The Disappearance of the Bay Ridge Vikings

We know Sunset Park’s 8th Avenue today as Brooklyn's Chinatown — an incredible place to eat — but a hundred years ago this part of town was not only considered Bay Ridge, it was almost entirely Scandinavian — particularly Norwegian. Back then, this stretch was called Lapskaus Boulevard after the hearty and filling stew eaten by their people.

The Scandinavians once dominated this place but to look at it today you would hardly know it. What happened to them? Where did they all go? What gets lost, and what remains, when an entire community — its people, its restaurants and public hangouts — its way of life — just completely vanishes from the face of the Earth?

Featuring:

Tai Shan Style Brunch - Mobile Food Vendor
Southwest Corner of 60th Street and 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Sporting Club Gjøa
850 62nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Pier 69 Market
10 Bay Ridge Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Tortas Morelos
271 Bay Ridge Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11220

Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

Track List:
"Call of the North" - Niklas Johansson
"I am Superman" - Tall Oak Town
"I Am Unbreakable" - Niklas Johansson
"Lily of the Woods" - Sandra Marteleur
"Drommaren" - "Sandra Marteleur
"Sea Adventures" - Bonnie Grace
"Fight to Win" - Sven Karlsson
"Broken Delusion" - Sightless in Shadow
"Untouchable You" - Sightless in Shadow

Additional sound effects included.

[sammartinsen]

thank you for doing all of this research for this video! my family is from this part of town on 58th st. Norwegian family in the 60s. I've always heard stories and seen a few photos but this video really informed me a lot of the culture as well as the shift to Chinatown. I recently went to see the house my dad was born in and was amazed at how much different the neighborhood was than the one that was always described to me.

[jamesv.albanese]

Another great video from you Vinny! Your commentaries are on the mark, the music is Great, your videos of food are mouth watering. Great choice of music and thanks for the history lessons. I can't wait for another portion.

[Sammi_Kristiansen]

Thank you Vinny for making this video and putting a lot of work in filming, researching, editing. Your daughter looks cute.
I wish that one day you can visit the original Scandinavia in Norway, Denmark and Sweden.
There's good food there too.

[Mentow]

Looks good. It's mouthwatering! Beautiful park right there.

[DovidM-sc]

There's a food festival at the Norwegian home in brooklyn on sept 7th and a huge Viking festival in Staten island at the Nansen Lodge on the 21st of September

[Disciple]

My grandmother family lived there, came from Norway

[Sammi_Kristiansen]

There was even a Norwegian-Chinese restaurant called Atlantic Restaurant.
If you Google it, you will find some information.

[paralareina]

What a beautiful tribute to a great people! Could you Include the music score and information regarding the restaurants and shops you feature?

[Sammi_Kristiansen]

I like the title - The Disappearance of Lapskaus Boulevard.
It's like someone who disappeared from the existence on Earth and we may need the help from detectives and police for a mystery case.

[Sammi_Kristiansen]

Indeed, we can make another video about the Finnish people living around this 8th Avenue neighborhood too.
It sounds like the concept of Co-Op (housing) came from Finland to America.

[rubytuesday]

What a great park I live write across the street owls head court

[dovrose]

The only remnants are Leskes bakery and the museum and the soccer club

[PsychoMantis]

Shame about the Danish club.. one of the many places that never reopened after the lockdown. It was there over a century.

[erikhall]

I'm a 2nd generation Norwegian lived there 3 different summers this is where my grandparents lived after Norway I'm an ex gangster carrer criminal to be honest but I'm a completely changed individual thank you bro fr

[katrinlausch]

Labskaus in Germany is btw somethings totally different

[DovidM-sc]

Sad to think that in 40 years, this will likely ne the fate of Italians in Brooklyn

[erikhall]

I'm Norwegian n I won't eat fiskaballa aka fishballs or lutafesk some is just nasty homie lol. Mandal Norway keene - Manchester NH and bradenton florida reppin rep bay ridge

[erikhall]

U funny bruh n the best Norwegian food is shedcaga and potatoes with gravy. Super smooth delicious meatballs meat and boiled potatoes. It's fire 🔥