Unbiased advice for a PS newbie

amberella

Hi everyone... my first post here :oops:

I stayed with a friend in Park Slope a few years ago and fell in love with the area. Now my [new] husband and I are moving from South Florida up to NY and am 90% sure the Slope is the place for us. I've been reading these threads EXTENSIVELY over the last few weeks to get an insider's viewpoint, which has raised a few questions on which I'd appreciate a non broker-financial-incentivized answer, if you might be so kind.

#1 - I've never lived anywhere where people "walk." Here you get in your car to drive to your neighbor's house. :roll: When choosing a place, how important is it to you that you be *right by* a grocer/shopping/etc? A few blocks? More? Or do you just acclimate yourself to whatever stores are nearby?

#2 - How is internet access on the whole? Should I expect a place with high speed cable/DSL/Fiber Optic (FIOS), or is that a luxury?

#3 - Yoga. Very important to me (I teach 3 classes a week now.) I've googled all the studios around the area and read the related threads on the board here, and it seems like opinion varies WIDELY. Is there one that you strongly recommend?

#4 - Billiards. (Oh no, now I can't hustle...) Is there a great bar with a table or billiards hall I should keep an eye out for? Google shows Park Slope Billiards on 15th and Brownstone Billiards on Flatbush. Yea or Nea? Better options elsewhere? Don't laugh ... this is actually a consideration for me lol.

I don't want to overwhelm anyone, but any insights would be immensely appreciated. I am so excited to make some new friends and be part of what sounds like an actual community, something we completely lack down here in the 'burbs.

...And I am excited that my cat may finally get to earn her keep via the aforementioned mouse issues. She's been freeriding way too long.

karl the druid

Subject: unbiased opinions?

and 3 and 2 and 1

action

armchair_warrior

try to live by walking distance of subway. usually shops are close enough to them. that goes for most hoods.

boardband net access is cheap.

quijibo

Subject: Re: Unbiased advice for a PS newbie

amberella wrote: #1 - I've never lived anywhere where people "walk." Here you get in your car to drive to your neighbor's house. :roll: When choosing a place, how important is it to you that you be *right by* a grocer/shopping/etc? A few blocks? More? Or do you just acclimate yourself to whatever stores are nearby?

#2 - How is internet access on the whole? Should I expect a place with high speed cable/DSL/Fiber Optic (FIOS), or is that a luxury?

#3 - Yoga. Very important to me (I teach 3 classes a week now.) I've googled all the studios around the area and read the related threads on the board here, and it seems like opinion varies WIDELY. Is there one that you strongly recommend?

#4 - Billiards. (Oh no, now I can't hustle...) Is there a great bar with a table or billiards hall I should keep an eye out for? Google shows Park Slope Billiards on 15th and Brownstone Billiards on Flatbush. Yea or Nea? Better options elsewhere? Don't laugh ... this is actually a consideration for me lol.

I don't want to overwhelm anyone, but any insights would be immensely appreciated. I am so excited to make some new friends and be part of what sounds like an actual community, something we completely lack down here in the 'burbs.

...And I am excited that my cat may finally get to earn her keep via the aforementioned mouse issues. She's been freeriding way too long.

#1 it depends. if you like to walk. you'll wurv the 'hood. if not you can still be happy by staying local

#2 west of flatbush ave = DSL, east of flatbush = cable

#3 yoga: whatever floats your boat. all options are there. kundalini is my choice.

#4 Loki lounge. try Loki...

theoryofpractice

Subject: Re: Unbiased advice for a PS newbie

amberella wrote: Hi everyone... my first post here :oops:

I stayed with a friend in Park Slope a few years ago and fell in love with the area. Now my [new] husband and I are moving from South Florida up to NY and am 90% sure the Slope is the place for us. I've been reading these threads EXTENSIVELY over the last few weeks to get an insider's viewpoint, which has raised a few questions on which I'd appreciate a non broker-financial-incentivized answer, if you might be so kind.

#1 - I've never lived anywhere where people "walk." Here you get in your car to drive to your neighbor's house. :roll: When choosing a place, how important is it to you that you be *right by* a grocer/shopping/etc? A few blocks? More? Or do you just acclimate yourself to whatever stores are nearby?

You acclimate, you Fresh Direct. Near the subway trumps, then bus, then services that appeal, but ideally the trifecta.

#2 - How is internet access on the whole? Should I expect a place with high speed cable/DSL/Fiber Optic (FIOS), or is that a luxury?

Cable (broadband) via Time Warner in teh Slope, nothing special. Various DSL outfits are available too, but not all of the Slope is accessible (had DSL in the north Slope, but stuck with cable in the south Slope). FIOS is just a distant dream; I'm pretty sure we'll be the last place in the US wired for that.

#3 - Yoga. Very important to me (I teach 3 classes a week now.) I've googled all the studios around the area and read the related threads on the board here, and it seems like opinion varies WIDELY. Is there one that you strongly recommend?

Hmm...you'll fit right in.

#4 - Billiards. (Oh no, now I can't hustle...) Is there a great bar with a table or billiards hall I should keep an eye out for? Google shows Park Slope Billiards on 15th and Brownstone Billiards on Flatbush. Yea or Nea? Better options elsewhere? Don't laugh ... this is actually a consideration for me lol.

Both are a tad skanky to my mind. I think there's a few bars with tables around, though: Fifth Ave, Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights. And in the City.

I don't want to overwhelm anyone, but any insights would be immensely appreciated. I am so excited to make some new friends and be part of what sounds like an actual community, something we completely lack down here in the 'burbs.

After an adjustment, I think you'll find the quality of life can be very nice here. Just get used to having room for less stuff, less convenience with a car, and the general ramped-up all the time vibe of a more urban setting.

...And I am excited that my cat may finally get to earn her keep via the aforementioned mouse issues. She's been freeriding way too long.

I'd keep your cat indoors.

Welcome to the 'hood.

apollonia666

Just the grocery question -- being close to the store isn't *quite* as important in Park Slope, because you can always shop at the C-Town on 9th -- they deliver. You go to the store to do your shopping and they bring it to your house afterward. I assume some of the other stores in PS deliver too, but not all stores do and the C-Town's the only one I have experience with in that neighborhood, but it's also one of the nicer grocery stores in the area.

sweet tea

there's a pool table on vanderbilt?

amberella

Subject: Re: Unbiased advice for a PS newbie

Wow - thanks for the wealth of information! Google Street View is SO my friend.

Some response:

#1 - Groceries / Walking

theoryofpractice wrote: You acclimate, you Fresh Direct. Near the subway trumps, then bus, then services that appeal, but ideally the trifecta.

quijibo wrote: it depends. if you like to walk. you'll wurv the 'hood. if not you can still be happy by staying local

apollonia666 wrote: being close to the store isn't *quite* as important in Park Slope, because you can always shop at the C-Town on 9th -- they deliver.

Ah, delivery. That makes sense. And unlike the load-your-car-with-a-20lb-jar-of-peanutbutter-for-the-whole-next-year Costco mentality here, one would probably buy smaller amounts of stuff more frequently. I do like to walk, but I've also never lived anywhere with snow. Hell, the leaves don't even change color here.

#2 - Internet

theoryofpractice wrote: Cable (broadband) via Time Warner in teh Slope, nothing special. Various DSL outfits are available too, but not all of the Slope is accessible (had DSL in the north Slope, but stuck with cable in the south Slope). FIOS is just a distant dream; I'm pretty sure we'll be the last place in the US wired for that.

quijibo wrote: west of flatbush ave = DSL, east of flatbush = cable

Good to know. We are tech freaks and while Axel (husband-dude) farmed out most of our old servers to hosting companies, it's important to have some options in case we need a static IP or something. I didn't really expect you to have FiOS yet (it's kind of like asking if everyone has jet packs or something) but someday - it will be sweet!

#3 - Yoga

theoryofpractice wrote: Hmm...you'll fit right in.

quijibo wrote: whatever floats your boat. all options are there. kundalini is my choice.

Yes, while my gut instinct was that I just liked the place, some research uncovers that I am apparently "the type." No kids yet, but I do indeed do that whole vegetarian yoga hobby-artist thing. <ducks> Don't throw things at me yet ... I'm pretty pragmatic when it comes down to it. I also have other stranger pastimes like building custom computer mods and the whole billiards thing, so I'm not a total cliche [yet].

I'm also considering checking out some of the larger studios in the city, but the commute might be prohibitive.

#4 - Billiards

theoryofpractice wrote: Both are a tad skanky to my mind. I think there's a few bars with tables around, though: Fifth Ave, Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights. And in the City.

quijibo wrote: Loki lounge. try Loki...

Skanky I can handle; tiny, uneven tables - not so much. Loki Lounge is 1/2 way between the other two on 2nd, so I'll keep it in mind.

theoryofpractice wrote: I'd keep your cat indoors.

Oh yes, she is mortified of outdoors. I was referring to potential indoor mice on which she might exercise her latent predator skills.

theoryofpractice wrote: Welcome to the 'hood.

Thanks mucho. Now I just have to settle on a place and resign myself to having 1/2 the space for twice the price. Woohoo!.

Again, thanks for all your suggestions. And since brevity is the soul of wit 'n' all, I probably should have just asked this initially:

If there was one thing you wish you knew before moving into the neighborhood/your place, what would that have been?

Regards.

belzjm

I wish I moved here sooner, because it's such a darn nice place to live...

alafairnadia

sweet tea wrote: there's a pool table on vanderbilt?

nope.

but there's one in cattyshack.

opossumqueen

1. I've been here almost 3 years now but I still remember my concern over grocery shopping. Fresh Direct is good but if you prefer browsing a store, buy one of the carts most of us have and you can get a decent amount of stuff home.

If you have a ton to buy, you can always go to Pathmark at Atlantic and just take a car home--there's a line of them waiting outside of the store doors. Depending on how far you have to go, it can be pretty darn cheap even with tip. (Target is there as well so if there are two of you, you can really fill a car up.)

Important note on grocery shopping...I made this mistake once, and only once right after moving here. I went to a grocery store far from home (none were close to my place at the time) and shopped with a store cart. I ended up with way more than I could carry home easily. Now I only buy what I can carry in my arms

2. Internet--it's big a city, you can get decent internet. There are other threads on specific service so check those out, but personally I prefer Time Warner (I've had TW and Cablevision).

3. I see the people with their mats everywhere.

4. Brownstone recently remodeled and I haven't been in since, but before that it was a dive but an extremely spacious one. The ping-pong tables were of acceptable quality. Have all the drinks you want b/c you don't have to drive home...

drunken revival

Quick rundown on the pool table situation in PS:

- Loki gets my vote: on any given night this where you will find the best quality pool game. Also, the best table outside a pool hall. Could be a doubles or singles table depending on the crowd and circumstances. Plenty of regulars, some newcomers, maybe a hustlers, a meathead, and a variety of others. The table is welcoming enough ... the stakes are only as high as the line of people waiting is long. Like any table on any given night it is hit or miss....

It's good to have backups.

Gingers - 5th Ave, btw 5th and 6th - lesbian bar... they do have a table...Good players. They do let straight guys play there. They do not like it when aforementioned straight guys run the table for 5 games in a row.

- Bar Reis - 5th Ave, btw 5th and 6th -- pool table is downstairs in a large lounge area and opens into a great backyard seating area. The quality of the game is not what it is at Loki. The crowd is a bit more transient yet stable if you catch my drift. Typical player is younger, more anxious, faster playing, and drunker at 2am. This is a great bar that your non-pool playing friends will enjoy while you play. I like this place a whole lot.

- Cattyshack - Yeah.. they have a table... see Gingers above.. then add a $5 cover charge, synthetic T, and subtract any and all pool skills

- Living Room - 23rd and 5th Ave. - HUGE space. Strange place. Cheapish drinks. Pool table is new and relatively active on the weekends. This is a "never know what you're going to find" sort of place. In order for the place to seem anything less than empty it needs a party 20 plus the regular crowd it would have had without the party. Luckily the place normally has "parties" on the weekends -- If you've been you know what I mean.

Carriage House - 7th and 7th. Two pool table, cocaine, karaoke on Saturday - what's not to like. You will be the most sober person there at 1:30am on a Saturday unless you've been there since the previous Wed with the rest of them.

Brownstone and the place on 15th and 5th - Brownstone has been redone (no comment). Slope Billiards is cool. Good bar, Latin flavor, good mixed crowd, ping tables... At the end of the day it's a pool hall. They are good about hooking you up with drinks and not screwing you about pool table minutes.

Rather Un-notable mentions: Park Slope Ale house: they have a pool table. I'm not sure why anyone would play there. Lighthouse: It's an ok bar. The pool table is WAY to cramped. 200 5th: I've never actually played there - there must be a good reason.

For the most part these places are within walking distance of one another. Depending on where you are in the Slope or beyond I would also recommend The Brooklyn Inn and Angry Wades as good places to play pool... Wade's has good competition and Brooklyn Inn is a very nice place, no TV, good crowd, good drinks, and a good rational table.

drunken revival

Quijibo - are you a regular Loki pool player???

doublediamond

#1. I would try to live within walking distance of the 2/3 Grand Army Plaza station or the Q/B 7th Ave Station. That would be in the North Slope or Prospect Heights area. This line stops at the Atlantic Ave/Pacific station and gives you access to other subway lines as that's a major hub. The other subway line that serves Park Slope, the F, is kind of limiting. Check out google map and the MTA subway map to see what I'm talking about.

I joined the Park Slope Food Coop (www.foodcoop.com). Check it out. It's a 10 minute walk for me. If I have too much to carry, I can take a shopping cart with me and one of the workers takes it back.

I'm from South Florida too. It takes a while to get used to the cold!

baby fishmouth

I think the pool tables at Park Slope Billiards are awful - torn-up felt, broken cue sticks, and there was something in that place that always made my allergies flare up and my eyes burn. They have league nights but it gets expensive - sometimes up to $20 a week. Loki has a decent table, as others have mentioned. Amsterdam Billiards opened a new spot a few months ago in Manhattan, I believe it's at 11th and Broadway, and they have great tables and league nights and it's not a far ride home.

amberella

Drunken Revival wrote: Quick rundown on the pool table situation in PS: ....

OMG I was literally holding my stomach laughing while reading your post. Every single "type" of place you listed has an equivalent here and I know exactly what you mean - from Loki (which sounds like my usual Saturday night Fitzy's here: great players with fun attitudes) to Ginger's (my New Moon: keychains-on-the-beltloop lesbian bar) to Bar Reis (my Nippers: only place open til 5am here) to the Park Slope Ale House (I refuse to play at the Boca Ale House since some kid shoved a Tonka truck down a pocket - who has their kid at a bar at midnight anyway??) ... the list goes on. I think I might print out your list and carry it around in my wallet while I get acquainted LOL. And I'm sure - I'll see you around some night! A million thanks for such in depth info.

doublediamond wrote: I'm from South Florida too. It takes a while to get used to the cold!

Where in South FL? I'm in Deerfield now, grew up in Boca.

Baby Fishmouth wrote: Amsterdam Billiards opened a new spot a few months ago in Manhattan, I believe it's at 11th and Broadway, and they have great tables and league nights and it's not a far ride home.

I've always had a secret little itch to go to the original location once, just cuz I'm a huge Jennifer Baretta fan. I got to meet her and Karen Corr a few times - fun!

kosherdave

After living here long enough, walking everywhere will become second nature, you'll walk everywhere and be shocked that things eventually seem closer and closer. Plus you'll stay in great shape! And PS is a GREAT nabe to walk thru. Especially the streets with the gas lanterns lit at night.

As for the cat/mouse thing, I just wanted to mention that I've never had a mouse issue here in Park Slope, altough, as I type this, I do have two cats, so maybe that's why, then again, I've never found a dead mouse either, so unless the cats eat it...

Browstone Billards is really big and recently re-done. It's ok. I think that's been pretty well covered.

For grocery stores, there are a LOT of bodegas (corner stores) that carry all sorts of assorded foods and things, plus a few grocery stores and Fresh Direct for delivery.
If you end up in a walk up and have a few flights w/o an elevator, you'll come to love Fresh Direct and the other places that deliver.
Some people say the Food Co-op is a cult. I'm not saying that, or that it isn't, but it might be a good idea to read the threads here to form your own opinion, & check it out if they let people do that before becoming members. If you are a member, you have to volunteer there. Personally, I went to graduate school so I would not have to work at a grocery store, but that's just me

There also is a really great farmer's market at Grand Army Plaza (GAP) that goes thru the summer, not sure how long into the fall or early in the spring, but I love the place.

You'll like the nabe. It's the best in NYC in my opinion!

sweet tea

farmers' market goes all year. granted, there's less stuff in the winter, but still more than you might imagine (apples, root vegetables, bread, etc.).

we go every saturday for milk and veggies.

theoryofpractice

belzjm wrote: I wish I moved here sooner, because it's such a darn nice place to live...

Me too -- moved to Neuva in '97, but didn't get to the Slope (despite repeated attempts) until '03.

quijibo

Drunken Revival wrote: Quijibo - are you a regular Loki pool player???

i used to be a Loki regular. not so much pool playing these days
if i'm in the mood for a game of pool i usually go to Loki, or Johnny Mack's
at both, the level of play varies widely with the best games on friday and saturday nights. the tables are well maintained. relatively flat. not too tilted. and you can always find chalk.
good feng shui with a good mix of native and non-native brooklynites of all possible demographics

i like your pool list. comprehensive.

amberella

kosherdave wrote: Some people say the Food Co-op is a cult. I'm not saying that, or that it isn't, but it might be a good idea to read the threads here to form your own opinion, & check it out if they let people do that before becoming members. If you are a member, you have to volunteer there. Personally, I went to graduate school so I would not have to work at a grocery store, but that's just me

The friend I mentioned in my initial post, my first friend that invited me to the Slope (a hilarious electroclash dyke folk guitarist - her words, not mine) was a member of the coop. She told me a little about it (and its popularity/stigma), and I've since avoided mentioning it in this thread at all costs, though I **am** curious. I don't want to set off a fire storm, so I can say that I will at least check it out, since I love me some veggies. But if enough people warn you about something, you know it's either reallllllly awesome ... or not worth your time. I'm gonna have to make that call in due time.

:?:

amberella

quijibo wrote: i like your pool list. comprehensive.

agreed.

and quijibo - I LOVE your avatar.

amberella

kosherdave wrote: ...stuff you said in other threads...

PS - To finish off my trifeca of self-replying posts ....

I think you make really intelligent statements on the whole.

doublediamond

amberella wrote:

[quote=doublediamond]I'm from South Florida too. It takes a while to get used to the cold!

Where in South FL? I'm in Deerfield now, grew up in Boca.


I grew up in Kendall, but have lived all over South Florida. I'm familiar with Deerfield and Boca. The majority of my family now lives in Coral Springs.

Re: the coop. I purposely didn't say more. It is worth going to an orientation and making up your own mind. There's a lot that's annoying about it, but the prices are lower and the produce is of tremendous quality. I also really like the bulk section for spices (this is where the coop can't be beat), grains and nuts.

You can get good quality produce at Fairway (in the Redhook nabe, accessible really if you have a car), but the rest of the markets nearby? Sheesh, you'll be missing Publix in a heartbeat!

Amberella, is your icon from The Maxx? Sure looks like an Isz!

theoryofpractice

amberella wrote: [quote=kosherdave]Some people say the Food Co-op is a cult. I'm not saying that, or that it isn't, but it might be a good idea to read the threads here to form your own opinion, & check it out if they let people do that before becoming members. If you are a member, you have to volunteer there. Personally, I went to graduate school so I would not have to work at a grocery store, but that's just me

The friend I mentioned in my initial post, my first friend that invited me to the Slope (a hilarious electroclash dyke folk guitarist - her words, not mine) was a member of the coop. She told me a little about it (and its popularity/stigma), and I've since avoided mentioning it in this thread at all costs, though I **am** curious. I don't want to set off a fire storm, so I can say that I will at least check it out, since I love me some veggies. But if enough people warn you about something, you know it's either reallllllly awesome ... or not worth your time. I'm gonna have to make that call in due time.

:?:

The Co-op (and its attendant drama) is — as with the whole rest of the Intarweb — less dramatic in real life than on-line.

amberella

doublediamond wrote: I grew up in Kendall, but have lived all over South Florida. I'm familiar with Deerfield and Boca. The majority of my family now lives in Coral Springs.

I went to Coral Springs Middle for a year. Go .... stallions? I think?

doublediamond wrote: Amberella, is your icon from The Maxx? Sure looks like an Isz!

It is an isz! I remembered loving the series so much I finally bought the VHS via amazon a few months ago. I may or may not have digitized it since MTV never saw fit to release a DVD ....

As for the coop - I find it funny that the attitude is a cautious non-attitude ... careful to both not offend and not endorse at the same time. Man, that red kale must be gooood.

doublediamond

amberella wrote: [quote=doublediamond]I grew up in Kendall, but have lived all over South Florida. I'm familiar with Deerfield and Boca. The majority of my family now lives in Coral Springs.

I went to Coral Springs Middle for a year. Go .... stallions? I think?

doublediamond wrote: Amberella, is your icon from The Maxx? Sure looks like an Isz!

It is an isz! I remembered loving the series so much I finally bought the VHS via amazon a few months ago. I may or may not have digitized it since MTV never saw fit to release a DVD ....


I had cousins that went to that school back in the late 80s.

The series is awesome! I too have the VHS that I luckily picked up at a yard sale for a buck when used copies were outrageously going for over $50. I hope MTV releases it on DVD one of these days.

amberella

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help/advice/guidance. I saw a ton of places and picked one I think will be really great for me & the hus (& kitty) in the north slope area. I'm glad I went armed with some unbiased info - those brokers are sharks.

Annnnnd in my [extensive] walks around, I spotted out most of the pool-table locales you all mentioned, so I'll see ya round!

pyros44

If you're just looking for a pool hall, I'm going with 15th and 5th. It's not fancy, but it's basically what you expect when you think "pool hall", the good with the bad.

I personally like it, my roommate and I roll down there every couple weeks for an hour of wondering why we don't play more often and thus continue to be horribly out of practice. There's always an open table, the staff's nice enough, and the hours are great.

vanilla

sweet tea wrote: farmers' market goes all year. granted, there's less stuff in the winter, but still more than you might imagine (apples, root vegetables, bread, etc.).

we go every saturday for milk and veggies.

sweet tea - do they have raw milk at the farmer's market?

sweet tea

it's not raw, but it is unhomogenized, and pasteurized rather than ultra-pasteurized. http://www.ronnybrook.com/site_new/benefits.html

it tastes very nice. also, since it comes in (returnable) glass bottles, it tastes like milk instead of like cardboard of plastic.