Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Bay Ridge is an interesting town with quiet residential areas, a bustling nightlife, and plenty of recreational activities, shops, and restaurants. The homes in Bay Ridge cover a wide spectrum of styles and prices. The housing here is mostly made up of single family homes on tree-lined streets, but there are also a lot of co-ops and some apartments. It's very safe; the neighbors in Bay Ridge are friendly and look out for each other. The population is mainly Italian, Greek, and Irish, but there is a good number of Arabic speaking residents as well. It also has a huge elderly population because this is a town where people stay their whole lives. There is no shortage of things to do with lots of restaurants that serve ethnic foods, nice parks, and a lovely pier where people fish. Most of the action takes place on 86th street, and there are more than one hundred bars in this town. While there are subway stations and an express bus in Bay Ridge, the commute to Manhattan is lengthy. Drivers have easy access to major highways, but parking can be challenging. People often compare Bay Ridge with Park Slope; while Park Slope may be trendier, it is also far more expensive. Overall, this is a nice, affordable community with a lot to offer.

I think it is a little deceiving judging all of Bay Ridge and Fort Hamilton in one post, but I really like one particular area of Bay Ridge, so I will still give it 5 stars. Bay Ridge is known for having families that lived in the area for multiple generations and therefore the average age tends to skew a bit old. However, I think that this tends to apply more to Fort Hamilton and the southern parts of Bay Ridge more than the northern sections. If you stick close to Owl's Head Park, the residents appear to skew younger and the streets are a little bit more lively. Couple that with Bay Ridge's great schools and gorgeous homes, and the neighborhood is tough to beat.

My girlfriend and I are keeping a blog of our home search and if you want to read our full report on Bay Ridge, you can check it out here:

http://iwantawalkup.tumblr.com/post/1030935655/field-report-bay-ridge

Bay Ridge is one of those neighborhoods where many of the residents are from Brooklyn and have lived here there whole lives. Sure, many of their parents were newly integrated immigrants, but that only adds to the classic Brooklyn vibe emitted from Bay Ridge. There are so many true blue New Yorkers wandering around Bay Ridge it's hard not to feel like you've woken up in one of those gangster movies that throwback to the sixties and seventies.

If there's anything off-putting about this 'hood, it's that it's so far away from the action in Manhattan. You'll be on the M/R for a good 45 minutes before you get back into the city, but maybe that's why so many people DO move out here. (Or, maybe their families have just lived here for a few generations.) Anyway - I wouldn't want to wait that long to get home after a long day of shopping in the city, but that's just me.

Because there is a Century 21 store in Bay Ridge, a lot of people head down to this otherwise sort-of-obscure Brooklyn neighborhood. I have to admit that this store is the reason I'm familiar with the neighborhood in the first place. But, that aside, Bay Ridge doesn't seem like too shabby of a place to live: there shops in the form of pet supplies, hair care and just about anything you can think of in the area around 4th and 5th Aves. The residential buildings nearby are behind tree-lined streets, and they look nice enough. Bay Ridge is definitely an even-level middle class neighborhood, perhaps with some working class flavor.

I absolutely adore this area of Brooklyn. It is the perfect compromise between the hussle and bussle of city life and the quiet tree-lined streets of the suburbs. It is so rare to find a neighborhood where you can enjoy a summer evening sitting out in your yard hearing the children playing and the crickets chirping, yet still be down the block from your favorite restaurant or bar scene.
The nightlife is outstanding, the best place to be outside of Manhattan. Many of the restaurants are top-rated in Zagats. There is a choice of bar on every block, with every type of music imaginable- from R&B/ hip hop to 80s style.
Mansions and beautiful brownstones line many of the streets, and the breathtaking view of the Verrazzano Bridge is at your fingertips.

what can i say, i love bay ridge. i grew up here i worked here. bay ridge is one of the last few areas in brooklyn where you can enjoy what new york has to offer from the outer boros. it has eclectic night life and restaurants, bars. its trendy and fashionable. yet it also has that family oriented feel. its lined with beautiful victorians, mansions, 2 family buildings with ground floor retail, co-ops , condos, theres something here for every one. did i mention the bars and restaurants?? years ago, they used to call it "bar ridge" due to the number of bars that lined the city steets in this area.only hoboken has more bars per block than bay ridge, altho i have noticed alot more opening up around the area. great place to live work and play.

Bay Ridge. A calm and quiet neighborhood. This is a great spot to live with public transportation at the heart. The main subways and main buses are near to get you anywhere. The little shops along the streets provide many food, gifts, and other items to suit ones needs. There is always somewhere fun to go for a run or walk. In the time I lived there, crime was low. It felt safe to be out at night. There was no need to constantly look over your shoulder. Bay Ridge is a neighborhood full of smiling people and societal happiness. It is a place I will never forget and cant wait to return to one day!

This is a middle class residential area – perfect if you’re looking to raise a family away from the chaos of Manhattan, but not so great if you’re a Columbia student looking to commute to class everyday (it’s way down in south Brooklyn). They say that a lot of “yuppies” have moved in to the area, but there are still a number of international eateries maintained by locals.
This area is really a residents-only kind of place, not because it isn’t welcoming, but because anyone who doesn’t live here might find themselves a bit bored – especially if you are in your twenties and looking for a party.