Get Ready Broad Channel, the times, I think, they are a Changing!

Between the Bridges in Broad Channel

GET READY BROAD CHANNEL, THE TIMES, I THINK,

THEY ARE A CHANGING!

August 28, 2014 By Peter J. Mahon

It wasn’t that long ago that even the most seasoned New Yorker might be hard pressed to tell you where Broad Channel is. Our small island neighborhood, reached only via a long journey on the "A" train, was known only as a  a sparsely populated maritime community where roads are few, water plentiful and  boats as common as houses, a neighborhood you passed on your way to Rockaway.   The hidden in the shadows existence of our community appears to be changing for several reasons.

A certain amount of media attention has been paid to the ongoing Capital Project to address tidal street flooding on several streets in our town.  I would venture to say that when the project is compete, with new end of street bulkheads, raised streets with new water and sewer infrastructure and the unique “shared space” street concept, media attention will be even more intensely focused on Broad Channel.

Social media has also been contributing to the recent resurgence in the new found conspicuousness of our community.  Broad ChannelFacebook pages, blogs and Twitter abound with stunning photos of winter ice boating, summer sunsets over Jamaica Bay and stories about everyday life in our small town.

The Broad Channel Civic Association achieved national notice for its focused and continual attention paid to those myriad of serious issues which arose in the aftermath of Super Storm Sandy.

Just recently, a "Bing" photo-mapping car was seen documenting the streets of Broad Channel for Microsoft's mapping service and last week a Daily News article focused on dining in Broad Channel.  

Additionally, the entertainment industry maintains a strong interest in Broad Channel.  Last Friday evening a film crew was shooting a scene from the CBS crime series “Elementary” at the end of W12th Road.  In speaking with one of the assistant directors I was told that when it became known a house with a scenic water view was required for this particular scene, the location crew, without hesitation, told the director, "Go to Broad Channel!"

Not surprisingly, our beautiful island community has been featured in several motion pictures, television series as well as Broadway and Off Broadway Plays!

In 2014, the play, "Broad Channel", ran at the Cabrini Repertory Theater in Washington Heights.  The play's author, James Bosley,  lived inBroad Channel while in college, and described our community as being “very veteran friendly.”  

In 2011, Broad Channel was renamed "Ocean City New Jersey - America's Greatest Family Resort" during the filming of Imogene,  later released as Girl Most Likely, starring Saturday Night Live alumna Kristen Wiig.

Back in 2010, scenes from the film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock were shot on the E12th Road boardwalk in Broad Channel.

A Law and Order: Criminal Intent episode. entitled "Broad Channel",  with scenes shot at Smitty's Boat Yard and other areas in town was filmed in 2010.

Tween heart throb, Jesse McCartney, filmed portions of his Beautiful Soul music video in front of "Pops" Christian never ending garage sale on Cross Bay Boulevard in Broad Channel in 2004.

Back in 2003 another play titled "Broad Channel", authored by Anna Therasa Cascio and Doc Dougherty, about a young man growing up in our town in the 70’s, opened at the Phil Bosakowski Theater on W45th Street in Manhattan.

Will this new found interest in our little hamlet on the bay prove beneficial, bothersome or both?  Only time will tell but to paraphrase Bob Dylan, Get ready Broad Channel, the times, I think,  they are a changing!

Can you believe it? This Monday is the Broad Channel Labor Day Mardi Gras Parade with all the attendant festivities leading up to it this weekend.  As the Cajuns down in Louisiana say… “Laissez les bons temps rouler!”

Broad Channel – Why would anyone want to live anywhere else?  See y’all next week.

Contact info: email:  rtbetweenthebridges@gmail.com  or call or text: 374-226-1293