Before the neighborhood had Applebee’s, before we had T.G.I. Fridays, and before Coldstone Creamery, there was Beefsteak Charlie’s.
Over on Facebook, we’ve been reminiscing about the nearly-forgotten metropolitan chain since I brought it up yesterday. For those too young or too new to the area to remember, Beefsteak Charlie’s was a steakhouse across the street from Waldbaum’s on the corner of Shore Parkway and Ocean Avenue. Back then, you could get unlimited salad, unlimited shrimp, bottomless pitchers of beer, and endless platters of ribs for way under $20.00.
For me, it was the go-to restaurant of choice. My three brothers and I ate off the kids menu and gobbled down shrimp from the salad bar. It’s probably the first place I ever had a shrimp, a rib, or a sip of beer.
It shut down in the mid- to late-90s, one of the last of 60+ locations. There are still two locations in Manhattan and one on Long Island, but it’s unknown if they have any relationship to the chain that sprung out of the Manhattan restaurant first opened in 1910.
Meet Layne Mosler, a “food pilgrim” and blogger over at Taxi Gourmet. Mosler is on a never-ending journey to seek out the city’s top cuisine, as dictated by those who know New York the best: taxi drivers.
In an article for the food culture newsletter Tasting Table, Mosler rounded up what she and taxi drivers consider the yummiest bowls of soup. On the list? Sheepshead Bay’s Cherry Hill Restaurant and Gourmet Market at the old Lundy’s building (1901 Emmons Avenue).
She writes:
The borscht and the fish soup–with big chunks of salmon, leeks, carrots and scallions–are worth a sit-down at this Russian super-deli in Brighton Beach. If you want to skip the upstairs café, takeout highlights include potato-battered chicken stuffed with mushrooms, stewed cabbage and ‘Caucasian’ salad with roasted eggplant, tomato and cilantro.
That’s right, Sheepshead Bay is apparently now an extension of Brighton Beach. We’ll give her a pass… this time.
2901 OCEAN AVENUE: Hayashi Sushi opens near Avenue Y.
ELSEWHERE: A rainbow forms, a fairy is brought back to life, an angel gets its wings, a Hershey bar causes a child to smile, a butterfly emerges from its cocoon, the Loch Ness monster is sighted, a young couple fall in love, a novelist completes a soon-to-be-bestseller, Atlantis bursts from the sea, a group of young people figure out the key to world peace, hope reigns supreme…
Our local politicians are putting your tax dollars to work by organizing various community events and happenings to help increase to quality of life for residents. Two such events will be occurring on Friday, December 11.
Senator Marty Golden with JASA (Jewish Association for Services for the Aged) will be providing a trained geriatric social worker at his office at 3604 Quentin Road between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. The social worker is open to all Marine Park and Community Board 15 residents. If you have questions contact the senator’s office at (718) 238-6044.
Assemblyman Steve Cymbrowitz will be hosting a traveling community office by way of traveling van in front of the Kings Highway Library, 2115 Ocean Avenue between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
This photograph of Halloween decor in the front yard of a house on Ocean Avenue is an open invitation for children who are looking for treats. Was this the same house where YiaYia and Papou made milk and cookies available with the hugs and kisses?
The garbage situation is growing larger around Sheepshead Bay — so much so, that maintenance people at this apartment building on Ocean Avenue (near Gravesend Neck Road) have put up four large garbage bags along the stretch of the front fence.
We’re thinking that the regular black garbage bags are just not bright enough for the polluters to spot. These bright blue bags will be hard to miss, though.
It used to be that the front of a building was dressed up for aesthetics with pretty flowers and shrubbery. In the modern day of excess packaging and people generating so much garbage in the form of empty bottles, coffee cups, and other junk, there is just not enough place to discard this stuff. There was a time, when most people just tucked the errant candy wrapper or chewed up gum and placed it in their pocket where they would discard it at home. Yes, people, I said home! Nowadays, without even a glimmer of guilt, many people just dump the excess weight onto the sidewalk, leaving a trail of debris behind them.
Sheepshead Bay needs to rediscover its roots, when people cared about the cleanliness of the environment. I’m sure you old-timers will know what we’re talking about, here.
Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’ mobile community office will be visiting the Kings Highway branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, Friday, October 16, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A staff member will be on hand to help community residents with problems, answer questions and discuss local issues. The library is located at 2115 Ocean Avenue, near Kings Highway. For additional information please call (718) 743-4078.
Today’s 2 p.m. Succos (a.k.a. Sukkot, Sukkos, סוכות, or סֻכּוֹת) cruise from Sheepshead Bay sets sail with a full house. But worry not, you can still get on another boat set to sail today, tomorrow, or Thursday.
Sukkos – or any of its alternative names – is a week-long Jewish holiday, connected to the harvesting season. Sukkot – the plural of Sukkos – is the name of those huts, which are reminiscent of the fragile dwellings ancient Israelites used during their 40 years of wandering in Exodus. Observant Jews make the Sukkot the center of the household, eating all their meals there. Traditionally, Sukkos is also a pilgrimage holiday, when Jews are supposed to visit the Temple of Jerusalem – but in place of that, one group is offering a party succos cruise departing from our ‘hood.
Here is a listing of the details or check the Life of Rubin website for the original listing.
Succos Cruise:
A scenic cruise around Coney Island and the Statue of Liberty – 3 hours. Rain or Shine * Refreshments * Sukkah on Board * Music & Dancing * No reservations necessary. 347-326-4546.
@ Departs Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, almost opposite Loehman’s
Sailings set for 3 days:
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Thursday, October 9, 2009
Sails at:
2 p.m. (Sold out for 10/6/09)
5 p.m.
Price: $25 adults, $15 for children under 12
The pier is located on Emmons Avenue (near Ocean Avenue).
Tomorrow marks the closing of another longtime Sheepshead Bay business: Jasper’s Hair Salon on Avenue U near Ocean Avenue. The stylist is closing shop after more than 55 years (some say 65) in the community. Fare thee well, Jasper.
There’s a lot of hustle-and-bustle going on at the landmarked Lundy’s building, as Cherry Hill workers prepare for their grand opening event. Sure, it’s coming more than four months after their actual opening, but the gourmet market has been embroiled in controversy and was keeping a low profile.
Well, say goodbye to those days. Though still squabbling with the Department of Buildings over a stop work order that continues to keep the restaurant portion shut, the owners have decided to shed the meekness and are preparing for quite the launch tonight. We saw workers stocking shelves, preparing tasting tables, and tying balloons all about. But in addition to free food and a come-one-come-all invite to the neighbors, tonight’s seating area will sport a VIP section, complete with a secret celebrity guest. David Isaev, Cherry Hill’s owner, was tight-lipped about who it was, but did note, “He’s coming all the way from Hollywood.” We’re hoping it’s Shawne Merriman, so we can thank him for doing what we’ve all wanted to do to the icon of L.A.’s talentless hackery.
When: 6 p.m. tonight
Where: Lundy’s, duh! — 1901 Emmons Avenue (corner of Ocean Avenue)
Free food and seating for all.
