Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with york and Brooklyn

Brooklyn, Brooklyn, take me in

thinkingwoman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:37:52 -0800

Brooklynfilter: Does anyone have any experience with the Holiday Inns that have cropped up in Park Slope (Union St. and Butler St.) over the past few years? Planning a trip to revisit the old hood in Brooklyn (Park Slope), and thought we would splurge on a hotel for this visit. I used to live near the Union Street location (between 3rd and 4th) but can't recall that part of Butler St. (between 3rd and 4th)

Has anyone had any experience with either of these hotels? We don't need fancy, but clean and unsleazy would be nice.

Any other recommendations would be much appreciated. If there's anything in Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens/Boerum Hill/Windsor Terrace, we'd be open (also, I would be very surprised). Downtown Brooklyn or downtown Manhattan would be okay, too, but I doubt we could afford anything palatable there.

How can I "show them around" in the rain?

SirNovember — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:47:14 -0800

How can I show a couple relatives the neighborhoods from Brooklyn Heights to Prospect Park this weekend – it’s going to be cold and rainy!

Unique men's clothing resale in Manhattan or Brooklyn?

4midori — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:01:16 -0800

Recommend unique, affordable men's clothing resale stores in Manhattan or Brooklyn? Hipster ok, or vintage. I'm looking mainly for short- and long-sleeve collared shirts.

Help me find a good afterschool program?

RajahKing — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:11:07 -0800

How do I look for an afterschool program for my soon to be preschooler? This is a bit Brooklyn-centric, but advice from knowledgeable parents anywhere would be helpful.

My daughter will enter preschool (called pre-K in NYC) this September, on the public school calendar. Pre-K runs from morning to about 2:30, but she'll need to go to an afterschool most days M-F, some days for just an hour, some days until 5:30.

So, my questions are both concrete and general:

1. Do you know any decent, affordable after school programs that would serve a public school located near Atlantic Ave and Flatbush?

2. How much do after school programs that include pickup from school cost per week / per month, etc, in Brooklyn?

3. Is there any way that I can find these places online and give them a call? I have a couple of suggestions from the school itself, but that's just two.

Any other advice on this topic is much appreciated. Thanks from a sometimes clueless dad.

Home Sweet Brooklyn

Unred — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:39:40 -0800

When is the best month to move in New York?? Seriously! We all know moving in June is the worst because of all the kids leaving college and moving here. People aren't leaving their apartments in January and February, so that's not good either. So, when is the optimal time for a person to get the best deal on a rental in New York?

Pretty Pretty dress, please be shorter

Unred — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:11:36 -0800

I need recommendations for someone to alter a very expensive gown (to be worn for a wedding) somewhere in New York City (& S. Brooklyn). I've looked through past queries that don't exactly match my criteria. Basically, I have a dress with 3 layers of fabric that I'll be wearing for a wedding, but its not a bridesmaid dress, specifically. Its an expensive designer gown, and although I paid a lot for it, I'd prefer to not pay the same amount to have it altered. Does anyone know of someone in the city, or in Park Slope/Carroll Gardens who can do this for me?

Dear Abby, I'm looking for a good witch doctor. Yours, anxious in NYC.

grumblebee — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:02:00 -0800

I need a good psychiatrist / neurologist in NYC. Oxford Health Plan. All my life, I've suffered from anxiety. It's low grade. I don't have panic attacks. I function as I'm supposed to and perform well at my job. I come from a family of Woody-Allen-esque Jews, so I figured that anxiety was simply my birthright. Most of my relatives are worry warts.

At 43, I've had an epiphany: I don't have to -- or at least I shouldn't have to -- live that way for the rest of my life. It's not fun or romantic or funny. I'm tired of walking around with a slightly queasy stomach all the time. I'm tired of constant what-if thoughts and sleepless nights. I want to be able to truly relax.

I've done the talking cure before, and I think it can be effective for some things, but that's not the route I'd like to go now. (Though if an MD suggests it as part of a treatment regime, I'm open to it.) I've also tried meditation. So far I've failed with that, but I'll keep trying. I'd love to try biofeedback some time, but that's another story.

What I've never tried is meds. I suspect that my life would be better if I was on some sort of anxiety medication. I want to explore this option (and other options) with an expert. Who should I see?

Get New York to stop honking?

idledebonair — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:51:13 -0800

How do I get people in my neighborhood to stop honking? This may be more of a philosophical question than one with an actual solvable answer, but I'm interested in the results anyway. I live near the entrance of the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn-Battery tunnel. Every morning, and less annoyingly, around five o'clock, there is unbearable honking. Let's just assume for a minute that it is not impossible to do something about it. There are already official signs on the street that indicate a seemingly unenforced fine for honking. What would a person who lived in a working system do? Call 311? Write the King of Brooklyn? Just compromise having working windows and soundproof the wall? What is a long term strategy? Should I rally the neighbors? Form/find a community organization?

NYC Limo/Van Referral Needed

Man with Lantern — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:39:33 -0800

I'd like a referral for a service in New York City that can provide transport for six people, and luggage, from Penn Station to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. There are dozens - if not hundreds - limo services to choose from so I just need help separating the wheat from the chaff. Thanks.

Riding NY Express Bus

tonci — Fri, 23 May 2008 10:15:49 -0800

Do you ride an Express Bus from Brooklyn into Manhattan? Do you have experience riding an Express Bus from Brooklyn into Lower Manhattan? I'm wondering, for example, about whether you can usually get a seat if you get on at Church Ave and East 7th, the last stop in Brooklyn, and whether they tend to be reliable in terms of timing. Thanks!

New York Animal Charity

2bucksplus — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:19:25 -0800

This Christmas I would like to make a donation to a New York animal shelter or cruelty prevention group. I have worked with a number of Animal Shelters in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and sadly most of the ones I have worked with are disorganized to the point that I feel a small ($500) donation would be lost. (For example: I have been stood up by 2 separate No-Kill animal shelters in Brooklyn in the past month. I realize these are largely volunteer organizations, but it doesn't make me want to gift money).

Because I cannot have a dog, but would like to help pets LOCALLY, which one group would you recommend and which group "could use the money" but won't be defunct in two months.

Also, getting a charitable tax credit is low on my priorities list, but if possible I'll take it.

Remarkable ice cream in Brooklyn?

cocoagirl — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 18:54:41 -0800

I'm looking for really good ice cream in Brooklyn, NY. I'd be willing to cross the river for something extraordinary, but I'd like to focus on what's available in Brooklyn proper. Personal experience and recommendations are what I'm looking for, rather than a laundry list of places to try. I'm aware of--but haven't eaten at--The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. I have eaten at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory and Ciao Bella Gelato in Manhattan.

I'm used to excellent ice cream here in the Boston area (Christina's, JP Licks, Toscanini's, Rancatore's) and am looking for something along those lines (made on premises, low overrun, inventive flavors, hand-packed pints). Thanks!

Rat poison-mercury-vapor-radioactive-lead dust factory?

R. Mutt — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 07:40:18 -0800

What is the best, least expensive way to research the industrial history of a factory building in the Gowanus area of Brooklyn, NY? I have the chance to rent space in an old factory (for art studio/work, not living) but given the nature of the Gowanus Canal and the area's industrial history, I wonder about the past uses of this building. For instance, several blocks away is a building that still has the sign (I presume) from its past life: The Kentile Company. (I believe that Kentile made asbestos laden floor tile among other things.)

I have had several studios over the years, all in old factory type buildings, but the Gowanus area, while improving, does seem to have had a more hardcore past.

I was wondering what resources might exist for discovering where any given building falls on the range of, say: a cardboard box factory (the usual landlord favorite), to: a rat poison-mercury-vapor-radioactive-lead dust factory (my worst fear).

What are NYC resturants with gardens?

Silverlantern — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 08:53:22 -0800

Please guide me toward restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn with gardens and/or great outdoor areas. As my front page question asked, I am searching for restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn with gardens and/or outdoor spaces. I am convinced that there are other places than those listed on Citysearch and in New York Magazine! Ideally, the restaurant would serve as a place for a wedding ceremony and reception. Thanks.

Brooklyn! Where to go?

zaphod — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:23:31 -0800

Brooklyn, where to stay what to see that's not obvious? Going to visit cousin John whose over from Ireland for 2 weeks and staying in Brooklyn, near the corner of Washington & Lafayette Aves (NE of Prospect Park).

First, I need a place to stay and Brooklyn seems to have a shortage of Hotels! WTF, everyone wants to stay in Manhattan? ;)

About the best, closest place I can find is the Brooklyn Marriott at about $230 a night with taxes ($199 + $30), which for 2 nights is a wee bit steep. Do you know anywhere else that's a bit cheaper and that you'd recommend? I found a bunch of places with decent reviews on some other sites, but then some Googling turned up some interesting Police reports about hourly customers for a few places .... even somewhere the other

Secondly, what to see and do, eat & drink, avoid & run, that tourists wouldn't normally see of Brooklyn?

Before the cousin said he was going to Brooklyn I had the, incorrect, impression that Brooklyn was a bit unsafe. But, after a wee bit of research I've released that it's a vast city within NYC that has it's own character & charm that's unlike Manhattan. So, you the Brooklynite reading this, where should we (me the Paddy in Boston, and the cousin from the wilds of Ireland and his German gf) go to see the joys and experiences of Brooklyn? Always looking for suggestions for good places to eat & drink too!

How do I find live music by up-and-coming bands in my area (NYC)?

kenzi23 — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 22:40:57 -0800

How do I find live music by up-and-coming bands in my area (NYC)? I'm getting interested in some indie bands and want to see them play, but they have already gotten big and are playing only in bigger venues. How do I find bands before they get big in small venues for not much money? And specifically how can I find bands of a particular type and where they are playing locally?

More specifically I'm interested in bands like the Arctic Monkeys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Maximo Park, Editors, Kaiser Chiefs etc. The are bands that don't really fit any particular category so it's hard to search by category, but if I can find a website that can help me find similar bands playing locally, that would be great! I am in the NYC area.

Brooklyn sights for grown-up arty types

pomegranate — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:02:50 -0800

Weekend trip to Brooklyn in October to hang out. Anything you recommend? Restaurants, galleries, shops, hang-outs, etc. I think we're staying at a B&B in Park Slope. I'll be 5 months pregnant by then so we won't be bar-hopping but we do want a nice, mellow trip with a focus on the country's fourth-largest pseudo-city. We may go to Manhattan to meet some people for lunch one day but other than that it's all about laughing at hipster costumery, eating great food, and buying local handmade goods/art. (Think http://designsponge.blogspot.com/ in terms of aesthetic.) Please share your secrets.