Downtown Brooklyn: Things To Do And See

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Park
Named after one of New York City’s most famed poets, Walt Whitman Park has become one of Brooklyn’s most popular landscaped parks as well as the ideal spot to kick back and relax especially during the warm spring and summer months. With relatively newly renovated park benches, well-paved paths, fencing, and water drainage, the park also features gaming tables and large expanses of fresh greenery for locals and visitors hoping to escape from downtown Brooklyn’s industrial environment for a change of scenery. So, ride your bicycle through the pathways, take a leisurely walk underneath the tree canopies, or simply lounge about on a bench or picnic blanket laid out across the grass, because Walt Whitman Park welcomes all for a peaceful day in nature!

Market, Restaurant, $
Hill Country Barbeque Market brings the cuisine and vibes of down South to Brooklyn, with freshly cooked barbecue made in a custom meat-smoking room, live American Roots Music in the lively Boot Bar on select days throughout the week, and a communal seating arrangement in a casual cafeteria-style dining area. The savory brisket, sausage, and ribs are smoked over Texas post oak and are served in classic country style over the counter, alongside sides such as cheddar mac and cheese and hot German potatoes. For customers with an insatiable sweet tooth, Hill Country’s dessert menu includes banana pudding, seasonal crisps, and gooey chocolate chunk cookies which will have you licking your fingers in delight! Hill Country’s bar does not disappoint, with a wide array of beers, wines, tequila, bourbon, and specialty cocktails.

Museum, Ruins, School
Brooklyn Museum is a haven of jaw-dropping international cultural art pieces and artifacts, from ancient Egyptian masterpieces and European paintings to modern-day, contemporary art. The museum’s wide range of visitor programs are sure to appeal to every visitor’s interests, offering day camp visits, movie nights, and studio art courses for youths and teens as well as photography and painting technique classes for adults. Brooklyn Museum’s collections are on display throughout the year, showcasing one-of-a-kind pieces from the Islamic World, the Americas, the Pacific Islands, Asia, and Africa, while current exhibitions include Impressionism and the Caribbean: Francisco Oller and His Transatlantic World and Zanele Muholi: Isibonelo/Evidence.

Restaurant, Peruvian, South American, $
Pollo D’Oro, a Peruvian gem located in the heart of Downtown Brooklyn, is open from breakfast to dinner serving up the city’s best ceviche, rotisserie chicken, and signature pisco sour cocktails. Pollo D’Oro’s dining space is casual, yet contemporary with soft lighting, shiny white tabletops, and a full bar service against an icy blue backdrop, inviting in an eclectic crowd from business workers on their lunch break to groups of families and friends looking for a quick dinner. Hot tamales, made with steamed corn masa in husk with onion and olives and a choice of meat or cheese, Aji de Gallina (shredded chicken breast in creamy walnut and Aji sauce with a side of boiled eggs and rice), and Lomo Saltado composed of marinated strips of steak sauteed with onions and tomatoes are only a few of the many tasty South American dishes served here.

Sports Center
An 18-hole Championship Golf Course that is open to the public throughout all four seasons of the year, and also happens to be located in the center of metropolitan Brooklyn. It almost sounds unreal, but Marine Park Golf Course, designed in 1964, offers visitors a gorgeous waterfront view alongside country club quality fairways, golfing lessons, and an aesthetically satisfying, well-manicured driving range and practice area. The golf course boasts four sets of tees crafted for players of all ages and levels of expertise as well as a Pro Shop which carries shoes, spikes, gloves, balls, shirts, grips and clubs for those wishing to accessorize in style while out on the lawns. Marine Park Golf Course’s bar and grill serves a diverse variety of cuisines and menu options including Brooklyn-style fish and chips, hot roast beef sandwiches, and buffalo chicken wraps which make the perfect pick-me-up after spending a long day at the tees. The venue also caters to parties, weddings, and special events.

Museum
The history and present-day development scheme of the Brooklyn Navy Yard is encompassed within BLDG 92’s exhibitions, programs, and galleries. Intermingling natural, cultural, social, naval, and industrial narratives, the Brooklyn Navy Yard: Past, Present and Future main exhibition tells the story of one of the nation’s first five naval shipyards (established since 1801!), through a portrait mural that also features short videos. Other permanent exhibitions include Designing the Future, A Day in a Life at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Making it in NYC, and temporary displays such as Porthole to Freedom created by a teenage Brooklyn-based photographer along with Wesley Fagan: A Life in Pictures, which is a tribute to one of the Navy Yard’s messengers who later became the supervisor of the Photographic Division with a love for playing jazz music. BLDG 92 also offers interactive workshops, a visiting artist program, and cultural performances amongst other public programs.

Park, Bridge
The Brooklyn Heights Promenade captivates the City’s most breathtaking views along a 1,826-foot-long platform and walkway stretching across Interstate 278. Capturing a quintessential view of the city skyline, picturesque sunrises and sunsets, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the East River, the Promenade is lined with majestic townhouses and mansions which complete the romantic feel of the location. The walkway is a magnet for photographers and artists who appreciate a scenic spot, along with joggers, couples spending quality time with one another, and skateboarders looking for a getaway from Brooklyn’s residential blocks and commercial districts. The northern end of the strip allows visitors to walk off the path toward the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, whereas the south end allows a stroll through the cobblestone streets of the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood where you can stop for a quick bite to eat at one of the many cozy eateries.

Bar, Restaurant, Mexican, $
Famed throughout the city for its mind-blowing selection of 425 types of tequila, Roccos’ Tacos and Tequila Bar provide a lively, entertaining environment to enjoy tangy margaritas, custom-made guacamole, and authentic Mexican tacos. With extensive menu options that vary from brunch and lunch to dinner, the enchiladas, specialty tacos, salads, fajitas, and seafood are always prepared to perfection. Aside from the endless list of tequila choices, Roccos’ margaritas, sangria with a unique twist, and specialty drinks such as the Spicy Mule, Paloma, Sour Apple Tequila Martini, and Skinny Senorita are always crowd favorites!

The three-and-a-half acre expanse of Brooklyn Bridge Park is worthy of an entire day trip, and multiple ones! The activities and attractions at this waterfront recreational area are endless, with children’s playgrounds, basketball courts, boating, a soccer field, handball courts, bird watching, a pop-up pool, and picnic areas to choose from. Eateries dotting the park include Ample Hills Creamery with lovely baked goods, snacks, and ice cream, along with breakfast foods from Brooklyn Bridge Garden Bar, a lunchtime meal of sandwiches, pizza at Fornino, and Lizzmonade, serving Brooklyn’s artisanal lemonade as well as sangria, beer, and wine for the adults. Those with an eye for arts and culture would delight in the park’s Bargemusic family concerts, Shakespeare at Sunset, and SyFy Movies with a View, amongst other seasonal park events.

Museum

For history lovers, the Brooklyn Historical Society founded in 1862 is a treasure embedded within the City’s rugged urban borough. The historical society features exhibitions that paint various perspectives of Brooklyn life throughout the decades. Current exhibits include Hidden in Plain Sight: Portraits of Hunger in NYC, Brooklyn Americans: Hockey’s Forgotten Promise, Gaining Access: The New York City Disability Rights Movement, and Personal Correspondents: Photography and Letter Writing in Civil War Brooklyn. The landmark building which houses the Brooklyn Historical Society also welcomes anyone to participate in panel discussions, screenings of classic and independent films, family art and dance activities, and educational workshops.