As with any other city or state, some neighborhoods in Brooklyn are safer than others. You have places like Park Slope, Clinton Hill, Brooklyn Heights, and Fort Greene, which are considered very secure. At the same time, certain areas like Bedford-Stuyvesant, East New York, and Bushwick and known for being more dangerous.

Of course, not everyone can afford a $500,000 home in Park Slope or even a high-rent apartment. But crime isn’t just about location—it can happen anywhere.

I grew up in a wealthy area of Pittsburgh that was usually considered safe, but every so often we would hear about break-ins and other crimes. Thus, while it’s important to think about crime rate while looking for Brooklyn apartments, you also need to think about what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

Although there is some information online, I prefer to speak to actual people when researching a neighborhood. These include potential roommates and landlords, local businesspeople, and friends in the area. This way, I can learn everything about a given neighborhood: how late people are still on the street, which areas are the most and least safe, how many cops patrol the streets, etc. With this information, you should be able to find the perfect part of Brooklyn for you.

Brooklyn just happens to be one of those cities split up into several different sections or boroughs. In fact, Brooklyn alone has something like 30 different boroughs where you can choose to live, and there is a place for just about everyone. This includes elderly couples, couples with children, young couples, and gay and lesbian couples—as well as singles! Different neighborhoods in Brooklyn also offer different styles of homes, such as brownstones, Victorians, lofts, and apartments.

For younger couples, I recommend shopping around in Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights. Both of these are ideal if you’re looking for restaurants, cultural activities, and convenience. Young singles can thrive here as well, in addition to Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, which are already populated with people right out of college.

These areas are all fairly close to Manhattan’s lower tip, which means you’ve got some of the city’s hippest attractions only a short Subway ride away—only you get to go home to a significantly lower rent. For example, you can check out the East Village for a whole selection of restaurants, café, and coffeehouses.

Dazzling a date over burgers and fries is a task best left to professionals. For the rest of us, a trendy restaurant with something interesting on the menu is usually the way to go.

Enter SEA, a destination for Thai cuisine with a decidedly modern flair. From the presentation to the ambiance, SEA comes off as a chic Williamsburg nightclub… with noodles.

SEA’s menu is as memorable as its décor—that is, if you can tear yourself away from the swinging benches and pod seating.  Despite the name, SEA offers a diverse range of courses with a subtle nod toward ocean cuisine, guaranteed to satisfy even dates without their sea legs. When in doubt, the Pad Thai and “Drunk Man” Noodles are dependably delectable.

Of course, nothing is trendier nowadays than saving money, which is great, since entrées at SEA are priced at only $10 to $15.

SEA is located at 114 North 6th Street, off the Bedford Avenue stop along the L. (718) 384-8850.

If you live in Brooklyn or you live around this area and are a regular “foodie”, chances are you like to visit some of the new (and not so new) and upcoming restaurants in the area. There are just some cities in the US that always have new restaurants, amazing chefs, and incredible food – and Brooklyn is one of those places. The nice thing about New York is that you can find almost any kind of ethnic food you want. It’s not all about pizza and pasta here kids. There is SO much more to choose from such as Japanese, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Classic Italian, French, Steakhouses, and Thai.

From the looks of it, these five restaurants are really going to quench your thirst for some really good food, but also a nice atmosphere as well. The first one is the Peter Luger Steakhouse which unless you live under a rock you HAD to have heard something about! This is obviously a Steakhouse, and one of the best in New York. Average main course is around $75, with a touch of casual ambiance. And as with most other restaurants that are high rated you will need reservations! Check out the porterhouse steak and the sauce they serve with it. Yum!

The second option available to you is a place called River Cafe and they primarily serve brunch, granted it is the best brunch! Not only does this place have good food, but an amazing atmosphere too. You are looking right over the river with the sky above! Check out the suckling pig – it was my favorite!

Next on the list is Elia which is a sweet little Greek place located on Third Avenue. I have been to quite a few Greek places and this one just blows all others out of the water! Great service, great food, good atmosphere and good music!

Fourth, we have Tanoreen, and if you love Middle Eastern food you have to check this place out. Its super intimate – which means it’s really nice for couples and they have everything from Middle Eastern classic dish to French flair and American fare dishes as well. Something that everyone can enjoy. Lastly, is Di Fara – which is of course a pizza place. Though this one is just a tad more expensive than your usual pizzeria and the pizzas are huge.

Everything is handmade here and they use all imported ingredients as well so you know the freshness is definitely there. The only negative thing about this place is that they do not serve alcohol, for all of you Wine & beer lovers out there. Hey, you could always get take-out!

If you have decided to move to Brooklyn or you are simply doing a short move to Brooklyn, you may have considered the best places to move for your family. More specifically, if you are a family with children. Chances are you will want a good lifestyle, a safe home, and a nice cultural place for your family and children to live. Thankfully, Brooklyn NY has quite a few places that are great choices if you have children! A few of the major areas you might want to take a look at are Fort Greene, Williamsburg, Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights and Boerum Hill.

These places are all going to have nice playgrounds for your children to play in and safe neighborhoods so you won’t have to worry about your kids. But they will also have little shops, cafes and restaurants for the adults in the family as well. Also, since a few of these neighborhoods like Clinton Hill have the college right in the same neighborhood you can find college students that are looking for side babysitting jobs as well – which as a parent is always a plus!

The homes in these areas are a little steep as far as prices go. But this is usually the way it goes in any area! If you want a nice home with a nice safe neighborhood, you are always going to be expected to pay a little more. These homes are averaged at about $600,000, but alas they are very nice homes. Were talking structure wise, space wise, and efficiency wise. So while the prices are a little steep – the quality of the home-life and neighborhood really makes up for it in the end.