Neighborhood Watch: Park Slope

Babies and brownstones: These are typically the first images that come to mind when one mentions Park Slope. But moving beyond the obvious you’ll find a thriving neighborhood with no shortage of bars, restaurants, bakeries, and bookstores–not to mention being in walking distance of the stunning Prospect Park. For a little behind the scenes info on the ins and outs of Park Slope, we spoke to the snark-masters at Fucked in Park Slope about their small, but potent, neighborhood.

How many of the FIPS crew are Park Slope natives?

None of us are BK natives. Benjamin is from the UWS, Erica is from lawng guy-land and Greg hails from the blustery shores of NJ. But, for better or worse, we all now call Park Slope home [insert whimsical sigh]

A few months ago I was at a media party with some friends where I met an aspiring lawyer who grew up in Brooklyn all her life–in Park Slope, specifically. Somehow this lifelong Brooklynite–who touted the greatness of her borough–had never heard of Lincoln, Dewey, or Midwood High schools, where several of us attended in our teen years. Is this bubble-like existence common for Park Slope residents?

Well, probably, but I gotta say: I don’t think this is unique to Park Slope. I think we’re all busy…and stressed…and addicted to our laptops…and comfortable with our routines. And, as a result, I think most peeps probably don’t explore their nabes as much as they’d like to. I mean, we live in N. Slope and there are a shitload of restaurants/bars/stores, etc that I just never haul my ass over to because I’m lazy. So if we’re not out there exploring our own nabes, you can bet your ass I don’t know the first thing about the best pizza place in Midwood or the alterna-Target at the end of the 2/3 line.

The FIPS crew claims that its members aren’t vegans, members of the food co-op, locavores, or, generally, crunch-chewy types. How come the angry villagers haven’t stormed your brownstone and tossed you into Sunset Park?

Au contraire…we’ve had (and continue to have) our share of “angry villagers.” Thankfully, we’ve never printed any of our addresses anywhere, so I think we’re safe (for the time being) from any neighborhood sieges. However, we do get our fare share of incensed commenters who mostly tell us: we suck, we’re stupid, we’re whiny, we suck and we suck. Luckily, its seems like the FIPS love is way more free flowin than the FIPS hate so far.

A number of New Yorkers hate on Park Slope for being the den of the modern yuppie, cultivating a suburban blandness, or being massively overpriced. How much are these criticisms warranted vs. simple jealously?

Uhm…these criticisms are mostly pretty well warranted, though I take issue with the “suburban blandness” comment. You ever been to NJ?? Park Slope might be the “suburbs” of Manhattan, but its pretty wildly different from your average mind numbing suburb. There are def a shitload of yuppies here, or SILTHS (Slopers I’d Like To Hurt) as we like to call em, but also that’s cause this IS a pretty kick ass neighborhood. I mean, its beautiful here, and we have great restaurants and shops and bars and a gorgeous mini-Central Park. So, yeah…we think there might be a teeny bit of jealousy too.

Are there Park Slope traits that the rest of Brooklyn should adopt and vice versa?

For better or for worse (and sometimes, it IS for worse…but mostly its for better) we do think the sense of community in Park Slope is pretty amazing. Also, people just leave stuff they don’t want out on the street for you to take! Like cool books…and old records. That’s something we think more people should do in all parts of Brooklyn and Manhattan: leave cool stuff we can have on the street!

A friend of a friend once commented that Astoria is the Park Slope of Queens. Your thoughts.

We’d tend to agree – the objective structural parallels are undeniable: both places have been invaded by yuppies and are latte oasises surrounded by disenfranchised natives.

What’s your take on Ditmas Park, specifically the main shopping strip on Cortelyou? Between The Farm on Adderly, Vox Pop, Sycamore, and MiMis, there are whispers that Cortelyou is becoming the new 7th Ave. Have you checked out the area?

No clue. We’re SILTH’s…whaddyou expect? We’ve literally never set foot on the other side of the park. Benjamin drove around in a zipcar once, and kept the doors locked and the windows rolled up. Apparently he missed the strip of gentrification you’re referring to.

Which subway lines cut through your neighborhood? Do you have a preference for one above others?

My jam is the Q 7th ave stop mostly. Sometimes I hit up the 2/3 GAP stop to mix it up. I have a love/hate with the Q because its always packed and I never get a seat…but its mostly pretty reliable and very fast. Benjamin hits up the F. The R/M and also roll through, but nobody on our crew rides em much.

How much for a 1BR? Have rental prices fallen given the sorry state of the economy?

Well, we own now, so I have no clue. Back before the recesh, one of us was paying $2600 for a fairly big 1bdr with a backyard and a washer/dryer…its prob way cheaper now.

Park Slope seems to have birthed or attracted many creative types–what is it about the area that fosters or draws this star power?

Lots of free internet coffee shop options? Once again, this phenomenon can be traced back to economics: It all started because artists are poor and couldn’t afford Manhattan. Simultaneously, they were too white and scared to live in deeper cheaper Brooklyn, so Park Slope’s artist population surged.

Every neighborhood has a hidden gem or two that only the residents are truly familiar with–what’s Park Slope’s?

Well, its not *that* hidden, but 7th Ave Donuts is always on our list. Best donuts we’ve ever had in our life, bar none. AND super duper cheap. Blue Apron is a great little gourmet shop on Union and 7th that sells English/European chocolate (both Benjamin and I are obsessed with chunky kit kats…and they don’t sell them in a lot of places in this country). Save on Fifth should also not be missed. It’s this awesome, cheap, home goods store on 8th street and 5th ave. Trust me: if you ever move to Park Slope, you will be hittin up this place on move-in day.

A Crash Course In Free Wi-Fi Etiquette

As a writer, universal, free public Wi-Fi is the dream that I hope is made manifest within my lifetime, but until that day comes, cafes make for a fine option for connecting to the web to fetch information for stories, check e-mail, and chat with friends. From the looks of things at my local coffee house, Vox Pop, and similar spots throughout the five boroughs, you concur: you can’t walk into a cafe without seeing at least one Apple or Dell logo. The prospect of free internet gathers both the diversion-seeker and workaholic.

That said, there is a strict code of conduct that must be adhered to while going about your business. Although many of the following suggestions are followed to the letter by the vast majority of coffee house Wi-Fi users, there’s always that one funky monkey that manages to ruin the party for the do-gooders. For s/he we’ve assembled this list of tips to make the experience pain-free for all parties involved.

Don’t Be A Free Wi-Fi Mooch
Is there really such a mystical energy known as free Wi-Fi? In a nutshell, no–unless Nikola Tesla manages to work his eccentric magic from beyond the grave. If your local cafe has the courtesy of serving up unrestricted internet access to its patrons, that 802.11 signal that you’re hopping on in order to check e-mail or Wikipedia is coming from a router attached to a cable, DSL, or some other information pipe; a pipe that costs a pretty penny per month to maintain. So if your goal is to get out of the apartment and take in a Hulu movie marathon at the neighborhood coffee joint, and you don’t have any intention of buying anything, you’ve crossed over from the realm of human being into that of the Wi-Fi Mooch.

It goes without saying that some will shout “Well, if they didn’t want me on their signal, they’d secure it.” Very true, I’d retort, but with this addition: most businesses give you access to their signals in the unspoken hope that you’d purchase a small item or three during your session (except for Starbucks–expensive coffee and paid Wi-Fi? WTF!). Thanks to mooches, establishments sometimes post signs requesting that you make purchase per hour. Order a snack, drink, or drop a dollar into the Wi-Fi pot, leech.

Don’t Be A Bandwidth Hog
The absolute last thing that fellow web-surfers and the ownership needs is for someone to BitTorrent the entire run of House. Why? All of that cascading data can create a virtual traffic jam that slows down the Web experience for your fellow surfers. Former senator Ted Stevens can explain far more eloquently than I.

The Coffee Shop Is Not Your Office
This is one of the most overlooked, yet vital, tips to remember. Simply because you can work from your favorite cafe seat, doesn’t mean that you can transform the area into your personal workspace. I’m not talking about miscellaneous books or magazines, I’m talking about hardware. If you complement your notebook or netbook with a monitor, scanner, external mic, speakers, or other gear, you’ve officially crossed the line from mobile professional to become a person that should be banned from any coffee house’s premises. In short, don’t be this guy.

Last-Minute NYE Plans!

Vox Pop, a favorite Brooklyn coffee shop/bar/printing press, is hosting a NYE party for those of you who loathe cover charges and annoying idiots in sparkly party glasses. Read more

Game Night at Vox Pop

Each and every Tuesday night, Vox Pop,  a Brooklyn-based “coffee-house, a bookstore and a publishing company” offers a fun and relaxed evening filled with cheap beers and board games.  If you’re sick of the typical over-hyped bar scene, but drinking alone makes you sad, you should come check this out.  With $10 beer pitchers and an evening packed intense games of Scrabble and Hungry Hungry Hippos, you really can’t go wrong. Read more

Neighborhood Watch: Ditmas Park

In our first two installments of Neighborhood Watch, we took a look at the massive, brownstone-laden Bed-Stuy, an area of Brooklyn in a decided state of flux and Midwood, a low-key suburban hood. Now we turn our attentions to Ditmas Park, one of the three Flatbush historic districts that feature beautiful Victorian houses and a low-key, family-friendly vibe. We spoke with Ben and Liena of Ditmas Park Blog for their takes on one of Brooklyn’s best-kept secrets, and how it is also in a state of change.

How long have lived in Ditmas Park, and what attracted you to the neighborhood?
The relatively low prices, and friendly, diverse community.

What is the typical rent for a studio, 1 Bedroom, or 2 Bedroom apartment in Ditmas Park?
A studio roughly $1,000; 1 bedroom $1,500; 2 bedroom $1,800. But you can get these for less.

What are some of the local amenities?
It’s got a handful of really great restaurants, ranging from contemporary American to authentic Tibetan. It has two great coffee shops, Vox Pop and Connecticut Muffin. There are some amenities still missing from Cortelyou Road, like a bank. And we could use some more traffic lights.

[Ed.'s Note: We checked out the newly opened bar, Sycamore last weekend and had brunch at the neighborhood favorite, The Farm on Adderley - both excellent spots to check out]

Is there anything unique to Ditmas Park that other New Yorkers may not be aware of?
The Victorian houses are really unique, and the side streets are beautiful.

New York City is all about the mass transit. Do Ditmas Park residents have easy access to subways?
Yep, the Q is fast and convenient, as is the B.

Ditmas Park is a relatively small neighborhood. Because of that, is there a close knit community?
Friendlier than any other neighborhood we’ve ever lived in.

The New York Observer recently had an article about how the Q train has the potential to become the next L. Do you have any fears that the same hipster crowd that transformed Williamsburg will begin marching inwards? Or do you welcome to possible new faces?
I mean, we’ve only been here three years — we’re in no position to grumble. I think it’s a different crowd, though. People move out here when they’re priced out of Park Slope and want to have kids.

Do you think Cortelyou Rd is, or already has become, the new 7th Avenue?
I hope not! It’s mellower, and the restaurants are fewer, but better.