Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with brooklyn

Transportation between Brooklyn and Southold, New York

Shebear — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:44:05 -0800

Next Monday I have to get from Brooklyn to Southold, New York. I can't take the train because it doesn't get in until about noon, which is too late for me to make my meeting. Are there any alternatives, such as buses? Or is there another station I should consider taking a train to, and then taking a cab to Southold? I might also be able to have someone pick me up from someplace that is not too far from Southold, if that is an option. Thanks in advance for the help!

Why are clothing donation boxes proliferating in my neighborhood?

Dr. Wu — Sat, 11 May 2013 08:26:13 -0800

I live in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, and have noticed that, over the past several months, a sizable number of clothing donation boxes have appeared on sidewalks and in little disused nooks of urban space. There are three on my block alone that have sprung up, seemingly overnight, within the last couple months. What's going on? I'm referring to the big, steel boxes -- each about the size of a commercial refrigerator -- that have large levered drop-compartments to accept donations. Most of them are painted or stickered with the name(s) of the charitable organizations that are ostensibly collecting and donating the deposited items.

My question is: Why? Why so many, why at this particular moment, why in this neighborhood? Also: who is behind the placement of these boxes? There's a fair bit of infrastructure needed: the boxes themselves, trucks, cranes, workers, not to mention a system of collecting, sorting, and dealing with the donated materials. This is not just two guys and a van.

I am somewhat suspicious about the "charitable organizations" whose names are on the sides of the boxes, but I can't put my finger on why. Maybe I'm too skeptical, though...

Some data points:
- While I don't remember the names of those charitable organizations, they have struck me more than once as sounding "generic" -- along the lines of "NYC Clothing Charities," e.g.
- I noticed, just this morning, that one of the new boxes had been slapped with a sticker by some branch of the city government. The notice indicated that this particular box had to be removed within 30 days, because such boxes are not permitted on NYC sidewalks. Another small piece of evidence that these things are perhaps a little shady.
- Crown Heights is gentrifying at a pace heretofore unseen in human history. What was until very recently a predominantly middle-aged West Indian neighborhood is transforming unbelievably rapidly into a neighborhood favored by white 20- and 30-somethings. It occurs to me that perhaps this demographic shift has something to do with the proliferation of donation boxes -- the logic being that, since the young white kids turn over their wardrobes pretty often, there's an opportunity to collect and profit from their castoffs. But do donated clothes and shoes really represent a solid revenue stream?

All of this is speculative. I'd like to know more about the "system" behind these boxes, and would be grateful if you could point me to resources where I could learn more.

I'm moving to Crown Heights! Tell me thing about it!

showbiz_liz — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:02:38 -0800

Brooklyn Questions. Late this month, I'm moving into a place at St. John's Place and Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights. I like what I've seen of the neighborhood, but tell me more about it! Just, tell me what's awesome in the area! Anything goes. I don't want to limit responses by getting too specific- I want to know everything about my new neighborhood...

I'm moving from Cobble Hill, so I'm familiar with Brooklyn generally, but I haven't spent a ton of time in Crown Heights so far.

(Yes, I've seen this, but from what I understand the area is changing so rapidly that a two-year-old question might not help me much.)

Where should I live in New York?

naoko — Wed, 01 May 2013 18:41:22 -0800

I'm moving to New York and don't know a lot about neighborhoods. Where should I live? My boyfriend just got a new job, we are moving in together in New York - he is moving in June and I am following some time in the next several months (September-ish?). I currently live in DC (U Street area) and he lives in Cambridge, MA (between Harvard and Central Squares) (we both really like our current neighborhoods a lot, fwiw). His new office is around 5th Ave and 34th Street.

Things we don't care about at all:
- Doorman
- Fancy in-building facilities like a gym. Washer and dryer in the building would be nice but that's about it.
- Shiny perfect new appliances

Things we do care about
- Near a subway stop and a not horribly long commute for him to get to work
- Feels like a "neighborhood" - an area with some personality and character, has affordable bars and restaurants and culture-y things to do (movie theaters? funky bookstores? live music? I don't know exactly, but that sort of thing), and where other young-ish people live (we are both 28). It doesn't have to be the hippest area, just somewhere that's not boring commercial wasteland. Basically we want to give ourselves the best possible shot at falling in love with New York.

Based on the 40xrent=salary rule that I've seen in other threads about NYC apartment hunting, our budget is around $2500 (note: this only takes into account his salary. I am currently in a (low-paid, but paid) internship in DC and do not have a job lined up in New York yet). I don't really have a great idea of what different neighborhoods are like and what that amount of money gets us. My sister (who lives in the West Village) is pretty convinced that what we want is Williamsburg, and from what she says it sounds appealing, but I'd love to hear other opinions. I floated East Village/Lower East Side and she said I might find it a bit on the noisy side but that it might be an option. Other ideas appreciated too! Boyfriend and I are headed to New York this weekend to take a look around and get a better idea of what's what, so any guidance going into that would be much appreciated!

Question Part B:
Since my boyfriend will be moving there several months before me, does it make sense for him to get a sublet until we can move into our real apartment together? Or will the hassle of finding a sublet and moving in and then finding a permanent apartment and then moving again outweigh saving some money by having a smaller place until I get there? I hear so many horror stories about New York apartment hunting that I wonder if the peace of mind and less drawn-out process of only having to find a place once might be worth it. Then again, that puts a lot of pressure on us to find that more permanent apartment really soon. Also, if I can find a job before I move then our budget can be bigger. I've been mentally going around in circles on this and I just don't know.

Help me, a mid-twenties licensed adult in NYC, finally learn to drive!

yaymukund — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 16:55:09 -0800

Help me learn to drive! What's a good driving school or private instructor in NYC for a mid-twenties guy who's never been comfortable driving? I have the next 10-15 days and $500 to get as many hours behind the wheel as possible. A bit of context: I will be traveling to a Ohio for one month where I'll basically need to drive to work daily. My past experiences with driving instructors were both when I was 16 or 17:

1) my dad doing his best to teach me, but I could tell he was nervous/frustrated and it made me nervous/frustrated in turn.

2) a crochety and sort of racist driving instructor who put me on Rt. 70 on my first day because he believed everyone my age learned how to drive while playing Grand Theft Auto. (Hey, buddy, have you even seen anyone play GTA??)

Anyway, I'm nervous and excited. I realize it's very short notice, but I'm also glad to have this opportunity to get over my fear. Thank you!

How to rent an apartment in Brooklyn.

SLC Mom — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:09:43 -0800

My lovely daughter and her friend are graduating from college in May and looking for an apartment in Brooklyn. Initial inquiries into listings (via PadMapper) trigger a response from brokers. Who universally tell her that they have nothing like what she is looking for.
"Well, what about this apartment that you just posted?" "Before I show you anything, I would need to meet with you, explain my role, have you sign paperwork, discuss my fees...."

Seriously, New York? We are Angelenos and this seems really strange to us. OTOH, if that is how it's done in NY, we need to figure it out.

They want to spend $1400 for 2 bedrooms, which may indeed be unrealistic. But there are ads out there so, why can't they see any of them? Must they have a broker? Do they have to sign a contract? Is there an upfront cost, or only if they find something? What if the broker can't find them something? What if they sign a contract then find something on their own?

Any advice, dear hive?

How (on earth) do you do therapy in NYC?

theflash — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:10:01 -0800

How do you handle mental health in NYC- insurance, out of pocket, other options? I just made a huge move to NYC, and now I'm trying to figure out how I can continue in therapy. I have a referral from my last therapist, but when this new person told me the out-of-network fee, I couldn't believe how high it was. More research indicates that a lot of therapists here don't take insurance and most people are paying out of pocket, with very low reimbursement rates. Even if I find someone in-network, my insurance (Aetna) will only cover a small amount that I assume is not the whole fee. A place with a formal sliding scale probably won't consider me in need since my gross income is high (though with loans, my expenses are also quite high and I can't spend $800/month on therapy).

So, MeFites: what do you do? How do you handle the insurance/out of pocket issue? (And if you have recs for someone in Manhattan or Brooklyn who focuses on relational therapy, I'm all ears.)

Help me plan a kitchen renovation in Brooklyn.

(Over) Thinking — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:41:14 -0800

I just bought a 1 bedroom co-op in Brooklyn. I want to gut the kitchen. I have 30k. Is this possible? Can you recommend an architect? Share your story? The kitchen is in terrible shape, and the only thing worth saving is the stove. I definitely need all new everything. I know what I want, but I don't know if it's plausible with my budget. I know how to research material costs, but I have no idea what to expect to spend on labor, permits, the architect's fee, etc. It is not possible for me to DIY anything, so I can't use that as a cost-saving measure.

I also don't know how long anything should take. I close in June, and I'd like to do everything before I move in. Is it realistic to think construction could start in June if I haven't even hired an architect yet?

Have you renovated an apartment in NYC? Could you share what you did, how much it cost, and how long it took?

Can you recommend an architect? I need someone who can work within a budget and is a good designer. I have lots of ideas, but I need someone can translate them into a real space.

Any advice is welcome.

Where can I play table tennis in New York?

Michael Pemulis — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:53:27 -0800

I'm trying to get back into playing table tennis and I live in Brooklyn. I played in college, and while I wasn't good, I played in tournaments, had a rating, and I know basic strokes. I'm looking to get back into it, but I don't know where to start. I'm looking to get better and take it seriously--does that mean I should avoid clubs like Spin and Fat Cat?

It's really tough for me to get to Flushing, for what it's worth.

Am I insane to buy a mk1 Toyota MR2 if I live in NYC without a garage?

nathancaswell — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:09:27 -0800

I live in Brooklyn, sans garage, and have recently gotten it into my head that I want a small used car for occasional driving... I'm talking about the few miles to my office a couple times a week, maybe to the beach on weekends. Perhaps as far as the Jersey shore once or twice a summer. I do not intend or need to use it as a daily commuter. Seems pretty simple, only catch is... I am infatuated with the idea of getting a mk1 Toyota MR2. I am trying to be realistic about this car's reliability. Obviously, we are talking about a 25 year old sports car... my main hang up is I don't have any place to store/work on it when it breaks down (which I'm sure it will). I've heard it can be difficult to find a mechanic that will work on these cars. Are there garages in the city where I can have it worked on without it costing an arm and a leg? Do you have any personal experience on what it's like to deal with owning a classic car in the city without a garage? Am I completely nuts for even considering this?

Evening birthday ideas in Brooklyn?

cheeserk — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:29:14 -0800

What's a good place for a Saturday evening laid back birthday get-together in Brooklyn? My lady friend and I are going to be celebrating our birthdays in Brooklyn in a couple of weeks along with about 10 (give or take a few) friends on a Saturday evening, probably around 8 p.m. I'm not that familiar with the area and am looking for ideas for a place where we can have a few drinks in a fairly laid back setting. An ideal situation would be one in which folks can dress casually and join us at a place with a decent beer selection that isn’t so full it’s only standing room (tricky on a Saturday, I know). Music is good, but we’re not looking for a club setting. We're staying in Park Slope, so some place near there is ideal (but it doesn't have to actually be Park Slope) for the Saturday evening get-together. If there are snacks, that’s also good but it’s not absolute must. Thanks!

NYC-Filter

troika — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 07:50:24 -0800

What's a good place to get together for drinks/snacks around 4:30pm on a Saturday either near the Mid-Manhattan Library or in an easily accessible part of Brooklyn? I am going to have a couple of hours free on an upcoming Saturday afternoon in NYC and would like to just kind of have "office hours" for friends to come by and hang out for a bit. They're pretty scattered around Brooklyn and I have to go to JFK afterwards, so somewhere friendly to both is ideal.

I will be at the Mid-Manhattan Library until 4-ish and have to get to JFK by 8. It's not a ton of time, I know, but I'm hoping to make this work.

Writing spot in Lower Manhattan or upper Brooklyn

eustacescrubb — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:35:15 -0800

When I lived in Chicago, there was a great late-night coffee shop called New Wave Cafe in Logan Square that was perfect for after-work writing. I've been having a hard time finding a similar spot since moving to NYC. It doesn't need to be a coffee shop, but it does need to be well-lit enough that I can read, and calm enough that I won't be seen as preventing the establishment from doing business. Bonus points if the place has a neighborhood-y feel with a friendly staff. I live in Greenpoint, work in SoHo, and usually commute via bicycle over the Williamsburg Bridge. Any suggestions, Metafilter?

Long-term Storage in Brooklyn, NY

traveltheworld — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:17:10 -0800

As I said in my last post, I'm packing up and hitting the road to travel the world for a year. I have a one bedroom apartment full of stuff in Brooklyn Heights, NY that I need to store. I'm going to try to pare down as much as possible, but I have nice furniture that I paid a good amount of money for and like, as well as art and books, much of which I want to keep. Having done some quick searching online, it definitely appears to make sense to store much of my furniture from my cost/benefit point of view, versus buying all new furniture at similar prices to what I previously spent when I get back. I'm looking for climate controlled storage for a large one bedroom worth of stuff, anywhere in the NYC area. Obviously, the farther from Brooklyn Heights, the more it will cost me to move it into storage, so there's a balance to storing near versus far. I'd like something safe, climate controlled, and a reasonable distance from Brooklyn Heights. I'm willing to prepay for the year if that saves money, and I don't plan to need access to any of the stuff during the year but it would be nice to have the option. Any advice? Recommendations? Things I'm not thinking of? Ways to find the best storage spot other than googling and reading (limited) reviews and looking at website? Thanks in advance!

7 Mile Run in Brooklyn/NYC for an Out-of-Towner?

PhatLobley — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:31:18 -0800

I'm visiting NYC next weekend, and I'd like to maintain my habit of running 7 miles every Saturday morning. I'll be staying with a friend near Court and Atlantic, in Brooklyn. I'd like to start my run there, or very close by. I could be talked into taking a short subway ride for a great place to run, but would like to avoid it, for time-saving reasons. I'm a little apprehensive about just taking off and running on city streets for 3.5 miles and then turning around. I'm used to running here in St. Louis, where I usually run in our enormous Forest Park or the surrounding neighborhoods, which are not all that New York-like. Any route suggestions from locals and, better yet, local runners will be much appreciated!

A few specific things you might be able to help with:

-He's pretty near the Brooklyn Bridge. Is it feasible to include it in my route? Seems like running across it would be an iconic experience, but it also might be a dumb tourist pipedream.

-Google Maps doesn't reveal any (big) parks nearby, except maybe the Brooklyn Botanic [sic?] Garden. Can I run in there, or is it like the Botanical Gardens here, i.e. admission-charging, and made for strolling and looking at plants?

-Anywhere I should specifically avoid? I don't want to go traipsing through some neighborhood where everybody who lives there knows running on the sidewalks is a dick move.

-Is there NYC running ettiquette I should know about? Everything is spacious enough here that runners get along pretty well with pedestrians, automobiles, etc. without trying too hard. But I've never run in NYC before, so I'm not sure if there are things I should know.

Thanks!

Pipe dreamin'

showbiz_liz — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:37:15 -0800

A studio or one-bedroom in a desirable* part of Brooklyn for less than $1200/month. Is this even slightly possible anymore? I currently live with roommates, but would love to be able to live by myself. However, I would rather continue to live with roommates than move to a neighborhood I don't like.

*Right now I'm in Cobble Hill, and the parts of Brooklyn I'd like to live in include anything west or north of Prospect Park and south of Williamsburg.

I've checked various apartment listing sites, but there's almost nothing in my price range, and I have no clue which ones are legit. I emailed a couple people from Trulia, but I pretty much expect them to be scams. I have only ever subletted in NYC and I really don't know the best way to go about renting my own place.

Do any apartments in that price range exist anymore? If so, how on Earth do I find them- before someone else does?

NYC with a 2 year old - fun activities?

ryanshepard — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:18:15 -0800

I'll be spending the day with my two year old son in New York (staying in Cobble Hill, probably heading into Manhattan) on Sat. 3/2, and am looking for suggestions for fun, reasonably-priced activities that we can do together. He's in a deep trains, garbage trucks, and construction equipment phase right now, so bonus points for anything that will get him near or into any of them.^*

* The MTA Transit Museum is already being considered as a possibility.

Inspiration, Strike me!

alight — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 10:36:26 -0800

I love to stop and draw when I take walks in New York. I'm inspired by architectural details and monumental perspective, contrasts of space and light. Usually I wander aimlessly until I find an interesting spot to sit with my sketchbook, but that's a bit tougher when it's 20 degrees outside. I'm in the process of setting up weekly sketching adventures with a novice artist friend, and I feel there should be some planning involved. Help me compile a list of potentially inspiring places we can sit and sketch in the city without our fingers freezing off. No real requirements, but the places should be busy enough that we won't be bothered, not so busy that we'll be trampled by a crowd. Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan are all on the table. Past favorites of mine include Grand Army Plaza and the Brooklyn Public Library, the view of the Manhattan skyline and bridges from Williamsburg or Roosevelt island, the steep slopes of Ft Tryon Park, and the leaning architectural quirks of Nancy Whiskey Bar.

So, AskMe, what are some inspiring indoor spaces where my friend and I can draw in NYC?

Taking advantage of the ticket scalpers via proximity

RajahKing — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 10:20:07 -0800

Will onsite ticket sellers (scalpers) give discounts to buyers after a sporting event has begun? I work nearby the new Barclay's Center in Brooklyn. I am not a big basketball fan or arena concert-goer, but I do like attending sports and live events, and recently I have been thinking about how nice it would be to saunter down after work and watch the tail end of a game (or concert). My theory is that if I show up some amount of time after tip-off or showtime, I could get a solid discount on unsold tickets that scalpers are trying to get out of their pockets.

I've purchased tickets right before events from scalpers, but not right at "showtime' (b/c I usually care enough to get in the door before it starts.) But, has anyone ever done taken your sweet time and gotten a discount for it? Or do scalpers leave immediately, or not sell out of principle? If so, is there a sweet spot of time to show up, like 15 minutes, 30 minutes late? Thanks for your thoughts.

I have three days in Brooklyn. What must I absolutely see and do?

lesbiassparrow — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:05:00 -0800

In mid February I will be in Brooklyn for three days. Apart from the Brooklyn Museum what should I absolutely not miss? I am pretty easy to please though I am coming from somewhere with no real museums or decent art galleries, so they're high on my list of things I want to see a lot of. Parks are nice, but not a necessity unless they've got some art/interesting architecture jammed in there somewhere. Good bookstore recommendations are also appreciated. And are there any stand out vegetarian restaurants I should go to in Brooklyn? (I've been to NY before but the only part of Brooklyn I got to was Coney Island, which leaves a lot of it to see and as I only have three days, I really want to concentrate it on Brooklyn.)

Restaurant in Brooklyn for Seven

griphus — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:38:49 -0800

We need a restaurant in Brooklyn in the Downtown/Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens area that will take a reservation for 7 people for brunch this Saturday and has vegan options (but preferably not all-vegan.) Basically I did not realize that Buttermilk Channel requires you to reserve for Saturday brunch a week in advance (srsly?) It is for a v. low-key/casual birthday, so nice but not necessarily nice-nice.

NB: Williamsburg, Bushwick and Greenpoint are non-starters because they are a huge pain in the ass for a few people to get to.

What's the best place to live on a low budget given a life-consuming job in Manhattan near Madison Square Park? And how low can I go both before and after unintelligible-but-critically-important-tax-stuff?

ch3cooh — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 22:50:27 -0800

What's the best place to live on a low budget given a life-consuming job in Manhattan near Madison Square Park? And how low can I go both before and after unintelligible-but-critically-important-tax-stuff? I've lived happily in Boston for two years on $300/month for all expenses beyond rent/utilities/internet. I love to cook, I bake bread, I bike everywhere, and most of the things I do for entertainment are cheep if not free. I really can't see ever spending more than $500/month on food and entertainment. So, I'd ideally like a nice kitchen attached to a shoebox containing a bed, a toilet, and a shower; an 8 minute walk through a garden full of sunflowers from my place of work. That said, I'm actually not married to living in Manhattan; however, a fast commute (ideally less than or around 30 min, certainly less than an hour) is definitely one of my highest priorities.

My prospective job in NY is one that I'm passionate about, but it's going to pay pretty poorly. Actually, the first prong of my question is "At what salary cut off should I turn down (or threaten to reject the offer if the salary isn't higher) the job? I don't care about 'what my time is worth' -- I mean this first question in terms of needing to know a minimum estimate for what I might live comfortably on, either living in or commuting a reasonable distance into the Manhattan area. Also, I honestly don't understand the tax system in NY, so please answer this question with 2 numbers: (1) how much money I'll actually get per month?, and (2) how much the job offer salary would need to be in order to result in that monthly paycheck?

My second question is then, where and how are the best places to look for housing given this circumstance? Where in terms of areas of NY, and how in terms of good sites to use to track down specific housing opportunities.

Any and all help/suggestions/insight appreciated. :)
And thank you so much!

Philly to Brooklyn New Years Eve Masochism Edition

ennui.bz — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:00:27 -0800

Is traffic going to be crazy driving this evening/early night (Dec. 31^st) from Philly to Brooklyn via Staten Island?

Christmas dinner in Brooklyn for a group (7-8) on a budget?

matcha action — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 16:35:31 -0800

Help me find a restaurant for Christmas dinner in Brooklyn for a group (7-8) on a budget? My family is coming into New York for the Christmas holiday. I don't have room to seat 7-8 (I don't even have a dining room table) for dinner so I am looking at restaurants for dinner on Christmas day. I know it's a long shot but would prefer to keep it under $30-$40 per person (before tax/tip/alcohol). To add another wrinkle, there are 2 vegetarians in the group, so I'm looking for a place with a vegetarian option. Brooklyn is preferred but we would be willing to travel to Manhattan. I would prefer somewhere 'traditional' (turkey and sides, served family style would be perfect) but we are open to Chinese food or anything else. I would like it to be somewhere I can make a reservation.

Any suggestions would be extremely appreciated!

Not quite ready for the land of artisanal snausages

Inspector.Gadget — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:21:27 -0800

Am I making a mistake in my choice of NYC neighborhood? Details within for your much-appreciated sanity check and suggestions. I'm on the cusp of my late 20s and have a great job at a big, stable company. I make about $80K annually (with ridiculously good benefits and perks) and have a minor amount of investment income.

My commute takes me to Exchange Place in Jersey City at least 4, and usually 5, days per week - my office is almost on top of the PATH station. Thus, getting to the World Trade Center area with relative ease and in under say 45 minutes is important for me. I will also be traveling to East Midtown relatively often (4-5x per month) at rush hours.

I'd like to live somewhere with easy access to good grocery stores, one or more dry cleaners and drugstores, and a reasonably good selection of sit-down, delivery and take-out restaurant options (including cheap ethnic food). Other cultural things are nice but not mandatory (because I can always get there via subway); large green spaces are a BIG plus.

I'm looking to spend around $1300 a month on a 1-bedroom apartment in a reasonably quiet area with relatively good quality of life (nobody bothering me on my walk to the subway or blaring music at 2 AM). I can afford to spend more, but am not really interested in spending more on housing in which I'll have no equity.

Right now I'm strongly considering and in-process with a medium-sized medium-fit-and-finish 1BR in Kensington (at E 7th and Beverly), which is in my price range and close enough to Cortelyou Road and some good food options. The Q-to-4/5-to-PATH commute via Atlantic Ave or Union Square transfers could be better, but I estimate about an hour door to door.

I'm not sure in my price range that I can afford a nice place in Brooklyn that's less of a hassle and has the right mix of amenities, location, etc. I had considered the far UES and East Harlem but I think there I'm either out of a decent-sized space (UES border) or out of quality of life (East Harlem near 125th). I've seen Washington Heights and Hamilton Heights and was not impressed even though the commute would be great. Additionally, Jersey City seems to be an odd mix of extremely pricey apartments and shitty spaces/difficult transit to NYC, and Hoboken is going to be dysfunctional for a while after Sandy and I have the usual New York spit-take reaction when anyone suggests it (on the basis of zero evidence, mind).

I'm wondering whether I am making a huge mistake by not concentrating my search in Astoria - the prices seem to be a bit higher and the space a bit smaller, but the amenities and commute time seem to be slightly better. What are my options for $1250-$1400 up there?

Additionally, I'd be interested to hear your experiences in Kensington and surrounding areas - based on the above, will I like it there?

How are the Kings County Hospital area and the area up around Franklin Ave and Union? I was somewhat put off by the low-quality-commercial and residential mix up there but maybe I'm looking in the wrong areas.

Lastly, if I've made a total hash of things and you can fix it with a more thorough suggestion, I would welcome that too.