Without doubt the most noteworthy biological event within the canal’s industrial history was the appearance of a large shark in 1950. Ali showed me a scrapbook about the canal that included a photograph of the shark from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Fittingly, it is a dismal scene - policemens bullets spray the water near the creature as hundreds of people watch along the bulkheads.”

A police raid of an anarchist collective in Bushwick last Tuesday — which cops claim was a mission simply to arrest two members of the commune who skipped court appearances on minor offenses — may actually have been a intelligence mission at the Thames Street compound.

ike most Carroll Gardeners, I have from time to time patronized Joe’s Superette and Frank’s Gourmet Deli, two delis that lie within a block of each other on Smith Street. Frank’s is just your conventional deli, with the usual selection of drinks and groceries. Joe’s is known for its sandwiches and peerless homemade prosciutto balls.

Little did I think that these two old world Carroll Gardens businesses had anything to do with each other. Then I was sent a link to a link to a Facebook page called Old School Carroll Gardens. Under a photo of Frank’s, I found an intriguing thread of comments from former neighborhood residents.

Along for the ride and moral support was Miss Cyclone, otherwise known as Angie Pontani, a burlesque performer whose look falls somewhere between those of Betty Boop and Bettie Page. Rob Lenihan, the author of the blog Luna Park Gazette — who despite a 52-year love of Coney Island had chosen until then to avoid its most famous ride — sat in the second row.