"A striking canvas that reflects the cultural vibrancy and creative energy of Brooklyn life"

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	• Brooklyn Storefronts Paul Lacy W. W. Norton, 2008 - 160 pages average customer review:based on 3 reviews view larger image
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Incredible!

I've lived in Brooklyn most of my life and this book just proves what a great boro it really is!

"A striking canvas that reflects the cultural vibrancy and creative energy of Brooklyn life"

This small book celebrates the random communities that have serviced local neighborhood needs, in this case Brooklyn and surrounding areas, Bedford Stuyvesant, Flatbush, Crown Heights, Sunset Park, even the waterfront neighborhoods from Greenpoint to Gowanus. As the author witnesses a favorite local bodega replaced by a trendy upscale restaurant, he realizes that these multi-cultural stores will soon be demolished to make way for the urban blight of gentrification that forces rents higher and years-long residents from their homes in search of more affordable housing. Unfortunately for the unique individuality of our cities, these iconic venues will disappear all too soon under a wave of economically viable franchises that have spread across the country like a virus. The erratic, hand-painted signage will be replaced with corporate logos and molded plastic furnishings.

So take a slow walk through the pages of this nostalgic collection of Americana. Stop at the Best Fish Market on Fulton Street in Cypress Hills, or purchase fresh produce from Golden Gate Fancy Fruits and Vegetables on Flatbush Avenue. Repair and purchase TVs, VCRs and computers at Save1 Electronics, with its wavy, hand-lettered marquee. Maybe you will discover that favorite record album in a recessed corner of New Lots Music, or select duck, lamb or goat at Bacchus West Indian Market. Everyone's needs are catered to at the Peace and Love Unisex Beauty Salon, where you can rent a stylist's booth or a nail table and enjoy local gossip with the other beauticians and barbers. The bright red paint of Ferailles Botanica promises candles, incense and oils; in contrast, Carlos Shoe Repair in Flatbush advertises its presence in sunshine yellow.

The stories behind these places are as varied and fascinating as the visual collages of storefronts that dot the landscape of local neighborhoods, an individuality that perhaps speaks more to the past than to the present, but a poignant reminder of the real identity of a country come together in common purpose and needs, a vast stew of language, food and services, bearing the proud colors of many cultures, existing side by side in colorful disharmony. These are the unique characters that so define a nation built on the humble dreams of a better life, the creative endurance of free enterprise and shared community that will all but disappear in a global market with no appetite for differences. Just like the interstate highways once traveled by tourists on family driving tours across America, this book offers a glimpse into the great energy of Brooklyn neighborhoods, a brief but powerful moment in history. Luan Gaines/ 2008.

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A fine display for any library strong in New York history and culture.

Any New York library or collection strong in New York architecture or retail will find photographer Paul lacy has done something special here, capturing disappearing Brooklyn mom and pop stores which have been part of Brooklyn's look for decades. All types of stores are featured in a series of fine color photos, with addresses on facing pages allowing visitors to come see for themselves. A fine display for any library strong in New York history and culture.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

A colorful celebration of New York's wonderfully diverse and popular borough.

What do the Bari Pork Store (King of the Sausage), the Los Doctores Tires Shop, the Great Eagle Photo Company, and the St. Jude Religious Articles shops have in common? If you were Paul Lacy, they would be among the hundreds of storefronts you photographed on bicycle trips throughout Brooklyn. Over the years Lacy has managed to capture every conceivable type of shop, decorated with spectacular and wildly varied signs and displays and representing countless ethnic groups. A more colorful array of graphics, both amateur and professional, is unimaginable. Brooklyn's storefronts are a vibrant canvas that reflects the changing trends and distinct character of this dynamic community. You don't have to be from Brooklyn to enjoy this book?playful while documenting a fast-changing scene, it transcends geography to speak to anyone with an interest in urban culture. 75 color photographs.

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