Weekend in Brooklyn

After 7 days in San Francisco visiting family eating everything in sight, I took my moveable feast to New York City to visit my cousin in Brooklyn. She and I went to college together but haven’t seen much of each other since, so I thought it would be fun to spend a weekend in Brooklyn on my way home.

I arrived late on Friday night and made my way to my cousin’s apartment in Brooklyn Heights, a residential area full of classic New York brownstones.

To kick off my weekend in Brooklyn, she took me to a nearby bar called Floyd on Atlantic Avenue. On arrival, my cousin made a passing comment about bocce, and I assumed she was joking.

That is, until I had my Brooklyn Lager in hand and turned to see a giant, regulation-size bocce ball court right in the middle of the bar. It was classic hipster Brooklyn.

Saturday in Brooklyn

The next morning my weekend in Brooklyn continued as we took a walk around the borough. In all my previous trips to New York City, I’d never been to Brooklyn. I was excited to see what it had to offer.

Our first stop was the promenade along the East River. It offered stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge.

We took in the panoramas, then walked around a park and headed towards DUMBO, the amusingly-named “Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass” area of Brooklyn known for its cobblestone streets and converted warehouses.

After succumbing to the temptation to have some amazing hot cocoa at Jacques Torres Chocolate, we stopped in a few design shops and vintage clothing boutiques. Then we made our way to the subway to go to Manhattan.

Our first stop was the West Village. We walked through Washington Square Park and got delicious feta crepes for lunch.

Nourished, we headed to the Meatpacking District to visit New York’s High Line. Situated above ground on a 1930s railroad overpass, the park is a beautiful blend of green space and asymmetrical concrete walkways.

The rusty railroad ties have been left in place to blend old and new, and the park is lined with wooden recliners and benches packed with picnickers and sun worshippers.

We walked along the park until we got to the end, then headed back to the West Village to catch a movie called Breaking Upwards. Ironically, the movie was filmed right outside the theater.

Literally. Every other scene took place on the street we were on. I had to laugh a little at how it epitomized the New York experience.

After the movie we headed back to Brooklyn for dinner at a restaurant that serves “Southern Inspired, Brooklyn Style Comfort Food”.

We got the mac and cheese. Mine had truffles and all kinds of other goodness, and my cousin’s had bacon and all kinds of other goodness. There was a lot of goodness involved.

Sunday in Brooklyn

We were out late at a house party in Brooklyn that evening, then up late the next morning. My weekend in Brooklyn continued with a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, another classic New York activity I’d never done before.

Once in Manhattan, we took the train up to the Met to see an exhibition. We didn’t have much time, though, as we had to make one final stop before I headed back to London: Shake Shack.

Yes, cheeseburgers and milkshakes took precedence over art. We’re American, after all. Gluttony is our national pastime.

After walking down Park Avenue by Central Park, we hopped back on the train until we reached Madison Square Park. Not surprisingly, the line for delicious burgers and fries was an hour long (again, this is America).

We waited patiently until it was our turn, then ordered our cheeseburgers, fries, and chocolate shakes before sitting down to stuff them all into our stomachs.