Taking Sides: Brooklyn vs. Queens

xpost I haven't been to Jackson Heights in ages!

The office is in Syosset...

I have the probably severely underinformed impression that Queens is on the whole more suburban-feeling than Brooklyn. Is that at all accurate?

i like fort greene/clinton hill better but i'm biased.

wr2 brooklyn: i think that there are still some bargains to be found in park slope and greenpoint (or so i hear). i also hear that crown heights and flatbush are becoming "desirable" again (i've always been kinda surprised that flatbush hasn't been better regarded than it is -- i genuinely liked it, the few times that i've been out there). i have a love-hate thing w/ williamsburg and DUMBO.

It sounds like Fort Greene/Clinton Hill is a pretty promising area, too. What about the Prospect Heights area? Just to give an idea, our comfort zone for rent will probably be in the $1300-$1500 range, with no special preference for apartment style. I hope we'll have at least a little flexibility.

it is accurate. depending on where in queens you are.

Yeah, Tracer, my mental scale of the size and scope of the city is still painfully small and inaccurate... there's a bit of everything everywhere, I know.

I mean, what can you say about a Borough that produced the Shangri-Las, Run-DMC and the Ramones? Doesn't get much cooler than that.

My Astoria friend says rents are better there than a couple years ago.

i can't comment too much about queens since i've only gone out there to eat (really great international restaurants), to see something at ps1 (which i think is overrated but i'm probably just being contrary), or to see a band at a random warehouse space. although i've had some delicious meals, nowhere i went struck me as someplace that i'd like to live.

i like the area around the graham and the grand stops on the L train, in williamsburg. i don't think that the presence of hipsters is a worry - they're not going to hold you down and force a too-small vintage little league tshirt on to you or make you "ironically" drink working-class beer out of a can.

Rasheed, about how much would you say a 1BR would run in Cobble Hill?

But doesn't Peter Parker live in Queens?

"Less irritating hepcats in Queens. And much better food."

Now, here's the perspective of someone who is so un-hip he can't even seem to get along with the people on ILX...

Brooklyn definitely feels more "Manhattan" in a Soho, East Village, Tribeca kind of way. Queens feels like more Chelsea and Union Square.

The difference is, while there is definitely good food and cooler shops in Soho, East Village and Tribeca, Brooklyn has little of that. It's all relatively spread out throughout Brooklyn, so you'll need a car or a lot of free time to get from one cool place to another. Brooklyn is also more severe in it's block-by-block contrast; you can have beautiful houses on "the greenest block in Brooklyn" followed by a smashed-out grafitti-laden condemned house on the very next block. Then, there's the gangster types, including the odd hassidim ganstas who will stare your ass down and you'll be thinking, "Wait a minute, you're the one who looks like a douche. Why are you trying to intimidate me? And, anyway, aren't you supposed to be pious or something?!"

Brooklyn is cooler. I like the feel of it more. But, it is more expensive and, as Alex pointed out, you will run into a lot more jerks there who are there simply because it has that cool label attached to it. However, the truly cool people in Brooklyn are liable to be way cooler than the cool people in Queens, who are mostly used to not talking to other cool people (because there are not many around) and are much more to themselves. There are two levels of cool I'm talking about here:

1. the elitist hipster douchebags you're more likely to find in Brooklyn

2. the people who I would consider interesting and open-minded who are not elitist hipster douchebags.

It sounds hypocritical, but let me explain:

#1 would sneer at you for not knowing who LCD Soundsystem is, but #2 will at least eventually hear of LCD Soundsystem and give them an honest listen. #1 is so in-the-know that being in-the-know is elevated to a ridiculous level which justifies their overblown sense of self-importance, but #2 is just interested in keeping abreast of new and interesting developments.

But, the most important consideration for you should really be about your everyday commute. For that reason alone, I suggest Queens: Woodside, Long Island City or the forever-up-and-coming Astoria. None of the neighborhoods is really all that cool and you will most likely feel out of the loop, spend all your free time in Manhattan or Brooklyn, but at least it is an easy neighborhood close to everything you need to be close to.

iPod Wars
by Trace Crutchfield
April 2005... It's also linked over on ILM here: iPod Wars?

they have that kinda shit in queens, too -- just ask fifty cent.

But, when my employer is willing to reimburse the broker fee, I don't mind being ripped off. However, I can't really afford to pay rent on my own place, unless I do move to Ridgewood. I prefer to deal with the owners anyway, though. Brokers are so annoying.

I've never really seen residential Sunnyside and Woodside before, just the parts by Roosevelt and Queens Boulevard. I also walked a lot around historic Jackson Heights looking at a couple of apartments. The apartments inside were no good, but the buildings and the neighborhood was excellent--very different that what I would expect from just seeing mainly Roosevelt Ave. and Little India.

argh, didn't I tell you exactly this like a year ago! Sunnyside is one of the most pleasant neighborhoods in all of NYC.

Keep looking, the apts I saw in Jackson Heights were gorgeous and dirt cheap.

Don't use a broker. The brokers we used all got their listings from craigslist. There are a few in north side of sunnyside like the Century 21 on Skillman and NYCview or whatever which is around the corner, but just keep checking out craigslist.

The LIE and BQE both go through the area, so it could've been either.

Sunnyside on both sides of queens blvd is great and the south side, which is the less yuppie, more mexican side, is starting to see an influx of people from williamsburg/greenpoint, which it's a very short bike ride from. Jackson Heights around 37th and 39th ave is pretty ideal. Beautiful old garden co-op buildings, near the 7/F/V/E/R station, in between little India and a vibrant latin community, not to mention thai, korean, vietnamese etc etc. Not even a far walk from the woodside LIRR stop, buses to maspeth, Sripraphai etc.

argh, didn't I tell you exactly this like a year ago! Sunnyside is one of the most pleasant neighborhoods in all of NYC.

Yes, but it was six months ago, and I needed to experience it first-hand. I was just confirming.

Jackson Heights would be my ideal, but I can't afford to pay over $1,000 for a place (and the only places I see in that range on Craigslist are in Ridgewood (or basement hovels). There's the 45 bus which goes from Jackson Heights to Maspeth. Though my friend that grew up in Jackson Heights, and has a great place there now, says that lots of Park Sloper young family types are moving to Jackson Heights and buying coops.

I'm staying put. It's too hard to find another place that's as nice as this one, and I'm already here. And I'm not ready to part with my view of the ConEd plant, the East River, and the Bronx.

Does anyone want to go to see the Sterns at Union Hall on March 28?

LIC, just on the Queens side of Greenpoint Ave? I'd have to get on the bus to Brooklyn to get to a supermarket?

there's a big stretch that's pretty barren until you hit sunnyside.

I know it's all called LIC over there, but there was actually another name for that area, and spiritually, I'd say that's more a part of Sunnyside then LIC. But Lauren's right, there's a barren stretch but once you cross the LIE, you're in Sunnyside, which is one of the more pleasant neighborhoods in NYC. Are you really just on the queens side or a bit further in...the area right there is pretty bleak and I don't think anyone should live that close to the Newton Creek on either side.

even the nudie bar in that area is boarded up.

Is it true there is a strip club way out on metropolitan?

even the nudie bar in that area is boarded up.

It's only a short bus ride away to Queens Plaza, though!

Foxes was only open for like a week!

OR SO I HEAR.

The best thing is right before the LIE is the beautiful City View Inn

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/hotels_motels/hotelinfo/4094.html

unfortunately you don't get to choose your view...either beautiful NYC skyline...or New Cavalry Cemetary.

They have a shuttle to take you to Queens BLVD to get the 7 train. I can't believe tourists get suckered into staying there. The walk to the subway train itself is depressing enough to make you never want to come back to NYC.

read that description, it's hilarious. "Located just 2 miles from midtown manhattan". Proximity to Shea Stadium and US Open? Why not stay in a hotel anywhere near a subway?

i wonder how many angry, refund-demanding tourists they get.

How is Spike Hill on a Saturday night? I'm trying to decide whether to join a bday drinks thing there. Still recovering from last night's foray in Brooklyn (thank you "sick passenger" on the N line).

probably pretty busy, but they did recently expand to an adjacent space so maybe not too bad?

i mean, if you go late enough that your friends will already have a table then why not?

Why not? Because I spend entirely too much time on subways as it is.

im thinking about doing that "Ethnic Food Tour of the 7 Line" thing from the Institute of Culinary Education. Sounds yummy, but also sounds like something i could just do on my own without paying $100 or whatever..

since ive only really been to queens to go to LaGuardia airport, pick up packages from FedEx/UPS, and to Galaxie. omg i miss that place.

100$ will buy you a lot of food on the 7 line.

The city view is where Dinosaur Jr's van got broken into last year. And, IIRC, Foxes was open when I moved to the area in 2003, but closed sometime in 06 maybe? I find that whole area -- Blissville -- fascinating.

To the original question, there are supermarkets in Sunnyside (a Foodtown and an Associated on Greenpoint) and plenty of bodegas. Unfortunately, none of the bigger groceries stores were particularly good, but there were enough specialty shops that it didn't really matter.

The CVS at 41st and Queens Blvd is a good addition; that was one thing the hood was lacking.

Sigh . . . I miss sunnyside.

Sunnyside, on the northside, now has a farmer's market on saturdays. It started small last year but has apparently picked up this year, with a good fishmonger and fancy eggs.

This time I have to move for real, as roommate is not renewing the lease. The good news is that I no longer work in Maspeth. The bad news is that I now work in Jamaica. I think I still feel more comfortable in Astoria than in Sunnyside/Woodside. I like that Astoria has a slightly more bustling quality, whereas the two Sides seem more quiet to me.

I'm seeing a studio in Jackson Heights tomorrow. I've seen a couple shares in Sunnyside--one was slightly dingy and the other was nice but a bit far from the train. I would like to live near the 61st 7 stop though, so I could take straight trips to Long Beach over the summer.

I looked at places in Greenpoint today--a huge huge huge space in loft for $900 but I don't really need all that space! And the other was a jackknife apartment--no thanks. It's weird--I've gotten really attached to Astoria/Queens--a felt a sense of relief upon seeing the "Welcome to Queens" while crossing the Pulaski Bridge.

Actually, I wish I could live in Astoria during the week and Greenpoint during the weekend.

greenpoint's lovely; some of the old places have that jankity steinbeck californian paint peeling thing, still with olds living there to keep it alive. i'd like to live in jackson heights for the food and the kinda futuristic post-apocalyptic delapidated new york vibe, but greenpoint seems so dreamy in comparison.

Greenpoint seems fine if you work off the L or G, but maybe kind of a pain otherwise?

but the walk is scenic
maybe maybe not, but i figure it gains as much as it loses by not quite being on the subway. it's kinda separate.

oh, that's a definite plus. i live as far from "the action" as possible, and enjoy that i live in a neighborhood & not a loud commercial district. but i take two trains to work, and i have to give myself an hour to get there.

Not sure about the bustling quality of Astoria. For the most part, that means questionable folks taking up space on the sidewalk. Woodside is plenty bustling, the area around the 61st st stop is great. Great food, lots of people, lots of transportation options.

I'd like to live in Jackson Heights so I can be close to the F as well as the 7. Too bad the G doesn't run up here like it's supposed to.

I know: I wish the G ran to J.H. like it was supposed to also. I saw a nice studio in J.H. this morning, but I'm not sure I can bear to leave Astoria.

I looked at shares in Sunnyside by the 33rd and 40th st. stops--and it wasn't bustling at all. I agree closer to 61st it seems more lively. I haven't hung out on Skillman Avenue in S'side though--I hear that is very nice.

last exit to brooklyn i enter
carefully the queen holds my scepter
gettin numb like a derelict on scotch
i'm dick Lewis cuz baby I'm watchin you

Skillman isn't bustling, but it's a very pleasant area, and the Sunnyside Gardens to the north make for one of the more beautiful neighborhoods in NY.

Today I saw a very nice place on 42nd St., very close to the train, but the bedroom is on the first floor facing the street and my roommate said she slept with the window open all summer and never had a problem. Is Sunnyside that safe?

G train goin all the way to Prospect Park (and beyond!) this fall. Screw you B48, there's no way in hell I'm going through Bed-Stuy above ground.

don't be such a pussy burt.

no way, man. that's the land where bus drivers get stabbed. what's next - passengers??

the B48 is my fucking jam man. quickest way to get to williamsburg from here, and it's most essential for any late night in williamsburg--MUCH faster than any train.

you can take that bus - to burt land! you'll know you're getting close when your skin starts to tingle a little.

or when i start to smell pierogies no doubt.

filthy poles. i know this day is coming, the day when my ID to an Orthodox Jewish school with hebrew and shit all over it falling out of my pocket, and like, my polish landlord picking it up. Hoo boy. Yowza. Would not be good.

theyr really not gonna cut the B67 overnight?

happy 100 queensboro bridge

I'm sure this is a tired subject for long-term outer bourough people, but why is there a single subway line between brooklyn and queens...and not even a good one? is this robert moses' fault somehow?

redundancy (go to manhattan to get to queens
low ridership (though that's a self-fulfilling prophecy)
no way possible to justify the cost of digging another tunnel

everything is set up to commute from the boroughs to your Manhattan job and back again

but yes it's a pain

As was noted on apartment in NYC thread:
Jackson Heights has no bookstore
Boerum Hill has bigger and better Book Court (as was noted twice on NYRB thread)
so Brooklyn is way ahead in the bookstore category.

no way possible to justify the cost of digging another tunnel

maybe they could relate it to the yankees somehow?

929?

Ugh.
http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2010/04/14/news/top_stories/doc4bc6032854d03691840208.txt

:(