Lief Erickson Park Reconstruction

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!

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

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

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

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

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Article about the grand opening in Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Bay Ridge Key Food News Flash!

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!!


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

Happy Birthday Johnny Cash

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.