Brooklyn: The Land of Milk, Honey & Celebrities

now we can all feel better about ourselves, we live with celeberties. yeah!!!!!

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 10:17 AM

not really creepy, but more an article trying to make a neat and pat conclusion about why one would choose bklyn. it's the typical NY media need to package a story that isn't really a story...the one aspect of it that I did find interesting was this notion of the shift in the minds of some manhattanites that moving to bkln is no longer a sign of failure. I have to admit, in the first years of moving here I was very defensive, in part because we HAD to move due to financial straits, but I didn't want my friends who were staying in manhattan to perceive that. they would more often than not say, but if you could afford it, you'd move back, right? I still don't know how to answer that, because some days I would and other days I swear by brooklyn. we could afford to move back now, albeit with some downsizing (we live in a brownstone now), but seem to be staying.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 10:42 AM

I've read that Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams (?) are celebrities 10,000 times so I guess it must be true. I'm not sure that I've ever actually seen them act in anything, but that is my loss I'm sure.

As usual, that article made brooklynites sound like self-satisfied idiots.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 10:48 AM

it's always the same 7 "celebrities" (and that's including Paul Auster). lame.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 11:03 AM

Another assinine article written all the time that keeps up the manhattanite (code work for educated affluent white person) vs. rest of NYC banalities. As in which nabes have 'Seal of Approval' to live in without sacrificing my social standing.
I say give up this boro nonsense - and refuse do even enter into such provincial discourse. I live in NYC period whether its Richmond Hill, Tottenville, Riverdale, Bedstuy,
or Murray Hill.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 11:16 AM

What I don't understand is that all of these so-called newcomers, celebrities or not, seem to think that they've discovered America when they come to Brooklyn. We long-time Brooklyn residents have been here all along and have enjoyed what these people think is a novel and previously unknown way of living. I never considered Brooklyn to be Manhattan's poor relative. It's a thriving city that's been through some rough patches in the past, but we're doing very well, thank you, "celebrities" or not. As for moving to Brooklyn because Manhattan housing is unaffordable, well, Brooklyn is on it's way to matching the unaffordability factor. Quite honestly, I find articles like this bordering on offensive, but I try to keep a sense of humor and chalk it up to immaturity.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 11:43 AM

But apart from that you liked it, right?

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 12:03 PM

my biggest fear is that people who pretend to live here will continue to spell Fort Greene "Fort Green".

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 12:14 PM

I'm sure it's an innocent typo...just like my "Brooklyn is on it's way" really should be "its way." Anon 11:43 am.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 12:33 PM

Wow, Brooklynites really do take themselves seriously! I guess I will be the lone voice in saying I found this to be harmless fun. I mean, ISN'T Brooklyn a happy medium between Mahattan and the suburbs?! The Sesame Street stuff or not totally growing up...whatever. I think the reactions above are so defensive to be almost embarrassing.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 12:49 PM

I agree with the last post. I've lived in Brooklyn since I moved to NYC in 2000. I chose it not because of price (could have afforded Manhattan and still can), but because I preferred it to other areas in Manhattan. I'm not sure why people feel so offended by this article or have the need to defend their choice of where they live. Brooklyn's great. If you like it, good for you, I'm happy for you. I also like Manhattan, I don't see the point in getting offended at the article.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 1:06 PM

Brooklyn is already turning into Manhattan. This Observer writer has the typical Manhattan blinders on that they really do Brooklynites an injustice by overlooking this. Higher rents, higher prices, more crappy chain stores, more frat types, more trendies and self-conscious hipsters, and more dirt and congestion. Fewer eccentrics, less down to earth types, less patience when walking down the street.

I look at all that is happening in Brooklyn, and it kind of makes my inner arguments against moving to the Queens, SI, or the burbs kind of weak.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 1:09 PM

I think people are offended by such articles because they're so superficial, artificial, and presumptuous. It's not a matter of defending Brooklyn or one's choice on where to live. It's a matter of pointing out that there was meaningful life in Brooklyn before the 20- or 30-somethings arrived. They didn't save Brooklyn or make it hip by moving here; they are living in a place that chooses to tolerate them.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 1:38 PM

A place that chooses to tolerate them? Give me a break. I'm tired of those who feel some sense of entitlement because they'e lived in the Borough for they're whole life. That's just silly. People should be happy their is an influx of people who love Brooklyn and will continue to contribute to its vitality and vibrancy in the future. Yes, the article is a bit inane and rehashes things we've all read before, but comments about tolerating newer residents are ridiculous. This is a free country and people can move where they would like. I have lived in Brooklyn for six years so I guess that makes me one of the newbies - thanks for "tolerating" me. By the way, with the exception of my parents, my family has lived in Brooklyn since the 1840s. Maybe I should start complaining about all the people who have moved to Brooklyn since in the intervening 160 years for not maintaining the old neighborhood the way it used to be. Of course I don't make such an argument, because it is ridiculous and pointless. So enough of the I'm a native and we don't need you crap. The great thing about Brooklyn and New York is the vibrancy of the different communities and the way they change over time.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 1:54 PM

Oops, typo. I meant "their" not "they're"

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 1:55 PM

I love articles like this. It's so funny how people in bklyn love to say there goes the nabe. Many of them have only been here a couple of years or so. While others watch on enjoying how much ownership these newercomers feel over the hood. Been here for about 20 yrs. Change is a constant. Enjoy it. Unless yr name is Bruce Ratner of course.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 7:17 PM

"Is Peter Braunstein the last freelancer in New York who thinks he’s too good for Brooklyn?"

Apparently Mark Lotto has never heard of Jonathan Van Meter and doesn't bother to read New York magazine.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 1, 2005 7:17 PM

Re:Ratnerville-
Exactly what annoys me about these media articles and good number of public.
All writen/view of NYC from very white-upper-middle class perspective. When we talk about Brooklyn its those very nabes you mention. When
people use the phrase 'priced out of Manhattan' - you know they are not referring to Wash.Hts or Inwood. Or a new neigborhood discovered- means some upper-middle class young educated white folks moved there. Certainly doesnt mean area was unpopulated before.
I wish they could really hear themselves sometimes. Its infuriating 'class' smugness.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 2, 2005 9:32 AM

Brooklyn in not a city or a neighborhood - it is a major part of NYC - with about with about 30% of entire city population. It is not a whole - its part of the whole. As in any city certain areas are poor residential, affluent residential, commericial, industrial or whatever.
But Brooklyn in too large a part of NYC to characterize it as one of these. Certain nabes in Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Queens may be 'cool'
but certainly not all of them.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 2, 2005 11:37 AM

David, 10:33 am, Yes, I'm here as long as I imply. I was around in the late 60s-early 70s when my neighbors were fleeing for Staten Island (imagine...), Long Island, and other suburbs. I stayed. I also remember when crime in NYC (not just Brooklyn) was out of control. I remember Crown Heights and Bushwick. I stayed. I also remember Pres. Jimmy Carter visiting a devastated South Bronx. And boy do I remember the horrible government services! But we voted those people out of office before term limits were imposed, didn't we? Yes, these were tough times, and it spite of the difficulties, our neighborhoods always held together. I never felt that Brooklyn was lost, and my family had no intention of leaving. It was inevitable that Brooklyn (and the rest of NYC) would only get stronger and thrive because we (residents, local politicians, business people, neighborhood activists) would not let it die. It was only in the mid-70s when our neighborhoods (specifically Carroll Gardens in this time period, BH, CH, and PS just prior to that) received landmark status precisely because of our neighborhood activists. We labored long and hard "to save Brooklyn" and, yes, most of it has been saved, and the rest of you are enjoying the fruits of our efforts. (As an aside...As far as the national retail chains are concerned, I'm not sure sure that they are all such a great thing. Downtown Brooklyn had a wide variety of quality retail stores back in the 50s-60s. For me, at least, the national chains all sell the same bland stuff, no variety, nothing interesting or novel. But that's another debate entirely.) The bottom line is that Brooklyn is the way it is now because of its long-time residents who fought to save their neighborhoods...thus attracting attention and newcomers.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 2, 2005 11:46 AM

Well then be happy that your hard work bore fruit and people continue to move to Brooklyn and continue to gentrify areas and landmark historic areas that have not been protected. Sounds to me like you want attention and recognition. Well thank you for working hard to preserve the area (I'm not being sarcastic). Well done.

Now you can be happy that you were the
'original' resident (now I am being sarcastic) and other people want to live where you live. Like I said in my 12/1/05 post at 1.54pm, all this I was here before you banter is pointless.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 2, 2005 12:05 PM

Anon, 12:05 pm, No, to the contrary, I don't seek or crave attention or recognition. I'm pretty quiet and reserved, otherwise I'd paste my name all over the place and toot my own horn loudly. I support my neighborhood and what the locals have done and endured in the past to bring it to where it is today. I'm not out to convert or chastise anyone, and I hate to see discussions like this turn negative or sarcastic. Just trying to contribute, shed some light on a subject, air an opinion, or make a point as all posters do on this blog on many different issues. Snarkiness is not necessary.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 2, 2005 12:27 PM

"Snarkiness is not necessary"

You are the same Anon from 1.38pm who said that new 20 and 30 somethings live in a place that "chooses to tolerate them". Sounds to me like you have issues.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 2, 2005 12:44 PM

It's great that everybody on brownstoner is so in to bklyn. but let's give credit where credit is due. rising real estate prices are only one part of the picture of what's happening to our borough. and it's not all such a good thing for longtime residents. so it's unfair to say that the reason things are going so great in our neighborhoods is because of the influx of rich hip residents or that if they leave things will all fall apart. people who have lived in bklyn a long time did a lot to make things great here. and we in turn owe them a debt of gratitude. AND WE ALSO NEED TO PITCH IN. So if you aren't already doing so please go to a neighborhood or block association meeting. start up a block association if you don't already have one. attend local police dept. community council meetings that take place every month or some of the meetings of the community board, write letters to your city council person and pitch in. this kind of civic involvement is what changed so many places for the better in our communities. i go to a lot of these meetings and the next generation of homeowners/renters is not actively involved in our community here just yet. But if people came out to even one local civic activity each year they would be happily met!

Posted by: Anonymous at December 2, 2005 8:51 PM

Three cheers for Anon 8:51 pm! Instead of the other posters knocking long-time residents, get out of your homes and go to these meetings. Most of the brownstone neighborhoods have some kind of association. If you don't know where they are, you can look them up on the web. Of course, you all work very long hours, as I do, but contribute to the neighborhood to make it even better. These groups meet about once a month, so it's not a great sacrifice to participate.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 2, 2005 9:33 PM

If you read the posts, it's the long time residents who started knocking the "new comers". Funny thing is I rarely experience this stupidity in real life, just on this blog.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 5, 2005 10:57 AM