge Avenue " by the great David Lind Band.

It doesn't get much better, or more local, than this terrific song and video. Tremendous detail here. Great work guys. ( Recommend that you hit the little rectangle at bottom right so you get to enjoy it in full screen mode )

( from the description on youtube )

Portrayed here by Steve Smith, self-styled movie producer/director, and set to the music of David Lind Band. Special thanks to Moises Prieto, producer of David Lind Band, Miguel Gil, horn arrangements.

David Lind Band:
David Lind-vocals, David Prieto-lead guitar, Moisés Prieto-lead guitar, Miguel Gil-saxophone, Pepe Troya-trumpet, Santiago Cañada-trombone, Fany Nsue-backup vocals, M. Muriel-bass, Mathias Cresto-drums

Bloomberg Administration Incompetence On Show At Bay Ridge H.S.

2009-04-11T21:06:00.012-04:00

The construction at " High School of Telecommunications " ( Bay Ridge High School ) has was completed over a year ago.

But, still, the sign on the pole says that there is No Parking for reasons of temporary construction.

In a neighborhood starved for parking spaces, four perfectly good spots have been unavailable for one year, despite the fact that the construction has been completed..

If you walk one block over, you will see that the temporary classrooms that have desecrated Lief Erickson Park for more than ten years are still there. A once nice pocket park looks like Guantanemo Bay.

Why is this? Mayor Mike Bloomberg has complete control of both the streets and of the NY Board of Education. He is such a master of detail and leadership that he had to overturn the City's term limits laws so that we would not be deprived of his magnificence.

Since there is no possibility that these small and large things have not been done for reasons of incompetence, we may only conclude that this is being done as a slap to City Councilman Gentile and Senator Mary Golden.

I will expect the Bloomberg Administration to try to blame their poor performance on the bad economy. But the aforementioned construction was completed well before the economy tanked. And you'd think that removing this pigsty from Lief Ericson would take priority over any other parks construction in the city.

Mayor Mike, since times are tough, I will volunteer to remove the No Parking Sign from Senator Street for free once you give the word. I can have my ladder over there in ten minutes.

So, Mayor Mike, management genius, money is no excuse. Fix it, you incompetent schmuck.

Peggy O'Neill's Closes

2009-04-05T19:58:00.008-04:00

Peggy O'Neill's has been a Bay Ridge mainstay since the Koch administration.

It used to be a gold mine, a genuine Irish pub/restaurant attracting crowds from 18 to 80, and ( good ) live music most nights. It attracted plenty of people from all parts of Brooklyn, Staten Island and points further afield.

It was jam packed on Friday and Saturday nights, and did well the other days as well.

I think that there were ownership changes over time, and at various times they messed with a formula that should never have been tampered with. The restaurant service went away, then the bands weren't the same, and before long it wasn't Peggy's any more. There was no reason to go there anymore.

Peggy's should be still open and prospering. This is an example of bar owner's malpractice. I don't want to hear about the bad economy or demographic changes. They killed their own gold mine by messing with it. Shame.

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We have a report that at about 9pm tonight the door to Peggy's was open, and that there were four NYPD cars outside, lights blazing. Something was going on.

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Took a walk down 69th Street, to the projected site of the new Key Food. No signs of any progress. I don't care what they told City Councilman Gentile. Something's wrong.

See some comments on Councilman Gentile's website including comments from angry and suspicious neighbors.

What the hell is going on? Everyone wants this thing to succeed, but nothing is happening and nothing has been happening for a very long time.

Sunday Music: Hawai'i 78

2009-04-05T14:50:00.003-04:00

From the late, great Israel Kmakawiwo'ole

Album - Various Songs

Lyrics - Hawaii 78

UA MAU KE EA O KA ‘AINA I KA PONO O HAWAI'I

(rough transalation: The constant, wet Rain Gives Life to the land
and brings goodness/change to Hawaii)

If just for a day our king and queen
would visit all these islands and saw everything
How would they 'bout the changing of our land
Could you just imagine if they were around
and saw highways on their sacred grounds
How would they feel if they 'bout this modern city life

Tears would come from each others eyes as
they would stop to realize
that our people are in great, great danger now

How would they feel
would their smiles be content
rather then cry
cry for the gods, cry for the people
cry for the lands that were taken away
and in it you'll find Hawaii

Could you just imagine if they came back
and saw traffic lights and railroad tracks
How would they feel about this modern city life
Tears would come from each others eyes as
they would stop to realize
that our land is in great, great danger now

All of the fighting that the king had done
to conquer all these islands
now there's condominiums
How would he feel if saw Hawaii now

How would he feel
would his smiles be content
rather then cry
cry for the gods, cry for the people
cry for the lands that were taken away
and in it you'll find Hawaii

UA MAU KE EA O KA ‘AINA I KA PONO O HAWAI'I

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Support Hawaiian music. Check out Buy Hawaiian Music website, which ships anywhere.

Taliban Whips Girl in Pakistan, Gutless Men Look On ( disturbing )

2009-04-04T09:56:00.013-04:00

Watch this. Watch every second of it.

This is a film ( from Britain's Guardian newspaper ) of the Taliban publicly whipping a young woman in the Swat Valley of Pakistan.

Her " crime " is not known. The NY Times says :

One account said she had stepped out of her house without being escorted by a male family member...Another account said a local Taliban commander had falsely accused the teenager of violating Islamic law after she refused to accept his marriage proposal.

Note the men standing around and observing this. You know that some of them oppose this, yet the gutless dogs stand in meek observance.

The Taliban is an oppressive force, internally and externally. Do not forget that it is they that gave Al Queda and Osama bin Laden shelter while he plotted the attacks on my buildings, my city and my country.

This video is being aired widely in Pakistan, and it has disturbed people there. I don't know what they're so damned surprised about. This is what the Taliban does.

Good luck to those who seek to destroy the Taliban.

Andrew McCann Deleted My Post

2009-04-01T21:34:00.007-04:00

This refers to yesterday's conversation on the excellent multi-author site A Tangled Web and will make sense to those who are regular readers there.

I made a post there and another author ( not the owner ) took it upon himself to delete mt post. That is unacceptable behavior.

ATW readers are welcome to comment, but not to trash Andrew McCann. No point would be served by such commentary.

( Below, a posting I made late yesterday, after a prior posting had been deleted. )

Each good blog has clear rules of engagement, and this one is no different.

This site has one proprietor, David Vance, who runs the place. His rules, which are few, are shown on the left sidebar. The rules are basically to be civil. If you follow the rules, you basically can say what you want.

There are a number of contributors to the site besides David. We adhere to the rules set by David, and by certain very basic, unwritten,. minimal rules of decency. One of these would be not to tamper with posts written by someone else. You can add or delete a post written by yourself, you can delete an offensive response to something you yourself wrote - but you can't mess with someone else's work.

You see, it's easy to do it. Registered users have the ability to edit - or to delete - anything here. This is probably a power that only David should have. But it's a power that Patty, mahons, PeteMoore, Alison, Mike Cunningham, Troll, Monica, and all of us have.We, and Andrew McCann have this power. A power which none of us to myknowledge none of us have ever used. Until today.

Some hours ago, when the owner of these pages was away on vacation, it is clear that Andrew McCann deleted my " April Fools " post. This is an act of great disrespect to David and to all those who write here, as authors or commentators. It is an absolute violation of the " free speech " premise that governs these pages.

It is all the more strange, as I have actually defended Andrew McCann more than once, on these pages and on the pages of Balrog. This is how I am repaid. With an act of sneakiness and treachery when the owner is on holidays.

We've crossed a Rubicon here. I have no quarrel with Mr. Vance, but here must invite him to a conversation as to how we ensure that such things will be prevented from ever happening again. If that can't happen, this is my final post here.

To prevent Andrew McCann from ever abusing the trust placed in him again, I am creating a replica of this post. If, and only if it is deleted, I will immediately post it on my site Bay Ridge Blog

I hope that the conversation continues, with my many friends here, who may be allies or adversaries on any individual issue. The one thing that all of us, or all but one agree, is that freedom of speech is paramount

No one is going to take it away.The conversation will move elsewhere if it must, but no one is going to stop the conversation from happening.

David, I am sorry that this happened on your vacation.

Good night, all.

Bay Ridge Blog to Become a Paid-Only Site

2009-03-31T22:14:00.004-04:00

Doing a blog takes time, and my time is worth plenty. So, effective 1201 am on April 15, 2009, this blog will only be available to those who pay for a subscription.

Google does pay me a pittance for the adsense ads, but I want more. Someone has to pay me for my Time Warner high speed internet, subscriptions to magazines, luxury travel on the express bus. Plus the odd expense account dinner at Embers to meet with sources.

Subscriptions will run $75.99 a year, via Paypal. It's cheaper than the NY Times, and lets face it, its a lot more fun. ( $10 a year if you pay in cash at Three Jolly Pigeons Sunday night )

You know it's worth it. So pay up.

New Home for NY Mets Opens

2009-03-29T17:01:00.032-04:00

The New York Mets have a new home, and some of us got the chance to check it out today.

They opened the doors two weeks before Opening Day for a ball game between St. Johns and Georgetown. A nice gesture to college baseball, and a chance for the Mets to make sure that things work at the new building.

It was weird seeing Shea Stadium completely gone - there's only a pile of dirt where it once stood, a block away from the new ballpark.

The new stadium is lovely. It's everything that Shea was not. The seats are wider and there is more legroom between them. You're closer to the field. The sound system is impeccable.

In this more intimate environment, you probably won't hear the airplanes as much.

There are food courts everywhere, with decent chow at prices that will shock the average fan - a slice of pizza will now set you back $6. A sixteen ounce Budweiser is $7.50. You can use credit cards pretty much anywhere, good thing at these prices.

There are no more ushers, which means that there will be no one to wipe off your seat, which is bad, and there is no one expecting a tip, which is good. The guys who used to work as ushers now act as gatekeepers for individual seating sections ( as in Giants Stadium ).

Where Shea was a cookie cutter ballpark, this is an intimate stadium with many nooks and crannies. The fans are really going to like it.

This was a really good day for Georgetown's baseball team- they threw the first pitch in the new stadium, shown here, they hit the first home run, and won the game. St. Johns was actually the visiting team today.

Click to enlarge.

There is plenty of legroom, and a cupholder at each seat.

The little that remains of the mighty Shea Stadium may be found behind the blue fence, right outside the new stadium.

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Twenty two great photos here in the NY Daily News

Suzanne

2009-03-22T12:11:00.012-04:00

I've just returned from a Saturday funeral service in Napa, CA.

Suzanne worked in our San Francisco office. She was a native of the nearby town of Napa.

She'd had pancreatic cancer. She underwent a brutal regime of chemo and the rest. Then it came back.

There was a large gathering of lifelong girlfriends, neighbors, her husband, mother, and friends from work.

The service was presided over by a Catholic priest. And a number of people got up to speak.

One of the girlfriends told the story of how when they were all sixteen, they walked about 20 miles on a whim along the side of a highway to visit a friend, only to find that she wasn't home! This was the first time the mother had heard this, and stuff like this kept the thing from being too heavy.

That and the story of how her first job after graduating Barnard College was as an editor at Playboy Publishing. ( " Sorry father!")

I don't know how people have the courage to get up and speak at these things, but it's a good thing.

They played this as the service ended.

After the service, we moved a mile down Napa's quiet Main Street to Angele Restaurant for a light lunch, where some of her many friends raised glasses of her Napa Valley Chardonnay in her memory.

Natasha Richardson

2009-03-19T00:16:00.001-04:00

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen

New Connection Between Whitehall Street and South Ferry Station

2009-03-17T22:03:00.010-04:00

Click to enlarge, so you can appreciate the nice tilework.

They opened a new, better South Ferry station yesterday. The main beneficiaries are " 1 " train riders connecting with the Staten Ferry.

But it also provides a free transfer between the R and 1 train--very good for Brooklyn subway riders traveling to lots of places on the West Side of Manhattan.

If you're going to Tribeca or other places on the West Side, this is worth a try. Ttake the last car of the R train to Whitehall Street. Go up stairs, and walk past the tree tilework and down the stairs to northbound 1 train.

It can be a better way to connect to the West Side IRT lines than the hellish Pacific St/Atlantic Avenue connection, and it's fewer steps than the Borough Hall option. And since this is the first stop of the 1 train, you'll often get a seat.

Check it out.

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NY1 reports on how a call by Sidney Levine to the station got NY City off it's dead ass to restore street signs and lights on 86th Street and Third Avenue