Neighborhood Profile | Houses of Worship | Sources

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Historical Information

Flushing Remonstrance

The neighborhood of Flushing is located in the north central part of Queens. Flushing’s history dates back to over 360 years. In 1645, Flushing was chartered as the town of Vlissingen, which was part of the New Netherland colony. The first settlers were English, and in a few years the town’s Quaker population was on the rise. The Quakers were seeking religious freedom and helped Flushing become one of the first towns to allow such liberty. The Quakers not only helped gain religious freedom but also took part in abolition and the fight for civil rights. One specific Quaker named John Bowne, who settled in what is now Downtown Flushing, set up a meetinghouse for local Quakers. Clearly, the Quakers had a strong influence in the neighborhood of Flushing.

Since the seventeenth century Flushing can be characterized as the neighborhood for religious freedom, abolition, and civil rights.  In 1664, the English colony took control of New Amsterdam and renamed it New York.  The Town of Flushing was one of the original towns of Queens County, however, the town was disbanded in 1898 when Queens became a borough of New York City.  The completion of the Queensboro Bridge that connected to Manhattan provided easier access for people to come and go.  In addition, the opening of the Long Island Railroad in 1910 and the number 7-subway train service along with the convergence of twenty bus lines contributed to a commercial and commuter hub

Flushing today is full of hospitals, parks, various institutions, commercial centers, hospitals, and national landmarks. Since the transformation of Flushing into a commercial hub, people from many different regions have started to come and settle in Flushing. In fact, the Chinatown in Flushing is the second largest Chinatown in all of United States. From cultural vicinities to religion houses of worship Flushing is definitely one of the most diverse neighborhoods New York City has to offer.

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Demographics

Flushing              Queens             NYC

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Places of Interest

Flushing Town Hall

Location: 137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing, New York 11354
Phone: 718-463-7700

Flushing Town Hall is designed in a Romanesque Style. It is the one of the major centers of the neighborhood, where in history, there have been many important events happening in and around the building. Politics, Arts, History, Culture of more than 140 years have been passed by through this building. Today it stands majestically on Northern Boulevard (a major travel route since Native American Tribes were living in the area). It is a place for hosting many events, such as performances (dances, plays, etc.) , exhibitions, discussions. These events revolve around the culture that Flushing presents to its residents, neighbors, the city, and the world alike.

Website: http://www.flushingtownhall.org/

Voelker Orth Museum

Location: 149-19 38th Avenue, Flushing, NY 11354
Phone: 718-359-6227

The Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary, and Victorian Garden, sits on a land purchased by a German immigrant. It currently showcases the history of the community, with a Victorian Garden, a place to store horse carriage, and a beautifully painted pink and white wooden house. The museum has certain favorite Victorian Era plants that attract all kinds of birds. As you enter the fences surrounding the house, you will feel a presence of history with serenity. It is very calm and peaceful in the garden there, with many types of flowers blooming bringing color, and a small pond having large orangeish-golden fishes.

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Our Experiences

We visited the Flushing neighborhood and had fun. Well at least I had fun. Since Flushing is huge, and even though I live there, I have not visited every single corner, we went to historic places. There are “Freedom Mile” hotspots around this neighborhood that I did not know of before this project. It was really interesting to know that Flushing had a major role in defining American History. As a group we visited St. George’s Episcopalian Church, Bowne House, Flushing Town Hall, Friends Meeting House, Voelker Orth Museum and a few other places. Well, the maps really helped us and most of these places were close by each other since they were built before or around the period of the Revolutionary War. I have visited Flushing Town Hall for a few performances in Junior High School but never learned about its history until today. The Episcopalian Church stands only one block away from the Main Street subway station, but it is such an overlooked site – there was mass going inside so we could not visit it today. The Voelket Orth Museum is a Bird Sanctuary (Not really – will tell later), a Victorian Garden and a Museum of a German immigrant. I think the highlight of our walk was this last place, because that is the only place where a person actually spoke to us about it personally. Since, I live in the neighborhood, I am going to try to visit these sites again for further information.

About people now; I have lived in this neighborhood for all the time, I have been outside of India. This was the first place I have ever immigrated to. At the beginning, it felt awkward to talk to people from a different race, ethnicity, culture, religion, background, etc, however after a while of being in school, and having classmates of so many different kinds, I have been lucky enough to have grown into it. I have friends living in Flushing from many backgrounds – Indian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Armenian, German, Ecuadorian, Hispanic, etc. They all live in “Flushing” – it is a VERY vast area. Walking along Main Street, I was talking to Karim about how the people over here are. We saw Hispanics, African American, Europeans, Indians, Chinese, Koreans, among others shopping here. Even though many of these might live a few subway stops away on the 7 train, they come to this area mainly to shop and spend their Sunday afternoons. So what makes Flushing the grabber of these customers? I believe it is a major hub for shopping of any kind, as well as having something to munch on. Plus, it is closer than going all the way into the city; it is much cheaper than places in the city, and there is always something or the other to do.

Chirag Shah

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On a pretty warm Sunday afternoon Chirag, Karim, and I visited Flushing in Queens. I have not been there in a long time so I was excited. When I got out of the Main St. Flushing 7 train station I was welcomed by a sight that looked like to be a city block near Times Square, Manhattan. There were many people similar to that of Manhattan’s busy streets. We explored the area of Downtown Flushing home to the second largest Chinatown. However, the Chinatown here is mixed with both Chinese and American values. Yes, there are Chinese stores and restaurants, however there are stores such as Macy’s, Old Navy, Modell’s and fast food places such as McDonald’s and Burger King right around the corner. In addition to Chinatown we visited the Flushing Town Hall, Old Quaker Meeting House, John Bowne House, and a Victorian Garden.

One thing that stuck out to me was the diversity in Flushing. Everywhere there were welcome signs in different languages. It is nice to see that people accept different people from different places. We saw Episcopal Church, a Methodist Church, a sikh temple, a place of worship for Jews, and one or two more Churches of the Christian Branch. We also came upon a park where people were relaxing, eating, playing basketball and volleyball while their children played with outer children. This park is evidence of one place in Flushing where you can find many different people. Flushing is not full of just Asians but Hispanics even live here too! Simply put: Flushing exemplifies cultural diversity at its best.

Jamilur Reja

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Today I visited Downtown Flushing along with Chirag and Jamilur. Having not been to the neighborhood for several years, I was eager to get reacquainted with location and explore it further. As Chirag mentioned earlier, we saw several interesting locations throughout the area, including the Episcopalian Church, the Bowne House, The Voelker Orth Museum, and the Flushing Town House. Some of these historic locations really allowed us to get a sense of Flushing history as well as its impact on the country. For example, we learned that the site of the Flushing State Armory is actually considered to be the birthplace of religious freedom in America. It is where Flushing freeholders wrote the Flushing Remonstrance (which we were lucky enough to obtain a copy of), a letter written to Peter Stuyvesant that served as the inspiration for the First Amendment to the Constitution.

As Jamilur mentioned, Flushing’s diversity really stands out. The Old Quaker Meeting House (the oldest house of worship in New York) had a sign welcoming everyone in Spanish, English, and Chinese. I found this fascinating, because I had never heard of Chinese or Spanish Quakers before. Several blocks down we came across a park , where a large group of Hispanic men were playing volleyball next to another group of men arguing in Chinese. I thought that this kind of coexistence was amazing; Flushing is one of the few places in the world where you could observe something like this on a daily basis.

The most enjoyable part of the trip came from visiting the Voelket Orth Museum. Besides having to dodge humongous bumblebees, we enjoyed exploring its beautiful garden filled with blooming flowers, birds, and even a coy pond at the very back. It was probably one of the most peaceful places I’ve visited in a while, and one I surely won’t forget.

Overall, the trip was very fun. Flushing is a great neighborhood, and I can’t wait to visit it again!

Karim Abdelrazek

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Neighborhood Profile | Houses of Worship | Sources

Neighborhood Profile | Houses of Worship | Sources

Sources:
Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church
NYC Ago
Wikipedia
Lenox Road Baptist Church
Big Apple Greeters
Dutch Reformed Church of Flatbush
NYCago.org
Church Avenue BID
Temple Beth Emeth v”Ohr Progressive Shaari Zedek

Photos taken by Joenard Camarista and Nazana Weeks.

Neighborhood Profile | Houses of Worship | Sources

Neighborhood Profile | Houses of Worship | Sources

From Dutch Roots to Vast Melting Pot:

The History of Settlement in Flatbush

Originally under the Dutch-derived name Midwood in the charter, Flatbush was first colonized by Dutch merchants and farmers from 1651 on. In 1656, the town of Flatbush was annexed into the City of Brooklyn in 1894 and then the greater New York in 1898.

With the turn of the 20th century, a new wave of Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants started settling Flatbush and were soon the major immigrant population.

There was then a third and final shift of demographics during the 1970s towards a heavier African-American and West Indian presence.

Albeit these two final groups have the largest presence in Flatbush today, there is still a very healthy mix of almost all of these past settlement groups and this is very much represented in the variety of religions practiced.

Demographics

Click here to be directed to Census site that this image was sourced from.

• 55.3% of the residents in Flatbush are female.
• The majority (84,665) of residents in Flatbush consider themselves “Black or African American.”
• The average family size is 3.46.
• The median family income is $30,985.

Click here to be directed to New York City Department of City Planning report that these images were sourced from.

• The majority of immigrants in Flatbush come from Haiti
• The Black/African-American population in Flatbush decreased 1.6 percent between 1990 and 2000.
• The Asian population in Flatbush increased by 33.2 percent between 1990 and 2000.
  

  Geography

  The boundaries of Flatbush have changed many times over the years. For the sake of including historical institutions of Flatbush and points of interests, we are using the following borders:

  Northern Boundary – Parkside Avenue
  Southern Boundary – The Bay Ridge Branch freight line tracks below Brooklyn College
  Eastern Boundary – New York Avenue
  Western Boundary – Coney Island Avenue

  The selected area includes parts of Prospect Park South, East Flatbush, Midwood, and Kensington & Parkville.
  
  View Flatbush in a larger map

  Transportation
  Two train lines run along the eastern and western boundaries of Flatbush which provides the residents with easy access to transportation to the city. On the western side, the B and Q trains run along the BMT Brighton Line while on the eastern side, the 2 and 5 trains run along the Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line.

  The local train stations are:
  – Parkside Avenue, Church Avenue, Beverly Road, Cortelyou Road, Newkirk Avenue, and Avenue H on the Brighton Line.
  – Winthrop Avenue, Church Avenue, Beverly Road, Newkirk Avenue, and Flatbush Avenue – Brooklyn College on the Broadway-Seventh Avenue Line.

  B & Q Church Ave Subway Stop	B & Q Church Ave Subway Stop
  2 & 5 Church Ave Subway Stop	B & Q Prospect Park Subway Stop

  Bus:

  Buses run along the main thoroughfares providing connections to the local train stations and to the outskirts of the neighborhood. Most people living east of Flatbush use the bus/train combination as their main method of transportation. The bus routes that serve the area are the B5, B8, B35, B23, B41, B44, B49, B103, and Q35.

  Dollar Vans & Cabs:

  One of the more popular forms of transportation in Flatbush is the dollar cab and dollar van. Customers share a van or taxi and usually pay a minimal fee of $2 per ride. This cheap means of transportation runs along the main bus routes and often provide a faster commute . Dollar vans and cabs normally run along Flatbush Avenue, Church Avenue, and Nostrand Avenue.
  

  Other Information

  Library: Brooklyn Public Library – Flatbush Branch. The library recently added a Caribbean Literary and Cultural Center which is reflective of the neighborhood’s demographics. The center serves as a meeting place to discuss issues relating to Flatbush and the Caribbean, a resource site to help new immigrants transition into the American lifestyle, and as medium for increasing Caribbean awareness.

  Flatbush Public Library - sort of hard to locate when you initially try to find it.

  Flatbush Public Library

  Police Department: NYPD 67th Precinct

  Brooklyn Community Board: No. 14

  Post Office: Flatbush Post Office

  New York Fire Department: Engine 281, Ladder 147 (“Da Pride of Flatbush”)

  Hospitals: SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Kings County Hospital Center

  Convalescence Home: New York Congregational Nursing Home

  Points of Interest

  Historical Institutions:
  Flatbush Town Hall – This Gothic style building was erected to serve as a meeting place for the residents of Flatbush, before the town became a part of Brooklyn. The building was a symbol of pride and independence to Flatbush residents when it was constructed in 1875. It is now a New York City landmark.

  Flatbush Town Hall

  Flatbush Town Hall

  Ebbets Field – A Major League Baseball Park that was home to the Brooklyn Dodgers. The field was erected in 1913 and demolished in 1960. Even though the field is demolished, the memories of the great baseball games still live on in the hearts of Brooklynites.

  Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church

  Victorian Flatbush:

  Flatbush has the highest concentration of Victorian architecture within the United States, with the majority of the houses in the Albermarle Terrace, Kenmore Terrace, and Prospect Park South. The buildings were built at the turn of the 20th century and maintains a suburban atmosphere in the middle of the city.

  Ablemarle Terrace - Victorian House	Ablemarle Terrace - Victorian House	Ablemarle Terrace - Victorian House
  Kenmore Terrace - Victorian House	Kenmore Terrace - Victorian House	Kenmore Terrace - Victorian House

  Recreation and Leisure:
  Prospect Park – The designers of Central Park, architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, gave Brooklynites a similar recreational space to their Manhattanite neighbors. The park provides Brooklynites with space for baseball, basketball, cycling, peddle boating, fishing, volleyball, and horseback riding, among others.

  Prospect Park Walkway - a nice place to walk.	Prospect Park Walkway Sign	Prospect Park - Bicycle Lane
  Prospect Park - Drummer Grove: a public Afro-Carribean drum troupe performs in this very spot every Sunday.	Sunset over the lake in Prospect Park --- so beautiful.	Prospect Park - Entrance

  Parade Grounds and Prospect Park Tennis Center – This 40-acre space south of Prospect Park provides an area for playing baseball, tennis, soccer, basketball, and football. It is used by many local schools, leagues, and clubs.

  Prospect Park Parade Ground Sign

  Prospect Park Parade Ground

  Educational:
  Brooklyn College – Shared by Flatbush and Midwood, Brooklyn College is one of the senior colleges in the CUNY system, and was recently named one of the top ten ‘Best Value Colleges’ by The Princeton Review.” The college’s student demographics is a reflection of the diverse community of Flatbush, with students from over 100 nations and a large percentage of students with Caribbean heritage. Brooklyn College offers a major in Caribbean Studies.

  Erasmas Hall High School – frequently called the “mother of high schools,” was the first high school chartered by the New York Regents and the 3rd oldest in the State. Built in 1787, is a great example of colonial architecture with an ivory towered quadrangle, and hand-carved beams and claspboards. The building is now called the Erasmas Hall Museum and it houses four small schools.

  Erasmas Hall High School

  Erasmas Hall High School

  Festivals:

  Labor Day Parade – Held in Crown Heights on Labor Day, the West Indian Carnival is the largest festival of the mixed Caribbean diaspora in the world. Followed by Caribana in Toronto and the Notting Hill Carnival in the UK. The Labor Day Parade is a colorful and rhythmic celebration of heritage for the Caribbean people.

  Haitian Parade and Festival – In May, Haitian Heritage Month, Nostrand Avenue is transformed into a blue and red for the Haitian Parade and Festival. Similar to the Labor Day Parade, Haitians celebrate their culture by jamming down the streets to the performances of top Haitian artistes, and enjoying local dishes.

  Flatbush Frolic – With an emphasis on community development, Flatbush Frolic is a free open air street fair for a celebration of the community. Flatbush residents showcase their talents by providing live entertainment, exhibiting products from local businessmen, and food is available from local restaurants. by the Flatbush Development Corporation.

  Neighborhood Profile | Houses of Worship | Sources

  

Neighborhood Profile | Houses of Worship | Sources

Historical Information

Bay Ridge’s history extends back to 1652, when the Dutch West India Company acquired the land from Nyack Indians. The Dutch settlers first referred to Bay Ridge as Yellow Hook for the color of the soil found there. Nearly 200 years later in 1853, the name was changed to Bay Ridge because of the yellow-fever epidemic (1848-1849); residents feared that this association with the word “yellow” would present a negative outlook on the neighborhood.

Bay Ridge is known for its strong military presence in the U.S., particularly with Fort Hamilton (formerly known as Fort Lewis). Fort Hamilton played a vital role in many wars including the War of 1812, Battle of Brooklyn, Civil War, World War I, and World War II. It served as the last line of defense and port of entry for entrance into the Hudson River.

Overview

In the late 1800s, many industrialists and wealthy businessmen moved to Bay Ridge to build retreats and mansions. The neighborhood seemed to break off from the rest of New York City as a quiet suburban area of residence. Around 1915, when subway lines were extended, many Irish and Italian moved into the neighborhood. In 1964, the          Verrazano Narrows Bridge was built despite strong opposition from Bay Ridge residents; Robert Moses, chairman of the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority, managed to push the project through. While Bay Ridge remains quite suburban, the Verrazano bridge truly transformed the neighborhood by bringing in many different groups of people from other parts of the city. Bay Ridge is known to be a traditional Irish/Italian neighborhood, but there has been a recent influx of Chinese, Russian, Greek, Lebanese, Egyptian, Syrian, and Jordanian immigrants.

The Bay Ridge community’s unsuccessful opposition to the Verrazano Bridge construction is said to have sparked community activism throughout the neighborhood. In the late 20th century, residents were able to preserve the 16-acre Leif Ericson Park and the 27-acre Owl’s Head Park. The 58-acre Shore Road Park still remains, connecting Owl’s Head Park at the north of Bay Ridge to the southern tip of Fort Hamilton. Bay Ridge remains one of the only small-town residential looking neighborhoods within N.Y.C.

FORT HAMILTON

Fort Hamilton is the “second oldest continuously garrisoned federal post in the United States” and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places (Jackson, p.6). The fort rests in the southern tip of Bay Ridge near the Verrazano Bridge and represents the rich history of Bay Ridge.

Fort Hamiltion is named after Alexander Hamilton, who fought during the American Revolution in the Battle of Brooklyn. Fort Hamilton, also the first granite fort in the New York harbor, was built between 1825 and 1831. During the Civil War, the fort served as a training facility for volunteer soldiers. Brooklynites were able to see ships across the harbor and fortifications on Staten Island defending the harbor from Confederate raiders at that time. In 1863, the fort provided troops to help put down the Draft Riots of July 1863; New Yorkers resented forced conscription into the army and saw black workers as a threat to their jobs. Residents started burning buildings, tearing up railroad tracks, and attacking blacks.

Fort Hamilton remained active through the beginning of the 20th century. Long-ranged guns, and antiship and antiaircraft defenses were installed until Nike missiles started protecting New York City. This is when the armaments at Fort Hamilton were completely removed in 1954. However, during both world wars, the fort was still used as a “major embarkation and separation center” (Jackson, p. 8). In the mid-1990’s, it was used as a recruiting command post and processing station for New York City. The 26th Army Band and the Veteran’s Administration Hosiptal are now located at the fort (Jackson, p. 8). Today’s base is currently land-marked. If you visit, you will discover a small museum containing a vast collection of maps and military equipment located within the fort.

Bay Ridge 1962

WordPress is fun to hack.  WordPress

Bay Ridge Now

Geography

View Bay Ridge in a larger map

In the late 19th century, many rich industrialists and businessmen built their mansions along Shore Road in Bay Ridge. If you go to the Fort Hamilton area, you will still find beautiful mansions lining the suburban streets. You’ll also find brownstones and local Italian and Irish stores and restaurants. As you move up north, you’ll start seeing more buildings and townhouses that look like urban parts of Brooklyn. You’ll also find many Arab and Asian local stores, especially near Ovington Avenue and above.

Boundaries

Bay Ridge: Narrows on the west, Gowanus Expressway to 7th Avenue on the east. 65th Street on the north, Verrazano Narrows Bridge on the south.

Fort Hamilton: the southern area of Bay Ridge, boundary at 86th Street

Subway – Line

4th Avenue R train: Stops -> Bay Ridge Ave. , 77th St. , 86th St. , 95th St./Fort Hamilton

Buses

B1, B9, B4, B16, B64, B8, B63, Bs53, B37, Bx27

Libraries

Brooklyn Public Library Bay Ridge Branch (Ridge Blvd. at 73rd St.), Fort Hamilton Branch (4th Avenue at 95th St.)

Community Board: No. 10

Police Precinct: 68th Precinct (333 65th St.)

Fire Department: Engine 241 Ladder 109 (6630 3rd Avenue), Engine 242 (9219 5th Avenue)

Hospitals and Clinics: Veterans Administration Hospital, Victory Memorial Hospital

Sources: Kenneth T. Jackson. The Neighborhoods of Brooklyn. Yale University Press, 2004

Demographics

Demographics of Brooklyn (1890-1930 Census)

Racial Demographics of Bay Ridge (2000 Census)                                                 2006-2008 Census Estimates

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General Demographics of Bay Ridge (2000 Census)                             ___________General Demographics

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Places of Interest

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|The Verrazano Narrows Bridge

Built in 1964, the Verrazano Narrows Bridge is the symbol and most attractive place for tourists to visit in Bay Ridge. Its massive towers measure to 693 feet high and can be seen from nearly everywhere in Bay Ridge. Its view from the bay is beautiful and at 4,260 feet it almost seems never ending. The Verrazano Narrows Bridge played a key role in Bay Ridge’s development; it transformed the former suburban neighborhood into the industrialized community it is today. It’s also the only bridge to connect the borough of Staten Island to the rest of New York City. This eventually benefited both Staten Island and Bay Ridge financially and socially (as they both saw a great increase in population). If your in Bay Ridge, the Verrazano Narrows Bridge is the one place you have to see.

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|Owl’s Head Park

If you have an appreciation for the outdoors, then Owl’s Head Park is the place for you. Bounded by 68th street and Shore Rd, it’s 27.1 acres of land is almost covered completely by wildlife. There are many theories about how Owl’s Head Park got it’s name; some say the plot of land once took the shape of an owl’s head, others say owls lived there at one time. Either way, Owl’s Head Park has had a long and rich history extending back to when Canarsie Indians lived on the land. Owl’s Head Park has become one of the premier parks in Brooklyn. Families come here for picnics in the summer, and kids come to sled down the massive hill during the winter. Owl’s Head is also has one of the few skate parks in New York City; you’ll always see that park filled no matter the day. There’s always something to do here at Owl’s Head Park, so stopping by while your in Bay Ridge is a must.

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|John Paul Jones Park

If your a person that enjoys history, particularly military history then take a trip down to John Paul Jones Park. John Paul Jones Park has a rich history, mainly due to its location near Fort Hamilton. Located right at the foot of the Verrazano Bridge, you’ll find a beautiful view of the bay while being surrounded by stunning wildlife. John Paul Jones Park is named after the American Naval Hero John Paul Jones, who became known as “the Father of the Navy” after his heroic actions during the American Revolution. The United States Military presented a 20″ bore, Parrott Cannon as a Civil War Memorial in 1900. Several other memorials have been presented to the park, the most recent being the 70 foot flag pole that once belonged to a Navy Destroyer. John Paul Jones Park continues to serve the people of Bay Ridge as a memorial of their history.

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|69th Street Pier

Perhaps the most relaxing place in Bay Ridge is the 69th Street Pier. Before the construction of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the 69th Street Pier was the site for the ferry connecting Bay Ridge to Staten Island. Today, the pier is the spot for fisherman to catch their bluefish and romantic couples to watch the sunset. The 69th Street Pier has arguably the best view on the bay. If you appreciate aesthetic beauty, then come on down to the 69th Street Pier and just enjoy the view!

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Neighborhood Profile | Houses of Worship | Sources

Neighborhood Profile | Houses of Worship | Sources

History

One of the oldest parts of Astoria is the Hallet’s Cove. It was named after a family who first settled in this northern waterfront section in the 1600s. Before the Civil War, a wealthy merchant Stephen A. Hasley purchased real estate with associates and began laying out lots. In 1839, he had the area chartered by the state as the incorporated village of Astoria, after John Jacob Astor, Hasley’s acquaintance, who made a minor financial contribution to a local girls’ seminary. Astoria remained a distinctive village until 1898, when it officially became part of New York City.

Farther north is an area referred to as Ditmars, the core of Greek Astoria. New York City has the largest Greek population outside of Athens. And those who don’t live in central Asotria flock to Ditmars. Ditmars was named after Abram Ditmars, who became the first mayor of Long Island City in 1870, and it is home to 66-acre Astoria Park. Founded in 1913 in a valiant effort to save some of the East River shoreline for the public, Astoria Park offers a view of teh river and the Triboro Bridge.

And a smaller area known as Steinway was named after the German Steinway family, famous for it piano manufacturing company. They developed this part of Astoria beginning in 1877. They built a company town consisting of a factory complex, homes for employees, a post office, a library and other basic businesses.

Around the 1920’s to the 1940’s, Astoria became home to a large number of Italian, Greek, and Irish immigrants. After a change in U.S. Immigration policies in the late 1960’s, Astoria received its biggest immigration boom in modern times, mostly from Greece. Today, Astoria boasts the largest number of Greek nationals and emigrants outside of Greece. During the 1980’s to present, immigrants from Bangladesh, India, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Brazil have increasingly settled in Astoria. More museums and artists also moved into this neighborhood in the 1980’s.

Today, Astoria is a multicultural haven for people from all corners of the earth. The neighborhood’s architecture reflects its rich past: a hodgepodge of prewar apartment buildings, renovated row houses, brick tenements, and two family houses combine the old with the new. Astoria enjoys a variety of robust small businesses, ethnic dining, bargain shopping, and trendy nightlife.

Demographics

White 74.70% Black 1.10% Native American 0.10% Asian 4.80% Hawaiin/Islander 0% Other 0.90% Mixed 4.70% Hispanic 13.80%

Ethnic Breakdown

Social Geography

Astoria has traditionally been considered one of the most heavily “Greek” areas outside of Greece and Cyprus. But the tides are now turning. This culturally rich and diverse neighborhood is now known as the “new bohemia,” attracting residents from India, Pakistan, Thailand, China, and other parts of America.

Little Egypt

The aroma of gyros, hookah, and pastries (baklava) fills the air in Little Egypt. Women wearing hijabs walk with their children speaking Arabic. Men sit outside the hookah bars contemplating about life. Children: Afghani, Syrian, Egyptian, play soccer together, their laughter ringing the streets. North of Steinway Street is the famous Al-Iman Mosque. The golden exterior and the intricate Arabic writing on the doors beckons the people to explore the history of this beautiful mosque.

The number of Arab speakers in the neighborhood the city designates as Queens Community Board 1(the city is broken into fifty-nine community boards that offer advice on land-use and budget issues) rose from 2,265 in 1990 to 4,097 in 2000, an 80 percent increase, and will be larger in the next census. For the Middle Easterners, the attraction to Astoria is the Mediterranean atmosphere: foods that overlap with Greek delicacies such as kebab, lentils, baklava, and okra. “We feel more comfortable with Greeks,” George Oumous, a forty-five-year old Moroccan computer programmer, said of his fellow Arabs. “We’ve been near each other for centuries. You listen to Greek music, you think you could be listening to Egyptian music.

Little Greece

Walking away from the bustling streets and hyped people, we entered Little Greece, a rather calm area.  Originally, Astoria was mostly populated with Greeks, but decreased immigration and lower birth rates  dropped the population from around 22,579 in 1980 to 18127 by 1990. Astoria has many Greek restaurants, bakeries, tavernas and cafes, as well as several Greek Orthodox churches. One of the many churches church we visited was the St. Irene Of Chrysovalantou Greek Orthodox Church located on 36th Street and Ditmars Blvd.

It is very interesting to see that the Greeks, who just a decade ago made up half of Astoria’s population, are leaving to other places. Many immigrants made enough money in coffee shops, cafes, and construction to afford more spacious homes in Bayside and Whitestone in Queens or Roslyn on Long Island.

A mix of cultures

Fadl Shaker, a Palestinian born in Lebanon, is a famous singer known widely in the Middle East. His song Ya Ghayeb, which literally translates into “Oh Absent (girl),” was also sung by Sotis Volanis, a Greek singer. In this song, a guy asks his love why she does not ask about the one who loves her and he tells her that she is his destiny. This song has many covers including Serbian, Hebrew, Turkish, and of course Arabic and Greek. The video below is a remix including the Arabic and Greek verisions of the song.

Transportation:

The N, W, and Q trains are the trains that cover most of astoria. The G, R, V, E, F and 7 trains are also helpful.

Astoria Subway Map

Heart of Astoria: Landmarks and Attractions

Astoria Park 23rd Rd to Hoyt Ave S (19th Street and Shore Boulevard) Astoria, NY 11106 The highlight of Astoria is the Astoria Park which contains the largest of New York City’s public pools which was also t1he former site of the 1936 and 1964 U.S. Olympic trials. Enjoy the beautiful view of the Hell Gate Bridge and the Megler Bridge. Many residents come to the park to enjoy a day out with their families, play soccer with their children, or just to take s stroll.

Museum of the Moving Image 37th Street & 35th Ave New York, NY (718) 784-0077 The Museum of the Moving Image represents the art of movie-making. It celebrates the history, technology, and art of movies. With a balance of hands-on activities and information that will interest people of all ages, this museum is a winner. Walking through it feels like one is walking into a movie itself!

Firdos Grill 25-21 Steinway St Astoria, NY 11103 Astoria is home to many hookah bars/restaurants . One of the most popular hookah restaurants is Firdos. The prices are more than reasonable as opposed to the $15 and up prices of Manhattan. The vibe is attracting, great for a socializing with friends as the music isn’t too loud. The decor is simple but congruent to the vibe. Walking into Steinway one is overwhelmed with the fragrances of the various hookah bars. The nightlife is very alive. Happy hour in Astoria is post ten o’clock.

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INDIA IN NEW YORK
A Visit to the Hindu Temple Society of North America, by Lana Guardo and Elizabeth Kelman
Listen to Om Jai Jagdish Hare:

Listen to Gayatri Mantra:

Our trip to the Hindu Temple Society of North America was genuinely enlightening, educational, fun and SPICY. Although we did not receive a lot of help figuring out what each deity stood for or whether or not Shiva was a man or woman, ultimately, we were able to get a grasp on the force this temple holds over Flushing and the empowerment it provides to Hindus all over the NYC metropolitan area.

Take a look at the Temple’s Official Website
Om Jai Jagdish Hare

We appreciated this assignment because we always say things like “I want to go to that cultural center in that far away borough,” but rarely follow through. It was due time to experience Flushing’s diversity and excitement. As students, we are so rarely given the opportunity to have so much control over our own classes-what we learn, how we learn it, where we should go—and here we had that unique situation.

Furthermore, the visit served as a catalyst for conversations with three of Liz’s Hindu friends about the religion of their parents and their own connections to the religion. These discussions tied in nicely to our class themes and discussions about immigration, assimilation, and culture.

DESCRIPTION
Since all forms of photography and video (including cameraphones) were explicitly prohibited in the temple, we will attempt here to describe the temple for you.
The temple proper is one extremely large room, with many small shrines to various deities in niches along the three walls. Each little shrine, like the temple as a whole, is fairly simple—each contains only a statue of the deity, usually golden, and a few of the statues had fresh garlands hanging on their necks. A group of women were sitting on a blanket to one side of the temple making similar garlands. Above each niche was a little plaque with the name of the deity on it. We noticed that all the names were prefaced by “Sri,” which our friend (& our guide of the temple for the day) Aparna explained was a term of respect, reserved almost exclusively for gods. In the center of the room is a large pillar-like structure that is also a shrine, but it’s larger and more ornate than the niche shrines since it is for Ganesh, to whom the temple is dedicated. There is one other similarly styled shrine at the far end of the temple space, but it was cordoned off and Aparna didn’t know anything about the deity it was for. In India, most temples are devoted to only one god or just a few gods, but there are so few temples in North America that at the Ganesh Temple they try to represent all of the Gods that people worship. The Hindu Center, located just a few blocks from Ganesh Temple, apparently has even more gods’ shrines, so between Ganesh Temple and the Hindu Center most major deities are represented.

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Flatbush Dutch Reformed Church
Flatbush Tompkins Congregational Church
Lenox Road Baptist Church
Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church In The Village Of Flatbush
Temple Beth Emeuth of Flatbush

Other Churches

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If you ever just happen to stroll up third avenue and hit 96^th street, there is no way you could ever miss such a sight. Standing solemnly amongst the towering buildings, it resonates most brilliantly.

Ever since the 1960s, the Muslim community in New York strived to claim a sanctuary for itself. Because of the lack of funds, and problems of where the tenants of the area would move to after their homes were demolished, there was very slow progress. Eventually, in the late 1980s, money from all over the Islamic world flooded in for the creation of a new mosque, with Kuwait donating most. After waiting almost thirty years for its conception, the Islamic Cultural Center of New York  (ICCNY) was finally revealed on April 15, 1991, during the holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr.

This monument commands the attention of passersby, and welcomes not only Muslims who wish to pray, but also mystified non-Muslims. It is the first of its kind in the city. It is unlike most mosques in New York, which are just ordinary brick buildings. A designer of the mosque, Michael McCarthy stated, “Our instructions were to design a mosque for Manhattan, for the 21^st century.’”

The ICCNY entered the ranks of the most illustrious mosques, yet it depicts a paradox. Mosques such as the Dome of the Rock or Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem and the Jama Masjid in New Delhi are so intricately designed, with lavish colors and curves. They depict the beauty of Islam; not physical beauty, but the universal idea of beauty that one can only feel and understand. This postmodern styled mosque shows yet the other side of Islam, aside from its outward beauty; it is Islam’s plainness and reverence for modesty, humility, and the natural. As UN representative of Kuwait Mohammed A. Abulhasan put it, “The theme of the building is Islam — the simplicity of Islam, the humbleness of Islam, the gentleness of Islam.”

The ICCNY is an international Islamic Center, representing Muslims from all countries. The mosque was designed with no nationalistic architectural influences, with the goal of uniting all Muslims.  We may be different in culture, but we have the most important type of kinship, one bounded by God.

Aly Dadras, an architect who was originally supposed to design the mosque, declared, “New York, in a sense, is the mind of America.” New York and the American spirit embrace the world. Here, I am a Bangladeshi Muslim who can connect to Muslims from all lands, and at the same time, bond with fellow non-Muslims. We are all New Yorkers. We all believe in the equality of man. We all strive to lead our lives to a purpose. And we are all heading for that same end.

After living in the city for more than seven years, this was just my first visit to the ICCNY. The mosque is the confirmation that Muslims too have a legitimate claim to this diverse city, along with the rest of the world. One look at the dome and minaret recalls the legendary Islamic empires that swept through continents and built mosques to not only honor their God, but also show the world Islam’s indomitable force. In a time when Islam is widely misunderstood or unappreciated, to see remnants of that majestic epoch, on the planet’s most cosmopolitan city, strengthens my conviction that it will conquer whatever tries to undermine it. It is overwhelming to see that these old legacies of Islam that began fourteen hundred years ago still persevere, despite so much change in these new modern times.

—- Syeda Hasan

Living on Long Island, I haven’t been exposed to as much as I would have liked. I’ve been going to the same exact Mosque for the past 15 years and rarely ever set foot in any others due to convenience. My dad on the other hand, has been to multiple Mosques. He’s lived all across the city and every time he shifted locations, the Mosque he attended would change too. When i told him about how I would be visiting the one located on 96th street he began telling me about how much he had loved it there and how I would probably find it fascinating. He had also told me to be prepared to be awed. And he was right.

My favorite part of the Mosque was the prayer room on the second floor. It had exceeded my expectations. The area where the imam (person who leads the prayers) prays was very intricately designed. Also, hanging from the ceiling were lights and lots of Arabic artwork adorned the walls. It was very different from the Mosque that i frequented on a weekly basis.

There were many differences I noted between the Islamic Cultural Center of New York and the Islamic Center of Long Island, which is the mosque that I attend weekly. The first obvious difference was the grandiose atmosphere of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York.  Everything was so intrinsic and decorative; it definitely felt like a part of history. Meanwhile, the Islamic Center of Long Island is more of a tiny mosque. There is no artwork adorning the walls and it is definitely not as big. However, I feel like the small atmosphere allows for more close-knit relations.

I enjoyed my visit greatly to the Islamic Cultural Center of New York and hope to go back soon.

—-Samira Khan

What is really significant about this mosque is the architecture particularly on the third floor.  The third floor is an enormous domed hall. There is another prayer hall on the first floor, but this one is usually for the Friday midday prayer. The third floor hall has a second level within it where you can go up and look down at the people sitting, chatting among themselves or reading from the Quran. Beautiful lights are hung from the high ceiling that mesmerized you as you gazed up and embraced the wonderful architecture.

The Imam stands all the way in the front. He has his own prayer rug and a microphone for the call to prayer, the Athan.

Before this visit I wasn’t even aware that the architecture was this beautiful and the mosque was so grand. Even though it was not my first visit to the mosque, it felt as if I was seeing it for the first time.

—-Eman Elzeftawy

Extra:

The Athan by Sheikh Mishary Rashed Alafasy

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Social Geography

Physical Boundaries: from Ocean Parkway on the west to West End Avenue on the east, from the Belt Parkway on the north to the Atlantic Ocean on the south. Transportation Infrastructure: The B and Q train lines, and the B1 and B68 bus lines can be taken at Brighton 5th and 7th streets. The B49 can be taken at the edge of Brighton Beach, where the neighborhood meets Manhattan Beach.

Commercial Hub(s): The Brighton Beach/Coney Island Avenue intersection is constantly flooded with cars from below and trains from above, crowded grocery stores, and popular clothing shops. The Riegelmann Boardwalk, a principal focus of Brighton Beach history, invites elderly Russians to converse on the benches, bikers and joggers to get some great exercise, and youths to enjoy fine dining at the Tatiana and Winter Garden restaurants.

Demographics: Past and Present

In many ways Brighton Beach was and still is one of the principal sites of “Old World” immigration, due to the first wave of settlers in the latter stages of the nineteenth and early twentieth century: the Russian Jews. We mention this immigration as “first wave” because Jewish settlement from the 1930’s on took a markedly different form. At the turn of the century, America was faced with the daunting and imposing force of terrible international relations, which manifested itself most violently during WWI. The war’s end was also the end of an era in Brighton. With its hotels losing money and its racetrack destroyed, Brighton morphed into an ideal summer hot spot filled with bungalows for rent that attracted Jews from the inner city.
But the glorious days of the “Roaring Twenties” were short lived, as the Great Depression hit common folk hard all throughout the country. Subsequently, Brighton became overcrowded with Jewish families desperately searching for housing. And when WWII came to a close, the issue of overpopulation was still a serious one for Brighton, but for an entirely different and more gruesome reason. Holocaust survivors, mainly from Poland, were flocking to Brighton in huge numbers and, like their Jewish brethren in the 1930’s, were seeking refuge. This residential change was illustrated quite clearly: Brighton’s train line, which once served 500,000 people, was now a beacon of transportation for millions.
Then, as crime rates increased in places such as Brownsville and East Flatbush, Jews within Brooklyn were looking to Brighton for solace and prosperity. Housing projects were created, and Brighton was rapidly transitioning into the second largest senior citizen community in the U.S. Unfortunately, an old population was unsustainable, and by 1975 Brighton had a 30 percent vacancy rate. Thankfully, a year later, efforts by community groups to attract Soviet Jewish settlers succeeded, as Russian immigrants were able to draw on similarities between Brighton and their native home (these included the boardwalk and the beach).
Today’s Brighton retains this Russian Jewish presence, but the concept of religion is a debatable one and its relevance even more contentious. The WWII generation, on the whole, is proud of its Jewish heritage, and continues to frequent synagogues. The educated youth and working class, on the other hand, have given in to secularization, and seem to be fascinated by Brighton’s nightlife more than its rich Jewish culture. Young Russian Jews are partial to Americanization and assimilation, things which their parents and grandparents found difficult to embrace. The youth, represented by American born Jews and recent migrants from Russia, have a distinct understanding of progress, and see Brighton Beach as a sort of “starting off point” in a greater journey of achieving their dreams. Older Jews, still living in a traditional context, are often unable to come to terms with this notion of change, and therein lays a deep-rooted social divide. But, as we see today, it is not the only gap among peoples.
Russian Jews, whether foreign or native born, are currently jockeying with a growing Asian and Latin American presence in Brighton Beach. Grocery stores have become havens for Hispanic labor, and both the Chinese and Pakistanis have taken to capitalism well, opening up small shops and restaurants. With the WWII generation quickly dying off, and youths distancing themselves from the neighborhood’s history, Brighton Beach might gradually lose its title of “Little Odessa.” Naturally, Russians have apprehensions about such changes, and we have seen fear manifest itself in the form of bitter racism. But regardless of the outcome over the next twenty years, we can agree that the demographical adjustments throughout Brighton Beach’s history are representative of greater trends within a city that is constantly shifting and diversifying.

Historical Information

Initially, Brighton Beach was part of a larger village known as Gravesend that also included Coney Island, Manhattan Beach, and Sea Gate. In the 1860’s, as developers were arriving to this part of the Big Apple, a once dormant community suddenly began to modernize. Brighton was first developed around 1869 by entrepreneur William A. Engeman, who founded it upon the English beach town of the same name. In that year, Engeman helped build Brighton’s first neighborhood pier, and eventually followed this with the Ocean Hotel in 1871 and bathing facilities in 1878. It was in that year, of course, that government officials and developers agreed on the construction of a railroad system, which stretched from Brighton Beach to Flatbush, and ended at Coney Island.	Mira Mar apartments and boardwalk, June 10, 1932
Thus, at the turn of the century, Brighton Beach was moving in lockstep with its sister neighborhoods in terms of industrialization. This was progressive change, and the pattern of constant improvement continued during the Progressive Era, when the New Brighton Theater (1909)—a vaudeville establishment—was erected. It was also during this time that swathes of tourists from other parts of the city migrated to Brighton, yearning for recreation and relaxation. To accommodate these travelers, builders formed 30 six-story apartment buildings, and extended the Brighton Beach boardwalk. Both sites are still present to this day, and serve as vivid memories of a lively and colorful past.	At picturesque Brighton, young people gather on a Brighton breakwater, July 8, 1912.
Commonly recognized as “Little Odessa” for its effervescent Soviet Jewish population, Brighton Beach has become a staple for homogeneity. Prior to the 1970’s, this form of immigration was not extremely significant, but due to a lax détente policy with the USSR and improved trade agreements between the Americans and Soviets, “the doors were opened wide” so to speak. And while Soviet Jews must contend with relatively recent immigrants from China, India, Pakistan, and Central America, they still retain a dominant presence in the community. Quite possibly, the area once home to racetracks and theaters will one day house exotic food markets and upbeat Latin music. But for now, we must let history decide, as it did almost 200 years ago.	Present-day Brighton, underneath the subway line

Points of Interest

The Millenium Theater, previously known as the Oceana Theater, houses Russian film, dancing, and singing productions, and always attracts hundreds of elderly Russian Jews during the late afternoons and evenings. Entertainers from Ray Charles to Jackie Mason have performed here, and new stars continue to emerge each year. For more information including performances and dates, go to http://www.theatremillennium.com/index.php.
For bustling nightlife attractions, there is the National restaurant, which has elaborate performances and decorative banquet arrangements. The Restaurant is an extension of the International Food Deli, the oldest international deli on Brighton Beach. The two establishments are located right across the street from each other. The restaurant takes up two floors, and like many Russian restaurants in the area, also serves as a nightclub. The floorshow is beautiful, and the music is fantastic though often loud. For more pictures and menu information, please go to http://come2national.com
Finally, and probably most essential in terms of social interactions, is the Brighton Neighborhood Association (BNA). Founded in 1977 by Pat Singer, this community service establishment assists the impoverished and feeble, and helps Russian, Hispanic, and other newcomers adjust to life in Brighton Beach. We had the privilege of speaking with Ms. Singer, and were touched by her magnanimous commitment to her neighbors and her community. We strongly feel that her description of Brighton Beach as having “a small town feel” will resonate with you as it has with us over the past eighteen years. For information regarding the summer bazaar organized by the association, or any service programs, go to http://www.brightonbeach.com.	Ms. Singer is on the right

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<--- Back to Brighton

These videos include the field researchers giving a brief description of their neighborhoods. We hope they will give you an idea of who we are as individuals and as a class. We hope you enjoy the videos!

Astoria

Bay Ridge

Brighton Beach

Flatbush

Flushing

Historic Lower Manhattan

Washington Heights