Bushwick

BUSHWICK!!!! What can I say besides I love this neighborhood I moved into about 4 months ago. First things first. I used to live in Chinatown, then Williamsburg, and now here. This is my point of view living by Wyckoff ave & Hancock st. I live on the Bushwick side of Wyckoff ave, but across the street is Ridgewood queens, so my review also applies for the Ridgewood border. Now on to my review. Bushwick isn't as gentrified as the newspapers and real estate people would like you to believe. This area is still up & coming with it's pockets of crime, so so schools, loud music during warm months, and wildlife (roaches/rats), but you get what you pay for in cheap rents. Now for the PROS!!! The convenience is unbeatable. I have a Supermarket nearby, lots of shopping on Myrtle ave, and I get to Union Sq in about 20-25 mins with the L Train, and the M train takes me to Lower east side within the same same time frame. My neighbors have been very friendly, and contrary to what all the "bushwick is dangerous" people would like you to believe, I have not felt threatened or unsafe at any time of day since moving out here. My rent is fairly cheap compared to other areas I looked into, and my landlord is an ace. I love all the different options of food I have out here. Stepping off Wyckoff & Myrtle, there's the awesome taco carts, plenty of latin food, 2 stops away is the Jefferson L stop with plenty of awesome restaurants like Northeast kingdom, Indian food, Sushi, etc. Whatever you're in the mood to eat, Bushwick will likely have it. The nightlife is also amazing out here. Radio Bushwick has a lot of bands play there, plenty of bars scattered around Bushwick, and Old Stanley's a new pub off of Wyckoff & Myrtle ave which just opened up, so this area is fast changing. There's also numerous art galleries all over and awesome street art. I also drive, and the highways are all nearby. Jackie Robinson pkwy takes me to queens in 15 mins, and the BQE is just straight down flushing ave. Bushwick is fast improving, and i have a few friends looking into the area, so I would highly recommend the Bushwick/ Ridgewood border.

For years, Bushwick has been trying to shake its bad reputation for crime and poverty. Even today, more than half of the town's residents receive public assistance. There are still lots of neglected lots and decaying buildings, and the crime rate isn't good although it has improved a lot. However, the residents and the city have worked (and are still working) hard to transform Bushwick into a trendy hotspot like its neighbor, Williamsburg. A lot of artsy hipsters have come here, drawn by the cheaper rents and the potential they see in the neighborhood. Bushwick now has a hip art scene, and graffiti art is on display throughout the city's streets. There are also lots of diverse restaurants, a reflection of the town's increasing diversity. A lot of residents take their kids to Maria Hernandez Park to play or browse the farmer's market. Most of the housing here is in multi-family private homes. Single-family homes are hard to come by, but rentals are pretty easy to find, particularly in the multi-family homes. Homes that are located closer to WIlliamsburg are pretty expensive, but they are still much cheaper than properties in Williamsburg. There are a lot of public schools in Bushwick, but for the most part, they are pretty mediocre.

Bushwick is a neighborhood spanning two square miles located in the borough of Brooklyn. This diverse and vibrant neighborhood is home to a wide-variety of ethnicities. The remnants of this once bustling neighborhood are lower-income housing projects and apartment buildings and a clear differentiation between the wealthier and more prominent sections of this borough.

Life in Bushwick has improved for its residents since the turbulent era following the1960s. The resulting community organizing projects brought about the construction of several parks and community centers throughout the neighborhood for youth engagement and community involvement. A popular venue in the summer is the Bushwick Pool & Park (Flushing Avenue & Bushwick Avenue). A nice place to take the family, this park is filled with people and an exciting energy.

Historical sights in Bushwick are few, but one that does stand out is Memorial Gore Park which holds a granite monument for those who perished during World War I. Picturesque and serene, this is a nice spot to relax in the neighborhood.

Dining and Entertainment in Bushwick is unique as with the melting pot of different peoples provides a visitor with a very diverse dining experience, not to mention a slew of fast food restaurants. Nightlife in Bushwick can be somewhat of a mystery to an outsider, as the most popular venues for the young crowd tend to be in Manhattan or other sections of Brooklyn.

A major reason why people choose to live in this section of Brooklyn as opposed to Manhattan is mostly due to accessibility. The L train and M trains run throughout this neighborhood, making travel into Manhattan extremely convenient. The following buses are also available: B13, B26, B38, B52, B54, and B60.

Visiting Bushwick

Sights:
Bushwick Green Park located at Flushing Avenue and Central Avenue.
Hope Gardens Multi Service Center

Restaurants:
Northeast Kingdom,18 Wyckoff Ave- Great place for unique mid-range fare.
El Salvador Restaurant, 1544 Myrtle Ave- Vibrant Latin food restaurant
Three Brothers Restaurant, 616 Livonia Ave- Wonderful Italian cuisine
Life Cafe NINE83, 983 Flushing Ave- Traditional American Fare