The Observer's Brookyn Living - Spring 2011

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THE NEW YORK OBSERVER

Brooklyn LivingSpring 2011

HBO ACROSS

THE BRIDGE

BROOKLYN REAL ESTATE

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TRAVEL OUT OF THE CITY INTO OUR FAVORITE

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BROOKYN 2011 Cover.indd 1 4/21/11 6:08:02 PM

park slope

Janice Cimberg

David Cobell

Esther Hickman

Peter Noonan

Charlie Ruoff

Julie Rhinehart

Bette Cunningham

Ken Brady

Wendy Stephenson

Maria Ryan

WelCoMe HoMe Bklyn. Excl. This Rosario Candela bldg is tops in service and the C line sprawls over 4BR, 3.5 baths, FDR, and large EIK. Prewar details incl hardwood floors, moldings and a gracious layout. Maint: $2,900. $2.2M. WEB# 1213495.Libby Ryan 718-399-4103

NoTHING CoMparesBklyn. Excl. Gorgeous and grand. Renovated landmark, limestone TH. 6 lrg BRs, 3 bath. 3 stories + 2 story extension, fnshd bsmnt, wrap grdn, 2-3 car prkng. Near Prospect Pk, express trains, Botanical Grdn. $1.78M. WEB# 1194505.Lee Solomon 718-399-4105

loVelY, sUNNY ToWNHoUse Park Slope. Excl. Gorg orig detail & bountiful sun complement soaring ceils & wonderful flow of gracious 2-family TH currently used as 1. Renov w/CAC on top 2 flrs. Great loc close to shopping and transp. $1.749M. WEB# 1209188.Sue Plotz 718-399-4122

CeNTer slope BeaUTY Park Slope. Excl. Handsome brick townhouse with detailed parlor floor, 2 wbfp, formal dining, sunny kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths and finished basement. $1.7M. WEB# 1207533.Jeffery Welch 718-399-4132Libby Ryan 718-399-4103

DeTaIleD DelIGHT oN MoNTGoMerY plPark Slope. Excl. Rarely avail parlor flr Co-op. 3 dec fplcs, MBR w/skylight & balc, pocket doors w/leaded glass, beamed ceil, parquet flr. Storg, laundry in basement. $1.195M. WEB# 1205786. Jane Dawson 718-399-4143Trish Martin 212-317-3639

perFeCT loCaTIoN aND serVICesCentral Park Slope. Excl. High flr corner 2BR, 1 bath in Art Deco FSB. 4 expos. Lrg LR/DR. Wndwd dbl-galley kit w/storage. XL MBR. Mt incl H/HW & electric. $759K. WEB# 1212118.Eileen Richter 718-399-4109Janice Cimberg 718-399-4110

park slope CoNDoPark Slope. Excl. 2BR, 2 bath, outdoor space, large wndws sun the entire space, CAC, chef’s kitchen, master suite, marble bath with Jacuzzi, W/D in unit.. $729K. WEB# 1198062.Eileen Richter 718-399-4109Aldo Valmon-Clarke 718-399-4156

ClassIC preWar Co-opPPW. Excl. Sprawling Co-op hi above Prospect Park. Elegance and space w/mod aesthetics. 4 lrg BRs and 3.5 baths, all w/direct Park views. LR/DR is 47’ long and huge EIK is beautifully renov. Maint: $3,900. $3.495M. WEB# 1213474.Libby Ryan 718-399-4103

BeaUTIFUl DITMas park HoMe Ditmas Park. Excl. Lovingly maintained, 3 stories, fnshd English bsmnt (poss legal comm rental), currently recording studio. 5BR, 2.5 baths, EIK, FDR, huge LR, abundant clsts, & driveway w/sep garg. $1.299M. WEB# 1182141.Jeffery Welch 718-399-4132

We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

Bill Sheppard

Jill Braver

Phyllis Norton-Towers

Aileen Truesdale

Catherine Zito

Micha Hendel

Bill Duke

Angela Ferrante

Debbie Zolan

Natalie Rabaa


ClassIC ToWNHoUse, CoUNTrY CHarMBklyn Hts. Excl. Sophisticated 25’ wide home. Orig details thru-out, hi ceils, marble mantles, wide plank floors, 1830s hardware & 3 wbfps. Elegant parlor & FDR, 2 full flrs of BRs & large lndscpd grdn & patio. $3.95M. WEB# 1214225.Rhea Cohen 718-858-5908

MaNHaTTaN aND HarBor VIeWs Bklyn Hts. Excl. 1846 Greek revival. All original details. Fireplaces, ceiling and crown moldings. Lovely garden. Beautifully preserved and very special. Secluded North Heights. $3.8M. WEB# 1206356.Brian Lehner 718-858-5423

GarDeN plaCe TUDorBklyn Hts. Excl. Single family TH on Garden Place. Renovated thoroughly and carefully with highest quality materials and craftsmanship. Classic details throughout. Functional and easy to maintain. $3.6M WEB# 726299.Brian Lehner 718-858-5423

preWar ClassIC seVeN Bklyn Hts. Excl. Sprawling 4BR, 3 bath Co-op in elev bldg on quiet tree-lined Central Heights street. LR with wbfp. Common rfdk, basement laundry and storage. $1.495M. WEB# 1167586.Nancy Giddins 718-858-3914Lisa Beck 718-858-2703

rarelY aVaIlaBle Bklyn Hts. Excl. Classic prewar 3BR, 2 bath Co-op. Top flr, elev bldg, coveted block. 3 sun-filled exposures, skyline views. Live-in super, lndry, storage. $1.4M. WEB# 1190334.Jill Seligson Braver 718-858-5905

BroWNsToNe IN HIsTorIC DIsTrICTProspect Lefferts. Excl. 20’ wide with original details and lovely light. Upgrades are needed, but great bones. New furnace, 3-4BR, English basement, south garden. Beautiful block near Prospect Park. $875K. WEB# 1202156.Bill Sheppard 718-858-4632

DYker HeIGHTs DelIGHTBay Ridge. Excl. Charming 2-story single fam, semi-detached home on coveted residential blk. Sun porch, lrg garden, 3BR, full bsmnt. Plenty of on-street parking. $640K. WEB# 1207316.Jill Seligson Braver 718-858-5905Patricia Cannon 718-858-3641

skYVIeW TUrN-keY aparTMeNTBklyn Hts. Excl. Heights F/S prewar Co-op, mint, sun-filled 1 bedroom with dining room (convertible). New designer kitchen and bath, pets ok, roof deck, 5 closets, granite counters, stainless steel appliances. $635K. WEB# 1138535Phyllis Norton-Towers 718-858-5739

BesT oF all WorlDs Bklyn Hts. Excl. 5-story, 4 family. Unique opportunity to acquire a high income-producing property & live lavishly, too. Lrg rms, beautiful proportions. $2.75M. WEB# 1197530.Jill Seligson Braver 718-858-5905Brian Lehner 718-858-5423

BrooklYN HeIGHTs

BHS SPREAD.indd 2 4/21/11 6:06:55 PM

park slope

Janice Cimberg

David Cobell

Esther Hickman

Peter Noonan

Charlie Ruoff

Julie Rhinehart

Bette Cunningham

Ken Brady

Wendy Stephenson

Maria Ryan

WelCoMe HoMe Bklyn. Excl. This Rosario Candela bldg is tops in service and the C line sprawls over 4BR, 3.5 baths, FDR, and large EIK. Prewar details incl hardwood floors, moldings and a gracious layout. Maint: $2,900. $2.2M. WEB# 1213495.Libby Ryan 718-399-4103

NoTHING CoMparesBklyn. Excl. Gorgeous and grand. Renovated landmark, limestone TH. 6 lrg BRs, 3 bath. 3 stories + 2 story extension, fnshd bsmnt, wrap grdn, 2-3 car prkng. Near Prospect Pk, express trains, Botanical Grdn. $1.78M. WEB# 1194505.Lee Solomon 718-399-4105

loVelY, sUNNY ToWNHoUse Park Slope. Excl. Gorg orig detail & bountiful sun complement soaring ceils & wonderful flow of gracious 2-family TH currently used as 1. Renov w/CAC on top 2 flrs. Great loc close to shopping and transp. $1.749M. WEB# 1209188.Sue Plotz 718-399-4122

CeNTer slope BeaUTY Park Slope. Excl. Handsome brick townhouse with detailed parlor floor, 2 wbfp, formal dining, sunny kitchen, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths and finished basement. $1.7M. WEB# 1207533.Jeffery Welch 718-399-4132Libby Ryan 718-399-4103

DeTaIleD DelIGHT oN MoNTGoMerY plPark Slope. Excl. Rarely avail parlor flr Co-op. 3 dec fplcs, MBR w/skylight & balc, pocket doors w/leaded glass, beamed ceil, parquet flr. Storg, laundry in basement. $1.195M. WEB# 1205786. Jane Dawson 718-399-4143Trish Martin 212-317-3639

perFeCT loCaTIoN aND serVICesCentral Park Slope. Excl. High flr corner 2BR, 1 bath in Art Deco FSB. 4 expos. Lrg LR/DR. Wndwd dbl-galley kit w/storage. XL MBR. Mt incl H/HW & electric. $759K. WEB# 1212118.Eileen Richter 718-399-4109Janice Cimberg 718-399-4110

park slope CoNDoPark Slope. Excl. 2BR, 2 bath, outdoor space, large wndws sun the entire space, CAC, chef’s kitchen, master suite, marble bath with Jacuzzi, W/D in unit.. $729K. WEB# 1198062.Eileen Richter 718-399-4109Aldo Valmon-Clarke 718-399-4156

ClassIC preWar Co-opPPW. Excl. Sprawling Co-op hi above Prospect Park. Elegance and space w/mod aesthetics. 4 lrg BRs and 3.5 baths, all w/direct Park views. LR/DR is 47’ long and huge EIK is beautifully renov. Maint: $3,900. $3.495M. WEB# 1213474.Libby Ryan 718-399-4103

BeaUTIFUl DITMas park HoMe Ditmas Park. Excl. Lovingly maintained, 3 stories, fnshd English bsmnt (poss legal comm rental), currently recording studio. 5BR, 2.5 baths, EIK, FDR, huge LR, abundant clsts, & driveway w/sep garg. $1.299M. WEB# 1182141.Jeffery Welch 718-399-4132


Bill Sheppard

Jill Braver

Phyllis Norton-Towers

Aileen Truesdale

Catherine Zito

Micha Hendel

Bill Duke

Angela Ferrante

Debbie Zolan

Natalie Rabaa


ClassIC ToWNHoUse, CoUNTrY CHarMBklyn Hts. Excl. Sophisticated 25’ wide home. Orig details thru-out, hi ceils, marble mantles, wide plank floors, 1830s hardware & 3 wbfps. Elegant parlor & FDR, 2 full flrs of BRs & large lndscpd grdn & patio. $3.95M. WEB# 1214225.Rhea Cohen 718-858-5908

MaNHaTTaN aND HarBor VIeWs Bklyn Hts. Excl. 1846 Greek revival. All original details. Fireplaces, ceiling and crown moldings. Lovely garden. Beautifully preserved and very special. Secluded North Heights. $3.8M. WEB# 1206356.Brian Lehner 718-858-5423

GarDeN plaCe TUDorBklyn Hts. Excl. Single family TH on Garden Place. Renovated thoroughly and carefully with highest quality materials and craftsmanship. Classic details throughout. Functional and easy to maintain. $3.6M WEB# 726299.Brian Lehner 718-858-5423

preWar ClassIC seVeN Bklyn Hts. Excl. Sprawling 4BR, 3 bath Co-op in elev bldg on quiet tree-lined Central Heights street. LR with wbfp. Common rfdk, basement laundry and storage. $1.495M. WEB# 1167586.Nancy Giddins 718-858-3914Lisa Beck 718-858-2703

rarelY aVaIlaBle Bklyn Hts. Excl. Classic prewar 3BR, 2 bath Co-op. Top flr, elev bldg, coveted block. 3 sun-filled exposures, skyline views. Live-in super, lndry, storage. $1.4M. WEB# 1190334.Jill Seligson Braver 718-858-5905

BroWNsToNe IN HIsTorIC DIsTrICTProspect Lefferts. Excl. 20’ wide with original details and lovely light. Upgrades are needed, but great bones. New furnace, 3-4BR, English basement, south garden. Beautiful block near Prospect Park. $875K. WEB# 1202156.Bill Sheppard 718-858-4632

DYker HeIGHTs DelIGHTBay Ridge. Excl. Charming 2-story single fam, semi-detached home on coveted residential blk. Sun porch, lrg garden, 3BR, full bsmnt. Plenty of on-street parking. $640K. WEB# 1207316.Jill Seligson Braver 718-858-5905Patricia Cannon 718-858-3641

skYVIeW TUrN-keY aparTMeNTBklyn Hts. Excl. Heights F/S prewar Co-op, mint, sun-filled 1 bedroom with dining room (convertible). New designer kitchen and bath, pets ok, roof deck, 5 closets, granite counters, stainless steel appliances. $635K. WEB# 1138535Phyllis Norton-Towers 718-858-5739

BesT oF all WorlDs Bklyn Hts. Excl. 5-story, 4 family. Unique opportunity to acquire a high income-producing property & live lavishly, too. Lrg rms, beautiful proportions. $2.75M. WEB# 1197530.Jill Seligson Braver 718-858-5905Brian Lehner 718-858-5423

BrooklYN HeIGHTs

BHS SPREAD.indd 3 4/21/11 6:07:25 PM

4

Although only separated by a borough and a bridge, the new world of HBO in Brooklyn is an entirely separate entity

from Carrie Bradshaw and her Sex and the City Manhattanites. Shows like Bored to Death and Boardwalk Empire are a part of the current boom in on-location fi lming in Brooklyn.

Bored to Death is the brainchild of Brooklyn writer Jonathan Ames, who has named the shows protagonist, played by Jason Schwartzman, after himself. In the show, Ames is a struggling

Brooklyn writer who is in the process of perpetually spinning his wheels on his second novel. Inspired by a Raymond Chandler detective story, Ames poses as a private detective on Craigslist and eventually fi nds himself in all kinds of misadventures across the boroughs. The show plays like a classic fi lm noir but with pot instead of cigarettes and reserved Woody Allen neuroses instead of full-on sleuthing.

The show’s Ames lives in Fort Greene, but that’s not to say that the show doesn’t readily jump around Brooklyn. From problems with Russian gangsters

at Tatiana Café in Brighton Beach to struggling writers at Ozzie’s Coffee & Tea in Park Slope, the show works as a visual tour of Brooklyn. On Bored to Death’s Web site is a “Bored in Brooklyn” feature where one can view, episode by episode, what landmarks and establishments of Brooklyn are featured, complete with a quote from the real Ames describing why they chose to feature it.

One of the show’s great strengths is the interplay between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Whereas shows like Sex and the City or Friends truly treat Manhattan as an island, Bored to Death is driven by the

BROOKLYNBY ANDREW GUARINI

HBO ACRO SS THE BRIDGET H E N E T W O R K T R A V E L S O U T O F T H E C I T Y I N T O O U R F A V O R I T E B O R O U G H

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Bored to Death cast.

BROOKLYN EDIT.indd 4 4/21/11 5:54:25 PM

LaPlacaCohen 212-675-4106 Publication: N

Y Observer M

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pril 27, 2011 7.875 x 9.75 4C Mag

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Brooklyn museum.indd 1 4/21/11 6:10:14 PM

LaPlacaCohen 212-675-4106 Publication: N

Y Observer M

agazine Insertion date: A

pril 27, 2011 7.875 x 9.75 4C Mag

An Architectural Environment by Situ Studio

718-638-5000 www.brooklynmuseum.orgExpanded hours – open until 10pm Thursday & Friday

A space-altering, site-specif ic architectural installation that reimagines the newly renovated Great Hall as the place for all to be

ON VIEW NOW

Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 11am – 6pm; Thursday & Friday 11am – 10pm • 200 Eastern Parkway Subway: 2 3 to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum • On-Site Parking

reOrder

Presenting Sponsor

HI-MACS® acrylic solid surfacing is generously donated by LG Hausys

Sunbrella® fabric has been generously donated by Glen Raven Custom Fabrics

Sunbrella® is a registered trademark of Glen Raven, Inc.

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6

vast cultural differences that can arise even between places that are in close geographical proximity. “Nothing will ever have the energy of Manhattan and I think that’s why people come, they come for the energy, and some leave because of the energy,” said Schwartzman to The Wall Street Journal about preparing for the show. “But with Brooklyn, I was able to go into Manhattan and then come home, and I felt like I had a little bit of room to stretch out, calm down a bit and bring my pulse rate down.”

The character of Ames is comfortable within Brooklyn, where he spends time with his best friend, Ray, played by Zach Galifianakis, who bikes to the set from his place in Williamsburg. In Brooklyn, Ames wears corduroy casual suits and can mope in isolation with his weed and white wine. In Manhattan, Ames switches to Brooks Brothers and cocktails while he deals with varying degrees of New York stereotypes. These include, but certainly aren’t limited to, horny and entitled NYU undergrads, zany film directors (Jim Jarmusch guest-stars as himself) and Ames’ aging editor George

Christopher, played with an ideal mix of snark and insecurity by Ted Danson.

When Danson decides to join Ames on his detective adventures midway through season one, you see his desire to engage in the youth and vitality that is the emerging Brooklyn. If you’re living in the city and watching this show, it’s hard to not want to get involved, too. Season three will be start this year.

Whereas Bored to Death uses Brooklyn for humor, juxtaposition and irony, HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, which recently finished its first season, uses Brooklyn as a foundation for a sprawling, violent tale of crime and corruption in the Prohibition era. Set in the Roaring Twenties of

Atlantic City, the show deals with one Nucky Thompson, played by Brooklyn native Steve Buscemi; it’s a slightly true, slightly dramatized rendering of real-life figure Nucky Johnson. Though a strait-laced politician on the outside, Thompson rises to influence and riches through strong armed mob dealings and the smuggling of alcohol. Tommy guns, speakeasies and vicious gore abound.

But the show’s initial and continuing stunner is the re-creation of the Atlantic City boardwalk in Brooklyn’s Greenpoint; it spans 300 feet. Costing an estimated $5 million to build, the boardwalk was part of the pilot’s $18 million gamble that paid off when the show was renewed for a second season. The boardwalk is the centerpiece in the meticulous period reconstruction that gives Boardwalk Empire the feeling of an extensive cinematic endeavor.

The show’s creator and one of its writers, Terence Winter of The Sopranos, is from Marine Park, Brooklyn, and cites the Greenpoint setting as a financial and logistical measure. The depressed real estate market led to a 15 percent larger

tax break for the underdeveloped Greenpoint lot and in prior locations, Winter was frustrated by inconsistencies.

“Our first stop was Atlantic City, which makes sense, but, realistically, there were maybe five or six camera angles that would work for the 1920s,” Winter told the New York Post. “Anywhere you turn now there are dozens of things—casinos, hotels, etc., that can’t be there.” Another advantage of the Greenpoint set was the size, which allows for cast and crew to be dressed, made up and fed without spilling onto the streets.

Apart from the boardwalk the crew makes use of the surrounding areas of Brooklyn as well. The streets around the boardwalk are used for exterior shots and the Greenpoint concert venue Warsaw is sometimes turned into a faux nightclub for the show, complete with a stage and 1920s décor. For special effects on the boardwalk, metal shipping containers were stacked 20 feet high and covered in a blue screen, allowing Brooklyn-based effects team Brainstorm Digital to re-create appropriate Atlantic City backdrops. Even the costumes are influenced by what costume designer John A. Dunn saw in the Brooklyn Museum. A premiere date for the show’s second season has not yet been announced.

Although Manhattan will always be a desired and popular filming locale, the reality remains that on-location shooting there requires finances and resources. Brooklyn has become a unique alternative for both film and television productions to maintain some of that Manhattan flavor while creating the feel of something different entirely at a lower price.

So if you can’t walk the stairs of a million-dollar brownstone or patrol the 1920s Atlantic City boardwalk by way of Brooklyn, at least there’s the vicarious worlds of HBO on Sunday nights.

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F or vintage and antique lovers, few places on earth hold as much promise and potential thrill

as a flea market. Since April 2008, Brooklyn Flea has been New York’s premier market, featuring more than 150 vendors of furniture, antiques and vintage goods, as well art and jewelry from local artisans and a mouth-watering selection of fresh food. Founded by Brownstoner.com creator Jonathan Butler and Eric Demby, former communications director for Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the Flea has attracted thousands of visitors to its Fort Greene location over the past three years and will likely tempt many more to its new Sunday setting in Williamsburg, which opened on April 3.

The Brooklyn Flea grew out of what seemed to Butler to be an obvious gap in Brooklyn’s commerce culture.

“I’m a lifelong New Yorker and was a weekly visitor to the Chelsea Flea Market,” said Butler. “It just seemed silly to me that Brooklyn was such a dynamic, creative place and didn’t have a flea market of any critical mass.”

Three years after beginning his successful Web site Brownstoner, a blog dedicated to exploring Brooklyn’s real estate, renovations and restaurants, Butler decided to use the site as an online platform to organize a Brooklyn flea market. Demby soon got involved and his exhaustive knowledge of Brooklyn combined with Butler’s powerful online following made the market an instant success. Close to 100 vendors signed up within the first 48 hours

of its announcement and more than 20,000 visitors attended its opening weekend, proving that Butler’s intuition was spot on— if there’s one thing Brooklynites love, it’s a flea.

Brooklyn Flea’s new location, alongside the breezy

East River with the Manhattan skyline as its backdrop, continues to attract growing numbers of vendors, with more than 10,000 applicants eager to show their wares to the burgeoning summer crowds.

“We like to think of ourselves as a small-business incubator,” Butler said. “Whether you’re someone who makes sweaters or sandwiches the market can be a first step in trying out your product and getting feedback.” While currently around 80 percent of the vendors at each location overlap, Butler and Demby plan to let the Williamsburg location develop its own personality by bringing in more merchants from the neighborhood.

New vendors are not the only change noticeable at the Williamsburg venue.

“The crowd here is a little younger and with more tourists,” said David Denosowicz, one-half of the husband and wife team behind hand-printed

T-shirt and jewelry company Loyalty and Blood. “Fort Greene has more of a neighborhood feel.” Situated just five minutes from the Bedford L stop, the market is fast becoming a mecca for Manhattanites and tourists looking to hunt for authentic Brooklyn bargains that don’t necessitate a trip into the heart of Brooklyn. In this way the Williamsburg location represents a perfect marriage between city convenience and Brooklyn leisure.

The market is also a local hangout for the Ray-Ban-clad hipster set that comprises most of Williamsburg’s current demographic. NYU students, young professionals and fashionistas waft between the stalls looking for the perfect fedora, $10 boots or vintage telephone for their studio apartments. By contrast, the Fort Greene location’s typical shoppers are families.

Vintage home furnishings vendor Caitlin Cowger—who describes her

A thrifter’s paradise sets up shop

caption

By Coco Mellors

Brooklyn Flea

Williamsburgmoves to

The great Middle West

Stall at the Brooklyn Flea.

co

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rsDough’s fresh

Hibiscus donuts.


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stall the Great Middle West as “if grandma’s attic had a baby with grandpa’s garage”—likes the diversity between the two locales.

“It’s great having all the young people here,” Cowger said. “In Fort Greene they buy more furniture, whereas here they love to buy all the small, kitschy houseware stuff. It’s cool to have both.” Brooklyn Flea is not only renowned for its array of vintage and antique goods but its vast offering of delectable, local cuisine. The Flea was the first to popularize food as a central part of the flea market experience and has since drastically changed the game of flea market food vending.

“Whether or not to include food was an important decision that changed what an outdoor market is,” Butler said. “We’ve really become the new model that markets emulate.”

Butler and Demby chose an opportune time to expand into gastronomy; the Brooklyn food movement began rapidly picking up steam during the same period as the market’s arrival and continues to boom. From Pizza Moto’s fresh wood-fired pies to Porchetta’s hearty pork sandwiches and crispy potatoes to Asiadog’s oriental spin on the classic American hot dog, the market showcases some of Brooklyn’s finest and most original

foods at a flea market’s reasonable prices. The market also caters to those with a sweet tooth, offering Blue Marble Ice Cream or oven-warm donuts from Dough in exotic flavors like Hibiscus and Dulce de Leche. Finally, shoppers can wash it all down with handmade, artisanal sodas in unconventional flavors like cucumber, lime and sea salt from Brooklyn’s Soda Works.

The market offers a cheaper alternative to nascent businesses hoping to develop a following.

“For $100 a day you can go out there and see if the world likes what you’re doing rather than signing a lease for a year,” explained Butler. The vendors also appreciate the intimacy

of the setting. “It’s great to actually chat, hang out and break bread with the people who are supporting your brand,” said Mathew Tilden, creator of SCRATCHBread, whose rustic plates of fresh mozzarella, roasted garlic, seasonal greens and crusty sourdough are a favorite among shoppers.

With a new convenient location in Williamsburg and ever-increasing numbers of shoppers and vendors eager to get in, the Brooklyn Flea is one of Brooklyn’s fastest-growing businesses and the place to shop, eat and be seen this summer.

View of the skyline and

Brooklyn Flea.

“like if grandma’s attic had a baby with grandpa’s

garage.”

ScratchBread at the flea market.

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BrooklynBy Rachel MoRgan

T he Brooklyn real estate market is smoldering, brokers say.

The market is “very hot,” said Cornelia H. Van Amburg of Stribling & Associates.

“Well-priced apartments sell after the first open house or week.”

Corcoran senior associate Eve Levine agrees.

“The Brooklyn market is on fire,” she said. “Properties are moving left and right, and Brooklyn is becoming a first choice for many buyers.”

Fire seems to be the theme. When asked how she would describe the Brooklyn market, Jamella Swift, Senior Associate Broker at Citi Habitats put it simply.

“FIRE! The people on the island [Manhattan] have found out our secret and are moving here in droves for rentals and for sales,” she said.

Jerry Minsky, senior vice president at Prudential Douglas Elliman, sees it as more of a comeback.

“In conjunction with the New York City

market, the Brooklyn market is experiencing a paced and steady comeback,” Minsky said. “Specific to our region, [the Brownstone and downtown markets] are growing as a result of the population boom that we have been continuing to experience since the early 2000s.”

Libby Ryan, a senior vice president at Brown Harris Stevens, also views the market in Brooklyn as coming back.

“The historic areas of Brooklyn are seeing a resurgence of interest by buyers recovering from the effects of the financial crisis,” Ryan said. “Even in the higher price ranges, we have had bidding wars and seen houses go over the asking price. Also, the difference between Brooklyn prices and Manhattan prices has narrowed.”

Jessica Buchman, a senior vice president at Corcoran, attributes the area’s popularity on amenities and quality of buildings and developments.

“Brooklyn is and remains one of the hottest markets,” she said. “Everyone seems to want to be here. Buyers talk about the wholesome vibe, the low-key pace and the sophisticated amenities. The neighborhoods are as distinct as they are in Manhattan and all have winning attributes. We have gorgeous

This borough emerges as the place to be

buzzScratchBread at the

flea market

a four-bedroom co-op at 9 Prospect Park West in Park Slope, Brooklyn, listed at $3,495,000 by Brown harris Stevens senior vice president libby Ryan.


Yoga.indd 1 4/21/11 6:16:25 PM

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full-service buildings with water views in Williamsburg, Park block mansions in Park Slope and Fort Greene, prewar cozy co-ops in Prospect Heights and Clinton Hill. The housing stock is remarkable.”

Phyllis Norton-Towers of Brown Harris Stevens Brooklyn names three main attributes for a strong

market. “The market is strong due

to the lack of inventory, continued influx of young professionals and international clientele,” she said.

Sarah Burke, executive vice president/director of sales at Prudential Douglas Elliman, said the variety of neighborhood within the borough is another major draw.

“Each neighborhood seems to have its own special something,” she said. “The ever-changing growth of Williamsburg, the tree-lined brownstone streets of Brooklyn Heights, the culture in and around Prospect Park.”

Brooklyn is now serious competition for Manhattan, some brokers say.

“Brooklyn has come into its own and is now a preferred destination,” said Halstead Property’s executive director of sales for Brooklyn, Roberta Benzilio. “It will soon rival Manhattan in status, style and maybe even sensibility. There are many different neighborhoods to choose from to fit literally every budget, size and lifestyle.”

In addition to traditionally popular areas, newer luxury buildings are starting to take

center stage in this popular borough. The new high-rise Arias, in the heart of Park Slope, offers a degree of luxury to the borough. This boutique 12-story building features a professionally decorated leasing center and model unit by Cathy Hobbs, founder of apherea inc. and former host and executive producer of Metro Residential TV. Arias is joined by the Residences at the Williamsburg, 175 Kent, Factory Lofts and Olive Park.

Then you have One Hanson Place, also known as the Williamsburg Savings Bank, a historic landmark. One Hanson is surrounded by some of Brooklyn’s finest cultural institutions— the

Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Historic converts seem to be an emerging trend in the area; Kirkman Lofts was converted from a historic soap factory, Kirkman & Son, at 37 Bridge St. The development features unique floor plans, the original steel silos and even three townhouse units.

Dumbo’s new rental building, 25 Washington, is another new hot spot, firmly establishing the neighborhood as an area that is attracting potential buyers and renters en masse.

Downtown Brooklyn is another hopping area, with developments like the condo towers Oro and Toren, and rental buildings like the Brooklyner, 80 DeKalb and BKLYN Gold.

Brokers pick the most iconic Brooklynites

Barry ManilowChris Rock

Woody AllenSpike Lee

Jay ZAl Capone

Jackie GleasonJean Michel Basquiat

Barbara StreisandThomas Wolfe

Marty MarkowitzTupper Thomas

Neil SimonBugsy Siegel

Lou ReedBeverly SillsJoan Rivers

Rita HayworthAaron CoplandHoward SchultzHoward CosellJerry Seinfeld Larry David

Notorious B.I.G.

Clockwise from top left: A townhouse listed by Corcoran senior vice president Jessica Buchman at 409 Eighth St. in Park Slope for $3,195,000; a penthouse listing at 355A Halsey St. in Bedford Stuyvesant by Citi Habitats senior associate broker Jamella Swift for $415,000; a co-op at 404 6th Ave. in Park Slope, listed by Corcoran senior vice president Jessica Buchman for $849,000.


©2011. An independently owned and operated member of the Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc. is a service mark of Prudential Insurance Company of America. Equal Housing Opportunity. All material presented herein is intended for information purposes only. While, this information is believed to be correct, it is represented subject to errors, omissions, changes or withdrawal without notice. All property outlines and square footage in property listings are approximate.

LONG ISLAND MANHATTAN BROOKLYN QUEENS THE HAMPTONS THE NORTH FORK RIVERDALE/BRONX WESTCHESTER/PUTNAM

FANTASTIC VALUE440 Kent Avenue, #6E • $650,000 • 1,246 sf 2 bedroom, 2 bath home in top Williamsburg condo. Brilliant light, excellent condition, great closets, wood floors, granite kitchen & modern appliances. 24-hour doorman. Pets ok. Web# 1014231. Diego F. Plaza, VP 212.350.8521

VERy CHARMINGBrooklyn Heights • $829,000 • European first floor with townhouse-like feel this spacious 2 bedroom + small home office/den is in a prewar co-op. The apartment has been lovingly restored to its early elegance. Web# 1344878. Ellen Rick, SVP 212.206.2814

PURE LOFTDumbo • $3,100,000 • A rare, luminous space in Dumbo, 3,200 sf on the top floor of an 1896 former iron works factory building. 2.5 baths, washer/dryer, 19 windows North, South, East, West. Spectacular kitchen. Condo. Web# 1346356. Steve Halprin & K. Landers 212.206.2803 I Jan Hashey, EVP 212.206.2804

SOARING CATHEDRAL CEILINGSEast Williamsburg • $499,000 • Converted school, 2 bedrooms with mezzanines, parking spot, balcony, walk-in closet, oversized windows, bike room and storage space makes this apartment a delight. Steps to ‘M’ train. Web# 1338963. Borko Zubac 718.486.4404

SPRAWLING GARDEN DUPLEXGreenpoint/Williamsburg • $729,000 • Approximately 1,900 sf, 2 bedrooms, easily 3, with 3 full baths and private garden, 30x20 ft, short walk to either Bedford or the Graham Ave ‘L’ train stop or Nassau Ave ‘G’ train. Web# 1294759. Borko Zubac 718.486.4404

PARK SLOPE’S PREMIER ADDRESSPark Slope • $3,499,999 • Emery Roth designed 11-room duplex towering over Prospect Park in the areas premier white glove residence. Offering grand rooms, wood burning fireplaces, endless views, and endless possibilities. Web# 1335917. Marc Wisotsky 718.840.2011 I Jackie Lew 718.840.2012

WISHES CAN COME TRUECarroll Gardens • $2,999,000 • Put this on your “must see” list. Located on one of the most coveted blocks in Carroll Gardens this brownstone offers endless pos-sibilities for the creative eye. Call today. Web# 1338096. Immacolata Giocoli 718.935.6137 | 917.569.9881

SPACIOUS AND MINT 3 BEDROOMPark Slope • $1,400,000 • This spacious and mint 3 bedroom plus windowed office, 2 bath prewar apart-ment in prime North Slope has it all including generous proportions and proper dining room. Web# 1340486. Terry Naini 718.780.8110 I 917.841.1826

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16

Manhattan can’t be beat if you’re looking for bright lights, swerving taxis and 4 a.m. last calls, but where to go if

you’re a parent wanting to raise your kids in the city? The mom survey says Brooklyn.

“The culture is all about stoop-sitting in Brooklyn,” said Karen Connell, founder and editor of the Web site A Child Grows. “You end up hanging out and talking to people. People amble by and they stop to talk. When I sit on my stoop, I know 80 percent of the people on my block.”

Connell found an even closer community in the moms group she joined.

“There were moms coming in and out, sharing information on everything from the best pediatricians to great mommy-and-me classes,” said Connell. “Some moms were leaving or had never been able to come at all, so they would never get this information. I panicked that this information was being lost, almost like an oral history disappearing.”

So in 2006 she started A Child Grows, which is dedicated to news, advice and business and service reviews for parents. While the site began as a resource for the 15 moms in Connell’s moms group, by the end of the first month, A Child Grows had more than 100 readers and subscribers.

“It’s continued to grow organically over the past four years,” said

Connell. “We have a pediatrician writing for the Web site now, as well as parent coaches, consultants, doulas and professional organizers. We provide advice on being a parent on [both] the national and micro level.”

Connell, who has two youngsters herself, Birch and Willow, can’t praise the mom groups that helped her get started enough.

“Moms groups are a huge part of the parenting culture in Brooklyn,” Connell said. “A lot of them are based on the month that babies are born, so if your baby was born in June 2010, you already have 20 friends in your group.”

But moms aren’t the only ones staying home with the baby.

“There are three or four dads groups that are becoming more popular and more attended,” said Connell. “There are lots of stay-at-home dads who are creatives or freelancers and now they’re able to find play dates and other friends in same situation.”

While Child Grows is mostly an online resource, last March, Connell brought

her online community to life at their First-Ever Baby Expo, a daylong

event where parents and kids could learn about local resources, interact with other Brooklyn families, see product and skill demonstrations and attend seminars.

“I had expected 250 people,” Connell said.

“More than 720 people came. It shows that

there are a lot of parents

excited about

using

Brooklyn’s local resources and realizing the incredible quality here.”

Another resource for Brooklyn parents is BabyBites, an online and in-person forum for moms. Its Brooklyn chapter hosts luncheons, seminars, support groups and sample classes.

“We have resources online via our Web site,” said Chana Balk, founder of BabyBites Brooklyn. “We also have events where we bring in experts relevant to new motherhood. We’re not exclusively for new or expectant moms. We’re just trying to help make early mommyhood more reasonable.”

Balk was a lawyer for 10 years before having kids and turning her attentions to BabyBites Brooklyn. Balk also has a new venture, Move It Momma, a fitness program for moms that offers classes in Prospect Park. A former Upper West Sider, Balk was hesitant to make the move to Brooklyn.

“We moved to Brooklyn when our firstborn was a toddler,” said Balk. “There was less cohesiveness among moms on the Upper West Side, but in Brooklyn, everyone knew everyone at the playground.”

Balk also touts Brooklyn’s local amenities as essential to the parenting experience. These resources can come in the form of the seven kids’ retail consignment stores and the several indoor play spaces Brooklyn boasts—but the best amenities the borough has to offer are its natural ones.

“Part of the reason we moved to Brooklyn was because my husband wanted to see trees,” Connell said. “We wanted to be near a park because they’re a great way to have the green space we couldn’t have otherwise.”

It’s not only the parks that are calling kid’s names.

“In the summer and warmer months, we’ll spend hours at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden since it’s only four blocks away,” Balk said.

By Natalie Howard

Chana Balk, the founder of BabyBites Brooklyn.

Brooklyn BabiesThis borough is a haven

for new parents Abound

ScratchBread at the flea market

page 1, top photo: The great Middle West Stall at the Brooklyn Flea. Photo credit Coco Mellors.

page 1, bottom photo: Dough’s fresh Hibiscus donuts. Photo credit Coco Mellors

second page: top photo: View of the skyline and Brooklyn Flea. Photo credit Coco Mellors.

Second page bottom photo: ScratchBread at the flea market. Photo credit Brooklyn Flea.

Real estatepage 1 photo: A four-bedroom co-op at 9 Prospect Park West in Park Slope, Brooklyn listed at $3,495,000 by Brown Harris

Stevens Senior Vice President Libby Ryan.

page 2 photos: Clockwise from top left: A townhouse listed by Corcoran Senior Vice President Jessica Buchman at 409 8th St. in Park Slope for $3,195,000; a penthouse listing at 355A Halsey St. in Bedford Stuyvesant by Citi Habitats Senior Associate Broker

Jamella Swift for $415,000; a co-op at 404 6th Ave. in Park Slope, listed by Corcoran Senior Vice President Jessica Buchman for $849,000.

Baby story.

photo caption: Chana Balk, the founder of BabyBites Brooklyn. Photo credit: BabyBites Brooklyn.

Celebritiespage 1: Clockwise from top left: A-list Brooklynites Alexa Chung, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany, Peter Sarsgaard and

Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Second page: Left: Michelle Williams, right, Adrian Grenier.

Ba

By

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LUXURY CONDO HOME. Cobble Hill Excl. Large 1BR with oversized windows plus wood burning fplc, skylight and CAC in full service doorman building with gym and shuttle service included. $525K. Web#1943571

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SIZZLING LOFT AND CABANA. DUMBO Excl. Enjoy the view from your couch or cabana. 1,217SF luxury loft w/home office, 11’ ceilings, 1.5 baths. Relax and entertain in your private rooftop cabana. $1.25M. Web#1504084

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RENOVATED 2BR WITH PARKING. Kensington Excl. The finest convertible 3BR. Top floor, brilliant sun, new kitchen and bath. 3 exposures, 7 closets,

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“Coney Island and the New York Aquarium are also big draws. It’s nice having Prospect Park as your backyard.”

The abundance of green space and the slower pace of Brooklyn lend themselves well to families, allowing for the time

and the space to raise children.“There’s a lot more value in leisure time and hanging out,” said

Connell. “You don’t have to go to an activity or a birthday party every weekend. The idea that you can pop your kids in the car and it’s no big deal to go somewhere like a park is great.”

Even the feel of Brooklyn parks is unique to the borough. Almost every neighborhood has its own that puts on Halloween parades and Easter egg hunts, but even without extra events, parks are a draw for families.

“You go to a park or a playground and the kids interact and the parents strike up conversation,” Connell said. “People are very open here to meeting people and getting to know them. It’s a smaller community and there are not as many people per capita, so there are more chances of seeing someone again. We often don’t even make play dates. We just go to our neighborhood playground and we usually know at least one child, if not more.”

Kids getting to know each other inevitably means that their moms get to know each other, as well. Fortunately, Balk finds that Brooklyn parents are some of the best.

“In Brooklyn, the parents are much more involved with figuring out how to balance being a parent and working,” Balk said. “The parents are often entrepreneurial and creative. There’s a much more heterogeneous mix of people.”

And Brooklyn allows the opportunity to get to know and become friends with these people.

“The feeling of knowing your neighbors is comforting,” said Connell. “One time, Fresh Direct came to drop something while I was getting my kids ready for bed. I couldn’t hear my doorbell and they were about to leave. but my 70-year-old neighbor told them to wait. She told them she knew my schedule; she knew I was putting the kids to bed.”

But even with its friendly neighbors and abundant parks, the most majestic of parenting communities has a downside. For Connell and Balk, it’s the school system.

“The biggest problem is that our public schools are not as good as public schools on Manhattan,” said Connell. “Schools are overcrowded or are emerging as potentially good schools but they need lots of parents to get involved and be pioneers to revamp them.”

Balk agrees. “The school systems in the city are such a challenge compared

to the suburbs,” said Balk. “They’re a challenge in Brooklyn; they’re a challenge in Manhattan. That’s probably the biggest draw of the suburbs.”

But that’s not enough to dim the luster of Brooklyn.“In Brooklyn, there’s a sense of helping each other, which is crucial,

especially with kids,” said Connell. “It really does take a village.”

Pizza PieGet a taste of Brooklyn’s best pizza at these old and new favorites.

AlligAtor loungeLooking for a late-night pizza fix? Alligator Lounge is open every night until 4 a.m.,

but even more enticing is its buy a drink, get a free pizza offer. That’s right, bargain shoppers, whenever you order any drink, you receive a coupon for a free personal pizza. Their pizzas are made to order in the bar’s brick oven, and you can take a turn on the resident pool table while you wait (600 Metropolitan Ave., 718-809-4440).

Antonio’s PizzADon’t let the lack of decoration fool you; Antonio’s has been serving up classic

Italian fare in Park Slope since 1950. Try their grandma slice, a rectangular thin-crust slice with the cheese layered underneath the sauce instead of on top. Known best for its pizza, Antonio’s also offers cheese steaks, calzones and ravioli, oh my! (318 Flatbush Ave., 917-791-3019).

Di FArA PizzAOpened by Domenico DeMarco, Di Fara’s has been serving up classic New York-

and Sicilian-style pizzas for over 40 years. The pizza palace maintains its consistent quality by never skimping on one main ingredient: DeMarco. All day, every day, DeMarco is the only one to touch the pies, kneading, topping and baking them to perfection. The dining room only seats 12, so try to avoid the dinner rush (1424 Ave. J, 718-258-1367).

grimAlDi’s PizzeriAHit one of Brooklyn’s most famous pizza joints the next time you cross the river.

Located just under the Brooklyn Bridge, Grimaldi’s evokes the feeling of classic pizzerias with its red-and-white-checkered tablecloths and coal-fire brick oven. They only serve whole pies, so bring some friends and plenty of time—Grimaldi’s doesn’t take reservations, and the line to be seated has been known to stretch around the block (19 Old Fulton St., 718-858-4300).

l&B sPumoni gArDensSummer’s just around the corner, so soak up some sun as you polish off your pie

on L&B’s outdoor patio. Try a slice of their famous Sicilian pizza, as seen on the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food, now served up by the fourth generation of the founding Barbati family. It’s no easy feat, but try to save room for dessert. Treat your taste buds to L&B’s namesake spumoni or classic Italian ices (2725 86th St., 718-372-8400).

PAtriciA’s PizzA AnD PAstAWith locations in the Bronx and Riverdale, owners Lou and John Maschi stuck

with what they knew when they opened Patricia’s in Williamsburg. Chef Giacomo Alaio relies on the old-world recipes and techniques his father taught him to provide customers with authentic Italian fare. Patricia’s treats every visitor like family, offering hearty, familiar flavors made vibrant and new with fresh, organic ingredients (35 Broadway, 718-218-9272).

PAulie gee’sNot to be confused with the Jersey Shore DJ, this Paulie serves up vegan slices.

Paul Gianonne began his pizza-making days somewhere familiar—in his backyard. He’s since upgraded to a rustic, homey restaurant in Greenpoint. The shop only opened in March 2010, but Paulie Gee’s has been winning over Brooklynites with its vegan options, brunch menu and unconventional everyday pizzas. Go big and try their Baconmarmalade Picante, with fresh mozzarella, red onion and, that’s right, bacon marmalade (60 Greenpoint Ave., 347-987-3747).

roBertA’s This elegant hot spot is all about two things—pizza and sustainability. The

restaurant, opened in 2008, finds many of its fresh ingredients in its rooftop garden, supports and serves local brewers and hosts its own radio station. Roberta’s balances out its traditional pies like the classic Margherita, with more original offerings, such as its Cheesus Christ, featuring three cheeses and black pepper (261 Moore St., 718-417-1118).

By nAtAlie HowArD

“ It’s nIce havIng ProsPect Park

as your backyard.”

scratchBread at the flea market

page 1, top photo: the great middle west stall at the Brooklyn Flea. Photo credit coco mellors.

page 1, bottom photo: Dough’s fresh Hibiscus donuts. Photo credit coco mellors

second page: top photo: View of the skyline and Brooklyn Flea. Photo credit coco mellors.

second page bottom photo: scratchBread at the flea market. Photo credit Brooklyn Flea.

real estatepage 1 photo: A four-bedroom co-op at 9 Prospect Park west in Park slope, Brooklyn listed at $3,495,000 by Brown Harris

stevens senior Vice President libby ryan.

page 2 photos: clockwise from top left: A townhouse listed by corcoran senior Vice President Jessica Buchman at 409 8th st. in Park slope for $3,195,000; a penthouse listing at 355A Halsey st. in Bedford stuyvesant by citi Habitats senior Associate Broker

Jamella swift for $415,000; a co-op at 404 6th Ave. in Park slope, listed by corcoran senior Vice President Jessica Buchman for $849,000.

Baby story.

photo caption: chana Balk, the founder of BabyBites Brooklyn. Photo credit: BabyBites Brooklyn.

celebritiespage 1: clockwise from top left: A-list Brooklynites Alexa chung, Jennifer connelly and Paul Bettany, Peter sarsgaard and

maggie gyllenhaal.

second page: left: michelle williams, right, Adrian grenier.


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This borough is a haven for new parents

F irst, public-school class sizes increased dramatically. Teachers were laid off. Finally, funding to arts programs dwindled. Now, kindergartners in the Park Slope

area of Brooklyn can barely make it past the waiting list. In a new report released by the city, more than 3,000 kindergarteners have been wait-listed for entry to elementary school.

Out of the 700 public elementary schools that offer kindergarten, 157 of those have a waiting list.

Children on these waiting lists have increased from 0 to 100 from last year.

“Park Slope is a family neighborhood,” said Pat Mannino, P.S. 107 parent coordinator. “People like it here; it’s warm and it’s friendly.”

According to a recent article by The New York Times, P.S. 107 has the 14th-longest kindergarten waiting list in the city. The coveted Park Slope school had147 kids on their waiting list at the start of the admissions process this year, compared to no waiting list last year.

What’s more, Mannino has been making unannounced house calls to comb out families that have used someone else’s address to apply to the school.

“We simply go to everyone’s homes on the list and see if they families truly live there,” Mannino said.

In nearby Sunset Park, P.S. 94 has 62 kindergartens on their waiting list compared to 21 in 2010. Another Sunset Park school, P.S. 169, has 99 children on their waiting list. Schools in other areas of Brooklyn, including P.S. 39, have even turned away kindergartners because they have reached capacity.

That leaves parents desperately scrambling to get their kindergarteners into school this fall.

Among these parents is Deputy Chancellor for Portfolio Planning for the New York City Department of Education Marc Sternberg, whose child was wait-listed at P.S. 107.

The social hierarchy in getting a seat at a Park Slope schools go something like this. Kids who have siblings already enrolled in the school district have first priority. Children who live in the zone but who don’t have older siblings in schools are next. Then, children who have siblings in the school district but now live outside the school zone comes next. Finally, kids who live outside the school district are last.

Fearing the city is not doing enough to get these 3,000 kindergarteners into schools, parents are taking matters into their own hands. They are in discussion to form a home-schooling program for the wait-listed kids.

City officials are urging parents to be patient, as it is still early in the admissions process. As children get accepted into gifted-and-talented programs, charters schools and private schools, the number of kindergarteners on waiting lists will diminish.

“There will always be someone who hasn’t gotten a response and becomes anxious,” Mannino said. “People need to have answers and want to know where they’re kid are going to go to school.”

To make matters worse, the opening of a new

elementary school, P.S. 133, which was originally slated to opening in 2012, will now be delayed to 2013. The construction of the $66 million project at Fourth Avenue and Butler Street stalled because of budget cuts. The facility is supposed to accommodate upward of 900 students; 300 from District 13 and 600 from District 15.

“By the time [the Department of Education] builds the new school, the kids on the waiting lists will be old enough to get married,” Mannino said. The waiting list for the stalled P.S.133 has already reached 190 expectant kindergartners. They will now have to gain admissions elsewhere.

According to city officials, kindergartners will be placed in schools, but may not be placed in their school districts. If kindergartners cannot get a seat in their school of choice in their home district then they will be sent to an alternative school outside their district until space opens up.

“It is not a Park Slope issue,” Mannino said. “It’s a city-wide issue.”

Pa r k S lo P e S c h o o l S l e n gt h y Wai ti n g l i StS By Christine Liu


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The borough becomes an enclave for area notables

For celebrities looking for a home away from the commotion and paparazzi pitfalls of the city that won’t necessitate giving up the title of New Yorker, Brooklyn

has become an ideal location. From the famous families joining the stroller masses in Park Slope to the bright young things flocking to Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s new residents are quickly raising the borough’s real estate worth—and its glamour index.

Park Slope, with its family-friendly townhouses, abundance of stylish cafes and propinquity to Prospect Park, has long been the favored

neighborhood of young, hip families hoping to raise their children away from the city’s bustle. This goes for young, hip celebrity families, too, like indie actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, who, with her husband, actor Peter Sarsgaard, moved in 2006 to a vintage 3,600-square-foot brownstone in north Park Slope.

“We’re crazy about Park Slope,” Gyllenhaal told The Brooklyn Paper in 2007. The couple clearly remains so; they still live in their renovated brownstone with their 4-year-old daughter, Ramona, and can regularly be spotted around the neighborhood visiting their favorite coffee shop, Gorilla Coffee.

In 2008, Park Slope took a blow to its celebrity home status when Brooklyn’s golden couple Paul Bettany and Jennifer Connelly moved out of their 18-room, 5,243-square-foot mansion on Prospect Park West in favor of a $6.995 million penthouse in Tribeca. The mansion, which the couple bought for $3.7 million in 2003 and reportedly sold for $8.45 million in 2008, was described by New York magazine as “one of the most beautiful in all of Park Slope.” The Internet was briefly abuzz with the rumor that the ultimate Manhattan girl, Sarah Jessica Parker, was buying the home with her husband, Matthew Broderick, which would have arguably catapulted the neighborhood to

By Coco Mellors

Clockwise from top left: A-list Brooklynites Alexa Chung, Jennifer Connelly and Paul Bettany, Peter Sarsgaard and Maggie Gyllenhaal.


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August RecoRded sAles Recorded sales of condos, co-ops or houses in Brooklyn (as of 08/11/2011) ALL BROOKLYN Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price 2009Q1 1,900 458,500 525,413 2010Q1 2,678 462,602 524,854 2011Q1 2,342 460,000 540,824 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 -12.5% -0.6% 3.0% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 23.3% 0.3% 2.9%WILLIAMSBURG/ Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price GREENPOINT 2009Q1 121 565,128 572,966 2010Q1 184 542,381 579,546 2011Q1 309 560,000 602,494 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 67.9% 3.2% 4.0% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 155.4% -0.9% 5.2%DUMBO Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price 2009Q1 6 834,146 1,140,570 2010Q1 18 1,147,000 1,279,831 2011Q1 12 975,000 955,327 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 -33.3% -15.0% -25.4% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 100.0% 16.9% -16.2% BROOKLYN HEIGHTS Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price 2009Q1 28 717,500 1,311,393 2010Q1 86 722,500 921,468 2011Q1 61 675,000 911,155 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 -29.1% -6.6% -1.1% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 117.9% -5.9% -30.5%BOCOCA Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price (BOERUM HILL, 2009Q1 45 750,000 946,982 COBBLE HILL, 2010Q1 72 682,500 897,470 CARROLL GARDENS) 2011Q1 67 763,687 881,055 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 -6.9% 11.9% -1.8% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 48.9% 1.8% -7.0%PARK SLOPE Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price 2009Q1 80 668,022 852,336 2010Q1 155 611,000 740,411 2011Q1 122 727,500 830,159 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 -21.3% 19.1% 12.1% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 52.5% 8.9% -2.6%DOWNTOWN Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price BROOKLYN 2009Q1 20 505,054 592,805 2010Q1 94 478,710 493,471 2011Q1 123 435,000 490,561 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 30.9% -9.1% -0.6% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 515.0% -13.9% -17.2%BROOKLYN HEIGHTS Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price 2009Q1 28 717,500 1,311,393 2010Q1 86 722,500 921,468 2011Q1 61 675,000 911,155 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 -29.1% -6.6% -1.1% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 117.9% -5.9% -30.5%WINDSOR TERRACE Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price 2009Q1 15 409,000 437,852 2010Q1 30 460,000 546,401 2011Q1 22 531,000 603,252 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 -26.7% 15.4% 10.4% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 46.7% 29.8% 37.8%KENSINGTON Closed On Closing Count Median Price Average Price 2009Q1 49 430,950 453,201 2010Q1 51 335,000 372,112 2011Q1 50 381,330 403,216 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 -2.0% 13.8% 8.4% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 2.0% -11.5% -11.0%

The table below presents recorded sales data of condos, co-ops and townhouses in Brooklyn and within the Wil-liamsburg/Greenpoint, DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, BoCo-Ca (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens), Park Slope, Downtown Brooklyn, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, Fort Greene and Propsect Heights markets. Data is from the

first quarter of 2009, 2010, and 2011. Overall, the volume of transactions this past first quarter is 12.5% lower than last year but 23.3% higher than 2009 when the market was at its weakest. Median median and average prices had price gains in areas like Park Slope, BoCoCa, Windsor Terrace, Kensington, and Propsect Heights.

Brooklyn ReAl estAte snApshotMARKET STATISTICS PROvIDED BY


25

Brooklyn Real estate snapshot

ALL BROOKLYN SNAPSHOT TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $327,000 $1,900 1 BR $373,000 $1,900 2 BR $545,000 $2,250 3 BR $632,000 $2,400 4+ BR $698,500 $3,850

WiLLiAmSBuRg/gREENPOiNT TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $372,500 $2,000 1 BR $445,000 $2,100 2 BR $659,000 $2,600 3 BR $960,000 $2,950 4+ BR $1,282,000 $3,997

DumBO TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $664,500 n/a 1 BR $795,000 $2,950 2 BR $1,252,000 $6,500 3 BR $2,150,000 $16,400 4+ BR n/a n/a

BROOKLYN HEigHTS TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $299,000 $1,900 1 BR $449,000 $2,707 2 BR $925,000 $4,200 3 BR $1,797,500 $6,800 4+ BR $2,920,000 $12,000

BOcOcA (BOERum HiLL, cOBBLE HiLL, cARROLL gARDENS) TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $316,740 $2,300 1 BR $489,000 $2,200 2 BR $824,637 $3,450 3 BR $1,295,000 $4,600 4+ BR $1,792,500 $6,300

PARK SLOPE TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $332,000 $2,200 1 BR $499,000 $2,000 2 BR $699,000 $2,500 3 BR $975,000 $3,500 4+ BR $1,750,000 $8,750

august Recorded sales (cont.)Recorded sales of condos, co-ops or houses in Brooklyn (as of 08/11/2011)

FORT gREENE closed On closing count median Price Average Price 2009Q1 12 726,478 785,251 2010Q1 85 555,000 634,715 2011Q1 37 499,000 663,474 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 -56.5% -10.1% 4.5% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 208.3% -31.3% -15.5%PROSPEcT HEigHTS closed On closing count median Price Average Price 2009Q1 36 940,000 1,075,749 2010Q1 38 455,580 637,338 2011Q1 45 717,500 896,153 2011Q1 v. 2010Q1 18.4% 57.5% 40.6% 2011Q1 v. 2009Q1 25.0% -23.7% -16.7%w

Brooklyn MaRKet snapshot Below is a market snapshot as of april 11, 2011 of what is currently available for sale and rent.

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $377,000 $1,822 1 BR $495,000 $2,453 2 BR $785,000 $3,000 3 BR $1,150,000 $3,200 4+ BR $1,075,000 n/a

WiNDSOR TERRAcE TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $290,000 $1,450 1 BR $347,000 $1,850 2 BR $550,000 $2,275 3 BR $612,000 $2,200 4+ BR $999,000 n/a

KENSiNgTON TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $169,000 $1,295 1 BR $232,000 $1,700 2 BR $399,000 $1,850 3 BR $405,000 $2,200 4+ BR $748,500 $2,600

FORT gREENE TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $369,000 $1,650 1 BR $435,000 $2,350 2 BR $675,000 $2,800 3 BR $689,000 $2,800 4+ BR $1,550,000 $6,150

PROSPEcT HEigHTS TYPE SALES RENTALS PRicE PRicE Studio $292,500 $1,300 1 BR $449,000 $2,199 2 BR $717,000 $2,400 3 BR $1,047,500 $2,950 4+ BR $1,599,000 $7,500

Price indicates median values.


26

unparalleled levels of celebrity-endorsed chic. The New York Times quickly squashed that

rumor, however, when they revealed that an unnamed Google employee and his family had in fact bought the home.

Despite this loss to Brooklyn’s celebrity community, a number of other notable couples

and their families have taken the leap across the bridge in recent years. In 2005, Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger moved to Boerum Hill with their daughter, Matilda, and became the quintessential Brooklyn cool couple, often being snapped strolling through the neighborhood looking artfully disheveled and low-key with their

coffee and stroller. Since their split in 2007, Williams has

continued living in the area with her daughter and told the press in 2009, “Now I really wouldn’t go back to Manhattan. The neighborhood that we live in is just amazing.” Since passing away in January 2008, Heath Ledger has also left a lasting legacy in Brooklyn. His Greenpoint restaurant, Five Leaves, was opened posthumously with money from his estate in September 2008 and continues to thrive as one of Brooklyn’s most popular eateries.

In 2009, Brooklyn Heights gained two colorful celebrity residents when avant-garde Icelandic singer Björk and her artist husband, Matthew Barney, moved to the neighborhood. The couple sold their $1.7 million West Houston Street apartment and moved to a four-bedroom co-op

on Henry Street with an asking price of $4.25 million. Björk has since reportedly been spotted strolling the area in a number of eye-catching outfits.

Low-key actress Keri Russell also lives in a Brooklyn brownstone with her carpenter husband, Shane Deary, and son, River. “We go to the park, we go to the farmers’ market,” she told the New York Daily News of life in Fort Greene. “I love having [the Brooklyn Academy of Music] right here.”

Brooklyn may be a growing favorite among some of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces but it is also home to several behind the scenes celebrities. Famed filmmaker Michel Gondry moved to Orient Avenue in East Williamsburg in 2008, a street originally made famous for being the home of Kate Winslet’s character in the Gondry-directed hit Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

“I don’t like so much all the new condominiums that they are constructing,” Gondry told New York of the building developments in Williamsburg. “I sort of laugh inside when I realize that they are all screwed and they can’t find people to live in their buildings.”

Perhaps an unexpected Brooklyn resident is J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons, whose stylish new direction for the brand established it as a favorite of Michelle Obama’s, as well as the preppy Upper East Side set. Lyons lives with her artist husband, Vincent Mazeau, and son, Beckett, in a Brooklyn brownstone that they spent two years converting into the house of their dreams. The town house was then featured on the September cover of UK magazine Livingetc in 2009.

Brooklyn is not only a popular borough among the celebrity stroller

crowd but is increasingly becoming populated by young, independent celebrities. HBO star Adrian Grenier lives in Clinton Hill in a home renovated using entirely green materials, including recycled denim and a row of photovoltaic panels on the roof. In 2009, Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Norah Jones bought an 1843 landmarked townhouse in Cobble Hill for $4.99 million. Life in the picturesque neighborhood has not been entirely smooth sailing for Jones, however. Her plans to install windows in the brick side wall of her home caused uproar among her neighbors, with Jones narrowly avoiding a lawsuit by filing new building plans for fewer windows.

In the same year Gawker reported that real-life Gossip Girl and queen of the Upper East

Side Olivia Palermo, best known for her role in the reality show The City, had moved to Dumbo in the second season of the show.

This was also the year of the British Invasion in Brooklyn, with both super-

model Daisy Lowe and TV personality and style icon

Alexa Chung eschewing Manhattan life to set up home in hipster haven Williamsburg.

“I found that I could breath a bit more out here,” Lowe told W magazine. “I immediately found a circle of friends in Brooklyn that were all on the same path.” Chung had a more wry view of the Williamsburg crowd. “It’s awash with cool kids

in lumberjack shirts and superfluous, geeky glasses,”

she wrote in the UK paper The Independent. “But I like Brooklyn, it reminds me the most of East London,” she adds. Both girls have since moved back to their London hometown, but can still regularly be spotted around the neighborhood during their trips to New York.

I lIke Brooklyn, It remInds me the most of east london.

Michelle Williams

Adrian Grenier


26

unparalleled levels of celebrity-endorsed chic. The New York Times quickly squashed that

rumor, however, when they revealed that an unnamed Google employee and his family had in fact bought the home.

Despite this loss to Brooklyn’s celebrity community, a number of other notable couples

and their families have taken the leap across the bridge in recent years. In 2005, Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger moved to Boerum Hill with their daughter, Matilda, and became the quintessential Brooklyn cool couple, often being snapped strolling through the neighborhood looking artfully disheveled and low-key with their

coffee and stroller. Since their split in 2007, Williams has

continued living in the area with her daughter and told the press in 2009, “Now I really wouldn’t go back to Manhattan. The neighborhood that we live in is just amazing.” Since passing away in January 2008, Heath Ledger has also left a lasting legacy in Brooklyn. His Greenpoint restaurant, Five Leaves, was opened posthumously with money from his estate in September 2008 and continues to thrive as one of Brooklyn’s most popular eateries.

In 2009, Brooklyn Heights gained two colorful celebrity residents when avant-garde Icelandic singer Björk and her artist husband, Matthew Barney, moved to the neighborhood. The couple sold their $1.7 million West Houston Street apartment and moved to a four-bedroom co-op

on Henry Street with an asking price of $4.25 million. Björk has since reportedly been spotted strolling the area in a number of eye-catching outfits.

Low-key actress Keri Russell also lives in a Brooklyn brownstone with her carpenter husband, Shane Deary, and son, River. “We go to the park, we go to the farmers’ market,” she told the New York Daily News of life in Fort Greene. “I love having [the Brooklyn Academy of Music] right here.”

Brooklyn may be a growing favorite among some of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces but it is also home to several behind the scenes celebrities. Famed filmmaker Michel Gondry moved to Orient Avenue in East Williamsburg in 2008, a street originally made famous for being the home of Kate Winslet’s character in the Gondry-directed hit Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

“I don’t like so much all the new condominiums that they are constructing,” Gondry told New York of the building developments in Williamsburg. “I sort of laugh inside when I realize that they are all screwed and they can’t find people to live in their buildings.”

Perhaps an unexpected Brooklyn resident is J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons, whose stylish new direction for the brand established it as a favorite of Michelle Obama’s, as well as the preppy Upper East Side set. Lyons lives with her artist husband, Vincent Mazeau, and son, Beckett, in a Brooklyn brownstone that they spent two years converting into the house of their dreams. The town house was then featured on the September cover of UK magazine Livingetc in 2009.

Brooklyn is not only a popular borough among the celebrity stroller

crowd but is increasingly becoming populated by young, independent celebrities. HBO star Adrian Grenier lives in Clinton Hill in a home renovated using entirely green materials, including recycled denim and a row of photovoltaic panels on the roof. In 2009, Grammy Award–winning singer-songwriter Norah Jones bought an 1843 landmarked townhouse in Cobble Hill for $4.99 million. Life in the picturesque neighborhood has not been entirely smooth sailing for Jones, however. Her plans to install windows in the brick side wall of her home caused uproar among her neighbors, with Jones narrowly avoiding a lawsuit by filing new building plans for fewer windows.

In the same year Gawker reported that real-life Gossip Girl and queen of the Upper East

Side Olivia Palermo, best known for her role in the reality show The City, had moved to Dumbo in the second season of the show.

This was also the year of the British Invasion in Brooklyn, with both super-

model Daisy Lowe and TV personality and style icon

Alexa Chung eschewing Manhattan life to set up home in hipster haven Williamsburg.

“I found that I could breath a bit more out here,” Lowe told W magazine. “I immediately found a circle of friends in Brooklyn that were all on the same path.” Chung had a more wry view of the Williamsburg crowd. “It’s awash with cool kids

in lumberjack shirts and superfluous, geeky glasses,”

she wrote in the UK paper The Independent. “But I like Brooklyn, it reminds me the most of East London,” she adds. Both girls have since moved back to their London hometown, but can still regularly be spotted around the neighborhood during their trips to New York.

I lIke Brooklyn, It remInds me the most of east london.

Michelle Williams

Adrian Grenier


Dharma Yoga Brooklyn is a donation-based center for Classical Yoga in Park Slope, Brooklyn . We offer classes for beginner to advanced students rooted in the ancient tradition of being happy! Weekly classes include Postures, Relaxation, Meditation, Breathing, Chanting, Workshops and more. Yoga and the teachings of liberation are priceless. In this spirit, all of the classes at Dharma Yoga Brooklyn are offered solely by donation. It is left to each student to decide what to give in exchange for class. This not only keeps classes affordable, but also makes the practice available to anyone.Dharma Yoga Brooklyn | 82 Sixth Ave at St. Marks Ave , 2nd Floor | Park Slope, Brooklyn 11217 | Phone: 718.395.7632 | www.dharmayogabrooklyn.com

Oro is now over 65% Sold. Downtown Brooklyn’s Oro condominium, the 303-unit luxury residence at 306 Gold Street, is fast becoming the centerpiece of the neighborhood’s burgeoning residential district as sales continue to soar and more than half the building is occupied. The 40-story condominium includes a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom homes which feature high ceilings with floor-to-ceiling windows, amenities such as 24-hour doorman, state-of-the-art fitness center with a basketball/racquetball court, a resident lounge with screening room and wet bar, and indoor lap pool. For more information, visit www.orocondos.com.

Brown Harris Stevens, established in 1873, is the premier provider of residential real estate services in New York City. The company

has offices throughout New York City, The Hamptons, North Fork and Palm Beach. Brown Harris Stevens offers more luxury

residential exclusives than any other Manhattan firm, serves as the exclusive affiliate of Christie’s International Real Estate, Inc.,

a subsidiary of Christie’s International PLC, the world’s oldest fine arts auctioneer.

Brooklyn is the new favored destination when looking for a home and Halstead Property is positioned best to serve you with three strategic, storefront offices and an innovative and personal approach. With the industry’s top trained brokers that live and breathe Brooklyn, our neighborhood experts will ensure you a rewarding experience with all your real estate needs. Please stop in or visit the newly redesigned, award-winning halstead.com to search listings, view videos or learn more.

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2011 MagazineSMay 4th: DowntownReservations: April 18thMaterials: April 26th June 22nd: Hamptons Reservations: June 6thMaterials: June 14th

September 21st: DowntownReservations: September 5thMaterials: September 13th October 12th: Upper East SideReservations: September 26thMaterials: October 4th

October 19th: BrooklynReservations: October 3rdMaterials: October 11th

October 26th: TownhouseReservations: October 10thMaterials: October 18th

November 16th: Upper West SideReservations: October 31stMaterials: November 8th

October 18th: RentalsReservations: May 12thMaterials: May 9

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Brooklyn’s waterfront community of DUMBO is getting a spectacular new residence, gaiR2, a luxury rental building at 25 Washington Street. The impressive red brick homes were re-developed by DUMBO pioneers Two Trees Managementand named after GAIR2’s 19th-century builder, Robert Gair. The 106 apartments feature a high-end contemporary design aesthetic with exposed wood beams and stone countertops. An amazing rooftop deck offers residents breathtaking views of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges and the NYC skyline. For more information, please visit www.gair2.com or call 718-222-5555.

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Documents

The Observer's Brookyn Living - Spring 2011