The New York Observer published a most amusing article on how Kensington is the next, next place to watch ... except they were really walking around Ditmas Park. But since this blog is about Kensington, we're going to talk about that.
A commenter on Curbed observes:
I live there and it is very clear that Kenginston ends on the east side at Coney Island Ave. Therefore Vox Pop, The Farm, Purple Yam, Sycamore, are not in Kensington, they are in Ditmas Park and anyone who thinks otherwise is dreaming.
Kensington does not have any places like this (stuff white people like). We have nail salons, cell phone stores, and mediocre ethnic food. The problem is Kensington has one commercial strip, Church Ave, and it is one depressing street. Like Warsaw in 1982 depressing; dead tree's, sad people shuffling around, blowing garbage, general feeling of despair and malaise. But we do have horses, take that Ditmas Park!
There was some lively discussion on the exact nature of neighborhood boundaries on the Kensington Windsor Terrace yahoo group a short while ago, my favorite being a definition of Windsor Terrace: "I asked my 77 year old mother about the border of WT. She said it was always church to church and life and death. Which meant Ninth Avenue (Holy Name) to Ft. Hamilton Pkway (IHM), and Prospect Park to Greenwood Cemetary. Hey, this comes from someone who rode the trolley cars." That would make Ron Lopez (who writes the fabulous Kensington Stories) right:
Now I'm going to close my eyes and tell you what the borders were for Kensington ever since I was a little baby being rolled down East Fourth Street in one of those big old baby carriages with white rubber tires and gleaming chrome spokes.Now, you all ready???"You all" has rubbed off from my Texan wife you see..Ok kids here we go...Kensington North Border: Fort Hamilton ParkwayKensington South Border: 18th AvenueKensington West Border: Dahill Road (Yes it's true, sorry that was always Boro Park to us)Kensington East Border: Coney Island AvenueSilly thing is the "Windsor Terrace" library is actually in Kensington.Now I'm sure people and real estate agencies have changed things, but I still have our Kensington phone book from 1971 and on the cover the borders are clearly drawn. Yes, thats right we had our own personal Kensington phone book which was a combo of white pages and yellow pages. A cute little book that was.Now those are the borders I knew and I'm sure my mom would have said something else. If you folks ever want to know some real Kensington history stop in the Buzzarama some Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Both my cousins Dolores and Buzzi actually grew up on East Second street and know a lot more than me.
Though there is much claim that Caton is really the dividing line. We here don't care that much. We think that for most people their neighborhood is about 10-15 minutes easy (no huge obstacles to cross, like the expressway) walking distance from their home. For great many people over here that includes Fort Hamilton Parkway.
Where you can, by the way, slow down the pace - walk along pretty streets , look at the church (Immaculate Heart of Mary), walk a dog at Sean Casey Animal Rescue (or pet a cat), get a coffee at the Oak & Iris, stop by the playgrounds, get a slice or an ice, pick up dinner - Thai, Italian, more Italian - it's that magic little neighborhood that's hard to name, a bit Kensington, a bit Windsor Terrace.
And as far as the stuff "white people like" - it seems that just about everyone over in DP orders Thai food from Kensington, and comes here to get their nails done ... and get the plants and trees for their fancy big houses here too. Be proud, dear neighbors, be proud. And don't litter!