Summer in the City is in full swing and I am absolutely loving my new apartment and my new neighborhood. Although not far from where I was, it’s a different vibe around here and I’m feeling the flow. People are always asking me what to do when they come to Brooklyn so I’m going to break it down for the summer, since it’s definitely a lot less crowded than fall or winter and although it gets hot and humid, it’s worth enjoying some of the trendy spots around here with a lot less crowds. Just dress appropriately, wear comfortable shoes (no heels ladies – sneakers are best or a solid pair of flats) and bring some water to get you going because it’s so much better to walk than drive around here. Continue reading for the best places to eat and drink your way through the place I am so grateful to call home.
One of my favorite things to do on a bright sunny day is to walk the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, but you must also go back at dusk, right before the sun starts to set, to see the most beautiful sky reflecting on the Manhattan skyline. In my opinion, this is the best view of Manhattan you can get. From one vantage point, you can pretty much see all of NYC, from Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty on your left, Freedom Tower and South Street Seaport, the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, to the Empire State Building peeking through from Midtown. It’s truly spectacular if you love a good city skyline. I’m definitely biased, but I believe it’s the best in the world. Dubai might have taller buildings but NYC has a magic that no other city can capture quite like she does. And you definitely have to see it and feel it to believe it.
I recommend walking the entire Promenade and then taking the footbridge down and around through Brooklyn Bridge Park. So many different pathways you can take, I still haven’t explored them all. Look for the stray cats, I finally spotted one on a mound you can see from the Promenade, but it was epic. These feral cats are currently being rescued so don’t feed them. But there’s all sorts of elements to the Park – there’s a public pop-up pool (not my jam but there if you need it, I prefer the parks that have sprinklers running this time of year to run through when you need to cool down), lots of shaded areas to lay out on, read a book, do some yoga, whatever you want. There’s soccer fields and a roller skating rink, and if you continue walking down you can hop on a ferry that brings you over to Manhattan. Probably the quickest way there and a lovely ride I’m sure. It’s definitely on my list of things to do in Brooklyn this summer, hopefully with the fam next weekend. Even though I live here now, I have always looked at this city as my playground and it’s been my mission to go on epic adventures here as much as I can.
I keep a running list of all the things I want to see, and Jane’s Carousel has been at the top of the list for awhile. The first time I went was during the winter with my man. It got dark early but I got to see the lights in all their glory. It was the first time I had seen it up close and personal and it was everything I hoped it would be. This is an absolute must ride at $2 a pop. I have seen much longer lines in the colder months but me and my niece were able to get right on the day after the 4th of July. Jane’s Carousel is an historic, hand carved wooden carousel originally built in 1922 – this is no run of the mill carnival ride, these horses are beautiful. It was brought to Brooklyn in the 80’s shortly after I was born and is one of the iconic sights to be seen when you come visit. You need to see it from afar and then walk right up to it. Take note of all of the horses going around before you get on because they are truly magnificent and it’s fun to pick the horse you want to ride that way. There are some that don’t move and have a big carriage attached for a larger group to sit in, but the real deal are the ones that go up and down on the inside of the carousel – look for the black latches at the top, those are the only ones that move. It’s likely only a 2 or 3 min ride but seeing the skyline and the bridges as you whirl around on a majestic wooden horse truly makes you feel like a kid again. And I got to enjoy my first ride with my 10-year old niece, Emily, making it extra special just to see the smile on her face 🙂 Check my Instagram for more of the fun that we had on her very first trip to Brooklyn. For all of my fellow aunties out there, this was definitely a highlight for me and something I had dreamed about doing with my niece for awhile. If you believe, you can achieve. Anything you want.
We hit Cecconi’s for dinner but I honestly prefer it for happy hour instead. I was a bit disappointed by the pizza because it smells SO GOOD inside but I think they may have overdone it on accident and I’m definitely willing to give it another shot because the pasta was divine. Homemade tagliatelle with just the right amount of bolognese. My niece has a pretty advanced palate since my sister cooks like a true Italian and is showing her the way. She loves to cook and bake and I see big things in her future, so I love to eat with her. She didn’t even touch the pizza and although we had eaten a lot that day, I was bummed I didn’t get her a good slice of Brooklyn pizza, but that’s why she’s coming back to visit next weekend and we are getting a real deal slice from a counter with my dad and sister and youngest niece, and it’s going to be awesome.
The first time I went to Cecconi was with my boyfriend and friends the weekend before and it was a perfect pre-dinner drink spot. The decor in there is beautiful. Elegant and chic. Classy and modern with an old school vibe. I pictured the Mad Men crew in there after a long day at the office. Drinks are pricey but I hope you are planning for that coming to NYC, but they have some good options. I attempted to order the fancy Rose’ but got the regular one instead. The fancy one has bubbles and comes with a straw and looks delicious, especially on a hot summer day. The bar scene is definitely where it’s at and if you do dine there, I recommend an inside table during the summer. Outside seems great at the time but on a hot day it’s best to be on the inside closest to the outdoor area, so you get the view but you can also feel the AC. You can make reservations on Open Table and if you have kids, I recommend going early. Get there before 6 and you won’t be waiting an hour to be seated. Sometimes small parties of 2 or 4 may get offered a table at the bar, so keep your eyes and ears peeled for wandering hostesses.
We hit Sugarcane after for a kick ass meal, which is right across the way. Small plates but beware of the waitresses – they sure know how to strong arm you into ordering a bunch of stuff, but it all worked out. So many delicious flavors – from the goat cheese ball apps to the dates wrapped in bacon, the sushi rolls are all excellent, even the Wagyu beef one which I was highly skeptical of since beef and raw fish usually isn’t my thing but it was shrimp tempura so it worked. My favorite dish may have been the Duck & Waffles though. That’s right – DUCK & Waffles. I don’t even like duck but I absolutely loved this dish. The duck was crispy like a traditional Chicken & Waffles would’ve been, and the waffles were amazing. But the best bite is all the tastes together – the syrup was definitely something special. We actually ended with this dish which was kind of perfect bc it was sweet. For a party of 6, the bill wasn’t terrible knowing what I have spent just on drinks alone at other NYC establishments. And the drinks were a’flowin. But make sure your entire party is there when you arrive for your reservation. They won’t seat you without them and it’s an unspoken rule, which I do believe in now as I have seen one too many NYC tables wasted with empty chairs and long lines of hungry patrons when they can easily be reconfigured. This is a place you want to enjoy, so come prepared with your friends looking to eat, drink and be merry. It’s the only way to be anyway.
There are a bunch of newer restaurants and stores along this area now, referred to as DUMBO – Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It’s kinda cool yet kinda gritty to be able to walk directly under this bridge and take a magnificent picture of it with the Empire State Building playing peek-a-boo in the background. From what I’ve been told, DUMBO, which is now one of the most happening places in Brooklyn, wasn’t always this cool. It’s central location and ease of access to NYC makes it very attractive but definitely seems like a busy place to live, and the train that goes by there is awfully loud when it comes through. But it made for a perfect day for me and my niece who had never seen Brooklyn or the view of Manhattan from here before.
It also made for a wonderful evening with friends, two of which are getting ready to make a move to the West Coast. We capped off the evening at the 1 Hotel Rooftop Bar. This place has been on my list for awhile and I was so pleasantly surprised when we were able to walk right up to the elevator and get right in. The view was great despite the huge eyesore of a building they are putting up in Chinatown, that now sits in the background of both the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridge from certain angles, including on top of this rooftop bar. The place was a bit pretentious for Brooklyn, likely because of the proximity to Manhattan and the view, as we were quickly told we had to vacate the premises for a ‘private party’ after patiently waiting for our first drink. But we didn’t wait to get in so you take what you can get. Likely a younger crowd here on non-summer weekends, but worth the trip if you are staying close to the hotel.
So much more to come as the Adventures of April continue…
XoX,
Avril