(Photo courtesy of nolastname)
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of our friends and readers.
Archive for the tag 'sheepshead bay'
Early morning reports from the Daily News and the New York Post tell us that a car went into Sheepshead Bay. There were three people in the car and all three were rescued by fisherman, Keith Gorman, who was nearby.
Alla Yelizarov was taking her two daughters to a family birthday party and had just parked her car in an angled parking spot on Emmons Avenue near Dooley Street. For reasons unknown at this time, the car went racing through the barrier and ended up at the bottom of the bay. When, Keith Gorman, who was working on the dock saw what had happened, he immediately jumped in the water to save the family.
There is a wide variety of businesses in Sheepshead Bay. We’ve got great restaurants, boutique clothing and shoe stores, pharmacies, cell phone stores, salons, knick-knackeries, cafes and so forth. But we’re lacking a few establishments that will add flavor to Sheepshead Bay while keeping many from leaving the ‘hood to fulfill their wants. Here’s my top five of what businesses Sheepshead Bay needs. Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section.
- A used book store. Sure, we’ve got a library, but it’s a pitiful one. A used book store would give us more options, especially one that sells both English- and Russian-language literature. It would also be a great cultural point for the bay, where people can meet to discuss books, have book readings, etc.
- An outdoor place to eat and drink on the waterfront. From Stella Maris down to the Brigham Street Park, we’ve got a nice swath of waterside property that fails to satisfy my desire to have an evening drink or a nice lunch sitting directly on the water. A few of the restaurants have enclosed areas with windows looking out onto the bay, but I’d prefer to be outdoors enjoying a salty breeze. We’ve got the property, we should maximize it, even if it means a seasonal business.
- A music venue. For the love of god, a music venue! Having to go to Bay Ridge, Williamsburg, or the city to satisfy my desire to hear live bands kicking out tunes is a real pity. I should be able to plan a weekend that involves seeing a band without leaving the neighborhood. This is New York City for chrissakes!
- An art gallery. Before starting Sheepshead Bites, I thought this neighborhood was dead in terms of art. I figured Sheepshead just didn’t raise artists, and artists sure as hell didn’t move here. Well, I’ve been proven wrong a number of time. This site has introduced me to dozens of artists born, raised, and/or living here. Photographers, graphic designers, sketch artists, sculptors… they’re here! Unfortunately, you’d never know it because there’s no place for them to connect to each other or the community. Instead they showcase their art elsewhere. But having an art gallery in Sheepshead Bay would provide a launching pad for many of these local artists, and attract others to the area. And, of course, it would bring our neighborhood together.
- Good Latin food. Please, no more soggy tacos made by Chinese/Mexican fusion places. I want real, authentic Latin food. Good guacamole, hearty burritos, and maybe even a juicy empanada. And dare I suggest that Sheepshead Bay – a seafood haven – ought to have a good place to buy ceviche?
This photo is listed as “Sunset in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn“.
Uploaded by Kibbles on Flickr in 2008, this lovely scene reminds us that the sun is soon setting on another summer.
The last time I wrote to you about the Miramar Yacht Club it was because I had attended the first night of a sailing class taught by their excellent instructors.
At that time, I proudly claimed to have been awarded new sea legs; when, in actuality, it was just the first of four classes, three land-based, and one on the water.
Due to some scheduling conflicts on the Friday evenings of the second two classes in the series, I was prevented from attending the full course. So, I was determined to do the sail that was included in the course. But with the June bad weather, it looked like the boat would never sail. On June 27, when the sun was shining and the temperature was just perfect, the deck shoes had to come on.
To tell the truth, even though I live so near the water, I (and apparently, the better half of Sheepshead Bites) live a landlocked life — practically touching water only to do routine cleaning of dishes, body, and clothes (here, I can’t speak for the better half).
Continue Reading »
This stray shopping cart titled “A Long Way From Home” was caught by photographer Lisanne Anderson and posted on Flickr on May 22, 2009.
The beautiful blue plastic cart found cowering under the shade of a tree must have been mistreated by its family — the Family Dollar Store, that is. Imagine the life of this poor shopping cart, banged around, filled to the rim with cheap imports — only to be emptied and tossed aside without so much as a thank-you.
From another perspective, it looks like a blue cruise ship sailing on a sea of green, but then reality sets in and like the Backyard Woods Explorer said, “If this one sits here long enough, the weeds will grow through it.” Looks like Beautiful Blue would be happier living in the weeds than in an unhappy home.
Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joseph Biden, visited Kingsborough Community College to wish the 2009 graduates success and best in their future.
Dr. Biden is a highly accomplished educator of 28 years, having earned her Doctorate in Education from the University of Delaware. Today, she was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from officials at the City University of New York.
In her keynote address, she congratulated the students and spoke about her career-long commitment to higher education and community colleges.
During her speech, she singled out three special graduates who overcame tough circumstances to fulfill their educational dreams. One of those graduates she mentioned, Guyanese native Jacqueline Carter-Cutting, was highlighted in an article in today’s New York Daily News.
Ms. Carter-Cutting told the Daily News that she “fell in love” with New York after September 11, and decided to emigrate here from Guyana. With her degree in nursing, she is planning on helping U.S. soldiers injured on the front lines. Both she and her daughter, Sharika Carter, were awarded their diplomas in today’s graduation ceremony.
Dr. Biden seemed to bring the sunshine in with her beaming smile and optimistic outlook, since the day started with rain and clouds that simply dissipated as she entered the stage.
Her speech brought roars from the crowd, as she told the graduating students,”You inspire me”. But, the roars completely drowned out her words when she said the name of our new President, Barack Obama, and told the crowd that “the President’s goal is to once again, have the highest proportion of college graduates by the year 2020.”
Her speech showed how inspired she is by community college students. She gave back some of that inspiration to the graduates in her closing remarks. Dr. Biden advised the graduates to share some of this inspiration with others they know:
Always see in others what they are capable of becoming. See it. Pass it on. You need to inspire them. Show them the good that can come from a great education. Show them what they’re capable of. Show them above all else, that they can do it, too.
Everyone who heard Mrs. Biden appeared uplifted and we wouldn’t be surprised if applications to Kingsborough Community College grow a thousand fold — and not because of the private beach.
(Photo courtesy of Bobby Bank)
(Photo courtesy of Dalton Rooney)
We happened upon photographer Dalton Rooney’s weblog a few months ago and the images he had there touched us deeply. His photographs are quite beautiful, but this particular one struck us as haunting, sad, and elegant all at once.
The photographer told us that the picture of the plastic bags tied onto the trees was taken somewhere in Sheepshead Bay, but not being from the area, he is a little unsure as to where in the neighborhood we could go to find the exact spot.
It’s probably all for the best, though, because we would surely want to remove the plastic bags. Then again, how could we “ruin” the landscape that this great artist captured so beautifully?
This is an update of our earlier post:
Police have confirmed that someone has been fatally shot in front of 1721 Voorhies (corner of East 18 Street).
The victim is believed to be of Pakistani descent and known to residents who lived nearby. People who knew the victim were being interviewed and they could be heard giving information that might indicate that this may not have been a random shooting. We will try to bring you updates as soon as more information is known.
According to the Gothamist, the incident occurred around 2 a.m. The evidence was strewn onto East 17 St and on Voorhies Avenue, prompting investigators to close the streets off for four and half hours. By 6 a.m., evidence collectors could be seen picking up various personal items belonging to the victim, including a set of keys.
1010 WINS has the name of the victim listed as Tamiz Din.
The Daily News has posted some additional information about this tragic case.
Here is our original post:
There has been a shooting early this morning on Voorhies Avenue and East 18 Street.
Someone working at a store two blocks away told us that he heard three shots, with the police showing up just minutes later. The same person also said that the emergency responders told him the victim was of either Mediterranean or Middle Eastern descent and had a Bronx address on his drivers’ license.
We will tell you more about the victim’s status, once we have the information confirmed.
(Photo courtesy of The Celebrity Spot)
Two Lovers, is another movie that features Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach, but is not available for viewing here. The film was not showing at UA Sheepshead Bay, so I had to go to the one theater in Brooklyn where it was — in Cobble Hill.
In a Daily News article, Denis Hamill writes that the owner of the theater, Harvey Elgart, personally chooses the films that play in his theaters. Elgart grew up in Sheepshead Bay, so that might be the reason why he decided to run this film. Although the Cobble Hill Cinema was small, the “big screen” was just wide enough to contain the Ocean Avenue Bridge as it appeared in the opening scene.
Last week the film’s main star, Joaquin Phoenix, or Wah-Keen — as fan, Ally, refers to him on her dedicated website — acted a little “wacky” on David Letterman’s Late Show. Many have speculated that his new bearded look and announcement that he is leaving acting for a career as Rapping Phoenix, is just a publicity stunt to get people out to see Two Lovers, but we have reason to doubt that — especially, because the film is barely even in the theaters.
Read more about the movie after the jump.
Continue Reading »
