A walk to meet the neighborhood

faycat

My boyfriend and I are apt searching and Ft Greene/Clinton Hill is at top of our neighborhood list. We are planning to talk a long walk around the neighborhood on Saturday afternoon to get to know the area better. Does anyone have any suggestions about areas/streets/shops, etc. that we shouldn't miss? We will probably want to focus more on the areas closer to the C train, since we'll be taking that to the neighborhood. (And there is a high possibility that we will try to end the walk with pasta at Locanda Vini & Olii) Thanks!

ltjbukem

out of curiosity, what's the impetus for moving from williamsburg to fg/ch? i've noticed an increasing trend judging from the attire i see in the area. ie skinny pencil pants on frail-looking gaunt men...if you know what i mean..

anonymous

[code]my boyfriend and I have also been apartment hunting in the Ft. Greene/clinton hill area...we are moving from queens. I am totally in love with the park (with farmer's market and green rolling hills), the neighborhood, the beautiful brownstones.... You must check out Dekalb, lafayette and the park.... best of luck with your search!

faycat

I mostly want to move to be near a wider variety of trains. Although my commute to work is very easy from Williamsburg, getting to just about anywhere else in Brooklyn is a pain. I have two brothers and a mom in different parts of Brooklyn, none of which are easy to get to from Williamsburg. I'm also just tired of Williamsburg, I've been here for many years. I'd really like to be in brownstone Brooklyn, not artist's loft Brooklyn.

boygabriel

Definitely hit up the two main commerical drags in Ft. Greene: DeKalb (from the park heading East) and the Fulton/lafayette triangle right at the Lafayette C station (and head East).

That area (between Fulton and Dekalb) has some of the prettiest blocks in FG/CH, IMO.

I live in Clinton Hill. Myrtle and Fulton are our commerical drags but they're not as 'pretty' as Dekalb, IMO. There are really pretty residential blocks along avenues like Clinton or Washington.

Good luck! My gf and I moved from Williamsburg two years ago and while we loved w'burg, we love Clinton Hill too! We've enjoyed getting to know a whole new part of Brooklyn. One that, as you mentioned, is better connected to the rest of the huge borough.

anonymous

out of curiosity, what's the impetus for moving from williamsburg to fg/ch? i've noticed an increasing trend judging from the attire i see in the area. ie skinny pencil pants on frail-looking gaunt men...if you know what i mean..

It troubles me that FG/CH has become so popular. The new influx of folks definitely beginning to destroy the tranquil fabric of the hood. And what's with all the dogs (dog poop) and discarded coffee containers all over the streets. Our streets have never been this dirty. Never mind the gaunt, frail looking people in their skinny jeans and porkpie hats. Definitely not hip and so not FG/CH.

faycat

There really seems to be a lot of resentment for anyone moving into the neighborhood by current FG/CH residents. Do you guys just assume I'm a hipster because I live in Williamsburg? I don't get all of the hatred for people based solely on where they live or what they wear. Some people live where they live because it's convenient, or affordable, or near family, or circumstances brought them there. It's not fair to judge, and it troubles me that this is not the first time that I've sensed a "don't move here, you're not welcome" attitude from current FG/CH residents based solely on where I happen to live right now. I asked people to tell me about nice places in your neighborhood, I don't know why that seemed to invite hipster-bashing.

To those of you who offered suggestions, thank you, it's really appreciated and I will definitely check out those areas.

bifteck

faycat, I apologize on behalf of the people who are sneering and negative. We welcome anyone & everyone, even if they do wear skinny jeans. Who the hell cares? Just about all of us started out as new to the neighborhood, so I don't know why people are raising such a snotty stink about it.

Anyway, welcome! I second Boygabriel's recommendations and add that you ought to take a stroll through Fort Greene Park, especially on a weekend day.

CHdiva -- who are you to say what "is" FG/CH? Don't we pride ourselves on our diversity? Isn't welcoming people from other neighborhoods part of that?

Seriously, I had a feeling this post was going to bring out a few bad attitudes, but I didn't know it was going to be quite so blatant.

boygabriel

CHdiva wrote:

out of curiosity, what's the impetus for moving from williamsburg to fg/ch? i've noticed an increasing trend judging from the attire i see in the area. ie skinny pencil pants on frail-looking gaunt men...if you know what i mean..

It troubles me that FG/CH has become so popular. The new influx of folks definitely beginning to destroy the tranquil fabric of the hood. And what's with all the dogs (dog poop) and discarded coffee containers all over the streets. Our streets have never been this dirty. Never mind the gaunt, frail looking people in their skinny jeans and porkpie hats. Definitely not hip and so not FG/CH.

yawn.

this kind of trollish anti-new-comer hate is old news and frankly it's boring and non-representative of anything i've experienced on the streets of CH, among my neighbors.

Ignore it and move on.

faycat

Thanks bifteck and boygabriel. I know I shouldn't get sensitive, after all, I've lived in Williamsburg for years and have heard my share of that kind of talk. It tends to completely ignore the fact that the so-called "hipster" part of Williamsburg is this one little triangle of a pretty large and diverse neighborhood. I don't live in that little triangle, so I don't even see much of what people constantly complain about. What really troubles me about that kind of attitude in general, though, is that it is so antithetical to what NYC as a whole is supposed to be about. As a minority and the child of two immigrants, the thing I have always loved about NYC is it's diversity. I've heard that FG/CH is especially diverse, and that is part of what attracts me to the neighborhood.

I am also a born and bred New Yorker, and I wonder if the bashers are as well. If not, I would be amused to see how they would react to a native NYer telling them that they're ruining our city...

anonymous

Sorry guys most of us are not "new" to the neighborhood, I for one had the good fortune to attend school on Dekalb across from the park in 1974 and my sister before me in 72'.

leffertsgirl

...

boygabriel

faycat, you'll be pleased to notice that nowhere except on this message board is there so much anti-new-comer vitriol. It's a lot of hot air that tends to dissipate in actual real life situations.

anonymous

I agree with Boygabriel - the only time I ever hear this sort of rant and negativity is on blogs. I've lived in FG and in Clinton Hill for the past 5 years now, moved here from a different part of brooklyn, and have never experienced any of this negativity in person - in fact it's been quite the opposite with friendly neighbors, old and new, being very welcoming. I'm white btw. It's a friendly and great diverse community.

If you do want to go to Locanda Vini e Olii, make a booking as it fills up on the weekends.

If you're looking at the parts of the neighborhood closer to the C, I'd just suggest wandering up and down the streets. It's a nice stroll. I especially like the Clinton Hill Streets between Greene and Fulton, and the hidden streets on the other side of Fulton like Lefferts Place

leffertsgirl

...

boygabriel

LeffertsGirl, I hear you. but just remember: it's a lot of b.s. and trolling, it's not even worth responding to.

it has no bearing on real life, you know?

guvna

Yeah, the resentment seems to exist only on here. Sure I'd bet there are some on the streets acting out, but for the most part the area is diverse and loving it. Go to the park on any given weekend, or go to the local restaurants. You'll see all kinds of people having a good time, natives and newbies alike.

anonymous

Interesting that no one adrressed the issue of the preponderance of discarded coffee containers and dog excrement lining the streets of FG/CH which I maintain is a direct result of the influx of "newcomers" to the environ. Bifteck, I believe this blog allows one to express their opinions and I did. As for diversity, the fact of the matter is the residents of Clinton Hill are predominately African American. With the exception of your interaction with the regulars on this blog, Boygabriel, bifteck,Guvna, LeffertsGirl, guru and a few others, how many of you actually know that many residents of FG/Clinton Hill or for that matter what the "buzz" really is in the neighborhood. If you dont know, you better ask! 8)

anonymous

I don't get your beef CHDiva. The people commenting live in Clinton Hilln and Forte Green from what I can tell. And, I don't know what you're implying or trying to say, but even if Clinton Hill is more than 50% black (which it definitely is), it is definitely a diverse neighborhood (i.e. not everyone is of the same race or culture by a long shot). Why all the negativity? Yes, trash is annoying, and dog poop, but I've been here for several years and there was plenty of trash then too, that I regularly cleaned up (and continue to do) by the way. Complaining about trash is one thing. Blaming all "newbies" is another (and untrue in my experience). Sounds like you need to chill and be a friendly neighbor. It would do wonders for your own personal "buzz".

guvna

CHdiva wrote: Interesting that no one adrressed the issue of the preponderance of discarded coffee containers and dog excrement lining the streets of FG/CH which I maintain is a direct result of the influx of "newcomers" to the environ. Bifteck, I believe this blog allows one to express their opinions and I did. As for diversity, the fact of the matter is the residents of Clinton Hill are predominately African American. With the exception of your interaction with the regulars on this blog, Boygabriel, bifteck,Guvna, LeffertsGirl, guru and a few others, how many of you actually know that many residents of FG/Clinton Hill or for that matter what the "buzz" really is in the neighborhood. If you dont know, you better ask! 8)

Oh I see, so the newbies brought dirty habits to good ol' clean CH?! Did they bring the empty 40s and leave the blunts in my elevator too? I'm sure it's them spitting in the elevator too! And I wish they would stop leaving all that broken glass on the curb every morning. OUT WITH THEM!

The dog poop issue is interesting. In my experience, most of the newbies I see tend to walk with baggies to pick up the poop, versus the kids who walk their pitbulls without a baggie or pooper-scooper in sight. So, I dont buy the notion that the newbies are all responsible for dog poop. Maybe some, but it would be wrong to ignore the contributions of the oldheads.



As for knowing the buzz of the hood, I actually live here, and "surprise" I actually talk to people.

lemlar

faycat, ignore the ridiculous rants of CHdiva--s/he obviously has lots of issues. (there's an endless number of ways to respond to that post, but why bother?) this is a great neighborhood, whoever you are. the "dekalb strip" is great and i recommend it but also walk along both myrtle and fulton so you're sure you're getting the whole spectrum of commercial zones. also, feel free to come back to this site and ask about specific locations/buildings you're considering. hope you enjoy the nabe!

queencallipygos

CHdiva wrote: Interesting that no one adrressed the issue of the preponderance of discarded coffee containers and dog excrement lining the streets of FG/CH which I maintain is a direct result of the influx of "newcomers" to the environ.

Because in the good old days, dogs never pooped. :roll:

faycat

Thank you guys for being helpful and welcoming. I apologize for inciting an adversarial thread, it certainly wasn't my intention!

boygabriel

Don't apologize. There's only one person responsible for that and this is far from the worst "anti-newbie" hate I've seen on these boards.

I know a lot of people on my block: yuppified white kids like me, older white families who have been here for decades, black, asian and latino families as well.

FG/CH is primarily black but its also very diverse. It's welcoming of newcomers. And it simply doesn't have a chronic empty coffee cup problem. I could barely type that without laughing.

anonymous

You guys are more than welcome and I guarantee you will not be treated like the Pastor of the Christian Learning Center was treated when he moved his wife and six kids out to Dix Hills Long Island ten years ago. At this point most of my tenants are white in Bed Stuy and at my mother's building on Smith and Bergen it is the same, and for years we welcomed all our tenants and neigbors with a smile; and I have yet to hear on the news of one flaming cross on the front yard or stoop. We welcomed you in Africa and in Ft Greene and Bed Stuy we always expect the best.

anonymous

to the Diva...what exactly do you mean when you say the 'tranquil vibe of the neighborhood' is being ruined by newcomers???? If you were in Ft Greene more than 6 or 7 years ago, you would recall the differences more clearly. The crime has gone down and business is booming (for local business people). Perhaps when Ratner gets his arena up, you can appropriately say the 'tranquility' is gone.

Peace...and enjoy your neighbors, new and old. We all want the same things....safety, cleanliness, and feeling comfortable in our own neighborhoods.

:}

carlton banks

I think we can all agree the neighborhood has changed. Whether it's better or worse is debatable. I do have one question... Those new to the neighborhood seem to have at least one thing in common... They drive Subarus. Why are there 12 of them parked on my block right now? What is it about this car that makes them so popular with a certain crowd? Should I be buying the stock? The parent company is Fuji Heavy Industries... I may as well try to find some way to make money from gentrification Too bad the company that makes Bugaboo strollers is private...

guvna

Carlton Banks wrote: I think we can all agree the neighborhood has changed. Whether it's better or worse is debatable. I do have one question... Those new to the neighborhood seem to have at least one thing in common... They drive Subarus. Why are there 12 of them parked on my block right now? What is it about this car that makes them so popular with a certain crowd? Should I be buying the stock? The parent company is Fuji Heavy Industries... I may as well try to find some way to make money from gentrification Too bad the company that makes Bugaboo strollers is private...

Haha! My guess would be "affordable" All Wheel Drive sedan? Plus, they've been comiitted to the AWD long before it became cool with Mercedes and BMW to offer AWD. Not as pompous as an Audi either. Not my type of car personally, but having an AWD in NYC when it snows is a must, particularly if you have to park on the street because getting in and out of parking spots after the plow has passed thru means hours of digging for a RWD (take my word for it!), and FWD somtimes get stuck too. AWD trucks just dont make sense - poor gas milage and horrible for parking. So, an AWD sedan is the way to go.

queencallipygos

*cowers in corner, bracing herself for a cars vs. bikes argument to crop up now*

guvna

queencallipygos wrote: *cowers in corner, bracing herself for a cars vs. bikes argument to crop up now*

hahaha! I love bikes, but they suck in the snow

lemlar

Those new to the neighborhood seem to have at least one thing in common... They drive Subarus.

Carlton, I agreed with your post regarding Thirst wine shop but am disappointed by this one. If you're going to stereotype people, don't get upset when others do it to you. You can't have it both ways.