If you're in the area it's work stopping by! Interesting little trinkets everywhere. I wouldn't…read moremake a special trip to the neighborhood, but if you're only a street or 2 over you should definitely check it out

Such an unexpected gem that hits you out of nowhere as you walk down Wycoff. Beautiful artwork and…read morenecessary racial justice messages presented. It's worth the walk!

I took the bean to bar class with my friends and it was really fun! There are so many steps…read moreinvolved and you have to put your back into it sometimes. I had a lot of fun and learned a lot. The only thing to keep in mind is timing. The class ran over by 20 minutes.

We had such a nice morning doing a truffle making class with Raaka. They gave us great tips,…read moredetailed instructions, and we went home loaded with boxes of delicious truffles. The class was just the right length and I absolutely left feeling confident we could replicate the truffles at home. Fun class to do as a family! Would definitely do another in the future.

I went to the Tastes of Brooklyn event along Franklin Ave. The festival offered ticket sales online…read moreand I appreciated that you could buy tickets without any service fee on top of the ticket price (~$10/taste). Ticket pickup in front of Cent'Anni was easy once I knew where to go, and I found it so helpful that there was a map and list of what each spot was offering. That list was useful in planning what I wanted to try. In the future, I'd recommend that the event hosts try to confirm these listings with participating restaurants a bit closer to the event date, because some of them were inaccurate. One place listed as offering "sliders" served only a single (scrumptious) slider, and another spot listed as offering a "choice of two tacos or a margarita" informed me when I arrived that they weren't offering the margarita after all. I thought the offerings were pretty fair, just wish the list had been a bit more accurate. While I wouldn't recommend Tastes of Brooklyn to someone looking for a "good deal", it wasn't a bad way to share a walk and various foods with a friend while supporting Seeds in the Middle.

I think it was fine, but probably overpriced. Sure, it was for a cause but a lot of the…read moreparticipating vendors were very inconsistent. Some places did food and booze as one stamp, while others made it two separate ones. Some portion sizes were gigantic, while others didn't even give a full slice of pizza. And a few closed up shop early because they were so popular (we ended up with extra tickets that we just spent on half slices of pizza because nothing else was left). The ticket pickup station at the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club was also a bit of a hassle. Not the most centrally located, and their ticketing system was a mess. A lot of manual handwritten notes. That said, I appreciated all the businesses that participated (some of which I've never been to before!), but I wish it were better organized.

Located at the corner of Albemarle Road and Argyle Road just south of Parade Ground, this private…read moremansion in Ditmas park has perhaps the most amazing Halloween display I've ever seen. First, the house itself is just beautiful: Victorian style, with a pool and what looks like a full bar in the "shed" in the backyard. The house is owned by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire and his wife [1]. Skeletons emerge from the ground among gravestones in the bushes by the front lawn. The wrap-around porch is chock-full of real-size animatronic figures such as haunted clowns, ghosts, zombie children, a giant werewolf and 3 homicidal piggies. A dozen skeletons with beaming red eyes climb the exterior of the house; giant spiders take over the fence. A butcher with a massive mallet and a circular saw for hands, and a possessed dog that leaps out of a doghouse, alongside projections of ghosts on the windows. Only thing, I feel bad for their front lawn that gets literally butchered by all the people walking on it. Apart from that, this house is awesome! ------------------------ [1] You can read more about it here: https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/brooklyn-halloween-house-ditmas-park-2021-photos And here https://nypost.com/article/best-scary-halloween-decorations-nyc/?utm_content=brooklyn-halloween-house-ditmas-park&utm_source=secretnyc&utm_medium=post&utm_term=cta1

Gersi is a neighborhood favorite. I've never had an issue with a walk in and the food never fails…read moreto disappoint. Upon arrival you're not able to ignore the carefully curated boutique & aristocratic Tuscan vibe. Small chandeliers hang from the ceiling with exposed brick and intricate detailing to keep you cozy no matter what season you visit. Gersi does comfort well. We started with our wine orders, montepulciano and Sauvignon Blancs and an order of bruschetta. They have a bruschetta section of their menu, and we opted for the garlic, chili, & olive oil with anchovies on the side. I didn't realize bruschetta had different variations outside of the classic chopped tomato and basil topping so this felt more like a variation of garlic bread to me. But still perfectly soft and crusty. For our mains, we ordered the spaghetti limone, linguine vagole, and chicken parm alla vodka. The spaghetti limone is a bright dish that captures the sun's rays onto a plate to brighten any day with its glossy lemon and butter finish. The linguine vangole seizes the tastes of the ocean with the saltwater clams cooked perfectly into al dente linguine for a comfort punched light dish (that I still packed home with leftovers). The genius of the chicken parm with substituted vodka sauce instead of marinara stole the show. It was a version of a spicy rigatoni with a perfect chicken cutlet that invited you back bite after bite. This is not on the menu so you specifically have to order it this way, but if you're in the know then you know. This wasn't my first, second, or third time to gersi and I'll continue to be coming back - winter, spring, summer, and fall.

Gersi isn't just a restaurant; it's a genre, specifically the neighborhood Italian cafe. The kind…read morethat dotted Brooklyn's landscape a generation ago, the kind Billy Joel is talking about in that song. The food is up to the exacting standard that New York demands of its Italian cuisine. Don't expect a Carbone or Torrisi rival, but don't expect the glittering, nauseating Instagram-fueled hype machine of those places either. This is uncomplicated, unglamorous comfort in the same way a favorite sweater or a long marriage is. Come with your partner, split a bottle of wine, have one of their eight or so nightly pasta specials, and end with the tiramisu. And hey, how lucky are you to live in a place where this kind of delicious joy is a quotidian experience?

DUMBO is such a cool neighborhood with a great vibe! The cobblestone streets, views of the bridges,…read moreand waterfront parks make it a fun area to wander around. That said, prepare yourself for the crowd at the iconic Washington Street photo spot-there are so many people packed into that one block all trying to get that classic shot of the Manhattan Bridge framed by the brick buildings! It's definitely worth stopping by to grab your photo and explore the nearby shops and water views, just be prepared to share the space with plenty of fellow tourists!

Scenic views and great architecture. Dumbo has its own website where they post events. There are…read moreall kinds of things going on - movies, happy hours, lectures and workshops. Also the famous annual Dumbo Drop where toy elephants on parachutes fill the sky. Brooklyn Bridge Park offers beautiful views of the skyline and public art displays. There's also Jane's carousel. Carousel hours and ticket prices are posted on their website. Lots to do. Try to go here early before it gets too crowded. Wear comfortable shoes.

Best Italian place in NYC. Food is traditional northern Italian, done as Italians do it. No…read morecompromises, no adjustments. Real, traditional, proper as an Italian granny would do it. As it should be, always!

Walked into Bar Mario in Red Hook like I was just "stopping in for one drink." Rookie mistake…read more This place feels like it's been here forever--in the best way. Cozy, old-school Italian vibes, staff speaking Italian like they're judging you lovingly, and Negronis that'll make you rethink every bad decision you've ever made at a bar. I ordered the lasagna because a man should test a kitchen on its fundamentals. Absolute home run. Rich, layered, comforting--felt like someone's nonna was in the back nodding in approval. No notes. No leftovers. Bar Mario isn't trying to be trendy. It's just confident, timeless, and quietly excellent. The kind of spot where you come hungry, leave happy, and start planning your next visit before you even hit the sidewalk.

Carroll Gardens is a beautiful neighborhood in Brooklyn filled with brownstones, most with iron…read morefencing surrounding a small green space in the front of the house. Thus the naming. The area, originally settled by Italians, is very popular due to its highly rated elementary school & beautiful brownstones on tree lined streets. Many have been totally renovated on the interior with some sadly renovated as pricey apartments. Some have remained in the family over the years. Restaurants choices are plentiful, both in the neighborhood & further down Court or Smith into adjacent neighborhoods. Before the pandemic there was a plethora of fun shops along Court Street in the heart of the neighborhood. Court & Smith are main arteries that features shopping & restaurants. I'm sad to report that my restaurant of choice for pizza was a casualty of the pandemic. Also a victim was a fun clothing store. There's easy walking access to the Subway Station. Serious grocery shopping requires a vehicle to get to the nearby Whole Foods in Gowanus, Union Market, Trader Joe's (with extremely challenging street parking), Wegmans, Costco, etc. Fairway in Red Hook was a huge store with a beautiful view from the parking lot. I haven't been to the store that took its place. Shopping via vehicle comes with the additional challenge of finding street parking to get purchases inside. It's easier for small quantities or taking someone along to stay with the vehicle (obviously parked in a no parking area) while the other takes the groceries inside. Gourmet Fresh on Court Street is a small store with a limited selection. But it's fine for quick pickups. Speaking of street parking, it's not easy to find a spot on the narrow one way streets. It's especially challenging on alternate side parking days. Most people double park then rush to get a good spot when the time period ends. When I was taking my Grandson to preschool in Williamsburg we would have to circle the blocks continuously waiting for a spot to become vacant. Young children don't have much patience for that. One becomes extremely experienced at judging the size of an opening between parked vehicles. Difficult parallel parking quickly becomes an expertise. Carroll Park has something for every age kid with basketball courts, playgrounds & spaces to bike, scoot, take batting practice and such. There's usually someone friendly to visit with on a bench. Carroll School is directly across the side street. All that said, if the prices of the brownstones hadn't gotten so steep I would buy one in a minute. It's a great neighborhood.

3.0 stars, Carroll Gardens and it's not because I don't love you but I have a few bones to pick as…read moreof late (okay, the last several years). I am old enough to witness the profound changes that continue to take place, yet young enough to predict what's to come (at times allowing me to gesture "gasp"). In the attempt to remain fair, here's my humble review/opinion: The Good: 1) CG has always been a visually gorgeous (charming brownstones) and safe neighborhood. 2) A selection of very good restaurants with just about every cuisine in close proximity 3) Very convenient, accessible and a short ride to Manhattan 4) Borders other great 'hoods such as Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO and Park Slope. 5) No need for a car 6) Diversity of many backgrounds, religions and cultures There's a little France feeling to it. 7) Some of the nicest, artistic and intelligent people within a community 8) Family friendly 9) Some of the best local flavor specialty food shops and bakeries The Bad: 1) Outrageous and insane increase in real estate. Come on, enough already as people are being priced out. Some old timers bought these brownstones for a mere $2000 way back when. 2) Over development. Do we really need more luxury high rises? Some are eyesores and doesn't fit in. 3) Very overcrowded. I realize CG is trendy but I sometimes have to allow a couple trains to go by because I can't squeeze on during morning rush hour. 4) Due to the unreasonable real estate conditions, smaller, independent merchants have been driven out and being replaced by huge franchise businesses. We don't need more CVS or banks. In fact, we lost two bookstores in 2016. 5) Citibike docking stations. I know biking is efficient, healthy and environmentally friendly but no more! People need space to park their cars--you know the machinery with 4 wheels 6) A parking nightmare 7) The loss of a tighter knit community feeling. 8) The residence of some rude and self entitled individuals The Ugly: 1) Way too overpriced with a continuation in that trend 2) The endless MTA track work and changes that disrupt an entire commute on weeekends and even weekdays. There's been too many occasions when my commute has taken 90 minutes! You'd think I was traveling from/to CT. 3) Oftentimes, neighborhood reeks of excessive pot. I'm sorry but I don't like drugs---enough already! Please shape up a bit more Carroll Gardens. With your extreme face lift, I sometimes don't recognize you anymore. I realize this requires a community effort. Yet, I still adore you.

A Brooklyn Institution Frankies 457 Spuntino has been a…read morepopular Carroll Gardens institution since 2004, founded by chefs Frank Castronovo and Frank Falcinelli -- known lovingly throughout Brooklyn as "the Franks." In the two decades since they opened their doors on Court Street, they have become far more than a restaurant. It is a neighborhood culinary touchstone, and proof that consistent Italian cooking done with care and soul never goes out of style. I live not far from Court Street, and the walk to Frankies was its own kind of anticipation, hoping not to get lost with Google maps redirecting me on different streets, in the same urban sprawl neighborhood the entire way. Food is a universal language. Like football (GO USA! Shockingly, Italy failed to qualify for the FIFA 2026 World Cup!)-- it crosses every border, every culture, every generation. It is common ground. And Frankies, from the moment you arrive, the restaurant speaks that language fluently. The Setting The cozy interior exudes a vintage charm -- tin ceilings, Edison bulbs, exposed brick walls. The kind of warm dining room that makes you want to settle in, order another bottle of wine, and stay for hours. On a weekday night, our table of four was not rushed. And then there is the magical garden at Frankies which is one of Brooklyn's quiet treasures -- a scenic, verdant escape that feels a world away from the subway humming just beyond the gate. That evening, we looked across the garden to find a private party in full swing. And then -- because this is New York, and New York never stops surprising you -- we spotted Matt Damon among many star-studded guests, hosting what appeared to be a birthday celebration, perhaps a belated toast for his The Odyssey co-star Tom Holland. Only in Brooklyn. Only at Frankies. The Olive Oil Frankies organic extra virgin olive oil is exceptional -- clean, grassy, peppery, delicious. It is available at the restaurant and online, and I order it regularly. This olive oil elevates everything it touches. If you leave Frankies without a bottle, go back. The Food We arrived to catch up and the table was exactly what a great Italian meal should be -- jovial, generous, noisy with laughter, plates passed and shared with a Barolo wine my friend Susan, an experienced sommelier, picked from the wine selection. The meatballs are legendary -- feather-light, tender, lavished with raisins and pine nuts, served in a rich, satisfying sauce that tastes like it has been simmering since morning. These are, without question, the best meatballs in Brooklyn. Walking out the door, I told the manager you have the best meatballs in town. He agreed, then laughed. " I have been telling everyone that for years." The mozzarella plate was fresh, silky, and perfectly plated-- simple and stunning in the way that only the best ingredients can be. The cavatelli with hot sausage and browned sage butter and the house-made gnocchi are a staple of the kitchen and it earns every word of its reputation. Mamma mia! We left stuffed. We left happy. We left already planning our return.

The food here is delicious, that much is true. The service is friendly. The ambiance?…read more It's SO hot in there--and SO loud. I was basically IN the kitchen. What was that horrible bassline? Pavement!? Ugh. Also, we recovering drug addicts need more non-alcoholic drink options, otherwise, next time Frankie is gonna see the REAL me. That's not gonna be good for anyone!