Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. Tucked away nicely in the southwest corner of Brooklyn, Bay Ridge is a old school neighborhood with strong Italian and Irish roots. Today, northern Bay Ridge is increasingly populated by a mix of arabs, Pakistanis, chinese, and Russians moving it, making it much more diverse.
An unknown Imgur uploader compiled this great collection of Google Earth satellite images of New York City neighborhoods and areas.
Washington Heights incline into Inwood, in northern Manhattan. Washington Heights is arguably the most vibrant, loud, boisterous neighborhood in new york. Every night here is filled with block parties and all forms of fun. It also used to be one of the deadliest neighborhoods in the entire city, while today it is gentrifying as wealthy urban professionals continue to move northward.
Hunts Point, the Bronx. The poorest neighborhood in the Bronx still holds its dangerous reputation. One of the oft forgotten corners of NYC, prostitution, drugs, and crime still wreck havoc on this area, but it still boasts strong community roots.
East Williamsburg, Brooklyn. 10 years ago this would have been called Bushwick, however rapid gentrification has changed the neighborhood. While the neighborhood is still gritty and drug addled, rents here can easily go past 3,000 dollars! Often considered the home of north Brooklyn nightlife, its hard to walk these streets without finding something interesting happening.
Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. This was my home when I first moved from Russia in 1996! The neighborhood is mostly emigrants from the USSR or post-USSR nations. Aging Russians who came over decades ago live alongside newer Russians who came following the fall of the Soviet Union. Despite being close to Coney Island, it still has very high poverty rates.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Williamsburg is less a neighborhood and more a region of Brooklyn, with the region being split by 3 distinct neighborhoods, northside, eastside, and southside Williamsburg. Northside today is very wealthy and almost fully gentrified. Southside is a Hasidic Jewish neighborhood, with an enclave of Puerto Ricans. Eastside is a mix of struggling bohemians, old Italian families, and has a strong puerto rican history as well.
Starrett City Housing Development, Brooklyn. A VERY big and expansive housing development, Starrett City is located right off the edge of East New York. It interestingly enough has its own private police force.
Norwood, the Bronx. Norwood used to be a famous Irish enclave, however today it is mostly Hispanic. It has an interesting triangle shape, and is located right at the border of the city, showing how dense NYC is all the way to its very edges.
Park Slope, Brooklyn. Need I say more? Park Slope is famous around the country for being the stereotypical yuppie filled neighborhood. Strollers, tea shops, french tourists, more strollers, and brownstones are everywhere. However the neighborhood still has a remaining Irish and Puerto Rican community near the south end (to the west at this angle), and Gowanus is rapidly turning into a nightlife haven, adding some grit to a neighborhood famous for being as safe and pompous as you can imagine.
Far Rockaway, Queens. Tucked away in a corner far removed from the rest of the city, Far Rockaway has an infamous history of crime and drugs. I like its mix of big apartments and single family homes, its a very interesting place to look at from above. Hurricane Sandy hit this place especially hard.
Flushing, Queens. A neighborhood that is constantly expanding as the Chinese community grows. Truly a modern new york Chinatown, with sights and smells that bring many back to China itself.
Downtown Brooklyn. The rapidly growing neighborhood of Downtown Brooklyn is truly a sight to behold for someone who lived through Brooklyns bad old days. Vibrant, colorful, and with many modern buildings, this area is home to many young professionals. Some areas however have lingering crime and homeless problems, stunting progress.
Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.
