The United Nations, My Neighborhood, or whatever you want to call it
OUR HOOD AND A TRIP TO TARGET …..
I live in Brooklyn, New York. But, depending on who you ask, the specific neighborhood is either Park Slope, South Slope, Greenwood Heights, or Sunset Park. I am not sure that anyone is 100% sure as 1/4 of our building lies in each of those areas. The main commercial strip is 5th Avenue. Its full of shops: Pizza shops, grocery stores, discount stores, laundry mats, hardware stores, etc.etc.etc.(pictured: Not sure who this is, but he lives in Brooklyn)
It is also full of people. There are about 2.5 million people living in Brooklyn alone–according to the 2000 US census 38% of these people were born abroad.
The US Census was not wrong. I feel like I am still touring the world. Indians. Puerto Ricans. Turks. Mexicans. Greeks. Thai. Central Americans. Polish. Chinese. Russian. Africans. Dominicans. Irish. Italians. Jews. On our block there is a Synagogue, Islamic school, and a church. It is not a wonder why the United Nations is headquartered in NYC. (pictured: The United Nations Building in Manhattan)
The Puerto Ricans run the small grocery store up the block. I found out quickly that the polish grocery store is entirely too expensive. $4.49 for a small box of Honey Bunches of Oats simply will not fly. We have a discount store in the hood as well–NON STOP DISCOUNTS. Which is run by a suave middle eastern man. At 40 bucks, I thought that the semi-crappy desk chair I bought from him was a steal. Then, the other day at Target, I found a chair 10 times better for $20 bucks. I became full of enraged fury, sort of like one of the characters in Mortal Kombat before they rip the head off of there defeated opponent. But I managed to control my emotions and maintain my good natured humor. It is a new sensation for me to be price sensitive. I am still getting used to it.
After I contained my rage, I slowly moseyed over to the blender/juicer department at target. You see, I have decided that I am going to be healthy. This is as opposed to the last 10 years of my life where I have been anything but healthy. Unfortunately, the blender aisle was blocked by a young couple. The man looked to be about 30 while the woman was who-knows-how-old because she was in a full Burka. My deductive reasoning led me to believe that they were either Saudi Arabian, Pakistani, or Afgani. The couple was not exactly arguing, but they were not in agreement about the type of blender they were ready to purchase. I patiently waited and then bought both a juicer and a blender. Who knew that you could not juice bananas or blend carrots? What happens if I wanted a carrot smoothie.
THE NUGE
I think it is about time that I introduce my roommate. His name is Pat Nugent. Since I met him in college he has been know simply as “the Nuge”. The Nuge wears many hats: Bicycle Tour Guide, English Professor, my personal grammar coach, tri-athlete, poet, and professional chicken and pasta maker. For the last two weeks while I have been in New York the two of us have spent close to every waking minute together. I do not have a job as of yet and “the Nuge” spends much of his time at home studying vocabulary–for the GRE’s– and grading English papers. So far the toughest vocabulary words that he has encountered are perspicacity, piquancy, hidebound, chary, and abreact. If you know any of these words congratulations, you are a dork.
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- April 18th
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Since the mid-60’s, Sunset Park’s north border has been officially the Prospect Expressway (near 16th St). A few years ago, some folks who didn’t like to identify with the “ethnics” of Sunset Park (Spanish) decided to name themselves “Greenwood Heights” - which is kind of funny - they preferred to be identified with a graveyard rather than Latinos. Park Slope is merely a real estate push to ask higher prices - Park Slope historically has been much further north & a bit east….
I used to push hard and heavy for folks to identify themselves as Sunset Parkers, but I have given up - if someone on 18th Street wants to call themselves Greenwood Heights, fine. I just hope that they expend some energy in creating a sense of Greenwood Heights community.
ironic that as i read your post i am eating one of those $5-a-box-cereals. sure it’s a lot smaller than the regular 14 oz boxes (and obviously pricier) but who could resist those almonds and cranberries?
ps… that’s a nice photo of pat!
I am thinking of giving our neighborhood another name…Maybe it will stick. I need some good ideas though.. How about Hiptown? Wouldn’t people want to move to a place called Hiptown? I don’t know, maybe thats stupid.
Oh, after paying 5 dollars for 4 bowls of cereal compiled into a tiny box I am ready to start my own cereal company as well. Anyone interested in investing?
Spending 40 bucks to support local business is way better than 20 bucks going to corporate America! Let that good vibe extinguish your rage, Davey-boy.
Dave, In principal you are correct and I am a huge hypocrite. Yet, my $40 chair really does suck…
Target is definitely a hellhole… a very cheap hellhole…
DF - you should just get stuff from Craigslist. I got two healthy wooden chairs for my kitchen from a guy in my ‘hood, and they were in GREAT condition! When I moved 3 years later i had to sell em as well, so I practically owned them for FREE.
That way, you get Green Karma Bonus Points (GKBP) for your deed as well.