Discovering Brooklyn: Bushwick
by 
Welcome to our monthly series covering all of Brooklyn from Greenpoint to Sea Gate.
People lived in the area known as Brooklyn long before Columbus sailed to the “New World.” Brooklyn, located at the southern tip of Long Island, was originally inhabited by the Lenape. The Lenape hunted, fished, and planted crops. Many died from unfamiliar diseases brought over by settlers. By the 1600s the Dutch created Kings County which included only six towns: Brooklyn, Flatbush, Flatlands, Gravesend, New Utrecht and Bushwick. (see here for more on Brooklyn’s early history)
“Boswijck” (Bushwick) which in Dutch means “little town in the woods” is a lot smaller today than it had been when Kings County consisted of six towns. For two hundred years this township was mainly farmland where tobacco and food stuff were cultivated. However, with the American Industrial Revolution and the construction of the Myrtle Avenue Elevated and the Broadway Elevated in the late19th century, people traveled and businesses boomed throughout this neighborhood and beyond.
Today Bushwick has Williamsburg above it, Queens County to its right, and to its left and below it is the neighborhood of Bedford Stuyvesant. According to City-Data.com the population of Bushwick is 81,805 with the majority of its population, Latino. New York State has the fourth largest population of Latinos and Bushwick in the borough of Brooklyn has the highest concentration of Spanish-speaking people mainly from Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Ecuador, and El Salvador.
Bushwick’s culture is passionately expressed through the arts. Walk around the neighborhood, the sweet sounds of Latin music fill the air. Salsa serenades passersby from an apartment. Bachata blasts from a car stopped at a red light. Reggaeton reverberates around groups of teens liming on a street corner. The street art displayed on several blocks in this neighborhood, speak directly and openly to you, the people. The colorful strokes and rich tones of murals and meaningful “lettering” is breathtaking and thought provoking. Street vendors sell delicious pastries and yummy snacks bringing popular Latino culinary delights to the borough. The arts are all around in Bushwick. “Like” The Bushwick Collective on Facebook and for more on Art and Open Studios in Bushwick go to Artsinbushwick.org. Until January 4, 2015, the exhibition, Crossing Brooklyn: Art from Bushwick, Bed-Sty, and Beyond will be shown at the Brooklyn Museum in Prospect Heights.
Through the years we have seen greatness come out of Bushwick. Comedian, actor, and musician, Jackie Gleason was born there and briefly attended Bushwick High School. Gleason brought to life the Brooklyn working-class family in his skillful portrayal of Ralph Kramden in the legendary television show, “The Honeymooners.” Baby, you’re the greatest! In addition, actress and “The View” co-hosts Rosie Perez writes in her tell all book, Handbook For An Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother, and Still Came Out Smiling (With Great Hair), “they (her parents) met in Williamsburg, Brooklyn….Within months of their meeting, she got pregnant with me…and moved into an apartment in Bushwick, Brooklyn.”
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Considering a move to Bushwick? This area did develop a bad reputation after the 1977 blackout; stores were looted, businesses went under, crime went up, and housing deteriorated. But in recent years this area has seen major construction and much renovation. Beth J. Harpaz in a Huffpost dated May 1, 2014 writes, “For the last few years, a neighborhood called Williamsburg has been the epicenter of Brooklyn cool. But with prices for Williamsburg condos hitting $4 million and up, young creative types are migrating to trendier – and less expensive – ground. They seem to have found it in nearby Bushwick. Vogue even called Bushwick one of the world’s coolest neighborhoods!
There are a number of good eateries in Bushwick. Feeling for authentic Venezuelan food? Arepera Guacuco, at 44 Irving Avenue, is the perfect place. This family owned restaurant is known for its arepas. Arepas are corn cakes stuffed with different fillings of meat, avocado, and cheese. Venezuelan arepas originally prepared by indigenous Arawaks and Caribs are currently sold in restaurants called areperas. For an appetizer, try one of their arepas. For the entree, select a typical Venezuelan dish. Do try the house special drink with your meal. Cocada is an amazing coconut milk shake with tiny bits of coconut, cinnamon, and a cherry. (La comida aqui es fantastica) The food is sooooo good here and reasonably priced too.
In these financially challenging times, people need and want quality products that are inexpensive. Domsey Express on Myrtle Avenue is one of the best thrift shops around. It is a Bushwick treasure. The staff are extremely customer friendly and the clothing are well organized and in good condition. If you have the time and the patience to look carefully through racks of clothing, you may discover some great things. For ridiculously low prices you might find gently used trousers, designer dresses, brand-name skirts and shirts, fur and leather coats, and much much more.
Bushwick also has a few notable historic landmarked buildings. One truly awesome landmark is located at 179 Wilson Avenue at the corner of DeKalb Avenue. According to brownstones.com, this edifice was built between 1894 and 1895. Its architectural style is Romanesque Revival. Can you believe this beautiful medieval looking fortress was originally built as a police precinct with a stable for horses?Really? (Geez the building is huge – there must have been quite a need for significant police presence back then). Today the Brooklyn North Task Force calls 179 Wilson – home.
Walk up and down Knickerbocker, Wilson, Central, Evergreen, Bushwick, and Myrtle Avenues. Experience Bushwick by meeting some wonderful people, eating great food, seeing amazing art, supporting local businesses. If you have not done so recently, visit this Brooklyn neighborhood. You will definitely discover a “new world”.
Be sure to check us out next month in Bedford Stuyvesant.
