Families continue to relocate to Clinton Hill to take advantage of the tree-lined streets, quick commutes to Manhattan and strong sense of community.

“It feels like a small town; people hold the door open for you,” said Phil Myrick.

He added, “It’s in a good groove. A lot of people wanted a greater variety of services, and that’s all happening now.”

FIND IT

Clinton Hill is bordered by Clinton Avenue to the west, Classon Avenue to the east, Park Avenue to the north and Atlantic Avenue to the south.

TO EAT

Charming eateries are scattered throughout Clinton Hill, with the majority on Myrtle Avenue. The neighborhood offers something for everyone — laid-back cafes with classic comfort food, textbook greasy Chinese and Mexican, and a hookah bar that serves tasty Middle Eastern grub.

Castro’s
Giant burritos stuffed with tangy pork and enchiladas with green sauce are among the highlights at this popular Mexican restaurant. Chips and salsa are free if you dine in and there’s a lovely outdoor garden in which to enjoy them.
511 Myrtle Ave. 718-398-1459

Kum Kau
Many locals boast that Kum Kau, which has been around since 1975, has the best greasy Chinese food in Brooklyn. Standouts include sesame shrimp, Tai Chin chicken and roast pork with broccoli.
463 Myrtle Ave. 718-638-1850

Brown Betty Café
Stop by this warm, welcoming eatery for delicious Thai iced coffee and many enticing brunch options, including free-range jerk chicken, rum-raisin French toast and breakfast pizza: a pizza round topped with tomato, avocado cheese and two over easy eggs. They also serve dinner.
466 Grand Ave. 646-591-7483

Mike’s Café Diner
A neighborhood melting pot that’s packed to the brim on weekends, Mike’s offers diner favorites at dirt-cheap prices. Arrive early on weekends for the crispy fried chicken and waffles — they’re worth their weight in gold.
328 Dekalb Ave. 718-857-1462

Square Root Café
Vintage soda and cigarette machines create a retro diner feel at the recently opened Square Root Café. On Wednesday nights the cafe hosts independent film screenings; on the next two Sundays check out live jazz 4-7pm.
584 Myrtle Ave. 718-230-7077

Choice Market
Rich, flaky pastries and pies, aromatic coffee and generous sandwiches are among the reasons Choice Market is so popular. When the weather is warm, outdoor benches are a great place to relax and people-watch.
318 Lafayette Ave. 718-230-5234

Zaytoons
The decor may be clichéd, but the food is anything but, in particular the hummus, babaghanouj and fattoush salad, which are impossibly tasty and fresh. Cap off your meal with a draw on the hookah pipe.
472 Myrtle Ave. 718-623-5522

TO PARTY
Clinton Hill offers a variety of locales in which to hear live jazz, attend a movie screening or simply sip drinks with friends.

Outpost Lounge
By day, this appealing lounge serves up specialty coffee drinks, freshly squeezed juices and a number of food options; by night, it has drink specials, DJs and live music. It also hosts art exhibits, outdoor movies and other special events.
1014 Fulton St. 718-636-1260

Rope
A relaxed spot that caters to the hipster crowd, Rope features a jukebox, weekly trivia nights and a lively backyard with a grill during the summer.
415 Myrtle Ave. 718-522-2899

Tamboril
Formerly the site of a porn shop, Tamboril serves new Latin cuisine and hosts weekly Latin jazz bebop sessions. On Nov. 13, the restaurant’s official grand opening will feature a live jazz band and new works by the artist Al Johnson.
527 Myrtle Ave. 718-622-5130

Bar Olivino
On a nondescript block of Fulton Street lies this enticing wine bar, an outpost of the Olivino wine shop next door. It’s perfect for lingering with a small group, even more so because of reasonably priced wine and appetizers.
899 Fulton St. 718-230-4675

TO SHOP

Boutique shops and unique offerings are much of what give Clinton Hill its special charm. Most stores are located on Myrtle Avenue, but those outside the main drag are worth a special trip.

Karen’s Body Beautiful
Scrubs, lotions and hair treatments are all freshly made at Karen’s, and the store kitchen is right there to prove it. Fragrant, seasonal soap offerings include mandarin clove, precious plumeria and milkshake.
436 Myrtle Ave. 718-797-4808

Polish Bar of Brooklyn
Creamy pink walls create a calming effect at the Polish Bar, which offers a full menu of nail, makeup and waxing treatments. Complimentary scrubs and lotions enhance the typical salon experience.
470 Myrtle Ave. 718-622-5363

Dope Jams
Dope Jams has a solid vinyl collection with a heavy concentration in R&B, soul and house. They also sell books and incense in addition to bargain LPs off the street.
580 Myrtle Ave. 718-622-7977

Heavenly Crumbs
Perfectly moist cake nestled under rich, creamy frosting makes the cupcakes at Heavenly Crumbs among the best in the city. The bakery is also known for its specially designed cakes, which range from stylish wedding towers to designer bags and shoes, which almost pass for the real thing.
355 Franklin Avenue. 718-623-6271

Repop
In the shadow of the Brooklyn Navy Yard lies this groovy thrift store, which sells vintage furniture, decorative lamps, and collectibles. It also features rotating art exhibitions that open on the first Friday of every month.
68 Washington Ave. 718-260-8032

TO SEE
The best way to experience Clinton Hill is to meander on Clinton and Washington avenues, taking in the lush greenery and historic architecture, before making your way to the commercial centers of Myrtle and Fulton avenues.

Myrtle Avenue Public Art Walk
This past summer, the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership launched its public art initiative, which brings installations, sculpture and interactive exhibits to neighborhood sites. Now on display are paintings by artist Anne Lafond (on the windows of several Myrtle Avenue shops), as well as the “Tree Hugger” exhibit, an environmental art project by artists Wiktor Szostalo and Agnieszka Gradzik (scattered throughout Myrtle Avenue).

Pratt Sculpture Garden
The largest contemporary sculpture garden in New York has featured the work of global artists since it opened in 1999. Sculptures can be found throughout the Pratt campus, though most are concentrated in the main garden on Dekalb Avenue.
Dekalb Avenue between Classon and Grand.

Brooklyn Flea
The popular Brooklyn Flea gathers a dizzying array of vintage furniture, clothing and accessories, in addition to artisan crafts, to a vast high school parking lot every Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Vendors rotate from week to week so there’s always something new to be found.
357 Clermont Ave.

ESSENTIAL CLINTON HILL
Walk down Clinton and Washington Avenues and admire the ornate brownstones. Check out the various Pratt mansions, including the George Dupont Pratt House at 245 Clinton Ave., and the Caroline Ladd Pratt House at 229 Clinton Ave. Want a chance to step inside one of these beauties? The Society for Clinton Hill runs a house tour every two years, and the next tour will be held in 2009. For more information visit www.societyforclintonhill.org/

REAL ESTATE

In addition to its famed historic houses, Clinton Hill offers more affordable real estate, including artist lofts, pre-Civil War frame houses and apartments in high-rise co-ops. Housing closer to the border with Bedford-Stuyvesant is also less expensive.

Many families and young professionals have relocated to the area to take advantage of the low rent and generous space allotments, by Brownstone Brooklyn standards.

“There are a lot of good-size family-type apartments,” said Mark Kalinoski of Tungsten Realty. “It has been a very good place to get duplexes at a reasonable price.”

TO RENT

One bedroom with hardwood floors, large living room and granite countertops: $1,450

One bedroom in converted factory building with hardwood floors, doorman and roof deck: $2,146

Three bedroom, three bathroom with tall ceilings, landscaped yard, and basement: $3,800

TO BUY:

Seven-bedroom, seven-bathroom multifamily house on Clinton Avenue with wooden floors and original details: $1,800,000

Two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo with terrace and large rooms: $795,000

RECENTLY SOLD:

Six-bedroom, four-bathroom on Classon Avenue: $885,000

Six-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom on Washington Avenue: $999,000

Rentals courtesy of Mark Kalinoski, The Tungsten Group, 212.991.6515. Other listings from trulia.com.

Q&A WITH ROBIN LESTER

Robin, who writes the community-centric ClintonHillBlog, has lived in Clinton Hill for four and a half years.

What attracts people to the area?

In addition to the architecture, it’s very green — lots of big old trees which are gorgeous in the spring and fall. There’s also local businesses and unique amenities.

What are some of your favorite things about the neighborhood?

Clinton Hill is the New York I was always looking for but could never find. I’ve really gotten to know my neighbors and on the whole people are very friendly. It’s really unlike any other neighborhood in that it has a very strong local character.

What are some things you don’t like about the area?

It could use slightly better subway access. The G is not as bad as I thought it would be, but the C is really lacking — the cars are dirty and it doesn’t come that often. We could also use a good bookstore; we don’t have one and neither does Fort Greene.

What are some of your favorite places to eat?

Maggie Brown on Myrtle has a warm interior and good comfort food. Brown Betty also has a very intimate atmosphere and a great dinner menu given its size. I also love Choice Market — the pastries are gorgeous and it’s a really good place to socialize.

How has it changed since you’ve lived here?

In many ways it has changed for the better. There’s a greater variety of food options, local services and shops. I’ve also heard that a few of the local schools are improving. On the negative side, there are many people moving in who have been priced out of other places, and while a lot of them are eager to get involved, there’s definitely a contingent of wealthier newcomers who aren’t as amenable to the neighborhood culture.

How do you think it will change in the future?

With rising rents, I worry that it will no longer be an option for young, creative people. If I was trying to move here now I wouldn’t be able to afford to buy an apartment. I also don’t want it to become the next Park Slope and turn into a stroller parking lot.

THE BUZZ

Many residents are concerned about a recent wave of crime in Clinton Hill and neighboring Fort Greene. Several shootings have been reported in recent months, and in a particularly gruesome incident, a dismembered body was found in a box outside of Fort Greene Park.

Council member Letitia James organized a town hall public safety meeting last month to address residents’ crime related concerns, which was also attended by local police and Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Many notable alumni have graduated from Pratt Institute including actor Robert Redford, photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and Tupperware designer Morrison Cousins.

The Pratt Institute Library was Brooklyn’s first free library when it opened on Jan. 4, 1888.

Rapper Notorious B.I.G. grew up at 226 St. James Place, at the southern edge of Clinton Hill.

Clinton Hill is in fact situated on a hill; as a result, it is more resistant to flooding and hurricane damage than neighboring hoods.

FACT SHEET

Library
Clinton Hill Branch, 380 Washington Ave. at Lafayette Avenue718-398-8713

Police Station
88th Precinct, 298 Classon Ave. 718-636-6511

Fire Department
Engine 210, 160 Carlton Ave.

Food Markets
C-Town Supermarket, 325 Lafayette Ave. 718-783-8656;
Associated Supermarket, 492 Myrtle Ave. 718-789-9674‎

Transportation
Subway: G to Clinton-Washington Ave., Classon Ave.; C to Clinton-Washington Ave.

Bus: B38 (Dekalb Ave), B48 (Classon Ave) B54 (Myrtle Ave), B61 (Park Ave)

Banks:
Bank of America, 49 Myrtle Ave. 718-852-1548;
Sovereign Bank, 200 Willoughby Ave. 718-636-3886

Crime
The 88th Precinct, which also covers Fort Greene and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, has reported three murders, seven rapes, 186 robberies, 102 felonious assaults, 152 burglaries, and 88 grand theft autos thus far in 2008.

Schools
PUBLIC
ELEMENTARY:
P.S. 11 (Purvis J. Behan School) 718-638-2661
P.S. 20 (Clinton Hill School) 718-834-6744
MIDDLE:
M.S. 113 Ronald Edmonds School 718-834-6735
HIGH:
Benjamin Banneker Academy 718-797-3702

PRIVATE
Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School 718-857-2700
St. Angela Hall Academy 718-622-6919