Whoops

So I went out and recorded a new video today at the Brooklyn Bridge. I was a little cocky and didn't refresh on my facts. In doing so, I made a few mistakes. But I have no problem admitting that I was wrong. I'm human. Here's a few websites that will show you the errors I made. It's up to you to figure out where the mistakes are.


wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn_Bridge
nycroads.com/crossings/brooklyn
endex.com/gf/buildings/bbridge/bbridgefacts.htm
greatbuildings.com/buildings/Brooklyn_Bridge.html

if you're kinda nerdy like me, you'll have fun

(The following was updated on 8/5/09)

I removed the original video from the youtube site. Therefore, I am posting the long version.

Why Do I Love Brooklyn? That is a question I get asked a lot. Even more so after starting this. People will say to me all the time "I always have a good time, but why do you say you love Brooklyn?" I would have to say it boils down to the people.

I am a people person. I love to meet different people and learn about different ways of life. I have heard the responses already. "Manhattan/Queens/Bronx has all type of people." Yes, they do have a diversity all their own. But not the type of people I relate to, to be honest.

You see, I'm from a simple city in the Mid West. Nothing too fancy or frilly about it. My hometown is a leader in manufacturing. It used to employ a lot of people in the area known as the rust belt. Now, all that really remains are a few factories and the headquarters dishing out more pink slips. That's right, Detroit, MI.

I am a true, native born Detroiter. I have a place in my heart for that city, a place that is hard to hide. People here in the big apple call me obsessed with the place. Behind all the excitement of a new (and enormous) city to explore, it hurt me to move. I left behind a lot of good people and great memories, but took with me the grit and strong character that the city can produce. I pride myself on working hard and giving 110% when I get behind something. I speak to people with the respect that they deserve and give them the chance to be heard. (In NYC, you need to choose wisely whom you give time to. I learned that quick.)

It was in Brooklyn that I found that working class grit. With a history of manufacturing, the people of Brooklyn have a similar attitude. There is a certain camaraderie that people share when working side by side in grueling conditions. Not always, but most appreciate the simpler things in life when enduring harsh conditions for 8 hours or more a day. I know the blue sky never looked better than when I worked in a factory. I get the feeling a lot of Brooklynites know just what I mean.

Why am I doing this

Well, a few people have been asking me why is it I am doing this. And too many times, I have used the video blog to explain why. But I don't want to do that. The video I think should be for your enjoyment of seeing what Brooklyn offers.

So I took it upon myself to start writing more as well. Here, I will share my thoughts and reactions to my audience. I think this will allow me to keep a more focused video production. It also gives me the opportunity to add more structure to my endeavor.

With that said, let me try and answer what it is that motivates me to do this. Yes, I am a native Detroiter, transplanted here almost three years ago. But I grew up hearing about Brooklyn. You see, my paternal grandmother was raised in this borough. When she would visit, I remember her stories about go to Dodger games or Coney Island. My own mother grew up in Levitown, so she would tell her memories about trips to the city. Her stories of Coney Island made me want to ride the rides and pig out on junk food. It was only natural that I would be drawn to this city within a city.

I stayed in all boroughs except Staten Island. It was 1996 when I stayed up in the Bronx. I had a great time, but I was always on the train for an hour. I didn't mind it when I was an unfocused teenager happy to be living outside of Detroit, but I couldn't take riding the train for 2 hours a day. After all, one of two big reasons I left Detroit again was I was tired of driving one hour each way for work. I was not about to trade in a car for a train. This time around, I found myself moving to Sugar Hill. Harlem was a blast but a short stay. When I moved to Astoria, Queens, I was always in the city or hanging out in Brooklyn.

After spending time in Bk, I started to create some good memories of my own. My parents drove thru and stayed a couple of nights here. One great memory is having dinner with them at Juniors. It was really nice because my mother loves cheesecake. I liked relaxing in Central Park, but too often, the building towering over the treeline reminds that it is not much of an escape. My first trip to Prospect Park made me feel like I traveled to the countryside.

Aside from all that, I think the biggest reason is the people. I do have a good amount of friends living in Brooklyn, but I am also speaking about the folks I don't know. People I see on the streets or in the stores or where ever, they tend to have good character. Not to say that the other boroughs don't have good people, but I felt most at home around the people in Brooklyn.