Park Slope
Content
March 14, 2008 • Courier Life • Page 4
From strangers to friends
‘Soiree’ participants form a new community
By Greg Hanlon It was not unusual for a Friday night in South Park Slope: the bars were abuzz with activity, filled mostly by the neighborhood’s increasing population of young professionals. One particularly vivacious group set up shop at the front of The Dram Shop (9th Street between 5th and 6th avenues). The easy camaraderie between them belied that the longest any of them had known each other was five months, and many had met just that night. All were members of the South Slope Soiree, an informal, inclusive social networking group for area residents seeking a sense of community unique to Brooklyn, the most neighborly of New York’s boroughs. The group meets on the 30th of each month at a local establishment, usually a newly opened one, the better to support fledgling establishments in their adoptive neighborhood (the area roughly bounded by 9th Street and 17th Street to the north and south, Prospect Park West and 4th Avenue to the east and west.) There are no set rules or topics of conversation; the only requirement is to be friendly and open minded. “We’re coming together from a pure point of view,” said Kerri Allen, the group’s founder. “It’s cool that people are willing to hang out with strangers. It bucks the idea that New York is such a mean place.” Thanks to an everexpanding email list, a Facebook group, a listing in the Park Slope Courier, and old-fashioned word of mouth, the group’s ranks are growing. Most members are between their mid20’s and mid-30’s, with youthful restlessness abating and the desire to entrench themselves in a community asserting itself. “It’s nice to know your neighbors. Now, I’ll see Cyrus [Roxas, another group member] on the subway platform in the morning’s and we’ll just walk up to each other and start talking,” Allen said. “We’ve formed a community; it’s not contrived at all,” Roxas added. In addition fostering a sense of community, the Soiree also serves as a professional network. Most members have some sort of jobs associated with new, whether it’s journalism, public relations or the nonprofit sector. The monthly gatherings are a good time, sure, but they also provide an opportunity for an exchange of ideas. “We’re an interesting group of creative people and workers,” said Sarah Hart, a magazine editor. “It’s a matter of tapping into our skill-sets. It’s networking in a way that’s not high-impact.” Although the flow of conversation between these former strangers was seamless, it relied on a few icebreakers. One of them was the members’ boosterism of South Slope, which, unlike the fully gentrified and family-oriented North Slope, is a relatively new frontier for single professionals. “I love it around here – it feels like you’re in a neighborhood,” said Mary Darby, who heard about the group from listing in the Park Slope Courier. “Even if I could afford to live in Manhattan – which I can’t – I’d rather live here,” she added. “Everyone from South Slope is welcome, but if you’re from North Slope, start your own group,” Allen joked. As part of their community-building mission, the Soiree spearheaded a fundraiser last year for the Park Slope Safe Homes Project, the neighborhood program that provides support for victims of domestic violence. The group hopes to continue raising funds for local charities at various points throughout the year.
Photo by Greg Hanlon
PS
The South Slope Soiree holiday party and wine tasting was held at Piramide on December 16. L to R: David Medina, Sarah Hart, Kerri Allen, Meg Figley and Renier Fee.
Hand-in-hand with their South Slope pride was a near universal disdain of Manhattan. “It’s so different from Manhattan. It’s down to earth and very friendly here,” said David Medina, the only member of the Soiree who grew up in the area and has witnessed its transformation into a “halfghetto, half-yuppie” neighborhood. “The city is so tense, so ‘go-go-go.’ When I get out of work [in Manhattan], it’s nice to come to Brooklyn where there’s peace.” “It’s palpable,” con-
firmed Stephanie Wolf, Medina’s girlfriend, of Manhattan’s tension. “Here, it’s totally come as you are. I feel I can be who I am.” *** The next gathering for the South Slope Soiree will take place March 30. The place and time have not been determined yet. The group is always welcoming new members. Those interested in joining should contact Kerri Allen at [email protected]. The Facebook group is called “South Slope Soiree.”
From strangers to friends
‘Soiree’ participants form a new community
By Greg Hanlon It was not unusual for a Friday night in South Park Slope: the bars were abuzz with activity, filled mostly by the neighborhood’s increasing population of young professionals. One particularly vivacious group set up shop at the front of The Dram Shop (9th Street between 5th and 6th avenues). The easy camaraderie between them belied that the longest any of them had known each other was five months, and many had met just that night. All were members of the South Slope Soiree, an informal, inclusive social networking group for area residents seeking a sense of community unique to Brooklyn, the most neighborly of New York’s boroughs. The group meets on the 30th of each month at a local establishment, usually a newly opened one, the better to support fledgling establishments in their adoptive neighborhood (the area roughly bounded by 9th Street and 17th Street to the north and south, Prospect Park West and 4th Avenue to the east and west.) There are no set rules or topics of conversation; the only requirement is to be friendly and open minded. “We’re coming together from a pure point of view,” said Kerri Allen, the group’s founder. “It’s cool that people are willing to hang out with strangers. It bucks the idea that New York is such a mean place.” Thanks to an everexpanding email list, a Facebook group, a listing in the Park Slope Courier, and old-fashioned word of mouth, the group’s ranks are growing. Most members are between their mid20’s and mid-30’s, with youthful restlessness abating and the desire to entrench themselves in a community asserting itself. “It’s nice to know your neighbors. Now, I’ll see Cyrus [Roxas, another group member] on the subway platform in the morning’s and we’ll just walk up to each other and start talking,” Allen said. “We’ve formed a community; it’s not contrived at all,” Roxas added. In addition fostering a sense of community, the Soiree also serves as a professional network. Most members have some sort of jobs associated with new, whether it’s journalism, public relations or the nonprofit sector. The monthly gatherings are a good time, sure, but they also provide an opportunity for an exchange of ideas. “We’re an interesting group of creative people and workers,” said Sarah Hart, a magazine editor. “It’s a matter of tapping into our skill-sets. It’s networking in a way that’s not high-impact.” Although the flow of conversation between these former strangers was seamless, it relied on a few icebreakers. One of them was the members’ boosterism of South Slope, which, unlike the fully gentrified and family-oriented North Slope, is a relatively new frontier for single professionals. “I love it around here – it feels like you’re in a neighborhood,” said Mary Darby, who heard about the group from listing in the Park Slope Courier. “Even if I could afford to live in Manhattan – which I can’t – I’d rather live here,” she added. “Everyone from South Slope is welcome, but if you’re from North Slope, start your own group,” Allen joked. As part of their community-building mission, the Soiree spearheaded a fundraiser last year for the Park Slope Safe Homes Project, the neighborhood program that provides support for victims of domestic violence. The group hopes to continue raising funds for local charities at various points throughout the year.
Photo by Greg Hanlon
PS
The South Slope Soiree holiday party and wine tasting was held at Piramide on December 16. L to R: David Medina, Sarah Hart, Kerri Allen, Meg Figley and Renier Fee.
Hand-in-hand with their South Slope pride was a near universal disdain of Manhattan. “It’s so different from Manhattan. It’s down to earth and very friendly here,” said David Medina, the only member of the Soiree who grew up in the area and has witnessed its transformation into a “halfghetto, half-yuppie” neighborhood. “The city is so tense, so ‘go-go-go.’ When I get out of work [in Manhattan], it’s nice to come to Brooklyn where there’s peace.” “It’s palpable,” con-
firmed Stephanie Wolf, Medina’s girlfriend, of Manhattan’s tension. “Here, it’s totally come as you are. I feel I can be who I am.” *** The next gathering for the South Slope Soiree will take place March 30. The place and time have not been determined yet. The group is always welcoming new members. Those interested in joining should contact Kerri Allen at [email protected]. The Facebook group is called “South Slope Soiree.”
