From time to time, we like to publish a “neighborhood roundup” post, in case you missed some of the businesses and attractions we’ve profiled in past posts. But what if you missed the roundup post? Here’s a roundup of our past neighborhood roundups — a handy way for you to discover all the great stuff you can find in some of your favorite Brooklyn neighborhoods.
BoCoCa (BoCoCa Roundup) is a catchall term coined by a web designer over a decade ago for the neighborhoods of Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens (plus the Columbia Street Waterfront and the parts of Red Hook north of the Battery Tunnel). BoCoCa never really caught on, but it can be a handy designation for the intersection of simpatico neighborhoods that were generally referred to simply as South Brooklyn until the 1960s. All three neighborhoods feature cozy brownstones and townhouses and a wealth of great restaurants and bars.
BookCourt photo courtesy of Facebook. (more…)
The Revolutionary War makes many think of New England, but a number of significant battles actually happened throughout New York. Brooklyn, in particular, was home to many historic war sites, buildings and battles, many of which have been memorialized. These five Brooklyn Revolutionary War sites are worth the visit for any history buff, or any Brooklynite who had no idea how monumental a role the borough played in the war.
Map of the Battle of Long Island courtesy of the Library of Congress via mountvernon.org. (more…)
It’s hard not to fall in love with Fort Greene’s pristine brownstones and quiet narrow blocks — most of which lead to Fort Greene Park, with its rolling green hills and towering trees. The corner cafes and diverse selection of restaurants give the neighborhood a cozy feel. For a detailed look on everything that the neighborhood has to offer, check out our neighborhood guide and Fort Greene’s great restaurants.
Below are some other not-to-miss gems found in the neighborhood.
Smoke Joint
An amalgam of different styles, Smoke Joint calls its cuisine New York barbecue. The pulled pork and the chopped barbecue chicken are both fantastic, as are the beef short ribs. Their bourbon selection is pretty impressive too, at the attached Pig Bar.
Smoke Joint photo courtesy of Kerry W. via Yelp.
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Got your costume ready? This year Brooklyn is hosting plenty of Halloween festivities, from kids’ parades to doggy costume contests to nighttime parties at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Here are the events you shouldn’t miss during everyone’s favorite spooky holiday.
Carroll Park Scary-oke and Kids’ Costume Parade (Carroll Gardens) – October 24-26
Carroll Park hosts a number of Halloween-themed events right before the holiday. On Friday, October 24th at 7:30 pm the park will host a movie screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas. On Saturday the 25th at 9 p.m., there will be the 5th Annual “Scary-oke” Karaoke Party. And on Sunday the 26th, beginning at 11:30 a.m., it’s the popular Kids’ Costume Parade. All events are free, but donations to Friends of Carroll Park are welcome.
Carroll Park Halloween photo courtesy of Facebook. (more…)
Fort Greene is one of the most beautiful, historic brownstone neighborhoods of Brooklyn. It’s also small, which means you can walk most of the area in an afternoon. Here’s a recommended neighborhood walk that’ll cover all of the essential stops.
Fort Greene Park photo courtesy of Facebook. (more…)
Brooklyn is a great place to own a dog, but apartment living can sometimes be hard on hyperactive canines. Let your pooch stretch his or her legs sans leash at one of these parks.
In Fort Greene Park, your pup can run free in Brooklyn’s oldest park before 9 a.m. and after 9 p.m. during open hours. Most owners gather with their dogs near the corner of DeKalb and Washington Avenues, where there’s also a canine water fountain available. Just be sure to keep your pooch off the tennis courts. Off-leash hours.
Bull dog relaxing in the park photo courtesy of Thiago L. via Foursquare.
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Brooklyn Bridge Park is still under construction, but it’s already a favorite for locals and visitors alike. Occupying the entire waterfront from Dumbo right under the Manhattan Bridge to the southern boundary of Brooklyn Heights, the park offers sprawling green spaces and amazing views of Downtown Manhattan. Amenities include a boathouse, Jane’s Carousel, athletic fields, volleyball courts, playgrounds, and dog runs. Checking out the entire park from tip to toe is doable and highly recommended.
Brooklyn Bridge Park photo courtesy of Jay Flaxman via Flickr.
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What the Greenmarket does for locally-grown food products, the Artisan Market does for local art and design. Since its debut 12 years ago the Artisan Market has provided a much-needed venue for local artists and designers to show and sell their wares in an easily accessible and popular location. The Market creates a veritable outdoor sidewalk gallery showing a wide range of functional and collectible art and design items. Artists personally display and sell only their own original creations. Added to the benefit of purchasing a well crafted original, one also has the opportunity to talk to the artist about how their piece was made. You’ll find no fleas on us. Only independent design, crafts and fine arts are presented for sale at Artisan-Market, our weekly fundraiser for the Fort Greene Park Conservancy. Artisan-Market is located adjacent to the year-round Fort Greene GreenMarket on the DeKalb Avenue side of Fort Greene Park. Our Spring/Summer 2014 schedule is May 10th thru July 26th and the Fall 2014 schedule is September 6th thru November 8th. Hope to see you there. In Martha Stewart’s words, Artisans Market: “It’s a good thing.”