Hotels & Trave

Brooklyn; The Other New York City !!! Brooklyn, NY

Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn New York Prospect Park Zoo, NY NYC has a number of zoos both of grand scale and those that are more intima...

Prospect Park, NY; Many “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” Prospect Park, NY As a kid I recall being awed by the immense and formidable structure of the...

My first recollection of anything “Brooklyn” was sitting in a front row seat of the bleachers in Ebbet’s Field with my dad and younger brother as we watched the Brooklyn Dodgers play one of the last ball games ever in that borough. I was about seven years old then. Even at that age I absorbed the angst of so many fans and how many a heart was broken when the Brooklyn Dodgers pulled up roots and moved to California.

After that I mostly recall Brooklyn as a place to drive through when traveling out to Long Island to visit my cousins who lived in “the country”. We lived in the projects of lower Manhattan at the time and took the Williamsburg Bridge toward a new community by the name of Levittown.

Later in life I was able to learn more about Brooklyn, how much it offers and the great diversity of its people.

When my wife and I were first dating we often visited two specific Brooklyn landmarks that are next to each other.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden

My first visit here was with through a school field trip. At the young age I didn’t appreciate what it offered but as I matured I learned of its wonders.

As young lovers my wife and I spent many a romantic day strolling the urban oasis of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. It’s a beautiful and fascinating 50 acre park like setting that features perennial and annual flower gardens with ever-blooming flora throughout the growing season. We have visited at many times of year throughout the decades getting to experience the bloom of roses, cherry blossoms, magnolias, Irises, and the most gorgeous flowering Peony plants I have ever seen.

We would walk through the grounds of the gardens taking in the Japanese Gardens, the lily pools, and also inhale the aromas of the herb and fragrance gardens. During the dog days of summer days we would take refuge from the hot sun under stately elms, oaks and walnut trees. I can tell you that the gardens offer so much more to appreciate as one walks along the streams, pools, fountains and ponds.

During the summer and winter it’s always a wonder to explore the Steinhardt Conservatory with its multiple greenhouses filled with varied plants that thrive in the tropics and deserts. I am drawn to the Bonsai collection with miniature trees well over a hundred years old while my wife enjoys the Orchids that seem to bloom all year.

Brooklyn Museum

My wife is an artist and in her late teens she was also studying to be an art educator. We would often, and still do, visit the Brooklyn Museum of Art that I read was noted as “the second largest museum in North America.” It fills its walls and halls with ancient and contemporary art with a never ending spectacular of new shows featuring unique art and classic artists. I always loved the gift shop in this museum.

The Beaux-Arts building has recently gone through a renovation featuring a new entry pavilion. The designer planned this well and this newly constructed entrance is well worth a look if you haven’t been there in very recent years.

Though it could be a long day of walking one can visit both the Brooklyn Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in one day. There is a common parking lot adjacent to both and for those staying in the city (that’s what we call Manhattan) a half hour ride on the NY subway system will get you to both. The museum and gardens do offer a discount if doing both.

Coney Island and the New York Aquarium in Brooklyn

Another subway ride that then goes to an elevated track takes one to Coney Island a mecca of fun on the sandy shores of a barrier beach on the Atlantic. Astroland Park and other smaller amusement areas feature the many rides for kids and adults including the landmark rides of the world famous “Cyclone” and the Wonder Wheel. From miles away I always look for the now closed Parachute jump that offered a 21 story 230′ drop to earth. It was first built for the 1939 World’s Fair and moved to Coney Island at its end.

My wife and I went to Coney Island again two summers back with my daughters and a friend. We had a blast in the amusement parks, walking the busy and event filled boardwalk, and spending a little time on the white sand beach. One of my favorite “attractions” is the original Nathan’s Hot Dog stand. Mmm, good!!

Perhaps I’ll join in the hot dog eating contest one year, though I may fare better as a contestant in the annual Mermaid Parade.

Just a short walk down the beach brings one to a world class New York Aquarium that tells us they have “exhibits featuring over 8,000 animals”. I’ve been there a couple of times. The last time was with my grand daughter, just the two of us. We had a great time watching the shows in the Aquatheater and seeing so many fine exhibits with all kinds of sea creatures from every corner of the world.

Waterfront Areas

Brooklyn also offers views and trips onto its surrounding waterways including the Atlantic Ocean, New York Harbor, and the East River. I often fished from boats out of Freeport, Captree and Montauk Point. One thing they always had in common was to belittle Brooklyn’s Sheepshead Bay fleet of charter boats. That said, I’ve learned through reading boating and fishing news papers that many fisherman do have good luck going out on those charters.

As I ride the Belt Parkway going toward New York or New Jersey I get views of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. It is awesome and at one time was the world’s longest suspension bridge. It does scare me at times when I think that I am older than that bridge. Recently in March I saw it from different perspective as our cruise ship drifted slowly under its majestic expanse.

Also visible in the distance from the Brooklyn shoreline is the Statue of Liberty that gives hope to so many. I try to imagine what it looked like to my grand parents as they entered New York Harbor from Italy at the turn of the century. They were processed through Ellis Island that can also be seen in the distance.

9/11 “Tribute in Light” Memorial

On a more somber note, Brooklyn is the perfect spot to view the 9/11 “Tribute in Light” memorial. From the Brooklyn shoreline, specifically from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade one gets the most glorious image of two bright beams of light radiating from nearby the World Trade Center Grounds and up into the heavens. I can’t explain how moving that memorial is. My wife and I hope to go there again this coming 9/11.

The Brooklyn Heights Promenade is a cozy area to walk around with its blocks of well manicured brown stone buildings and magnificent views of lower Manhattan, day or night. I strongly suggest catching that view!! Not far from there is the Brooklyn Bridge that offers its own birds eye view of Manhattan with a walking path that goes from Brooklyn to Manhattan.

Under the shadow of the bridge is one of New York’s finer restaurants the River Cafe. It doesn’t look like much but it’s noted for fine cuisine and a view that can’t be beat.

If in the area and wanting to keep the meal price down, and not have to fight for a hard-to-get reservation at sunset, you may want to go to what is known by some as the home of New York’s best Pizza, Patsy Grimaldi’s. It’s an Italian restaurant under the Brooklyn Bridge that was noted to deliver to “Old Blue Eye’s”, Frank Sinatra himself, his favorite pizza when he hit town at the Waldorf Astoria across the river in Manhattan. Whether Grimaldi’s has the best or not is disputable but it’s a FACT that Brooklyn’s Italian Pizza parlors make the best pizza in the world!! There are a few mostly Italian enclaves in Brooklyn, get there and try some. Have Italian Ices in Brooklyn too.

Ethnic and Religious Diversity

A place to visit and stroll the streets looking for these treats is Carroll Gardens that definitely shows its Italian flavour with the colourful neighborhood of flowers in the summer and Christmas lights in the winter.

Brooklyn is also home to many other ethnic groups who also practice a variety of religions. With a population of about 3 million Brooklyn is the most populated of the New York City Boroughs. Puerto Rican, Orthodox Jewish and Irish have long had a presence in Brooklyn. Some remain in strong enclaves while other neighborhoods are now being populated with Russians, Ukrainians, Chinese, Arabs, Dominicans, Mexicans, Caribbeans and more.

On a recent visit to Brooklyn we spent some time shopping on Flatbush Ave in a section that’s primarily Caribbean. My wife picked up some bargains for our gals and I took many photos of the gaily coloured stores with their vibrant signage. My wife and I love visiting the Caribbean islands so we particularly loved hearing the Caribbean music coming from the speakers in many of the stores. We have never yet made it, but truly want to attend, to the Caribbean Day Parade on Eastern Parkway every year. I have read nothing but fun news about that festival.

Prospect Park

On the same day we spent a little cash at the Caribbean shops we also made our way to Prospect Park. This parks architecture and grounds were designed by the same guys who planned Manhattan’s Central Park. This is another oasis in the city and many say it’s even better than it’s Manhattan sister.

Besides miles of walking, biking and horse trails it also offers many playgrounds for kids on its perimeter. Best though is the choice of also visiting the Prospect Park Zoo, the Carousel, the Boathouse, the historic houses, the stables, the open fields, the intimate trails with waterfalls, Walman Rink and so much more. We spent a day there and just touched on all it offers. It’s hard to believe such a place exists in the middle of Brooklyn’s heavily populated streets.

Still More To See

Though I did get to see a concert or two at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the seventies, a venue that was active nearly a century earlier and continues to be an important musical haven now, I never did get to tour the Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg or eat at any of its fine restaurants or visit a small museum or two while in that section. We did get to ride down 7th Ave at the suggestion of a local Brooklyn resident recently to make a choice of one of the many ethnic restaurants that flood those streets. I was amazed.

About a week ago I was traveling with my wife on the BQE, an expressway that runs along the East River on the Brooklyn side. We got to see a free standing waterfall designed by Olafur Eliasson, a Danish, Icelandic artist, as an eye catching art spectacular, with water cascading down from seemingly nowhere into the river. He designed four of them, I believe, including one that is supposed to be flowing right now from under the Brooklyn Bridge.

One image I would like to forget was when my truck was hi-jacked at gun-point with me and my helper in it. We were both handcuffed and laying down in the back of the truck together. Perhaps I was watching to much NYPD Blues TV shows at the time but as we were being driven toward the Brooklyn docks, near the old Brooklyn Navy Yards face down, I had images of the two of us being dumped into the river with a single shot in each of our heads. I still do think about that episode but thankfully the day ended with a semi-happy ending.

I should not, however, forget the images I have of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, a century old landmark, that is still a favorite venue for many music artists of many genre.

Another hope of mine is to one day see the spectacular fireworks display emerging from barges on the East River every Fourth of July. Brooklyn has some of the best viewing points from which to enjoy it.

Last Thoughts

I have learned much about Brooklyn through experience after that first encounter with my dad at Ebbet’s Field watching the old Brooklyn Dodgers play. There is also so much more for me to experience.

Though the Brooklyn Dodgers are now gone I suppose it’s time for me to follow the newest Brooklyn baseball team that now has it’s own park in Coney Island, Brooklyn. It’s the minor league baseball team the “Cyclones”. Perhaps I’ll take my grand children there and they can start to build their own images and memories of Brooklyn, The Other New York City.

Prospect Park So much to see and experience!

Prospect Park Zoo

Brooklyn Botanic Garden WOW!!

Brooklyn Museum of Art, A Huge Hidden Treasure

Coney Island

New York Aquarium at Coney Island

Astroland Amusement Park, Home of the World Famous “Cyclone”

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park; Indeed a Coney Island WONDER

An interesting stay to say the least Best Western City View Inn I checked into this Best Western hotel a little over a month ago on a trip ...

The Best Week of My Life! The Westin New York at Times Square! The Westin New York at Times Square A recent change in my employment allowed me to take Mrs. Duckling on a busi...

Nice place to visit, wouldn’t want to live there. ST JAMES NEW YORK If you are looking for a good central location near Time Square and the The...

The Frick Museum A Treasure on the Upper East Side New York City Museums Our visit to the Frick Museum during our recent long weekend in New ...

Beneath the Facade of Richness Lies Layers of Neglect and Decay Rhode Island Rhode Island, officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Pla...

Jersey City New Jersey Jersey City doesn't tend to get much attention from tourists, but GEN...

Grand Time. Average Hotel. Mgm Grand Hotel

Decent airline with Rubbish Food Continental Airlines

Tags: , Brooklyn, Destinations, Hotels & Travel, NY