please allow me to introduce myself.........

shugabooga

hi everybody, newbie here! i just discovered these message boards yesterday as part of my quest for the perfect apartment in brooklyn and can't resist jumping in! i can't wait to move to BROOKLYN!!!!! i've loved my queens apartment for five years but never loved or even very much liked my neighborhood. it's dull and lifeless!

i'm on a month-to-month lease through June, and start looking at apartments this weekend. i've been scouring craigslist, studying my maps and quizzing everyone i meet about Brooklyn.........any hints or tips about 'hoods, safety, transportation would be of great interest to me. i work mostly nights and leave the city around 11 p.m. so need to consider safety carefully.

oh, here's a place that i've found.....if you know about the 'hood, please let me know: flatbushgardens.net located at 1403 New York Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11210. someone told me this is the kind of neighborhood that can be okay on one block, great on the next, and horrible on the next....

does anybody here ever take classes at Urban Glass? I'm signed up for a glass paperweight class in March and want to take the lampwork beads class as well. the thriving arts scene is probably my main reason for changing boroughs. oh, plus the botanical gardens, museums, prospect park, brownstones, restaurants and vibrant, intelligent, friendly folks. are my expectations out of line? i haven't even been to brooklyn in like two years. i just have a good feeling about it!!!

carnivore

Subject: Re: please allow me to introduce myself.........

shugabooga wrote: oh, here's a place that i've found.....if you know about the 'hood, please let me know: flatbushgardens.net located at 1403 New York Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11210. someone told me this is the kind of neighborhood that can be okay on one block, great on the next, and horrible on the next....

I grew up right near there!
The neighborhood is called Flatbush. You'll be right near Brooklyn College, which is nice, and the Junction (Nostrand and Flatbush) is one of Brooklyn's busiest shopping districts. But there's not too much going on in terms of night life or restaurants around there.
Mass transit is good, with the 2/5 Newkirk stop right there, and the nearby Junction as well as Flatbush and Foster being decent bus hubs. You could also take a 15 minute walk to the Q train at Newkirk and E 16th St. Just a hint: for the morning rush hour, leave about 15-20 minutes early and take the 2/5 back one stop to Flatbush so you can get a seat on the train. Otherwise, it can get pretty packed by the time it gets to Newkirk, even though it's only the second stop.

shugabooga

Thanks for the info! I'll bear it in mind when I visit the building. They have very affordable, nice apartments. I'll just have to do my due diligence (to which you have made a valuable contribution!), weigh all the factors and go from there. Thanks again, and I love your little sock puppet! Who/what is that?

mypasswordwontwork

No you should absolutely not live there IMHO. I'm sure it is affordable, but it is also deep into the 'hood and if you thought Queens lacked the nightlife you are looking for, I doubt the area you referenced will provide anything much better.

caaahyoko

My mother-in-law lives in that complex and has other family there as well. It seems like a pretty standard New York housing complex. I don't get a chance to go too often, but it seems safe enough. There is a citibank and some other basic shopping right outside the train, but, as Carnivore says, I haven't seen much dining or many specialty shops. Good luck with your move!

mypasswordwontwork

You might be able to find something equally affordable in Pro Heights, an area that is still quite hood but has more going for it, more nightlife and is possibly safer.

quijibo

you should also check out the gowanus area
it's cheap, conveniently located, and relatively safe

nomad

Subject: Re: please allow me to introduce myself.........

shugabooga wrote: does anybody here ever take classes at Urban Glass? I'm signed up for a glass paperweight class in March and want to take the lampwork beads class as well.

I've taken many glassblowing classes (tho' no paperweight/bead classes) over the years at Urban Glass, it's my alternative winter hobby - I don't ski/snowboard, but I go indoors and stand by 1000-degree furnaces playing with molten glass.

Anyway, I think Urban Glass is a great place, the people are on the whole friendly and helpful (you do come across the odd artistic diva, but I can understand if they're making great piece of art they're not keen on having a newbie interfering!) and glass is such a fab medium it's hard not to make anything you produce not be a beautiful objet d'art of some description!

mypasswordwontwork

Subject: Re: please allow me to introduce myself.........

nomad wrote: [quote=shugabooga]does anybody here ever take classes at Urban Glass? I'm signed up for a glass paperweight class in March and want to take the lampwork beads class as well.

I've taken many glassblowing classes (tho' no paperweight/bead classes) over the years at Urban Glass, it's my alternative winter hobby - I don't ski/snowboard, but I go indoors and stand by 1000-degree furnaces playing with molten glass.

Anyway, I think Urban Glass is a great place, the people are on the whole friendly and helpful (you do come across the odd artistic diva, but I can understand if they're making great piece of art they're not keen on having a newbie interfering!) and glass is such a fab medium it's hard not to make anything you produce not be a beautiful objet d'art of some description!

That sounds great. Where is it?

shugabooga

Subject: Re: please allow me to introduce myself.........

nomad wrote: [quote=shugabooga]does anybody here ever take classes at Urban Glass? I'm signed up for a glass paperweight class in March and want to take the lampwork beads class as well.

I've taken many glassblowing classes (tho' no paperweight/bead classes) over the years at Urban Glass, it's my alternative winter hobby - I don't ski/snowboard, but I go indoors and stand by 1000-degree furnaces playing with molten glass.

Anyway, I think Urban Glass is a great place, the people are on the whole friendly and helpful (you do come across the odd artistic diva, but I can understand if they're making great piece of art they're not keen on having a newbie interfering!) and glass is such a fab medium it's hard not to make anything you produce not be a beautiful objet d'art of some description!

i'll keep a respectful distance from any and all divas! my paperweight class is for beginners, just thought i'd get my feet wet first and see where it takes me. so glad to hear from someone who loves this kind of stuff! i think i must be headed in the right direction - i'm the only person at my job who gets excited about bringing home the empty Parton 1.75 liter bottle - each one is hand-blown!!!!! everybody's like 'what are you going to do with it?' and i'm like 'look at it!!!!' all i need is to see the sunlight shining through it and i'll be happy!

somebody asked where is urbanglass....it's on Fulton Ave....i haven't been there yet so can't rattle it off the top of my head for ya....website is urbanglass.com.....the class i'm taking is Sunday, Mar. 11, also offered Mar. 10...both days from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., costs $200, you will make 4-5 paperweights to take home with you that day. this covers Mother's Day for me!

nomad

If you are interested in Urban Glass do browse their site (http://urbanglass.org/) and see if anything takes your fancy.

Apparently it's the largest open access glass studio in the country - pretty cool as it's only a short walk away!

I think taking a weekend workshop is a great idea to see if it's your bag - that's what I did originally. A whole 10 week course could end up being a big old waste of $$ if you realize it's not your thing after you've signed up and paid your money.

pitu

a little off topic, but since you know about open glassworks....is there a silk screening studio around here, like the one on the lower east side...?

welcome to the site, shugabooga!

carnivore

shugabooga wrote: Thanks again, and I love your little sock puppet! Who/what is that?

It's a hand-knit llama made of llama wool. I got it in Peru.

nomad

pitu wrote: a little off topic, but since you know about open glassworks....is there a silk screening studio around here, like the one on the lower east side...?

Nope sorry. Don't know about silk screening....

shugabooga

Carnivore wrote: [quote=shugabooga] Thanks again, and I love your little sock puppet! Who/what is that?

It's a hand-knit llama made of llama wool. I got it in Peru.it's got an "awwwwwww" factor of about 1000% !!!! :P

violet

Subject: Glassblowing

Urban Glass is big, and I actually worked there for a while. I like Scanlan Glass better http://www.scanlanglass.com/ . It at 3rd Avenue and 13th street near Park Slope. The jacks may be a bit off sometimes but you won't be nickled and dimed and the glory hole will be hot when you get there.
Kevin Scanlan runs a friendly, reasonable studio. Kevin rents out studio space and he also gives lessons and holds classes (he has some starting in March). I don’t work for Kevin but he’s a really decent guy so I thought I'd mention it… He’s kind’ve quiet but he runs an open, welcoming studio with integrity, and it’s really worth checking out.

It’s not a cheap hobby, but it’s really fun. It’s challenging and physical, teaches acceptance and teamwork and flexibility and perseverance. We had a friend visiting from England earlier this month and he came to watch us blow for a few hours (we go every 2 weeks or so), and our friend ended up making a paperweight from start to finish. It was a lot of fun and he kept talking about it afterwards. It can be a little addictive…

I can’t wait until February 4th (the next time I get to blow). PM me if you’d like any more information. I hope your paperweight class is a lot of fun!