Hi. I've been to NYC many times, but have yet to explore Brooklyn's amenities. Can anyone give me advice on a good 1 day or afternoon excursion? I would consider the Botanical Gardens, but am also interested in any fun & funky neighborhoods to hang out in, grab a bite, people watch, shop, etc. Anyone out there who can help?
Thanks a million.

Neighborhoods: Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Dumbo, Coney Island to name a few.

I’ve only been to NYC once, earlier this year but the Brooklyn Museum was on my list of things to do and I wasn’t disappointed.

On the way we walked through the Botanical Gardens. I imagine during any other time of year it’d be spectacular but even in the winter time it was interesting.

Sorry, I can't help with the fun neighborhoods but the museum was well worth the trip over there.

When will you be visiting Meeega?

Sad to say, I've never explored Brooklyn, so can't offer any specifics, but a great blog, design sponge has a Brooklyn guide.
It's a year or two old, but still may be a great place to start. http://www.designspongeonline.com/20...n-guide-2.html

I would also second the Brooklyn museum, and I ate a great cafe near there but unfortunately can't remember the name.

Good luck!

Ditto on the Brooklyn Museum and Botanical Gardens.

For me, an interesting and very different place to grab a bite etc. is the Little Odessa area of Brighton Beach. The neighborhood is full of Russian Immigrants, Russian eateries and Russian shops. It is an authentic ethnic neighborhood.

You can get a tasty snack from a sidewalk stand cheaply or feast at a sit down restaurant at prices much lower than Manhattan. You are not likely to hear English spoken but you will not have problems. Follow things up with a walk along the beach or on the boardwalk.

A number of the restaurants by day turn into clubs at night that redefine "funky."

Some restaurants recommended are: Primorski; Tatiana (on the boardwalk and a club at night);Odessa (also a club at night; Glechnik; National (more of a club) and my favorite for great food, Cafe Arbat. The last time there, four of us had, I don't recall how many courses of fantastic food and the bill was about $100 for all four not counting drinks.

If you visit, do not miss stopping at M&I International Foods. The place is an experience!

If you want a real Brooklyn experience, take the xubway downtown and then walk the Brooklyn Bridge. From there you can get to the Brooklyn Museum, Botanical Gardens etc. Depending on your interest and time, there is a tour of the Steinway Company in Astoria. From there take the East River water taxi back up town to Manhattan. It makes severa stops and is not far from where you got off the Brooklyn Bridge. There is also a great ice cream shop (while you wait for the water taxi.) We took the taxi back up to 42nd street where we walked over to see a play.

Depending on your interest and time, there is a tour of the Steinway Company in Astoria

Astoria is in Queens, not Brooklyn.

Thanks for all the great info.

I am visiting over Labor Day, so the weather should be great. I am planning on visiting the Botanical Gardens & possibly museum.

If anyone else can name any great restaraunts--that would be great.

--forgot to mention I have been to "Little Russia" on the boardwalk--definitely worth the trip.

MM - I know you want to visit B'klyn, but there is a once in a lifetime Henry Moore (outdoor sculpture) exhibit at the NY Botanic Gardens in the Bronx. It is wonderful. Maybe you can do B'klyn one day and go to NYBG another day.

http://www.nybg.org/henry_moore/

I find it astonishing that Brooklyn has turned into a tourist attarction. It is just some place where we used to live.

As a Brooklyn local...I suggest checking out the following places:

Park Slope...full of great dining options,little shops and Prospect Park. Which is better than Central Park in my opinion.

Williamsburg...plenty of hip places to eat and drink at.

Bensonhurst...old school italian pastry shops and great pizza. Check out villabate bakery...amazing treats!

Bay Ridge...an Irish/Italian area that boast some great cuisines from German food to Italian food to the delicious and fun arirang hibachi steakhouse.

Also check out Coney Island for Nathan's famous. hot dog, cheese fries and a lemonade. Just dont hang out there after dark, the area is not safe.


Andy
travelbyandy.com

I live in Park Slope, have for bunch of years now.

The museum is right next to the botanic garden, both easily doable in one day.

Prospect Park is in the same vacinity, with a carousel, Audubon house (used to be the boat house), small zoo, Revolutionary War sites (battle markers). Prospect Park is not Central Park, it's more laid back, with baseball diamonds, bike riders, soccer and frisbee players, joggers. Lots of families with kids having picnics.

Most of the restaurants/shops in the area are centered on 7th and 5th Avenues, which is about a half mile/mile walk west of the museum. I wouldn't consider Park Slope particularly funky (has some funky stores), it does have some lovely architecture, it's historical, has nice restaurants. Well, maybe parts of 5th Avenue verge on funky.

Brooklyn Heights has the promenade, with a great view of the city. It's another area with some lovely historical architecture. Little harder to find good restaurants. The court houses are centered in this downtown Brooklyn area. The post office building is impressive
http://www.trixrosenphotography.com/...ostOffice.html

Coney Island is a bit of a trek, funky, a little seedy. The Aquarium is there. You can walk out on the pier and watch locals fish. Go on the Wonder Wheel or Cyclone (roller coaster). They've built a ball stadium there for minor league games (have fireworks on Friday nights from time to time). Get a Nathan's dog and a Brooklyn lager.

Red Hook, Carroll Gardens, are other possible neighborhoods to look into to explore.

Hope that helps.

I recommend the New York Transit Museum, which shows a history of the NYC Subway with real cars from different eras inside a real (decommissioned) subway station.

Isn't it interesting about all the Russian restaurants and shops in Little Odessa, considering Odessa isn't in Russia?

Besides Hope & Anchor does anyone have brunch spots either in Red Hook or on Columbia Heights?

Thanks.

<<Isn't it interesting about all the Russian restaurants and shops in Little Odessa, considering Odessa isn't in Russia?>>

A good observation since Odessa is part of the Ukraine. I would guess that there are several reasons for the Little Odessa name. Like Odessa, Little Odessa is on the sea. Although part of the Ukraine, Russian is still the language most heard on the streets and there is healthy mix of ethnic groups other than Russian in both . Little Odessa is part of the US and Russian is the language most heard on the streets. Odessa once had a very large Jewish population as does Little Odessa today. The shops and restaurants in Little Odessa are not only Russian, but reflect other parts of the former Soviet Union as well including Ukraine as do the foods carried in the markets.

BarryK, you have started a family discussion.

Both of my grandmothers lived in Brighton Beach and both were born in the 1880's in what is now Belarus. When asked where they were born, they said Russia. As best as I can ascertain Belarus did not have a chance to have a separate identity until the 20 century.

But we agree with basingstoke. There was a large Jewish community in Odessa and one in Brighton and the Little Odessa nickname reflected religion rather than nationality.

The nickname started in the 1970's.

<BarryK, you have started a family discussion.>

Well, I'll have to add mine, then :.)

My grandparents lived in Coney Island and Sheepshead Bay. I lived in Canarsie until I was 9, then off to the 'burbs...

I forgot about Cobble Hill, that's a trendier area.

Also for funky trendy Williamsburg. I've seen threads here dealing with Williamsburg.