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7/20/12 Wanderlust: Park Slope

Now that I am officially out of school and have been given the majority of my days to squander at my leisure, I have been increasingly voyaging into Brooklyn, namely Park Slope. I will admit that I was, at first, a little skeptical of our neighboring borough and its endless rows of grand but understated brownstones. Why were they all content to be the same size? Where was that virile drive for power and dominance that charged the heart of William Van Alen causing him to send the Chrysler Tower thrusting into the sky?
I soon found that this sort of understated elegance permeates the majority of Park Slope. Everything is a little closer to the ground, it’s a little more woody, rustic, and organic. People walk slower, their sunglasses are a little less mirrored. The main prediciment this environment causes for your average tourist is that it becomes hard to find the key destinations. There are no major commercial intersections marked with clusters of screaming fluorescents to direct you to the thrills of a blob of Justin Bieber-shaped wax or a plastic tube of $10/lb. M&Ms. So people get lost in Park Slope, wandering aimlessly around, walking around in circles, poking their heads in random boutiques and organic food markets, searching for the excitement. Luckily, for you fortunate readers, veni, vidi, vici, and I’m willing to share the spoils.

EAT: Cubana Cafe (80 6th Ave.)

I am always a fan of “womb” as a décor theme, and the Cubana cradled me nicely its warm, brightly hued décor. The comfort continues with some of the best Cuban sandwiches you're likely to find in the city, which can be very nicely accompanied with one of the cafe's creamy fruit milkshakes.

SHOP: Beacon's Closet (92 5th Ave.) and Superhero Supply Co. (372 5th Ave.
Admit it. Though we all like hating on hipsters, what if you could purchase that girl's tie-dye crochet vest for less than $10? All your wildest dreams are about to come true...

Although this shop can supply you with everything from a grappling net to a new secret identity, the highlight is no doubt the cape display. There are a wide variety of metallic and brightly hued options to choose from and best of all there is a wind machine allowing you to test the effects of your prospective purchase. And if you begin thinking that your heroic ambitions may be a bit of a stretch and feel somewhat self-indulgent, just know that that all the proceeds of your purchases go toward the free afterschool tutoring program that is contained within the store.

PARTAY: FIRST SATURDAYS BROOKLYN MUSEUM (200 Eastern Parkway)
First Saturdays occur on the first Saturday of every month and are free and open to the public. They feature a variety of exciting activities including curator talks, art projects, free movie screenings, and a rollicking dance partay.

--Originally published 5/25/11

1 comments:

  1. Permalink #
    Mubs     said

    Sorry Cleo, I think I deleted this while doing some updating yesterday--unless you did for some reason? It was always one of my favorites so I thought I should resurrect it in any case.

    July 20, 2012 at 11:54 PM

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