Help me get to know Park Slope.

March 30, 2008 8:44 AM

Help me get to know Park Slope.

Months after this question, I have settled in Park Slope, on 8th Ave. and 4th St. So far I really like it, but I've only been here a couple of days.

Help me make sure I don't miss out on the good stuff.

Some starters:

Is it all about 5th Ave. and 7th Ave., or is there more?
How far are 5th and 7th Aves. worth exploring in each direction?
Which gym should I join?
Where is the best brunch?
Where is the brunch with the shortest wait?
If I'm just back from work, and want to get a bite to eat by myself in the neighborhood, where might I typically go?
Other than Manhattan, what are the places I can get to easily on the train that are worth going to? Other parts of Brooklyn, mainly.
Where should I shop for vintage furniture?
What coffee shops should I go to, to hang out and read?
Where are the good movie theaters (not just in Park Slope itself, but nearby)?
Which Park Slope or Brooklyn-related papers or blogs should I be reading?

I am capable of Googling, and I am doing so, but I would like personal recs based on actual experience from people who are responding to me specifically.

posted by bingo to society & culture (12 comments total)

For a great beer or snack, I recommend the newly opened Beer Table.
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 8:57 AM on March 30, 2008

Lots of good restaurants in Bayridge - if you don't mind riding the R train. Bayridge is also home to a fantastic concrete skate park - in Owl's Head Park, on Colonial Road between 68th Street and Wakeman Place - if that sort of thing interests you. And should you ever need fine jewelry, The Clay Pot is right around the corner from you - 1st and 7th.
posted by blaneyphoto at 9:06 AM on March 30, 2008

Join the Park Slope Food Coop and be healthy for the rest of your days :) But really though, they carry a portion of what whole foods has, for half the price in some cases. Lots of organic produce, lots of nuts, cheeses, butter, it's really a great amazing place.
posted by saxamo at 9:20 AM on March 30, 2008

My favorite brunch is at Cafe Steinhof, around 14th St on 7th Av. Usually a reasonable wait. And the cafeteria at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has amazingly good food (though not explicitly brunchy).

Take the F train to Coney Island, end of the line.
posted by moonmilk at 10:25 AM on March 30, 2008

i moved away about two years ago, but i would say 5th and 7th are good starting places. there is something worthwhile on almost every block between flatbush and 15th or 16th street, with the bulk of the joy happening between, say, flatbush and 9th streets.

i joined the gym at 5th and union, in the old bank (i forget what it's called). it's basic and cheap. there are fancier options closer to you, as well as the Y.

as for quick pickup dinners, there are hundreds. a good idea might be to take a long loop on a sunny day up and down 5th and 7th between, say, union and 9th and just collect takeout/delivery menus from every place you see. that way you can go through them at home at your leisure, as well as have a nice library for a lazy day.

i don't know how good the deals are, but you might check out the flea market at the elementary school on 7th avenue (i think around 1st street?). also, there's a nicely curated antique shop on 6th avenue and bergen, i think, just past flatbush.

the tea lounge on union between 6th and 7th aves is great, but full of parents and babies. you might prefer ozzie's on 7th, or the tea lounge at 7th and 10th street.

i loved the theaters at BAM (brooklyn academy of music). it's up in fort greene, a long walk or short bus away. there's always something arty and good there. no stupid blockbusters.
posted by thinkingwoman at 10:25 AM on March 30, 2008

Brunch: Applewood, located on 11th between 7th/8th Aves., serves a fine brunch, particularly if you enjoy thick slices of bacon.

After-work Dinner: Flatbush Farm, located at the intersection of St. Marks/Flatbush/6th Ave., has hearty yet interesting food, and is a great place to have a meal at the bar on your own.

Coffee: Gorilla Coffee, on Park Place at 5th Ave., has by far the best coffee in the neighborhood, and it's a decent place to sit and read/work (although it can get very crowded).

Blogs: Brooklynian and Gowanus Lounge may be of interest.
posted by brain_drain at 11:31 AM on March 30, 2008

Is it all about 5th Ave. and 7th Ave., or is there more?

No, it is really mostly 5th and 7th, but there are some interesting restaurants on the non-avenue streets.

How far are 5th and 7th Aves. worth exploring in each direction?

I would say up to 15th on both. But again, there are some interesting places further on.

Where is the best brunch?

Applewood, Sette and Alchemy are my favorites.

Where is the brunch with the shortest wait?

Most don't have a wait. It is only fairly expensive popular places like Applewood where you might wait.

If I'm just back from work, and want to get a bite to eat by myself in the neighborhood, where might I typically go?

Across the street from me at Press 195 on 5th. Tomato and Basil on 5th and Union. Or just order in, most places deliver.

Other than Manhattan, what are the places I can get to easily on the train that are worth going to? Other parts of Brooklyn, mainly.

You can take the G to Williamsburg.

What coffee shops should I go to, to hang out and read?

Guerrilla, but it is usually busy. Ozzies and Tea Lounge.

Where are the good movie theaters (not just in Park Slope itself, but nearby)?

Pavillion is a regular movie theater. Cobble Hill Cinemas is mostly an art house theater. But the best is BAM which is an art house and repertory theater.
posted by Falconetti at 11:47 AM on March 30, 2008

Check out Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn.
posted by np312 at 12:02 PM on March 30, 2008

I live in nearby Brooklyn Heights, an easy trip on the R. Come see the awesome Brooklyn Promenade, buy the best olives in the world (plus lots of other great stuff) at Sahadi's, and you can go to the multiplex on Court Street (although its a madhouse, good only for movies you don't mind people talking through). To the south is Cobble Hill with the great restaurant row on Smith Street and lots more. Welcome to Brooklyn.
posted by Bookhouse at 12:07 PM on March 30, 2008

It should be mentioned that Cobble Hill Cinemas has $6.50 tickets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as for the first showing on Weekends. The Pavillion, on Prospect Park West is owned by the same folks (I think), and usually has the more mainstream first-runs. I don't think they have the cheap tickets, though.

Nthing Gorilla, it is certainly my favorite coffee shop in all of NYC-- & they play good music loud enough that it tends to be less overrun by children than the other coffee shops in the area. Nearby Heights Coffee (on Flatbush at 7th) and Cocoa Bar (7th ave at about 3rd st.) are also nice. A bit of a different vibe than Ozzies and Tea Lounge.

It's always fun, and sometimes scary, to check out the Brooklyn Paper's website.

Check out the Farmer's Market at Grand Army Plaza on Saturday mornings. Then maybe head over to PS 321 (7th at 1st st) for the flea market if you're looking for furniture (also on Sundays). Sometimes there's some good stuff.

Belleville (5th and 5th) has a great not-so-cheap brunch, Calexico (5th ave and Prospect Pl) has a great cheap Mexican breakfast.

Take the Q to Coney Island-- the rides opened last week! Stop at DiFara Pizza on the way.
posted by activitystory at 1:05 PM on March 30, 2008

Good brunches include Applewood and Stone Park Cafe.

For your vintage furniture shopping, there are lots of places in Boerum Hill on Atlantic Ave between Smith Street and 3rd Ave. Also lots of cute shopping on Smith. Take the F to Bergen Street.
posted by Shebear at 1:48 PM on March 30, 2008

For brunch, I like Bar Totoon 6th Ave and 11th Street.
Coffee shop: the Red Horse on 6th ave and 12th Street.
Seconding Steinhof, for restaurants...
And for vintage furniture, Repop in Fort Greene-- I think the closest train is the G to Clinton/Washington.
posted by cait212 at 8:43 PM on March 30, 2008