Midwood - Brooklyn, NY

Midwood was originally settled in 1652 by Dutch settlers, later giving way to the English, who conquered the area in 1664. Although it was settled over 300 years ago, the land remained mostly unchanged and undeveloped until it was annexed by the City of Brooklyn in the early 1890s. Shortly after, housing tracts grew, and the neighborhood started to quickly become more developed.

Midwood experienced another population burst in the early 1980s when immigrants from all over the world started to pour in. The largest groups were from former Soviet Russia, but many also came from Latin American, Eastern Europe and Asia, turning the area into a wonderful melting pot of culture and cuisine.

Many notable personalities hail from the neighborhood, including actresses Marissa Tomei and Michele Trachtenburg, actor and director Woody Allen and famous bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno. Many films and television shows have also chosen Midwood for shooting, such as Seinfeld, The Cosby Show and even the classic film The Godfather.

For culture in the neighborhood, the beautiful Brooklyn Museum covers over 560,000 square feet and hosts over 1.5 million pieces of art.

For some great food, the main district in the neighborhood runs down Avenue J. There, you can find what many in the area call the best pizza in all of New York. Di Fara Pizza on Avenue J has authentic New York-style slices, and residents have voted it the best pizza in the city in Zagat surveys for eight years straight.

For something that fits the unique diversity of the neighborhood, Moldova Restaurant serves the only Moldovan food in all of New York City. It has many famous Moldovan dishes, including sarmale ca la mama, known as stuffed cabbage in the United States, that simply melts in your mouth. It serves many types of fish and is famous for its carp served with a delicious garlic sauce. For dessert, it has all kinds of delicious Moldovan-style crepes filled with your choice of fruit and fresh-made crème.

For a night out, Ox Cart Tavern has a vintage bar feel and a huge selection of craft beers, fine wines and a large range of cocktails. It also has two huge TVs, making it a great place to grab some drinks with friends and watch a game. For live entertainment, Downhouse Lounge has more of a nightclub feel, with a live DJ who plays every Saturday night and a karaoke night every Wednesday.

For travel within the Midwood area, walking and biking are both popular as the area has many paved sidewalks and specific lanes for biking. For travel outside of the neighborhood and commuting, the BMT Brighton Line, IND Culver Line and IRT Nostrand Avenue Line, all serve the area. Seventeen different public buses serve the area, from either the MTA New York City Transit or the MTA Bus Company.

Residents can hail a cab in most places, or you could always call head. Uber and Lyft are also available for travel just about anywhere within the neighborhood or to the city. I-278 runs less than two miles from the neighborhood, making commuting to the city or anywhere off the island very easy.

Many parks sit within the neighborhood, including Kolbert Park and Friends Field. Kolbert Park has the Rachel Haber Cohen Playground for the kids, a dog-friendly field, as well as handball and basketball courts. The park sits beside Edward R. Murrow High School, where the track and playing fields provide a place for anyone looking to get in some exercise.

Friends Field, on Avenue L has a baseball diamond and tennis courts. For some summer fun, Asser Levy Park, at less than five minutes from the neighborhood, has concerts known as the “Seaside Summer Concert Series” that presents local bands play every Thursday evening throughout July and August. And last but not least, the famous Nathan's hot dog eating competition takes place every fourth of July on nearby Coney Island.

The cost for items in Midwood ranges slightly more expensive than most counties in New York State due to the proximity to New York City and the high sales tax of 8.875 percent.

The average one-bedroom apartment rental in the area costs around $1,600 a month, well below the King’s County average of $2,668 per month and the New York City average of $2,966. The average two-bedroom sits at $2,125, also well below the King’s County and New York City median costs, which run at $3,117 and $3,949 respectively.

Midwood encompasses many shopping districts, with something for everyone depending on what type of shopping you like. One of the biggest and most popular shopping districts sits on King’s Highway. Here you can find several high-end stores such as Steve Madden, famous for its women’s shoes, and The Clothes Horse boutique, which has a large selection of designer dresses and denim from brands such as Citizens, Juicy, Vintage Havana, J Brand and many others.

Midtown has other shopping districts on Avenue J and Avenue U. Avenue J features the boutique-style store Junee that has a large variety of eclectic and upscale women’s clothing. On Avenue U, the Lotus Bridal Boutique lets you schedule an appointment to find the perfect wedding dress.

For grocery shopping in the area, Pomegranate has the largest all-kosher selection in the United States, selling all types of kosher food paired with fresh organic meats and produce. King’s Gourmet Foods also provides similar quality, offering high-end gourmet meats and produce. The area has an Indian grocery, Punjab Grocery, which has a large variety of specialty meats and Indian cuisine, and Moisha’s Discount Supermarket, for bargain grocery shoppers.