SHEEPSHEAD BAY'S ONLY INDEPENDENT NEWS BLOG

When most hear Brighton Beach, they think “Russians.” But the annual Brighton Jubilee, now in its 34th year, proves that the neighborhood is far more of an ethnic medley than many know.

I paid my first visit to the annual Brighton Jubilee yesterday, and was fired up to find a vibrant market fair as diverse as it was enormous. It wasn’t all kebabs and pirozhi, as I was expecting, but a five-block stretch of Latino, African, Caribbean, Arab and, yes, Russian immigrant vendors (not to mention old-school Brooklynites) selling some the strangest assortment of products I’ve ever seen at a street fair.

Used and new clothes, toys, gag items, jewelry, hand-made crafts, artwork, fur hats, sheets (!) – this wasn’t your usual “I ♥ [enter ethnicity]” fair, ringed with the ubiquitous Italian sausage-mobiles (though they made an appearance). It was far more complex, and vastly more intense – it was easily the most interesting neighborhood festival I’ve visited in Brooklyn.

And it was packed. Tens of thousands of people flooded Brighton Beach Avenue between Coney Island Avenue and Brighton 14th Street. In between picking through the odd assortment of goods, sun-drenched visitors watched performers brought in by Radio Pzitiv and Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz, played on inflatable rides or did a bit of Rock Band karaoke.

No word yet on how much money it raised for the event’s organizers, Brighton Neighborhood Association. The money goes to fund all the groups activities, including senior services, tenant services, social services, youth services and quality of life programs. We’ll let you know when we hear the final numbers.

Enjoy the photos of the fair, and if you have any to add just e-mail them to us at nberke [at] sheepsheadbites [dot] com.

View photos from the Brighton Beach Jubilee 2010.

The Brighton Neighborhood Association is gearing up for the 34th Annual Brighton Beach Jubilee, a multi-block festival and fundraiser to celebrate the neighborhood.

The neighborhood tradition features multiple entertainment stages and blocks of merchandise and informational booths, as well as kiddie rides and delicious food. Established 34 years ago, the Jubilee now attracts more than 125,000 people every year and is dedicated to bridging the communication gap through the international language of music.

Organizers of the event, the BNA, use the festival to raise funds for to underwrite programs throughout the neighborhood, including their senior services, tenant services, social services, youth services and quality of life programs.

The group is advertising shopping bargains, international foods, kiddie attractions and lots of giveaways. Two live stages will entertain visitors along Brighton Beach Avenue down Coney Island Avenue to the boardwalk. Enjoy Russian performers from radio pzitiv and the great music of brooklyn including frankie marra and his band, pranha bros. And the ridge.

When: Sunday, August 29, 2010
Where: Brighton Beach Avenue and Coney Island Avenue
Contact: (718) 891-0800

View the flier for the event.

I spied this lovely flier taped to the Redbox machine at the 7-11 on Coney Island Avenue at Kathleen Court. So, first off, if anyone has seen this dog, give a call, eh?

But concern for the dog or its owner wasn’t my first thought – perhaps revealing some deep flaw of personal character. Instead I said to myself, “What the heck is bringle?!”

Honestly. I didn’t know. That bothered me more than the idea that some little kid could be shattered over her lost pup. She could’ve been raised by that friggin’ thing, and now would be totally destitute, bawling her little sparkling eyes out like a proud member of the Lindsey Lohan generation.

But all that mattered to me is this mysterious word, “bringle.” If a real word, it would be my favorite. It sounds musical, and leaps out from between lips. Its pops with energy and spirit. No, it bringles with energy and spirit.

It’s an awesome word, but I have no idea what it means. Do you?

I Googled it, and other than a particularly nasty definition in the Urban Dictionary (far too nasty to link to), I couldn’t find anything. I even tried to find out if it was some Russian word that meant, like, brown or something. That would make sense, right?

This dog is brindle patterned, not bringle. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Well, I think they meant brindle. Which is another word I’d never heard before. But – thank you, Wikipedia – it is apparently a coloring pattern in animals, sometimes described as “tiger striped,” but more subtle. Check out that photo to the right.

Anyway, why am I wasting time and space on this little topic? Because there’s a freakin’ lost dog, people!

Have you seen it around? It looks like a tiger, but more subtle!

If you know anything, give the number a bringle.

Photo and tip by Arthur Borko

When Walgreens bought up the New York City-based Duane Reade chain in February, the growing corporate giant said there were no immediate plans to close any of the branches. But we knew better, and publicly worried that the number of stores that competed with their new sister branches would cause the company to shutter locations.

Well, six months later and that fear is becoming a reality. The corporate overlords are starting to cut back on redundant services. The Kings Highway Walgreens branch near Coney Island Avenue is now shuttered. Presumably because it competes with two other pharmacies with the same ownership – one across the street and the other on Kings Highway and East 14th Street.

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More than 300 people packed into the yard behind the 61st Precinct yesterday to celebrate the 27th National Night Out Against Crime.

Kids played on giant inflatable amusements, while their parents devoured food supplied by Cherry Hill Gourmet Market. Performers from Lezginka NYC regaled the crowd with traditional Pakistani dances, and a troupe of young Asian-Americans also put on a show. Deborah Lynn Bridges, a former Broadway performer and singer for the NY Knicks, sang the national anthem.

A mainstay of Night Out Against Crime? Awards! Officers, politicians and members of the Precinct’s Community Council exchanged plaques and certificates. Some of the politicians in attendance, who also gave speeches, were Councilman Lew Fidler, Councilman Domenic Recchia, Jr., and Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz.

Fidler took the opportunity to remind revelers of the event’s purpose, to show criminals that the “streets belong to us … the people” and that’s demonstrated by ”neighbors coming together and helping each other, standing together.”

(Photos and information provided by Erica Sherman for Sheepshead Bites.)

View the 61st Precinct Night Out Against Crime 2010 photo gallery.

Children performers from 2009's Night Out Against Crime

The 61st Precinct is celebrating the 27th anniversary of the national Night Out Against Crime this evening.

There will be free food, children’s rides, performances, D.J. music and a celebration of our local law enforcers at the event. Night Out Against Crime kicks off at 5 p.m. and runs ’til 8 p.m. at the 61st Precinct on Coney Island Avenue and Avenue W.

The event is free to everyone of all ages.

Call (718) 627-6847 for more information. And don’t miss our coverage from last year’s Night Out Against Crime.

We’ve been watching this location at 2424 Coney Island Avenue for months, and what was previously a rundown nightclub is now Grand Bazaar. Although everything seemed ready to go back in January, when the owner said they’d have a soft opening in February, it finally opened this week. Their small parking lot looks like it can fit about eight cars with room for two to load groceries if no truck is offloading. There is even a small sitting area outside, but its lack of shade isn’t so appealing in this weather.

Back when we first reported on Grand Bazaar, the owner told us there would be a grand opening about a month after its soft opening. And with a soft spot for celebrations with free food, we’re hoping that’s true. Stay tuned!

We got down with Coney Island Taste back in November, munching on the restaurant’s Peruvian goodies and dishing it out to all of you. To this day, we continue to get messages from readers thanking us for bringing it to their attention, and at least one reader told me her office now orders from them several times a week.

Well, now Mr. Fancy Pants, Robert Sietsema (also one of my favorite food critics in the city), has made his way down here and checked it out in our wake. His verdict? Que rico!

As the patient proprietor took our complicated order, we realized that—despite its dodgy disguise as a forgettable deli—the place was a very serious Peruvian restaurant. The menu was extensive, and as we ticked off dishes, the guy never once said, “We’re out of that,” which is the trademark of overextended cafés.

We’re glad you agree, Sietsema. Next time, give me a call when you’re down here; I’d love to show off a few other hidden gems.

From Wikipedia:

The first Big Daddy’s Restaurant opened in 1964, and was located on Coney Island Avenue in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn, NY. It was known to be the only true competitor of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. The driving force behind Big Daddy’s success was half-owner Murray L. Handwerker, the nephew of Nathan Handwerker, founder of Nathan’s.

In addition to serving hot dogs and crinkle-cut french fries, Big Daddy’s also served pizza, chow mein on a bun, roasted pork sandwiches, and had a full deli as well as a clam bar. The restaurant was known for its decor of red and white candy stripes and pictures of partner Robert Napp surrounded by the famous celebrities of that era. It was also known for offering kiddie rides in the parking lot to create a Coney Island Atmosphere.

…

The Big Daddy’s in Sheepshead Bay closed in 1977, The Lincoln Road Mall location closed in 1986, and the last known location on Washington Avenue on South Beach closed around 1991.

Courtesy of Kinetic Carnival

UPDATE (10:50 p.m.): Just checked the Coney Island blogs and Kinetic Carnival is reporting the Coney Island Arcade has caught fire. Here’s what the site’s editor, Omar, writes:

Coney arcade on the Bowery in Coney Island was on fire a couple of hours ago!  No known cause as of yet.  The building is on the corner of W. 12th St and the Bowery.  Next to the building is the Coney Island Bank Building which is owned by Thor Equities that has been rumored to be on the endangered list of Thor demolitions.  The fire seems to be between the arcade building, owned by a long-time Coney arcade operator, and the adjoining concession.  No word yet and the current status or outcome.  It is presumed that the fire has, at this point, not spread.

UPDATE 2 (11:01 p.m.): Contributors to the Coney Island USA message board say the fire was reported over police scanners as suspicious (possibly arson). They also say that no one was hurt. From what we can tell, the forum was first with any information on the fire.

ORIGINAL: We received the following tip via Facebook:

Gothamist’s crime map is also showing a 2 alarm fire in the vicinity at around 8:49 p.m. Anyone have any additional information?