32 hours in Brooklyn
After our mini-moon, Justin and I had to take an unexpected trip up north to Massachusetts. On the way back, we decided to spend a night in Brooklyn. We’ve been talking about doing this for many months and figured ‘there’s no time like the present’. We stayed at seemingly the only hotel in Brooklyn (which certainly keeps the ‘tourist presence’ low) and had an amazing time exploring Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and a brief walk around Dumbo.
On our first afternoon, we immediately stumbled upon The Greenmarket Borough Hall Farmers’ Market (which takes place on Tuesdays and Fridays). It was a low key market, with WONDERFUL looking tomatoes and breads, nestled in a courtyard with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. On Sunday we were also able to walk around Greenmarket’s Carroll Gardens’ market and sampled some Hudson Valley wine.
Downtown Brooklyn
There are far too many cute and quirky shops and restaurants to list all at once and we obviously only had a chance to try a few. Here are some highlights:
Nova Zembla: This furniture store has an eclectic mix of old and new, with Asian-inspired elements. It houses a wonderful collection of lamps and side tables and the store is able to custom upholster any piece of furniture.
Abitare: I almost squealed when I walked into the store. The spacious, uncluttered layout was so inviting that I spent at least 10 minutes looking at nearly every item in the store. Abitare houses sleek, clean dishes and pottery, bold rugs, and accessories from international designers including Masahiro Mori, Erik Magnussen, and Alessi that would make any shelf/mantle/desk more exciting.
Tortoise Garlic Grater!
Tazza: We spent a relaxed Sunday morning here, reading the New York Times. Several days later, we’re still in shock over how cheap it was for both the amount and the quality of food. We had four large cups their coffee, the most amazing chocolate chip muffin of my life (their baked goods come from Baked NYC), as well as homemade oatmeal with fruit and French toast: $18. We then returned to Washington, DC and had sticker shock at our next day’s lunch of two burgers and fries and an iced tea: $40. (!) Anyways, Tazza had a completely chill vibe, where the staff encourages patrons to hang out and relax. There’s a ready supply of cakes and cupcakes and also an extensive wine list. I could easily picture Tazza becoming a daily hangout.
Apt 138: We enjoyed dinner with a few friends here on Sunday night. Apt 138 encapsulates everything I like about going out to eat: relaxed service, a great wine list, an extensive yet accessible menu where every item seems appealing, and soft lighting. I would feel comfortable going to Apt 138 by myself, with my parents, with a huge group of friends, for a celebration, or just for a quiet dinner (like we had). It’s rare to find a restaurant that can serve so many functions. I enjoyed their rotelli pasta with sweet sausage, sun dried tomatoes, in a tomato cream sauce. Also, as a recent guacamale convert, their guacamale was insanely fresh and flavorful.
Pomme: This children’s shop is set in a huge first floor of a loft. The store clearly has room to show and sell more items, but that’s not the vibe they’re going for. I didn’t feel overwhelmed by the selection and everything I looked at was appealing. Their website shares that Pomme’s vibe is of a combination of new and classic appeal: cardboard forts and dollhouses, as well as wonderful animals (a Monchhichi Monkey!) and clothes.
