Crown Heights
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 |   Introduction Podcast This intersection between Nostrand Ave. and President Ave. will be the starting point for the Crown Heights Walking Tour. This location is accessible via the 2 or 5 train. You will begin the tour by walking down President Ave. for a few blocks, being sure to take notice of the houses that line the Avenue. |
 |  Doctor's Row Podcast The sudden change you will witness as you cross New York Ave. into President street is surreal to say the least. The bleak mundane houses to the west will provide no hint as to when and where this change will occur. Doctor's Row more aptly known as Millionaire's Row provides a stark contrast to the rest of the route. But be sure to pause and take in the unique architecture of each structure for this gem will last only for two blocks. 1290 President Street, Brooklyn, NY |
 |  Kingston Avenue Podcast This street is named Kingston Avenue, which is an area with the largest concentration of Lubavitch Jews in Crown Heights. This “center” of Lubavitcher Hasidism teems with the daily activities of Lubavitch Hasidim that range from attending synagogue to taking the kids out for a walk. You can see the men wearing the customary black suits with white shirts - many also wearing hats - or the women who dress conservatively, often wearing black skirts that reach past their knees. Lubavitch Hasidim have also spread further out into different areas of Crown Heights – but still within driving distance of the thriving religious blocks that lie adjacent to Kingston Avenue. This proximity is important to Lubavitch Hasidim because the religious stores and institutions that occupy the stretch of blocks along Kingston Ave. towards Eastern Parkway are crucial in providing the religious necessities of their homes. These stores are recognizable by their Jewish names and wares, often with hebrew lettering and images of revered leaders. It is the prominent presence of the Hasidim that has made – and still makes – Kingston Avenue and its surrounding blocks the “center” of Lubavitch Hasidism. 328 Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY |
 |  Eastern Parkway Podcast Eastern Parkway is a major boulevard that runs through Brooklyn, more specifically Crown heights. The long road begins at Grand Army Plaza and extends all the way until Atlantic Avenue. It was constructed in 1866 and was a site of gentrification a couple years later when it more or less removed the African-American communities from Eastern Parkway. It also more or less separated the two communities. The Lubavitch side of the community contained the famous 770 Eastern Parkway, which was known for being the House of the Rebbe until he passed away in 1994. It was then considered holy by Lubavitch Chasidim. It is in fact so holy that it is now the central headquarters of the Lubavitch community and the building attracts over a thousand tourists every year. The building has been replicated in other parts of the world, where there is a large presence of a Lubavitch community. 770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY |
 |  Mediation Center Podcast When you walk along Kingston Avenue, you will eventually reach the Mediation Center, which was established to combat community tensions within the fragmented neighborhood. It was made in 1998, originally centered around food sharing events, but has now grown to accommodate several communal events, such as art events, and continues to provide residents with links to several resources dealing with issues like education, parenting, housing, and immigration. It also provides support to young people dealing with drugs, violence, poverty, etc. Overall, it is a unique neighborhood institution that works to improve community problem-solving, collaboration, and inter-group relations in Crown Heights. 256 Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY |
 |  First Church of God in Christ Podcast At the corner of 221 Kingston Avenue at Park Place stands this beautiful former synagogue that was transformed into a Church. Originally named Shaare Zedek Synagogue, the church was later renamed the Historic First Church of God in Christ. This magnificent building was built for the wealthy German Jews living in the St. Marks District in the late 19th and early 20th century. When the synagogue was sold to the Church of God in Christ in 1969, the owners respectfully chose to preserve most of the original temple detail, adding their Christian iconography on top of the Jewish iconography. An interesting mix of cultural identities, this building is indicative of the population shifts that occurred - which altered the social structure of the community and prompted a change in the building’s use. 221 Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY |
Additional Reading:
“Crown Heights, Brooklyn.” Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society. Ed. Richard T. Schaefer. Vol. 1. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2008. 350-352. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
“Crown Heights, Brooklyn.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Web. 16 April 2013. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Heights,_Brooklyn>.
Evanier, David. “Invisible Man.” New Republic 205.16 (1991): 21-26. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
Goldschmidt, Henry. Race and Religion among the Chosen Peoples of Crown Heights. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers UP, 2006. Print.
Rieder, Jonathan. “Crown Of Thorns.” New Republic 205.16 (1991): 26-31. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 Apr. 2013.
I’m glad you enjoyed this tour. I’ve always wanted to know if they were good so I’m adding this to my to-do list now. Very nice post.