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When 'New York City' is mentioned, the first thing that pops into most people's minds is the Manhattan skyline. However, 'New York City' really refers to five boroughs, of which Brooklyn is probably the second-most famous. It is the place to live if you can’t afford rent in Manhattan, yet it is also a city in it’s own right, full of people who have lived there all their lives and never wish to leave. Brooklyn has unique neighborhoods and surprising amounts of culture and variety. It is home to several iconic destinations that have the power to lure Manhattan tourists away from the city, if only for an afternoon.
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Brooklyn Heights is probably the borough’s nicest neighborhood, with a variety of restaurants, beautiful brownstones, and streets with names like 'Pineapple' and 'Cranberry'. It's a place of peace and quiet between downtown Brooklyn and the chaos of Manhattan. Brooklyn Heights borders the East River, where you'll find the Promenade, a pleasant walkway with benches where you can sit and enjoy what is perhaps the best view of Manhattan. The Brooklyn Bridge towers to the right, and makes for an enjoyable walk on nice days. Walking across, you get a real sense of the size, and when you remember it was built before the first skyscraper, it's easy to see how it was considered the eighth wonder of the world.
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For a surreal experience, hop on the W train to Coney Island. Coney Island used to be *the* premiere boardwalk, with amusement parks, freak shows, beach food, and water people would actually dare to swim in. Many of the parks burned down or closed between the 1940s and 70s. Astroland remains open, as do numerous batting ranges and go-kart tracks, but the entire area has the sad feeling of a place that has seen better days. Still, Coney Island fills up in the summer, especially for the riotous Mermaid Parade, held the first Saturday after Summer solstice.
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Surprisingly enough, Brooklyn is home to the second largest art museum in the United States, the aptly named Brooklyn Museum of Art. The museum has an excellent Egyptian collection, some lovely paintings by American artists such as Eakins and Cole, and an entire floor devoted to interior decorating from different periods. There's even an entire local home from the 17th century reconstructed at the entry to the floor. The museum sits right beside the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, which is especially lovely in the spring. To get to the museum and gardens, take the 2 or 3 train to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum.
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The Brooklyn Marriott is a nice and reliable place to stay, situated in the downtown area, less than a block from all major subway lines. You can find better deals, but the location is great for sightseeing in Brooklyn, or for a day trip to Manhattan.
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The thing that brings most tourists to Brooklyn is the food, as the borough claims many of the city's bests. Downtown, you'll find Junior's, a restaurant that claims the best cheesecake anywhere. Nathan's in Coney Island is known worldwide for it's famous hot dogs, and visiting the original open-air restaurant is a fun experience. Grimaldi's, under the Brooklyn Bridge, is consistently rated by Zagat's as the best pizza in the city. Be prepared for a long wait, and bring cash (they don't accept credit cards) - the divine pizza is worth it. Finish up by going down the street to the water for dessert at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.
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The subway systems in Brooklyn are typically slower and don't offer as many connections as in Manhattan, a source of constant irritation. Also, Brooklyn has its good areas and its bad areas. Just use common sense, travel in groups, and avoid places that look run-down or worrisome.
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Published on Wednesday March 31th, 2004
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Sat, May 12 2007 - 05:00 PM
 by mistybleu
| Excellent report, a real enjoyable read |
Thu, Apr 01 2004 - 01:00 PM
by christianj.
| Wow - I loved to read it. A great Report. Regards, Christian |
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9 votes
