September 15, 2007 / Brooklyn Heights–Downtown / Perspective / Heights Lowdown

The kids are, in fact, alright

By Juliana Bunim

for The Brooklyn Paper

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It’s hard to say when exactly fall begins. Some people look for the leaves changing color. Some listen for the sound of helmets crashing on the gridiron. Me, I look for the cigarette butts scattered across the sidewalk in front of our neighborhood dorms, the St. George and Clark Street Residences. They can only mean one thing: after a summer of clean sidewalks and quiet nights, the students are back in town.

The dorms that flank the Clark Street subway station are unlike most college residence halls. While most dormitories house students from one college or university, these buildings are completely independent. The 1,200 students living in the two buildings attend approximately 22 schools across the city, from the School for Film and Television to the Institute of Culinary Education. They’re open to anyone studying in the city — which creates a unique mixture of future chefs, artists, designers and lawyers.

It’s easy to get the impression that the students living on Clark and Henry streets aren’t enamored of Brooklyn Heights. They sit outside their residence halls for hours, smoking cigarettes and talking on the phone. I imagined them complaining to one another that they’re plagued with boredom, stuck in America’s first suburb.

“That could be true for some people fresh out of high school,” said Pakawadee Sinsap, 20. “There’s no party scene or real weekend hangout.”

Sinsap moved to Brooklyn Heights from Bangkok last month to attend Manhattan’s Laboratory Institute of Merchandise, a fashion business college. Sinsap was offered three housing options in addition to the Clark Street Residence: one on the Upper East Side and the other near Herald Square. Brooklyn Heights was her first choice.

“It’s obviously a safe neighborhood,” she said. “But beyond that, the social scene is really great. I live with people who all go to different schools, which is far better than a traditional dorm. I have friends at the Film Academy and I’m studying design, so those are potential future colleagues.”

While Sinsap is scoping professional connections, other students chose the St. George residence for its close — but not too close — proximity to Manhattan.

Tyler Bell, 18, left Texas to attend the Art Institute of New York. He had a choice of living in Manhattan or Brooklyn Heights but said the decision was easy: He chose Brooklyn Heights for the “calmer pace of life.” That’s pretty sophisticated for a teenager.

“It’s refreshing here,” said Bell. “I’m young and I could get caught up in city life.” Bell prefers to walk along the Promenade or hang out in the St. George common room. “This dorm is so much fun. It’s just a big melting pot.”

But not everyone is thrilled to have the dorms back to life. Arnie Schaeffer exits the Clark Street subway station every evening and finds the students a nuisance.

“The last thing I want to do when I get home is literally step over a bunch of kids hanging out in front of their building,” he said. “But I can admit, if I had kids, I would feel better about them living here than somewhere on the Lower East Side.”

For parents, especially those unfamiliar with New York, saying goodbye as their children move on to independent living can be very unnerving.

“My parents will feel much better about my situation when they actually see it,” said Wendy Freeman, 19. “They’re in Texas, and they just hear ‘New York,’ which sounds scary. They don’t know [Brooklyn Heights] is so beautiful. They’ll love that it’s minutes away from the city, but still removed.”

To my surprise, many of my collegiate neighbors appreciate the same qualities about the Heights that I do.

“A good night for me is just a stroll down Montague Street and a bite at the Heights Cafe,” said Sinsap.

One thing is certain: she doesn’t need to take a class in good taste. Juliana Bunim is a writer who lives in Brooklyn Heights.

The Kitchen Sink

For those of you looking for some mixing and mingling, head to Taze restaurant at 142 Montague St. on Sept. 17 for “A Brooklyn Affair,” an evening to make professional or personal connections over food and cocktails with other Brooklynites. For information, visit www.allaboutbrooklyn.com. …

Two Trees Management just announced that Aswoon Studio, a high-end design store, will open in 14 Jay St. at John St. …

Cameron Diaz was spotted last week at the Fulton Ferry Landing in DUMBO filming her latest flick, “What Happens in Vegas,” helmed by director Tom Vaughan. …

The Brooklyn Dojo, at 93 Pineapple Walk, is still taking registrations for its kids’ karate classes. For information, visit www.brooklyndojo.com. …

Tango, that upscale women’s boutique at 145 Montague St., between Clinton and Henry streets, is selling off its summer duds at up to 60 percent off.

©2007 The Brooklyn Paper

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