Flatiron-esque Oddities Abound

Folks, I've known about the queer cut Myrtle Avenue makes as it crosses north Brooklyn and into Queens for some years now, and it has always caused me wonder. Notice on the above map, that the avenue cuts through a regular city grid, but at a 45 degree angle. The result on the ground is a series of neighborhoods, blocks and buildings sliced at rakish angles, creating oddities at every junction: Flatiron-esque oddities abound!

These are some of the most charming New York City neighborhoods I have experienced, with all sorts of family businesses and weird little emporia... As one walks along Myrtle Avenue, the traditional street-crossing rule, look right, look left, is doubled: you also have to look right and left over both shoulders...