Weeksville - Brooklyn, NY Area Guide

Originally known as Crow Hill, Crown Heights changed its name in the early 1900s when the main Crown Street was cut through the city. Large portions of Crown Heights became part of Long Island, which houses a variety of posh neighborhoods and ornate buildings. The neighborhood houses a large number of museums including the Jewish Children's Museum and the Brooklyn Children's Museum, both located in the center of the neighborhood. Admittance to the Brooklyn Children's Museum costs $9. The Brooklyn Museum sits on the outskirts of Prospect Park. The museum is open every day with closing hours of 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on alternating days. Children get in free, and regular tickets cost $16 for adults. Weeksville Heritage Center provides African-American cultural exhibits and walk-through hours on Tuesday and Wednesday free of cost.

The Islands may be the best Jamaican restaurant in all of Brooklyn. The quirky decor and vibe inside the tiny restaurant make the food that much better. Home-style authentic dishes, such as the jerk chicken and curry goat, or shepherd's pie and grilled snapper, cannot be matched. The Caribbean flavor and style permeates the cozy space, making patrons feel like they're actually on an island in the Caribbean. Their signature drink made with limeade and brown sugar has many locals coming back for more. Chavela's on Franklin Avenue provides the perfect Mexican cuisine in Crown Heights. Conveniently open seven days a week for lunch and open for dinner until 11 p.m., the restaurant has a very large menu to please meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. Patrons can expect to find classics such as enchiladas and taco platters, as well as empanadas and traditional Mexican fish dishes. Friends and Lovers provides the hottest night spot in Crown Heights. This social club doubles as a music venue and bar. Open until 2 a.m. most nights and until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, you can dance all night while enjoying exotic cocktails with friends once you move to an apartment in Crown Heights. Cover charges vary depending on if the club hosts live-music performances or a deejay.

Crown Heights South provides easy access to New York City. The S-train runs along the west side of the neighborhood with several lines, such as the 2 and 3, cutting across it. Other trains and metro stations fall along the S-train line and provide easy access to Manhattan for residents working there. Train tickets per person cost $2.50. Uber car service can be used in Crown Heights South with fares starting at $20 and going up to $64 for the Uber SUV service, but most residents choose to take a train or cab as it costs much less. A cab can easily be hailed from inside Crown Heights with fares starting at $3.50 to go one block. Rides from the center of the neighborhood to the airport start at $50 one way. Residents have access to private-car services and limo services as well. Meters can be found on the streets of Crown Heights, and parking costs $1 for one hour. Several parking garages and lots can be found throughout the neighborhood. F & R Parking Lot located on New York Avenue has ample parking for those on the north side of the neighborhood. Sea Crest Garage is on the southwest end of the neighborhood with prices starting at $10. Residents enjoy biking and walking throughout the neighborhood, and both are safe as Crown Heights is a very pedestrian-friendly area. Access to major highways, such as the Prospect Expressway, can be easily accessed for a quick ride outside of the city or into one of the other four boroughs. Access to routes 17 and 287 also come easy, taking you out of New York and into New Jersey quickly.

When you move to an apartment in Crown Heights, you'll probably spend plenty of time in the neighborhood's main park, Prospect Park. This park features an indoor ice-skating rink, the Prospect Park Zoo, Prospect Park Lake (ideal for boating), Duck Island, ball fields, the Quaker Cemetery, the Prospect Park Dog Beach, and the Ravine -- Brooklyn's only forest. There's also a band shell, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to explore. If all of that isn't enough, the park is filled with hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding trails. Basketball and tennis courts can be found inside the park near the baseball fields, and spray showers near the playground areas provide cool relief on hot summer days.

Many neighborhoods in Brooklyn tend to be on the high-priced side; however, Crown Heights South apartments are very affordable. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in this diverse neighborhood is about $1,550. For gas, expect to pay 10 percent higher than the average of New York State and 8 percent higher than the national U.S. average. A regular can of domestic beer costs $3, while a pint of specialty or imported craft brew starts at around $8. Train tickets to anywhere in New York City cost $2.50 per person.

Independent Runway provides downtown Manhattan style inside the close-knit neighborhood of Crown Heights South. From cool cardigans to trendy pants and skirts for women, this shop has it all. Men's fashion can also be found here. The boutique allows local designers to sell their fashions here as well. Patrons enjoy shopping the latest in shoe fashion while pairing unique outfits with the plentiful accessories available here. The Candy Shop sounds like a sweet shop and not a high-end women's clothing store for sure. Don't be fooled, though. This sweet boutique, located in the heart of Crown Heights South, has the latest in women's trends and fashion. A cute little children's boutique located right around the corner from the Candy Shop features outfits for children. Hetty's Kidz Boutique caters to children of all ages and sizes. Parents come here to shop for boys and girls, and can find items from suits and holiday dresses to everyday wear. Shoes and accessories are also sold here. Associated Supermarket carries mainstream groceries for area residents, and folks like to stop in for the organic produce. This is the place to shop if you crave variety, but if you can't find what you came for, don't be afraid to ask for it. The management team has been known to go out of its way to order the product you want. Plenty of smaller specialty grocery and deli shops dot the neighborhood, such as Fine Fare Supermarket on Kingston Avenue and the Market Place on East New York Avenue, which sells kosher foods and products.