Find the Best Things to Do in Brooklyn
By Maria Lisella
New York Local Expert
About Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the gateway to dozens of 'hoods: from DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass) to trendy Williamsburg and Red Hook to Bensonhurst and Brighton Beach to elegant Brooklyn Heights to Carroll Gardens, and Sunset Park. TRAINS 2 3 4 5 A C B D F J, M N R Q L
See & Do
Inject child-like thrills with a trip to Coney Island’s Luna Park now sporting new roller coasters while the Wonder Wheel affords fabulous views of the city and the beach. The New York Aquarium's new r Ocean Wonders: Sharks! Take an architectural walking tour of Bed-Stuy or Fort Greene, and don't miss cultural richness of Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Brooklyn Museum, the Botanic Gardens and Prospect Park and a stroll on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
Eat
Brooklyn is a Gastronomic Giant: From old-school pizza to cutting edge regional American cuisine and Middle Eastern. The one and only Museum of Food and Drink will open in October. At the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge is the pioneering River Café that debuted in the 1970s when the site was an abandoned dock but now has incomparable views of Manhattan and New York Harbor. Tour with Urban Oyster or Brooklyn Pizza Tours for more.
Party
Rock greats fill the rosters at Barclays Center; big-name talent and new talents keep the laughter flowing at comedy clubs like the upstart Littlefields or Canal Bar in Gowanus. DJ nights and horror-movie screenings at Alaska, while Spike Hill on Bedford Ave is a haven for indie-rock. Owned by Hurt Locker actor Anthony Mackie, NoBar BKNY has entertainment and a Cajun-inspired menu. The Palm Beach-inspired Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club features live music and 10 shuffleboard courts.
Stay
Brooklyn wil be hosting the 2016 Democratic Convention so it’s no wonder hotels are popping up daily: from chains like Sheraton, Marriott (a pioneer that arrived in 1998), Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Hotel Indigo, Fairfield Inn, Sunset Suites and Cambria Suites to boutique properties like Aloft, W, the music-infused Hotel BPM in Sunset Park and Hotel Le Joie,. Joining the the Hotels Wythe in Williamsburg is industrial-faced The Williamsburg, and a Pod Hotel under construction.
Shop
To take a piece of Brooklyn home with you, look for the "Brooklyn-Made" (http://brooklynmade.nyc/) trademark that is emblazoned over any merchandise created here. The brainchild of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the brand covers ood and beverage; apparel and accessories; furniture and homegoods; and technology and hardware.. Consider booking a Made in Brooklyn (http://www.madeinbrooklyntours.com/) tour to sample food, or take a walk on the banks of the Gowanus, or visit picturesque waterfront nabe, DUMBO.