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June 26, 2006
When I'm Sixty-Four
While Alexis dove lens first into the Mermaid Parade, I spent the better part of Saturday introducing Brooklyn to a sixteen year old. L is my close friend/ex-professor’s daughter whom I have known since she was in the third grade. She is spending two weeks in Manhattan (almost) on her own working on the UES and living in one of the cooler, more unattainable apartment buildings on the UWS, but more about that some other time. Due to her work/sleep geographics, the poor kid had not really explored north or south, let alone other boroughs. Explaining to her that no sixteen year old should be trapped within the confines of the most boring section of Manhattan for two weeks, I took on the task of showing her Brooklyn.
Well, teensy tiny bits of Brooklyn.
On Friday night, I tried to think of what I would have wanted to see when I was sixteen. All I could come up with was artsy places, street art and vintage stores. I knew that I did not want to take her to a museum, as that was something that her parents could do during any city visit. Armed with those vague requirements, I decided upon at jaunt from Williamsburg to the Navy Yard to Vinegar Hill to DUMBO, which guaranteed us a) hipsters aplenty b) old buildings/urban ruins and c) the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival. It poured. But between the deluges, we managed to see some nice street art, visit more vintage stores than I have seen since I myself was sixteen, experience the B61 in all its glory, and listen to some pretty good music from behind the barriers. Armed with a Polaroid camera, L documented her visit— skinny boys in tight pants with partial scowls, pigeons we scared into flight in front of the pita factory dumpster, cutouts on Kent Street.
I did not really get to show her the Brooklyn that I knew and loved, but I guess it was a taste, or at least a tour of areas from my past that have changed the most since I have spent a lot of time there. By five o’clock, I was exhausted and felt rather old. The visit reminded me how vast time can feel. I am definitely no longer sixteen. Not even close.
Posted by callalillie at June 26, 2006 7:18 AM | City Life
I'm sure she was amazed and fascinated by what you showed her. At 16, I seem to remember that any part of the world outside my normal sphere was fascinating. btw, my 21-yo son is going to school at NYU-Mt. Sinai this summer. Want to show him Brooklyn? Just kidding, his g.f. is living in Prospect Park this summer, so she will take care of that.
Posted by: kmkat at June 26, 2006 5:00 PM
I loved this post. Heart-warming and made me giddy.
I'll be in NYC (second visit) in August. What does a 26 year old need to see in Brooklyn?
We spent the bulk of our time in Manhattan last year but want to get out to explore more of the outer boroughs this time.
Posted by: Cindy at June 26, 2006 5:05 PM
I am a big fan of walking Brooklyn. I'd pick two or three neighborhoods that you would like to see, grab a street map, and walk between them. The Williamsburg/Navy Yard/DUMBO walk is a good one, but long. You might want to check out Vinegar Hill/DUMBO/Brooklyn Heights. Not a bad walk and lots of little things to see, including the promenade and a nice view of Manhattan.
Posted by: corie at June 26, 2006 8:55 PM
Thanks Corie! We're big walkers so thanks for your tips.
I'm assuming there are some good, green areas to sit down and take it all in? My BF suggested we grab some items at Fairway and munch down in a park.
Posted by: Cindy at June 27, 2006 10:01 AM
mmmmm ... skinny boys ... tight pants...
Posted by: jay at June 27, 2006 5:37 PM
There is a great park in DUMBO called Empire Fulton Ferry. It's right under the Brooklyn Bridge. You can also sit on the waterfront in Red Hook, either right outside Fairway (only during their hours of operation...kind of), Coffey Street Pier or Valentino Pier (I think Valentino might have specific hours, as well).
Posted by: corie at June 28, 2006 2:41 PM
