Brooklyn has become the representation of urban creativity, whether in poetry, innovative start-ups, restaurants, or fashion. With the easy-access to waterfront, trendy markets, historic museums and parks, the borough has increased in popularity and became one of the must-visit boroughs in New York City.

The View of NYC skyline from Jane’s Carousel. Photo Credit: Samantha Lim

Friday

1) 3:30 P.M. Relax and have a cup of Joe

For coffee enthusiasts, this is the spot to hit. The Brooklyn Roasting Company offers coffee from the world’s most renowned growing regions. They support organic, fair trade, kosher and Rainforest Alliance-certified beans from Ethiopia, Indonesia, Peru, and more and roast them in their facility. It isn’t just any ordinary coffee spots you see elsewhere, the ambiance will bring you back to the 80s with an industrial feel. Have a cup of Latte ($3.50) and enjoy the atmosphere.

2) 5 P.M. Ride Away

Ride Away with the kids and yourself on a beautiful, antique carousel that was built in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Jane’s Carousel is housed in a stunning glass pavilion designed by Pritzker-prize winning architect Jean Nouvel. While riding, you can get the spectacular view of the Manhattan Skyline along the East River. Tickets are $2 for adult; free for children under age 3 or less than 42 inches tall. Its summer hours are from 11 A.M. to 7 P.M.

3) 7 P.M. The River Café

Not far from Jane’s Carousel, you may recognize this restaurant from the movies that have been shot here. It is unique because it is located under the Brooklyn Bridge overlooking the breathtaking view of NYC Skyline and the Statue of Liberty. River Café has became very well known around the world as a culinary destination. Chefs use the finest and freshest ingredients available and utilize them as the foundation for the unforgettable dining experience. However, due to its popularity and its location, the restaurant is always full. It is best to make a reservation few weeks prior. River Café offers prix-fixed menu ranging from $125 to $155. If you are a chocolate lover, their classic dessert, Chocolate Brooklyn Bridge is a must-try. The chef shapes the chocolate into a bridge, serves with raspberry sorbet, vanilla ice cream, and topped with dark chocolate glaze.

The Brooklyn Bridge Dessert @ River Café. Photo Credit: Samantha Lim

4) 11 P.M. Skinny Dennis

End the night at Skinny Dennis listening to authentic Nashville honky-tonk experience. Its popular for the frozen coffee, Willie’s frozen coffee: a mix of bourbon, coffee liqueur, and brandy made creamy with milk, sugar, and vanilla served in an paper coffee cup ($7). Listen to the live band and dance the night away.

Saturday

5) 11 A.M. Taking A Stroll

Rent a Citi bike for $12 One-Day pass but you have to return the bike to any station after 30 minutes and continue that step until your pass expires. It’s a little confusing at first, but you’ll get the hang of it after a few tries. Starting from Fulton St. & Williams St. station, ride across the Brooklyn Bridge and see the breathtaking view of the Manhattan Skyline and the Statue of Liberty. You can stroll through parks and watch the locals playing sports or jogging, or playing with their pets.

6) 1 P.M. Open Air Food Market

After about 30 minutes of the bike ride, take a pit stop at Smorgasburg, an outdoor food market that attracts more than 20,000 foodies every Saturday. It features 100 vendors ranging from handmade food and drinks to kitchen and pantry items. Start off with a sloppy dog ($8) at the Meat Hook, a hot dog smothered with brisket and slaw, accompanying it with a yuzu, lime leaf, and honey lemonade ($2) from 4πr2 or Spaghetti donuts from Pop Pasta, you can choose flavors from red sauce, aglio e olio and carbonara. The must-try item is the Ramen Burger ($10); the savory flavor from the ramen buns and the seasons of the patty is well balanced. End the meal with an Ube (purple sweet potato) Ice cream from Ube Kitchen. It is a Filipino dessert containing homemade Ube ice cream and topped with some fresh fruits and toasted coconuts flakes. Be aware this place is cash only, however, there is ATM on site.

Ramen Burger @ Smorgasburg Photo Credit: Samantha Lim

7) 4 P.M. Using Your Five Senses

If you want to learn about the history of Chinese-American food and how it all began, the Museum of Food and Drinks (MOFAD) Lab is the place to visit. The concept of this museum began in 2004; it wasn’t until 2015 when it officially settled in Williamsburg, Brooklyn by the first major sponsor, Infiniti. Now, the museum debuts the exhibition, Flavor: Making It and Faking It, which features never-before-seen tasting and smelling technology. Moreover, the CHOW: Making the Chinese American Restaurants exhibition offers cooking demonstration and tastings. Each week is different so go on the website to see what they are offering. Before you leave the museum, take a little fortune with you with the freshly made fortune cookies; it might just make your day a tad more better. Tickets vary depending on age, $14 (18 years of age or over), $10 (Student, Senior, Low Income), $7 (6-17 years of age), and children under 5 are free.

8) 6 P.M. Vintage shopping

Owner of Antoinette and Alumni from Fashion Institute of Technology, Lexi Oliveri, offers wide collections of vintage pieces from her family members including knit tips that belonged to her grandmother and dresses from her mother’s collections. Lexi is very nice and lovely; she makes you feels like you’re shopping with a long-time friend. If you want a shopping experience that is personal and individualized, Antoinette is place to go. Each piece are carefully selected by Lexi and priced reasonably.

9) 8 P.M. Farms to Table Dinner

After some shopping, make your way to Marlow & Sons for the daily rotating menus so you will be kept interested. In the back room, a chef shucks the catch (oysters) of the day, while bartender churns out potent drinks. Ordering the Brick Chicken ($20) is a must, a moist chicken leg that gets their crisp skin from being cooked under a brick. Paired with seasonal sides like corn, kale salads, or caramelized onions. It can get a little busy during the peak hours, but the food is worth the wait.

Sunday

10) 11 A.M. Brunch Time

A Hipster place like Brooklyn, Sunday brunch is a must-have. At Buttermilk Channel, you will satisfy your brunch craving. Stay away from the typical egg benedicts; order the fried pork chop with cheddar waffles ($17). The crispiness of the fried skin, yet it didn’t take away the moisture of the meat. Eat it with the syrup and you won’t regret it. The waffle was fluffy and paired well with the syrup. What is a brunch without Mimosa? The fresh orange juice with the perfect amount of champagne is the perfect way to end your meal.

11) 3 P.M. Chocolate Paradise

Mast Brothers Chocolate is the place if you want to learn how chocolate bars are made from cocoa beans. Rick and Michael Mast opened this shop in 2007 introducing chocolate to the world with detailed craftsmanship, revolutionary innovation, and simplicity. You can visit the shop and book a tour ($10) for an inside look. The tour will guide you through a step-by-step, bean-to-bar production. Everything from sourcing, processing, to packaging the chocolates will have you keep fascinated. During the tour, you have a chance for tastings. You can also buy some chocolates for take home.

12) 6 P.M. Coney Island

End your trip with the famous boardwalk in New York City. Since the early 1880s, Coney Island is one of the first resort cities. The historic amusement parks, such as Luna Parks, Dreamland, and Steeplechase Park have made Coney Island the “playground for the world.” It is home to the first roller coaster ride, the Cyclone. It is also one of the last standing wooden roller coasters in America. It is also home to the New York Aquarium. Take your family for a walk on the boardwalk, have the world famous Nathan’s Hot Dogs, and have fun on the rides that are offered. New York Aquarium is still under construction since Hurricane Sandy if you were planning to visit. If time is in your favor, catch a Brooklyn Cyclones baseball game. It is a different experience when the stadium is by the beach. The smell of ocean air saturates the stadium, and fans can see the roller coaster and hear screams because of the terrifying drop.

Lodging

Located near DUMBO, the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge is the perfect hotel to stay at. It is easy access to the areas mentioned above with the nearby train station. Brooklyn Bridge is just about ten minutes walk away. If you feel like relaxing after a long day, the hotel offers spa treatments as well as an indoor swimming pool to cool off all those walking. A standard king room that comes with king size bed, mini refrigerator, and 32 inch LCD TV screen would be around $278 per night.

Reference

Brooklyn Roasting Company. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.brooklynroasting.com/

Buttermilk Channel. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.buttermilkchannelnyc.com/menu/

Mast Brothers Chocolate. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from https://mastbrothers.com/pages/learn

Museum of Food and Drinks. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.mofad.org/

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2017, from http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/nycbk-new-york-marriott-at-the-brooklyn-bridge/