Bay Ridge
Brooklyn Heights/Boerum Hill/Carroll Gardens/Cobble Hill
Dumbo/Vinegar Hill
Fort Greene
Gowanus
Park Slope/Prospect Heights/South Slope/Greenwood Heights
Red Hook
Sunset Park
Williamsburg/Greenpoint

Bay Ridge is a residential area that celebrated its 150th birthday in 2003. Originally called "Yellow Hook" because of the yellow clay in the soil, the name was quickly changed in 1853 after New York suffered a Yellow Fever epidemic. Bay Ridge is from the outstanding views from a ridge overlooking the New York Harbor. Bay Ridge is home to many delicious restaurants, including Aero (718/238-0079) and New Corner (718/833-0800). Here you can explore Fort Hamilton, New York City's only active Army post, located beneath the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, the second longest single span suspension bridge in the world.

Bay Ridge Map
Bay Ridge Community News

Brooklyn Heights is New York's first historic district. Stroll along the Promenade for breathtaking views. Brooklyn Heights offers dozens of excellent restaurants, historic churches, shops and the Brooklyn Historical Society, (718/624-0890), an excellent resource for anyone interest in ANYTHING about Brooklyn's history. Read more.

Brooklyn Heights Map

Boerum Hill is a small segment of the New York City borough of Brooklyn roughly bounded by State Street to the north, 3rd Avenue to the east, Court Street to the west, and Warren Street to the south. This neighborhood was featured in Jonathan Lethem's book The Fortress of Solitude, set primarily on one block in Boerum Hill (Dean Street between Nevins Street and Bond Street), in which he purports that the neighborhood was named in the wake of gentrification. In the 1950s, all the neighborhoods south of Atlantic Avenue and west of Hoyt Street were called South Brooklyn, which derived its name from being south of the original town of Brooklyn (now Brooklyn Heights) which was settled by the Dutch.

Boerum Hill Map and Info

Carroll Gardens was named after Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. Smith Street is the draw here with some of New York's hottest restaurants. Check out Patois (718/855-1535), Mancora, Bar Tabac (718/923-0918) and Cafe' LULUc , a bistro with European charm and food that rivals any Manhattan bistro.

Carroll Gardens Map

Cobble Hill in addition to being home to many landmarked buildings, has a strong Middle Eastern presence particularly along Atlantic Avenue. In outstanding markets like Sahadi's (718/624-4550) you can buy fresh hummus, a variety of olives and excellent cheeses. The historic district includes the Kane Street Synagogue (718/975-1550), Brooklyn's oldest synagogue and Verandah Place where author Tom Wolfe once lived.

Cobble Hill Map

DUMBO stands for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It's a goofy name but awesome artist-owned loft spaces that spawned a number of top galleries. In the fall the d.u.m.b.o. arts center (718/624-3772) sponsors a festival promoting the work of the neighborhood's local talent. For D.U.M.B.O. restaurants check out Pete's Downtown (718/858-3510) for Italian fare and a great view.

DUMBO Map

Fort Greene is named for Revolutionary War Gen. Nathaniel Greene and is one of Brooklyn's most diverse neighborhoods. It is where you'll find the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) (718/636-4100) and the Pratt Institute (718/636-3600). Great restaurants abound including Keur N'Deye,with delicious Senegalese fare. (718/875-4937) Past residents include Spike Lee, author Richard Wright and Walt Whitman.

Fort Greene Map

Gowanus:
Gowanus Canal Community Development Corporation

If Brighton Beach is "Little Odessa", Greenpoint is Brooklyn's "Little Poland." The main drag is Manhattan Avenue along which you'll find traditional Polish bakeries like Piekarnia Rzeszowska Bakery, (718/349-7501), known for its cheese danish.

Greenpoint Map
Greenpointusa.Com

Park Slope is one of Brooklyn's most beautiful neighborhoods, boasting blocks of well-preserved brownstones and the gorgeous Prospect Park. In the summer, the Prospect Park Bandshell is the stage for the Celebrate Brooklyn! Performing Arts Festival featuring outstanding live music and dance. Dozens of restaurants like Aunt Suzie's (718/788-AUNT) and Bogota Latin Bistro (718/230-8976) are also reasons to visit.

Park Slope Map

Adjacent to Park Slope is Prospect Heights where you'll find cultural hotspots like the Brooklyn Museum (718/638-5000), second in size only to the Metropolitan Museum. Also check out Brooklyn's "living museum," the 52-acre Brooklyn Botanic Garden, (718/622-4433), home to the annual Cherry Blossom Festival and the stunning Cranford Rose Garden.

Red Hook is across the BQE (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) from Carroll Gardens and is considered "the wrong side of the tracks" or in this case, the expressway. For the intrepid willing to go there (it's difficult to get to via public transportation) Red Hook is a treasure in the rough. In Red Hook, Columbia Street is the place to be with restaurants rivalling Carroll Gardens' Smith Street. Places like the Mexican restaurant, Alma (718/643-5400) and Thai restaurant, Teeda have received rave reviews. Shopping is also a boon here with stores like Union Max, a find for vintage bead and button collectors, the clothing and accessory store, Pixie's (718/596-1511) and the cozy used bookstore/cafe, Freebird, Red Hook offers rewards for those willing to venture out.

Red Hook Map

Sunset Park in south Brooklyn is where the historic Green-Wood Cemetery is located. It's an architectural haven from its Victorian Gothic entrance gate to the ornate mausoleums. Famous "residents" include Boss Tweed, Basquiat and Leonard Bernstein. If you prefer to let the dead, even the famous dead, lie undisturbed, there are a host of delicious bakeries in Sunset Park to keep you busy and many Chinese restaurants including delicious dim sum at Ocean Palace Seafood, (718/871-8080)

Williamsburg is Brooklyn's artist enclave, especially along busy Bedford Avenue. Originally, a mainly Hasidic neighborhood, the new element of East Village types is a contrast to the traditional orthodox Jewish community. There are also strong Latino and Italian presences here making for a true melting pot. One of New York's best known steak houses, Peter Luger Steakhouse, perhaps the best steak in the country is located here as is the Brooklyn Brewery, (718/486-7422),where you can take a free tour on Saturdays and sample fresh brews. Williamsburg takes the crown as having Brooklyn's coolest bars and lounges with hipster hangouts like Boogaloo. Shopping bargains are easily found in Williamsburg with chic shops like Catbird.

Williamsburg Map
Billburg.com