February 14
The Year Brooklyn Goes International
While technically it was 2012 when we learned that the French use the horrific honorific “tres Brooklyn” to describe anything cool, 2013 was the year that Brooklyn went global. Suddenly countries like Sweden, Japan, and Russia wanted to cash in on the cool, cool Brooklyn vibe. Cool?
May 27
Citi Bike Launches!
New York finally has its own bike-share! In its inaugural year, Citi Bike surpasses all usership expectations.
Bikes are better, you guys. They just are.
July 23
Me Llamo Carlos Danger
You would think that Anthony Weiner would’ve learned his lesson the first time he got caught up in a humiliating sexting scandal, but you don’t know Anthony Weiner. After Weiner’s attempted political comeback as a Democratic candidate for mayor, he was caught sending more dirty pictures to a 22-year-old under the alias “Carlos Danger.” And thus a thousand memes were born at the exact same time Weiner’s political career died.
August 12
Stop-and-Frisk Ruled Unconstitutional
Originally proposed as a tactic to pinpoint criminals and increase safety in many NYC neighborhoods, stop-and-frisk turned into a subject of citywide contention over the issue of racial profiling. In her 195-page decision, Judge Shira Scheindlin concluded that stop-and-frisk violated the constitutional rights of minorities in the city and was all too often a source of humiliation rather than an effective means of catching those with weapons or other contraband.
August 25
The Twerk Heard Round the World
Brooklyn hosted the MTV VMAs this year and, really, who cares? Nobody. Except that this was the year that Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke performed together and so, like, everybody cared.
September 11
Democratic Primary Held
Even though the real mayoral election would not be for another two months, this felt more important, since pretty much everyone was aware that whomever was victorious here would probably go on to win the whole thing. (Sorry, Republican candidate Joe Lhota, but it’s true.) De Blasio emerged with just over 40 percent of the vote, the number which was needed to avoid a run-off. And we all became one step closer to having what would easily be the chillest first family of New York City of all time.
September 20
Vampire Weekend Plays the Barclays Center
In the words of our own noted Vampire Weekend aficionado Associate Editor Lauren Beck: NO BIGGIE! Well, but also, this kind of wiped out any lingering memories of the VMAs.
November 5
New York City’s New Mayor Is a Progressive from Park Slope
Bill de Blasio is elected as the 109th mayor of New York City. De Blasio won in a landslide election (72.2 percent to 24 percent) on a voting day with a record low turnout. And just like that New York descended into an anarcho-communist crime-ridden dystopia. It’s been great!
December 9
Invisible Child
Published in the New York Times, Andrea Elliott’s “Invisible Child” follows the life of a homeless Brooklyn girl named Dasani, who lives in a Fort Greene shelter with her mother and siblings. Released in five parts, the long-form documentary piece heartbreakingly depicts a tale of two cities—of high rises and artisanal wine shops juxtaposed with poverty and concealed struggle.
Openings
• Whole Foods, Gowanus
• Ramen Burger debuts at Smorgasburg
• OddFellows Ice Cream Shop, Williamsburg
• Rough Trade NYC, Williamsburg
Albums
• Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend
• Magna Carta Holy Grail by Jay Z
• Process by Yvette
Books
• The Good Lord Bird by James McBride
• Drinking with Men by Rosie Schaap
• The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P. by Adele Waldman
Real Estate Notes
Average sale price for a home/condo
• Williamsburg, $825K
• Park Slope, $868K
• Brooklyn Heights, $848K
• DUMBO, $1.145M