Unidentified sludge on the Northern corner of Bay Parkway and 86th Street
If only online photos were scratch-and-sniff. While the repairs on the Bay Parkway D Train station continue, a massive and disgusting sludge puddle is left to fester.
Sound off, have you seen the sludge or do you avoid this place at all costs?
“Wednesday What the What?” is a new photo feature looking at odd, weird and interesting things in the neighborhood. If you have photos of what the what happenings in Bensonhurst, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights or the surrounding areas send them to lvladimirova [at] bensonhurstbean [dot] com.
This week’s image comes courtesy of reader Soo Koon Lee, who writes that “the dissonance of this photo is pretty funny.”
Here at Bensonhurst Bean, we were quite shocked to learn that in these tough economic times, even the famous chef character seen on pizza boxes has to moonlight in order to make ends meet.
Lee caught up with the hardworking cuisinier, whose likeness was gracing a sign outside of local restaurant Istanbul [2202 86th St], slicing up delicious döner kebabs to appease the hungry lunchtime crowds.
Got any interesting images of Bensonhurst? Send them to jteutonico [at] BensonhurstBean [dot] com, or simply tag your Flickr photos Bensonhurst Bean. If you’re using Flickr, please be sure to upload your work with Some Rights Reserved, so we can use it.
Last Friday, State Senator Marty Golden’s nephew Daniel, along with two friends, were acquitted of a 2010 gang assault – which had stemmed from a bar-turned-street fight with two off-duty police officers and a firefighter in Bay Ridge. Continue Reading »
The following is a press release from the office of City Councilman Vincent Gentile:
COUNCILMAN GENTILE CALLS TO REGULATE FOOD VENDORS IN SOUTHWEST BROOKLYN
BAY RIDGE – The traditional brick and mortar shops are taking a beating and losing their customers to the restaurants on wheels who do not play by the same rules.
Councilman Vincent J. Gentile has been banging the drum on this issue since 2008 when, along with Community Board 10 and 11, he called for the NYC Department of Small Business Services to add mobile food carts to the existing “Vendor-Free Zone” within the confines of the 86th Street B.I.D. Continue Reading »
While trashy, exploitative reality television shows such as Jersey Shore, Mob Wives, the short-lived Russian Dolls and now Brooklyn 11223 continue to multiply like cockroaches, making America see orange as our books feel increasingly lonely and dejected, there is hope on the horizon.
Bensonhurst native and Brooklyn’s Prince of Pizza Tony Muia is starring in a new reality show which premieres on the Travel Channel one week from today. The program, which is named after his A Slice of Brooklyn Pizza Tour, is according to Tony, a far cry from the catfights and hooker outfits of Jersey Shore. Continue Reading »
Last night while I was watching the Oscars with friends, I noticed that a featured montage of great Hollywood films included a few seconds of the famous car chase scene from the French Connection. The film, which starred Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider (the police chief from Jaws), included a very thrilling chase scene shot under the elevated tracks of the West End Line on 86th Street and New Utrecht Avenue.
In honor of the mention, we’ve posted a short tribute to the movie above, which was uploaded to YouTube by ThorC1138.
Fire escapes could have saved Luisa Chan's life. (Source: cookipediachef via Flickr)
While Bensonhurst may not display many signs of the so-called “culture of poverty,” there still exists another, more cutthroat side to a neighborhood with so many strong points. Continue Reading »
Have you ever encountered the “Backwards Wheelchair Lady”? Because she’s apparently become something of a big deal in the last few years – with her likeness making the rounds of various Brooklyn blogs.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, don’t worry – because I’ve never actually seen her myself. However, there is apparently a middle-aged woman who rides a wheelchair backwards up and down 86th street, bearing flowers and wearing a yellow rain poncho – even on sunny days. Many seem to doubt that she is unable to walk, as witnesses have reportedly seen her pushing off quite well with her legs to get herself going.
If one of our readers can get a good photo of this eccentric, possibly not really disabled soul, please e-mail them to jteutonico@bensonhurstbean.com.
The above photo can also be seen on local photographer Jason Newman’s Flickr page. It was taken on August 27, using a Canon EOS 5D Mark II.
Jason’s wife Samina, who sent us the image, had the following to say:
My husband loves taking photos of our local neighborhood. This is one he took right before Hurricane Irene was supposed to arrive. This is looking down 86th Street under the train. I hope you like it enough to include it in your Friday Photo Finish.
We like! We like!
Thanks so much, Jason and Samina!
Got any interesting images of Bensonhurst? Send them to jteutonico [at] bensonhurstbean [dot] com or tag your Flickr photos Bensonhurst Bean. If you’re using Flickr, please be sure to upload your work with Some Rights Reserved, so we can use it.
Have you ever encountered the “Backwards Wheelchair Lady”? Because she’s apparently become something of a big deal in the last few years – with her likeness 
