Tamon Charles-Activity # 6

Activity # 6
My neighborhood in Brooklyn is very much populated with mostly groups of people from a West Indian Heritage. Located in the eastern part of Brooklyn, as I walked an eight block radius for this activity, I am aware of what makes my surrounding the way it is. Less than half a block away, there is the first resource for the working parent which is a day care center that is located within the confinements of a residential home (something that is often seen in Brooklyn).

On the immediate outskirts of my apartment building, there is my church that is adjacent to a Jamaican and also a Hispanic restaurant. Turning a right corner, there is a lively unisex salon and corner store with local people hanging around and discussing the headline stories from the newspaper and sharing their interest on how the cover story affects what is currently taking place in our communities whether direct or indirectly. Right next to the store is the ever so frequently used liquor store with long lines. The laundry facility is also conveniently located with its private parking lot at front and next to it is a dance/karate center that serves as an afterschool program. In the opposite direction on the outskirts, are many other neighborhood shops and fruit/vegetable stores and as well as a money gram center for business transactions. There are a few dry cleaning stores that are very close (within two blocks of each other) that are also utilized for working parents.

I have also took notice of a small store that sells vegetarian products such as food products that are to be prepared (nothing that was sold in there were already prepared) as well as natural herbs that substitute the use of over the counter products as natural remedies. Close by are both Capital One bank and a Chase bank that are adjacent to each other as well.

As I continued walking, I observed barbershops and beauty parlors that are always flourishing with customers. I have noticed this in particular for the barbershops where the men are also paying close attention to sports on the television screen. Further at 52nd Street next to a convenient store is a huge clinic that boosts of various specialties in the areas of medicine, an indoor pharmacy and for more expediency is fact that they are also opened for business on Sunday. This medical facility is owned by an African doctor and is mostly used by all the citizens in this area as well as others and does not discriminate on cultural backgrounds and also consist of a very diverse medical staff. "American citis flourished almost solely as centers for business, and they showed it..Beyond advertising itself, business had a limited interest in decorating the public realm" (Kunstler, 33).

Question three: I am aware that city parks and restaurants are where queer/gay individuals claim spaces for themselves in New York City; however, this is seldom in my neighborhood. I think that this group of people picks these particular spaces maybe due to their rationale on open public space that is to be enjoyed by everyone.

Question four: As I have researched a “gay map of New York”, the places/spaces that are come up include bars, clubs, hotels and saunas as well as descriptions on the annual gay pride parade and so on.

Question five: The places/spaces in my neighborhood where people are engaging in “private” activities would be in night entertainment such as restaurants with bars and there is only one bar within my eight block radius walk.