Parkchester, Short 177 by FredoAlvarez/flickr

The signage at this subway station in the Bronx used to read "E 177 St - Parkchester." now it simply reads "Parkchester," though the lampposts at either end of the platform bear plaques that reference the former name.

The station opened in 1920 as "E 177 St" and sits above Hugh J. Grant Circle where Westchester Avenue and the Cross Bronx Expressway intersect. While East 177th Street still exists within the Bronx, the Cross Bronx replaced it in this neighborhood.

As part of its Pride Week coverage, New York City cable news outlet NY1 offers up a piece on the Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD), a gay-owned and operated performance space. BAAD is located in Hunts Point, a South Bronx neighborhood typically associated with hookers more than with New York’s gay scene.

Yesterday, a co-worker told me about a new Google Maps feature: Street View. Apparently, it’s only available for a few select cities San Francisco and parts of New York City. (Please, correct me if I’m wrong.)

Out of curiosity, I decided to check it out. Much to my surprise, some major streets in the Bronx — my hometown — were included. What really freaked me out, though, was seeing the apartment building I grew up in; my mother still lives there.

It’s a nifty feature to use, and I’m curious to see what other features Google will develop for it’s map application. This one was rather unexpected for me, though.