Midwood
Save The Vitagraph Smokestack! – Midwood, Brooklyn
I first heard about the Vitagraph smokestack from Kevin Walsh in the late 90s. For some reason I though it was only visible from the subway and I never got around to photographing it. With prodding from a new NY history friend (TYVI), I decided to go check out the smokestack for myself and I’m so glad I did. From the looks of the top of the stack, it is about to crumble. There are missing bricks near the top. Underneath, there is a parking lot for a religious high school. I wouldn’t park under this crumbling relic.
If there was a case for the urgent need for historic preservation here in Brooklyn, this is the smoking gun. This remnant of the nascent motion picture industry before it moved out West is worth preserving. What do you think?
Other Vitagraph Co. Smokestack documentation:
- The film business’s Brooklyn birth – Midwood Blog
- Vitagraph Studios in Brooklyn – Avenue M – Movie Capital of the World? – Subway dot com.ru
- Midwood, Brooklyn – Wikipedia
- Vitagraph Studios – Wikipedia
- Vitagraph Smokestack – Forgotten-NY
Elaine’s Avenue M Deli – Midwood, Brooklyn
I’ve heard so much about Elaine’s Avenue M Deli and finally I bought a delicious brisket of beef sandwich on an onion roll with a savory gravy on the side. In an era of fast food and other franchise food businesses taking over the home-cooked food restaurant and delicatessen market, I’m happy to see eateries like Elaine’s holding on. There was a great selection of sandwich meats and cheeses as well as specials of the day. I highly recommend Elaine’s if you are in the mood to order out for lunch. Support local businesses!
Labor Day Weekend Guest Fades – Maurice Ice Cream – Avenue H Station, Brooklyn – Valerie Landriscina
Hi Frank,
This is at the Avenue H station on the Q line. The building is on the southbound side of the station. It’s the east-facing wall of 1504 Avenue H building. The MTA removed the corrugated steel partitions during the on-going rehabilitation project. I’m hoping they don’t repaint the wall when they replace the siding. But in case they do, I thought you should add it to the files.
I haven’t been able to find any more information on Maurice’s Ice Cream aside from this: http://www.harringtonhousebedandbreakfast.com/History/ I’m assuming it’s the same company. I would love to know more about it and what the entire ad was for.
Have a good Labor Day weekend.
Best,
Valerie