Come and link to the history of Brooklyn through its delight of food, activities, and known historical places on wars.
Photo credit: Maricel Rodriguez
You cannot visit Brooklyn without knowing its history. There is plenty of history behind the cemetery and piers as well as in food. Long ago what it used to be some of the commercial piers are now operating as public parks or have become part of the industry city. Brooklyn is known for its beautiful architecture now seen in Brooklyn’s Terminals, restaurants to graves.
Friday
1) 3 P.M. COME AND TRY
As soon as arriving, come and eat the world’s most extraordinary handmade cheesecakes with premium ingredients at Junior’s Restaurant in Brooklyn. In 1929, Harry Rosen opens a restaurant named Enduro and expands to a full service restaurant with a night-club entertainment, but after World War II, the city wasn’t interesting in visiting restaurants or nightclubs and as a result of that Enduro had to close its doors in 1949, but in 1950, Harry opens Junior’s Restaurant with a family-style touch. Since then, famous mayors, presidents, hall of fame athletes, authors, singers and movie stars have come to this restaurant for their great food, service, fun and their greatest cheesecakes. (Cheesecake prices range from $25-$68)
2) 4 P.M. FROM THE PAST
Take the Brooklyn Tolley tour to start your visit at the graves in Green-Wood Cemetery which was founded in 1838 and is now listed as a National Historic Landmark. The tour includes who built, who worked and who served at the Army Terminal (our next stop). Green-Wood cemetery helped inspire the creation of Central and Prospect Parks due to its finest art and architecture. About 560,000 people rest in this cemetery, including Civil War generals, politicians, artists, inventors, entertainers, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Leonard Bernstein, Horace Greeley, Charles Ebbets, Boss Tweed, Louis Comfort Tiffany. This cemetery is a Revolutionary War historic site where the battle of Long Island took place. (Tour cost for nonmembers $30 and $25 for members).
3) 7 P.M. ARMY BASE
Visit the Brooklyn Army Terminal to discover its importance in transportation through World War II until 1960. In 1918, The Brooklyn Army Terminal served as the major military depot and supply base in the United States through World War II. During World War II, the Brooklyn Army Terminal was greatly trafficked since it was the headquarters and nerve center of the New York Port of embarkation. About 20,000 military and civilian personnel were employed. Today, Brooklyn Army Terminal is functioning as a commercial and industrial complex.
4) 8:30 P.M. SEAPORT
South Brooklyn Marine Terminal is a shipping, warehousing, and manufacturing port of New York and New Jersey that was opened in 1960. Around the 1930s the south Brooklyn Ferry operated from Municipal Ferry Pier to South Brooklyn Terminal. Some of the limited operations at the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal were the importation of cocoa beans. South Brooklyn Marine Terminal is presently operating as vehicle processing and storage, or parking surface.
Photo credit: Maricel Rodriguez
Saturday
5) 8 A.M. BROOKLYN PIER
By the early 1900s, Bush Terminal Piers Park was opened by the Bush Company as a cargo handling terminal dealing with both sea and rail transport although the warehouses, railroad and the factory loft were built around 1892-1925. Since the rail transportation was expensive they were only handling guaranteed orders of cargo. Later on, Irving Bush was able to sign a contract with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Back in Irving Bush’s time was hard to make people believe in his company, he decided to import bananas for his own account, ships were loaded with bananas to his piers and later he shipped them to his rail carriers, given him the success, he followed the coffee and cotton shipments. Today, the Bush Terminal is known as the Industry City.
6) 9:30 A.M. UNDER VERRAZANO BRIDGE
Denyse Wharf is actually a remnant of the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776; is where the British landed. When the war became imminent the British ships had gathered in the Narrows, the American patriots fired upon the HMS Asia on the Fourth of July in 1776 and the British returned the fire, damaging the home of the Denyse family. On Aug 22, 1776, the British army landed at Bay Ridge and proceeded north to meet the American patriots which become the largest battle of the war. It is believed that in 1783, British troops departed to Long Island from this wharf. Today, the only lasting wharf in the area is Denyse Wharf that is located under the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
7) 11 A.M. THE REMAINING
Harbor Defense Museum is the only army museum in New York that has an admirable collection of military artifacts from the Revolutionary War to World War II. This Museum is within the heart of Fort Hamilton in Bay Ridge. The Harbor Defense Museum has the history and evolution of New York City’s coastal guard systems. (Free admission and tours) The tour lasts for 90 minutes and welcomes senior groups.
8) 1:30 P.M. BATTLEFIELD
Old Stone House and Washington Park has been part of the history since 1699. It went from a Dutch community to the battlefield of the American Revolutionary War. The path of the United States’s independence began in August 1776 with the battle of Brooklyn. The Brooklyn battlefields took place in Gravesend Bay, Green-Wood Cemetery, Prospect Park, Fort Greene Park and Fulton Ferry Landing. The Old Stone House was the culminating location of the Revolutionary War. However, the battle of Brooklyn resulted in the victory of the British but the British failed to capture Washington and his army which gave him the victory to America.
9) 3 P.M. HUNGRY
Peter Luger Steak House is rated as the top steakhouse in New York City since 1984. The Peter Luger Steakhouse has earned the Michelin Star and has joined the position of American classics. Peter Luger will only serve USDA Prime. On Saturdays (until 3:45P.M.) you can order chopped steak USDA Prime, on daily basis you can order Luger-Burger, lamb, double thick chop split salmon, grilled with potato and vegetable and more. (The USDA Prime selection procedure is still performed by members of the Luger family, and reservations are also available for 10 or more people).
10) 6 P.M. SUNSET VIEW
After having a good meal, come to visit the Four Sparrow Marsh to relax upon the sunset to watch the birds. The Four Sparrows Marsh preserves the native fauna and flora. The park is home of many birds such as the ducks, gulls, bobolinks, snipe, wading and woodland birds and little blue herons. And some of the plant-life is mudflats, marshes, and meadows. The Four Sparrow Marsh has inhibited members of Canarsie tribes who would probably have used the marsh for hunting and fishing.
11) 9 P.M. NIGHT-OUT
Sunny’s Bar was opened in 1890 but became beloved in the 1990s. The great ambiance will make any person arrive to Sunny’s Bar by car, a cab, on foot, by bicycle and even on a boat. Sunny’s Bar will hold events, and live music performances on Saturday’s night, you can bring your acoustic instruments and your songs. If you are looking for a great cheerful night with live music, then you must visit Sunny’s Bar, at least one new friend you will make after coming here.
Sunday
12) 8:30 A.M. SKYLINE VIEW
In 1965, the 25 acre park was named Sunset Park, a demographically diverse neighborhood of Dutch, Irish, Polish, Scandinavian, Italian, Latino and Asian. By the 19th century it became the regarded center of interest for many immigrants. The beauty of Sunset Park comes when you sit at the top of the hill that overlooks the neighborhood and at the western side of the park you will get a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline. You can enjoy an afternoon in Sunset Park at its playgrounds, pool, and basketball and handball courts.
13) 11 A.M. TO THE NATIVE PLANTS
The Narrows Botanical Garden has been in Brooklyn for 20 years. It is a great place for you to come enjoy a beautiful morning at the Narrows Botanical Garden. The Narrows Botanical Garden is rated as one of the top 15 botanical gardens in New York City that have native plants and animals. Prepare the camera to take very beautiful pictures of the native Brooklyn’s flora and fauna here at this botanical garden. You will find The Native Plant Sanctuary, Zen Garden, Lily Pond, Native Meadow Flower Hillside, and The Old and Modern Rose Gardens. Among the native animals are the east coast native turtles, native birds, bees, as well as chickens. The Native Botanical Garden is there to create conscious about nature and of the precious plants and animals that belong to the Brooklyn area.
14) 12:30 P.M. FISHING
American Veterans Memorial Pier is the most popular place for fishing and its great views of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge, The Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan Skyline. The American Veterans Memorial Pier offers educational program and recreational activity, such as fishing. The fishing program is recommended for ages 8 years and older, and offers the ethics of fishing and the ecology of waterways. The saltwater program perfectly fits your fishing skill, from starters to advanced fishers. One the fishes available at this pier are the pumpkinseed sunfish, chain pickerel and carp. It’s free and the equipment is available at the pier (first-come, first-served).
15) 3 P.M. THE BEST FOR LAST
Do not leave without first going to eat at the Randazzo’s Clam Bar. Randazzo’s Clam Bar is much known for its sauces The suggestion for you is to eat Calamari Sauce. Randazzo’s sauces are the reason why people visit this place and it’s been in Brooklyn for decades. When Hurricane Sandy hit Randazzo’s Clam Bar many people were saddened, but once it got back many people cheered. Randazzo’s Clam Bar is an Italian-American cuisine own by the Randazzo family. In 1964, the bar initiated only with six items, excluding the sauces. Now it goes from combo (scungilli, mussels, shrimp and calamari served with their famous hot or medium sauce, $22.95) to fried calamari that is served with their famous hot or medium sauce ($13.95), to lobster to oyster to sauces such as red or white clam sauce ($17.95), marinara sauce, calamari sauce, and lobster or shrimp sauce.
Lodging:
Come to stay at one of the Brooklyn’s best historical hotels near the Brooklyn Waterfront; Brooklyn Way Hotel, BW Premier Collection or Hotel BPM- Brooklyn New York
Reference list:
American Veterans Memorial Pier. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/american-veterans-memorial-pier/events/2016/06/11/saltwater-fishing
Pohole, F. M. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sunset-park.com/
Narrows Botanical Gardens (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.narrowsbg.org/
Navigation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://peterluger.com/
Home of the World’s Most Fabulous Cheesecake. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.juniorscheesecake.com/blog/restaurants/brooklyn/
Randazzo’s Clam Bar. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://randazzosclambar.nyc/
History. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bklynarmyterminal.com/building-information/history/
South Brooklyn Marine Terminal. (2015, July 13). Retrieved from https://www.nycedc.com/project/south-brooklyn-marine-terminal
About / History. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.green-wood.com/about-history/
Hotel BPM Brooklyn. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://hotelbpmbrooklyn.com/
Brooklyn Way Hotel, BW Premier Collection. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-brooklyn/brooklyn-way-hotel-bw-premier-collection/propertyCode.33147.html
Bush Terminal Park. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/bush-terminal-park
Welcome Home! (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sunnysredhook.com/
Four Sparrow Marsh. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/four-sparrow-marsh
Where Brooklyn comes to learn, play, grow and connect. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://theoldstonehouse.org/
DENYSE WHARF, Bay Ridge. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://forgotten-ny.com/2008/10/denyse-wharf-bay-ridge/
Harbor Defense Museum at Fort Hamilton. (2011, April 07). Retrieved from https://www.nyc-arts.org/organizations/356/harbor-defense-museum-at-fort-hamilton
