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I think Park Slope might be too family oriented for your life stage. Williamsburg is probably the better of the options-- but it is very expensive now. You might want to consider Greenpoint. A little bit cheaper than Williamsburg and still has that young vibe but mixed with old ethnic NY (it's a Polish neighborhood). A lot of people are turned off by Greenpoint because the only train that serves it is the G, and the G does not go into Manhattan- it runs through BK and into Queens. I've taken the G many times when I have to travel to the East side of Manhattan and I must say, it may not go into Manhattan but it is very reliable. It runs like clockwork and you can connect to the lines that get into Manhattan very easily. In fact, it's WAY more reliable than the C (which I usually take to work).
Bushwick is a crappy neighborhood. blech. forget raw and gritty.
us old timers call it shytty...
I think a lot of old timers have an old attitude about some neighborhoods. Clearly enough people like it to be moving there and there are obviously enough of them to support all of the "new resident" establishments popping up.
This, by the way, is coming from a person that dislikes Bushwick (I don't care for the "industrial" look and I think the residential housing stock is ugly). My feelings about the area aside, I recognize that it works for a lot of people.
I think Park Slope might be too family oriented for your life stage. Williamsburg is probably the better of the options-- but it is very expensive now. You might want to consider Greenpoint. A little bit cheaper than Williamsburg and still has that young vibe but mixed with old ethnic NY (it's a Polish neighborhood). A lot of people are turned off by Greenpoint because the only train that serves it is the G, and the G does not go into Manhattan- it runs through BK and into Queens. I've taken the G many times when I have to travel to the East side of Manhattan and I must say, it may not go into Manhattan but it is very reliable. It runs like clockwork and you can connect to the lines that get into Manhattan very easily. In fact, it's WAY more reliable than the C (which I usually take to work).
I too will also agree with Greenpoint, I found it pretty nice this past summer as i rode my bike thru it exploring different neighborhoods.
I think a lot of old timers have an old attitude about some neighborhoods. Clearly enough people like it to be moving there and there are obviously enough of them to support all of the "new resident" establishments popping up.
This, by the way, is coming from a person that dislikes Bushwick (I don't care for the "industrial" look and I think the residential housing stock is ugly). My feelings about the area aside, I recognize that it works for a lot of people.
What establishments? I've circled that area left and right and other than a couple of spots near the borderlines of East Williamsburg and Bed-stuy I don't see much of anything... I think people have created an idea for Bushwick that is just completely untrue... Bushwick has taken a life of its own so far away from its reality that it's comical... Bed-stuy, Crown Heights, and I'd put my money that even Mott Haven along the Hub have far more in terms of hipster related places than Bushwick and it's just laughable to me how this place continues to receive the hype that it does despite the revolving door it has created for so many hipsters that actually live in what is truly Bushwick and not (western bed-stuy or east williamsburg)
What establishments? I've circled that area left and right and other than a couple of spots near the borderlines of East Williamsburg and Bed-stuy I don't see much of anything... I think people have created an idea for Bushwick that is just completely untrue... Bushwick has taken a life of its own so far away from its reality that it's comical... Bed-stuy, Crown Heights, and I'd put my money that even Mott Haven along the Hub have far more in terms of hipster related places than Bushwick and it's just laughable to me how this place continues to receive the hype that it does despite the revolving door it has created for so many hipsters that actually live in what is truly Bushwick and not (western bed-stuy or east williamsburg)
I'll agree with this sentiment. Bushwick needs to be taken on a block by block basis for the most part. You might have pockets here and there that are okay, but really, a lot of people that moved there are now leaving and heading to other areas. Crime is one of the main reasons. Not to mention a lot of the original housing stock in Bushwick consists of railroad apartments, which makes for a crappy arrangement with roommates.
If I was 23 I would make sure to move to a place that has access to MORE THAN 1 TRAIN. If you're in Williamsburg, depending on where, you're stuck with the L, which is generally quick, but on weekends has constant track work going on and you have to deal with shuttle buses. This has been the case since I was a child. If you look at what happened with Hurricane Sandy, the L and G trains were the last to be up and running because those trains run on the oldest tracks.
You'll want to move to an area where if your main train is down you're within walking distance of another one to use. Park Slope will fulfill this, but like others said, it's more family oriented than anything else.
I would look into Astoria around Broadway and 36th Ave stops. This way you will have access to the N and Q trains, but if needed you can walk to the R and M trains or even the 7 trains.
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