The world my have its eyes on Williamsburg, but my heart and soul will always belong to South Brooklyn. This month, I have the pleasure of sharing some of my favorite neighborhood haunts with the adventurous readers of Salt & Wind. (Read more below!)
Illustration by Charmagne Kringstein
That’s so “Brooklyn.” The world’s favorite borough has officially become an adjective, applied to everything from edgy fashion to flexible work schedules to hand crafted design. Yet beyond the omnipresent stereotype of Williamsburg’s “hipsters,” an entire borough of hidden charms awaits.
South Brooklyn is an entirely different animal, with historic townhouses, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a local community that cares more about quality of life than simply being “hip.” Just off the Bergen and Carroll stops on the F/G subway lines, the juxtaposed neighborhoods of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens boast some of the borough’s most appealing small businesses — and two of the city’s top must-see streets.
These parallel promenades in the heart of brownstone Brooklyn — Court Street and Smith Street — are well worth the detour from Manhattan. From gourmet bakeries and cocktail dens to stylish boutiques, it’s no surprise that many of the city’s European transplants choose to call this quaint community home.
Click here for a full list of my favorite spots in Carroll Gardens & Cobble Hill.