Greenpoint

Greenpoint is a neighborhood in the northernmost part of Brooklyn, bordering Long Island City across the water. The streets alternate between low brick houses, old warehouses, and newer apartment blocks, while Newtown Creek closes the area off to the north.

Neziah Bliss turned the farmland into a factory district with shipyards and production plants along the East River starting in the 1830s. Polish immigrants later settled in the area, finding work in the industries and shaping the neighborhood to this day.

Residents keep their Polish roots alive through small shops, churches, and family-run businesses that have stayed open for generations. On some street corners, you hear Polish more often than English, and many storefronts carry bilingual signs.

The G line and the East River ferry link the area to other parts of the city. Walking is the best way to explore, since the streets are small and manageable.

Old factory buildings like The Astral and The Pencil Factory still stand and have been turned into apartments. Their brick walls and large windows recall the time when pencils and other goods were made here.