Closing Bell: Why are There Power Lines in East New York?
I Love Franklin Ave. asks exactly that question—Why are there power lines in East New York? ILFA goes on to write that “unlike much of the rest of Brooklyn, East New York actually has a substantial chunk of its grid above ground. You can find lines connecting bits and pieces elsewhere, but it’s rare to…
I Love Franklin Ave. asks exactly that question—Why are there power lines in East New York? ILFA goes on to write that “unlike much of the rest of Brooklyn, East New York actually has a substantial chunk of its grid above ground. You can find lines connecting bits and pieces elsewhere, but it’s rare to see utility poles on every corner in a major city.” Also, needing an explanation is the shoe-tossing on the power lines. (Is it more than just a gang explanation or just kids playing around?)
So what are the answers to these two questions?
Pro Keds were right up there with Chucks in terms of acceptability. The really fancy kids had blue suede Puma Clydes, that turned your socks blue when they got wet. You felt sorry for the kids who had to wear Beta Bullets (BB, therefore nicknamed bo-bos).
You were in the wrong gang Dave
ditto…Converse were “THE” sneakers (especially the high tops).. You ought to get a penalty flag for that one.
How old are you to say “kids have always been obsessed with sneaker culture”. I don’t remember there even being a choice of sneakers before the late 70s. There was converse (if they even qualify as sneakers).
And which urban myth is debunked – the gang territory one or the drug-selling one or both? We need a referee on this board.
yanks77…Never heard of that place but can picture that stretch of Broadway….moved to Andersonville in 1985…Balmoral St…down the street from the Balmoral-Clark Tap…(5400 North)…then back down to Seminary.
Daveinbedstuy,
re Andersonville…u ever hear of a place called the Edinburgh Castle Pub (6400 N Broadway)..i bartended there briefly around 1986? Loyola bar……i lived in Chicagoland from 1981-1994…Hyde Park to Lincoln Park(Sheffield and Altgeld) to Wrigleyville(Clark and Newport) to State and Banks to Montrose and Rockwell to Irving pk and Wolcott to….sure i’m leaving some place out…gotta catch up some time..i left right after the Bullies beat the Lakers for their 1st title ….a lot of Chicago people in Bklyn…….
Where did this stupid urban myth come from. I am 44 and grew up here and kids were throwing sneakers up then and still are. It is a kid thing. Atleast that has not died away like so many of the games we played, now taken over by kids sitting inside and playing video games. Skully boards are seen every now and then (one of my favorites) but a game of ringalevio anyone? Maybe some stoop/curb or stickball?
Rejects they make your feet feel fine. Rejects they cost a dollar 99.
Wearing rejects was a social death sentence when I was a kid.
Gang explanation? Drugs sold here? Sheesh. Brooklyn kids are obsessed with sneaker culture. Always have been. Sneakers say so much about who they are. When its time to retire a pair after a long summer of running around the streets, tying them together and landing them on the lines is a way to keep them “alive” as opposed to tossing them in the trash. Its also fun when all the kids on block cheer on the kid tossing them up onto the lines.
p.s. please don’t throw your hipster sneakers up onto the lines. Brooklyn kids know them as “rejects”