Growing up in Brooklyn, one of the five New York City boroughs, allowed me to take advantage of so much that the city has to offer! My favorite moment has to be the surprise birthday party that I threw for my dad’s 80th birthday back in 1995. I had it at Junior’s Restaurant and Bakery on Flatbush Avenue in the downtown area of Brooklyn. Although I could have chosen almost any fancy restaurant in New York City for this party, I chose Junior’s because of my dad’s fondness for their hot pastrami sandwiches and their world-famous cheesecake. It’s a busy and bustling place that’s always crowded and noisy, but was the perfect atmosphere for my dad and his boisterous buddies. The look on my dad’s face when he saw his family and friends was priceless! The restaurant was so accommodating for the party, setting aside one of their banquet rooms and loading all of the tables up with their complimentary sour pickle and tomato bowls.
There were 32 guests who came to honor my dad. I am so happy that he was able to enjoy his special day at his favorite restaurant—eating his favorite food with the folks he loves the most. Although some people were aghast that I selected Junior’s for my dad’s celebration (they thought a fancier and more expensive place was in order), those who knew my dad understood why Junior’s was the absolute best.
After completing the meal, I took my dad, mom, and brothers for a ride over the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhattan. Finally, we drove around the Lower East Side neighborhood where my dad grew up. The memories from this day are priceless.
