Flatbush Ave Between 6th Ave and 5th Ave

    

Brooklyn's central artery is a varied mix of stores, construction and traffic. This segment leading up to the Atlantic Terminal construction site is a bit sparse as far as stores are concerned. Of course, running diagonal through the borough as it does, every single intersection it creates presents its own challenges. I found it difficult to tell what street I was crossing with all the different signs.

In the distance you can spot the ever-present Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower (One Hanson Place) as it makes everything else in the area look like complete trash. The endless shopping centers which surround the classic art deco tower barely deserve to be in the same state, let alone the same neighborhood.

Grand Army Plaza

    

Looking like a spiderweb when viewed on a map, the deceptively-large Grand Army Plaza anchors the north-west corner of Prospect Park to the surrounding neighborhoods. Featuring two large concentric streets, which act as local and express conduits to other avenues, the Plaza and a long history dating back to the beginning of the Park.

Sharing the name with a plaza in Manhattan on the corner of 59th and 5th, this one is significantly larger, and arguably more impressive. While it certainly could benefit from some clean-up on behalf of the DOT or Parks Department, I wouldn't go so far as to call it run down. The Bailey Fountain, while impressive in its sculptural details, is not the first, or most-impressive fountain to stand in the center of the oval. The previous installation was a massive "electric fountain" built around the turn of the last century. It featured state-of-the-art lighting and over 2000 jets, making the current one look just a little sorry in comparison.

The arch in the center of it all is beautiful, but very lonely looking. With nothing within a few hundred feet of it in either direction, it looks more like a nuisance to drive around than a landmark to appreciate. Once you make your way to the outer ring, the traffic subsides and the neighborhood takes hold. The residential streets fan out from the center as-if they're all working to old the plaza down in its spot.