Bensonhurst - Big Apple Greeter

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The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
Bensonhurst
bensonhurst became famous throughout america as the setting for the 1950s
television series The Honeymooners. Jackie Gleason, as bus driver Ralph Kramden,
reflected the working class nature of the area. Bensonhurst was again immortalized
in the 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever when John Travolta ate two slices of pizza from
Lenny’s Pizza on 86th Street while walking beneath the elevated train.
text by deborah freeman.
edited by marianne gennari.
graphic design by agnes schlenke.
photographs by elizabeth holmes
and paul katcher.
© 2013 Big Apple Greeter 01/2013
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The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
Bensonhurst
one- and two-family homes
dutch reformed church
Where is Bensonhurst?
Located in southwestern Brooklyn, Bensonhurst is
bordered on the north by 65th Street, on the south by
86th Street, on the west by 14th Avenue, and on the east
by Bay Parkway and Avenue P.
About Bensonhurst
The first Europeans arrived in 1652 from Utrecht,
Holland naming the area New Utrecht, the last of the
five towns established by the Dutch in Brooklyn. In 1835,
Arthur Benson, then-president of Brooklyn Gas, began
buying up farm land to create a new suburb named for
himself — Bensonhurst-by-the-Sea. The arrival of the
4th Avenue subway in 1915 led to a population boom,
attracting thousands of Jewish and Italian New Yorkers.
In the 1950s, a new influx of immigrants from southern
Italy led to the area’s being named the “Little Italy”
of Brooklyn. Recently, the area has attracted a large
population of Asians, Russians and Middle Easterners.
The majority of Bensonhurst residents live in oneand two-family homes with wrought iron fences and
vegetable gardens in the rear.
Attractions
1 new utrecht dutch reformed church at 18th
Avenue near 83rd Street was first organized by Dutch
settlers in 1677. The church was used by the British as
a hospital and riding school during the Revolutionary
War. In 1823, the original
greeter’s secret
structure was dismantled
To learn more about
and its stones were used to
Bensonhurst history, see
build the current church, the website for the Friends of
Historic New Utrecht
a rare and lovely example
at historicnewutrecht.org.
of a rural church in the
city. Next door is the parsonage, built in 1885, with a fine
columned porch.
2 the old new utrecht cemetery at 84th Street
and 16th Avenue records its earliest burial as 1654. Those
interred include members of such notable Brooklyn
families as the Van Pelts, Van Brunts and Cropseys. The
cemetery contains a communal grave for Revolutionary
War soldiers and a section that
had been used for the burial
of slaves and freed slaves.
It’s Easy to Get to Bensonhurst
by subway: D train to 71st Street, 79th Street,
18th Avenue, 20th Avenue, Bay Parkway
and 25th Avenue. N train to New Utrecht Avenue,
18th Avenue, 20th Avenue and Bay Parkway.
by bus: Bus lines that service Bensonhurst include
the B1, B4, B6, B8, B16, B64, B82, X28 and X38.
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old new utrecht cemetery
2 bensonhurst
3 magen david
synagogue at 1028 66th
Street near 20th Street was
built in 1921 and, today,
serves a mainly Syrian Jewish
congregation. In 2001, the
building was declared a
New York City landmark.
The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
Bensonhurst
frank and sal’s salumeria
4 garibaldi playground on 18th Avenue between
82nd and 83rd Streets offers playgrounds, spray showers,
water fountains and rest room facilities. In 1990, the
Italian Historical Society of America installed a granite
monument to the Italian freedom fighter Giuseppe
Garibaldi, often called the George Washington of Italy.
5 the us post office – parkville station at 6618
20th Avenue near 66th Street was built in 1936 and is on
the National Register of Historic Places. Designed by
architect Carroll H. Pratt, this two-story red brick edifice
is in the Colonial Revival style.
6 seth low playground at the juncture of Bay
Parkway and Avenue P is a great place to relax and watch
the locals play basketball and handball. In case you get
hungry, there is a mobile food truck that offers snacks.
It is also a popular dog park.
Shopping
frank and sal’s salumeria at 8008 18th
7 Avenue near 80th Street offers a wide selection of
imported Italian specialties. They also offer gift baskets.
To learn more, see the website at frankandsal.com/
Salumeria.html.
villabate alba pastry shop at 7001 18th Avenue
8 near 70th Street is the place to go for authentic
Sicilian pastries and gelato. Be sure to check out the wide
selection of marzipan shaped like fruits, vegetables and
seafood. To learn more, see the website at villabate.net.
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villabate alba pastry shop
sas italian records at 7113 18th Avenue
9 between 71st and 72nd Streets is the best source for
Italian music in the city. CDs, cassettes and vinyl are
available for your listening pleasure. There is also a gift
shop offering tee shirts and all items Italian. To learn
more, see the website at users.erols.com/sasitalian/
index.htm.
doris fashions at 6806 18th Avenue near
10
68th Street is the place to buy that special outfit
for the most special of occasions. Specializing in bridal
wear, this is the place to find high fashion at reasonable
prices. To learn more, see their website at
dorisfashions.com.
pastosa ravioli at 7425 New Utrecht Avenue
11 near Bay Ridge Parkway is a family-owned business
recognized as the finest source of ravioli and fresh pasta
in the city.
Lines can be
long, especially
during the
holiday season.
Be sure to try
their home made
mozzarella
and specialty
sauces. To learn
more, see the
website at
sas italian records
pastosa.com.
3 bensonhurst
The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
Bensonhurst
panino rustico
When It’s Time to Eat
lioni italian heroes at 7803 15th Avenue near
78th Street is a neighborhood legend, offering more
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than 150 hero sandwiches, primarily named for
famous Italians. Be sure to try the fresh mozzarella. To
learn more, see the website at lioniheroes.com.
greeter’s secret
lenny’s pizza of
Bensonhurst was the
home to such celebrities
brooklyn
at
1969
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as Barbra Streisand,
86th Street between 19th Sandy
Koufax, Larry King,
and 20th Avenues is famed for
Vic Damone, Vincent
D’Onofrio, and Harvey
its “cameo” in Saturday Night
Fierstein, as well as Moe,
Fever. Offering thin, crispy
Curly and Shemp Howard.
slices of classic pizza and such
popular favorites as garlic knots, this is the place to go
when you crave good old-fashioned Italian fast food.
tenzan at 7116 18th Avenue at 71st Street
offers fresh sushi and other Japanese specialties
14
in a classic setting. To learn more, see the
website at tenzanrestaurants.com/flash/index.html.
hand pull noodle and dumpling house
at 7201 18th Avenue near 72nd Street offers
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freshly made Chinese noodles and dim sum.
Try the scallion pancakes.
greeter’s secret
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To keep up on the local
il colosseo at
news and to learn more
about
upcoming events in
7704 18th Avenue
18
Bensonhurst,
see the website
near 77th Street is a
at bensonhurstbean.com.
family-owned restaurant
that serves Italian food like grandma used to make. Be sure
to try the grilled octopus.
panino rustica at 8222 17th Avenue near 83rd
Street is known for its friendly wait staff and
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inviting menu of over 30 types of paninis as well
as crepes. Outdoor dining is available in season and it
is child-friendly. Be sure to try the fabulous asparagus
bruschetta and a cappuccino. To learn more, see the
website at paninorustica.com.
caffe italia at 6921 18th Avenue near 69th Street is
the place to grab a great espresso or cappuccino
15
and just people watch.
bamboo pavilion at 6920 18th Avenue near
69th Street offers well-made Chinese food
16
specializing in Szechuan cuisine. Be sure to try
their hotpot.
lioni italian heroes
pastosa ravioli
4 bensonhurst
The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
Bensonhurst
under the famous “l”
street fair
Night Life
tommaso’s at 1464 86th Street at Bay 8th Street offers old20
fashioned Italian-American food in an elegant setting. Known
for its assortment of grappas and gracious service, the restaurant also offers
special seasonal meals. Owner Tom Verdillo is
greeter’s secret
known to serenade his guests with his beautiful,
The elevated 18th Avenue
subway station of the
operatically-trained tenor voice. To learn more,
D line was popularized in
see the website at tommasoinbrooklyn.com.
the opening credits of the
1970s television series,
Welcome Back, Kotter.
b66 club lounge at 6612 New Utrecht
Avenue near 15th Avenue is
a local dance club offering 3 different bars, live music and DJs. To learn
more, see the website at b66club.net.
21
la palina restaurant at 159 Avenue O near W 5th Street has
been offering Neapolitan cuisine for over 80 years. Be sure to try
the baked clams and chicken scarpariello. There is live entertainment on
alternate Fridays and karaoke on
the first Thursday of the month.
To learn more, see the website at
lapalinarestaurant.com.
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greeter’s secret
In 1783, Revolutionary War
patriots erected a flag pole, called
the Liberty Pole, at what is now
83rd Street and 18th Avenue
to commemorate the withdrawal
of British troops. The fifth replica
of that pole still stands in that
spot — a patch of green in front
of the New Utrecht Dutch
Reformed Church.
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liberty pole
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About Big Apple Greeter
Founded in 1992, Big Apple Greeter’s mission is to
enhance New York City’s worldwide image while
enriching the city experience for its visitors.
Connecting with business and leisure travelers from
all over the US and the world, Greeters take visitors
on informal, unscripted walks through one or more
neighborhoods in any of the five boroughs, promote
tourism throughout the city, and help visitors
discover the ease of using public transportation.
Over 300 volunteer Greeters speak collectively
almost 25 languages and enjoy giving their time and
energy back to their hometown. Since its founding,
Big Apple Greeter — a free public service — has
welcomed nearly 110,000 visitors and been featured
in thousands of newspapers, magazines, and television and radio programs all over the world, reaching
an audience of over two billion potential visitors to
New York City. Big Apple Greeter is proud to partner
with NYC & Company, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Make-A-Wish Foundation®
of Metro New York.
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© 2013 Big Apple Greeter 01/2013
Bensonhurst
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