Brooklyn
onfidential C
As to art, what’s life without it?
Luckily, there’s the BROOKLYN MUSEUM.
Home to the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center
for Feminist Art, it also houses a breath-taking Egyptian collection and fine
decorative arts.
As well as the major institutions, of
course there are myriad small galleries
and alternative spaces. Check out the new
MURIEL GUÉPIN GALLERY and THE INVISIBLE DOG in Boerum Hill, and Williamsburg pioneer PIEROGI.
We’ve heard designers say they’ve seen
better opera at the Fort Greene-based
BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC than in
Manhattan. Famous for its avant-garde
Next Wave Festival, BAM—as the venue’s
commonly known—delivers cultural
gems from vintage Hollywood movies to experimental modern
opera to vibrant African dance.
SHOPPING AND COMMERCE
Looking for a fun day of shopping? Brooklyn’s known for its
specialty boutiques—many of our faves for furniture, flowers,
and tchotchkes are listed here. And, for a truly unique day, don’t
miss the BROOKLYN FLEA. In two different Fort Greene locations
on Saturdays and Sundays, it features more than 100 vendors of
vintage goods; new jewelry, art and crafts by local artisans; plus
delicious food. Dive in and discover it for yourself! ;
Prospect Park
is home to the
Brooklyn Botanic
Garden, which
boasts a Cherry
Esplanade, a
Japanese garden,
and Daffodil
Hill—a magical
respite.
Brooklyn Eats
Dining in Brooklyn has never
been tastier—no wonder
restaurants are packed! Cozy
VINEGAR HILL HOUSE dishes up
rustic food from a wood-
burning stove—including
their Red Wattle pork chop—
plus chicken cooked (and
served) in a cast-iron skillet.
Known for Northern Italian
cooking both adventurous
and classic, AL DI LÀ has
become a mainstay of Park
Slope. Just a year old, THE
VANDERBILT in Prospect Heights
is spearheaded by Michelin-
starred chef Saul Bolton. Head to Carroll Gardens for buttermilk-fried chicken at BUTTERMILK CHANNEL, a contemporary bistro. Nearby, from the team behind Frankies Spuntino comes a new venture, PRIME MEATS, which stands by a strong commitment to local purveyors and old-fashioned nose-to-tail butchery. DRESSLER is definitely one of the restaurants to keep on your radar, due to the menu—American fare with ints of Spanish and Austrian flavor—and the interior, with handmade aluminum chandeliers. Also in Williamsburg, FATTY ’CUE— owned by the same restaurateur as Manhattan’s Fatty Crab—brings together southeast Asian cuisine and barbecue. Brunch is the meal at Red Hook’s FORT DEFIANCE, although it is also noted for its well-crafted lunch and dinner menus. Try the charcuterie, which includes La Quercia, an Iowa-made prosciutto.
BROOKLYN BECAME PART OF NEW YORK CITY IN 1898.
traditionalhome.com SEPTEMBER 2010 75
