Looking for a new way to explore Brooklyn’s waterfront? Try a ferry ride. Because $2.75, you can explore the call port where there are countless cultural and culinary adventures. Island from Manhattan can begin at Pier 11-Wall Street, where the salty air is invigorating and anticipation builds as ships with names like Ferry Godwoman, City Fishy and McShiny pull in to take you away.
NYC Ferry launched in 2017 and has expanded its reach since then. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio has supported the city’s subsidized service, run by Hornblower, a private company based in San Francisco, as a way for metro-deprived neighborhoods to have a Choose convenient means of transportation. Tourists can also benefit. Snack bars, fairly clean bathrooms, and a top deck with majestic, windswept views of the Brooklyn Bridge and sparkling coastline are all part of the trip.
Six daily routes link all five counties. According to an NYC Ferry spokeswoman, a Governor’s Island shuttle runs weekends through September 11. The vessels have a capacity of 150 to 350, which is relatively small because the Staten Island Ferry can accommodate it. thousands of pieces. The longest on a sunny day is for Rockaway, Queens (tip: go before noon). Of the 25 amphibious ships, eight were in Brooklyn; Greenpoint is Temporarily closed repair debt. The Dumbo/Fulton Ferry has charms, including stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, a waterfront park, and centuries old Jane’s Carousel and Lighter, a moored barge presenting chamber concerts. Brooklyn Navy Yard, North Williamsburg, South Williamsburg and Brooklyn Army Terminal / Sunset Park are more for commuters than visitors.
Three fun stops for separate day trips are Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6, Red Hook, and Bay Ridge, all along the South Brooklyn route. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6
On a recent sweltering day, a green canopy shaded the passing road Brooklyn Bridge Park, just landed at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Heights, bordering Cobble Hill. Families and groups of friends can easily spend hours picnicking on the pesticide-free lawns and make use of the sand volleyball courts and playground with double-decker slides and cooling sprinklers. As for starter types, there’s a lot more to look at.
Wander through Brooklyn Heights and marvel at the beautiful fusion of Federal, Greco-Renaissance, and Italianate architecture. Columbia Place, Joralemon, Pierrepont, Clinton, Pineapple, Orange, Cranberry and Middagh streets evoke another era, when WH Auden, Benjamin Britten, Carson McCullers, Truman Capote, WEB Du Bois, Arthur Miller and Walt Whitman strolled down the street. leafy sidewalks.
You can comfort yourself about never being able to afford a place with drinks at Long Island Bar (110 Atlantic Avenue), a sleek, classic venue with ample sidewalk seating. A co-owner, Toby Cecchini, caused Cosmopolitans craze in the 1980s and here has mixed up a cheeky frozen version. There is nothing silly about its powerful and sensitive kick. Frozen piña colada has a richer taste, like a light serving with three types of rum. The food makes a big impact, too, from a jar of smoked salmon with a sumptuous caviar lid ($15) to a delicious, old-fashioned double cheeseburger with pickles and finish. Paired with French fries ($20).
From there, check out Atlantic Avenue, a commercial street lined with intriguing shops: Salter’s House (119 Atlantic Avenue), for example, features curated coffee, tea and domestic goods; By Sahadi (187 Atlantic Avenue) is a Middle Eastern grocer that has closed its neighborhood since 1948.
There are many dining options near the river, such as Italy Popina (127 Columbia Street). Relax over mezcal mixed rice paper ($15) and hot Milanese-style chicken ($27) in its large backyard. Before re-boarding the ferry at Pier 6, take a seat at the bar at Pilot, a meticulously restored wooden helmsman docked on the north side of the pier. You’ll probably catch a captivating sunset while enjoying a drink and half a dozen expertly shredded oysters ($19 to $24), fueling this exciting ride until the last boat departs at 9:30pm on weekends.
red moc
If Red Hook weren’t so hard to reach by subway, its small-town magic might be overrun by a stream of people clamoring to eat its good energy. The NYC Ferry seemed like a possible solution, allowing visitors to visit these independent Brooklyn properties and then return to where they came from (9:21 p.m. is currently the last ferry to depart in. weekend).
Within a few blocks of the landing were Pioneering works, a contemporary art center located at 135 Imlay Street while its main residence is undergoing renovation. Also by the waterfront is a lover Sunny’s Bar (253 Conover Street), a roadside house that regularly features live music, and Strong Rope . Brewery, a cave meeting room with outdoor tables overlooking the Statue of Liberty. There was no food in either place; for ballast, buy a thin crust pizza with fresh, creative ingredients ($18 to $21) from neighborhood stores Hoek (117 Ferris Street).
On Van Brunt Street is Record shop (360 Van Brunt Street), specializes in vinyl records and second-hand books you’ve always wanted to read. Antique shops, art galleries, clothing stores, liquor stores, and restaurants occupy many of the other storefronts.
St. John Frizell’s Fort Defiance recently held a welcome return, reopening at a new corner (347 Van Brunt Street). The mouthwatering cocktail and food menu offers special fusions like the Spicy Sazerac ($15) with a bowl of Crispy Chickpeas ($3), Crispy Cream Cod, and Potato Pie ($8) ) and chicory Caesar salad served with Grana Padano cheese ($16).
For those who prefer to eat outside in warm weather or for reasons of Covid vigilance, Fort Defiance has pleasant sidewalk seating. Grindhaus, another neighborhood staple, offers a peaceful backyard. Chef Kevin Speltz’s mushroom tempura with fish sauce vinegar ($19) and coconut purple potato dumplings ($17) is amazing. The duck leg, which stands out clearly from any Parisian specimen, is topped with a waffle soaked in sweet peppers and brown butter ($27), a great combination.
Bay Ridge
The ferry ride to Bay Ridge is an exhilarating ride, surging past the waves of the East River, past Governor’s Island and toward the majesty of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. This is the last stop on the South Brooklyn route so everyone has to get off. Walk the pier, surrounded by anglers who fish patiently, and head south to the idyllic Narrow Botanical Gardenblooms with rose bushes and a flock of birds large enough to drown the Parkway Belt traffic.
This southwest corner of Brooklyn is a melting pot, largely populated in the last century by Norwegian, Syrian, Italian, Irish, and Greek immigrants. Neighborhoods like 3rd Avenue and 5th Avenue have so much diversity in street life and languages that they feel like multicultural markets.
“There are flows of Latinx and Fujianese along with existing Palestinian, Egyptian and Yemeni populations,” said Dan Hetteix, producer of the progressive podcast. Free Bay Ridge Radio Station. “Bay Ridge is a proven testing ground for so many culinary artists, bringing incredible new vibrancy to the neighborhood. We have some of the cheapest and best eats in Brooklyn. “
It’s a tall statement, but it’s hard to deny after tasting Mexican food at Yucusiama (484 77th Street), opened last year in a small shop. Homemade tortillas are almost as light as crepes, wrapped in quesadillas filled with grilled chicken, raw onions, and melted Oaxacan cheese ($8). Tortas, one of the world’s most underrated breads, are made on soft buns whipped with roasted beans and mayonnaise. There are several fillings to choose from (all $9); suadero (thinly sliced beef ribs) layered with avocado, green cactus pieces, bell peppers and stretchy cheese, is the reason for a return trip.
Well worth a visit: slow-roasted lamb fahsah, shredded ($19.95) and floppy, blister-packed flatbread at Yemeni cafe, which recently moved to larger mines, at 7317 Fifth Avenue (also has a branch in Cobble Hill). The servings are family-sized, accompanied by salads and flavorful broths.
Italian restaurants have not disappeared from Bay Ridge; Piccante (7214 Third Avenue) ranks among the best. Modest in appearance, the kitchen creates world-class fresh pasta with beef lasagna ($15) and pappardelle with honey-braised short rib ragù ($18), which you can eat yourself if want to gain 5 pounds.
Food may be the most appealing magnet, but artists are also moving into the neighborhood, says Hetteix. Galleries appeared, including Underland (457 77th Street, Unit 1) and Stand 4 (414 78th Street), in a former medical office.
Charting the wonders of Bay Ridge is considerably easier than when explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano sailed these waters nearly 500 years ago, as long as you don’t miss the last 9pm ferry
