STAYIN’ ALIVE

I like Bay Ridge. I really do. But growing up in Brooklyn in the disco 70’s, I don’t think I’ll ever get over the Tony Manero image. That’s my own little issue though. Bay Ridge is great. It’s kind of a schlepp to Manhattan, but you know what? Bay Ridge offers everything you need….shopping, restaurants, lovely parks, water and bridge views. In fact, when I lived in Park Slope, I went to the gym in Bay Ridge.

The neighborhood is less trendy than other up and coming Brooklyn nabes. That’s because it’s not up and coming at all….it’s already an established neighborhood. Just less expensive. It’s a family oriented middle class neighborhood, with a strong, you guessed it, Italian community. In recent years, many Arab families have been discovering Bay Ridge, giving it a bit of a Middle Eastern flair.

Drawbacks: That R train is crazy slow. I can’t stand it.

+/-:

I don’t want to say this is a plus or minus, but the neighborhood is still fairly Conservative/Republican. I didn’t say that’s bad! I’m just putting it out there.

Lots of 2nd and 3rd generation Brooklynites still reside there. Personally, it’s a plus for me, because I miss my old Brooklyn (even though I thought it sucked at the time). But it may be neither here nor there for others.

Bay Ridge Rover
Bay Ridge Forum
Right In Bay Ridge
Brooklyn Row House