Greene is good

Most Brooklyn neighborhoods have their share of charm, what with the stately trapped-in-time buildings, tree-lined sidewalks and cutesy mom-and-pop operations. But Fort Greene (and its slightly quieter conjoined twin, Clinton Hill) is blessed with an overabundance of the stuff. Many a sworn lifelong Manhattanite has melted at the sight of the area’s gorgeous, hilly park and impeccable brownstones (one local thoroughfare was named the best block in New York City by TONY in 2006), and cries of “I’m moving here!” are not uncommon from first-time visitors to the neighborhood.

Yet despite its adorable tranquility, Fort Greene is far from being a sleepy bedroom community: Fulton Street and Myrtle and DeKalb Avenues are all dotted with terrific restaurants, grown-up bars and quirky shops, and the neighborhood is home to the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), which hosts some of the city’s best theater, dance, film and music offerings. And Fort Greene is an example of the evolving city at its best, in that it has maintained its character and diversity even after gentrification exploded in western Brooklyn in the ’90s. Here, longtime residents mix happily with newcomers at local joints like Frank’s Cocktail Lounge and Café Lafayette. The nearby Pratt Institute has always guaranteed an influx of artists to the area, and for years young professionals have been attracted to the relative real-estate bargains, bustling social scene and proximity to Manhattan. Still, the core of the neighborhood remains the families who have lived there for generations. But as with all change in this town, controversy looms. While most of Fort Greene’s brownstones and stately prewar buildings are protected by historic-district status, one of the city’s most hotly debated construction projects in recent memory—Forest City Ratner’s Nets complex—looms on the neighborhood’s southern border. It remains to be seen how this proposal will change Fort Greene, if at all. But for now, this little swatch of north Brooklyn maintains the perfect balance of big-city living and small-town charm.

So here we present a guide to one of our favorite ’hoods in NYC. Inside you’ll find our picks for its best restaurants, bars and shops, as well as a look at the newly thriving oenophile scene. We’ve also given you a handy guide to all things BAM, and a map for helping you explore on your own. Hit the pavement, and be prepared to soak up some of that famous charm. And if you move here, our finder’s fee is a mere 15 percent.

Your guide to Ft. Greene:

	Food & drink
	Fort-ified wine
	Art
	Art star: Whether you’re a Brooklyn Academy of Music newbie or an old fan, here’s how to get more BAM for your buck.
	Shopping
	Sport & spa