Brooklyn IS New York City....No, really!

Let me just start by saying it doesn't bother me when people say, "How's New York City? Oops, I mean Brooklyn?" There is actually a lot of truth behind this incorrect statement. Brooklyn is a different world. When one feels drowned by the vast amount of people and pigeons and flashing lights in Time Square,  or incredibly angry taxi driver's honking at old pedestrians just trying to cross the street, or even delivery trucks emitting their horrible fumes out into the fish-flavored-streets of China Town, one only needs to hop on the Q, R, F, 4, 5, 6, C, or A trains and sail into the wonderful fresh-air-filled-Brooklyn. Brooklyn is city heaven. Yesterday after spending an entire afternoon in Time Square with my wonderful friend, I stepped out of the G train into my wonderful neighborhood and felt a tightness in my chest  I didn't know I had totally evaporate. Trees! Dogs! Families! The sky! No fish smell! HEAVEN!

So, knowing that I LOVE Brooklyn so much and would be totally proud for it to be a city of its own, why is it important for me to set the record straight? In the words of Wheezer from Steel Magnolia, "I don't know why, its just what I do".  So, here it goes.

http://residentialnyc.com/borough/borough.html 

New York City is split into five sections or boroughs.  The boroughs are similar to counties but they all stand together to make up the most exciting and culturally diverse city in the world (opinion, I know, but who would argue with it?)

Traditional Time Square
photo of Alex and I from our first visit
to NYC together back in Jan. of 2008

Manhattan is the oldest borough and is generally what one thinks of when the name New York City is heard. It is home to Time Square, Central Park, Wall Street (the the big bronze bull and all), China Town, Little Italy and the list could go on forever. It is the geographically smallest of the five boroughs. It also has the least amount of grass, trees, free standing homes, and gets the hottest due to the extremely tall buildings everywhere that may give shade but certainly don't provide a breeze or oxygen.  All in all, though, its an amazing place with an "I can do anything and be anything and accomplish anything" feel. You must explore this borough and be prepared to give it a lot time and detail. You won't regret it.

http://nihilobstat.info/2008/09/23/the-yankee-cathedral/ 

The Bronx is the city's northern most borough and is home to Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Zoo (which, by the way, spans 265 acres) and Sarah Lawrence. I've heard wonderful things about the Bronx and can't wait to go. I'll give you my own opinion when I do.

Queens is the largest borough and is statistically the most ethnically diverse in the United States. It was founded by the Dutch (what wasn't?) and historically was a collection of small towns and villages that NYC started to gobble up with population/acre growth. Queens can hold its own in the area of professional sporting events. It is home to Citi Field (stadium for the New York Mets) and it annually hosts the US Open Tennis Tournament. I have also never been to Queens. I don't know when I'll go but I'm sure I will...eventually.

Staten Island Ferry- photo curtsey of Collier Lumpkin
(taken on our day trip to Governor's Island)

Staten Island is the most suburban of the five boroughs. I don't know much about it except what I just read on wikipedia. I did discover that is has over 28 miles of hiking trails and one of the last undisturbed forests in the city. The Staten Island Ferry is one of the most popular tourist attractions because of the incredible views it offers of lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. One of my literary heroes, Frank McCourt (author of the Pulitzer Prize winning book Angela's Ashes) used to take the ferry everyday to his first teaching gig on the Island. So, I will be doing this sometime soon!

Full moon rising-
 Ft. Greene Park, Brooklyn

Brooklyn, ah, Brooklyn. What can I say that would sufficiently detail the beautiful brownstones, the incredible trees, the friendly and unique blend of people, dogs, and calmness?  Brooklyn was an independent city until 1898 and is the only borough besides Manhattan with its own distinct downtown district. It is known for its cultural diversity, independent art and food scene and just being awesome. Also, its known world wide for the fact that recently two Grubbs and a dog moved there making it one of the most happenin' places in the city.



I hope you enjoyed your geography lesson as much as I enjoyed websearching it. (Special thanks to wikipedia for all of the quick and hopefully accurate information...)

It makes sense that in a city of over 8 million, one needs to find the right neighborhood niche. Thankfully, I've found Brooklyn.
 "How's New York City? Oops, I mean Brooklyn."

Brooklyn is fantastic, thanks.