Two Boroughs in One Day!

With tons of things to do and the views form the water, Brooklyn Heights, the Brooklyn Bridge, and The South Street Seaport are a combination of things that go really well together.

Quick Tips:

Grab yourself a Village Voice and see what is happening around the Brooklyn Heights area, otherwise, just start strolling.

Best Way To Get Around:

Take the 2/3/4/5 trains to Borough Hall in Brooklyn. You will be on Montague Street in front of the Town Hall. Then walk west towards the city. Swing a right on Henry and walk south to the bridge and start the adventure.

If you are looking for the best pizza place in New York, please, looking no further. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria (www.grimaldis.com/brooklyn.htm) located under the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn is amazing. No matter what time of day you get there, you will be waiting on line. While on line, the owner will walk by and ask how many you are, trying to see if he can squeeze in a couple here or there. I would suggest going with no more the four people because larger tables are harder to come by and you will wait longer. Also, bring cash with you because they accept nothing but it and there really aren’t ATM’s around.

When you finally enter this small restaurant, the seats are so close you end up dining with your neighbors and everyone becomes friends. You can’t order slices here, so come hungry. The pies are cooked right behind you in a giant wood burning stove and everything about the pizza is phenomenal. The taste in indescribable and unsurpassed by anything that you may have ever had. The cost of a pie is around $12 but can go up depending on your topping selection. The pies are out in a matter of minutes, unless they are cleaning the oven, which means you could be waiting for up to 20 minutes. But have no fear, it is worth the wait.

Afterwards, you have the Brooklyn Bridge to help walk off some of that food and some great views deboot. Enjoy and please try to make this place a stop on your Brooklyn adventures, its amazing!

Located right next to the entrance to the South Seaport Mall, this quaint little outdoor restaurant is phenomenal. The Seaport Cafe is perfect after the walk over the Brooklyn Bridge or just to leer at the passerbys and the surroundings. The food is actually quite good even though the atmosphere seems a bit off. When you enter, every table resembles someones back yard and a picnic setup. But don't let this throw you off because the food is great.

But the best part of this place is the happy hour. Running from 3pm-7pm, the happy hour has some of the strongest Margaritas I have ever had. Running about $5, the Margaritas are out of this world. When happy hour isn't happening, the price is around $6-$7 per drink. And while you drink and gorge yourself, you have the pleasure of watching the random street performers signing, dancing, or doing almost anything you can think of.

Whether you are visiting New York or you are a resident, the South Street Seaport is a place that shouldn't be missed. And while you are there, the Seaport Cafe is the place to be for food and drinks.

As you approach the bridge from Brooklyn Heights side, head down Henry Street and you will see an underpass with cars heading through and people walking by. Head that way and swing a right at the first street and you will see a set of stairs leading up to the bridge.

After ascending the two dozen or so stairs to the walking path, the beauty of the view on both New York and Brooklyn. Plus, you get the view of the East River, The Manhattan Bridge, The Statue of Liberty, and the everything else located south and north of Manhattan.

It's kind of odd to be walking on the wooden planked walkway in the center of this bridge while cars zip by a lightning speeds below you. The center posts holding the bridge up are behemoths of stone and wonderment. In the direct center of the bridge, you have the luxury of not having the thick steel cables that support the bridge in your view and the sky is the limit on what is available. Midtown Manhattan is riddled with skyscrapers that from this view point looks more like an extremely good painting set off in the distance.

When reaching the other side of the bridge and entering Manhattan, the effects of Metropolis truly take over. The police plaza (I hope you never visit the inside) is off to your right and a truly remarkably building. But the general attraction of late has been the area of Ground Zero which is only across City Hall Park. But enjoy the walk and try to burn off some the food from either Brooklyn Heights or work up an appetite for the South Street Seaport. And Bring a camera!

“I lived with him on Montague Street, in a basement down the stairs;
There was music in the cafes at night and revolution in the air.”

Bob Dylan really explained the feeling that Montague Street in Brooklyn really has. Located right in the heart of Brooklyn Heights near the Brooklyn Bridge, Montague Street is great. Filled with restaurants and bars and little whole in the wall stores, this neighborhood is unsurpassed. When you get off of the 2/3/4/5/M trains at Borough Hall, you are right at the start of Montague Street. There are something like ten different banks in a two block radius, allowing for any consumer not to have an excuse. After the string of banks, the restaurants and bars open up the area.

At Henry Street, things start to get crazy. With the influx of restaurants and small boutiques every two feet, this is the true heart of Brooklyn Heights. One of the best parts is a deli called Lessin & Heggins just passed Henry Street. Here they have some of the best food that Brooklyn has to offer. All of the homemade sandwiches are unrivaled by any place that you can find. There is one that is called the Thanksgiving Dinner. It is fresh sliced turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy on homemade bread that is just to die for. All of the sandwiches tend to be just as creative and unique and worth the higher prices. The other great part is their desserts; homemade black and white cookies, cupcakes, muffins, turnovers, the works.

Across the street is one of Brooklyn Heights’ most well kept secrets; the used book store. I can’t for the life of me remember the name of this place but it is the best used book store I have ever been in. With nothing over $20 (except the rare and first prints) this place is great for the avid reader. It is small and well hidden but worth the claustrophobic feeling while searching.

And lastly, one of the best parts of Montague Street is the end by the park over looking the water. Here, you are privy to some of the best sights that New York has to offer. The bridge is off to your right, the city is right in front of you and the trees and houses surrounding you are amazing. So make sure you try out Brooklyn Heights, its worth every minute.