Histoire Antique Pour Le Garçon D'anniversaire

I wish I could say I was born in a log cabin in the wilderness, but in truth, I was born 53 years ago today in Samaritan Hospital on President Street between 6th and 7th avenues, which, in that best Brownstone Brooklyn style, is now a cooperative apartment building. There is nothing remarkable about the passages of time marked by commercial and real estate changes in a community. More just the memory of 7th avenue and Park Slope in general in the 60s and 70s. I remember making a pilgrimage as a kid from Windsor Terrace where I lived with my family to see for my own eyes the Community Bookstore. I remember Bohacks and the furrier on 7th, but to me, I seem to recall a lot of non-descript stores and perhaps empty storefronts and I have always associated Community Books as one of the seeds that germinated to help establish Park Slope's 7th avenue as the mighty economic engine that it is today. Never underestimate the power of the arts, books and knowledge. My memory may be faulty, but I also seem to remember Back to the Land when it was a little organic/natural foods restaurant. Did it morph into a natural foods grocery ?

Well, it is my birthday, and as long as I can post and dream and continue to look forward to the future, I will just say --

Speak, memory.

--Brooklyn Beat