New York Daily Photo Analytics

Friday, June 12, 2009

Manhattan Beach

This is New York City, not colonial Virginia. I was astounded on my recent excursion to the Manhattan Beach section of Brooklyn, which I had never really explored. This stately home is typical of many of the large residences in the area, most detached single family homes with lawns and garages, some even with swimming pools. See my gallery of photos here. The environment feels more suburban than urban - atypical of New York City and unlike most of Brooklyn itself.
Surrounded by water on three sides, the neighborhood is very much an enclave and one of the most expensive in New York City. Many residents are Jewish and/or Russian immigrants. There is very little shopping in the neighborhood and on weekends and holidays during the summer season (May 15 to Sept. 15), parking is prohibited on nearly all Manhattan Beach streets, owing to the attraction of the beach. I found the expanse of rocky beach reminiscent of the Maine coast, certainly not New York.
Manhattan Beach Park offers a baseball field, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball and handball courts, picnic areas and rest rooms. Snacks are available from concession stands and pushcarts.
Another very unique aspect of the neighborhood is that Kingsborough Community College, with a 70 acre campus and their own private beach, occupies the Easternmost tip of the peninsula. The school, established in 1963, is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system and has 30,000 students.
I recommend a visit of the area, perhaps with Sheepshead Bay as a base for your explorations (subject of a future post). A footbridge crosses the bay, providing nice vistas and a connection to Manhattan Beach ...

7 comments:

poefusion said...

Hello Brian~ when I think NY I don't think beaches, first. I think of tall buildings, rush hour traffic, etc. That second picture is great. I could easily be found in this area lots. Have a great day/ weekend.

Anonymous said...

WOW! Just lovely! I have to agree with Michelle Johnson over here, but when we were in NY 2 years ago we took the Circle line all around Manhattan (3 hours boatride). I noticed a lot of more quieter places all around. We were quite amused with the other "end" (peak?) of Manhattan, Harlem. There were a lot of trees, hiking people and no traffic.
Loved it!

ChickenUnderwear said...

I grew up in Sheepshead Bay and walked over the footbridge countless times to swim at Manhattan Beach. I never realized it was peaty. Thanks

ChickenUnderwear said...

pretty

Accidental Londoner said...

A daily photo blog which isn't just photos! Brilliant. I've spent a fair bit of time in New York and its amazing to see so many of the sites I associate with it (street-art on the Lower East Side, particular shops, delis etc.) here on this blog.

Andrea said...

Beautiful pictures, thanks for the reminder of *home!*

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

If you haven't gone there already see Victorian Flatbush. Some of the beautiful old houses are remarkable. Mill Basin is also a very wealthy area with many newly rebuilt mansions.