DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights and Williamsburg, Brooklyn
By Zach Kussin
Not a Brooklyn native, but certainly a Brooklyn admirer, Zach Kussin has enjoyed his time exploring the DUMBO, Brooklyn Heights, and Williamsburg neighborhoods. Having spent time living, learning and working in Manhattan, he was glad to discover the nice change of pace these three areas offer. They are home to some of New York's finest restaurants, art galleries and neighborhood flair. Without the hectic crush of Manhattan in the background, visitors can easily spend their Brooklyn visits at peace.
Stroll through Brooklyn Bridge Park, an urban oasis that offers a pleasant escape from the traffic as well as a variety of outdoor events, including Thursday-night films on a giant silver screen. This summer, visitors can also enjoy The New York City Waterfalls, a series of art installations created by the internationally acclaimed artist Olafur Eliasson. The 90 to 120-foot tall waterfalls located at the Brooklyn anchorage of the Brooklyn Bridge, at the Brooklyn piers, at the shore of Governor's Island and at Pier 35 in Manhattan's Lower East Side will all be easily visible from Brooklyn Bridge Park's vantage point beginning on June 26.
Visit the Henry Gregg Gallery located in DUMBO, home to a blooming art scene, for a sampling of visionary works by some of today's internationally acclaimed artists and photographers, such as Mark Blanchette, Juan Sanchez-Juarez and Sara Conca whose works have previously been on exhibition. Local photographers have the opportunity to show their works in "Brooklyn: Back in the Day," the current exhibit that portrays the change and growth of Brooklyn and its neighborhoods from the '70s up through the '90s(henrygregggallery.com).
Unwind at The Wine Bar, located where DUMBO meets Brooklyn Heights. Here, wine enthusiasts can choose from a wide selection of the world's best red, rosé, white, sparkling and dessert wines by the glass or bottle. Fortunately, The Wine Bar caters to a wide variety of tastes. Cocktail lovers find their niche here with summery drinks like mint juleps and pomegranate twists available on the cocktails menu. Customers need not drink on empty stomachs with such food items as the charchuterie plate, oysters on a half shell and deep fried cheesecake on the appetizers and desserts menu (50 Henry Street).
For a younger scene, stop by Williamsburg's Anytime. Known for having the best happy hour specials in Brooklyn, bar patrons can buy cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer for $1, bottles of Corona for $4, and assorted finger food platters for under $10. The best part is Anytime's happy hour continues until 5:00 a.m., offering partygoers the chance to drink cheaply before stopping by other bars and clubs, and also the chance to get inexpensive late-night snacks before they head home to sleep (93 N. 6th Street).
Shop at Zoë, a hip boutique sandwiched between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, where you will find a wide array of upscale designer items-everything from Tom Ford sunglasses to Diane Von Furstenberg evening dresses. Serving fashion-conscious teens and adults, Zoë offers all you need to blend into Brooklyn's most trendy neighborhoods (shopzoeonline.com).
Looking for less expensive fashions? Try Williamsburg's Beacon's Closet, one of Brooklyn's leading outlets for vintage shopping. Stone-washed jeans, weathered leather jackets, fanny packs and torn Misfits t-shirts all come at a reasonable price to the shopper interested in looking like a true Williamsburg hipster for less than $25 (www.beaconscloset.com).
Enjoy a day or nighttime walk along the Brooklyn Heights promenade. A favorite among locals, this riverside walkway gives spectacular views of the mighty Statue of Liberty, Manhattan's southern tip and also passes by many of Brooklyn Heights' charming brownstones, rowhouses and mansions. End your stroll and satisfy your sweet tooth with a cone of rich, all natural ice cream from the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, located in an old fireboat house on top of the rebuilt Fulton Ferry pier. Any one of the refreshingly cool flavors offered is sure to keep you well protected against the summer heat (1 Water Street).
Striving for perfection in preparing and serving the finest foods since 1977, The River Café seeks to attract customers with the finest palates. Here, customers can dine on lemon pepper hollandaise-glazed oysters, tender fallow loin venison and goat-cheese cheesecake. Located in one of Brooklyn's most beautiful settings-atop a floating barge just off the Brooklyn waterfront-this restaurant offers panoramic views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan's skyscraping financial district. (www.rivercafe.com)
