Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with newyork and brooklyn

Who painted this door?

boots — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:12:59 -0800

Is this street art in Brooklyn by Swoon? If not, can anyone identify the artist?

Restaurants in Brooklyn Open on Xmas?

Falconetti — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:36:45 -0800

My family is staying with me in Brooklyn this year for Christmas. If we don't murder each other before Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, does anyone have any recommendations for good restaurants that are open on Christmas Day in Brooklyn? For Christmas Eve, we were thinking about cooking at home but also ordering in, so any recommendations for that (I live in North Park Slope, so it would have to be somewhere close by)?

Get me outta here!

The Straightener — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:16:40 -0800

Escape from New York! (By car during the New York Marathon.) What time of day would be optimal to leave Williamsburg, Brooklyn by car tomorrow to get to the Jersey Turnpike without committing suicide after hours stranded in gridlocked traffic?

What to follow on Twitter

greta simone — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:04:22 -0800

NYCtwitterfilter: Recommendations for NYC/Brooklyn related things to follow on Twitter. I finally joined twitter only after it took me some time (and many AskMeFi threads) to realize that I don’t need to use it for ‘social networking’ but can use it to keep up with fun finds in and around the city. I’m still a little slow on the uptake though, and need help with finding things to follow. What I’m interested in following:

-Food trucks
-Sales (for already affordable clothing/home/music/online stores, not Barney’s etc, because even things on sale there are too expensive)
-Free/cheap events (movies, festivals, shows, readings, etc)
-Music (shows, bands, clubs, etc)
-Other free/cheap/fun stuff (drink specials, food promotions [ie Free ice cream cones, etc], flea markets, farmers markets)
-Any other recommendations you might have.

I’m mostly just interested in being able to sign in at 4:00 on a Friday to look and see what I can get into for the weekend.

I just moved to the area, will be living in Brooklyn shortly, mid-twenties female with average indie leanings of music, movies, books, style. I should emphasize that I have very little expendable income (social worker), so I’m interested in things that are cheap.

Thanks!

Is there a way to speed up the construction of the house next to mine?

hellbient — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:30:34 -0800

Is there a way to speed up the construction of the house next to mine? The city-owned house next to mine (attached) has been under construction for over a year. The contracting company is apparently notorious for these long affairs, and judging from the other houses in the neighborhood that have their signage, there's no end in site. And the property is getting worse - every week there's more trash in front and on the side of it, windows are getting broken and the plywood covering some of the windows is slowly coming undone. I'm calling the company (and 311) as much as possible to complain about rats, open doors, racoons, etc. to try to set a precedent, but I'm not sure it's going anywhere. The house goes for weeks/months without ever being worked on. I need it finished before a crackhead sets it on fire (which would take my house with it), and so I can get some new awesome neighbors. Plans/schemes to get the ball rolling? I'm in Brooklyn.

I love Brooklyn in the summertime

Viola — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:07:17 -0800

I have a question similar to these two timely threads about what to do in NYC, but with a Brooklyn twist. My family is coming mainly to see yours truly, and we've decided to kick it mainly in my hood, Brooklyn. What should we do? My lovely family is visiting me from Thursday morning until Sunday afternoon, and we'll be located in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn. Mom and step-dad honeymooned in Manhattan a bajillion years ago and haven't been back since, while my 16 year-old sister has never visited. Here's the deal: they operate at a Southern pace. They don't like rude people or crowds or loud noises and they really don't like walking more than a few blocks. They've expressed a profound lack of interest in museums and Times Square--I usually see them once a year, so the trip is mainly to hang out as a family. As a die-hard Brooklyner who stays out of Manhattan unless absolutely necessary, I wouldn't mind taking advantage of the more laid-back borough and just walk around some pretty neighborhoods.

I got the parents tickets to see Billy Elliot on Saturday while I take my sister to see Animal Collective at Prospect Park, and we're all going to the Brooklyn Flea market as well. For restaurants, we'll probably go to Grimaldi's, Lucali, and the Vinegar Hill House for brunch. That's all I have planned before my mind draws a blank.

Where else should I take an out-of-town family for a Brooklyn-filled weekend? Bonus points for really low-key itineraries like, "take them to X neighborhood, walk around the brownstones/park/gardens, visit neat stores on Y street, eat at fabulous Z restaurant."

As for money, I saved them a boatload by hooking them up with a free loft for the vacation, but that doesn't mean we'll be dining at the Brooklyn equivalent to Per Se.

Bushwick, Brooklyn - Emerging Neighborhood or Pure Hype / Lies??

Julnyes — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:48:14 -0800

Moving within Brooklyn - Should I consider Bushwick as a potential neighborhood? So my sister’s and I have started to look on Craigslist for apartments (previous) and we have some questions. We would like to hear from people who currently live in or recently moved out of the following neighborhoods – Bushwick, Bed-Stuy and East Williamsburg.

We see a lot of listing for these neighborhoods with excellent rental prices and ample square footage, but these neighborhoods are completely unknown to us and we don’t want to jump in to a rental contract blind.

Currently two of us live in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn and one of us lives in The South Bronx. We would like our neighborhood to be on par with Clinton Hill / Fort Greene or better.

So if you know these neighborhoods as they currently are, please give me your opinions on amenities, safety, transportation hassles, etc.

Good stuff in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn?

D.Billy — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 06:37:26 -0800

Moving to Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, a couple of blocks northeast of Grand Army Plaza. We're already excited about being near the Brooklyn Museum, the Library, and Prospect Park... but we're looking for neighborhood tips on the little things: good cheap food and drink, best grocery, best coffee, least shady laundromat, what to check out, what to avoid, et cetera. Help us out!

Seeking Brooklyn-based catering recommendations

juliplease — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:12:55 -0800

What caterers in the Brooklyn area would you recommend to deliver BBQ/picnic food for ~75 people in Prospect Park on a Saturday afternoon in September?

Brooklyn neighborhood with easy access to Columbus Circle?

shivohum — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 08:59:29 -0800

I'm a neighborhood(s) in Brooklyn with: a) very fast, easy subway access to Columbus Circle, b) pretty good transport to the Village and to the rest of Manhattan in general, and c) great cheap food nearby. What am I?

Help me figure out this Mystery Roe

qvtqht — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:54:46 -0800

A few weeks ago, I ate a strange sushi made with a large black roe. Does anyone know what it is? A friend was at a Japanese restaurant in Brooklyn and picked up an order for me too. Among other things, I asked for a piece of salmon roe sushi.

They said that they were out of salmon roe, but they have _____, and it was just delivered, so it is really fresh, and would be a good substitute.

_____ turned out to be something very dark, if not black. It looked a little bigger than any salmon roe I've seen. It tasted similar to salmon roe, but sweeter. It seemed very fresh indeed. There was no fishy taste at all, but fresh salmon roe doesn't have a fishy taste either.

It did not look dyed, but I could be wrong about that.

Has anyone encountered anything like this? Any idea what it was? I liked it, and wouldn't mind eating some more in the future.

Finding the elusive, decent Brooklyn apartment?

condorman — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 15:15:04 -0800

How do you find a better-than-decent apartment in Brooklyn without having to spend two weeks working on it full-time, and without paying a ridiculous broker's fee? So I've been in an Upper West Side sublet for about 3 months now and its time to move. A friend of mine is moving in to town and we are looking for a 2Br in Brooklyn for around $1600-$1800 to move-in Sep. 1st. I know there have been previous posts about apartment hunting in Brooklyn, but times are changing and new neighborhoods are popping up. I have tried going to a realtor but they are consistently showing me dark, cramped spaces in neighborhoods I feel scared to walk through.

i also try Craiglist, but I end up spending way too much time searching online, then even more time travelling to brooklyn, and even more time trying to find the place when i get there. I've heard apartment hunting in NY is hell, and now i'm knee-deep. HELP?

Does my yoga mat match my yoga pants?

liketitanic — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:43:31 -0800

Quick, a good ashtanga or hatha class (meaning fairly vigorous, Level 1/2 or 2?) in New York City, around the Upper West Side . . . or Chelsea . . . or the East Village . . . or Williamsburg, Brooklyn? Around those environs for a couple weeks and need some yoga. Varied class schedules would be great. Light on the YOGA TRENDINESS would also be good.

Girls don't want to have fun?

Viola — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 11:30:19 -0800

Why are there so few lesbian bars in the NYC/Brooklyn area when compared to the high number of gay bars? Obviously NYC is no San Francisco or West Hollywood when it comes to bars for gay women. I know about Park Slope outposts like Cattyshack and Ginger's, but when you look at NYC's seemingly countless roster of gay clubs, gay bars, gay beer gardens, gay burger joints, it seems more than incongruous. I realize that lesbians aren't as well-known for the partying lifestyle as their male counterparts, but they can't all be at home fending off lesbian bed-death, right?

Help me choose an apartment

sondrialiac — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:20:14 -0800

I am headed to law school in Brooklyn with a full ride and a great housing offer-- subsidized housing for 3 years. My partner and I can pick between two apartments, but we can't decide which we should take. One Bedroom
$1500/month
300 square feet
All but electricity included
Gorgeous historic brownstone building on beautiful residential street (Brooklyn Heights, trees, the works)
2nd floor of a 5 story walk-up
Laundry in basement
No A/C

Two Bedroom
$2040 a month
500 square feet
No utilities included
Great location, steps from subway and school, not particularly attractive street (bland, commercial, Downtown Brooklyn)
11th floor of an elevator building, GREAT view, Statue of Liberty, etc.
Laundry in basement
Central A/C

What would you do? Why? What factors should I be considering here? I can't view the actual apartments.

Thank you for any insight, opinions, anything that will help me brainstorm.

Should I be a hog butcher of the world?

zoomorphic — Fri, 09 May 2008 08:11:32 -0800

Will I go crazy if I move from New York to Chicago? Before any eagle-eyed MeFites start ringing the “repeat” bell, bear with me: Earlier I asked about leaving New York despite the inevitable blow to my magazine career, and most of you sensibly told me to stay put for five (!) or ten years (!!) and build up my portfolio. Thing is, I’m not all that stoked about living here, and staying in a city I’m only ‘meh’ about feels like a waste of time and youth. This question isn't about my job (I'm aware of the inherent professional risks of moving), but about my lifestyle.

I live in Brooklyn, work in Manhattan, but I long for a big city life with a more laid-back pace. I'm familiar with Chicago from growing up in the Midwest and visiting after college, but have never lived there. Maybe I’m pinning too many expectations on a city when I just want out of NYC, but I get the impression that Chicago is a home while New York is just a superconductor always shuttling me up one invisible ladder to the bottom rung of the next. But, of course, I've got my doubts: what if I move to Chicago and get… bored? No one can answer that question but me, but I’d like your input.

What I like about New York:

-affordable, reliable transportation: I don’t drive, probably never will again.

-culture: book readings, museums, public lectures, etc

-well-read, liberal people

-efficiency: I walk fast, talk fast, and act like I’m 5 minutes late to everything (that’s not New York, just me). However, I’d prefer a city that doesn’t encourage me to be a self-important ass who hustles you to the slow side of the stairs if you’re not walking fast enough.

-Brooklyn: love the neighborhoods, love the bike-friendliness, love the bars, parks, and the staggering diversity.

What I dislike about New York:

-high rents: I’d rather live in a tiny studio on my own than with two roommates with various quirky psychoses. I want very badly to have my own place, and I fear I’ll never be able to afford one here with the astronomic rents.

-I make the New York sacrifice of spending waaaay too much money on rent and time at my job to get the big, slobbery dog of my dreams. I want a dog the way other women want babies.

-obsession with money, beauty, and power: I really try not to care, but I am haunted by a paranoia of not being pretty enough, thin enough, successful enough (I haven’t published a book at 24!), etc. As a pretty, somewhat successful, educated, formerly ball-busting girl, this annoys me.

-the weather: New York had snow, like, twice, and once it melted off the sidewalks after 3 hours. My Welsh/Ohio blood craves the bitter cold, not the chilly rains, people!

-transience: my friends pick up and leave at the drop of a hat. No one is here for good, including me, apparently.

Am I taking New York's culture for granted, or underestimating Chicago? Insights from New Yorkers, Chicagoans, and anyone in between are very welcome.

Help me get back in shape.

Mavri — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 08:16:00 -0800

Can you recommend a gym and/or personal trainer for an overweight, out of shape girl in Brooklyn? I used to be in great shape, but not anymore! My two big problems with getting back to exercising are motivation and intimidation. I was thinking that having a personal trainer would help with the motivation problem. But, looking at a couple of prior AskMe's, people say the best way to find a personal trainer is to talk to the ones at your gym. Which leads into my second problem--intimidation. The thought of being the fat girl in the gym is very intimidating to me. I know I'd still be the fat girl in the gym if I were there with a personal trainer, but I'd at least have someone there to tell me what to do and help me out. If I have to go to a gym on my own, does anyone know of one in NYC frequented by un-fabulous, normal people rather than just superfit gym rats? I'm also not limited to just gyms. I'd like to her about alternative workout possibilities, like yoga or pilates or whatever else is out there if you know of a place that would have a welcoming environment for someone like me.

Any advice, recommendations on gyms, personal trainers, workout programs, etc?

Wedding in NYC. Can I ask a friend to let me stay with him if he's not invited?

evadery — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:19:11 -0800

Is it inappropriate to ask a friend if I can crash at his place for a wedding if he isn't invited? I used to go to school in New York, and two of my closest friends from the city are getting married. Normally when I go into the city I stay with that friend (no longer an option), or another friend, Bill. However, while Bill is friendly with the people getting married (through me), I would be very surprised if he was invited.

I need to book a place to stay, and the special rate in Brooklyn for the wedding is $400+/night (there's a tabletop convention in town - who knew?). Would it be OK to ask my friend to let my girlfriend and I crash with him for 3 days, or is that bad form? Note that I'll undoubtedly spend at least one night and one day with him of the 3 days I am there, if not more.

NYC upholsterers, pimp my yard sale sofa!

kenzi23 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 09:43:26 -0800

Help me find a good upholsterer in NYC, preferably Brooklyn I found a great couch at a yard sale and planned to reupholster it myself but 2 years later it's still sitting in my living room, spitting out its insides, so I am prepared to pay someone to do it. The springs will need to be retied, and it probably needs new stuffing and a new cushion. There may also be some woodwork to fix. I have my fabric picked out so now I just need someone who does good quality work.

Do you have recommendations for a place (preferably in Brooklyn) that does good work of this sort?

Looking for good optometrist for astigmatism contacts in New York, NY

randomdeanna — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:16:02 -0800

Looking for good optometrist for astigmatism contacts in New York, NY I have difficult-to-prescribe-for astigmatisms in both eyes, and am looking for an optometrist who is patient and an expert in toric lenses. I'm willing to go with someone pricier, if I end up actually being about to see with the contact lenses I'm prescribed. :-)

Manhattan or Brooklyn preferred.

Where is the hospital I was born at? (in Brooklyn, NY)

fx3000 — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 11:18:00 -0800

Where is the hospital I was born at? (in Brooklyn, NY) I am trying to figure out what has become of the hospital I was born at. I was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1969. The hospital on my Birth Certificate says "Brooklyn Jewish Medical Center". My family moved to Queens a few years after I was born and then I moved out of New York altogether when I was 27. I never really knew Brooklyn that well, although I have been trying to visit there more over the years. When I Google "Brooklyn Jewish Medical Center" I don't get much in the way of results. From my research it seems like it is most likely one of two places.

The Brooklyn Jewish Hospital mentioned here:
http://www.forgotten-ny.com/SUBWAYS/Franklin%20Ave%20station/franklin.html
If the information on that page is correct, it went bankrupt in 1979 and then merged with St. John's Episcopal Hospital in 1982 to form Interfaith Medical Center. In 2000 Interfaith relocated its entire facility to the former St. John's facility across the street. The old building is now being renovated for other uses, possibly as a nursing home.

or

Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center:
http://www.kingsbrook.org/
I consider this one, because I first lived in Flatbush and this one is nearby.

The first one, Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, seems to be the best possibility. I would like to figure it out for sure and then visit the building, whether there is a hospital there or not. Any Brooklynites out there familiar with this or possibly also have "Brooklyn Jewish Medical Center" on there birth certificate and born around that time?

Not the Happy Squirrel!

zoomorphic — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 12:09:30 -0800

Who are your favorite fortune tellers in the Manhattan/Brooklyn area? I want to interview a dozen or so fortune tellers in New York during New Year's day. I'm looking for some real cards (zing) and as well as popular veterans. Tarot and palm-reading is included.

Artists in NYC

xo — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 10:36:53 -0800

I want to generate a list of visual artists working in NYC. Just the ones with established, active careers and gallery representation -- this is so I can get a new internship. I'm especially interested in artists in their 30s and 40s.

Where to watch the Detroit Lions in NYC/BK?

gettingpaidforthis — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:30:07 -0800

Do you know any [insert NFL team here]-centric bars in NYC/BK? Specifically, I'm looking for a Detroit Lions bar. I mean a bar where the Lions game will always be on the biggest TV, with the sound way up. Usually only the biggest out-of-market teams have such safe havens in NYC (Red Sox, Cowboys, et. al.), unless a particular bar's owner happens to be a die-hard fan. Typically, I find the Lions on the smallest TV in the joint, and I have to try to separate the action on screen from the Jets/Giants audio feed being pumped into the bar, which gives me some mild form of vertigo.

Sadly, I doubt the existence of such a silver and honolulu-blue haven, and this will be more useful to more people if you list any bars that cater to a particular fanbase. For example, there's a bar called Reservoir somewhere downtown that gets a comically-rowdy crowd for every Steelers game. I would love to watch the Lions with a similar group of (sad, embittered) die- hards. It's hard enough to choke down 3 hours of Detroit football every Sunday; it's downright masochistic to do it by one's self.

Bonus points if someone can breakdown the following:

Cost (in American $$$) of the NFL Sunday Ticket package

vs.

Cost (in $$$ and calories) of 16 week's worth of pub-priced beer (~4 a game) and appetizers (WINGS).

Trying to find a cheap, private workspace in New York

kingfisher, his musclebound cat — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 09:39:18 -0800

Where can I find a small, private workspace in New York (Lower Manhattan or Brooklyn)? I do not need it to be fancy, but would need something like a tiny fortress of solitude . . . I would, in fact, prefer a less fancy space. Nothing for meet-n-greet business types, but more for people who are hidden away trying to make something. Concrete or wood floors, plywood walls, etc. All fine with me and perhaps more appropriate. Oh, cheap, too. I mean relatively cheap.