Southward of New York City, explore a neighborhood that is part of the more populous borough that is filled with many attractions that appeals to many types of tourists, and very comparable to the attractions offered in Manhattan.

Street Art in Brooklyn

In recent decades, the borough of Brooklyn has seen major changes that have made Brooklyn a vastly different New York City borough than what is was in the past. Gone are the days when certain parts of Brooklyn were lined with old warehouses and piers that were empty. The Brooklyn Waterfront is an example of how beautification efforts of a location can completely change to create popular spaces for many occasions/events that appeals to cultural, food and beverage, religious, sports tourists. Brooklyn is home to the famous Barclays Center, an arena to hold various events such as sporting events. Brooklyn is additionally home to Coney Island, in which tourists can discover the iconic amusement parks comparable to the famous Disneyland or Six Flags, and a beach to discover various street performers, and a place for leisure time. Start your exploration at Williamsburg, which offers refined experiences in music performances, galleries, shops and restaurants.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1HugFQxKHriLJO8xb5h7YO5QMiBVth4M7&usp=sharing

SATURDAY

1) Butler’s orders (12 PM)- Start off your day at a Williamsburg café accessible via the MTA’s L train line. Butler Café is reviewed by many publications and critics, and for good reason; Ryan Butler, who has been award with a Michelin star, is known to create very tasty and savory meals and treats for the community to enjoy for breakfast and lunchtime. Have a taste of their breakfast empanada (Crafted with scrambled eggs, smoked bacon, arugula, cheddar cheese, all topped with dukkah) for $8.50 USD; pair the empanada with an espresso/macchiato or an iced Americano as an alternative. In addition, consider Butler’s Baking Classes that are held on Thursday nights, to learn how to create the signature dishes for yourself along with baked goodies to take home with you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) Home décor art (1:45PM)- If seeking for house decorations that incorporate art into them, travel to Eskayel, where items such as pillows, carpets, rugs, and wallpapers that is textile-designed, weaved with fine art. This shows the culture of Brooklyn, where art is incorporated onto the streets, buildings, and even in items. The beauty of this store is that even if not planning to purchase anything, the art is very appealing to the eye. Although quite pricey, pick up a Dynasty- Slate Pillow, which includes an invisible zipper, and a 90/10 feather & down insert.

3) Relics of New York (4:30 PM)- Travel to The City Reliquary Museum, although on the outside, does not look similar to the many museums many tourists can tell instantly, the Reliquary Museum is indeed, a non-profit, local community museum. Admission fees are $7 a visit, $5 via student Identification cards. Explore the relics in their collection, each which are tied to the history of New York, in a local setting. Observe the area of Jackie Robinson collection, to commemorate the first professional baseball player in the Major League Baseball who was African-American.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) Pizza time (7 PM)- New York City is known for having restaurant places that serve top-quality pizza that makes New York unique for tourists who are interested in food. Reservation-friendly, eat out at the Emmy Squared Pizza restaurant for the evening, at a casual setting, nothing too fancy. Begin with their classic “red” pizza ($16), with mozzarella incorporated into the pizza, or experiment with their “The Emmy” ($19) pizza, incorporating not just mozzarella, banana peppers, red onion, ranch, and side sauce. Pair the pizza with the “Okonomi Fries” ($12), topped with kewpie mayo, (smoother, creamer mayonnaise), okonomi barbeque sauce, and bonito flakes.

5) Brooklyn’s Live Music (10 PM) – Jazz music is considered to be a “hip part” of the nightlife of New York City, as jazz music plays a significant part in black history during the Harlem renaissance. Interested in meeting jazz artists? Join artists such as Zac Carson at the Williamsburg Music Center! It is a jazz club that is black-owned and ran by musicians, and is a non-profit club. Admission fee is $10 USD.

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY

6) New Day, Brunch Time (8 AM)- In an urban area such as New York, coffee is a major part of one’s mornings, and for a good reason- the caffeine in the coffee gives you the energy to get through the day. Head to Clinton Hall for a morning brunch, located adjacent to the Pod Hotel in Brooklyn. Clinton Hall serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, similar to traditional restaurants as Clinton Hall also serves alcoholic beverages. For brunch, order a Down South Frittata ($14), consisting of 3 eggs, crumbled bacon, Swiss cheese, potato hash browns, peppers, onions, buttermilk biscuit, and sausage gravy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

7) Comida Mexicana (Mexican Food)(1 PM)- As a cultural tourist, visiting various restaurants with various themes are what makes New York unique; diversity of cultures, meaning new dishes to try originating from other countries. For the afternoon, head over to San Loco, located next to the Pod Hotel, a Tex-Mexican restaurant that provides a Mexican ambience. Arrive at Happy Hour (Noon- 6 PM) to enjoy a Frozen Margarita ($6). Order the chicken “Ballpark Nachos” ($5.25 small, $8.50 large), consisting of tortilla chips with beans, nacho cheese sauce, sour cream, jalapēnos for the spiciness, & “mild” sauce for newcomers to Mexican food. In addition, order their signature “Taco Loco” ($5) that is made from a warm flour tortilla spread with pinto beans and is wrapped around a taco of choice, meaning a taco in a tortilla.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8) Art of the Human form (2:30 PM)- Located near the Bedford Avenue Station, take a quick stop at the Figureworks Art Gallery, a small community gallery that showcases modern 20^th century art exploring human form. Observe the artworks such as the Janice Mauro sculpture from the “It’s a Man’s World” series ($3500), and lithographs that includes Noble Aaron’s Undertow ($1,900). Artworks in the gallery are purchasable via PayPal, checks and money orders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9) Records Lot (4:30 PM)- In addition in trying out foods from other cultures, have a listen to the many songs, records, and books from various genres and backgrounds at Rough Trade NYC. Songs, albums are sold as CDs or vinyl with prices ranging from $15-$30 USD. In addition, there are TMA-2 All round preset headphones to sample songs from various discs such as “Tell Me How You Really Feel” by Courtney Barnett. Enjoy the radio that plays song samples while shopping for records, or books! Pick up a former New York Times Bestseller, Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy by Judd Apatow ($14), for readers interested in comedy. Pick up “Louis Armstrong with Gordon Jenkins And His Chorus and Orchestra- Satchmo Style” for $21 USD, Jazz music is very popular in NYC, and Louis Armstrong is considered to be one of, if not, the most influential artists in the Jazz genre. In addition, consider picking up classics like Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, and recent vinyl records such as Cardi B’S “Privacy”, Both of which are in the $21 USD price point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10) Sweets & Treats (8 PM)- Conclude your evening after a dinner location of choice at the Martha’s Country Bakery, greeted with pleasant smell of cakes, pies, and other pieces of dessert. Due to being the holidays, order a Hot Chocolate or an Herbal tea for a warm, cozy feeling during the cold weather. Pair it with a choice of sliced cheesecake, with choices that include the famous New York Style cheesecake, or Oreo, Red Velvet, or Marble Cheesecake.

Lodging: Pod Brooklyn Hotel- Pamper yourself at a 4-star hotel that is functional, elegant, and comfortable that is The Pod Hotel via B24, Q59, or B62 buses. Comfort yourself with a quite spacious room, with free Wi-Fi, power stations for gadgets, workspaces for laptops, and other basic amenities such as soap and shampoo. Check in by 3 PM, earlier check-ins is offered, but only when the hotel offers it at specific dates. Spend your stay at their “Work + Play” Lounge, for relaxation, with comfy chairs, and play a game of Jenga. In addition to the Lounge, “The Great Outdoors” is a great option to grab drinks, host private events, and gaze at the skyline of Brooklyn. 2 nights at the Bunk Pod costs $140 USD on average.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To view current events in Williamsburg: https://www.nycgo.com/boroughs-neighborhoods/brooklyn/williamsburg

Note: Upon request, Eskayel, Emmy Squared Pizza, and Martha’s Country Bakery declined permission to take photos. 

By: Dennis Guzman