Cool stuff in Kensington, Brooklyn, and surrounding areas
July 26, 2011 10:36 PM Subscribe
We are finally moving to Brooklyn; Kensington, to be exact. Tell us what you love in our new neighborhood and adjacent ones (Windsor Terrace, Ditmas Park, Flatbush, Borough Park).
Bonus points if you can point us to good bagels, independent bookstores and/or coffee shops.
Bonus points if you can point us to good bagels, independent bookstores and/or coffee shops.
Ok...Mimi's Hummus 1209 Courtelyou Road near Westminster.
posted by spicynuts at 11:22 PM on July 26, 2011
posted by spicynuts at 11:22 PM on July 26, 2011
You forgot sunset park.
Go to ba-xuyen. Best bánh mì I've ever had. And then keep walking down 8th Ave. Lots of great Asian food, including several dim sum places.
posted by overhauser at 11:27 PM on July 26, 2011
Go to ba-xuyen. Best bánh mì I've ever had. And then keep walking down 8th Ave. Lots of great Asian food, including several dim sum places.
posted by overhauser at 11:27 PM on July 26, 2011
Food and drink: Sycamore, the bar and flower shop, The Farm on Addereley, Qathra the coffee shop, Purple Yam, Mimi's Hummus, The Castello Plan.
Honestly, though, my favorite part of coming home to Ditmas Park every day after work is being able to walk my dog by all the big houses withe trees and the lawns and so on. It never gets old. Welcome to the area.
posted by lassie at 12:22 AM on July 27, 2011
Honestly, though, my favorite part of coming home to Ditmas Park every day after work is being able to walk my dog by all the big houses withe trees and the lawns and so on. It never gets old. Welcome to the area.
posted by lassie at 12:22 AM on July 27, 2011
Isn't DiFara's pizza near Kensington? A large faction of passionate lunatics claim it's the absolute best pizza in NYC. I agree, except that the 4 hour wait ain't worth it. But if you live over there your odds of stumbling by it when there is no line are exponentially increased.
posted by spicynuts at 12:27 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by spicynuts at 12:27 AM on July 27, 2011
DiFara's: Avenue J between 14th and 15th. So, not really 'stroll out your front door' territory but definitely 'hop on the subway quick' territory.
posted by spicynuts at 12:32 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by spicynuts at 12:32 AM on July 27, 2011
I lived in Kensington at Stratford & Dorchester for a short time last year. I enjoyed the Tibetan restaurant right next to the Cortelyou Q station. I saw Sufjan Stevens several times at The Farm! The food co-op is fine, but overpriced and the selection isn't great. I preferred the little organic shop on Stratford and Cortelyou, Organic Frontier. The staff is so friendly and they gave me all the free samples I could eat. There's a charming little shop right next to the wine bar on Westminster and Courtelyou selling local cheeses, baked goods made by locals, and artisanal goodies--visit often, the selection changes almost daily. There's a farmer's market ever week (Sunday?) in front of the library. Welcome to Kensington! It's a lovely little neighborhood. The Victorian homes are so lovely and definitely make you feel like you can't possibly be in New York City anymore. It was fun to invite friends over and hear them say, "What the hell?! We never knew there was a neighborhood like this in the City!"
posted by HotPatatta at 12:58 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by HotPatatta at 12:58 AM on July 27, 2011
Terrace Bagels are some of the best in the city. The Lucky Thirteen is also great if you like metal or have a sense of humour- it's a cheap bar with go go dancers and horror movies. Definitely do not bring children.
posted by Concordia at 1:21 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by Concordia at 1:21 AM on July 27, 2011
I now live near where HotPatatta used to live. Seconding Qathra for coffee. The Tibetan restaurant is A+ esp. w/kids or friends with kids--because you can sit outside and watch the subways go by. And further down, on Coney Island Avenue, there's Bahar for pumpkin turnovers and kebabs.
The wine shop on Cortelyou is very nice and the staff is informed but not judgmental. Bookstores: There's Babbo's on Prospect Park West; that's the closest.
Coney Island itself is not a long bike trip, which can make for a nice early-morning ride down the bike path on Ocean Parkway and back.
On Coney Island Avenue: The B68 Bus connects to the F at 15th St., is pretty fast, and comes often when a B or Q just won't do.
posted by ftrain at 3:36 AM on July 27, 2011
The wine shop on Cortelyou is very nice and the staff is informed but not judgmental. Bookstores: There's Babbo's on Prospect Park West; that's the closest.
Coney Island itself is not a long bike trip, which can make for a nice early-morning ride down the bike path on Ocean Parkway and back.
On Coney Island Avenue: The B68 Bus connects to the F at 15th St., is pretty fast, and comes often when a B or Q just won't do.
posted by ftrain at 3:36 AM on July 27, 2011
Do investigate the tortas at Cinco de Mayo on Cortelyou and Rancho Alegre on Newkirk.
Do pony up the $10 and try the incredible shwarma at Famous Pita on Coney and Newkirk. Especially at one in the morning. After you've been drinking.
Do post a local meetup.
posted by thejoshu at 4:13 AM on July 27, 2011
Do pony up the $10 and try the incredible shwarma at Famous Pita on Coney and Newkirk. Especially at one in the morning. After you've been drinking.
Do post a local meetup.
posted by thejoshu at 4:13 AM on July 27, 2011
Ox Cart Tavern, on Newkirk, for pubby goodness, burgers, and pie.
Compost For Brooklyn, for compost dropoff at Newkirk and East 8th.
There's a new bakery/cafe opening soon on Newkirk at Westminster. I guess I can't recommend it since it's not open yet, but it looks very promising.
posted by the_blizz at 6:34 AM on July 27, 2011
Compost For Brooklyn, for compost dropoff at Newkirk and East 8th.
There's a new bakery/cafe opening soon on Newkirk at Westminster. I guess I can't recommend it since it's not open yet, but it looks very promising.
posted by the_blizz at 6:34 AM on July 27, 2011
Everything lassie said. My friends live near that neighborhood and if I had reason to move to NYC I'd go there.
posted by mkb at 6:44 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by mkb at 6:44 AM on July 27, 2011
Oh, also: awesome Pakistani food on Coney Island Ave, I think just below Beverley.
posted by the_blizz at 7:11 AM on July 27, 2011
posted by the_blizz at 7:11 AM on July 27, 2011
Response by poster: So many places to try! Thanks, folks!
posted by ocherdraco at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2011
posted by ocherdraco at 7:01 PM on July 27, 2011
For bookstores, here's an article on 5 cool ones to check out.
I'm related to David in the blurb about the first store, Word. He's doing great stuff combining music and books and blurring that line.
posted by CathyG at 5:04 PM on July 28, 2011
I'm related to David in the blurb about the first store, Word. He's doing great stuff combining music and books and blurring that line.
posted by CathyG at 5:04 PM on July 28, 2011
I meant to post this answer when the question was posted but forgot and am just returning to it now.
Mithaas Sweets, 1150 Coney Island Avenue near the corner of Avenue H, is an awesome Middle Eastern Bakery with very reasonable prices.
posted by mlis at 8:35 PM on August 9, 2011
Mithaas Sweets, 1150 Coney Island Avenue near the corner of Avenue H, is an awesome Middle Eastern Bakery with very reasonable prices.
posted by mlis at 8:35 PM on August 9, 2011
Response by poster: I've put all the answers so far in this thread on a map.
posted by ocherdraco at 5:13 PM on August 10, 2011
posted by ocherdraco at 5:13 PM on August 10, 2011
Response by poster: It seems there was an extra character in that link which broke it. So let's try again. The map.
posted by ocherdraco at 3:05 PM on August 13, 2011
posted by ocherdraco at 3:05 PM on August 13, 2011
Response by poster: And thejoshu, here's your meetup: a potluck dinner at our new place in Kensington.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:32 PM on August 15, 2011
posted by ocherdraco at 8:32 PM on August 15, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Seriously though..the best israeli home style cooking is at a restaurant in Kensington. Best hummus ever. I will have to google to get the name of the joint.
posted by spicynuts at 11:20 PM on July 26, 2011