Home sweet home in brooklyn

around the neighborhood

Just a few places and musings while I rediscover my neighborhood.

calling crown heights home

While this page will hopefully highlight many gems here in Brooklyn, there will be focus on Crown Heights as I have now relocated there and don’t plan on leaving anytime soon.

Even before moving to New York City, I knew I had to end up in Crown Heights! I had come to the neighborhood several times prior to visit friends and something about it reminded me of the apartments I grew up in as a child. I knew, after walking down Nostrand Avenue seeing folks interacting with each other, I could make a home here. Once the starts aligned, I went for it and now I live in Brooklyn.

It is hard to ignore that the neighborhood landscape is changing rapidly thanks to people like me. Young folk with decent financial mobility (due to splitting rent with roommates) are part of the gentrification wave overtaking New York City neighborhoods like Crown Heights. Making the commitment to take an apartment and contribute to rising real estate prices that make it harder and harder for people to raise their families in the neighborhood they were raised in requires the same commitment to protect the people who depend on the small businesses that made the neighborhood the hot spot it is now. This page will help my efforts to share the very businesses and people who make Crown Heights the inviting neighborhood I know it to be.

I am happy to share my new home with you especially in a time where race, financial and social inequity is under much scrutiny. Now more than ever we all should be aware of where we put our support and who it supports.

Sunday trip to the library

Brooklyn Public Library, prospect heights

Six years. It took six years to get my library card here in New York City. To be fair, I have boxes and boxes of books that still need to be read at home (many gifted or found secondhand), and law school made me hate reading just a bit during the thick of things. As I rediscover hobbies and likes following law school, I decided to see if I still liked reading for pleasure.

I was relieved to find out I did after picking up a few books in Europe. In hopes of decluttering my apartment, I decided to read a (random) chapter of each book I have at home and give away the books I don’t have an interest in after finishing the chapter. The hope was to donate the rejected books to a local cat café that sells donated books for $1 to help with the care of their cats. … I should mention I have yet to find a book I am willing to part with… I guess I should be thankful for all the good books shared by my neighbors.

One book in particular led me to search for a book not currently in my possession–On Love by Alain de Botton. I enjoyed the book so much that I wanted to read more of de Botton’s clever and entertaining musings. Despite the desire to read more, I told myself it would be counterproductive to bring home another book when I am trying to declutter. So, the best path forward was to go to the library!

I had been meaning to visit the Central Brooklyn Public Library right off of Prospect Park for years… just never found the time to go between the pandemic, and law school, and bar prep. Surprisingly, registering for a library card was super simple (just needed ID!)

I quickly registered online and walked to the library to get my first Library Card (since moving to New York City). I was also lucky to find the Art of Travel fairly quickly on the second floor. The whole affair took twenty minutes from entering to leaving the library. While it wasn’t too hot and I brought a picnic blanket, I decided it would be nice to take my latest read to wander around Vanderbilt Ave and get an afternoon coffee at Caffé de Martini.

Friday craving for burgers

THE CARNARY, crown heights

The Canary has been open for a bit and came as a recommendation from a friend who liked going there for dates. Coming home from work this Friday I had a massive craving for a good burger. It is an unusual craving for me as my stomach is a bit sensitive towards beef. A quick search for a neighborhood spot turned up The Canary. Off I went and I was not disappointed. Not that I know what an authentic one is like, but it definitely drew inspiration from an Irish pub but The service team was absolutely lovely and so attentive. I started with a cocktail, the Gardner, and a Smashburger with chips (fries). The gin cocktail was refreshing and perfect for this particular summer evening.

*FALL**-ing for Brooklyn*

small businesses I miss dearly

BUTTER & SCOTCH, crown heights

This Crown Heights bar is run by a two ladies who are fierce feminists! They donate $1 of all cocktails served to Planned Parenthood and continues to serve the community the best they can by promoting other justice causes. The desserts are also delish~ one of the founders won the Brooklyn Pie Bake-Off in 2010 and has only added more yummy treats to her arsenal! I am always a sucker for the sundaes! I am a sucker for the sundaes (and the drinks!) The brilliant ladies of Butter & Scotch also have some equally brilliant cookbooks for you to enjoy these treats at home!

BROOKLYN TEA, bedford stuyvesant

Brooklyn Tea is a black-owned tea shop that is as much of a tea haven as it is community hot spot. Be sure to check it out and try any one of a number of their quali-tea selection! My personal favorite is the blueberry rooibos. (While they don’t have a cafe open to the public in Brooklyn, you can still find their teas in cafes around the neighborhood.