Brooklyn Trips -A Day on the Q Train

I took Donna and her cousin on the 7 Train Visit.
Then the cousin returned to San Francisco and another cousin replaced her.

We couldn't do the same trip- so off to Brooklyn.
Unfortunately the weather was predicted to be in the 90's.

This is what we did.

A. Grand Army Plaza-

We took the Q train from Broadway and 49th to Grand Army Plaza.  Brooklyn has its own Arch D'Triumph.  Its actually the Soldier's and Sailor's Arch.  Check it out here

B.    The Brooklyn Museum I love the Brooklyn Museum.  I love the Mummies in the Egypt exhibit, I love the Judy Chicago Dinner Party, on permanent exhibit  and I love the the painting of Old Brooklyn 

Painting of Old Brooklyn by Francis Guy

And there is also a Georgia O'Keeffe of the Brooklyn Bridge too.

C- Lefferts Garderns

We walked up Washington Avenue and stopped for a much needed cup of iced coffee at Dunkin Donuts at Empire Boulevard.  From there we turned east and wandered around the blocks of Brownstones and Victorians preserved mostly because of the community's devotion to preserving the unique housing.

D- We returned to the Prospect Park Subway station.  Enough hot streets- off to the beach.

In NYC subways go underground, they go over the streets as well, and sometimes, very rarely - they are on grade - like at the Prospect Park Station.  -Its not a short quick ride to Coney Island, but the cars are air conditioned and the seats are smooth and we arrived without waffle thighs, a condition I remember from the days of hard wicker seats.

E-Coney Island-

We took the train to the end- and then made our way down the boardwalk.  The Coney Island Summer was in full swing- the rides whirring and the food frying.  Gone are the days of carnival barkers.  I read an article last summer about how at one time there were premature babies on display at the boardwalk.  Not as abusive as you might think.  Check it out here.

F- Nathan's

We didn't eat at Nathan's.  We walked down the boardwalk and dipped our toes in the ocean. We walked north on Ocean Avenue and made our way to Brighton Beach Avenue.

F.  Brighton Beach.
It's called Little Russia or Odessa by the Sea for a reason.  Brighton Beach is filled with businesses owned and catering to the recent immigrants from the old Soviet Union.  We checked out the food markets on Brighton Beach Avenue.  Though, a different neighborhood, a good introduction to the Russian Market - is at this site.

We ate traditional Russian Fare at Skovorodka- Blintzes. like my grandmother used to make them, oh wait- she made them from a box, these were much better, and also stuffed cabbage, not quite like the one's in memory- these probably broke a multitude of dietary laws my grandmother sometimes adhered to.

The train was right there- when we were ready to make the return journey.

Brooklyn Trips: Brooklyn Heights and some Vinegar Hill

a. 

Donna from San Francisco posing on the Brooklyn Bridge

A. Cadman Plaza East

B. Pearl Street Triangle with Statue

Me posing with some art at the Pearl Street Triangle

C. The Old Commandant of Brooklyn Navy Yard's House-An article about it from the Brooklyn Eagle

D. Ice Fantasies at the Split Level Gallery-The gallery's website

Cool Ice on a hot day.  They told me to touch it -and I did.

E. Pineapple Street and the Brooklyn Brown Stones
F. Plymouth Street Church You can read about the church's history, the minister Henry Ward Beecher, and the Underground Railroad
G. The Brooklyn Promenade
H. The Transit Museum Transit Museum

Some young Australian visitors drive the bus at the Transit Museum

So when one gets tired of Queens- there is always the much more talked about borough of Brooklyn.
I was  born in Brooklyn.  I spent three days in the Brookdale Hospital.  When I weighed  5 pounds my mother got to take me home.  I've been living in Queens and gaining weight ever since.
But since some people want a visit to Brooklyn -I am trying to put together a few plans.  This one is mostly courtesy of Phil - another Big Apple Greeter.

Bushwick Links

Here are some links for exploring Bushwick




map with galleries


someones opinion of the best galleries


15 St Nicholas Ave, Brooklyn, New York 11237- is the address of the Bushwick Collective check out their facebook page

Art, Sun and Fun, Fort Tilden, Jacob Riis Park and the Rockaways

This post references a show from the summer of 2016.  It has come and gone.  But there is usually some art exhibit available at Fort Tilden, and even when there isn't - there's plenty to see.

Art on the Beach




How can you see a Museum of Modern Art Exhibit, spend the day at the beach, hike through beach dunes and climb a World War II era bunker for views of the NYC skyline and the Atlantic Ocean at the same time?

The answer is a day at  Fort Tilden and Jacob Riis Park
Forbidden Fruit:Street Art in a National Park

Rendering of Katharina Grosse, Rockaway! (2016). Image courtesy of MoMA PS1.

The Rockaway Arts Alliance puts on a big deal arts show every other year.   This year it is: Forbidden Fruit, curated by the director of PS 1, which is a MOMA museum.

The show alone would be worth the trek, but once you make the journey - there is the beach, Jacob Riis has a large parking lot  ($10/day) and the Rockaway Bazaar which has replaced hot dogs and heated frozen pizza with hipster food and alcohol, and miles of beautiful beach.  From the gallery exhibit, people will happily point you towards the trails through the sand dunes that leads to old army bunker that gives you magnificent 360 degrees views.



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by John Hedderson- The Creation of Adam

How to Get There

From Manhattan take

The Ferry

If you want a cheaper longer option

Take the #2 train to Brooklyn College and then the Q35 bus to Fort Tilden/Jacob Riis

Driving is easy - if not quick 

Jacob Riis has a giant parking lot $10/day

There is parking in Fort Tilden for two hours -free, just tell the park ranger when you turn in you are going to the show and then ask for a parking pass in the exhibit.

The Q53 also goes there- if you are starting in Queens

Art Deco lobby

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.752303,-73.9753894,16z
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.752303,-73.9753894,16z

http://nyc-architecture.com/MID/MID019.htm

122 East 42nd Street  (southwest corner of Lexington Avenue)

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