Brooklyn Sting: Two Thousand and Counting

This week two interesting things happened in Brooklyn. First, The Brooklyn Paper reported that uncontested divorces in Brooklyn have skyrocketed 30% in the last four years. Then, Babeland opened its first Brooklyn location in Park Slope. Coincidence?

According to The Brooklyn Paper, the economy could be playing a role in the increase in divorces in the borough. During good times, the divorce rate goes up as each partner feels financially stable enough to end things. But when a recession strikes, arguments over money also often lead to divorce. Apparently, you’re only safe when the pendulum is caught somewhere in the middle.

The supervising judge for matrimonial matters insists that the reason the divorce rate is up is because the Brooklyn courts are just so darn efficient at getting the cases through. In fact, New York City couples can file for divorce in any of the five boroughs, meaning that not all Brooklyn divorce cases actually concern Brooklyn couples. So maybe this is really Manhattan’s problem!

But the good news for couples on the outs is that relief (release?) is just that much closer -in the form of the new Babeland in Park Slope. No more winding your way between open-mouthed teenagers experiencing their first foray inside a sex shop. Instead, you get to navigate strollers! Park Slope wouldn’t be my first choice for a Babeland location, but given that it’s conveniently located on Bergen Street near just about every subway line that snakes through Brooklyn, I’m not complaining.

Maybe a visit to the local Babeland is just what some of these unhappy couples need to smooth things over - or to ease them back into the single life. Either way, the store opened at a opportune time and in the ideal borough.