Bedford-Stuyvesant

 

This area was first developed by wealthy German and Dutch immigrants in the mid-19th century and has seen waves of demographic change. Nevertheless, it remains a stronghold of African-American culture, nicknamed "Brooklyn's Little Harlem." Musicians and artists from Duke Ellington to Jay-Z and Spike Lee to Notorious B.I.G. have memorialized what Bed-Stuy means to them. Today, older small-town traditions of community persist, a legacy imported by residents who moved in from the South. 

 

What To Expect

With nearly 9,000 houses built before 1900, Bed-Stuy offers a feast for the eyes, showcasing jaw-dropping architectural styles that range from Italianate to Queen Anne. In addition, many houses boast intact original details that are hard to find anywhere else in the city.

 

The Lifestyle

The neighborhood remains a home for many artists, actors, and musicians, and the cultural and culinary offerings are appropriately rich. Restaurant and bar doors open as the sun sets: cocktails at Dynaco, Nashville-style fried chicken at Peaches Hot House, Neapolitan pizza at Saraghina. Sip on one of the 45 draft beers at Brooklyn Tap House. Catch some jazz at the Sankofa Aban Bed & Breakfast or an outdoor movie screened in one of Bed-Stuy's green spaces.

 

The Market

Bed-Stuy is among the city's most well-preserved collections of 19th-century rowhouses. MacDonough Street, Decatur Street, and Bainbridge Street make up the Stuyvesant Heights Historic District, one of the major stops on Brooklyn's brownstone belt.

 

You'll Fall In Love With

Throughout its long history, Bed-Stuy's neighbors rely on and lean on each other. Block associations and churches like the historic Bridge Street A.M.E. Church have long represented community institutions. It's a place where people still say "good morning" to those they pass on the sidewalk. Despite the fast growth the spirit still persists, offering down-home hospitality and a peaceful, rural streetscape amidst the city's bustle.