n this episode of Midlife Mafia, we go back in time to Growing Up in Brooklyn, the Bensonhurst edition. Kristy and Marietta share what it was really like growing up just blocks apart in a neighborhood where everyone knew your name, kids played outside all day, and your parents always knew where you were.

We talk about how different it feels now, from safety and street life to how kids grow up today, and why we still miss the old Brooklyn community vibe. Plus, we get into all the Bensonhurst staples, the food spots we grew up on, the feasts we waited for every year, and the places that made the neighborhood feel like home.

Join us in this episode where we cover:

• Hanging out on corners and why it felt normal back then

• How safety has changed and why fights felt different growing up

• Playing outside all day with no phones, just kickball, manhunt, and stoop life

• The Bensonhurst culture shift and how the neighborhood has evolved

• Brooklyn food favorites, bagels, pizza debates, and non Italian staples

• The 18th Avenue feast, block parties, and old school traditions

• Why we wish our kids could experience the Brooklyn we grew up in

If you grew up in Brooklyn, we want to hear your stories. Comment your favorite spots, your best memories, and if you remember the woman in the wheelchair, tell us her name.

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