Contest Winner: OLPH

Thank you to everyone who sent in contest entries (serious or silly) to vie for a copy of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. Some of the other suggestions for the contest from last week included St. Michael's spire, Maria's Bistro Mexicano, Polish Delis, and the guy who wanders around pushing a shopping cart and wearing a Lady Liberty foam hat on his head. However, the clear stand-out was an entry that seems strange considering its subject has been such a fixture in Sunset Park.


Thanks to Tony Giordano for sending in this photo and explanation about Our Lady of Perpetual Help on 5th Avenue. He explains why such a long-time piece of Sunset Park could still seem "out of place." Naturally, OLPH doesn't need much explanation as to how it adds to the community.

See Tony's explanation for his choice below:

My nomination is OLPH - Our Lady of Perpetual Help

The scale of the building is far beyond that of any other building in the community (well, I would have to leave out the Brooklyn Army Terminal and the public housing unit on 4th Avenue & 24th Street)...it is monumental in size and architecture. It is surrounded by extra wide sidewalks on two sides, setting it apart from the two and three story buildings that are nearby. It is designated as not just a church, but a basilica - making it a special structure in the Roman Catholic religion. I believe it may be the largest church structure on all of Long Island - installation of Bishops take place there. While there are over 150 cathedrals in the U.S. there are only 15 basilicas. There are over 20 organizations associated with the building - including a school, youth groups and ethnic groups meeting to support their mutual faith in their native languages.

OLPH certainly is unusual for any community and is certainly an important, crucial element of the community.

What You See in Sunset Park: Pre-Holiday Recycling

This mini-tree was on 5th Avenue, and it came with its own plug and star top. I wonder if someone picked it up for the coming holiday season?

Sunset Park's Chinatown Has the Best Chinese Food Outside of China

Seriously. It's not my amateurish, naive opinion. It was printed in The Brooklyn Eagle, and it's Andrew Coe, a full-fledged, published author, who said it:

from the article:

So where can one go for the real stuff? Coe fully contends that the best Chinese food he’s had outside of China can be found in Brooklyn’s own Sunset Park. He particularly recommends the dim sum at Pacificana (813 55th St. at 8th Ave.), soups at Lanzhou Hand Pulled Noodles (5924 8th Ave.), Cantonese dinner at Lucky Eight (5204 8th Ave.), and spicy cold rice noodles at Yun Nan Snacks (775 49th St.)

I'm currently reading Andrew Coe's Chop Suey: A Cultural History of Chinese food in the United States (thanks to Eat It: The Brooklyn Food Blog), and so far it's very informative and entertaining. As any parent of young children knows, a book that can be read in a months-long string of ten minute chunklets is a gift. This one manages to be that book without feeling too fluffy or simple.

So anyway, this Andrew Coe thinks that Sunset's Chinese food is the best anywhere outside of China. Yay! Click on the Brooklyn Eagle link above to find out what his favorite meal in Sunset Park's Chinatown is.

Maria's Will Warm You Up

Jalapeno infused tequila shot

Until last night, I'd never stopped in to Maria's just for drinks; it was always the lunch special, brunch special, or guacamole (yum!) that brought me there. Now I've been introduced to the nightlife - Maria's Bistro Mexicano style. And it was good.

We (five Sunset Park moms sans strollers, partners, kids) sat at the bar and had a grand old time. Troy (manager/barkeep) let us know that there was a seasonal margarita available: Pumpkin. None of us were too excited about that idea. Pumpkin? He said that it's made with real pumpkin puree. It didn't sound particularly appetizing, but a woman in the dining area ordered one - perhaps as a dessert drink? - and it came with some whipped cream. She seemed quite pleased with the result.

After we got our order of sangrias, beer, and wine, Troy gave us a shot of the pumpkin margarita to taste. And you know, it was really, really good. It wasn't super sweet, and it still tasted like a margarita - just with pumpkin. Somehow it went well together. One of our group got it as her second drink, and she said it was very tasty (she didn't have whipped cream). So, I suggest that if it sounds good to you, try it...perhaps as an after dinner drink.

The sangria is always a solid go-to choice, but if you're looking for something a little different, don't overlook the shelves behind the bar. There are three bottles with various tequila infusions. Blueberry, strawberry, and jalapeno tequila. Two of us got the jalapeno, and while the bite was slight, there was a nice flavor that followed the tequila. Troy said that when it was first made, the jalapeno flavor really screamed for attention. Maybe he'll make a new bottle soon for those who want some pain with their drinks.

With karaoke on Saturday nights (10 PM), excellent bar food (I saw fried avocado on the menu, but didn't try it), and lots of light and more serious drinks to choose from, Maria's will definitely help to keep Sunset Park warm this winter.