Park Slope

When we first started looking at Brooklyn neighborhoods, we figured that, especially with three kids, we were going to want to end up in Park Slope because of the schools and the sheer number of kids. After spending a lot of time here and in surrounding neighborhoods, we still very much like Park Slope and would be happy to live there, but we ended up liking BoCoCa and Brooklyn Heights a lot more.

The neighborhood certainly has a good selection of food and bars, but nowhere near as good as the Smith St/Court St area. The Slope food/bar scene is also unfortunately spread out (primarily on 5th Ave and 7th Ave). That could mean a lot of trudging up and down the hill too (which I took as a good thing, and my wife, who will ends up dealing with the small kids more often took more as a bad thing).

The Park is an obvious huge plus, and the North Slope schools are particularly good. There's a good community feel, though it definitely skews yuppie. There's not quite enough subway access, especially for South Slope, which makes due with the F and G. Especially from center and south Slope, it's a bit farther to the city than I think most people would like.

The housing stock is really nice when you're close to the park, but the farther west you go and the farther south you go, the worse it gets. there are too many houses with vinyl siding (many of which are hiding a decaying brick facade). And we looked at many houses in this neighborhood-- most of them had big issues with settlement-- typically significantly worse than what we saw in BoCoCa. You could tell that those non-prime houses were not considered anywhere near as prime when they were built.

Fourth Avenue as the western border has a long way to go before it's going to have the same "nice" feel that the eastern part of Park Slope has. I really don't like being on 4th Ave at all, even on a short walk to the subway. Part of this is changing with the rezoning that has already happened on 4th ave and the forthcoming narrowing (well, they're going to go down to 2 lanes of traffic in each direction anyway, except for the northbound lanes from Union to Atlantic).

The South Slope is cheaper, with a lot less commerce, and the housing stock is noticeably worse. But it was still friendly, and I suspect it's going to grow to be more like the North Slope very quickly-- we noticed lots of people getting priced out of the North Slope looking in the South Slope because, hey, the schools are still okay, and it's still Park Slope. For those looking to own, I suspect that neighborhood is one of the best balances in Brooklyn for those who want a decent family life but are still hoping to profit from a bit more gentrification (a wave which we've successfully ridden multiple times).

Nonetheless, despite all the positives in Park Slope, we eventually ended up with a strong preference for BoCoCa. Our attention started out 80% in Park Slope and 20% everywhere else, and by the time we went into contract on a place, we were down to about 80% BoCoCa, 10% Park Slope and 10% everywhere else (while we liked Brooklyn Heights more than Park Slope, we quickly figured we wouldn't get enough for our money relative to BoCoCa, which we instantly liked better than the Heights).

Park Slope is a family neighborhood, near a park.Lots of kids live here, you see lots of kids walking to Prospect Park, or to school. The neighborhood has great subway connections to the city. When I lived here with my family before I moved to Gramercy, it was still a family community. Parents, make sure if you have kids to look in this area. Hire a nanny and take the subway to Long Island City or Manhattan for some nightlife. This is Brooklyn.

Almost everyone associates Park Slope with stroller traffic. There are A LOT of young families with little kids. However, Park Slope is much more than just a town of new families. It's an eclectic mix of the old and new. You will see gorgeous brownstones and other examples of beautiful architecture. There are also funky bars, trendy shops, and nice restaurants. The housing choices are wonderful, albeit on the expensive side. There are the aforementioned brownstones, townhouses, and luxury apartments, including some with great views of the city. However, if you look carefully, you may be able to find some deals if you look farther from Flatbush Ave. The population is diverse, the town is pretty safe, and the residents are very friendly. This is also a very eco- and health-conscious neighborhood. There are a lot of restaurants that serve dishes prepared with organic or locally sourced ingredients. There is also the Park Slope food cooperative. Park Slope also boasts a pretty convenient location; the subway ride to Manhattan takes about a half hour. A lot of residents relax at Prospect Park (which is right next to Park Slope) or they take their kids to the Botanical Gardens or the Brooklyn Museum.

Park Slope is really beautiful. There are brownstones and trees and an old timey feel. It's a great place for families which is probably why there's a stroller brigade in this neighborhood. I spent a lot of time here last spring and the area around 5th Avenue is so quaint and has a great energy. Plus, there is shopping that rivals the 5th Avenue in Manhattan! Unlike, Manhattan's 5th, however, all of the stores are boutiques. They are really specific and just darling. There are specialty paper shops like Scaredy Kat and upscale men's stores like Oak. But, the women's clothing selection is really spectacular. Diana Kane and Eidolon are great for vintage inspired wear, but my favorite is Goldy and Mac. Everything in that store is beautiful. All of these boutiques are within a few steps of each other and you are surrounded by old buildings and a lot of green. A shopping day on 5th Avenue Park Slope is really lovely.
But, that's not all. There are a ton of restaurants and bars on 5th Ave as well which makes this street the most lively in Park Slope. There are always people milling about and the street has a great energy. Union Hall is probably the most renowned of the bars and it's definitely for a reason. There is always something fun going on in this bar and it is never empty. Because there's such an energy to this street, it's no wonder that many Manhattan Eateries have made their Brooklyn outposts on 5th Ave. Blue Ribbon and Mary's Fish Camp both have restaurants here. And, there is just about any kind of food lining this one avenue.
The architecture is really beautiful too. There are a ton of brownstones and almost no high rises. Whenever you step off the train, you feel like you're in a part of New York that didn't age. It's like the Pleasantville part of New York and it's really gorgeous.
The only things that can be not so hot about 5th Avenue is that it is a bit of a hike away from the city. So, if you live in Manhattan, it's a pain to get there. And, if you live around 5th Avenue, it's hard to motivate to go into the city so you can isolate yourself. Oh, and the strollers. It's not an exaggeration: they are everywhere.

Located in western Brooklyn, Park Slope is a neighborhood that combines historic charm with an eco-friendly - if perhaps gratingly so - character and neighborhood feel. There's much to be said about Park Slope. It is home, after all, to some of the city's great attractions: The Brooklyn Museum, The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Conservatiory, and the Brooklyn Category of Music, a list that speaks to the somewhat artistic character of the neighborhood. The streets are lined with attractive terraced houses and trees - not a skyscraper in sight. That said, however, the stereotype of obnoxious "Granola Moms" chiding their friends for using soy instead of almond-milk in their vegan cuisine is not too far off. For better or for worse, movements like the Park Slope Coop, an organic food volunteer-run program, have come to characterize Park Slope. If you're a red-meat-eating sports fan, you might want to choose another neighborhood. Park Slope is also known for its lesbian community - it's the women's answer to the West Village - and has a number of bars and clubs serving that particular clientele.

Park Slope, located in South Brooklyn is one of the most culturally vibrant and ethnically diverse neighborhoods of New York City. The borders of Park Slope are loosely defined as Prospect Park West, Fourth Avenue, Flatbush Avenue and the Prospect Expressway. Park Slope( popularly referred to as ‘the Slope’) has been historically inhabited by the New York City Irish–American, Italian-American and Hispanic communities though today this charming neighborhood is much sought after by young families.

The real estate scenario in Park Slope is made up of rows of townhouses and brownstones which line the streets all the way up to Prospect Park West. Near the park however are some Victorian mansions which are now considered to be a part of the Park Slope historical district.

The main commercial avenues of Park Slope are Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue, which are dotted several quirky restaurants, stores and myriad cafes. Trendy boutiques such as 4playbk, Brooklyn Industries, Bird, and Flirt add to the style quotient of the area. Since Park Slope is home to many young families and it caters to this demographic by hosting several children’s boutiques such as Lolli, Peek a boo Kids and Area kids. Other popular stores located here include Artesana, a home furnishing store located on 7th Avenue which offers goods from all over the world, Lion in the Sun, a designer paper store, and El Milagro a gift store which is a treasure trove of global goodies.
The Park Slope Food Cooperative which is located on Union Street between 6th and & 7th Avenues is a membership co-op which makes organic food and other standard supermarket fare available to its 12000 members at a discount in exchange for membership dues and volunteer service.

The Slope is equally renowned for many fantastic restaurants such as Al di la, Blue Ribbon which are located on 5th avenue. Magnolia and Barbes which are located on 6th avenue are known for their weekend brunch and live entertainment and Café Steinhof which is located on 7th avenue offers Austrian inspired fare and late night film screenings though these are but a few of the many excellent restaurants that are located in Park Slope.

Park Slope is a family-centric neighborhood and offers great schooling opportunities at its many public, private and parochial schools like the P.S.154, P.S. 321, P.S. 39 and P.S. 230 and P.S. 282. Some of the good private schools located here include the Brooklyn Free School and the Berkley Carroll School while Holy Name of Jesus and St Savior School are some of the better parochial schools.

Park slope can be reached by the F train from Manhattan and Queens though the area is also served by the M,R, B and Q trains at its various stations.

Park Slope is one of the most sought after and beautiful neighborhoods in all of New York City. There are rows upon rows of brownstones among tree lined streets. French, Greek, and Renaissance Romanesque design flood this amazing neighborhood. The area is close to Prospect Park, which makes Park Slope Brooklyn’s version of Central Park.

The “Slope” is a small-town community with a an urban and cosmopolitan attitude, but a luxurious place to live and visit. Had some friends who lived here for several years, and it was always a joy to visit. There is a great mix of twenties and thirties crowd amidst the older “monied” genre. People are generally kind hearted but most take to themselves. If you can get “in” you will be in for life - sort of mafia in that respect. Hey, we are in Brooklyn, right?

Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Avenues are the Slope’s main streets with lots of shops, restaurants, and café’s. Here you will find a lot of middle class couples pushing the baby stroller up and down the sidewalk. The Park Slope’s Farmers’ Market is open every Sunday from early June to mid-November. FAO Schwarz opened a few years ago allowing the neighborhood to be even more served. Years ago the area was restaurant challenged, but those time have come to an end. Today Sixth and Seventh Avenues provide a wide variety of pizzerias, coffee shops, and exceptional restaurants. Rose Water near Sixth Avenue serves an amazing brunch and Al Di La on Fifth Avenue provides its patrons with the finest in Northern Italian cuisine.

The Slope is well provided in terms of schools. There are six elementary schools and a number of private schools, including Poly Prep Lower School and Berkeley Carroll School. Check out the Daily Slope website for community news or Park Slope Courier to deliver your newspaper online or on your steps.

Filled with old brownstones and apartments, Park Slope is a rather upscale neighborhood in Brooklyn that is good for younger singles and couples. Its close to all the hoopla going on over in Williamsburg but also has many bars and restaurants in its general area and vicinity. There are several Starbucks in the area. Beacon's Closet and Loom are two good places to eat and Blue Ribbon is a great restaurant.

Our friends that we visited lived off of Fifth Avenue in a small apartment. This was an awesome neighborhood. Many young families with a few eateries scattered through out. They told us that this neihgborhood was fairly new and very up and coming. Clean, safe, friendly and great for people of all ages.