Brooklyn

Brooklyn is the fifth-largest city in the country, so there are A LOT of highlights to mention. It's a totally self-sufficient city, and you could easily find yourself hanging out there without even venturing into Manhattan. The more expensive Manhattan gets, the more people and businesses trek over the bridge to settle down. Downtown Brooklyn is always bustling with activity, touting a new Target, various discount clothing stores (Marshall's, Daffy's, DSW), Fulton Street Mall, universities, and many businesses. In fact, the Gehry-designed Nets stadium is slated to be built right by the Atlantic Avenue mall. DUMBO has enticed many small galleries and design shops to leave Soho and set up shop in the old, renovated warehouses on the water. Other warehouses are being converted to luxury lofts filled with successful yuppies who want convenience and luxury at the same time for a better price. Boerum Hill is stuffed to capacity with young urban hipsters and yuppies with little children. Every 5 seconds, a children's clothing shop or restaurant opens up. Brooklyn is thriving and should definitely be on your list of "Things to Do" when visiting New York. It's a treasure of a borough and I, for one, never will tire of exploring its endless pockets of entertainment. Some of the most notable things to do would include crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, walking around DUMBO and old Vinegar Hill, shopping in Boerum Hill, lounging in Prospect Park, hitting the boardwalk on Coney Island, strolling down Brighton Beach with the Russian folk, and venturing into Red Hook.

Quick Tips:

The best thing to do when arriving in New York is to pick up a copy of the Village Voice (available on many street corners, shops, and bars) and Time Out magazine (available at any street vendor). It provides you with bar and restaurant information, as well as information about bands playing in the area. You’ll notice that many fun shops and restaurants down Smith Street or in DUMBO have flyers for events in the area. Keep a lookout for flyers on poles for information about bands, rentals, and stoop sales. In the summer, walk around Boerum Hill on Saturdays to get in some good stoop sales and follow with a brunch on Smith Street. Almost every restaurant has an outdoor area to enjoy the nice weather.

Best Way To Get Around:

Taking the subway or bus, biking, and walking are the best ways to get around Brooklyn. The MTA website has maps and time-tables for the buses. At most subway stations with booths, you'll be able to pick up a subway or bus map. Stick to main streets like Atlantic Avenue for taxis. Otherwise, don't be afraid to get a car service, such as:
Legend Car & Limousine Service
197 7th Ave
718/788-1234

Superfine is a DUMBO staple for finer dining. It's so hip, the menu changes on a daily basis. You can call ahead to find out what's being served that evening, but you'll find that the menu always has a catch of the day, a steak, a pasta, a soup, and a salad.

The restaurant's facade is an old brick, graffitied warehouse, and you'll often find artists sitting outside, doing their "street art" thing. When inside, you'll notice a beautiful sunken bar that's surprisingly not modern, but old-fashioned and wooden. Walk up the ramp, and to your right is a pool table where you can give your drink order and get in a game. If you're looking to eat, continue up the ramp and get seated by the friendly hostess at any of the 1950s kitschy kitchenette tables running alongside the rail overlooking the bar or the kitchen. The lighting softens the industrial interior and makes you feel quite cozy, despite all the metal and iron throughout the restaurant.

The waitress will offer you a drink from the full bar, give you bread with olive oil, and show you a menu written on a white board. Some of the dishes we had included pepper steak with "Superfine fries", hamburger with a choice of various cheeses and "Superfine fries," penne with tomato sauce and sausage, cauliflower and potato curry soup, orange marmalade creme brulee, and ice cream with ginger snap cookies. The steak was a delicious filet, cooked medium-rare with a bright pink interior (you might want to go with medium if you're afraid of undercooking), and the fries are matchstick-size and very crispy. The dish also came with a side salad in a vinaigrette. The hamburger was HUGE and smothered with cheese. It looked fabulous! My boyfriend had the penne and is definitely looking forward to coming back. The curry soup was as tasty as it was unusual, and the desserts, although a bit small, were very well-prepared and delicious.

However you slice it, Superfine makes great dishes and offers a great bar area and a lovely atmosphere for a date or dinner with a group of friends. I highly recommend checking this place out!

Grimaldi's Pizza is located right off the water, near a cute pier with views of the East River, lower Manhattan, and the Brooklyn Bridge. To get there, you can walk the Brooklyn Bridge, take the A train to High Street, the F train to York Street, or the water taxi to the Fulton Landing stop. When getting off the A train, walk down Cadman Plaza toward the water until you see Grimaldi's big green awning on the right side of Old Fulton Street. From the F train, walk down to the water until Front Street, take a left and walk until you get to Old Fulton Street, take a right, and you'll immediately see the restaurant. From the pier, walk inland half a block.

The restaurant looks like a typical Italian-American pizzeria. The tables are small and mashed together to get in as many customers as possible. The tables are covered with red and white checkered tablecloths, and the pizza-throwers take up the back wall along with the pizza ovens. The sidewalls are wood-paneled and are topped with photos of famous people who frequent the place, as well as pictures of their favorite crooners from Italy.

Sodas come in 16-ounce bottles, and the pizza covers most of the table. The waiters are polite, but definitely no-nonsense. As for the pizza, you'll find the crust is thin and crispy, yet chewy (much like that of other old pizzerias in Manhattan). The sauce is incredibly fresh and tastes of sweetly ripened tomatoes. On top of the sauce are slices of fresh baby mozzarella that melt much nicer than the usual cheap mozzarella you'd find at typical pizzerias. Toppings are $2 and are the same price on half a pie as on a whole one. They include pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, garlic, anchovies, capers, etc. I've tried the calzone once, and although I loved it, crispy crust enveloping a mountain of ricotta and spinach, I would still recommend going for the pizza if you're only going there once. Desserts include the traditional cannoli; however, I tend to stroll over to the pier after a meal here and go to the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

Because the pizza is one of the best in the area, there is often a long line. Try to come in the winter and during off hours. Coming Sunday before it opens is a guaranteed way to get seated. If not, be prepared to stand outside until it's your turn. If you're okay with take-out, order and take the pizza to the pier across the street and eat it outdoors. In the summer, this is what a lot of people tend to do. Also note that this restaurant is CASH ONLY and that strollers are NOT allowed indoors due to lack of space.

This little chocolate shop is ALL the rage in DUMBO.

The chocolate is cheaper than Godiva but just as divine. They make the chocolate in-house, so it's as fresh as possible. When you walk into the old-fashioned shop, on your left, you'll see a few wrought-iron cafe tables and chairs, where you can enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, cappuccino, or mocha. On the dark, wooden-shelved walls are little plastic bags secured with orange ribbon that include peanut brittle, dark chocolate crispy flakes, and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and almonds. There are also hot chocolate tins, the infamous Big Daddy bar, and the traditional milk, dark, and white chocolate bars.

Look to your right, and there is a huge window looking into the chocolate factory. There you can see the conveyor belts chug the chocolates along and the workers toil away at their chocolate concoction.

The main counter is always hopping with sometimes three employees taking and fulfilling orders. They have a full espresso bar, and you can order a fresh cup of hot chocolate (spicy or regular kind), a latte, a cappuccino, or a mocha. The hot chocolate is extremely rich and tastes like you're drinking cake batter. It's good, but drinking it while eating a walnut brownie proved to be too much for me! Also behind the counter, you'll see croissants, chocolate cakes, and brownies, all of which you can eat there or take out. On the right is a fantastic layout of what looks like a hundred variations of the bonbon, including flavors such as "liquid caramel", "earl grey", "hazelnut" and tons more!! You can create your own specialized box containing all your favorites (12 pieces for $13 and 25 pieces for $24). Not only are the bonbons delicious, but they are gorgeous, each one having its own little shape and design.

If you need help, don't be afraid to ask the staff for help. They'll provide you with their recommendations.

Go across the street to enjoy Jacques's new bakery, Almondine. You'll find little fruit tarts, chocolate mousse, napoleons, and various little cakes. They also offer muffins, croissants, baguettes, espresso, and on Sunday (when the chocolate shop is closed), you can get the famous Jacques Torres hot chocolate.

After shopping for the goods, go sit in the beautiful Empire-Fulton Ferry Park (just around the corner) and enjoy your fresh chocolates with a stunning view of lower Manhattan, the bridges, and the old tobacco warehouses.

Luluc is an affordable Cuban-French bistro in the heart of Smith Street. The front wall opens up in the summer, letting in a wonderful breeze into the restaurant. In the winter, it becomes a cozy retreat from the cold. The walls are lined with a long, wooden bench and bistro tables. In the front, you’ll find magazines in a rack that people read while sipping their morning coffee and eating their pastries. In the evening, the atmosphere becomes bistro meets modern design. The room is lit up by round hanging globes, and the walls are painted a soft white. In the back, Luluc has an outdoor patio that becomes busy when the temperature rises. Out there you get a great view of the back of many brownstones and the trees overgrowing the adjacent properties. You’d never know you were in the middle of a city.

When you arrive, you’re greeted with a smile, a basket of French bread (which they’re likely to refill if you gobble it up), butter, and a carafe of tap water. The menu is simple but offers many interesting dishes. For example, you can find typical French fares, including goat cheese salad with beets, steak frites, and croques monsieur; but they also offer grilled mahimahi fajitas, a Cuban sandwich, and a pressed grilled chicken sandwich with avocado, mayo, tomatoes, and lettuce. For dessert you can try one of the many sorbets or stick to the traditional crème brulee. The prices for sandwiches are less than $10 and they come with a side salad. The entrees range from $12 to $17 (or so). Since this restaurant is owned by a Frenchman, I’d recommend sticking around for the dessert and coffee.

For brunch they still have many of the sandwiches available, including a thick hamburger with your choice of cheese, but they also offer dishes such as eggs Benedict, eggs Florentine, omelets with various toppings, and pancakes with fresh berries and syrup. I love the eggs Benedict because they use bacon instead of Canadian bacon.

As far as restaurants go in this neighborhood, this one really is a favorite. You simply can’t beat the fantastic menu, the prices, the atmosphere, or the wait staff.

Note that this restaurant is CASH ONLY.

Two restaurants to hit the Smith Street area at full force are La Rosa & Son and Pacifico. They have the same owner and are in same building but individual restaurants all the same. Pacifico is a modern Mexican restaurant with a tropical atmosphere and an outdoor patio, while La Rosa & Son is a mama mia-type restaurant, a kitschy pizzeria, with a checkerboard tablecloth and pasta with red sauce.

The entrance is on Smith Street. The first few tables in front of the pizza oven are for slices and parm sandwiches. Go beyond the wood-paneled partition and you'll be seated in a small but cozy area for a real sit-down meal. The menus are slim and simple. Reingold’s by the pitcher are dirt cheap (the Brooklyn hipster scene is currently digging the new Pabst Blue Ribbon and Rheingold craze). Soda comes in the can with a plastic cup o' ice. This place is like the no-frills, old-style pizzerias in Brooklyn without the nasty waiters and grimy decor. The walls are lined with vintage plastic plates in the shape of fish, as well as photographs of what look like the old country.

The main courses include pizza, including pizza-for-one, chicken parm (on bread or as a dish), various delicious calzones, spaghetti and meatballs, baked rigatoni with veal ragu, eggplant parm, and cheese ravioli with portobello mushrooms and red sauce. The pizza crust is a combo of crisp and chewy, the sauce is simple and fresh, and the cheese is sliced fresh baby mozzarella. The food is never too intricate and is what I would call comfort food. Sometimes you just want a bowl of spaghetti with meatballs and a beer without having to make it yourself or go to an expensive restaurant.

Watch out for daily specials noted on the signs outside or inside. Desserts are often different every night and include cheesecake or tiramisu.

I recommend this restaurant for those who are looking for a quick, affordable meal on Smith that is still very tasty and in a cozy atmosphere.

This review is for Bubby's at brunch. From what I hear, this place can get pretty jam-packed during this time, but we went around 3pm and got a window seat right away. The view of the water and Manhattan skyline are beautiful. The restaurant is quite large and filled with old wobbly, kitschy tables from the ‘50s. This with the mismatched chairs creates a colorful environment that attracts many families from the surrounding areas. It wouldn’t be uncommon to hear the sounds of a kid crying over spilled milk while trying to have a nice meal with a friend. Still, the restaurant is fun, the waitresses are kind, and the coffee comes in a bottomless cup.

When you arrive, you'll receive water and a biscuit with homemade jam, just enough to get the mouth watering. The brunch menu ranges from huevos rancheros to eggs Florentine to burgers to sandwiches. On top of the great breakfast combos (coffee, two eggs, bacon, French toast, and grits), you can order á la carte sides for the kids. I ordered the pulled-pork sandwich. It came with a generic hamburger bun and a pile of pulled pork. I had a choice of two delicious barbeque sauces, one tomato-based and one vinegar-based. On the side was fresh and crispy purple coleslaw and a good number of hand-cut french fries. My boyfriend had the turkey blt with thick, crispy bacon and fresh bread. I had heard mediocre things about this place, but I was not disappointed. It's a perfectly good restaurant with a fantastic view, but it may be slightly overpriced. Everything was around $10 or $13, which is a lot for some eggs and toast considering the same fare at a diner might be half the price.

All the same, given that there are slim pickings in this area, this restaurant is mighty fine for brunch. If you decide not to go here, try Superfine. The menu is a bit more exotic and includes huevos rancheros, blueberry pancakes, mahimahi tacos, and breakfast burritos.

In the heart of Williamsburg, you'll find an understated but most alluring bar amidst the hipster scene that has become so prevalent in this area. Take the L train to Bedford or the B61 bus from Queens or downtown Brooklyn and walk towards Grand Street.

Iona's is owned by a lovely Irish lass who's a Jane-of-all-trades. The bar used to be an old-fashioned candy shop, and if you look closely, you can still see the remnants of this from the cracked paint on the windows. The display windows on either side of the door have been replaced by cozy booths. The walls are lined with art for sale from local artists (currently a friend of mine is showing hers).

The rustic-looking bar runs down the side, and beyond you'll find a back area with more booths and seats. If you're Irish, you'll love the treats hidden behind the bar, including imported cheese and onion "crisps," beer nuts, and the odd Cadbury chocolate bar. The bar is fully stocked; they have a good amount of beers on tap and some real goodies you won't find at other bars. My favorites are the Rocar sparkling wine (which comes in a little bottle and costs a mere $6) and the Lambic Framboise (a Belgian beer flavored with raspberries). As the barkeeper likes to say, "It's champagne on a beer budget."

The nice thing about this bar is that it has the feel of an Irish neighborhood bar, but it's not quite as dark and dreary as a typical Irish pub. Iona's is warm, cheery, and very inviting.

The Brooklyn General store is in the heart of DUMBO, next to the Peas and Pickles grocery store, a hardware store and an art gallery. The front is a glass facade through which you can see the bustling activity inside. On the left is a cozy mismatched couch corner with patrons scouring the real estate sections on Saturday mornings while sipping the Danesi lattes.

Further down on the left is a bar where they'll take your food or drink order. The menus are ever-changing on chalkboards highlighting the daily specials. You'll find people at the bar, drinking out of old-fashioned Coke bottles, some in their painting gear (lots of artists in these parts). Along the back wall and along the right wall are two long, wooden farmer tables inviting strangers to sit next to each other.

The things to order here are coffees, salads, and paninis. The kitchen is pretty much nonexistent, and eating here is simple and no-fuss. Sandwiches include various cheeses and meats and are pressed to heat them up. The ingredients are really great. The gruyere and porcini mushroom sandwich with rosemary ($8) was incredibly flavorful and fresh. Next time, I'm going to try the tomato, basil, and mozzarella panini. For breakfast, try the pancakes ($6) or the egg sandwich on ciabatta with a side of hot sauce ($6). Everything was really fresh and very reasonably priced. In the middle of the cafe is a pillar that is a self-service spot with sugar, stirrers, and also a pitcher of water with glasses.

The most interesting thing about this uber-hip cafe is the paint store in the back. They have everything an artist needs to get back to work after a coffee and a snack.

If you're in DUMBO and you're in the mood to lounge for a while with a coffee, skip the Starbucks and support this local joint. You can sit as long as you like and simply enjoy the day as it creeps by with a paper and a big mug of really good coffee.

Pacifico, La Rosa and Son's Mexican neighbor, is new to Brooklyn as of a year ago (give or take). Since Brooklynites love outdoor seating, this place was an instant hit. If the weather was warm, there was a constant wait for a table, even during the week. The winter died down the constant buzzing, but I believe that spring will revive this Mexican hotspot, making it full again shortly.

Upon walking through the makeshift wooden entryway, you come across a large outdoor patio. In the front are a few wooden benches for those who have to wait for a table. Farther down are outdoor tables, a bit wooden and shoddy, but contributing to the tropical feel of the restaurant. Heaters (like the ones you often see in Europe) are placed outside when it gets chilly in order to keep this area open. Farther down is an area that's in a tent-like contraption. It has an outdoor feel, but none of the mosquitoes. Inside the restaurant is a rustic wooden bar, a wood-burning fireplace (for in the winter), and walls lined with random art (including ‘70s velour paintings).

The menu offers appetizers such as Mexican cheese fondue, guacamole, and chips and "wimpy" or "hot" salsa. For entrées, you can go á la carte and order tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, or burritos with your choice of a filler: chicken, pulled pork, pulled beef, and vegetables. Sides include roasted corn and beans with rice. For real entrées, you can expect salmon and shrimp with mango salsa or steamed mussels with beer. My favorite is the pulled beef with olives on a quesadilla. Having that with a pomegranate or guava margarita and I'm full. The corn-on-the-cob comes charred and covered in oil and real Mexican cheese. The ingredients at this restaurant set it apart from your local dive. They really have fresh cheese, salsa, and guacamole, which I think is key in Mexican cuisine.

For a night out with a few friends, order a pitcher of white or red sangria, enjoy dinner under the stars (if you can see any!), and talk the night away. This is NOT a romantic restaurant. It's a place you want to go with some close friends or family. Just make sure you come early, late, or during the week if you don't want to wait too long. And, as with most Brooklyn restaurants, this place is CASH only.

Trout is from the makers of Gravy, La Rosa and Pacifico, three successful restaurants that make up the entire northwest corner of Smith and Pacific (see my other reviews. I guess they had a few extra square feet to spare and used it to create a shanty with mismatched chairs and tables to create what looks like some broke hipsters backyard. You walk in to the courtyard and to your left there is a section where a group may sit together to enjoy the evening air along with a few drinks. On your right there is a row of connected chairs and a raised deck with proper tables and chairs. Through the back is the bar with a small awning. The whole thing looks a bit shoddy, but it's part of the character and atmosphere.

The bar offers great bloody marys (4 bucks during happy hour, 4pm-7pm), margarita, a range of bottled beer (i.e. red stripe) and a few beers on tap 2 for 1 during happy hour). If you order a 2 for 1 beer, they bring you your second later on so it's fresh. The servers are young artsy types and are incredibly friendly. This bar is typical of Brooklyn, laid-back style without an attitude.

You might be better off hitting up one of the other restaurants if you're looking for a meal, however if you're looking for drunk munchies, buffalo wings and cheesy fries may be enough to satisfy.

This area of Brooklyn is fantastic for bar -hopping. The F train runs right through so you can get back to Manhattan or Park Slope without any hassle. Smith Street offers tons of restaurants and many bars with great deals on drinks. Other great bars include, Brooklyn Inn Bar, Boat, Vegas, Zombie Hut (tiki drinks), Q Bar (martini bar), Sample (wine bar).

THIS STORE IS NOW CLOSED.

While the flagship store in Manhattan is famous, I personally enjoy the ABC in Brooklyn. Highly convenient to get to, it's on the corner of Jay and Plymouth street and only three blocks from the York Street stop on the F train.



Inside is a huge, bohemian-looking warehouse filled with furniture, chandeliers, bedding, rugs, etc. Because it's all on one floor, it's easy to navigate. Also, most of the time, you'll find yourself fairly alone. Another great thing about the DUMBO branch is that they have great sales, and sometimes you can find a really good deal. I, for instance, bought a couch with custom fabric and still made out saving $600. If I would have bought the stock color, I would have saved $800!!



This store is basically Pier 1, turned up 100 notches. You can find mid-century furniture in perfect condition, new couches that are all very unusual and come in a huge variety of different fabrics, Turkish glass lanterns, Indian silk pillows with hand-stitched sequins, fancy smelly candles, modern and antique rugs, Turkish tea cups, colorful bedding, and much more.



Even if you find the prices out of your range, it's great to walk around to get some ideas of what you might like or pick up just a few knick-knacks. You'll see things you never thought you could get, like a Chinese marriage bed in bright red, carved intricately with gold details, or perhaps an orange terrycloth sectional couch reminiscent of the '70s. The area for the rugs is basically ten or so piles of rugs four feet high, each one totally different from the other. You can find an Oriental rug or shag rugs in various colors.



Another nice thing about ABC is that for all the imported furniture, they highlight Brooklyn furniture as well.



My only beef with ABC is their staff. Although they're really nice and accessible, it took forever just to buy a couch, and it was obvious that some of the staff were not properly trained to handle everything. I've dealt with Crate and Barrel before, and although I ended up returning the couch, they really know what they're doing regarding customer service. Also, be warned that delivery for ABC is astronomical ($150-$200). Again, this is why I do less buying and more window-shopping here!

This is a really fun place for the family. The museum entrance is an actual non-functioning subway entrance built in the 1930s. Inside you'll be greeted by a ticket-seller sitting inside an old booth. Purchase tickets there (adult tickets are $5 and children and senior tickets are $3).

On the immediate left is the gift store loaded with subway paraphernalia, including T-shirts for all sizes, umbrellas, stuffed bears, cuff links, purses, and many railway-oriented toys for children.

Walk into the museum/subway station and pass old turnstiles that vary in age. A sort of interactive tunnel runs along the side that details the creation of the Brooklyn Bridge and shows how it was a real sacrifice and a huge accomplishment for the people of the city. There is also a lot of history about the trolleys that once ruled the city streets.

In the back they showcase the bus system with maps along the walls and the front of a bus that children can sit in to play bus driver.

Go farther downstairs to see the old subway cars. There are two tracks, and the old cars are lined up. The cars are from all different eras, and you can walk through each one of them, experiencing what it would be like to ride the rails throughout the last 100 years. The oldest cars have woven straw seats, and the first air-conditioners were little fans hanging from the ceiling. The ‘50s industrial boom made cars more functional and sleek. From then on, you might recognize many of the subway cars as they might still be running!

This is a really fun place to hang out for a few hours. It's close to downtown Brooklyn, including Smith Street.

A few years ago, this mall was not much to write home about. A now-defunct Macy's had hardly any customers, and the only real stores worth visiting included a Marshalls and Pathmark that were constantly a 20-minute wait at the cashier. Other stores include Old Navy, Burlington Coat Factory, and Circuit City.

Last year, an addition was completed, and the mall has begun to revive. The new addition has the famed DSW discount shoe chain. Endless aisles of shoes at discount prices for women, men, and children include brands such as Cole Haan, Puma, Merrell, Rocket Dog, and many, many more high-heeled designer shoes.

On the main floor, you'll find a Payless Shoe Source, Mandees, Game Stop, McDonalds, Starbucks, The Children's Place, and soon a Stone Cold Creamery and Guitar Center. On the second floor is a Daffy's (New York discount store that sells designer duds on sale, most being from Italy), Rockaway bedding, and the much anticipated Target. The Target is two full floors but remains smaller than most Targets in less urban environments. Still, it's great to have an alternative to the corner bodega or grimey grocery store in the neighborhood. Also, there's something to be said for not having to leave Brooklyn to get the shopping done!

On the third floor is a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant for the kiddies. It appears to be a self-service place with a bunch of arcades...the perfect distraction for kids after a long day of shopping.

Below the mall is train station that has trains departing to all parts of Long Island. This whole mall and station is brand new, and I'm looking forward to making trips to Long Island without having to go all the way to Penn Station in the city.

Also underneath the mall is a subway station with the 4, 5, N, Q, R, B, D, 2, 3, and M trains all stopping there. There are also a number of buses in the area that go straight through the Fulton Mall.

The shopping center can get really busy, so I tend to go in the evening or early in the morning. You can find really great bargains if you have the patience to look around. It's our little slice of Middle America consumerism... which we love to hate but can't/don't want to do without. Living in a big city, you quickly realize how much those big malls are convenient and easy on the wallet. The great thing about Brooklyn is that you also have the option to do the opposite and visit the butcher, the baker, and the vegetable man to get all the shopping done. Just hit Court Street in Cobble Hill.

Take the F train to Bergen Street, and you're already there. Smith Street is a fun, hip area that's filled with restaurants and knick-knack shops. In the past 3 years, Manhattanites decided to get away from all the rushing around and planted their feet in this area, commonly known as Bococa (Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Carroll Gardens). The restaurants, such as Pacifico, are refreshingly new and exciting and surprisingly affordable. A quesadilla with fillings of your choice will only run you a few bucks. French restaurants are popping up left and right. Some of the better ones include Bacchus on Atlantic Avenue and Patois, Cafe Luluc, and Bar Tabac on Smith Street. Strolling down Smith and Atlantic, you'll find great jewelry, antiques, children's clothing, independent designers, modern home stores, and bars with exotic drinks galore - all for much more reasonable prices than Manhattan.

Weave in and out of the smaller streets between Smith and Court, and you'll find old brownstones and stoop sales on the weekends. Young parents are everywhere, and children are often dressed better than the parents. This is a delightful neighborhood to stroll through and explore.

Check out this link for restaurant and store locations.
http://www.brooklynnow.com/

DUMBO is the new SOHO they say; the streets are quiet and industrial, yet full of surprises lurking at each corner. The F train to York Street will take you right there.

Walk down to the water and you'll pass a few cool furniture stores and hit the ABC outlet. Turn left, walk under the bridge, and you'll notice a few hip shops, like Jacque Torres Chocolates, West Elm, etc. There's a great park running along the water with a fantastic playground for kids (shaped like a pirate ship). Keep going and you'll see the old tobacco warehouses, now kept empty, on the park. Beyond that is the River café, the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, Grimaldi's, and the Pier. This is a fun little walk that will allow you to walk the cobbled streets and see old tram lines while looking up and admiring the bridge structures.

Take a right in the beginning instead of a left (on Water Street) and you'll run into an Old Manor that was built for the person overseeing the Navy yards. This area, also known as Vinegar Hill, is almost like an old ghost town. Things are changing quickly, as new buildings pop up and the yuppies move in.

Walking beyond Coney Island you'll notice the crowds begin to thin... and see older men playing games in the shade, old women gossiping on their porches of their beachfront apartment. This Russian neighborhood is an interesting departure from the norm.

Just as in Europe, the restaurants in this area are right on the beach. Many waitresses stand to lure you in. I had a beer and just watched the water and the people walking by. This is a really relaxing and fun experience.

Walk further and into the streets and you'll see suburban-type homes with miniature manicured lawns. Head over to Sheapshead Bay for a beautiful view, dinner, or maybe some shopping at Loehmann's. This walk can be done in one day and is definitely worth the trip.