Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn
Slide Nr 1They say trends start in New York City, but New Yorkers know that the epicentre of trendiness is south of Manhattan. Once considered merely worthy of a day trip to visit your cool but aloof cousin who moved to Williamsburg to simultaneously pursue her feathered earring business and dreams of making it in indie musical films, Brooklyn is now a destination worth dedicating an entire trip to. But whether you have a week or just 24 hours to explore New York’s best borough, there’s more than enough to do in the neighbourhood that over 2.6 million people call home.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 2Early Morning: Walk The Brooklyn Bridge – Built in 1867, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first structure traversing the East River to attach Manhattan to the then-suburban borough of Brooklyn. Though the iconic bridge is often packed with commuters, spectators and tourists, see the Brooklyn Bridge during its peak (and before rush hour) at sunrise. Stroll the pedestrian pathway, take in the views from all directions – including of the Statue of Liberty – and make sure to pause to read a few of the historical plaques to get a sense of Brooklyn’s modern origins. [Photo courtesy nycgo.com/Julienne Schaer]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 39am: Coffee Meets Bagels – After strolling the Promenade, caffeinate in the cobblestone streets of DUMBO (that stands for Down Under Manhattan Bridge, though no one ever says that out loud) at Brooklyn’s favourite coffee roastery. Buy a few bags of beans to take home – you’ll regret not doing so later – and then head to La Bagel Delight on Front Street for a hand-rolled everything bagel with schmear (cream cheese) and lox (smoked salmon). [Photo: Brooklyn Roasting Company © Takahiko Katayama]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 410am: Prospect Park – Designed by Central Park’s legendary landscape designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, this expansive green public space is, arguably, better than the original Manhattan park. Home to a zoo, botanical garden, lake, ice skating rink (in winter), bandshell for free concerts (in summer) and much more, it would be easy to spend an entire weekend wandering Brooklyn’s outdoor home base. In inclement weather, head to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which has covered conservatories and greenhouses to explore in all seasons. [Photo: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, courtesy nycgo.com/Tagger Yancey IV]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 511am: The Brooklyn Museum – Brooklyn’s namesake cultural venue houses a diverse collection of fine art, ranging from ancient Egyptian artefacts and European Beaux Arts paintings to contemporary installations from all over the globe. The permanent location of artist Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party, as well as historic Brooklyn homestead homes and period rooms, the Brooklyn Museum has exhibits to intrigue a wide range of interests at any age. [Photo © JongHeon Martin Kim]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 612.30 p.m: Lunch At Glady’s – Stroll past boutiques, cafés and the beer garden on Franklin Avenue to Glady’s Caribbean, a neighbourhood staple serving up jerk chicken, pork, lobster and seitan (there is some truth to those vegan Brooklyn stereotypes) along with curried goat, oxtail stew and a slew of tropical sides, like rice and peas. If you’re in the mood to drink, an extensive selection of rum from Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Bermuda and several more Caribbean islands will help chase down the tingling spice from your meal.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 72pm: Window Shop On Bedford Avenue – The longest street in all of Brooklyn, Bedford Avenue is at its peak in the Williamsburg neighbourhood, where the sidewalks are ceaselessly teaming with eccentrically dressed locals. Stop in to Spoonbill & Sugartown to browse independent magazines and books, Artists & Fleas (weekends only) for crafts and antiques by a slew of vendors, and Amarcord Vintage for trunk-show-style retro designer clothing. Veer down Metropolitan or Driggs for more shopping, and eventually head west to the East River for one of the best Manhattan skyline views. [Photo: Wikimedia Commons]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 84pm: Sip A Pint At Brooklyn Brewery – The borough’s namesake brewery may be world-renowned, but it’s hard to beat drinking their signature lager on tap in the industrial Brooklyn space where all the brew is made. A pizza truck typically parks outside the beer hall, which allows all types of outside food, should you be getting hungry. Tours of the brewery are also offered to aspiring home brewers or those just interested in how the distinct craft beer is made. [Photo courtesy nycgo.com/Marley White]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 95.30pm: Bowl A Game At Brooklyn Bowl – Easily the trendiest bowling alley in the Tri-State Area, Brooklyn Bowl offers 16 bowling lanes, decorated with plush sofas to cosy up in when you’re not rolling strikes, as well as a full bar and stage that often hosts live concerts, DJs and podcast recordings. Inside the multi-use bowling alley, Blue Ribbon’s food counter doles out mac and cheese bites, gravy-soaked disco fries, fried chicken platters and bourbon-spiked milkshakes. [Photo courtesy nycgo.com/Yvonne Jukes]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 107:30pm: Dinner At Paulie Gee’s – Don’t feel deterred by the long wait for a pie at this dine-in-only wood-fired pizza spot – the patience to earn a seat is worthwhile, and a slew of pubs and coffee shops on the block help pass the time. When you finally get a table, you’re here for pizzas slathered in local ingredients, sometimes in shocking combinations. Think spicy honey with soppressata salami, barbecue brisket and mozzarella, pastrami and Russian dressing – all sourced from Brooklyn purveyors. More classic options, as well as vegan pies, are also served. [Photo: Garrett Ziegler/Flickr]
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 119.30pm: Drinks At Ramona – Effortlessly chic and often packed with beanie-wearers sipping on seasonal liquor-forward cocktails, Ramona is the place to drink in Greenpoint any night of the week. Cosy up with an aged Manhattan or Negroni on tap near a flickering candle, and make some Brooklyn friends, at least for the evening.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 12Overnight: Stay At Franklin Guesthouse – Part of the Box House Hotel group, which has recently transformed three historic Greenpoint buildings into hotels with apartment-like suites, Franklin Guesthouse is in the most central location. It’s also home to Bar Glory, a trendy Mediterranean-inspired lounge by the team behind another neighbourhood favourite, Glasserie.
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Travel
24 Hours In… Brooklyn.
Slide Nr 14Read Before You Go – Modern Lovers by Emma Straub. A summertime story of love, family and local restaurants, this novel by Brooklyn-based author and Books Are Magic co-owner (Straub runs the local bookstore with her husband, Michael) is Brooklyn-rooted fiction at its finest. [Photo: Books Are Magic © Michael Chin]
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