Welcome to New York, motherfucker!

On Wednesday, November 8, I arrived in Brooklyn, ready for adventure, wet from the continuous, day long downpour, and excited about big city living. Before I begin with my ramblings, I thought that it would be appropriate for me to give you a brief overview of the borough that I will be calling home (and work) for the next several months.

To begin, Brooklyn is not exactly Gotham City, but it sure is close (only about 10 or 15 minutes by train, depending on where you are and if you can catch the express). Epithetically called the "City of Trees" or "City of Churches," this borough south and east of Manhattan is home to over 2.5 million people—from all over the world. It is the most populous New York City borough. The city is often characterized by the typical (in most neighborhoods) brownstone houses and apartments. If you don't know what I mean, think of "The Cosby Show". Similar to its borough brethren, this area is divided into neighborhoods/districts. Currently, I'm living in Crown Heights, an historically Jewish & West Indian locale a mile east of Prospect Park. I will describe the neighborhoods more in detail when I visit them.

Brooklynites are extremly proud to be from Brooklyn. I recently found a list of reasons why "You know you're from Brooklyn when," and this was my favorite: "you're still angry that the Dodgers left."

• Do you care that the first battle of the American Revolution actually took place in Brooklyn? Some scholars will contend that Lexington & Concord put us at war with the British. But until the Declaration of Independence was signed, war had yet to begin. In other words, when John (read: Herbie) Hancock signed the Declaration, the British "got served." Then, in August, 1776, the British crossed what is now the Verrazano Narrows from Staten Island to Long Island and served Washington's Army back, forcing the Americans to retreat to Brooklyn Heights and then Manhattan. In September, an American delegation offered the British a peace treaty which would revoke the Declaration in exchange for stopping the siege of New York City. The Brits rejected the offer September 15, 1776. Now, "it was on."
• Do you care that Rutherford B. Hayes'—the nineteenth President of the United (1877-1881)—middle name was Birchard? I know this has nothing to do with Brooklyn, but I just learned it.
• Do you care for these sometimes tangential ramblings? That's rhetorical, don't answer it.