Secrets of the Brooklyn Egg Cream

 Just the very name alone can strike wonder into many peoples minds. What's in it? Is it really made out of egg or cream? Who came up with that drink? Then, there's a few people who say "you want me to drink that." What ever the reaction, it is a part of the fabric we call Brooklyn.



There you have it, the simple ingredients of the egg cream. Mix one up to your taste and enjoy!

Seeking A Classic Brooklyn Beverage

Since I've moved to Brooklyn, people have asked me if I've tried a few things. Did you ride the Cyclone? It's too bad you missed the Dodgers by 50 years. (Yes, I've heard that one) Have you been to Juniors? I know you've walked across the bridge? Those were a few of the questions and statements I've heard.

One of the questions was have you tried an egg cream. I've been meaning to try one for a couple of years and I finally have. I was asked a couple of times around the holiday when I mentioned my blog. Not being able to say I have is kind of embarrassing, having been here over 4 years.

I did my research on different places in the city that have a note worthy egg cream. I also made sure I knew what I was getting. You see, ask for a New York egg cream and you get a different drink from a Brooklyn egg cream. New York is vanilla flavored and Brooklyn is chocolate flavored. There is a Bronx egg cream, strawberry, and I've heard of a San Fransisco egg cream, which is hazelnut.


I did not intend on sharing this with you through written word but rather video. Due to some technical difficulty, I am unable to edit the video for a few days. But be sure to check back very soon. I'll show you the places that had an egg cream to boast of as well as how to make one of your own. If you like chocolate milk and soda, this is a post you won't want to miss.

A Better Brooklyn Makes For A Better World

The holidays are over and we're getting back into the business as usual routine. Some of us are working better habits into our day to day. Some of us have already waned from the new year's resolution. One habit to work into our lives that's for the greater good is proper recycling.

Coming from a city that was behind a bit in the movement, I thought the paper, plastic and metals along with a compost bucket was a pretty good job. There is more to it than what I thought. Recently, I've become aware what is called of e-waste.



The next video is just a short sample of the waste collecting around the world. E-waste is imported by many nations besides China. It ends up in places like Africa as well as so many other place in the world.





There are ways to ensure that your electronics doesn't end up being harmful. Organizations such as the LES Ecology Center works hard to make sure that New York City has good habits. They have many programs to educate and make recycling easier. We missed the one in Prospect Park last Sunday. But worry not because Habana Outpost is holding an electronics waste drop off today from 10 to 4. If your going to go, make sure to click above on the link to see what items they are accepting.

Brooklyn Ballpark Remembered

It's a fun time throughout the city lately. With the Jets beating the Patriots, the whole area has been riding the feel good wave. Today, the NY Times shared a picture of the Polo Grounds, a former home of the team. Seeing the picture made me think about the catch, which happened there. Then, I couldn't help but think about the stories I heard about Ebbets Field. Instead of spewing out all the facts on this site, I'm just going to share a few videos I came across.









Notable Links:
Various ballparks in Brooklyn
Another great video about Dem Bums

Brooklyn's Small Snow Storm Snapshots

The snowstorm during the holiday brought out some of the weak points in the cities handling of the weather. There was much finger pointing and name calling going on. And I'm talking about the civil servants, not the general public. They had every right to be mad. Many parts of Brooklyn and Queens were left buried in snow to fend for themselves.

When the storm that followed during the past week, the media was sure that the city was going to be crippled. Many people were worried that they wouldn't have enough supplies at home, or at least a few news sources made it seem that way. The city administration spoke with confidence that it wouldn't repeat what happened a week prior. So, when the snow started to fall, I went out with my camera to see how ready they were. Here are the photo's from Tuesday night.

 

A Story Set in Bed Stuy, 20 Years Later

Anybody that knows me, knows that I love films. They have the power to take you places and think about things that are new. They can change the path of a person if it is honest and compelling. Some will make you question the world you are living in. This opened my eyes to a world of communicating with people. One of the films that drew me into the world of film was 'Do The Right Thing'.



The backdrop was Bed-Stuy, which was like an dense Detroit to me. I saw myself in some of the characters. I had different experiences but they weren't too far off. Therefore, the biggest impact was that Spike Lee and crew were addressing the issues that many of my friends were dealing with. The only difference was very few Italians remained in the D and the stores were owned by Arabs, not Koreans.

 

It has been 20 years and the movie still has an impact. There might be a black president in office but even he said we have a long way to go in his election campaign. I love being a part of the process of learning to come together as a whole in humanity, as bumpy of a road that may be. But stories like this need to be told if the situation is going to be addressed.

Videos of Old Brooklyn Trolleys

Lately, I've been a bit excited about a professional sports team coming to Brooklyn. I'm not a huge fan of the idea of the congestion the new arena will bring but I like some ideas of the design. But that's a whole different posting. See, I'm excited because I will have stories to tell my grandkids like my granny told me about the Dodgers.

Thinking about some of her memories got me nostalgic for an age I have no idea of what life was like. So, like I always do when I feel this way, I started reviewing footage on youtube of Old Brooklyn. Since the Dodgers name derived from the trolleys that ran here, I started seeking those videos out. Here are a few of those videos I came across.








You might want to hit the mute on this one but it has some cool old footage.

New Fresh Food Option in Clinton Hill

The new year is here and with that, people begin to think about changes and improvements. It is a good time to do so. Many of us make resolutions or set new goals. So, lately I've been thinking more and more about the foods I eat. After all, diet and exercise is the basis for good health.

It's been in the back of my mind to join a food coop since I've moved here. In Detroit, the co-op was not set up where you had to be a member to shop there. And it was conveniently located two blocks from my home. But Park Slope, which seemed like the top choice, was always a little journey from my house. With all the extra activities I had outside of work and school, I didn't have much time for traveling for shopping.

Now, I am excited to hear of the newest addition to Brooklyn's food suppliers, Green Hill Food Co-Op. The organization has been around for a little while now. But now, they have obtained a lease in a location. If it were one year ago, I would have lived right around the corner from the place.

It will be a little bit of time before they open their doors to the world. But for now they have an option to get fresh organic foods to the neighborhood. When you join, you can sign up for the Buying Club and get your order every other week. See you in the aisles, soon!

Blizzard Blunders Brings out Best of Brooklynites

AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews

It's back to the grind after the holidays here in Brooklyn. It sure seems like the sanitation department has had a nice vacation. When the snow hit, it took forever for them to clear streets in our beloved borough. Now, it seems as though they are dragging their feet to pick up the trash.

This is not the first blizzard to hit the area. I remember hearing stories from my granny about dealing with Brooklyn streets during 3 foot snow storms. So why, after many years of experience, is NYC having trouble with the elements? There are many rumors and stories swirling around this question. 

Photos by Bitchcakesny

We were told that in order to remove the snow, they had to postpone trash pick up. Seems reasonable, right. But we sat around, waiting for our streets to be cleared. It seemed that mother nature was the agent that helped in that area. Are we supposed to wait on a magical gust of wind to sweep the garbage away now?


But through the trials of the season, what I love most about Brooklyn shined bright in this time. With the lack of the city services, people we left to deal with it on their own. Much like my hometown when this happens, peoples compassion came out. Folks helped each other to dig out cars or walkways. They checked in on the elders on the block and ran to the store if they needed anything. Sure, folks may have wanted a couple dollars for the helping hand. But I didn't hear one person complain if they didn't get a dime.