Heart of Brooklyn: Explore the Neighborhood

Recently cited as “the sweetest slice of New York City," Brooklyn is home to fascinating ethnic enclaves, stately brownstone neighborhoods, and a vibrant street life. This is the place where New York lives, a patchwork of communities that seem worlds apart from one another but are often separated by mere blocks. In a few hours of walking, you can experience Caribbean, Hasidic, or hipster cultures – this is a place where the old and the new intersect. A profound respect for the past and embrace of the future creates Brooklyn today.

Anchored by Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, Prospect Park and Prospect Park Zoo, the Heart of Brooklyn community offers residents and visitors alike an extraordinarily rich tapestry. In fact, much of the Crown Heights area is undergoing review for designation as a Historic Landmark District.

Just minutes from Grand Army Plaza, Vanderbilt Avenue has great places to shop, mix and mingle. There are restaurants to please any palate - Italian, Indian, American, Seafood, Southern, French and more. Find hip clothing boutiques, gift shops, dessert and wine bars, cafes and late night lounges where you can relax with your favorite cocktail.

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Down the street from the Brooklyn Museum and looking towards Manhattan, Washington Avenue is a magnificent strip that boasts a vast array of businesses. Culturally diverse eateries abound: Japanese sushi, home-cooked American, Caribbean flavors and the legendary Tom's Restaurant. Stop by one of the bars or lounges for nights of comedy, poetry and performance. From the yoga studio to the gift & import shop with wares hailing from Africa, Asia and South America, there is something for everyone.

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Franklin Avenue is poised to become one of Crown Heights’ many treasures. Landscaped with new planters, greenery and more than 75 trees, this vibrant corridor is serviced by the recently restored Franklin Avenue Shuttle connecting Bedford Stuyvesant and Prospect Park. Steps from Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Museum and Prospect Park’s Carousel, Franklin Avenue is home to many ethnocentric stores and salons specializing in African hair braiding and urban wear.

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Nostrand Avenue North The vibrant conduit through North Crown Heights, Nostrand Avenue (between Atlantic Avenue & Eastern Parkway) offers an incredibly electric blend of funk and flair. A lively marketplace stretches for blocks along the avenue, while on the side streets refinement prevails in the architecture of extraordinary early 20th century Italian and Greek Revivalist style apartment buildings and elegant townhouses.

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Nostrand Avenue South Visiting Nostrand Avenue (between Eastern Parkway and Linden Boulevard) is like taking a trip to the Caribbean. From Grenada and St. Vincent’s to Trinidad and Tobago, this is your one stop shopping for a truly tropical experience. Eateries and boutiques abound as you stroll on this colorful corridor in Crown Heights.

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Kingston Avenue has become the children's museum capital of New York City. The Brooklyn Children's Museum is the world's first, founded in 1899. Its award winning exhibits, programs and collection of objects remain open to the public as it undergoes a 50,000 square foot expansion. The Jewish Children's Museum is the borough's newest cultural institution, providing the latest in hands-on interactive exhibits. Before or after a visit to these world-class institutions, enjoy a kosher cupcake or a refreshing glass of sorrel. Kingston Avenue bridges cultures and communities.

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[1] US Airways Attaché Magazine, March 2005

Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation, Con Edison, M&T Charitable Foundation, New York City Department of Small Business Services, & Office of the Brooklyn Borough President