Brooklyn

Brooklyn is my the place i grew up and a place i will never forget its like the place you can rest from a ferocious crowd of people to a family friendly place to be.

I tried to convince myself, during the 4 months I lived in Bed-Stuy, that it really wasn't that bad... That was until my apartment was broken into while I was sleeping and some kid tried to run off with our laptop and camera. That night the police kindly informed us that Bed-Stuy is a "sh*t hole" and continued to say they were surprised we hadn't been robbed yet...

Unfortunately, this place is exactly what it looks like, dirty, rundown, and sketchy. If you want a CHEAP place to live with a lot of space, make sure you keep your windows locked and watch that no one follows you home from the subway.

During a recent apartment search, I was allowing myself to check out places in Prospect Heights - which is one of those "up-and-coming" neighborhoods that is seeing a lot of trendy bars, restaurants and organic groceries spring into action. However, conniving real estate agents would often list apartments in Bed-Stuy as being located in Prospect Heights. Sure, they are neighboring 'hoods, but they are a world apart (you can usually tell when a listing was really in Bed-Stuy by its low rent).

There are streets in Bed-Stuy that are still known for their gang activity - even if the area has become greatly gentrified in the last decade or so. I read an article recently in which residents were thrilled that they could actually throw a block party and not be scared of insane fights breaking out, which is something that apparently used to happen often here.

Bed-Stuy remains a place for those with modest incomes - it's not that safe, and it has no appeal whatsoever to those who can afford to live outside of it. Clinton Hill (okay, I suppose it might be it's own neighborhood nowadays) is what they're calling the area of Bed-Stuy that has drawn the most gentrification and Pratt students. There is a marked difference, however, as you are traveling west on any street in Bed-Stuy and come upon Clinton Hill - suddenly the streets are cleaner and the buildings better kept.

Rent is cheap in Bed-Stuy, so I can understand the appeal to those students who study close by - or to any student, really. The areas closer to Clinton Hill and Prospect Heights are surely much nicer than those near Bushwick and Williamsburg, where there seems to be much more public housing high rises.

My girlfriend and I just checked out Borough Park this past weekend and our general opinion was that the portion of the community that wasn't Orthodox didn't really have much of a voice and it just felt like there was no diversity. If that's not a big deal, Borough Park is pretty ideal. Good schools, very safe neighborhood, close to Prospect Park, relatively cheap homes, great falafel, etc.

We have been keeping a blog about our search for a home, so if you want to read our full report on Borough Park, you can check it out here:
http://iwantawalkup.tumblr.com/post/1156549342/review-borough-park-brooklyn?ref=4

Sure, the hipsters have cased out Williamsburg and it's now brimming with shops and restaurants that cater to their set - but Cobble Hill just can't be reckoned with when it comes to having the better eating experience and the trendier shopping outlets. In fact, you don't even have to want to shop or eat to enjoy your time here, because unlike Williamsburg, Cobble Hill is stunningly beautiful. Walking around here, I always feel like I'm living in a fashion ad (in fact, Ralph Lauren shot the commercial for this year's fall collection there).

Undoubtedly it's a fair penny to own one of the brownstones that line these streets, as well as to simply rent one. But, it's one of Brooklyn's best neighborhoods, so what else do you expect? If you do move in to Cobble Hill, be prepared to enjoy a number of neighborhood bars and book shops. Up on Atlantic Ave there are quite a few shops owned by immigrants from the Middle East, with Arabic writing on the awning and quite a variety of things for sale. This is also where the Brooklyn Urban Outfitters and Trader Joe's locations live, so you can expect to see a lot of foot traffic (as well as car traffic - the neighborhood is right off the BQE) at all hours.

If I were going to compare Cobble Hill with any Manhattan neighborhood (certainly a dangerous undertaking), I would pick the West Village. It's quaint and attracts quite a few people who like to eat out, but it's not exactly the biggest night spot. Of course there are bars in the area, but it's not the neighborhood you head to when you're going all out for a night on the town.

Closely situated next to Red Hook, this is a safe, clean neighborhood - though it's mostly residential. The homes here are attractive looking and many feature small front yards and driveways. Street parking usually looks packed, which is unfortunate because this is a great neighborhood to have a car as it seems far from amenities like big grocery stores.

This is a nice neighborhood, and unlike its neighbor Red Hook, the rents are relatively pricey. Court Street in Cobble Hill features a number of nightlife spots, and I have heard tell of mob ties to the neighborhood. This is a picturesque and safe Brooklyn neighborhood, however, and I think tourists would appreciate an off-the-beaten-track stroll around it.

I definitely enjoy passing through this neighborhood - it's a lot prettier than my stomping ground in Bushwick - but I can't say that anything about Bed-Stuy really keeps me hanging around. I used to be a member of the YMCA on Bedford, and I have to say that it is probably the best gym in Brooklyn.

I drive through the area a lot on my way to Clinton Hill and I can't say much for the roads - I always know when I've left the neighborhood when Nostrand is suddenly less pot-holy. Some places in Bed-Stuy are pretty run down; for example I once saw a house whose exterior walls were completely caved in or fallen down. The house still retained its furniture.

I know there used to be some major gang problems in the area, but that of late they have been much improved. Like Bushwick, it's a neighborhood that is slowly being gentrified, as the low rents are appealing to the young professional/artistic twenty-something set.

I have lived in Brooklyn Heights for four years and it is hard to imagine wanting to live anywhere else. Although it is pricey, as with anything, you get what you pay for. Brooklyn Heights is filled with beautiful tree lined streets with gorgeous, historic brownstones. Brooklyn Heights has the convenience of numerous subways (A,C, F, 2, 3, 4, 5, R, G) either in Brooklyn Heights or right outside the boundaries that are all one or two stops away from downtown Manhattan. It is an easy walk or short subway ride to Atlantic Terminal with all of its shopping, subways, and the LIRR. Brooklyn Heights also has phenomenal restaurants. Henry Street in the North Heights could be considered its own "Restaurant Row" with Henry's End, Noodle, Pudding, Le Petit Marche, Henry St. Ale House, and Iron Chef House. Not to mention the great take-out at Heights Falafel, Fascati, and Great Wall. Brooklyn Heights is also steps from Smith Street--Brooklyn's own restaurant row. There are also the goregous views of downtown Manhattan, the Statute of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge from the promenade--by far my favorite spot in all of New York!

Starting at the great Grand Army Plaza and running all the way through Brooklyn to the Queens border, Eastern Parkway is a wide, busy boulevard that is a prime location for strolling or bike-riding. Filled with elegant brownstones as well as chic and trendy apartment buildings, Eastern Parkway is home to the renowned Brooklyn Museum, which boasts one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Egyptian art and masterpieces. The Museum also has numerous special exhibits, classes, gallery talks and special events, plus an on-site café and marvelous gift shop. Also on Eastern Parkway is an entrance to the beautiful Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. No visit to Brooklyn is complete without a stop at these two tourist must-sees.