Sunday, April 25, 2010

Brooklyn Celebrity Path



Among the walkways in the beautiful Brooklyn Botanic Garden, located in Brooklyn, New York, is an interesting path where stepping-stones are inscribed with names of famous Brooklynites, both past and present.




Each celebrity honored has his or her name embedded in an 18-by-24-inch concrete paver and decorated with a stylized leaf outline in bronze.




At irregular intervals along the way, approximately 100 artists, poets, performers, and athletes who were born or have lived in Brooklyn are honored.




Each concrete paver also contains a bronze medallion of the Brooklyn Bridge, encircled by the phrase "The Greatness of Brooklyn Is Its People." New names are added to Celebrity Path each June during the borough's annual "Welcome Back to Brooklyn Day."




This photo mosaic shows a representative of the many stones along the path. To enlarge the photo double click it.  It is Brooklyn's answer to Hollywood's "Walk of Fame"!

Among the names are Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Mary Tyler Moore, Barbra Streisand, Mae West, Maurice Sendak, Maryann Moore, Walt Whitman, Harry Houdini, Larry King, Mickey Rooney, Neil Simon, Connie Stevens, Jerry Stiller, Danny Kaye, Richard Tucker, and many many more!  To see a longer list visit this website.



The Brooklyn Celebrity Path meanders through Austrian pines, rhododendrons, and daffodils.  It is located just south of the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden. and across from the Shakespeare Garden.  It is fun to walk along and find familiar names.

Were you surprised to see how many famous people originated from Brooklyn, New York?  Who is the most famous resident, either past or present, from where you live?




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62 comments:

Jojo said...

That is lovely. And Rita Hayworth. I just love her.

Maria M. Boyer said...

Pat: I need to bring my family to Brooklyn. We always stay in Manhattan. You are helping me to see the errors of my ways.

EG CameraGirl said...

I very much like the mosaic with all the names. Very cool!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

That walkway mosaic is so great. Nice to remember that all those people came from Brooklyn. I guess the most famous Princetonian I can think of is Albert Einstein.

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

What a beautiful place. Loved seeing all the star names. Love & blessings from NC!

{oc cottage} said...

What fun!

m ^..^

Lana G! said...

That is so fun! I think I will need to visit there!

A Garden of Threads said...

What a neat mosaic, I will have to visit someday.

Bobbi Ann said...

Love your mosaic!

Carol said...

This is great, Pat, thanks, I never knew about this! The best people come from Brooklyn :)

dianasfaria.com said...

this is neat Pat. I'm not sure if any famous people ever lived in Farmingdale, but I do know Jerry Seinfeld and Alec Baldwin grew up in the town of Massapequa right next to ours.

Jenny said...

What a lovely little trip! Thanks Pat!

podso said...

Such an interesting mosaic. And good to see Spring in NYC ! (I went to school there.)

Amanda at 32˙North said...

I love the "secrets" of NYC that you always share. Our most famous living resident is sitar master Ravi Shankar.

Amanda

cherry said...

This is wonderful ~ Savannah has lots of greats but I would say our biggest is Johnny Mercer..
Happy Monday !
hugs from Savannah, Cherry

Debbiedoos said...

Well I am from Nutley NJ, and so is Martha Stewart.....that is super cool, I would love to see that!~ I told you before you are adding to my list of things to do in NYC next year when we go.....

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

That was interesting, thanks for sharing.

Snap said...

I had no idea! What a fun post this is. I never get to Brooklyn -- always spend too much time in a museum or two or three or ..... !!!!!!

RNSANE said...

You always have the most wonderful posts, Pat. Yet another thing I must see if I ever manage to get up your way. After I meet you, of course...you are the number one celebrity!!

mrs. c said...

I would like to do rubbings of some of those path stones, it would make cool wrapping paper! I am alwas looking for unique ways to wrap presents.

Allie and Pattie said...

How did I live my whole life in NY and miss all this good stuff??! I love your posts- they take me home
xoxo Pattie

GailO said...

You always have great mosaics for Monday:)

mrs. c said...

Thanks for visiting my blog...I would use butcher paper and do the rubbings with chalk or pastels. That would make such unusual paper!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

What beautiful gardens, and what a neat idea! What fun to go learn names of famous residents. I'm afraid our path in my little town would have one stone - George Hamilton. laurie

Jeanne said...

Hi pat, this is very interesting and I was a bit surprised to see so many celebrities from Brooklyn. What a wonderful way, as well as beautiful, to honor these people.

I also read about your friend who had the heart attack. How dreadful and scary too. Thank God she took fast action. Thank you so much for the good information you posted about the warnings of a heart attack. Since I am 70, I do think of such things more than before. How old was your friend? I am so glad she is alright.

I saw your comment on Pat's Back Porch Musings, and I too am posting a bit less and trying hard to balance my time on my computer. Let's face it. Blogging takes huge chunks of time out of our days if you let it. I love having a connection with so many wonderful women and I won't stop blogging. I am trying to spend less time doing it! If I wasn't so darn wordy, I could do better. I don't think I can change that. HA!. I'm a talker too. Ask Beverly!!!

Have a wonderful week and I will include your friend in my prayers.
Hugs, Jeanne

Pondside said...

I think that our most famous past resident would be Steve Nash, but now I'll have to make it a project to find out!

My name is Riet said...

Good morning Pat. What a great mosaic. All the names of my favorite stars in a row. Wonderful.
Thank youso much for offering to buy me the magazine but I found out that a few shops in Holland are selling it. I must go call them today and see when they will get it over here.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beautiful!!
Wonderful post......
Love,
Marilyn
xxoo

Unknown said...

wow..that's some mosaic with so many famous names. Hope you are having a good start for this week..hugs/M

Valerie said...

How neat, I never knew there was such a thing!

Old Kitty said...

Well I think you should have a leaf and pavement all of your own with these notables!!

:-)

These is an amazing, amazing footpath - all these famous people from this beautiful city!!

I like how one of the listed are "The Persuasions"! LOL!!

I don't think I have anyone famous where I live (Bishop;s Stortford) - except maybe Cecil Rhodes who once went to school here!

I'll have to find out more though - you never know!!!

Take care
x

Sea Witch said...

Just another one of those gems that make "NYC" such a unqiue place. My dad always said you could spend a lifetime living in NYC and never see it all. Always love visiting your blog. Blessings to you. Sea Witch

Tracy said...

That path is beautiful... And love how you made a mosaic of many name... Such fun to start the week with, Pat :o) ((HUGS))

Michael Valčić said...

Wow, I didn't even know such a thing exists.

I've heard that Charlie Chaplin lived in Bayside for a while, so I guess he would be the most famous resident from where I live.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

A great idea for a mosaic, but a better idea for people like me who enjoy having you for a tour guide around NYC!

Pat, this blog is going to provide you with guts for a great book on seeing THE REAL NYC.....

Please keep that in mind. I'll be the first in line to buy it!!

Anonymous said...

Hi Pat! Oh, this is wonderful. I didn't know about this Celebrity Path. Also didn't know so many famous ones came from Brooklyn. All I can say is "Sing to me, Barry!" Love that Barry! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

The Painted Garden said...

Hi Pat,

Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos of Brooklyn.

You painting shipped on Saturday and I am delighted that it will have a new home in Brooklyn with a lovley lady who loves flowers and grdens as much as I do.
Blessings,
Erin

Unknown said...

Very interesting post, thanks for sharing.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Well, Pat, since both of my parents grew up in Brooklyn along with their very large families, I would vote for them to be added to the pathway (lol). You should be added as Brooklyn's best support and spokes woman...you are famous in our eyes. This is actually very cool...famous in our neighborhood? Bruce Springsteen lives down the street..just walk to the end of the cul de sac and make a left. Funny, his family never attends the block parties, but we do see them from time to time.
♥, Susan

pam said...

How fun. A few from Kansas City...Joan Crawford, Walter Cronkite, Walt Disney, Count Basie and Ed Asner.

Judy said...

I recognized most of those names. Who would have known they hailed from Brooklyn? The celebrity path is a great idea...in a lovely place.

Vee said...

No, I am not in the least surprised by the celebrities who hail from Brooklyn! Loved that mosaic...you're always so clever with your presentations.

In my corner? Famous? Hmmm...currently, P. Gempsey...little edit there for Goodgle to miss...and from former times? The inventor of the Stanley Steamer perhaps???

steviewren said...

Fun post Pat! Hmmmm, famous residents from the Birmingham area...Willie Mays, Lionel Hampton, Courtney Cox, Heather Whitestone, Nell Carter, Bo Bice, Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks.

luna said...

I very much like the mosaic with all the names. Beautiful!

Sandy said...

I've never been to Brooklyn but thanks to you I get to go there. Interesting place and a very different mosaic.

Teacup Lane (Sandy)

Rajesh said...

Beautiful shots. Delighted to know about this place.

Irene said...

Lovely place and the trees are amazing in the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden. And thanks for visiting!

Nola said...

I'll have to check the entire list. Two of my all time favs are on the list: Walt Whitman and Danny Kaye.

Anonymous said...

I love it! What a cool spot and that's a whole lot of famous people from Brooklyn! ~Jeanne

Donna said...

What a neat park!

Claudia said...

My grandfather Inglis (Scottish)was a carpenter and renoated homes in Brooklyn.My Dad grew up fishing with his uncles in Brooklyn. It's in my blood and it looks like I am in good company.

Just a little something from Judy said...

Now I find myself looking forward to my first visit to Brooklyn. I think it would be a treat to walk the "celebrity path". I had no idea that so many celebrities came from that beautiful city.'

As for famous people in my part of the world. I have been thinking, really I have. We just might be hard pressed to have our own "celebrity path", although in my book, there are many people worth remembering.

annie said...

Oh pretty!
I love coming here as I get the royal tour each time!
Hope your day is going well.

ellen b. said...

That is so cool Pat! I really enjoyed seeing that path and all the names...

Ebie said...

Barry Manilow is my favorite! Cool mosaic!

Carol said...

I've been to that lovely garden! Come & visit, I'm having a give-away!

Anonymous said...

Oh Pat what a beautiful post. I am way behind due to all the anniversary hoopla this weekend. Thanks for visiting my Magpie Tales post. Nice place to visit there in Brooklyn. blessings
QMM

CatHerder said...

oooohh maurice sendak!!!!!! i love it!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

HI Pat, I had no idea there were so many celebrities from Brooklyn... What a nice way to honor them...

Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Betsy

Shirleyanne said...

What a brilliant collage Pat! Looks like a lovely walk aswell as a lovely way to remember these celebs!

Anonymous said...

Great idea. The thing I was most suprised to discover was that one of my fav children's authors grew up in Southport. There are no blue plaques or anything to commenorate this as the council have demolished so many Victorian buildings. But anyway Lucy M Boston creator of the Greenknowe books comes from here.

I thik the walk is a lovely idea to help promote a pride in a local area.

Mary said...

Wonderful!!! Thanks so much for sharing at MM. :)