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Clinton Hilltucked into northern brooklyn is a genuine college town.
Two beautiful campuses, unusual churches and wide, quiet streets graced
with Victorian mansions, turn-of-the-century brownstones and
carriage houses make Clinton Hill a neighborhood well worth exploring.
The Big Apple Greeter Guide to
text by deborah freemanedited by marianne gennarigraphic design by joy makonphotographs by paul katcher© 2012 Big Apple Greeter 7/2012 Big Apple Greeter 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007Phone: 212-669-8159 Web: bigapplegreeter.org
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Where is Clinton Hill?Located in northwestern Brooklyn, Clinton Hill is bordered on the south by Atlantic Avenue, on the north by Flushing Avenue, on the west by Vanderbilt Avenue and on the east by Classon Avenue.
About Clinton HillOnce Dutch-owned farmland, Clinton Hill got its start in 1832 when Clinton Avenue was laid out as a tree-lined boulevard. The street and neighborhood were named for De Witt Clinton who had been both Mayor of New York City and Governor of New York State. By the 1840s,
Clinton Hill had become a fashionable suburb for the wealthy of Brooklyn who could commute to Manhattan by taking a stage coach to the Fulton Ferry in nearby Brooklyn Heights. Later in the 19th century, a number
of millionaires built mansions on Clinton Avenue, many of which survive to the present day. The most famous resident of Clinton Hill was oil executive and philanthropist Charles Pratt. His wealthy neighbors included the owners of Pzifer Chemical, the Underwood Typewriter Company and the Rheingold Brewery. Today, Clinton Hill is a neighborhood of enormous diversity with charming shopping and restaurants. In 1981, Clinton Hill was designated an historic district.
It’s Easy to Get to Clinton Hill
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by subway: C to Clinton-Washington Avenues. G train to Clinton-Washington Avenues or Classon
Avenue. by bus: Bus lines that service Clinton Hill include the B38, B54 and B69.
Things to See and Do in Clinton Hill1
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pratt institute bounded by DeKalb Avenue, Hall Street, Willoughby Avenue and Classon Avenue was founded in 1887 by oil tycoon Charles Pratt, who recognized the growing need for trained designers, draftsmen and other technicians in a changing economy. Today, Pratt Institute has more than 4,000 students studying art, design and architecture. The lovely campus is a designated national historic district containing several landmarked buildings. Its library boasts interiors supplied by the Tiffany Glass Company. 19th century steam engines still supply the campus with energy and are on display with other industrial memorabilia in the East Building.
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The pratt sculpture park which embodies the entire 25-acre campus of the Pratt Institute, is the largest outdoor sculpture garden in the entire city. Changing and permanent exhibits have featured the works of such out-standing sculptors as Robert Indiana and Richard Serra. The sculpture park and the adjacent rose garden are open to visitors during the day and make for a lovely stroll.
2bigapplegreeter.org clinton hill
The Big Apple Greeter Guide toClinton Hill
sculpture parkpratt institute
greeter’s secretMany famous people attended
Pratt Institute, including actors Robert Redford,
Martin Landau and Harvey Fierstein; artists Peter Max and Ellsworth Kelly; photographer
Robert Mapplethorpe; singer Patti Smith; fashion
designer Betsey Johnson; and cartoonist Jules Feiffer.
greeter’s secretWhile visiting Pratt
Institute, keep an eye out for the famed “Pratt
Cats”, the gang of retired award-winning show cats who now call the campus
their home. Their show ribbons are on display in
the East Building.
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On Willoughby Avenue, Steuben Street and Emerson Place near the campus are a cluster of 27 two-story buildings known as the pratt institute faculty rowhouses. Built in 1907, they feature red brick tops in a step shape based on Dutch Colonial styles. Their fronts face the street and their rears face a center garden divided by alleyways.
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st joseph’s college on Clinton Avenue between DeKalb and Willoughby Avenues has offered a diverse population a liberal arts education since 1916. Today, it offers courses to over 5,000 students and houses a child study center. The lovely campus is a well-known community resource.
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The pratt mansions on Clinton Avenue between DeKalb and Willoughby Avenues are examples of some of the most elegant homes in the city. The house at number 232 Clinton Avenue was completed in 1874 as the Pratt family home. Today, the home is part of the St. Joseph’s College campus. Pratt went on to build three
other mansions on the block as wedding presents for three of his sons. These homes are located at numbers 229, 241 and 245. The mansion at 241 Clinton Street is today the home of the Roman Catholic bishop of Brooklyn. Be sure to see the house at number 278 with its two balconies and
unusual windows. The house at number 284 predates the Pratt Mansions and dates back to the 1850s.
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emmanuel baptist church at Lafayette Avenue and St. James Place is a Gothic Revival style building designed by famed architect Francis Kimball and completed in 1887. Known for its spectacular interiors of stained glass, wood and gold floral stencils, the church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church was also the site of Charles Pratt’s memorial service in 1891.
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queen of all saints church at 300 Vanderbilt Avenue at Lafayette Avenue was built in 1912 and was styled after Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. The church building features six life-sized statues of angels carved in white stone and was designed by famed architect, Gustave Steinbeck. To learn more, see the website at qasrcc.org/.
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The joseph steele house at 200 Lafayette Avenue at Vanderbilt Avenue is a beautifully maintained Greek Revival clapboard house. Its eastern wing was built in 1812, making it one of the oldest surviving houses in Brooklyn. The rest of the house dates from the 1850s. Be sure to notice the octagonal cupola rising above the roof.
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royal castle apartments at 26 Gates Avenue near Clinton Avenue are an excellent example of Beaux Arts architecture. Completed in 1912, it was considered synonymous with fine living. Today, it is still considered one of the city’s finest apartment houses.
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pratt mansions emmanuel baptist church
The Big Apple Greeter Guide toClinton Hill
bigapplegreeter.org clinton hill
greeter’s secretClinton Hill is dotted
with unusual residences. Make sure to see the
grouping of five unusual houses built in 1890
at 282 DeKalb Avenue. The quiet block at
206-210 St. James Place is a showcase of urban rowhouse architecture.
Shopping
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green in bklyn at 432 Myrtle Avenue between Clinton Avenue and Waverly Avenue offers eco-
friendly products including cleaning and kitchen supplies, beauty products and children’s toys. To learn more, see the website at greeninbklyn.com.
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barking brown at 468 Myrtle Avenue between Hall Street and Washington Avenue
is an accessories-oriented boutique opened by Pratt graduate students in 2007. It offers an eclectic selection of unusual hats, handbags and jewelry. To learn more, see the website at barkingbrown.com.
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prattstore at 550 Myrtle Avenue
between Steuben Street and Emerson Place is the art supply store of the Pratt Institute which is also open to the public. This is
the place to find brushes, paints and design magazines as well as art posters featuring the designs of Pratt alumni. To learn more, see their website at prattstore.net.
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dope jams at 580 Myrtle Avenue at Classon Avenue is a music store
specializing in underground electronic music for DJs and aficionados of that genre. In keeping with their retro theme, most of their stock is vinyl. To learn more, see the website at dopejams.net.
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clinton hill pickles at 431 DeKalb Avenue between Classon Avenue and Taafe Place is the place
to find old-fashioned brine-cured delights. Be sure to try the cauliflower, beets and the sauerkraut as well as the much-beloved cucumber pickles.
When It’s Time to Eat
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locando vini e olii at 129 Gates Avenue between Cambridge Place and Grand Avenue offers classic Tuscan dishes and is highly rated in Zagat’s Guide.
Don’t be fooled by the Lewis Drug Store sign outside. This former 19th century pharmacy is now home to a menu that changes daily and offers seasonal food. The original wooden apothecary drawers now display cookbooks and vintage kitchen equipment. To learn more, see the website at locandavinieolii.com.
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autour du monde at 860 Fulton Street between Clinton Avenue and Waverly Avenue means “around the world” and features a sea-
sonal global-inspired menu which lives up to its name. Be sure to try the Sunday brunch. To learn more, see the website at restaurantautourdumonde.com.
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mike’s coffee shop at 328 DeKalb Avenue between Hall Street and
St. James Place is a favorite student hang-out which offers inexpensive food at good prices. And it’s open for breakfast.
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barking brown dope jams
The Big Apple Greeter Guide toClinton Hill
bigapplegreeter.org clinton hill
greeter’s secretThe Society for Clinton
Hill sponsors house tours and other events.
Check upcoming events at sctyclintonhill.
tumblr.com.
About Big Apple Greeter
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Connecting with business and leisure travelers from
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tourism throughout the city, and help visitors
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Over 300 volunteer Greeters speak collectively
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urban vintage at 294 Grand Avenue between Lafayette Avenue and Clifton Place is a combination boutique and café that offers vintage glassware and furniture along with organic sandwiches and
locally roasted coffee, lattes, cider and a place to plug in your laptop. To learn more, see the website at urbanvintageny.com/Welcome.html.
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choice market at 318 Lafayette Avenue between St. James Place and Grand Avenue features organic food with an
Italian specialty and communal dining. To learn more, see the website at choicebrooklyn.com.
Night Life
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rope at 415 Myrtle Avenue at Clinton Avenue is a long-time neighborhood
favorite featuring bingo nights, movie screenings and a great juke box in addition to a full service bar. And there is an outdoor patio for hanging out in nice weather.
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f ive spot at 459 Myrtle Avenue between Washington Avenue and Waverly Avenue has a menu that offers soul food specialties like
fried chicken, mac and cheese and meatloaf at reasonable prices. It also offers live entertainment ranging from R&B, reggae, DJs and comedians. To learn
more, see the website at fivespotsoulfood.com.
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brooklyn public house at 247 DeKalb Avenue near Vanderbilt Avenue offers
16 beers on tap and is known for its friendly staff. And don’t forget to try the homemade potato chips. There is also a reasonably priced menu and weekend brunch is available.
brooklyn public house
The Big Apple Greeter Guide toClinton Hill
5bigapplegreeter.org clinton hill
urban vintage
greeter’s secretA good source of
information about Clinton Hill is the Myrtle Avenue
Brooklyn Partnership. Information about dining,
shopping, events and locations may be found at
myrtleavenue.org.
choice market
Flushing Ave
Park Ave
Myrtle Ave
Myrtle Ave
Willoughby Ave
Willoughby Ave
Dekalb Ave
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Lafayette Ave
Lafayette Ave
Green Ave
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B R O O K LY N Q U E E N S E X P Y
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Clinton Hill© 2012 Big Apple Greeter 7/2012
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