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This is Bay 1 and in the foreground (not seen) is the start of the Brighton Beach / Coney Island 2.5 mile boardwalk. I'm not sure what is happening in the foreground; either it's some religious ceremony or the Parks Department left the lifeguard's chair, maybe it's the end of the

summer, and the kids got it below the high tide line. Parks will pick it up and know better next summer's end. If that is the case, then this is a day or two after Labor Day. In the background right, we see the pilings that used to guide a pipe bringing salt water into the pools of the Brighton Beach Baths. The Baths have since been replaced by Oceana; we'll talk about that later.

Same Bay 1 looking down from an upper floor of Seacoast Towers. Sun already set in the west and on the right you see one of the many rock jetties along the 2.5 mile beach and on the left you see those pilings. In the background, seen on the right is Sandy Hook, part of New Jersey, and on the left, faintly seen are some rocks making the western tip of the outer islands holding some of the most beautiful beaches in the state. These outer islands also protect the mainland of Long Island for it's length of approximately 100 miles.

Picture taken from Bay 3 with that interesting rental building close to the water; front facing Corbin Place and the back (which you see) is facing the beaches. Seen faintly in the right background is the Marine Park Bridge (also known as the Gil Hodges Bridge) connecting the southern end of Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn with the Rockaways. Those Rockaways start with Breezy Point, western beginning of the "outer islands" mentioned above, then we have Jacob Riis Park Beach, Belle Harbor, some smaller beach towns, Far Rockaway, and then we're out of NYC with Atlantic Beach, Long Beach, Jones Beach, the Hamptons, Fire Island, and so on. This continues all the way to Montauk Point, the eastern end of Long Island and New York State.

Taken from the beginning of Bay 4 with that rental in the background right. On the left in the far background, you see a white building, that's the Westbrook (on Corbin Place and Brighton Beach Avenue) and to the left, the two tan buildings over looking Bay 1, the famous Brighton

Beach Seacoast Towers, certainly the best co-op on the south shore of Brooklyn. To the left of Seacoast, also overlooking the beach, is newest addition to Brighton Beach, Oceana condominiums; five floors up in the front are duplexes going for 2.5 million, something quite amazing for Brighton Beach. But the Russian community thinks of this as being their Park Avenue. There IS a Russian community here. And to me, there are many excellent feature here in Brighton Beach that makes it better than any Park Avenue. After all, what is the most expensive property in Monopoly? There must be a reason. Oh, I forgot to tell you; we have a 2.5 mile boardwalk that goes along the entire beach; a jogger's paradise. I'm the lazy one; to the Steeplechase Pier and back, that's 3 miles round trip. 'Nuff said.

Probably Bay 4; I'd have to check to see where that playground equipment is on the beach. And from the shadows we can see that it is close to sunset; the seagulls will soon be nesting. In the background we see Breezy Point, the western end of those "outer islands" mentioned earlier. The waves on the other side of those islands are huge and a favorite spot for surfers. For swimming, nothing beats the waters you see here.

Also taken from Bay 4, we see The western end of Manhattan Beach in the background on the right, and Seacoast Towers and Oceana on the left. That small structure on the beach with the white border on top is the first lifeguard station, with many more along the 2.5 mile beach. They start work on Memorial Day; not all the bays are officially opened since the life guards are not out in full force, many being still in school.

Another view of that lifeguard station accessed from boardwalk and at the end of Bay 2, taken during the winter (as if you couldn't tell). This picture comes as a surprise to many because many think that snow never accumulates on a sandy beach.

I'm sure many don't know that it accumulates because why would they go to the beach in the winter. Well, there it is and where it ends is the high tide line.

This is a panoramic view of Brighton Beach stretching from Bay 1 (that white building) all the way to Bay 7 (which is the beginning of our famous Ocean Parkway, some think the most beautiful parkway in NYC, and one with an interesting history). Of course, the beach itself extends way past Bay 7; it then becomes Coney Island. But it is all part of that 2.5 mile beach. Don't step back to far because the water is right behind you. This looks like a winter picture; don't see anyone on the beach. But if you were to go swimming now, few would even turn to notice you; we have our Polar Bear Club who every once in a while, certainly on New Years Day, go for a dip, and then there is our resident Gary, who swims around those pilings on Bay 1 almost every day of the year; that's after running the "boards" round trip (5 miles). Swimming, cycling, jogging, and power walking are popular here in Brighton Beach.

Just another view from a low numbered bay. It's certainly not the swimming season (for usual beach goers) as we see no lifeguard chairs. And again, we see in the background the Breezy Point community, the western beginnings of those outer islands.

Beep, beep, beep, let's back up a bit. Here we might be standing on Bay 1 but this time looking west towards Coney Island. If you look carefully, you might see the famous Parachute Jump in the background; that, along with the Cyclone roll-a-coaster, is a landmark.

To the right we again see that lifeguard station (which is also the beginning of Coney Island Avenue). We see the Brighton Beach Y. Now with the Russian residents, they teach excellent ballet there; I've seen them do Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and it was excellent. We also see on the right, that first tall building known a Scheuer House, and built by a former US Congressman, James Scheuer; we have two of his buildings here in Brighton Beach. Manhattan Beach residents like to claim one of them, the one that has a side facing West End Avenue.

That's always been a moot point as to where Manhattan Beach ends and Brighton Beach begins. When it comes to real estate, I think sellers like to say they are selling in Manhattan Beach and buyers like to say they are buying in Brighton Beach (once bought, they then say they are in Manhattan Beach). Reminds me of the East Eggs and the West Eggs in the Great Gatsby. Also in that boardwalk area (look at the picture), we have some well known Russian restaurants (you'll see more of that in my Brighton Beach Boardwalk page).

Here's a picture taken from the boardwalk. And from Brighton 6th Street which is just around Bay 3 and Bay 4. That white building in the background looking over the entire beach area, and on the right we see Breezy Point again. Brighton 6th Street is between that Scheuer House and the beginning of the boardwalk restaurants.

Back on the beach, maybe Bay 2 again, and now looking back at the beginning of Brighton 6th Street. Here we see the lower buildings on the boardwalk with the Russian restaurants on boardwalk level. You can barely see their green awnings.

And we can see along the boardwalk all the way to Brighton First Road (the two buildings of Brightwater Towers), and in the background, a clearer view of the Parachute Jump.

Here's a much closer view of the Parachute Jump with the Steeplechase Pier jutting out into the water. Lot's of fishing on that pier. Flounder, fluke, maybe a bass and a bluefish now and then, plenty of porgies, and (ugh) even an eel, can be caught from this pier. We see a play area on the left and part of a boardwalk pavilion (too dark to make out) on the right. And what's this? Do we see a sand dune? Oh well, that happens too. A tidbit on that Parachute Jump ... it was originally built for the 1939 World's fair in Flushing Meadows Park (that's in the borough of Queens). After the fair abruptly ended because of the European intrigues (and horrors) and the coming of that World War II. It was then moved (disassembled and assembled like an erector set) to the grounds of what was then the big Steeplechase Park, and remained open well into the 1960s. I think I was on it three times in my teens; it was an exciting ride and from the top, before that sudden free fall for about 15 feet (until the parachute opened up), one could see for miles around. It is no longer in use (I'm sure because of high insurance premiums in today's litigious society) and remains standing there, very beautiful, and its light can be seen by ships and planes coming into this great city of New York. More information on this landmark can be found in Charles Denson's book, Coney Island Lost and Found.

Here's a popular pastime for the beach. The fellow in the white shorts is controlling this kite. Some kites flown on the beach are huge, very expensive (even if hand made), and large enough to pull a person sitting in a wagon or small boat (cockleshell?) especially made for this pastime.

Those kites require special training to maneuver. It is interesting to watch one trying to keep afloat and at the same time, control those large kites.

Note that I said "pastime" rather than "sport" so as not to be confrontational with a friend Dave, who thinks that unless you compete and sweat, it is not a sport. To him, golf is not a sport (no sweating). I can see it is getting late so it's best I move on with this picture show.

Well I was right; it is getting dark, the lifeguards are off duty, and a few stragglers are still making the best of what looks like a cloudy day. What puzzles me is how clean the beach is and how empty the trash cans are. Maybe (I say maybe) this is morning before the lifeguards arrive. No matter, there's the beach, Breezy Point on the left and Sandy Hook on the right. A word about these two points ... throughout our history, all ships entering New York Harbor have entered between these points. In yesteryear they were ships holding human cargo, immigrants from all over the world. Today they are cruise ships entering and leaving, all moving to their left to go through what we call the Narrows (today it would be under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge) and on into Lower New York Bay and up either the Hudson River or the East River; more than likely the Hudson since that is where all the major piers and shipping companies are. Shhh, hope I'm not giving away vital security information.

No question about it; the sun is going down. At first I was wondering, is it sunrise or sunset? Well, looking at this Sahara looking desert, one can see the shadows on the left of each rise, indicating that the sun is setting in the west, which is to the right of the picture. One doesn't have to be a Columbo to figure that out. Of course, I could have switched left and right making the shadows on the right but then Sandy Hook in the background would be in the wrong place.

The original is on the right but I lightened it on the left to better see those boardwalk pavilions. At first they looked like giant birds invading Brighton Beach ("poo, poo, poo" as grandma used to say). However, no question now; the sun has set in the west. By the way (or to be cool kewl, we write "btw"), one can see from the position of the sunset that this is no longer summer. It is probably late fall or early spring. Living near the beach, one can see the full 32 degree sweep that the sun makes across the horizon; made by the direct rays of the sun moving from the tropic of Capricorn in the winter to the tropic of Cancer in the summer.

Picture taken from my terrace.

Picture taken from boardwalk level.

And finally, picture taken from my terrace ... hope you enjoyed this tour of our beach.

Any corrections? ... ... you be my guest.