Funeral Home

Yesterday I stopped to take a picture of the Arias building (one bedrooms from $2,900 if you're interested) and the Ortiz Funeral Home, two doors down.  Fourth Avenue, or as Mr. Markowitz would like it to become known, Brooklyn Boulevard.  As I stood on the corner, an older man - nattily attired in black beret & thin tie - approached, and told me softly that he used to live in one of the buildings replaced by the Arias giant.  Though he still managed to live around here, all of his friends & neighbors that were right there before had gone, forced out of the area by high rents.  He'd lost touch.  He shook his head.  He didn't know this place these days.