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June 3, 2007
Touring Brooklyn
Hi, we are fairly new to the area - currently renting in Bay Ridge. We would like to take a trip around to see some of the other areas, such as Park Slope. Could anyone recommend what blocks are nice and where to take a look?
We would also like to see Bed-Stuy, but not sure exactly where to go in that area.
We will be taking the R train.
Thanks for any advice.
Comments
I rented in Bay Ridge too, when I first moved here. Have you explored Bay Ridge yet? There are some landmarked houses there worth seeing.
To see Park Slope, stop at the Union Street stop on the R, and walk uphill towards 5th Ave. 5th Ave is the younger hipper commercial avenue, and 7th Ave is the more established, family oriented avenue. Both have plenty shops and restaurants and on a weekend you'll see everyone out walking and socializing. Then walk on up to Prospect Park to see the park. Designed by the same man who designed Central Park. There are so many great streets in Park Slope for looking at gorgeous houses. You can't go wrong, just walk along Prospect Park West, and all around between Prospect Park and 5th Ave, and between Bergen or St. Johns to the North and 3rd Street to the South. In the evening at the end of your tour, stop by Union Hall on Union Street just north of 5th Ave to have some drinks and see a band. Southpaw on 5th Ave further North is a good music venue too.
There are books available about that and other Brooklyn neighborhoods and historic sites. Stop by some bookstores in Park Slope and see what they recommend. Have fun!
Posted by: Anonymous at June 3, 2007 5:22 PM
Well, Park Slope and Bed Stuy are somewhat at different ends of the spectrum with a great deal in between. Park Slope has a great location with its closeness to the library, park, museum and botanic garden. The prices are as high as they get in the borough second only to Brooklyn Heights. The slope also has the attraction of a well supported elementary school 321 (which I have been hearing is quite crowded). Bed Stuy is much more racially diverse and economically bery different. Some of the homes are incredible but as I understand it is not landmarked in the way that PS is and you could end up with some hideous new building or next to a brownstone painted in Rasta colors. All that aside... if you are a bit adventurous I think you could get a great house in BS and probably make the same kind of killing in terms of return that early PS buyers have seen. And, as I said there is so much in between, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, etc...
Posted by: anonymous at June 3, 2007 11:30 PM
Cobble Hill is a family oriented landmark area with lots of shopping and restaurants (near Smith St.) It has PS 29, and most blocks are beautiful. Clinton St. and Strong Place are really nice and different.
Take the R to Court St. and walk down Clinton St. till you cross Atlantic. This is where CH begins. There's a great cafe (Tazza) on Henry St. just off Atlantic where you can enjoy great coffe and pastries when you want a break from walking.
We're more accessible by the F/G train.
Posted by: anon at June 4, 2007 7:51 AM
You can't get to Bed Stuy on the R. In fact, I don't think the A train, which takes you to BS, and the R ever connect anywhere. You would have to take the R to the F, and then connect with the A at Jay street. At Jay St, you'd have to cross over from the Downtown F over to the Uptown A. Take the A to either Nostrand Ave, which is very bustling and commercial, and is Bed Stuy proper, or one stop further to Utica Ave, which lets you off in Stuy Hts. You could also take the C train at Jay street, which would take you to the same stops, plus the Kingston-Throop local stop in between Nostrand and Utica. This lets you off in prime unlandmarked BS, and close to Stuy Hts.
If you get off the train at Nostrand, cross Fulton St, and walk north. The blocks of Macon through Putnam between Bedford and Thompkins are beautiful. If you take the C to Kingston-Throop, the same blocks of Decatur through Putnam are excellent, from Throop to Lewis. And the Utica Ave stop takes you to the Historical District from about Fulton to Putnam, Lewis to Stuyvensant. There are eateries and shops on Thompkins and Lewis. Enjoy!
Posted by: Sterling Silver at June 4, 2007 2:23 PM
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