M

anhattan cant be beat

if youre looking for
bright lights, swerving
taxis and 4 a.m. last
calls, but where to go if
youre a parent wanting to raise your kids in the
city? The mom survey says Brooklyn.
The culture is all about stoop-sitting in
Brooklyn, said Karen Connell, founder and
editor of the Web site A Child Grows. You end
up hanging out and talking to people. People
amble by and they stop to talk. When I sit on my
stoop, I know 80 percent of the people on my
block.
Connell found an even closer community in
the moms group she joined.
There were moms coming in and out,
sharing information on everything from the
best pediatricians to great mommy-and-me
classes, said Connell. Some moms were
leaving or had never been able to come at all,
so they would never get this information. I
panicked that this information was
being lost, almost like an oral history
disappearing.
So in 2006 she started A Child
Grows, which is dedicated to news,
advice and business and service
reviews for parents. While the site
began as a resource for the 15 moms in
Connells moms group,
by the enu of the fiist
month, A Child Grows
had more than
100 readers and
subscribers.
Its
continued
to grow
organically
over the past
four years, said
Connell. We have a pediatrician writing for
the Web site now, as well as parent coaches,
consultants, doulas and professional organizers.
We provide advice on being a parent on [both]
the national and micro level.
Connell, who has two youngsters herself,
Birch and Willow, cant praise the mom groups
that helped her get started enough.
Moms groups are a huge part of the
parenting culture in Brooklyn, Connell said. A
lot of them are based on the month that babies
are born, so if your baby was born in June 2010,
you already have 20 friends in your group.
But moms arent the only ones staying home
with the baby.
There are three or four dads groups that are
becoming more popular and more attended,
said Connell. There are lots of stay-at-home dads
who are creatives or freelancers and now theyre
able to finu play uates anu othei fiienus in same
situation.
While Child Grows is mostly an online
resource, last March, Connell brought
her online community to life at their
First-Ever Baby Expo, a daylong
event where parents and kids could
learn about local resources, interact
with other Brooklyn families, see
product and skill demonstrations
and attend seminars.
I had expected 250 people,
Connell said.
More than
720 people
came. It
shows that
there are a
lot of parents
excited
about
using
Brooklyns local resources and realizing the
incredible quality here.
Another resource for Brooklyn parents is
BabyBites, an online and in-person forum for
moms. Its Brooklyn chapter hosts luncheons,
seminars, support groups and sample classes.
We have resources online via our Web
site, said Chana Balk, founder of BabyBites
Brooklyn. We also have events where we
bring in experts relevant to new motherhood.
Were not exclusively for new or expectant
moms. Were just trying to help make early
mommyhood more reasonable.
Balk was a lawyer for 10 years before having
kids and turning her attentions to BabyBites
Brooklyn. Balk also has a new venture, Move It
Nomma, a fitness piogiam foi moms that offeis
classes in Prospect Park. A former Upper West
Sider, Balk was hesitant to make the move to
Brooklyn.
"We moveu to Biooklyn when oui fiistboin
was a toddler, said Balk. There was less
cohesiveness among moms on the Upper West
Side, but in Brooklyn, everyone knew everyone
at the playground.
Balk also touts Brooklyns local amenities as
essential to the parenting experience. These
resources can come in the form of the seven
kids retail consignment stores and the several
indoor play spaces Brooklyn boastsbut the
best amenities the borough has to offer are its
natural ones.
Part of the reason we moved to Brooklyn
was because my husband wanted to see trees,
Connell said. We wanted to be near a park
because theyre a great way to have the green
space we couldnt have otherwise.
Its not only the parks that are calling kids
names.
In the summer and warmer months, well
spend hours at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden
since its only four blocks away, Balk said.
y NataIie Pcward
Chana aIk, the fcunder cf
abyites rcckIyn.
Brooklyn Babies
his Lcrco_h is a haVen
cr nev arens Abound
5cratchread at the
hea market
page !, tcp phctc: 7he great NiddIe West 5taII at the rcckIyn FIea. Phctc credit Cccc NeIIcrs.
page !, bcttcm phctc: Dcugh's fresh Pibiscus dcnuts. Phctc credit Cccc NeIIcrs
seccnd page: tcp phctc: View cf the skyIine and rcckIyn FIea. Phctc credit Cccc NeIIcrs.
5eccnd page bcttcm phctc: 5cratchread at the hea market. Phctc credit rcckIyn FIea.
PeaI estate
page ! phctc: A fcur-bedrccm cc-cp at 9 Prcspect Park West in Park 5Icpe, rcckIyn Iisted at $3,495,000 by rcwn Parris
5tevens 5enicr Vice President Libby Pyan.
page 2 phctcs: CIcckwise frcm tcp Ieft: A tcwnhcuse Iisted by Ccrccran 5enicr Vice President Jessica uchman at 409 8th 5t.
in Park 5Icpe fcr $3,!95,000, a penthcuse Iisting at 355A PaIsey 5t. in edfcrd 5tuyvesant by Citi Pabitats 5enicr Asscciate rcker
JameIIa 5wift fcr $4!5,000, a cc-cp at 404 6th Ave. in Park 5Icpe, Iisted by Ccrccran 5enicr Vice President Jessica uchman fcr
$849,000.
aby stcry.
phctc capticn: Chana aIk, the fcunder cf abyites rcckIyn. Phctc credit: abyites rcckIyn.
CeIebrities
page !: CIcckwise frcm tcp Ieft: A-Iist rcckIynites AIexa Chung, Jennifer CcnneIIy and PauI ettany, Peter 5arsgaard and
Naggie CyIIenhaaI.
5eccnd page: Left: NicheIIe WiIIiams, right, Adrian Crenier.
P
/
P
Y
P
l
T
E
S

P
R
O
O
K
L
Y
N
.

BROOKLYN EDIT.indd 16 4/21/11 5:58:50 PM

Coney Island and the New York

Aquarium are also big draws.
Its nice having Prospect Park as
your backyard.
The abundance of green
space and the slower pace of
Brooklyn lend themselves well
to families, allowing for the time
and the space to raise children.
Theres a lot more value in leisure time and hanging out, said
Connell. You dont have to go to an activity or a birthday party every
weekend. The idea that you can pop your kids in the car and its no
big deal to go somewhere like a park is great.
Even the feel of Brooklyn parks is unique to the borough. Almost
every neighborhood has its own that puts on Halloween parades
and Easter egg hunts, but even without extra events, parks are a
draw for families.
You go to a park or a playground and the kids interact and the
parents strike up conversation, Connell said. People are very open
here to meeting people and getting to know them. Its a smaller
community and there are not as many people per capita, so there
are more chances of seeing someone again. We often dont even
make play dates. We just go to our neighborhood playground and
we usually know at least one child, if not more.
Kids getting to know each other inevitably means that their
moms get to know each othei, as well. Foitunately, Balk finus that
Brooklyn parents are some of the best.
"In Biooklyn, the paients aie much moie involveu with figuiing
out how to balance being a parent and working, Balk said. The
parents are often entrepreneurial and creative. Theres a much
more heterogeneous mix of people.
And Brooklyn allows the opportunity to get to know and become
friends with these people.
The feeling of knowing your neighbors is comforting, said
Connell. One time, Fresh Direct came to drop something while I
was getting my kids ready for bed. I couldnt hear my doorbell and
they were about to leave. but my 70-year-old neighbor told them to
wait. She told them she knew my schedule; she knew I was putting
the kids to bed.
But even with its friendly neighbors and abundant parks, the
most majestic of parenting communities has a downside. For
Connell and Balk, its the school system.
The biggest problem is that our public schools are not as
good as public schools on Manhattan, said Connell. Schools are
overcrowded or are emerging as potentially good schools but they
need lots of parents to get involved and be pioneers to revamp them.
Balk agrees.
The school systems in the city are such a challenge compared
to the suburbs, said Balk. Theyre a challenge in Brooklyn; theyre
a challenge in Manhattan. Thats probably the biggest draw of the
suburbs.
But thats not enough to dim the luster of Brooklyn.
In Brooklyn, theres a sense of helping each other, which is crucial,
especially with kids, said Connell. It really does take a village.
G@QQ8 G@<
Cet a taste of Brooklyn's
best pizza at these old
and new favorites.
ALLICA70P L0UNC
Looking for a late-night pizza fx? Alligator Lounge is open every night until 4 a.m.,
but even more enticing is its buy a drink, get a free pizza ofer. 1hat's right, bargain
shoppers, whenever you order any drink, you receive a coupon for a free personal
pizza. 1heir pizzas are made to order in the bar's brick oven, and you can take a turn
on the resident pool table while you wait (600 Hetropolitan Ave., 7!8-809-4440).
AN70NI0'5 PIZZA
Don't let the lack of decoration fool you, Antonio's has been serving up classic
ltalian fare in Park Slope since !950. 1ry their grandma slice, a rectangular thin-crust
slice with the cheese layered underneath the sauce instead of on top. Known best
for its pizza, Antonio's also ofers cheese steaks, calzones and ravioli, oh my (3!8
Flatbush Ave., 9!7-79!-30!9).
DI FAPA PIZZA
Opened by Domenico DeHarco, Di Fara's has been serving up classic New York-
and Sicilian-style pizzas for over 40 years. 1he pizza palace maintains its consistent
quality by never skimping on one main ingredient: DeHarco. All day, every day,
DeHarco is the only one to touch the pies, kneading, topping and baking them to
perfection. 1he dining room only seats !2, so try to avoid the dinner rush (!424 Ave.
J, 7!8-258-!367).
CPINALDI'5 PIZZPIA
Hit one of Brooklyn's most famous pizza joints the next time you cross the river.
Located just under the Brooklyn Bridge, Crimaldi's evokes the feeling of classic
pizzerias with its red-and-white-checkered tablecloths and coal-fre brick oven. 1hey
only serve whole pies, so bring some friends and plenty of time-Crimaldi's doesn't
take reservations, and the line to be seated has been known to stretch around the
block (!9 Old Fulton St., 7!8-858-4300).
L& 5PUN0NI CAPDN5
Summer's just around the corner, so soak up some sun as you polish of your pie
on L&B's outdoor patio. 1ry a slice of their famous Sicilian pizza, as seen on the 1ravel
Channel's Hac v. lccd, now served up by the fourth generation of the founding Barbati
family. lt's no easy feat, but try to save room for dessert. 1reat your taste buds to L&B's
namesake spumoni or classic ltalian ices (2725 86th St., 7!8-372-8400).
PA7PICIA'5 PIZZA AND PA57A
With locations in the Bronx and Piverdale, owners Lou and John Haschi stuck
with what they knew when they opened Patricia's in Williamsburg. Chef Ciacomo
Alaio relies on the old-world recipes and techniques his father taught him to provide
customers with authentic ltalian fare. Patricia's treats every visitor like family, ofering
hearty, familiar favors made vibrant and new with fresh, organic ingredients (35
Broadway, 7!8-2!8-9272).
PAULI C'5
Not to be confused with the Jersey Shore DJ, this Paulie serves up vegan slices.
Paul Cianonne began his pizza-making days somewhere familiar-in his backyard.
He's since upgraded to a rustic, homey restaurant in Creenpoint. 1he shop only
opened in Harch 20!0, but Paulie Cee's has been winning over Brooklynites with its
vegan options, brunch menu and unconventional everyday pizzas. Co big and try
their Baconmarmalade Picante, with fresh mozzarella, red onion and, that's right,
bacon marmalade (60 Creenpoint Ave., 347-987-3747).
P0P7A'5
1his elegant hot spot is all about two things-pizza and sustainability. 1he
restaurant, opened in 2008, fnds many of its fresh ingredients in its rooftop garden,
supports and serves local brewers and hosts its own radio station. Poberta's balances
out its traditional pies like the classic Hargherita, with more original oferings, such
as its Cheesus Christ, featuring three cheeses and black pepper (26! Hoore St., 7!8-
4!7-!!!8).
Y NA7ALI P0WAPD
l!'S hlC| |AVlh6
|R0S||C! |AR|
AS Y0uR
bAC|YARD."
5cratchread at the
hea market
page !, tcp phctc: 7he great NiddIe West 5taII at the rcckIyn FIea. Phctc credit Cccc NeIIcrs.
page !, bcttcm phctc: Dcugh's fresh Pibiscus dcnuts. Phctc credit Cccc NeIIcrs
seccnd page: tcp phctc: View cf the skyIine and rcckIyn FIea. Phctc credit Cccc NeIIcrs.
5eccnd page bcttcm phctc: 5cratchread at the hea market. Phctc credit rcckIyn FIea.
PeaI estate
page ! phctc: A fcur-bedrccm cc-cp at 9 Prcspect Park West in Park 5Icpe, rcckIyn Iisted at $3,495,000 by rcwn Parris
5tevens 5enicr Vice President Libby Pyan.
page 2 phctcs: CIcckwise frcm tcp Ieft: A tcwnhcuse Iisted by Ccrccran 5enicr Vice President Jessica uchman at 409 8th 5t.
in Park 5Icpe fcr $3,!95,000, a penthcuse Iisting at 355A PaIsey 5t. in edfcrd 5tuyvesant by Citi Pabitats 5enicr Asscciate rcker
JameIIa 5wift fcr $4!5,000, a cc-cp at 404 6th Ave. in Park 5Icpe, Iisted by Ccrccran 5enicr Vice President Jessica uchman fcr
$849,000.
aby stcry.
phctc capticn: Chana aIk, the fcunder cf abyites rcckIyn. Phctc credit: abyites rcckIyn.
CeIebrities
page !: CIcckwise frcm tcp Ieft: A-Iist rcckIynites AIexa Chung, Jennifer CcnneIIy and PauI ettany, Peter 5arsgaard and
Naggie CyIIenhaaI.
5eccnd page: Left: NicheIIe WiIIiams, right, Adrian Crenier.
BROOKLYN EDIT.indd 18 4/21/11 5:59:24 PM