When I got my first "real world" job in NYC I knew I wanted to live in Brooklyn. My existence there can be mapped as a trip down the subway line.
First, knowing nothing about Brooklyn I moved in with a friend who was staying in Carroll Gardens (Grove Hall Stop). I loved it there, it was soooo safe and I often went for jogs after work, taking in the sites and the (amazing) smells around dusk. The problem with CG is, because it's so safe, the rents can be a bit ridiculous. The friend I was staying with literally had her room in the basement of a brownstone where all the gauges and circuit breakers stuck out of the wall. Her floor (where I was so graciously given a place to sleep) was cement and their bathroom only worked sometimes. A steal at $900 month (for her "guagy" room... the whole place was like $4000) I knew CG probably wasn't for me.
Next I moved to Park Slope, further down the map @ Grand Army Plaza. Park Slope to this day remains one of my favorite places. Ever. It actually reminds me a lot of where I live now. A gorgeous park, a zoo, open air markets, yuppies, hippies and working class families... it was great and sooo beautiful. In a effort not to offend anyone, lets just say my stay there was short lived , and much of it had to do with cat. A very very evil cat. And we'll leave it at that.
My last stop in Brooklyn was 25th street, Sunset park (represent!). Sunset Park had the most character and was ultimately the place I stayed the longest. Aside from a very snoopy 60-year old woman landlord who liked to creep up outside under the window to our living room and spy on us ("Oh girls... just stopping by to say hello...") and the fact that the area of 4th that intersected our street was a cruising ground for prostitution ("honey NEVER walk on 4th, especially the way you dress"), I loved it. Plus there was a S
am's club near by so everything I had, I had in bulk. I even got a couple people to come visit me there, all the way from Times Square (you know how NYC people can be ...visiting Brooklyn is like visiting a different country!)
Why I am I reliving my time in Brooklyn like this for you? Because its a great place... part of me misses it... and its a nice (albeit long) transition into my suggested site of the day Brooklyn Industries! BI's goal is to grow a company that changes the way people shop. They seek to provide excitement and innovation to the industry.... with a wide assortment of tee shirts, accessories and reasonably priced premium denim, they're definitely on the right track! Their designs are wearable, imaginative and best of all, affordable... For a taste of one of my favorite places, be sure to check them out!
