WiFi and Healthy Food By The Park

photo from Marcus V. on Yelp.com

Pizza by the Park, on 7th Avenue and 42nd Street, has been around for about six years. It's made a slow transition to its current pizzeria-and-healthy-food-cafe. Currently, it provides WiFi, several pizzeria style tables and a small stool seating area by the window, a huge menu, fair trade and organic coffee, and local owners who want to become the IN place to get your order on. The cheesy sticks ($2) are popular with local parents because most kids will gobble them up happily. Also, many local freelancers/laptop owners/iTouch folks will be relieved to learn of another location for WiFi, especially near the park. (If you do use their WiFi, try to purchase more than a coffee - my request, not theirs.)

Check them out if you get the chance. See below for my recent experience with their delivery.

Last week I was feeling poorly and decided to treat myself to a lunch ordered in that would also guarantee a lunch my toddler would eat. I'd only ever ordered cheesy sticks and a slice of pizza at Pizza by the Park, and being a Johnny's customer for six years (baked ziti and eggplant!), I never felt like I needed to order from anywhere else.

However, a few weeks ago I ran into Kristie, a local mom and co-owner of Pizza by the Park, while at the baby swings. My chat with her kept the idea of Pizza by the Park in my head, and in my slightly ill and sleep-deprived state (Not that you need to be ill or sleep-deprived...) I browsed the menupages for them, then I dialed and ordered way too much - a medium cheese pizza, an order of cheesy sticks, a veggie calzone on (in?) whole wheat dough, and a Sprite. It came to $19.50.

It took a little while, in fact, my son and I stood by the window and chanted our "We want pizza" chant to stave off hunger. But once everything arrived it was well worth it. (Keep in mind that I am no food photographer.)

The cheesy sticks were perfect to give to the kid while the pizza cooled down. Even the baby had a nibble.

The pizza was solid, yummy, basic cheese pizza. A teenage girl might use a napkin to soak up some of the cheesy grease, but everyone else will enjoy the goodness.


The calzone (shared and eaten that evening with a side salad and soup) was amazing. Lots of veggies, the dough was tasty and heated up well in the oven, and there was a good amount of cheese without overpowering the veggies.


While I know I'll stick with Johnny's for my baked ziti needs, I'd definitely order the calzone again, and I've heard the subs are also excellent.

The Search for Coffee, Space, and WiFi

Despite various bakeries, the search for a "hang-out" spot with coffee and something to nibble has proven disappointing for several Sunset Park residents. Favorites like Gran Via have only counter seating (but many people choose to "hang-out" anyway), bakeries on 8th Avenue are very busy and rushed, and seating at many other places (like Angel's Bakery) is cramped.

Another need has turned up more consistently as well: Room to spread out and enjoy free WiFi (it's short for Wireless Fidelity, but really means you can check your email). These amenities are a necessity for those who freelance and/or work at home. Personally, I'm still paranoid about sending my information through the airwaves in public (picture Mike TeeVee floating through the air in tiny fragments), but many people are much more savvy and trusting than I. And most people are more with it than I am - meaning they have a laptop. I prefer the bulky joys of a desktop.

Many residents of our fair neighborhood don't want to patronize Park Slope Tea Lounges and Ozzie's. They don't even want to travel the shorter distance to Roots or Has Beans in Greenwood Heights. They want to spend their money and time here! So, where can one go in Sunset Park for a good cup of coffee, a snack or meal, and some computer time?

Well, if you don't want an internet cafe (of which there are several in Chinatown), the friendly folks at Brooklynian.com have some suggestions that breakdown into two distinct categories: Room to spread out and not get chased away and Free WiFi (plus some room to spread out and not get chased away).

So I'll throw in my suggestion for Room to Spread with WiFi: The Sunset Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library at 4th Avenue and 51st Street. It can get crowded, but the tables serve as good spots for your laptop. Sans WiFi, Puebla's back area (5th and 39th) is usually very empty any time except for lunch hours. The tortas are enough to have for lunch and dinner. Starlight Ice Cream, on 8th and 44th, has plenty of room at their tables as well.

Other options offered up by members of Brooklynian and other neighbors are Eclipse on 4th and 45th, Los 3 Petrillos on 4th and 39th, and Dunkin Donuts on 3rd and 35th. Georges Diner on 5th and 57th has a huge menu and lots of space. Just don't go on a weekend morning/early afternoon. And don't forget the 24 hour McDonald's on 4th and 37th. I'd REALLY avoid that when school lets out. All have lots of room to spread out, food/drink options, and apparently friendly attitudes to those who sit and work for a while.

None has WiFi access as of yet. Also, a couple of caveats include that Eclipse is more of a restaurant, so choose off hours. Los 3 Petrillos can get loud due to the jukebox, but mornings and afternoons are quiet. Some say that food options are overpriced. Also, the Dunkin Donuts can get a little hairy later at night.

Places with WiFi include Sunset Park Donuts and Diner on 5th Avenue and 39th and Maria's on 5th and 38th. There is a warning about cockroaches with the donuts and that Maria's can get crowded. Also, the WiFi at Maria's is password protected, so you have to ask.

Places that have been overlooked? Other suggestions for sitting down with some work (paper or computer)? Other free WiFi that are underutilized?