"Brooklyn is a living, vital amalgam of languages,
faiths, and cultures," observes host David
Hartman, an award-winning documentary maker
and well-known television figure. "And it's
got it all -- beaches and gardens, music and
art, business and industry -- plus a history
that's truly remarkable.
"It's really a huge community of enclaves,"
adds Barry Lewis, architectural historian
and New York City expert who serves as tour
guide in the series. "Being 'from Brooklyn'
means something different to every Brooklynite.
If you're from Bushwick, that's your Brooklyn;
if you're from Gravesend, that's your Brooklyn.
And the funny thing is people can live on
their turf for years without ever setting
foot in the next neighborhood only a few blocks
away."
A WALK AROUND BROOKLYN aims to give all viewers,
Brooklynites and others, a glimpse at some
of the countless facets that make up New York
City's most colorful borough. The special
includes the homecoming of comedian Alan King,
after a 50-year absence, to the Williamsburg
streets of his boyhood, where he reminisces
with Hartman and Lewis about growing up in
the shadow of the El train and the Williamsburg
Bridge.
