Sat morning in Brooklyn: Park Slope, walking bridge to Manhattan
 

Hi Fodorites,
Hoping some NY locals can take a look at this plan:

On a Saturday morning, I'd like to take the train from my hotel in Manhattan over to Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood (Grand Army Plaza stop?), have a coffee/b'fast at a nice place for people watching, do a little window shopping (7th Ave?), and make my way oevr to the Brooklyn Bridge to walk back into Manhattan.

Any nice little bakeries that you recommend?
Should I wander over to Prospect Park?
Is there a route you can recommend toward the Brooklyn Bridge?

Any advice or Brooklyn info would be appreciated! Many thanks!

On a recent trip to NYC, we took the subway to Brooklyn Heights, which is a beautiful neighborhood. After exploring it, we walked to Dumbo where we had coffee in a chocolate shop, visited galleries, and enjoyed Manhattan views from the park. We then walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. It was a memorable day.

If you like flea markets, you might do this on a Sunday. The Brooklyn Flea is near the Brooklyn Bridge on Sundays startint at 11. http://www.brownstoner.com/brooklynflea/about/

You could head to Prospect Park with a coffee and pastry. Have a look around the park and then head toward Brooklyn Heights by subway. Have brunch in Brooklyn Heights, go over to the flea market, perhaps explore Dumbo a bit and then walk back.

Hi,
the best train to Park Slope on the weekend are 4 or 5 to Atlantic Av, N or R to Atlantic/Pacific walk down 4th ave, turn left on Bergen to 5th ave. On 5th ave you will find Blue Sky bakery, nice muffins, walk two more blocks pickup some coffee at Gorilla Coffee. Walk up 5th to check out the shops (most open around 11).

If you decide to get off at Grand Army Plaza (not Park Slope, more like Prospect Heights) if it is a Saturday you will see the Farmer's market where you can buy pastries, donuts, fruit. There will also be a few vendors selling coffee, etc. You can take those into Prospect Park find a spot and relax. If you want to venture into Park Slope walk down Union to 7th Ave or keep walking to 5th Ave, lots of brunch options on 5th ave.

Walking to the Bridge from Park Slope is a trek, so you can take the train R (at Union and 4th ave or at Atlantic) to Court St 2/3 to Clark St (closest one to the bridge. If you want to walk. I'd suggest walking along Atlantic Ave, you'll pass coffee shops, boutiques, restaurants, antiques stores, then turn on right on Brooklyn Bridge BLVD which will take you to the entrance of the bridge. You will pass Smith St which also has nice restaurant options.

Brooklyn Heights is also a nice neighborhood with good views of the City but the restaurants are just OK. Park Slope has a more eclectic personality. For pastries to go Lanssen & Hennings on Montague St, there is a good bagel store a few doors down. Montague St will take you straight to the Promenade.

Other pastry shops in Park Slope all on 5th ave Tres Pommes, OKO (yogurt place but sells nice muffins, Blue Sky Bakery, S'Nice.

Good brunch places on 5th Ave: Melt (on Bergen & 5th), Miriams, STone Park, AOC Bistro.

On 7th Ave: Sweet Melissa, Connecticut Muffin (chain also in BK Heights)

You are going to so enjoy the walk back across the bridge. We are going back to NYC this Fall and are planning on the flea market on Sunday under the BB.

K_brklyn! Thank you! How kind of you to type all that for me! I'm printing and taking this with me. People like you are why I LOVE this site.

NY Times also just published an article about walking the bridge with an itinerary. The article is called "Between Manhattan and Brooklyn, a Crossing Not Too Far" Published on 8.20.2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/nyregion/23stop.html

Thanks to all of you for your tips.

I went to Brooklyn on both Sat and Sun morning. Park Slope on Sat., and Brooklyn Heights on Sun. LOVED strolling on Montague St., then the Promenade, in Brooklyn Heights and walking the bridge back to Manhattan (with the sun at my back, while the others walking TO Brooklyn were squinting all the way over).

Your advice was in my pocket both days, and made my trip, K_brklyn. Went to Miriam's on Sat - loved it, and then Lansen and Hennings on Sun. Thanks so much!