5 Star Brooklyn

Across from 5 Star Medical on thirteenth street, there was a five alarm event. Reports of a punctured gas pipe drew engines 122, which blocked the street, 220, 105 and two others whose numbers I really tried to remember. No one or thing blocked pedestrians, so I ambled along, not surprised by anything I might see on 13th St.

I've never sauntered past a more relaxed five alarm, crowds of bored firemen killed time and waited for information in the middle of the street, while the construction workers from the site at the root of the complaint, 353 13th street, watched from the steps, many still wearing their yellow hard hats.

I thought I'd go into the 5 Star office the following day to find out more about the trouble, but, late as usual, had to drive to pick up my daughter so I had no constitutional jaunt allowing casual drop ins. I'm curious about the brand 5 Star, I see it everywhere, and the phone book can prove that here in Brooklyn we have more businesses with names that begin with 5 Star than any other motif. I thought maybe there'd be more starting with ABC or Quality but I was wrong. I have several 5 Star notebooks, my daughter rode to camp in a 5 Star coach, and I once saw a van for 5 Star printing drive down Prospect Avenue. Is it a conspiracy? But who doesn't want to be associated with all 5 Stars? Ok, you will find businesses called One Star or Lone Star something or other around, and it's kind of funny. The humility is refreshing.

Today at Premier Pediatrics on 7th Avenue I saw that they received a five star rating from a parenting website called lilaguide, and I think they deserve it. Dr. Price kept my son giggling during the whole visit, and the doctor my daughter saw yesterday, Dr. Sarnoff, was very agreeable and professional, not caving in to my inappropriate requests for prescriptions and referrals for myself. I think he had worse to put up with from the sound of the baby screams I heard down the hall as we left. Babies, apparently, sometimes do not like examinations or immunizations. But you know, Dr. Pitlak in Brooklyn Heights is the best pediatrician in Brooklyn, and if you're lucky enough to get your kid in to see her and get a parking spot in Brooklyn Heights, you can thank your stars. She's beyond category.