Forgotten New York is in Association with the Greater Astoria Historical Society, a non-profit organization supported by the Long Island City community.
Acting on a report from a ForgottenFan that the two remaining Ocean Parkway milestones (seen on this page) at Avenue P and Neptune Avenue had been removed, on Christmas Eve 2006 I jumped on an F train and headed, in alarm, for Midwood. Thankfully both the nearly 150-year-old markers are still there, although if the [...]
Categorized in: Signs Tagged with: Brooklyn Coney Island
The city seems more determined than ever to rebuild, retool, and plan for the future, even as in 2006 entire neighborhoods like Flushing, Long Island City, and Williamsburg are being torn down and new businesses and dwellings, some decent, some awful, rise in their place. The acceleration of destruction and construction is dizzying, confusing and disorienting. As [...]
Categorized in: Ads
There’s an entire subculture of people who follow trains around or are fascinated by them. In England, they’re called “trainspotters” and here in NYC, there are a group of rabid fans that are known even among themselves as “foamers.” They know how to recognize every piece of “equipment” in the system. Your webmaster is not quite [...]
Categorized in: Signs Subways & Trains Tagged with: Brooklyn Manhattan Queens
I first stumbled on the “High Line,” or officially, the West Side Elevated Freight Railroad, way back in about 1983, when it had just run its last shipment of frozen turkeys and was marked for doom by its owner, Consolidated Rail Corporation, or Conrail. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Prior to the 1930s, 11th Avenue featured [...]
Categorized in: Subways & Trains Tagged with: Chelsea Manhattan
In its October 12-18th, 2006 issue, Time Out New York (which featured a cover story by your webmaster in its September 21-27th issue) presented its 50 Best Blocks of NYC story, with North Portland Avenue between Lafayette and DeKalb Avenues in Fort Greene, Brooklyn coming out the winner. It has spawned a debate in ForgottenLand [...]
Categorized in: Neighborhoods Tagged with: Astoria Queens
Continued from PART 1 Richmond Terrace continues rather desultorily toward its final destination, the strait separating Staten Island and New Jersey called the Arthur Kill. On the way, however, we roll through Port Richmond, which, some say, is undergoing a renaissance; past the towering Bayonne Bridge; junkyards, ship repair yards, ancient 150-year-old houses, and more [...]
Categorized in: Street Scenes Tagged with: Elm Park Mariners Harbor Port Ivory Port Richmond
Richmond Terrace is the longest street named “Terrace” in New York City, and for all I know, anywhere. In New York City, streets named “Terrace” are usually a block long, or even dead ends. Staten island, though, has two lengthy Terraces…this one, and Ocean Terrace in Todt Hill, which runs from the Staten Island Expressway [...]
Categorized in: Street Scenes Tagged with: Livingston New Brighton Port Richmond St. George
