Brooklyn Back When - Open Thread

You got biug head girlfriend !!! When I used to tease my hair and put it up, my grandfather used to say "You have big head"

Subject: Peppermint Latte

Debbie Bonavita McCarthy wrote: Festina, can't wait for starbucks Peppermint latte!!!! My favorite!! =D>

Deb, Peppermint Latte's are usually available all year, it's the Pumpkin Spice Latte that's seasonal, and we have them now. They are good. So is the Caramel Apple Spice, and now we have the new Signature Hot Chocolate. Yum!

Festina, Caramel Apple Spice?? Sounds great. I'm headed there today, I have to try it. I guess you're on the early shift today!!! LOL

Twiggy, I know I mentioned this, but please put me on your list for next years reunion if I am not on there already. thanks.

Millie, try their Peppermint Mocha Latte, it's delicious!!!

Arnold (+1) DeSena
I lived in the same apartment building as the Barrett's. I was renting an apartment on the 3rd floor and Tina and Pepe rented both apartments on the 4th floor. The Barrett's cousins were actually 3 boys and a girl. I can not recall her name for sure but I believe it might have been Jenny and she entered the Army at some point. I did see Harry about 4 or 5 years back at a classic car show that was at the Pedrides School on Staten Island. He was working there. I also think his brother John was an electrician living on Staten Island also.

Millie, Starbuck's is 2 blocks away on 3rd ave. I do love those latte's!!!

I am in Sayreville, NJ. A search for starbucks in my neighborhood will work. Dunkin donuts in on the corner, so I go there. It is good. Not as good as Starbucks.

......During WW2 the best of people and the worst of a few people occurred. Brooklynites who had never turned a shovel of dirt in their lives were planting victory gardens in their backyards. Tomatoes, radishes, eggplants you name it. Our neighbor had a grape arbor but I think he used most of the grapes to make wine. There were the usual dishonest few people who went into the black market for items rationed and hard to get. But most people sucked it up and did the patriotic thing. The shortage of fuel extended the life of the horse drawn wagons. We had fruit & vegatable wagons, Ice & Kerosene wagons and even a merry go round on a cart pulled by a horse. The merry go round had a handle which manually turned the pedestel the horses were on. The owner would "Tom Sawyer" us by "letting" us turn the handle for him. Joe the ice man used to leave ice ships on the back of the cart where he had chopped out pieces. Boy, on a summer day they tasted good. Of course the victory gardens needed ferteliizer and it was common to see someone with a shovel helping themselves to what the horses left behind. Unfortunatly with many fathers and older brothers in the service, some of the younger teens and those older ones not in the service decided to start street gangs. Most of the violence they caused was against each other. We had defeated Germany and on August 14 1945 came the great announcement JAPAN SURRENDERS> THE WAR IS OVER>>>>. The neighborhood went nuts. Horns honking, bugles blowing, people running around the street shouting "The War is Over, Hoorah" Some ventursome kids (including yours truly) ran down to the corner of 12th St & 5th Ave. When a car would start up 12th St we would jump on the running boards (remember running boards?), the driver would lean on the horn and we would all be screaming at the top of our lungs. Unfortunatly when we passed my house I heard the familiar voice of my father shouting "Warren, get off that car." I was confined to the front yard for the rest of the day. The next year we saw block parties and other type celebrations in every neighborhood.

Many changes took place after the war. GI's came home looking for jobs. Many had put off marriage and were getting married in great numbers and now they needed apartments. My father had sworn he would never rent again after a bad experience with a tenant. But a friend of the family who just got married convinced him to allow them to rent. Gradually things got back to normal and stayed pretty much that way until 1947. More on that another time.....

Morning All,

Warren - thanks for the history lesson. I'm looking forward to more...

Arnold - yes, my mother was Mary the Crossing Guard. I remember you and your brothers were young when you moved. We lived 2 doors away from your Grandma and Aunt Rosie.

Millie - I'm your opposite - I love Dunkin Donuts coffee and their chai latte but don't care for Starbucks (although they do have a good cinnamon dolce latte).

My 2cents for the day. Later.

Sorry Millie. :roll:

I would rather have a cup of Festina's perked coffee myself, lol, but it's true.

ooooooooooooooooooooh, hate flavored coffee, especially Amatetto or Hazel nut. I can't even take the smell of it.

Hopefully he calls if not, I will send you his number later when I get home

CAROL CASTALDO,

Welcome back !