It’s Friday! And the third of the “Live Like A Local” series is bringing us to Brooklyn. Today’s guest poster is Stephanie, a teacher and travel blogger for Wandering Why Traveler. I can’t wait for you to learn a little about this part of New York she knows so well. So sit back, relax, and live like a local in Brooklyn with Stephanie.
Tell Us A Little About Yourself
I really like the learning component of travel — I love museums, art galleries, and literature. On my blog, I use my experience and expertise as a teacher to make those things resonate with and feel interesting to people.
At heart, I’m a writer. I think the art of true travel writing has really been lost in a world of “ultimate guides” and “top ten lists.” Most of my blog posts are done in narrative form, so they’re fun to read just as stories even if you won’t ever visit some of the places I write about. However, if you are looking to visit the places I write about, you can still use my pieces as guides.
As much as I love the cerebral side of travel, I also equally enjoy getting lost in big cities and nightlife. I’m not much of a nightclub person, but I love finding places like biker bars or unfussy pubs by the sea where the old men of town hang out. I love to just relax without all of the pretentiousness!
Last, I write often about family travel. Many people think having children limits your ability to explore, but that’s only true if you want it to be true. I show people that traveling with children is not impossible, just requires a little more planning and flexibility is all.
My blog is www.wanderingwhytraveler.com
Where are you from?
Originally, I’m from Long Island, New York which is an hour from the city proper. But, I moved to the Brooklyn borough of New York City several years ago when I moved in with my (now) husband. I absolutely love living here!
What is a must-see in Brooklyn?
There really is so much to see in Brooklyn. I think one of the most sobering and memorable experiences that someone can have is walking around the DUMBO area. DUMBO stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. I’ve lived in Brooklyn for quite some time, and my jaw still hits the floor when I explore this area. There is nothing more humbling than standing and admiring an unobstructed view of the Manhattan Bridge.
At night you can have the most perfect view of the Manhattan skyline and you can stare out as the waves of the water lap against the shore. The area just feels and looks like all that someone would imagine Brooklyn to look like. It has a hip yet historical aesthetic. The cobblestone streets are really charming and the architecture feels both modern and early 20th century somehow. Some days when it’s very foggy by the water, I’m convinced that I’ll see Al Capone’s ghost materialize. In this area there’s also a beautiful indoor carousel surrounded by glass paneling which overlooks the water. It is wonderful for bringing the family or taking photos.
Also in this area you can visit the Time Out Food Market which houses over twenty different places to eat. Closeby, St Ann’s Warehouse is an exceptional place to catch a performance — the technology is really state of the art. We saw A Streetcar Named Desire there a few years back and the entire play took place on a rotating stage!
I also wouldn’t skip Coney Island — I really wouldn’t. You can spend the entire day at the amusement parks, eating the awesome boardwalk food, and drinking margaritas by the pitcher as you people watch. In the summer, there are firework shows every weekend and on Monday nights you bring a blanket and watch movies right on the sand projected from a giant, inflatable, screen.
Where Is A Place You Could Skip?
Typically, I would say the super touristy stuff, but in this current economy and pandemic, I’m not trying to take money out of the pockets of hard working tour leaders and small business owners. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with doing the street art tours and stuff, they’re truly awesome. Just know that seeing a few cool murals in Brooklyn doesn’t mean that you’re “seen Brooklyn.” Sometimes I feel like travelers think Brooklyn is literally just the “Biggie Smalls mural” and that’s it.
What Is Your Favorite Restaurant And Food So People Can Live Like A Local In Brooklyn?
There’s really too much to choose from! As much as I hate to stereotype and pigeonhole Brooklyn, I’m going to suggest pizza, specifically, Roberta’s Pizzeria in Bushwick. When you park or get dropped off, you’re in this warehouse district and you’re saying, “this can’t possibly be right.” But low and behold you find the place in an unassuming, grey stone, building. It’s certainly not a place that you would ever think to visit on your own. Like, you wouldn’t be driving around and say, “wow that looks like a place that has pizza!” I haven’t been in a while, but at one point they used to have a pizza where they drizzled honey on top. It was gorgeous. Roberta’s is super innovative in terms of both aesthetics and food, and also just really fun. It’s the kind of cool dining experience that I think most people are looking for when visiting Brooklyn.
Any Advice To People Who Are Visiting Brooklyn?
I think people should take some time to really explore Brooklyn, maybe even stay over for the evening and explore DUMBO or Williamsburg’s bar scene at night. I think a lot of visitors come over from Manhattan and do a “street art tour” or grab a slice of pizza and say, “I’ve seen Brooklyn!” And then they write a “must see” guide to Brooklyn. It’s such a superficial and limited version of what is actually Brooklyn.
One Spot People Could Visit That They Might Not Know About To Live Like A Local In Brooklyn:
Alright — this is a neighborhood in Brooklyn that most people forget exists, but it’s where I live currently. In my opinion, Sheepshead Bay and Brighton Beach are REALLY awesome areas. There is a large population of Russian and Russian speaking immigrants, so much so, that the area is nicknamed “Little Odessa.” The whole area is a relic of Soviet Days! Supermarkets have signs entirely in Russian and sell Russian products, there are stores which sell Russian books and gifts, Russian spas (banya) are prevalent, and Russian live music concerts are offered in the summer.
The area truly feels like you’ve wandered into a foreign land. Until only a very few short years ago, we used to frequent a nightclub here where people were still smoking cigarettes indoors! It has since closed, so whether that was ever legal or not remains to be seen. I would take friends there all the time and it became everyone’s favorite spot, people couldn’t believe it!
There are still plenty of places that you can have those experiences though. Russian restaurants are an experience all on their own. You’re served course after course of things like flaming lamb chops and treated to live music performances, belly dancing, comedy. Patrons take vodka shots with their meals and dance until the wee morning hours — it’s a really great time!
If you don’t feel like participating in the pageantry, you can still snag a great waterfront seat at a restaurant in south Brooklyn and enjoy some hookah and lula kebabs at any number of restaurants in the area.
One Interesting Fact About Brooklyn:
In terms of population and size, Brooklyn is actually bigger than Manhattan!
Last Words For Travelers:
Brooklyn can be super expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Recently, my husband and I spent an entire evening just walking around in the DUMBO area and taking photographs. I think for family travelers, it’s worth seeing places like Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens. If you’ve ever been curious as to how families raise children in Brooklyn, this might give you a good idea. I suggested those two places because despite being in the city, they have a quaint neighborhood feel. There’s the local butcher with a line out the door and all of that. Budget or baller, family or solo, Brooklyn is a must see for everyone.
Thank You Stephanie For Taking The Time To Help Us Live Like A Local In Brooklyn.
Please head on over to Wandering Why Travel and read about some of Stephanie’s other travel adventures outside of Brooklyn. She has some beautiful photos and great articles that any traveler would enjoy. And don’t forget to follow her on her social media platforms below.
And check out last week’s “Live Like A Local”, where we visit St. Petersburg, Russia, with Melissa. You can read all about it HERE.
Miss Jessica Mills
I’ve never been to Brooklyn but the more I read about it the more I want to visit, enjoyed this personal perspective of blogging and life there also! Thanks for sharing!
Johnny
I lived there for a year. It is a really cool place.