This neighborhood information is curated by certainly one of our New York City-based editors who calls it residence.
I’ll always remember the day we moved to Prospect Heights. It wasn’t underneath the perfect circumstances: COVID stay-at-home mandates had simply kicked in; companies had been shuttering in a hurry; and we barely discovered anybody to assist us transfer. In the weeks that adopted, we hunkered down at residence, and gave up on makes an attempt to get to know our new neighbors and the native companies that may maintain our lives.
As restrictions receded, we began to enterprise out and uncover Prospect Heights at a deliberate tempo. We walked a lot, weaving via the historic brownstone structure, made lengthy and winding outings out of straightforward errands, and took books to the benches on the elm-lined boulevard that’s Eastern Parkway. We relied on—and had been extremely grateful for—the general public facilities round us: Prospect Park, Grand Army Plaza, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, and when it reopened, the Public Library. Slowly, we met our neighbors over porch gigs organized by native bands, Saturday afternoon “dance parties” on our road (a DJ labored his turntable on his fireplace escape; we danced on the sidewalk under), and Open Streets days that may deliver households out onto Vanderbilt Avenue for picnics, even elaborate dinners—I as soon as noticed somebody lug a complete eating desk out, and enhance it with flowers and crisp linens.
Everything we missed out on in extra heady early explorations, we made up for in a sluggish unfurling.
More than 5 years later, we’re nonetheless right here and loving it. We love that we’re flanked by Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Barclays Center—the place I’m but to see a Nets sport however have loved many unbelievable live shows. We love the thriving foods and drinks scene—all the things from hard-to-score tables to no-frills Jamaican snack bars and beloved dive bars the place you possibly can even have a dialog. Most of all, we love its various, heat, street-party-loving neighborhood that is invested in making it a neighborhood with room for all. Prospect Heights has traditionally been various, with a vital Caribbean neighborhood alongside different ethnic teams—and the areas round Eastern Parkway and Flatbush Avenue in specific are entrenched in Caribbean tradition (culminating in the fabulous West Indian Day Parade every September). Even so, our road’s resident affiliation, populated by old-timers who return a long time, took us in with open arms.
Five-plus years on, listed below are a few of my favourite native spots that make up a excellent day in the neighborhood. Prospect Heights could also be small, however it certain packs a punch.
8 a.m. Beat the group for breakfast pastries
I’m an early riser, and I take advantage of being awake to get in line at Radio Bakery for freshly baked bread and a few weekend treats. To say that Radio Bakery (with an authentic location in Greenpoint) has a cult following for something it places out on a tray is by now the stuff of Brooklyn legend, however I all the time make room for a chocolate chip cookie (with the right ratio of crisp to chew), a custard croissant (comparable to a pasteis de nata), or a tacky pretzel bear claw. I normally take a ebook with me as a result of the strains can get lengthy, solely to get distracted by all of the pups on their morning walks.