walking through brooklyn....

that is what I did yesterday, before and after the BAN meeting. The meeting, by the way, was very strong--lots of interest in the march on the 13th. Wish I could be there, but my fringe work is calling me. But the meeting was well attended; there will be another meeting next Tuesday and the vision of the march seems to be building. 

Got to Brooklyn early---got off at the Prospect Park Lincoln Road station, walked over to Flatbush and then south on Flatbush to the library. Flatbush still packed with people of color, most stores also seemed to serve those people, but here and there was a bar, or Italian restaurant or a coffee place that seemed more in the vein of the newcomers to the neighborhood. Wandered down Caton Avenue a bit, then back up to Linden and to the library. Stopped dead in my tracks at Caton and East 21street, why?  Apartment houses like the one I grew up in are all over--wanted to see everyone who was now living there---also, as I walked down Caton east of Flatbush where it merges with Linden Boulevard, I desperately wanted the story of each building--the days in the sixties where it began to change. Haunted by that---never happened in my neighborhood in the Bronx which received a much slower transition, and even now is about 30-30-30 as far as racial mix goes. Then headed for the library and the meeting.

After the meeting it was time for a long walk. Followed Flatbush south to Church then west on Church in search of a few bars in the area that I found on yelp. Long walk, about 21 blocks, the two bars were nice, but I did not go in, by the time I reached MacDonald Avenue it was dark, but still hungry to find out more about how the neighborhood transitions into Sunset Park. Walked to the next large block called Dahill Road, then over to the beginning of 14th Avenue and 34th street. Finally tired I returned to the MacDonald subway station on the F and began my journey home. Wanted to stop off at another stop, maybe in Boerum Hill or the south slope, but by then I was pretty fatigued, so I headed home. 

Today I will see my friend Eliza's play at Ohio Space at 7---not clear how to spend the afternoon--also depends on how much time I have on this computer. Oh well, will report on all tomorrow.