MY FAVORITE PLACE

ON APRIL 28TH 1916 THE PROSPECT PARK ZOO OPENED AS WE KNOW IT NOW. DOES NOT HAVE THE ANIMALS WE WERE USED TOO AS IT'S A CHILDRENS ZOO TODAY. BUT THIS WAS MY FAVORITE PLACE TO GO WHEN I WAS A KID. THEY HAD ELEPHANTS, A TIGER, LION, MONKEY HOUSE, A RHINO, HIPPO, BEARS AND THE SEALS. IN THE EARLY 80'S WAS VOTED ONE OF THE 10 WORST ZOOS IN AMERICA AS THE ANIMALS WERE IN SMALL ENCLOSURES. BUT WHAT DID WE KNOW, ALL WE KNEW WAS THERE WAS A ZOO WITH ANIMALS FROM AFRICA IN BROOKLYN. EVERY KID LOVED THE PLACE.

WOLLMAN ICE RINK RENOVATION

BROOKLYN'S WOLLMAN ICE SKATING RINK IS SOON TO UNDER GO A HUGE TRANSFORMATION. A NEW ICE SKATING RINK IS BEING DESIGNED WITH WATER FEATURES AS WELL AS A ROLLER SKATING RINK. COST IS $75 MILLION. TALK ABOUT INFLATION THE WHOLE PARK COSTS $9 MILLION TO BUILD IN 1867.

BROOKLYN'S LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

BROOKLYN'S FIRST CASUALTY OF THE CIVIL WAR WAS A 12 YEAR OLD DRUMMER BOY CLARENCE MacKENZIE. HE IS BURIED IN GREEN-WOOD CEMETERY.

MARY'S CORNER

MY FRIEND'S GRANDMOTHER DIED ON THURS, SHE WAS 101 AND WORKED AT HER CORNER STORE IN SOUTH BROOKLYN TILL SHE WAS 96. MARY'S ITALIAN AMERICAN GROCERY STORE CATERED TO EVERYONE IN THIS WORKING CLASS AREA WHICH IS NOW BEING GENTRIFIED AND ALL OLD STORES ARE BECOMING NEW. SHE WOULD GIVE CREDIT TO BLACK, WHITE, SPANISH. DIDN'T MATTER IF YOU WORKED IN OR WERE FROM THE AREA SHE TOOK CARE OF YOU.LOTS OF TOUGH GUYS AND DRUGS IN AREA BACK IN THE DAY BUT NO ONE EVER ROBBED MARY'S. ALL OF US WOULD LOOK OVER HERE. I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE COULD NAME THE CORNER AFTER HER, SO THE NEW COMERS WILL ALWAYS ASK ABOUT AND BE TOLD WHO MARY WAS. THE OLD-TIMERS KNOW.I WANT TO START A CRUSADE TO RE-NAME PRESIDENT ST AND 3RD AVE CORNER OF THE STORE "MARY'S CORNER".

GREENWOOD MONSTER

I JUST SAW A GIANT TURTLE AT GREEN - WOOD CEMETERY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A CANADA GOOSE AS ONE WAS RIGHT NEAR IT. IT WAS CRAWLING ON GROUND AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT'S THAT? IT LOOKED PREHISTORIC WITH SHARP EDGES ON SHELL AND WAS HUGE. HE JUMPED INTO THE LAKE. I'M GONNA BE LOOKING FOR THIS GUY AGAIN. ALWAYS SEE LITTLE ONES THERE BUT NEVER ONE THIS BIG.

THE FATHER OF PROSPECT PARK

JAMES STRANAHAN WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HAVING PROSPECT PARK BUILT WOULD HAVE BEEN 200 YEARS OLD ON FRIDAY APRIL 25TH, I HAVE A TOUR AND WILL MENTION THAT AS WE WALK PAST HIS STATUE. HE WAS ALSO CALLED BROOKLYN'S "FIRST CITIZEN". WITH CENTRAL PARK BUILT ALREADY HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE WERE NOT SECOND CLASS AND HIRED OLMSTEAD AND VAUX TO BUILD US A BETTER PARK. HAPPY 200TH.

PROSPECT PARK WILL BE ROCKING

THIS YEAR IS THE 30TH YEAR OF CELEBRATE BROOKLYN. MANY DIFFERENT ACTS AND SHOWS WILL BE PERFORMED AT THE BANDSHELL INSIDE PARK JUST OFF 9TH STREET. FOR COMPLETE SCHEDULE GO TO WWW.BRICONLINE.ORG/CELEBRATE/2008SEASON.ASP.

RIP DAN FEDERICI

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN E STREET BAND MEMBER DAN FEDERICI HAS PASSED AWAY IN NYC AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH CANCER. HE LAST PERFORMED ON MARCH 20TH WITH THE E STREET BAND. TODAY'S AS WELL AS TOMORROW'S SHOWS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED. NO DOUBT ALL THE BAND MEMBERS WILL BE HEADING HOME TO NJ TO PAY RESPECTS TO DANNY. I SAW BRUCE MANY MANY TIMES AND IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.I REMEMBER WAITING IN FRONT OF J&R MUSIC WORLD WITH $1000 AND AN PICK-AX HANDLE AT 2AM WAITING ALL NIGHT FOR TICKETS TO GO ON SALE IN 1981. A SAD DAY, BUT DANNY WOULD WANT US TO ROCK ON. DANNY YOU WILL BE MISSED BY MILLIONS. RIP BROTHER.

BROOKLYN BROWN

LEON WILLIAMS OF THE CLEVELAND BROWNS GREW UP ON DITMAS AVE AND E21ST. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THAT BLOCK AS MY THEN GIRL FRIEND LIVED THERE. THIS IS A BROOKLYN KID ALL THE WAY. PLAYED ROUGH TACKLE ON CONCRETE LIKE MY BUDDIES AND I OFTEN DID. PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT ME LIKE I WAS NUTS WHEN I TOLD THEM WE DID THAT. HELL WE DIDN'T HAVE A DIRT FIELD. I'M ROOTING FOR THIS KID AND THE BROWNS THIS YEAR.

GOOD FOR BUSINESS

THREE NEW HOTELS ARE BEING BUILT ON PRESIDENT ST BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH AVE'S. THAT'S SEVEN IN A 1/2 MILE RADIUS. ALL WITHIN A FEW STEPS FROM THE TOUR'S MEETING SPOT. MY FLYERS WILL BE AT ALL THESE HOTELS AND BUSINESS WILL PICK UP. http://www.brooklynwalkingtour.com/

NEW YORKER'S TO THE RESCUE

I WAS READING THEN TELLING SOME FRIENDS ABOUT A DAILY NEWS STORY IN SUNDAY'S PAPER ABOUT A KID WHO WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY BASEBALL THIS YEAR AS HIS FAMILY COULD NOT AFFORD THE FEE'S AND EQUIPMENT.WELL APARENTLY I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE TOUCHED BY THIS, AS SOME FIREMEN AND OTHER PEOPLE ALSO READ THE STORY, CALLED THE DAILY NEWS AND OFFERED TO BUY THE KID A GLOVE, CLEATS AND WHATEVER ELSE IS NEEDED TO GET HIM ON THE TEAM.THAT'S WHAT NEW YORKER'S DO FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. PLAY BALL!!!

BROOKLYN'S OLDEST

LUCY LEE OF CROWN HEIGHTS JUST CELEBRATED HER 106TH BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY AT HER LOCAL CHURCH, RECEIVING A WELL DESERVED STANDING OVATION FROM THE WORSHIPERS. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GOD BLESS YOU. SHE HAS BEEN AN USHER AT THE SAME CHURCH FOR 80 YEARS, A BROOKLYN TREASURE.

BEN-HUR IS ON

I WAS WATCHING THE YANKEE'S VS THE RED SOX WHEN I MADE THE MISTAKE OF PUTTING ON BEN-HUR. I NEVER MISS A PITCH BUT THAT WAS THE END OF THE YANKEE GAME FOR ME. I'M WAITING TO SEE THE CHARIOT RACE WHICH HAS THE INTENSITY OF A YANKEE WORLD SERIES GAME. I WATCHED THIS MOVIE MANY TIMES AT 511 CARROLL ST. SO NO DOUBT I'LL BE THINKING OF MY GRANDMOTHER WHO WAS ALWAYS WATCHING IT WITH ME. JOANNE I HOPE YOUR WATCHING.

TONY,TODD & TWO TOMS

TONIGHT I WENT TO TWO TOMS WITH TONY FROM A SLICE OF BROOKLYN PIZZA TOUR AND TODD FROM FOODS OF NY, TWO FELLOW TOUR COMPANY OWNERS. AS USUAL WE ATE LIKE WE WERE GOING TO THE CHAIR,I'M SO FULL I FEEL SICK. WE WERE WATCHING YANKS, METS, HOCKEY PLAYOFF'S, CHATTING WITH FELLOW PATRONS. A GREAT NIGHT WITH GREAT GUYS.

LIRR JERK

WHO DOES THIS MORON ON THE LIRR THINK HE IS TELLING PEOPLE TO BE QUIET ON THE TRAIN. HE BETTER STAY ON THE LIRR CAUSE THAT WOULD NOT FLY IN BROOKLYN AS HE WILL GET HIS ASS WHIPPED.

RATS IN SOUTH SLOPE

TWICE IN THE LAST WEEK I HAVE SEEN RATS ON UNION ST BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH AVE'S. WHEN I WAS GROWING UP AREA WAS CALLED SOUTH BROOKLYN, NOW IT'S SOUTH SLOPE. NONE THE LESS TO PAY FROM TWO TO THREE THOUSAND A MONTH TO LIVE AMONG RATS IS UPSETTING. WE HAD A FEW RATS WORKING AT SUSQUEHANNA, AND THEY WILL GET WHAT THEY HAVE COMING SOON.

WE LOVED THIS MOVIE

CHARLTON HESTON DIED AT AGE 84 ON SATURDAY NIGHT. IF YOU WENT TO OUR LADY OF PEACE OR LIVED IN THE SLOPE GROWING UP AS A CATHOLIC YOU ABSOLUTLY LOVED "BEN-HUR" AND "THE TEN COMMANDMENTS". IT WAS A RITUAL TO WATCH THESE TWO CLASSIC'S EVERY YEAR THAT THEY CAME ON. MIND YOU NOW WE DIDN'T HAVE CABLE TV. AND ONLY HAVING A FEW CHANNELS THESE MOVIES WERE NOT TO BE MISSED. ALTOUGHT YOU KNEW THE OUTCOME OF THE CHARIOT RACE YOU WERE STILL ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM AGAIN.

BROOKLYN SOLDIER KILLED

SGT. DAYNE DHANOOLAL FROM BROOKLYN BY WAY OF TRINIDAD WAS KILLED BY A ROAD-SIDE BOMB ON A MISSION TO BAGHDAD. A MISSION HE VOLUNTEERED TO GO ON TO BE WITH HIS MEN. A BROOKLYN TRAIT IF I EVER SAW ONE. HE WAS TO COME HOME IN THREE WEEKS AND COULD HAVE BEEN TAKING IT EASY, BUT WHEN YOU'RE FROM BROOKLYN IT'S NOT WHAT WE DO. NOW HE'S COMING HOME. HE DIED SO WE COULD LIVE FREE. THANKS SGT. DHANOOLAL.

20 YEARS CAN YOU BELIEVE IT

TWENTY YEARS AGO TODAY 4-5-88 MY FATHER PASSED AWAY. TO ALL MY FRIENDS THAT KNEW HIM DON'T NEED ME TO SAY WHAT KIND OF A GUY HE WAS, THEY KNOW. HE WAS NOT PERFECT BUT HE LOVED EVERYONE AND EVERYONE LOVED HIM.

FIRST SATURDAY, JAPAN'S WARHOL

ON SATURDAY 4/5/08 THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM WILL HAVE ITS MONTHLY PARTY. BILLED AS FIRST SATURDAY'S,THE BIG OPENING OF THE ART WORK OF TAKASHI MURAKAMI WILL GO ON DISPLAY. THIS GUY HAS BEEN COMPARED TO ANDY WARHOL AND HIS WORK IS QUITE IMPRESSIVE. MUSEUM IS OPEN TILL 11PM AND IS FREE AFTER 5PM.

BROOKLYN GOES TO SUPREME COURT

PROPERTY OWNERS AND TENANTS ARE TAKING THEIR FIGHT WITH BRUCE RATNER TO THE SUPREME COURT. LIKE I STATED BEFORE, EMINENT DOMAIN IS TO BE INVOKED WHEN IT'S FOR THE GOOD OF ALL OF THE PEOPLE NOT FOR BRUCE RATNER TO GET RICHER. I'M TAKING THE LITTLE GUYS SIDE ON THIS ISSUE. IF HE WAS TRYING TO TAKE MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE RATNER WOULD BE ON HIS WAY TO GREEN-WOOD, AND I'D BE ON MY WAY TO JAIL.

PAUL SIMON AT BAM

PAUL SIMON KICKED OFF HIS MONTH LONG SERIES OF CONCERTS LAST NIGHT AT BAM. I'LL BE AT FRANK'S LOUNGE TONITE AND I'M SURE MANY PEOPLE GOING TO THE SHOW WILL STOP IN FOR A DRINK. A DRINK AT FRANK'S, A BURGER AT 67 BURGER AND A PAUL SIMON CONCERT, WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR.

GIVE IT BACK OR ELSE

THIEVES STOLE A 650 BRASS BELL MADE IN 1888 FROM A QUEENS CHURCH. THAT'S A BIG NO-NO. I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO, BUT ONE THING YOU DON'T DO IS ROB FROM THE CHURCH. RAISED ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR LADY OF PEACE ON CARROLL ST IN BROOKLYN WE HAD SOME BAD GUYS WHO WOULD STEAL ANYTHING IN AREA BUT EVEN THEY KNEW THE CHURCH WAS OFF LIMITS.TO THE GUYS WHO DID THIS DON'T BE SURPRISED IF SOMETHING FALLS OUT OF THE SKY AND HITS YOU IN THE HEAD.