Park Slope One of Nation's "Dreamiest" Neighborhoods

My lips are sealed.

;-)

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 11:37 AM

"Superstooper - I think dreamy was the wrong adjective for this list. Either that, or these people have very boring dreams."

I believe it's a take on their "Dream Home Giveaway" theme on HGTV. Each year they build a gorgeous home somewhere in the U.S. and have a sweepstakes for it.

I don't think it's meant to be taken so seriously.

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 12:26 PM

Aren't nightmares dreams too...?

I keed, I keed.

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 12:30 PM

While the brownstone neighborhoods look similar, I think the people who occupy them are a bit different. I love Carroll Gardens and Smith Street, but I think Park Slope is a little bit more diverse, a little bit more liberal/radical, a little bit more gay and a little bit younger.

Obviously those things would not appeal to everyone, but they appeal to me.

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 12:59 PM

I can understand not going to the shops and restaurants, I guess, but I can't imagine not going to Prospect Park, Rob.

Especially if I had a dog...

On a nice spring/summer day, it seems as though all of Brooklyn is at Prospect Park...laying out with friends, reading a book, playing frisbee, flying a kite, smoking a joint, jogging, biking, etc.

It's one of my favorite places in all of NYC.

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 1:11 PM

"But to say that Park Slope has everything one could need I think is extremely myopic."

In light of the new age of getting by with/on less, I don't see anything wrong with being content with what a neighborhood has to offer.

Always wanting for more/bigger is what you are suggesting is the better alternative?

Park Slope has everything I need. I see absolutely nothing wrong with that statement.

Need and want are very different things.

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 1:55 PM

Kris,

I agree with you. I don't know of a single neighborhood that gets such negative comments whether it be about stroller nazi's, milf's, tea lounge, bankers, ps. 321, etc etc etc.

I think part of the defending nature that dirty hipster describes is that some of us who live there not only don't understand the "hate" but don't even see what they are talking about.

I don't hate any of the things people typically say they hate about Park Slope. I like all the kids. I find it encouraging to see so many people wanting to raise a family in the "big city," actually.

If New York Magazine and every other real estate blog didn't feed into each and every stereotype about the neighborhood, there wouldn't be such a desire to stick up for it.

I don't mind people saying they hate it, and certainly realize that it's not for everyone, but it's also clear from some of its distinctions like the one above, it's not nearly as bad as the "haters" make it seem.

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 2:50 PM

Dirty Hipster:

That is totally valid. The thing I see though is that a lot of the Park Slope "haters" (it seems) have never even set foot in Park Slope. Some of the negative comments I see about the neighborhood make me think that we've experienced two entirely different neighborhoods.

There is a difference between saying you hate something you've never experienced and genuinely not liking something after you've tried it.

I've been to Williamsburg 100 times. I don't think it's only filled with 21 hear olds and can certainly understand the appeal, but it's still not a neighborhood I enjoy spending time in. I don't consider that hating Williamsburg, I just consider that me stating my likes and dislikes.

Maybe I've being naive and that most of the people who say they hate Park Slope have indeed been there and didn't like what they saw.

Very plausible, I suppose. Everyone has different tastes.

I don't even know what I'm saying now...

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 3:08 PM

I think any and every neighborhood in Brooklyn is infinitely less boring than any neighborhood in Manhattan.

Lower East Side is fun every 3 months and the West Village is pretty when it's not overrun with tourists, but other than that, I'd take pretty much anywhere in Brooklyn over "the city"

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 3:23 PM

It's the retail in the West Village that has become so tragic also. Bleeker Street, even 5 years ago used to be so much more interesting. Now I believe there are 5 Marc Jacobs stores and at least 2 or 3 Ralph Lauren stores.

The smaller shops and mom and pop type places are what continue to keep Brooklyn interesting to me in the commercial sense.

I agree though...some of those smaller streets...Commerce Street, Bank Street, etc are just stunning.

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 3:46 PM

I agree. The number of small businesses closing up in Park Slope is disconcerting, to say the least.

I'm trying to support my favorites as much as possible and hope for the best. But it's not pretty out there for these guys.

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 3:58 PM

I thought you just moved to Park Slope in the summer, Rob?

What is "schlock" to you or me, might be interesting to someone else. I happen to like a lot of the stuff in Park Slope, although I wish there were more vintage/thrift stores and places for men's clothing. Not necessary though...I really don't buy all that much stuff anyway.

And it's all but a certainty that things will be getting much worse before they get better.

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 4:36 PM

Rob, once the weather warms up, you simply MUST walk around more.

7th down in the teens is great, the Grand Army Plaza area is spectacular with the Greenmarket on Saturdays, I've never even SEEN the horses in the park!

I also like 5th Avenue down in the teens...

Posted by: 11217 at January 23, 2009 5:32 PM