Brooklyn Walk
Posted Tuesday, Sep 06th, 2011 at 8:23pmEarlier this year I walked the length of Manhattan. It was so interesting - really expanding my vision of the city - that I decided to walk a long stretch of each borough over my next few New York visits.
Yesterday was Brooklyn.
I started out at my parent's studio in Williamsburg:
The neighborhood has many Hasidic families.
The children are usually dressed in matching outfits.
On my last borough walk in Manhattan, I got turned around in Central Park. And I guess I am making it a tradition. After walking for almost an hour I suddenly found myself in front of their door again! I guess I misread the map on my iphone. Not to be deterred, I set out again.
I called my friend Ben for a quick Brooklyn consult and he told me that the West Indian-American Day Parade was going on, so I steered my path to meet up with it.
There were flags and designs, and even eye-make-up themes from dozens of different islands.
I spotted this woman and her sailor tattoo in the crowds:
Things got pretty raucous. And that's putting it mildly. And I thought gay pride marches were wild!
The police were literally pushed back past their police barrier by women grinding up to them.
I love this photo below of a princely Jamaican:
Lots o cake:
Michele:
On my last big walk in Manhattan, I had been too shy to photograph this one older man selling ices. I regretted it. I was delighted to see this woman with another old-fashioned ices cart. I love her typography:
She makes the ice shaving the way it used to be done - manually:
Mmm. The coconut ice was delicious!
I headed away from the parade and toward a route-consult with Ben.
I love this tiny weed - anyone know what it is?
I walked for a time in Prospect Park. Found this boy hangin with The Marquis de LaFayaette:
And then finally I met my route consultant, the great Ben Posel, in a sweet little cafe in Park Slope:
He was working on a cool paper cutting and folding assignment for his architecture class.
But soon it was time to press on toward Coney Island...Ben sent me on my way but first took me to a favorite trick or treating street with very Baltimore-like architecture.
Another dip back into Prospect Park:
Look what I found! My office:
The long march down Ocean Parkway was arduous. My iphone died and I thus lost my map. I was thirsty and hungry and the road seemed to get longer and longer.
I resorted to walking underneath the F train so I knew I would find my way to Coney Island. Dragging my tired butt along the train route, I soon found myself in a dead end. The only way to get past was to buy a Metro card and go up into the train station by the aquarium. I was tempted to hop the train home. but no. I had walked a long way and needed to get to the water and complete my quest! I walked up the steps to the train station and then down the steps to the road to the beach.
Finally:
Being me, I was drawn to the sand, water and sky, as per usual.
I love the sunset light on the water:
With one sweeping view of Coney Island, I headed bck toward the subway, victorious.
Christina Wrote on Wednesday, Sep 07th, 2011 at 10:38pm
fabulous!
Cheryl Singleton Wrote on Wednesday, Sep 07th, 2011 at 11:49pm
Thank you for the walk. It's been quite some time since I took a long walk through Brooklyn and I've never walked to Coney.
Every Tuesday for one summer I walked from 95th & Broadway in Manhattan back to Brooklyn. There were always art shows, street theater & good food along the way. I do miss taking long walks in NYC.
Rachel Wrote on Thursday, Sep 08th, 2011 at 12:06pm
Looks like a glorious walk that could NOT have waited until Tuesday!
Dylann Wrote on Thursday, Oct 24th, 2013 at 9:29am
The great Ben Posel!