Category Archives: Special topics
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I grew up on 4th Avenue…
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I grew up on 4th Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The R Train (4th Avenue Local -The “RR” or Ridge Runner back then) traveled the length of 4th Avenue to 95th Street. Every other block had subway ventilation grates (known as the “subway gratings”) on the sidewalk near the curb. People would drop coins and other “stuff” down there. To get them out, you assembled a “fishing” kit: A 3 ounce lead fishing sinker A ball of string (kite string was good) A jar of Vaseline Take the lead sinker, and scrape and smash the pointed bottom on the sidewalk until it is flattened. Our string used to be wrapped around a small stick. Tie the string on the sinker, and dab Vaseline on the flattened end of it. Walk along the gratings until you see a coin. Lower the sinker, and moving carefully, hover just above the coin. When the sinker steadies, drop it on the coin. (Here you have to be careful… if you miss, the sinker will hit the bottom of the air shaft and the Vaseline gets full of dirt and loses its stickiness). After “catching” the coin, pull it up slowly… if you go too fast, the coin will fall off. Many times you would get a coin all the way to the top, but when maneuvering the sinker and coin through the grating, it would hit the side and the coin would fall off. There always seemed to be lots of coins nearer to Bay Ridge Avenue (69th Street). The local lore had it that people rushing for the train would drop their change.
WHAT EVER HAPPEN TO THE…
I live in Long Island but…
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I live in Long Island but grew up in Queens and my wife grew up in Brooklyn. When we are home relaxing and hanging out we sit on the front stoop. Another couple from Howard Beach moved in on the block and then sit on the front stoop too, but all the people who grew up on Long Island sit in the backyard. You don’t get to know your neighbors as easily as you used to.
I used to hang out with…
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I used to hang out with these kids in Woodside. When it was snowy and icy, we wore special clothes for one of our favorite activities “Skitching.” You had to have boots with substantial soles. We had rubberized fabric gloves and glove liners and the gloves were typically bright colors. Kids even had rubber pants. After a really severe snowstorm the cars would have to slow down, and only go at about 20 miles an hour down Queens Blvd. You could hide between parked cars, sneak out in a crouch behind a car when it stopped at a light. Grabbing the bumper, you’d lean back and let the car pull you down the street. We called it skitching because it was a cross between hitching and skiing. Most times the drivers didn’t see you. You could go for blocks. What a ride!
LETS PLAY THE WHOLE PLAYOFF…
Just a correction….the…
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Just a correction….the Florida Kings are from Orlando, not Miami. San Diego was a fun time…..we met new friends… and new teams just introduced to stickball…they were great sports…learning from experienced ball players, not only the game but the sideline and field “participants” as well. Little Italy was a great place to eat…drink…and be merry.See ya.. “.
Results of the San Diego…
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Results of the San Diego “Champions of the West” Labor Day weekend tournament held in San Diego’s Little Italy: 7-inning games, 8 players per team, fungo hitting Round Robin: 1. Bronx Knights 6-0 2. San Diego Knights 4-2 3. Barrio Gentlemen (NYC) 4-2 4. Florida Kings (Miami) 3-3 5. North Park Trophy (San Diego) 2-4 6. Minotaurs (NYC) 2-4 7. San Diego Police Dept. 0-6 Playoffs: Quarterfinals: #4 Florida Kings def. #5 North Park Trophy #3 Barrio Gents def. #6 Minotaurs #2 San Diego Knights def. #7 San Diego Police (#1 Bronx Knights drew a bye) Semis: #3 Barrios Gents def. #2 San Diego Knights #1 Bronx Knights def. #4 Florida Kings Finals: #3 Barrio Gents def. #1 Bronx Knights (2 to 1, 8 innings) Congrats to the Barrio Gents!