“I love Windsor Terrace more than you can understand,” begins TONY associate Web editor Jonathan Shannon. “I’m a saunter away from Prospect Park, the nighttime delights of Fifth and Seventh Avenue are in stumbling distance, and there’s a friendly stoop culture. Plus one of my neighbors has a cool collection of choppers (the bicycles, that is) and there’s often a mesmerizingly beautiful husky parading the streets. A slew of new spots are opening, and the classic haunts are hanging in there—all concentrated on, or just off, a few blocks of Prospect Park West. And if you’re feeling snobby (or you’re a realtor), you can say it’s the South Slope.”
Read about his favorite spots after the jump. Read more »
“I’m certain that a prettier neighborhood doesn’t exist in all of Brooklyn,” brags TONY editorial coordinator Amy Plitt. “I lived in and around Prospect Heights for nearly four years, and loved nothing more than to wander around looking at all of the beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets. There’s also a great sense of community here. The neighborhood is pretty diverse, and while you see plenty of kids around, it doesn’t have the Stroller Mafia feel of Park Slope.”
Read about her favorite spots after the jump. Read more »
“I love Long Island City because it’s the perfect biking distance from my apartment,” says TONY account manger Noelle Stout. “The LIC boundaries technically extend to my address, although most people identify my ’hood as Astoria. Except me; when I travel in certain circles, I say I live in LIC and save myself the poorly masked looks of disdain that accompany mention of Queens. LIC is immune to that because people have heard it’s cool. Most people can’t say so from firsthand experience, making LIC’s best spots largely underpopulated—yet another reason I love it so much.”
Read about her favorite spots after the jump. Read more »
“I’m not a resident,” admits Time Out Kids‘ Web editor Raven Snook. “But I wish I were! My mother-in-law lives right off the main 138th Street drag, and every time my husband and I visit, I scope out “For Sale” signs. It’s the one place in the city where we may actually be able to afford a historic home—but we’ll probably have to act fast.”
Read about her favorite places after the jump. Read more »
“I live peacefully in Park Slope among brownstone-lined streets and stroller-pushing parents,” says Amanda Waas, TONY’s brand solutions coordinator. “But when I want to feel cool, I hop on the F train and head to Dumbo, an awesome industrial on-the-water getaway.”
“I’m not even sure I need a reason to love Coney Island,” says Ally Millar, TONY’s online business coordinator. “It’s not as far out there as everyone pretends it is, since the N and the D are express trains. And even the nicest neighborhoods in Manhattan can’t boast 44-ounce beers for less than $6 (thanks, Nathans!), a raw bar and a ferris wheel. The neighborhood might not have a bodega on every corner or the same grocery amenities and conveniences of your Park Slopes, but who needs quick access to these things when you can hang out on the beach all day?”
Read about her favorite places after the jump. Read more »
“I’m in my early thirties, and I’m already a grumpy old man. I hate Manhattan, and I don’t like leaving my neighborhood for things I can get right around the corner,” sighs TONY’s photo editor Roberto De Luna. “Red Hook is kind of a middle-aged grump like me: old, handsome and resistant to change. If you like wide cobblestone streets and a calm, welcoming place to eat, shop and stroll, check out my ’hood.”
Read about the places he loves after the jump.Read more »
“I love my neighborhood because it’s a secret,” says Samantha Terry, TONY’s marketing manager. “Who would ever guess that just west of the dirty, noisy and crowded Flatbush Avenue lies the charming enclave of Victorian homes?”
Unfortunately, TONY’s been letting the cat out of the bag: Two spots on the main strip, Cortelyou Road, have been named Eat Out Awards Critics’ Picks (The Farm and Sycamore). Award-winning restaurants aside, there’s even more to love about this ‘hood. The superspeedy Q train brings Terry’s commute from the Cortelyou Road stop into lower Manhattan to only 30 minutes. And at just a short distance from Prospect Park, the neighborhood is perfect for leisurely afternoon strolls. There’s also the Ditmas Park Concert Series, featuring neighborhood musicians each spring, and Terry’s looking forward to the September 13 Flatbush Frolic, which takes place annually on Cortelyou Road.
More of her favorites are after the jump. Read more »
Working his way as a nomad through Washington Heights to the Financial District, Chris Schonberger, TONY’s assistant Web editor, has finally found a home in Chinatown. “The abundance of legitimately cheap and delicious food is a big selling point for me (as well as a rare commodity in Manhattan), and the fact that I am much taller than the majority of the people there seals the deal,” he jokes.
Read about the places he loves after the jump.Read more »
“I’ve lived in two apartments in Clinton Hill, and it’s easily my favorite among the (many, many) neighborhoods where I’ve lived in my New York years,” confesses TONY’s managing editor Ethan LaCroix. “Walking past the ornate mansions on Clinton Avenue (built by the city’s richest folks in the 1880s) make me feel like I’m in another time and place, but I’ve always got the bustle of DeKalb Avenue, Myrtle Avenue and Fulton Street to snap me right back to the here and now. And where else in northeast Brooklyn will you find marble sidewalks lined on both sides with grass, just like in a fancy suburb? The restaurant/bar meccas in Fort Greene and Prospect Heights are just a couple blocks away in any direction, so really, there’s not much need to ever leave. Except to go to work. Rats.”
Read about the places he loves after the jump.Read more »
Cristina Velocci, an assistant editor at TONY, can sum up why she loves her laid-back ’hood in a single word: puppies! “Aside from the adorable pooches that distract me every 50 feet, there’s plenty more to love about the Upper West: The wider, less crowded blocks give me the illusion of having personal space in the city; three subway lines on my street make commuting a breeze; and the leafy trees everywhere are bookended by the greenery of Riverside and Central parks. Though I like to go out downtown and I work in midtown, at the end of the day, this part of uptown just feels like home.
“Pity me, I live in the nicest neighborhood in the city,” says Joshua Rothkopf, TONY’s senior film writer. Fighting words? Not really. “Cobble Hill is a paradise of artisanal restaurants, independently owned shops and lovely residents in sundresses. Where do I go? And still avoid the Smith Street drunkies and interlopers? You so want to click through.” Read more »
“I grew up here,” says Kristine Garcia, TONY’s online product development director. “It is a tightly knit community of working people and families. It doesn’t have the best shopping, restaurants or bars in the city, but it does have some very good local staples. Kingsbridge is on the border of Van Cortlandt Park and is a bus ride from Riverdale. The constant rumble of the 1 train overhead and the Major Deegan Expressway nearby adds to the neighborhood’s character.”
Check out her favorite spots after the jump. Read more »
“My neighborhood isn’t really a destination, and that’s the way I like it,” says Time Out Kids‘ Web editor Raven Snook. Although she grew up across town on the Upper West Side, she moved to East Harlem almost a decade ago. “I came for the low cost of living, but I’ve stayed because it’s laid-back, friendly and convenient. Plus, no drunken college kids!”
Check out her favorite spots after the jump. Read more »
The High Line’s getting heaps of hype, but as Brooke Welsch, TONY’s senior marketing and events manager, tells us, there’s plenty more to love about its’hood. “There’s always something exciting to explore, whether it’s a neighborhood mainstay or a pop-up installation,” she says. “Within steps of my apartment there’s everything from art galleries and gourmet food shops to a dog park and clubs.”
“Stroller Mafia be damned,” says Amanda Waas, TONY’s brand solutions coordinator, “Park Slope has a bad rep for its obnoxious parents with equally obnoxious, precocious children, but I hate kids and still love this neighborhood. Why? Beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets mix nicely with delicious restaurants, bars with ample patio space for summer drinking, and cutesy boutiques. Even if you have to take the F train to get there, Park Slope is A-grade.”
Check out her favorite spots after the jump. Read more »
Says Jamie Mandel, marketing coordinator: “As a recent transplant from Manhattan’s FiDi, I have fallen head over heels for the homey feel of Boerum Hill, Brooklyn (are those birds I hear?). From its tree-lined streets to the swoonworthy brownstones taunting me on my walk back to my more-affordable apartment, the nabe definitely feels more like my grandparents’ Brooklyn, albeit with tighter jeans.”
Read about Jamie’s favorite places after the jump. Read more »
“If you don’t know your NYC ABCs yet, you need to learn them—stat,” says Christy Purington, Web assistant at Time Out Kids. “Just blocks from East Village proper lies Alphabet City, where you can discover a whole slew of kitschy shops, tucked-away restos and a neighborhood vibe I haven’t found anywhere else.”
Check out her favorite spots. Like what you see? Wanna live there? With Christy no less? She’s looking for a roommate!
Read about Christy’s favorite places after the jump. Read more »
Says Amelia Koethen, TONY’s advertising finance clerk: “With cozy tree-lined streets, two great parks, its own historic district and more, Greenpoint feels like nowhere else I’ve lived in the city—home.”
Her favorite restaurants: Manhattan 3 Decker Diner, 695 Manhattan Ave at Norman Ave (718-389-6664) “There aren’t any bells and whistles here, just an intense breakfast menu and a retro vibe that makes it a great stop for those mornings when you need a little extra pep in your step.”
Restaurant Pyza,118 Nassau Ave at Eckford St (718-349-8829) “This Polish cafeteria-style restaurant is food just like (I wish) Mom used to make. Their borscht will cure the common cold, and someday I’ll be brave enough to try the tongue.”
Bar Matchless, 557 Manhattan Ave at Driggs Ave (718-383-5333) “When they opened a full kitchen, I was excited about having fries to soak up their great drink specials. They went above and beyond standard bar food and have become my favorite place for mac and cheese.”
Her favorite shops: B.E. Yarn,784 Manhattan Ave between Calyer St and Messerole Ave (718-383-8907) “The crafting geek in me was so excited to find this yarn shop nestled in with the bakeries, jewelry shops and dollar stores populating Manhattan Avenue. The no-attitude service and advice was an added bonus.”
Big D, 777 Manhattan Ave between Calyer St and Messerole Ave (718-389-0181) “There are hipper places to write about in Greenpoint, but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t include this value-store behemoth. They compete handily with the other discount clothing, furniture and gift shops on the avenue, and the sensory overload is enough to keep me coming back for more.”
Jaslowiczanka Bakery,163 Nassau Ave at Diamond St (718-389-0263) “This traditional Polish bakery is the real deal. It’s always bustling with customers looking to grab some fresh paczki. It’s also the perfect place to pick up some babka for your mama.”
TONY’s assistant retail marketing manager Joshua Stringer has a thing for his longtime ‘hood of Hamilton Heights. And he doesn’t even mind the 1 train that much! Here’s why:
“Although only a section of Hamilton Heights maintains the immortally cool distinction of Sugar Hill, the Heights is historically rich and affordable to live in. And there’s a busy section of Broadway that boasts a strong ethnic flavor in food fare and shopping options (including homemade tamales right outside the subway for $1!).”
His favorite shops: Hamilton Shopping Center5 Hamilton Pl at 136th St and Broadway (212-281-7121) “There’s a produce and meat stand on the corner of the center that has some of the freshest fruits and veggies in the area.” B.Jay’s USA3500 Broadway at 145th St (212-694-3160) “With two locations within a block of each other and several competitors nearby, it’ll be hard not to find a pair of sneaks you like.”
His favorite restaurants: Food Hut Caribbean Food1709 Amsterdam Ave between 144th and 145th Sts (212-491-4492) “Try the spicy jerk chicken with rice. If it’s too hot, grab a homemade frozen lemonade from the cooler.” Caridad Restaurant3533 Broadway at 145th St (212-862-4053) “Though it’s known for its Spanish-style rotisserie chicken, which you can smell from down the street, their fried plantains and beans alone are worth the trip.” Paul’s Pizza3409 Broadway between 138th and 139th Sts (212-234-7878) “At just $2 a slice, there’s nothing fancy here, but don’t let the grungy interior fool you. This is one of my favorite places to get a slice in the whole city. Hands down. Bonus points for the old-fashioned punch-button cash register still in use.”
His favorite drink spot: St. Nick’s Pub773 St. Nicholas Ave at 149th St (212-283-9728) “I’d be wrong not to mention the heart of the Harlem jazz renaissance. The same pub that started it all still has live jazz seven days a week starting at 9:30pm.”
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“I’m certain that a prettier neighborhood doesn’t exist in all of Brooklyn,” brags TONY editorial coordinator Amy Plitt. “I lived in and around Prospect Heights for nearly four years, and loved nothing more than to wander around looking at all of the beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets. There’s also a great sense of community here. The neighborhood is pretty diverse, and while you see plenty of kids around, it doesn’t have the Stroller Mafia feel of Park Slope.”
“I love Long Island City because it’s the perfect biking distance from my apartment,” says TONY account manger Noelle Stout. “The LIC boundaries technically extend to my address, although most people identify my ’hood as Astoria. Except me; when I travel in certain circles, I say I live in LIC and save myself the poorly masked looks of disdain that accompany mention of Queens. LIC is immune to that because people have heard it’s cool. Most people can’t say so from firsthand experience, making LIC’s best spots largely underpopulated—yet another reason I love it so much.”
“I’m not a resident,” admits Time Out Kids‘ Web editor Raven Snook. “But I wish I were! My mother-in-law lives right off the main 138th Street drag, and every time my husband and I visit, I scope out “For Sale” signs. It’s the one place in the city where we may actually be able to afford a historic home—but we’ll probably have to act fast.”
“I’m not even sure I need a reason to love Coney Island,” says Ally Millar, TONY’s online business coordinator. “It’s not as far out there as everyone pretends it is, since the N and the D are express trains. And even the nicest neighborhoods in Manhattan can’t boast 44-ounce beers for less than $6 (thanks, Nathans!), a raw bar and a ferris wheel. The neighborhood might not have a bodega on every corner or the same grocery amenities and conveniences of your Park Slopes, but who needs quick access to these things when you can hang out on the beach all day?”
“I’m in my early thirties, and I’m already a grumpy old man. I hate Manhattan, and I don’t like leaving my neighborhood for things I can get right around the corner,” sighs TONY’s photo editor Roberto De Luna. “Red Hook is kind of a middle-aged grump like me: old, handsome and resistant to change. If you like wide cobblestone streets and a calm, welcoming place to eat, shop and stroll, check out my ’hood.”
Working his way as a nomad through Washington Heights to the Financial District, Chris Schonberger, TONY’s assistant Web editor, has finally found a home in Chinatown. “The abundance of legitimately cheap and delicious food is a big selling point for me (as well as a rare commodity in Manhattan), and the fact that I am much taller than the majority of the people there seals the deal,” he jokes.
“I’ve lived in two apartments in Clinton Hill, and it’s easily my favorite among the (many, many) neighborhoods where I’ve lived in my New York years,” confesses TONY’s managing editor Ethan LaCroix. “Walking past the ornate mansions on Clinton Avenue (built by the city’s richest folks in the 1880s) make me feel like I’m in another time and place, but I’ve always got the bustle of DeKalb Avenue, Myrtle Avenue and Fulton Street to snap me right back to the here and now. And where else in northeast Brooklyn will you find marble sidewalks lined on both sides with grass, just like in a fancy suburb? The restaurant/bar meccas in Fort Greene and Prospect Heights are just a couple blocks away in any direction, so really, there’s not much need to ever leave. Except to go to work. Rats.”
Cristina Velocci, an assistant editor at TONY, can sum up why she loves her laid-back ’hood in a single word: puppies! “Aside from the adorable pooches that distract me every 50 feet, there’s plenty more to love about the Upper West: The wider, less crowded blocks give me the illusion of having personal space in the city; three subway lines on my street make commuting a breeze; and the leafy trees everywhere are bookended by the greenery of Riverside and Central parks. Though I like to go out downtown and I work in midtown, at the end of the day, this part of uptown just feels like home.
“Pity me, I live in the nicest neighborhood in the city,” says Joshua Rothkopf, TONY’s senior film writer. Fighting words? Not really. “Cobble Hill is a paradise of artisanal restaurants, independently owned shops and lovely residents in sundresses. Where do I go? And still avoid the Smith Street drunkies and interlopers? You so want to click through.” 
“I grew up here,” says Kristine Garcia, TONY’s online product development director. “It is a tightly knit community of working people and families. It doesn’t have the best shopping, restaurants or bars in the city, but it does have some very good local staples. Kingsbridge is on the border of Van Cortlandt Park and is a bus ride from Riverdale. The constant rumble of the 1 train overhead and the Major Deegan Expressway nearby adds to the neighborhood’s character.”
“My neighborhood isn’t really a destination, and that’s the way I like it,” says Time Out Kids‘ Web editor Raven Snook. Although she grew up across town on the Upper West Side, she moved to East Harlem almost a decade ago. “I came for the low cost of living, but I’ve stayed because it’s laid-back, friendly and convenient. Plus, no drunken college kids!”
The 
“Stroller Mafia be damned,” says Amanda Waas, TONY’s brand solutions coordinator, “Park Slope has a bad rep for its obnoxious parents with equally obnoxious, precocious children, but I hate kids and still love this neighborhood. Why? Beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets mix nicely with delicious restaurants, bars with ample patio space for summer drinking, and cutesy boutiques. Even if you have to take the F train to get there, Park Slope is A-grade.”