Welcome back to “Meet Your Neighbors,†a weekly feature on the Bed Stuy blog that serves to make the introductions between you, our readers, and other people who live or work in Bedford Stuyvesant.
I have to apologize to our male readership for the lack of male “neighbors” being featured as of late. I plan on doing a round-up of how this process has been going, and what I’ve been noticing during my walks around the neighborhood, in an upcoming episode, but for the time being, the simple fact is that men have been much slower to respond – if at all – after the initial contact I’ve made with them after asking if they will be a subject for “Meet Your Neighbors.” Feel free to chew that one over in your minds or put forth your own hypothesis as to why that is, but for the time being, I shall continue to enjoy – and hope you all will, too – learning about the amazing women of this community. With that said, ready to meet a new neighbor?
Name: Elizabeth and Luke
Lives: Near Franklin and Fulton
Age: 40 and almost 5
Born: Brooklyn (both of us)
Cultural or ethnic heritage: Brooklyn Jew
How much do you feel like your cultural or ethnic background defines or influences your identity?: Not too much.
Lives with: Luke and Luke’s pop Tim, and our dog and cat.
Years lived in Bed Stuy: 5 years
Where else have you lived during your lifetime?: A Homestead Cabin in central Alaska, an organic farm in the Puget Sound. Lower East Side.
Renter or home owner: Owner
What is important to you about your individual home and/or the community you live in?: We are really happy to have a back garden and a nice old house. We love living in a diverse neighborhood (there are very few in the whole world, really) and one with a civic spirit.
Do you participate in community events? If yes, why? If no, why not?: Yes, but not as often as I think I should.
What do you do for a living?: I work as a commercial real estate broker in Manhattan, and Luke starts kindergarten next fall.
Do you enjoy what you do for work? If yes, why?: Yes, because it affords me the flexibility that makes me happy and lets me be more of the mom I want to be.
Are you religious, and if yes, do you attend local worship services?: No.
What are some of your favorite hobbies or interests?: Gardening, cooking, camping, and hiking. Luke likes Starwars and PLAYING!
What is your most dreaded household or domestic chore, and why?: Cleaning the basement. Because I don’t think it’s possible, really.
What is your favorite household chore, and why?: Cooking dinner for my family and friends. I love to cook when I have the time to really plan.
What is one of your favorite music artists?: JS Bach. He brings it all to a focal point and then lets it flow.
What do you like best about living or working in Brooklyn and/or Bed Stuy?: The neighborhoods, the blocks.
What do you like least about living or working in Brooklyn and/or Bed Stuy?: There is no natural wilderness here.
What would you change about the neighborhood if you could?: Better schools.
Are there any businesses or services that your part of the neighborhood is lacking?: We’re doing fine, really.
Do you feel like Bedford Stuyvesant is experiencing “gentrificationâ€?: Five years living here is not long enough to say. Eight years ago my block was rife with drugs, prostitution, and violence. Today it is a lovely, safe place to raise my son, but is that “gentrification” or a swing all over the city? I don’t know.
If you are relatively new to the neighborhood, how have you been treated by your neighbors, or the community at large?: I moved here 5 years ago with a huge, pregnant belly and although I was raised in Brooklyn, and have lived in many neighborhoods around the city, this is the friendliest. Much more like a small town. I was called “cracker” a few times, but not for a few years now.
Other than your own ethnic or cultural background, what other ethnic groups, cultures, or countries do you have an affinity for and why?: I believe that people everywhere share a common desire for connection and kindness, and an excuse to show good will. I feel a pull toward places I’ve studied, or visited and loved – like South Africa and India, Central America, and Europe – but people are the most important, and they have much in common no matter where they are from.
What a sweet portrait!
The basement is a a real monster isn’t it? I plan on cleaning mine every weekend, but it just doesn’t seem to happen! I even tried to “break it up into managable pieces” like the they tell you to do. So now I have a few immaculate islands in a sea of mess. Good luck.
I like the diversity that exists in all of Brooklyn. There are people like Liz and Luke who are leaders and not followers. They know that their environment is largely created by them for better or worst. See you around!