amNY Hearts Bensonhurst

AM New York profiled Bensonhurst in yesterday’s edition. Click here (9MB PDF – hope you’re not still using dial-up) and check it out on pages 28-34.

Overall it projected a positive image of Bensonhurst, through there were a few times I felt as thought they we’re apologizing for the fact that it is not Carroll Gardens or Williamsburg or any of the neighborhoods with ‘cool’ things to do.

To see: There is not a lot to do or see in Bensonhurst proper (though some say that the scenic Bath Beach and Dyker Heights are both part of Bensonhurst), but nearby neighborhoods host most of the area’s outdoor fun, including its namesake park, and seaside recreation.

In other words: we’ve been printing this newspaper for a number of years now, and we’ve run out of more interesting neighborhoods to profile.

To party: There’s not a lot of nightlife in Bensonhurst, because there are so many families and so few young singles. There are still a handful of private social clubs, but you must be a member to get in.

Translation: you must be a man fluent in Italian. Broads need not apply.

I know, I know. That comment will get me in trouble with both (a) the lawyers from the Loyal Order of Moose and (b) every single woman in my life ranging from my mom to Facebook friends I haven’t seen in 14 years.

Residents may drink at a restaurant bar, check out one of the below clubs or go to neighboring Bay Ridge.

The article then goes on to list three places, one of which really is in Bay Ridge. (And of the three, guess which one I’ve actually been to…)

To Eat: You’ll never go hungry in Bensonhurst; throughout this vast neighborhood you can find outstanding Italian food at salumerias, foccaccerias and bakeries, not to mention some of the city’s best pizza. There are also many authentic Chinese restaurants and noodle houses cropping up.

It’s true. Our pizza is the best pizza. True, I’ve never waited an hour in line for a pie at Grimaldi’s, but when I can be in and out of DaVinci’s in five minutes, waiting for an hour for pizza sounds frakking retarded to me.

And it’s true, I’ve never gone hungry. I am a noticeably larger person now than I was when I first moved here.

To Shop: While Bensonhurst overall is relatively quiet, the main strip, 18th Avenue, is home to most of the area’s shopping.

There’s a department star called Telco that I’ll always check for housewares and things before schlepping off to Target, Ikea, or some place in (gasp!) Manhattan. I should also point out that I can now go to a pharmacy, a grocery store, and a bank without crossing a street. Couldn’t do that when I lived in Billyburg, could I?

There are many salons and old-school barber shops, ethnic grocery stores and several event-related stores offering everything from dresses to invitations to chocolate party favors for any event.

O. M. F. G. The bridal shops. You can’t walk down the street without tripping over a bridal shop. Perhaps this explains there are so many families versus young singles?

The last page – a Q&A with a life-long resident, offers up this gem:

Q: What’s not so great about living here?

A: Other than the hour-long commute to Manhattan, I can’t think of too many bad things to say about living in Bensonhurst.