Park Slope Stroller Nazi Story Getting a Little Stale
We’re not exactly sure why this was a front-page article the the NY Times Sunday Real Estate section—seems more like City section material to us—but, there it was, another article making light of the number of strollers (and implicit bourgeois existence of their pushers) in Park Slope. The fact that there are a lot of…
We’re not exactly sure why this was a front-page article the the NY Times Sunday Real Estate section—seems more like City section material to us—but, there it was, another article making light of the number of strollers (and implicit bourgeois existence of their pushers) in Park Slope. The fact that there are a lot of young families (some of whose matriarchs aren’t averse to a little public nursing) in Park Slope just ain’t news anymore, so let’s just settle the fight for the soul of the slope once and for all in the hopes that another article never has to be written on the subject. In the words of The Times article, is Park Slope “Hipster Hell” or “Parent Heaven”? Update: As of 4:30 today, there were 216 votes for Parent Heaven and 158 votes for Hipster Hell.
The Park Slope Parent Trap [NY Times]
Photo by Kansas Liberal
I agree that the architecture in Clinton Hill is wonderful, but it’s not totally intact as in Park Slope. Many of the houses were torn down in the 1940’s and 50’s and replaced with unattrative high-rises. Every block still has a handfull of decrepit and tumble-down facades. I was in Clinton Hill over the weekend and was surprised to see that it has not changed much over the past several years. there are still neglected houses everywhere, even on Clinton Avenue. So the potential is there in Clinton Hill, but to the unbiased eye, it still looks a little rough around the edges -I’m not saying that to disparage the area in any way- I really love it, but it still has a little ways to go to reach tripe-A status like Park Slope. That said, a lot of people like that – a touch of scruffiness. I was a little surprised because the RE prices are through the roof, and yet the visual aspect of the area is still kind of the way it was back when it was a bargan. so the reality has to catch up with the hype. I think that happens in many neighborhoods.
“Hasn’t anyone heard of a baby bjorn or a sling mei tai or a snugli or anything? Or are they just too lazy to carry their kids (or if they’re too big to carry, are their kids too lazy and overempowered to walk)????”
Slings, Bjorns: give me a break. Park Slope is sling central. Boing Boing sells more of them in a year than the GDP of most Third World countries.
What, do you think in every other neighborhood of NYC, parents say, “Gee, honey, I’d really like to push Junior in a stroller–but it wouldn’t be considerate of our neighbors. We must carry our child, for it is right for the community!”?
There are more strollers in Park Slope — and slings, and bjorns, etc. — because there are more kids. You may find that annoying, and I don’t blame you, but the idea that parents here use strollers any more than anywhere else in the city is BS.
Oh, by the way, glad to hear that YOU clearly don’t believe that “YOU ALONE know the BEST way to raise a kid.”
Um, 9:46, what do you call that thing at the top of the post depicting all the strollers parked in front of Tea Lounge? Is that not a picture?
Urban legend my tuchus.
Story is old and boring; anecdotes that seem more like urban legend than truth (lets see some photos – you carry a cell phone dont you) are also boring.
Look I hate all the dumb bumper stickers & anti-Bush flags in the windows of many PS Brownstones and I definitely hate all the (fake) anti-establishment ethos that many PS (and many NY’ers in general) love to promote – the way I see it is – we’re not in HS anymore, you don’t have dress a certain way or believe certain things to ‘belong’ – try actually being independent and dress, think, eat, etc… based on your own thoughts not some PC B.S.
That being said I did see something in PS the other day that sent douche chills up my spine – a guy driving up Union St (@ 5th) in a Silver Porsche Boxter Convertible – top down – with vanity plates that read – “THE SLOPE” – (I so wanted to take a picture but unfortunately the light was green and I couldn’t get my camera out fast enough.)
Strollers are indulgent–you can carry a baby and let a toddler walk.
Just one more thought.
It says a lot about a community when parents can leave their expensive strollers out on the sidewalk while they are inside a restaurant.
It’s obviously NOT stale since it’s getting such a reaction from everyone (myself included).
PS is NOT hipster anything (that would be Williamsburg or Greenpoint) and definitely NOT parent heaven. Never was.
As with all stereotypes, there’s a kernel of truth here. I hate going to PS and having to navigate all the strollers blocking everything and hearing all the self-righteous comments from the parents there, as if THEY ALONE know the BEST way to raise a kid.
Why the hell do all these moms (and dads, but mostly moms) have to drive around their $800 bugaboos (or whatever the latest trendy overpriced stroller is)?
Hasn’t anyone heard of a baby bjorn or a sling mei tai or a snugli or anything? Or are they just too lazy to carry their kids (or if they’re too big to carry, are their kids too lazy and overempowered to walk)????
I’m glad I’m NOT raising my kid in PS. I sure don’t share the values of the neighborhood.
Actually the architecture in Clinton Hill is beyond comparable to Park Slope– it’s superior. The HIll and Brooklyn Heights were Brooklyn’s premier hoods back in the day. That said, the Slope has gorgeous buildings, and they’re worth more than CH, obviously, because the hood has been better cared for over the years.
I agree that it is a health sign for the community that it is now accepted and even “hip” to raise a family in Brooklyn. This reduction in the transient nature of city living is great, with more and more realizing they do not need to move to the burbs of long island and new jersey. All the greensters should look at this as healthy for the envirnonment as well with less/shorter commuting by the “bourgeois”