<p>ON our first visit with D we were intimidated by the area. Very urban for a suburan girl. But by the third visit found so many wonderful "nooks and crannies" and alot of small artist communities along with great restaurants and boutiques. I am glad we did not judge the area by the first visit. Actually it was D that did not, we parents were nervous. We have since discovered Williamsburg's artist community along with Park Slope, and Brooklyn Heights. Surban D is very happy and comfortable and busy taking the subway to SOHO, shopping at vintage clothing stores in Brooklyn and going to many art galleries in her own backyard.</p>
<p>When we visited Pratt we were actually pleasantly surprised by the area and thought it could be a reasonable neighborhood. That was 6-7 years ago. I understand that since then the gentrification of many parts of Brooklyn has accelerated. My daughter now lives in Brooklyn (having graduated from RISD in 2003), and we've enjoyed our visits there.</p>
<p>I think kids who go to "urban" schools have to develop good street smarts, even in neighborhoods that are safe. And they should become comfortable with using public transportation and aware of how to get to-from where they want to go relatively cheaply as well as safely. Many artist-types are committed to this kind of life -- big city life -- and find living in NY very enticing. I found out a few weeks ago that of the 200 students who graduated with my daughter from our suburban public high school in Michigan, at this time 19 (almost 10%) are now living in NY, mostly in Brooklyn. They aren't all artists/actors but many of them are. There's something highly attractive to them about NYC.</p>