Not For Tourists Guide to New York City 2019 by Not for Tourists

Author:Not for Tourists
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Not For Tourists
Published: 2017-07-14T16:00:00+00:00

Map 31 • Fort Greene / Clinton Hill

Neighborhood Overview

Map 31

Fort Greene could be the perfect outer borough neighborhood: the population is diverse, it’s close to Manhattan, it’s got a stellar park, tons of restaurants, a farmer’s market, the hippest swap meet on the planet, beautiful tree-and brownstone-lined streets, historic buildings, subway and LIRR access, and a world-class performing arts center. Unfortunately, many people already know this, so rents are increasingly high, but the area still retains a homey, community vibe.

Fort Greene’s landmarks run the gamut from religious to cultural to economic to civic to military. Check out the Underground Railroad murals at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church. In addition to templing Masons, the Brooklyn Masonic Temple also hosts indie concerts. The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) has two live performance spaces, movie theaters, a café (which hosts free shows), plus the “Next Wave” festival of dance, opera, music, and theater. (Also, the Mark Morris Dance Center is just down the block.) The Williamsburg Savings Bank Building is one of the tallest structures in Brooklyn and has now been converted to condos. The Brooklyn Navy Yard now houses businesses as well as Steiner Studios. Shoppers and those who need the soul-sucking DMV flock to the hulking, commercial Atlantic Terminal Mall, which sits above a massive Long Island Railroad Station.

On weekends, hilly Fort Greene Park is rollicking with a farmer’s market, playgrounds, cricket, soccer, and local community groups. Just a few blocks away, Brooklyn Flea is a major shopping (and eating!) destination, complete with tons of Etsy-type crafts, vendors, and enough food to fill up a year’s worth of blog entries.

But that’s only half the story, because Fort Greene’s “sister” neighborhood, Clinton Hill, has a lot going for it, namely a proximity to the amenities of Fort Greene with fewer crowds. Clinton Hill hosts bucolic St. Joseph’s College and the Pratt Institute, whose grounds are home to both sculpture art and a Power Plant. Several historic churches also dot the Clinton Hill landscape, which is filled with beautiful brownstones as well as some massive single-family homes on Washington Street.

Clinton Hill is home to an African community that has set up a number of restaurants and shops in the neighborhood, and it’s also home to a whole row of artist’s studios on Lexington Avenue. And film shoots—that peculiar New York City metric of neighborhood self-worth—are a regular occurrence in Clinton Hill. As if that weren’t enough, you know Clinton Hill has clearly arrived when local coffee/food nexus Choice Market had its BLT profiled by Food Network.

Frank’s, Alibi, and Stonehome are all great places to grab a drink before or after a movie at BAM Rose Cinemas or a performance at the Masonic Hall. Hanson Dry focuses on cocktails. Farther afield, The Fulton Grand is a nice option.

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