Many of my favorite childhood and teenage memories are associated with Mill Basin Day Camp. The camp opened in 1998, in the back of El Caribe, the famous Brooklyn catering hall and restaurant. El Caribe opened up in 1980 and is known for hosting extravagant weddings and parties. The camp hosts their end of the summer gala in the catering hall, and I can say with certainty, it was always an event. My summers of fun and adventures included jumping in the pool (the camp even had an indoor pool when I first started going in 2002), baking fun treats, watching movies, playing kickball, and making lanyards. As I got older, we went on overnight trips to places like Club Getaway and Hershey Park. After my first year of high school, I became a counselor there and got to continue to do all my favorite activities - just with a little more responsibility. I was also a bus counselor, so every morning I would get up at 7am. I would get on the bus, get everyone to camp, and spend my day outside. I came home exhausted, but the memories and friendships I made (and still hold to this day) were worth it.

When I was younger, we often took trips to the Kings Plaza Shopping Mall. Opened in 1970, it housed all of the major department stores like Macy’s and Sears. I spent a lot of my teenage years here with my friends eating at their food court, clothes shopping, and walking around.

To me, the United Artist (UA) theater in Sheepshead Bay, is a staple of Southern Brooklyn. After the Deauville Beach Club was torn down, the theater opened on May 27, 1987. The theater, which originally featured nine screens, expanded to a 14-screen theater in 2002. I always joke that you have to get dressed up when you go see a movie there because you never know whom you might run into. Afterwards, many people end up eating at the TGI Fridays across the street, while others ventur further into the neighborhood for some different food.

For me, Roll-N-Roaster was always the go-to place to get food before or after going to the UA theater. Buddy Lamonica and his family opened Roll-N-Roaster in July of 1970. Roll-N-Roaster is known for its “simply delicious food” including their roast beef sandwiches, cheese fries (and yes, you can put gravy or cheese on top of any item on their menu), and their orangeade/lemonade. Roll-N-Roaster is also known for their birthday wheel which allows people celebrating their birthday to win free food. I spent many years sitting in Roll-N-Roaster after movies, shows in high school, and days when I just wanted to have their delicious chocolate milkshakes!

The New York Aquarium is another place where I spent a lot of my childhood. The Aquarium is the oldest continually operated aquarium since its opening in 1896. The Aquarium opened on the Coney Island boardwalk in 1957 and is home to a variety of aquatic wildlife. Some of my favorite memories are watching the sea lions get fed, the shark exhibit, and holding animals in the touch tank. During school trips, we got to dissect squid, hold different animals, and get a behind the scenes look at feedings. Right by the ocean, the Aquarium was and still is a great summer spot on the Coney Island boardwalk.

After trips to the Aquarium, I often spent a lot of time at the amusement park in Coney Island (which can be a whole article within itself). My favorite rides include the Cyclone and the Ferris Wheel.

Of course, I always enjoyed grabbing a hot dog at Nathans down the block afterwards. Here is a picture of my friend and I being silly in 2014!

L\&B Spumoni Gardens is one of my favorite pizza spots in Southern Brooklyn. L\&B is specifically known for their grandma slices, where they add the sauce and then add the cheese. For dessert, try their homemade Spumoni/ices. In 1938, the founder Ludovico Barbati, began selling pizza from a horse and wagon (which is actually still depicted on their takeout boxes today). In 1939, the store opened as a small pizza shop and then fully expanded to a restaurant in the 1950’s. L\&B has become famous over the years and is even a stop on tour busses that come through Brooklyn. L\&B has always been a great spot to gather with friends and family for celebrations, or days when you just want a good slice of pizza and spumoni to top it off.

Nellie Bly (now known as Adventurer’s Amusement Park), opened in 1966. It is one of the only amusement parks in Southern Brooklyn (besides Coney Island amusement park). The park. which encourages adventure, was named after the female reporter Nellie Bly and the adventures she had in her life. According to the NYC park’s website, before the park was there it was a sanitation center. The park has small rollercoasters, rides for younger children, slides, a miniature golf course, a batting cage, and of course go karts. Some of my favorite memories are meeting family at the park, playing mini golf, riding the tilt-a-whirl, and having birthday parties there with my friends.

Toys “R” Us was always one of my favorite spots growing up. I loved walking down the endless rows filled with toys and goodies. Toys “R” Us was located in the Caesar’s Bay shopping center in South Brooklyn. Caesar’s Bay opened in 1961 and was home to Korvette’s Department stores. Toys “R” Us, along with Babies “R” Us, took up 90,0000 sq. feet of the shopping center. It opened in approximately 1982 and was a staple for South Brooklyn children and their parents. The store closed down after Hurricane Sandy in 2012 due to extensive damage. It then officially closed in 2017 after the company filed for bankruptcy. As of March 2021 - a two floor Target has just opened up in its place.

One of my other favorite places in Southern Brooklyn was Maple Lanes bowling alley. Maple Lanes, which bears the name of the area that borders Bensonhurst, Borough Park, and Midwood, was located at 1560 60th Street. Opened in 1960 by Peter LaSpina, the bowling alley had 48 lanes, a variety of teams, and I would argue that they threw the best birthday parties. My 7th birthday party included me and my closest friends eating chicken fingers and french fries, ice cream cake, and bowling two games each (with the bumpers, of course). Maples Lanes closed in 2014 and is now an apartment complex.

I spent most of my childhood in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Many of my favorite memories include playing in Shore Road Park, walking along the 69th Street pier, and eating at delicious restaurants. Bay Ridge is known to host community gatherings and parades. One of the most famous ones is the Rag Muffin Parade. Started by Abraham Lincoln in 1870, the tradition was celebrated on Thanksgiving and included children dressing up in “rags” and asking for money. The current parade in Bay Ridge involves children dressing up in costumes and walking on 3rd Avenue, one of Bay Ridge’s main streets.

My favorite events in Bay Ridge are the summer strolls in the evenings, and the 3rd Avenue Festival Each summer, Bay Ridge shuts down half of 3rd Avenue one weekend and the other half another weekend for the evening strolls. People can enjoy outdoor dining, shows, and other activities put on by local businesses in the area. For example, Bay Ridge Rocks, a group that paints rocks and hides them around the neighborhood, often has a table set up where people can decorate rocks and hide them for someone else to find (like a scavenger hunt).

Each September, the Festival closes down 3rd Avenue to traffic and businesses set up a variety of activities and events. There is always a ton of food, music, and entertainment throughout the weekend.

My former dance school, Beyond Dance, always holds performances outside its studio on 88th Street. There are pop up shops, rides, and always a ton of delicious foods to choose from. In addition, Bay Ridge has a 5th Avenue festival to support the wonderful businesses there as well.

I’ve also spent a lot of time walking through Shore Road Park. My favorite part of the park is the Narrows Botanical Garden. The Garden was founded in 1995 by James Johnson and Joan Regan. A local favorite, the garden is home to native plants and animals – including rare birds, bees, and turtles. The Garden, which hosts movie nights and an annual Harvest Festival, often sells vegetables, honey, and plants throughout the year.

I was very fortunate to grow up in South Brooklyn and experience all of these wonderful places. Seeing neighborhoods change and grow Is exciting, and I can’t wait to look back on this piece ten years from now to see what changed and what has stayed the same.