San Francisco of the East Coast
That’s what New York magazine is calling Ditmas Park, “the Victorian-packed enclave south of Prospect Park.” Its resemblance to the foggy city is listed as reason #39 to love New York, and it’s not just the “painted ladies,” those houses now fetching as much as $1.8 million, that bear a resemblance to San Fran. “You…
That’s what New York magazine is calling Ditmas Park, “the Victorian-packed enclave south of Prospect Park.” Its resemblance to the foggy city is listed as reason #39 to love New York, and it’s not just the “painted ladies,” those houses now fetching as much as $1.8 million, that bear a resemblance to San Fran. “You can also see similarities in the restaurant scene: The reigning culinary draw, the Farm on Adderley, references Chez Panisse (okay, that’s in Berkeley, not Frisco) in its strident locavorism and mismatched plates. And Ditmas’s tiny, cozy Cinco de Mayo can hold its own in the Mexican brunch department against the Mission District’s Pancho Villa Taqueria (although the latter’s burritos are admittedly better).” Perhaps most San Francisco-ish is the Ciy LIghts of the East Coast, Vox Pop, with its socialist literature and cappuccinos, “where, on a recent Sunday, you could order a Cesar Chavez personal pizza, buy lefty tracts, and listen to a live drum circle from a group called Manhattan Samba.” Still, a look at political contributions belies the neighborhood’s true colors: it actually leans toward the red.
Because Ditmas Park Is the New San Francisco [New York]
Photo by nicknormal.
I stand corrected, cobblehiller- I’ll bring paper and pencil so I can take notes on everything he says. Of course, I’ll be joining you on the bread line after the 1st too. (Has no one mentioned to poley that forced labor isn’t legal in the US?)
FRISCO?
Inigo –
There are a significant number of black families living in these homes, although I agree they are not the majority. Some bought in the 70s, others are new to the neighborhood.
As far as the apt. houses – you will find both white and black (and Asian and Latino )residents. This is the most diverse zip code in the U.S.
You’re comment is off the mark, not to mention insulting to those that actually live there.
Ditmas Park and Prospect Park South are nice leafy neighborhoods. They were designed from the begining to look different than the rest of Brooklyn. They look more like a Suburban town like Garden City, or Rye, or Morristown. The thing I find disturbing about it is the “apartheid” nature of it. Mostly all White in the big houses, surrounded by mostly all Black in the apartment building districts on all sides. The phenomenon of the wealthy living in their enclave surrounded by poor is one I associate with Latin American Cities. La Paz comes to mind. The wealthy live in beautiful, huge homes in the center of town, and then in all directions are poor and very poor districts. I don’t like the invisible boundary. Creepy. But the houses are of course, very nice.
silly comparison. Homelessness is more of a problem in SF for the simple reason that the benefits are better there.
Hubby and I were going to go to Ditmas on Saturday just to walk around. (yes, we often just pick a nabe and walk). But decided we really should go xmas shopping.
Montrose, if you ever want to join us, I’ll give you a shout. We’ll pick you up.
Why not bxgrl/MM? Such an difficult and complex issue as homelessness apparently has an easy solution! We should all be sitting up straight in our chairs, with our hands folded neatly on the table in front of us, and listening/reading attentively, because I have no doubt that Poley, ever the humanitarian, has a brilliant solution to homelessness. In fact, since I’ll be unemployed come the new year. I can, in fact, start implemementing his plan right away. I’m ready to rock the solution to homelessness!!
I’m so excited! And…he says it’s an EASY problem to solve!
How great is that!
Poley, you lost this one, don’t even bother.
I love Ditmas Park, my jaw also dropped the first time I “discovered” it. I don’t get there often, but each time is a visual pleasure. This photo shows one of the best parts of the area, the magnificent arbor of trees that arches over the streets. In the summer it’s just amazing. There is no streetscape like it in the entire city.
I just don’t get the comparison to SF. It would be more a propro to compare it to a great old college town like Ithaca or Oneonta, where large turn of the century houses abound.
oh no- please don’t give him that soapbox.