Greenpoint
Reached only by the G train and ferry, Greenpoint is a North Brooklyn neighbourhood where deep Polish roots meet newer creatives, known for vintage shops, Polish food, tattoo parlours, grungy nightlife and waterfront views.
The story
A century ago, Greenpoint's shoreline was dotted with factories processing lumber and rope, drawing working-class families, many of them from Poland. Their descendants still live off Driggs and Greenpoint Avenues, and the neighbourhood has the second largest population of ethnic Polish-Americans. Over the past two decades, creatives have moved in, and the two cultures now share the streets. The music venue Warsaw, where punk meets pierogies, captures that blend best. Around it are some of the city's best vintage stores, well-regarded tattoo shops, busy nightlife, historic buildings and plenty of Polish cooking. Less flashy than its North Brooklyn neighbours, it keeps a quieter cool, with the G line stopping at Greenpoint Avenue and Nassau Avenue and a ferry running over from East 34th Street.
