It’s the only train not connected to Manhattan, and you’ll begin to further understand where the city’s budget priorities are. Don’t even try to wait for one after midnight. The G train is aptly titled “The Ghost Train” by some. ![]() A lot of folks just take the extra time to walk to the L train. The major drawback is the lack of convenient and/or consistent public transportation. It’s strange at first, but you eventually you get used to it. This was something totally foreign to me until I came to New York, where it seemed every other city in which I had lived, from Los Angeles to Boston to Phoenix, business proprietors counted your change to the penny. New York is interesting in this respect, where folks often seem to be operating on “the buddy system” when it comes to commerce and exchange. I suppose this could be said for much of Brooklyn, which ads to much of the appeal. Sometimes, if you bring the cashier an espresso, he’ll make you a sandwich for free. Rent and food are both cheaper than in Williamsburg, and once you get to know the guy at the local bodega, you don’t always have to pay what the strangers pay. This is probably my favorite place in the nabe.Ĭompared to a lot of New York neighborhoods, Greenpoint is relatively affordable. You’ll find bird feeders sitting on benches, older folks chatting, screaming children, skateboarders, and lots of young folks hanging in the dog parks. McGolrick Park in the still-predominantly Polish section of the neighborhood is a gorgeous greenspace with an stately and slightly unusual concrete and stone pavilion at its center. The possibilities are endless, whether you’re looking for an “urban-rustic” cocktail spot or a dark and dingy pub. For certain, there are plenty of drinkers here. Greenpoint, like neighboring Williamsburg, is a great place to drink. There are also the standard slew of watering holes for the young and hip as well as the old school “native” Brooklynites. Greenpoint has a few transplant-created restaurant gems, often spilling over with yuppies and artsy hipster types, and there are a few hits among the Polish eateries, pizza joints, and cheap Mexican spots up and down Manhattan Avenue. The good news in this case is that the boyfriend has sobered up. However, after a couple short stints in Crown Heights and the Financial District, I found myself here again in totally unplanned fashion. I once told a female friend that living in Greenpoint is like living with an alcoholic boyfriend with a great sense of humor: He’s fun for a while, but sooner or later you’re going to get tired of him and move out. On a nice day, it’s a very enjoyable walk to the Bedford L, anyway.īen Hughes Little Poland and Williamsburg Jr. Yes, the subway option sucks here, but having to ride the G is worth it for the rest of the neighborhood experience. There are a number of places for those seeking libations, including a beer importer with a truly ludicrous selection on tap and in bottles. ![]() The Polish restaurants are the most obvious sources of great food in the neighborhood, but there are also a couple of decent Thai places, a great Mexican joint, and some very legitimate pizza. When shopping in the bakeries or meat markets, you might find yourself as the only person speaking English, but the bread or kielbasa is truly fantastic. The neighborhood is still very Polish and you will hear a lot of it as you walk around. In the summer, there is nothing better than scoring some blintzes and going on a walk to the Williamsburg waterfront or to Newtown Creek. It’s quiet, green, and full of wonderful restaurants. In all seriousness, this neighborhood is wonderful. Once they cross McCarren Park and encounter hordes of drunken old Polish men, something changes and life starts to revolve around brunch and pierogies. Hipsters who grow weary of the extreme posturing but still love their skinny jeans can go north to Greenpoint. These are the true believers they will live the lifestyle to its fullest until their parents stop paying rent. Many head further and further east out of some sort of sick and depraved sense of manifest destiny, ignoring how intolerable they are making each new neighborhood. After the obligatory hajj to Williamsburg, every hipster faces the critical decision of where to go next. Greenpoint has the trendy, hipster feel of Williamsburg, but it is more downplayed and relaxed. I moved to Greenpoint after living in South Williamsburg.
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