Nostrand Avenue (A, C)

This stop is interesting because it’s mostly Black with speckles of white folks in the hipster cafes. It’s a tad run down, and gives off vibes of cultural mixing, as represented by Rasta Pasta (scroll down).

Whether you exit the station on the the Crown Heights (Atlantic Ave) or Bed-Stuy (Fulton Ave) side, this area seems predominantly multicultural, immigrant, and middle-income forward. A lot of the busy commerce is cheap to-go pizza, tax consultants, and various international restaurants among 99 cent stores.

Japanese, Mediterranean, Thai, Caribbean, Bakeries, Mexican … you’ll find it on Nostrand.

Interestingly, some of these establishments are located in historic-looking buildings, like the otherwise-nondescript Alsqer Deli & Grocery.

Alqser Deli & Grocery, nestled among the brownstones.

The Brooklyn Adult Learning Center, which caters to people looking to complete their GED or HSE, is similarly housed in a fancy church-like establishment.

Poke around a little more, and you start to notice some of the nice brownstones and newer real estate on the smaller streets shooting off Nostrand Ave and Bedford Ave. Enter: the white folks looking for their version of affordable housing.

The hip folk (white or otherwise) are hanging out Furman’s Coffee or Le Paris Dakar.

Inside Furman’s Coffee, where you can get a decently priced Mexican brunch and set up your laptop with a hotspot.

If you want the real multicultural artists’ vibe, you’re going to Padmores on Bedford. Keep going north on Bedford for a continuation of cool-grunge aesthetic. The street art picks up around here on Bedford Ave, too.

Padmores, filled with poets and artists and friends.

But if that’s already your jam, try something new and take advantage of the Caribbean and other international cuisine spots that are all around. Why not try Footprints on Nostrand, home of the Rasta Pasta, to start!

Footprints, at the corner of Nostrand and Atlantic Ave.

Some murals around the station.