Guidebook for Brooklyn
Parks & Nature
For landscape architects Frederick Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, Central Park in Manhattan was a practice project on the path to their masterpiece, Prospect Park. From Dog Beach to the Vale of Cashmere, the farmers' market to Smorgasburg, the Friends Cemetery to the Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park is, in my humble opinion, leaves most other city parks far behind.
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Prospect Park
For landscape architects Frederick Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, Central Park in Manhattan was a practice project on the path to their masterpiece, Prospect Park. From Dog Beach to the Vale of Cashmere, the farmers' market to Smorgasburg, the Friends Cemetery to the Lefferts Historic House, Prospect Park is, in my humble opinion, leaves most other city parks far behind.
The Cherry Blossom Festival, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden - beautiful and relaxing
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Brooklyn Botanic Garden
990 Washington AveThe Cherry Blossom Festival, Rose Garden, Japanese Garden - beautiful and relaxing
Brooklyn Bridge Park
334 Furman StGreat place to relax and take in the view.
I know it is probably in every guidebook, but it really is THE park worth visiting if you will only go to one. The High Line is in a class by itself! Beautiful plantings and totally unique views of the City.
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The High Line Park
I know it is probably in every guidebook, but it really is THE park worth visiting if you will only go to one. The High Line is in a class by itself! Beautiful plantings and totally unique views of the City.
Food Scene
Low-key, great food, very attentive service overlooking Washington Park and the Old Stone House, a battle site during the Revolutionary War. It can be super-busy on weekends, but lunch and dinner during the week tend to be fine. My go-to place.
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Stone Park Cafe
324 5th AveLow-key, great food, very attentive service overlooking Washington Park and the Old Stone House, a battle site during the Revolutionary War. It can be super-busy on weekends, but lunch and dinner during the week tend to be fine. My go-to place.
So good! Another secret little Park Slope restaurant that is no longer a secret. Lunch during the week is the most accessible now.
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al di la Trattoria
248 5th AveSo good! Another secret little Park Slope restaurant that is no longer a secret. Lunch during the week is the most accessible now.
It's a barbecue beach-y Tiki-bar kind of place overlooking a Superfund site! But it works! Wooden tables and benches filled with families in the summertime. Gowanus is still a bit off the beaten track so its a great neighborhood to discover the original quirkiness of Brooklyn that will soon be lost to gentrification.
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Pig Beach
480 Union StIt's a barbecue beach-y Tiki-bar kind of place overlooking a Superfund site! But it works! Wooden tables and benches filled with families in the summertime. Gowanus is still a bit off the beaten track so its a great neighborhood to discover the original quirkiness of Brooklyn that will soon be lost to gentrification.
Beautiful fruits and vegetables, straight from the farmers!
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Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket
Flatbush AvenueBeautiful fruits and vegetables, straight from the farmers!
Song
295 5th AveGreat Thai food. My guests love it!
Ulrike mentioned returning day after day for "the crumble"!
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Kos Kaffe A Roasting House
251 5th AveUlrike mentioned returning day after day for "the crumble"!
Cafe Regular
318 11th StGreat coffee, nice laid-back vibe.
Shake Shack
Madison AvenueThe Best Burgers! Even a portobello mushroom burger!
One of the newest dining scenes, conveniently located near BAM venues.
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Gotham Market at The Ashland
590 Fulton StOne of the newest dining scenes, conveniently located near BAM venues.
Brooklyn's Chinatown is more authentic than the one in Manhattan, and this is the place to do dim sum on a weekend morning.
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Pacificana
813 55th StBrooklyn's Chinatown is more authentic than the one in Manhattan, and this is the place to do dim sum on a weekend morning.
Ample Hills Creamery
623 Vanderbilt AveIce cream!
Rose Water
787 Union StSeasonal, farm-to-table concept. Yum!
My new fav! Just a fabulous little neighborhood place around the corner with great food and a nice vibe. The brioche and egg with a salad is heaven!
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Milk Bar
620 Vanderbilt AveMy new fav! Just a fabulous little neighborhood place around the corner with great food and a nice vibe. The brioche and egg with a salad is heaven!
Tom’s
782 Washington AveWell-loved Brooklyn brunch institution.
El Atoradero
Outdoor space with a bar and great Mexican food!
LBK pizza
669 Union StreetOh. My. God.
This is why New Yorkers are pizza snobs.
I could eat here every day!
The new cool food and drinks scene is the Gowanus area - what Soho in Manhattan was in the 1980s. It's all about farm-to-table, exposed brink and the wood burning oven. Not inexpensive, but great food.
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Freek's Mill
285 Nevins StThe new cool food and drinks scene is the Gowanus area - what Soho in Manhattan was in the 1980s. It's all about farm-to-table, exposed brink and the wood burning oven. Not inexpensive, but great food.
I can't have an argument about the fine points of Texas barbecue versus Kansas City or anything. I just like to eat it! And Dinosaur is great!
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Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
700 W 125th StI can't have an argument about the fine points of Texas barbecue versus Kansas City or anything. I just like to eat it! And Dinosaur is great!
Of the moment Oaxacan-style Mexican restaurant. The New York Times review called the mole "riveting"!
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Claro
284 3rd AveOf the moment Oaxacan-style Mexican restaurant. The New York Times review called the mole "riveting"!
Shopping
It's a community! It's an institution! It's a 40+ year demonstration project in socialist economics, which I was taught couldn't work!
Get a visitors pass and take a tour (even though you won't be able to buy anything). Take photos of the produce!
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Park Slope Food Coop
782 Union StIt's a community! It's an institution! It's a 40+ year demonstration project in socialist economics, which I was taught couldn't work!
Get a visitors pass and take a tour (even though you won't be able to buy anything). Take photos of the produce!
Items of Interest
60 5th AveChic interior design shop.
Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store
232 5th AveQuirky stuff for gifts and home.
Great selection of furniture, clothing, china, etc.
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Housing Works Thrift Shops
266 5th AveGreat selection of furniture, clothing, china, etc.
One-of-a-kind, very high quality crafts: jewelry, pottery, wood, etc. A Park Slope institution.
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The Clay Pot
162 7th AveOne-of-a-kind, very high quality crafts: jewelry, pottery, wood, etc. A Park Slope institution.
Drinks & Nightlife
Have drinks by the fireplace, or play bocce, then check out the music and comedy performance space downstairs.
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Union Hall
702 Union StHave drinks by the fireplace, or play bocce, then check out the music and comedy performance space downstairs.
Big names & the soon-to-be-known at this converted warehouse in Gowanus. Catch NPR favorites "The Moth" and "Ask Me Another", and Daily Show-sourced comedians like Jessica Williams and John Hodgman.
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The Bell House
149 7th StBig names & the soon-to-be-known at this converted warehouse in Gowanus. Catch NPR favorites "The Moth" and "Ask Me Another", and Daily Show-sourced comedians like Jessica Williams and John Hodgman.
Small performance space with a truly varied, highly international music scene.
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Barbès
376 9th StSmall performance space with a truly varied, highly international music scene.
Getting Around
Union St station
Union StreetR train
B, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, and 5 trains and the Long Island Railroad
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Barclays Center
620 Atlantic AveB, D, N, Q, R, 2, 3, 4, and 5 trains and the Long Island Railroad
Slope Park Playground
18th Streetbrand new Citi Bikes station
Essentials
5th Avenue Market
185 5th Ave24 hour corner market
Park Chemists
164 5th AveA great nearby pharmacy.
Key Food Supermarket
55 Fulton StLarge local grocery store.
Associated Supermarkets
216 5th AveSmaller local grocery store
Union Market
240 E Houston StSmaller, high quality grocery
Entertainment & Activities
Movies and film festivals, edgy plays and concerts, BAMcafe, even a week of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
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Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette AveMovies and film festivals, edgy plays and concerts, BAMcafe, even a week of Jimmy Kimmel Live.