So yesterday I went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. For all of you who don't know because I haven't told you yet. I know a lot about the area from a project I did on the architecture of the Brooklyn Museum. Summation:
Until 1894 Brooklyn or (Breukelen, as it was originally name by the dutch) was its own city. The third largest. Before it joined with the other boroughs BK was in a race against Manhattan to prove its elitism. This lead to the adoption of certain projects to beautify Brooklyn and a large area was reserved for public works. For a while it was basically a crude park. But now that area consist of The Brooklyn Museum, The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, The Brooklyn Public Library, and Prospect Park.
(just cause I love it...here's the museum)
Anyway, back to the gardens. The cherry blossoms are out early this year which is heavenly. Although it kind of sucks when they don't come out just in time for the festival. The Brooklyn cherry blossom festival is awesome...there are traditional japanese geishas with nightingale poop paint gleaming white on their faces, parading in silk kimonos and twirling their paper fans. It's April 30th-May 1st. There's dancing and fresh sushi and the big events take place around this traditional japanese pond with lounging turtles and giant goldfish. There's also the Cherry Blossom Princess whose selected for her awesomeness and gorgeousness and who is idolized like The Virgin Mary all day.
2008 Cherry Blossom Time-lapse at Brooklyn Botanic Garden from Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Vimeo.
Anyway...I strolled around the park with a couple friends and while we were disappointed by the fact that The Brooklyn Botanic Garden's famous willow tree had failed to bloom yet, as I was leaving I saw one of those things that remind me of why I love brooklyn. Group of little boys playing football. A tall mixed kid leaning down to a younger hasidic jewish kid and says, "ok I'm gonna fake to the right and you're gonna run in for the goal". On inspection of the group at large I see two huddled teams each composed of a mixed group of Hasidic jewish, black, and mixed kids below the age of 12. Their parents are chatting on the 'sidelines'. Only in Brooklyn.
Anyway...if anyone gets the chance...
Until 1894 Brooklyn or (Breukelen, as it was originally name by the dutch) was its own city. The third largest. Before it joined with the other boroughs BK was in a race against Manhattan to prove its elitism. This lead to the adoption of certain projects to beautify Brooklyn and a large area was reserved for public works. For a while it was basically a crude park. But now that area consist of The Brooklyn Museum, The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, The Brooklyn Public Library, and Prospect Park.
(just cause I love it...here's the museum)
2008 Cherry Blossom Time-lapse at Brooklyn Botanic Garden from Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Vimeo.
Anyway...I strolled around the park with a couple friends and while we were disappointed by the fact that The Brooklyn Botanic Garden's famous willow tree had failed to bloom yet, as I was leaving I saw one of those things that remind me of why I love brooklyn. Group of little boys playing football. A tall mixed kid leaning down to a younger hasidic jewish kid and says, "ok I'm gonna fake to the right and you're gonna run in for the goal". On inspection of the group at large I see two huddled teams each composed of a mixed group of Hasidic jewish, black, and mixed kids below the age of 12. Their parents are chatting on the 'sidelines'. Only in Brooklyn.
Anyway...if anyone gets the chance...
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