Fabulous Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Among many wondrous variables of my U.S. Census Bureau gig is connecting the dots between places I've happened by in greater Brooklyn and realizing, as I now blanket a nabe, damn, I've been here, but never quite understood how it connected to the rest of BK.

I spent the last two days in lovely Fort Greene, which I visited a year ago for the giant Brooklyn Flea (market), but never quite got where I was. Training for the next phase of the Census began Tuesday (I have a lot of catching up to do about the previous two weeks), known as NRFU—or Non-Response Follow-up. This is the big one, where we knock on doors for all residents that failed to send in Census questionnaires.

Whereas the last phase—Group Quarters—entailed 10 Crew Leaders with teams of a dozen enumerators under each of us, this next phase requires 70 Crew Leaders in Brooklyn NW, with another dozen reporting to each. Get it? Last operation: 120 folks; this one, 840. This is big.

I have lots to report about the training session itself, but for the moment, let's focus on the stunning nabe I walked around for the past three days. Much unique, quaint architecture, a sense of pride, clean and progressive. Sweet BK nabe.Fort Greene Park.(PHOTOS: THE SMOKING NUN)