Brooklyn’s ethnically diverse and gentrified neighborhood, Williamsburg © NYC & Company
Park is Prospect Park (prospectpark.org), and its 585-acres demand a visit as much as its more famous sister across the East River. Here you’ll find Brooklyn’s only forest, the nation’s first Audubon Center, the Prospect Park Zoo and seemingly unlimited space for quiet exploration. The Brooklyn Museum (brooklynmuseum.org) is the city’s second-largest art museum is one of the oldest and largest art muse- ums in the country. The Museum is part of a complex of 19th-century parks and gardens that includes Prospect Park. Permanent collections range from ancient Egyptian masterpieces to contemporary art, with exhibitions covering global cultural influences. For details on other Brooklyn attractions like Coney Island and Brooklyn Heights Promenade, visit the Brooklyn Tourism and Visitors Center online at visit- brooklyn.org. For more information on everything Williamsburg, check out freewilliamsburg.com. Next Magazine is New York’s comprehensive weekly gay guide, with listings online at nextmagazine.com.
Where to eat and drink:
Ginger’s Bar (gingersbarbklyn.com) in Park Slope is
a neighborhood institution with friendly crowds and bartenders and even friendlier drink prices. Karaoke, a pool table, a large outdoor smoking-friendly gar- den area and a popular jukebox make this a favorite hangout of all persuasions, though especially popu- lar with gay women. Also in Park Slope is Excelsior (excelsiorbrooklyn.com), an upscale neighborhood gay bar, most popular with the men. Also with a fun jukebox, outdoor smoking patio and daily happy hour. Metropolitan (myspace.com/metropolitan11211)
was the first gay bar in the Williamsburg neigh- borhood, and is now one of the most popular gay hangouts in all NYC. The non-pretentious atmosphere with an urban vibe mirrors that of the diverse neighborhood and reminds me of the “good old days”when Manhattan gay nightlife had a less-polished edge. You’ll find daily drink specials, a Sunday free barbeque, some pool playing, dancing and late-night alcohol-induced mischief. For an even rowdier time, save your energy for the first Thursday of every month, when K & M Bar (225 N. Eighth St. Tel: 718-388-3088) hosts Xanadude. This Williamsburg
© NYC & Company
APRIL 2010 | RAGE monthly 57
bar goes gay-for-pay once a month, as 1980s kitsch tunes and the smell of young sweat fills the air. I love the fact that DJs Sean B and Deputy Jeff spin their unique version of “disco Italo” inspired by the musi- cal styling of Olivia Newton-John. Only in New York. Finally in Brooklyn. Either for brunch, lunch or dinner, a visit to Brook-
lyn must include a meal at The River Café (rivercafe. com), one of New York’s most iconic restaurants, if only for the view. A tad pricy, with continental clas- sics, a romantic meal on the outdoor deck (in season) with the sparkling Manhattan skyline is something you’ll always remember, even if the rest of your trip is a blur. Another Brooklyn landmark restaurant is more about the food than the view, or the ambience, or the location. Spumoni Gardens (spumonigardens. com) has been serving classic Italian dishes and pie for over 70 years. To make it that long in Brooklyn, you’ve gotta be doing something right; imagine the competition! Open for lunch and dinner daily, don’t leave without finishing your meal with a Spumoni, but that’s a given. There are a couple newer restaurants on the scene
in Brooklyn that typify the area’s gentrification. Diner Restaurant (dinernyc.com) is located on the South Side of Williamsburg Brooklyn, one block away from the Williamsburg Bridge, offering global comfort food and fresh ingredients, in a retro-cool diner en- vironment. Bubby’s (bubbys.com) DUMBO location has both the good eats and the great views. Tucked between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges you’ll find southern inspired home cooking with impres- sive city views for Sunday Brunch, lunch and dinner (closed Mondays). Homemade pies, malted shakes, homemade Soda Pop and Pulled Pork may not sound like New York City Haute Cuisine, but you’re in Brooklyn now. And in Brooklyn, all food is possible. Don’t forget your camera when visiting the
DUMBO area. This neighborhood is where I first lived in NYC some 17 years ago, and it’s a small slice of former industrial wasteland framed by the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Now an artists’ enclave of large lofts and small parks with boutique lunch trucks serving up everything from gyros to schnitzel, you’ll find the whole area to be a photographer’s wonderland.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96