3rd Ave and 24th St, Brooklyn

not so super Saturday

April 14 PM Walk
The good thing about Brooklyn, particularly living in Gowanus are that amenities that are so near, without being right in your 'hood. I mean, I'm all for a cool bar right on 3rd avenue. but with Park Slope just a quick jaunt away, I just haven't found good enough reason to have those things that are so unique to Park Slope, in Gowanus. One has to walk, but only a few blocks, in order to enjoy those things that are specifically Park Slope-- here's to property value!
One of the benefits of living near Park Slope's civic activism, has been the creation of dog parks. One of which, J.J.Byrne's is long enough, less inhabited enough and close enough, that we have become regular visitors. Because of a Jell-o wrestling party that we were in deep commitment to, all that the Che got were 2 quick treks to J.J. Byrne. Don't be fooled, there were plenty of scents to activate the Che's old olfactory senses. So even though a simple walk to JJ Byrne didn't burn too many calories, he was stimulated enough to piss something ike 16 times.

Carroll Gardens, BKLYN

Friday Night "high"lights

April 13 PM Walk

Tonight's walk was, unfortunately, the shortest and least interesting walk that the Che and I have been on in at least a week. We had early dinner reservations so a quick rectangle was all we could really muster. One would think that when trouncing through industrial Gowanus for a 30 minute walk, there wouldn't be much to see, and honestly, that's about right. But what's crazy about Brooklyn, is that if one looks hard enough, every corner, on in this case, every wall, holds a bit of history.

Chester begged me to get his picture taken in front of the oldest remaining baseball related structures in the US- left field wall of the very first home of the Brooklyn Superbas, later known as the Dodgers, Washington Park. Until I read an online NY Times article, I thought that Ebbetts field was the one and only home for the BKLYN Dodgers (read this blurb for more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Park)

It is an inconspicuous a structure as you have ever seen, and unless you knew what you were looking for, you'd never even know it was there. All that's left of some semblance of the wall's previous use, are some bricked-over window openings. It now serves as a wall for a ConEd warehouse. Who woulda thunk it...

City Grit

April 12 PM Walk

Without much thought for adventure, Chester and I headed out to our "stand-by" destination of Carroll Garden's Dog Park. I think it's called DiMatta Park, but I could be wrong. At any rate, we decided to take a few streets that we don't often travel on. Since our 'hood has a ton of industrial buildings, there seem to be factories, warehouses, junkyards and processing plants around every corner. But what is interesting is how quickly this area changes from industry to residential. And not just regular residential, but brownstone residential-- million dollar residential-- right against a grimy subway track, or a toxic and heavily polluted lot. And with the population increases slated for NYC, and specifically Brooklyn, there is little doubt that that factory will soon be luxury lofts and those carcinogenic lots will be public parks. For now, they are fitting reminders of Brooklyn's once vibrant, and diminishing industry, and nice backdrops for the Che. Forgot the total mileage, but probably only 2.5 miles or so.