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Things to Do in Brooklyn

By , About.com Guide

Spring has sprung in Brooklyn. Rnjoy Mother's Day, the last months of school for the children, and get out and enjoy the borough!
  1. BROOKLYN BRIDGE
  2. OH! ONLY IN BROOKLYN! VISITORS GUIDES
  3. BRUNCH
  4. CYCLING & RUNNING IN BROOKLYN
  5. CALENDAR MONTH-BY-MONTH
  6. SHOPPING
  7. CONEY ISLAND
  8. DUMBO
  9. PARK SLOPE
  1. WILLIAMSBURG
  2. Brooklyn Beaches
  3. Brooklyn Public Pools
  4. Special Halloween Guide
  5. HURRICANE SANDY RECOVERY & PREVENTING ANOTHER DISASTER
  6. 9/11 IN BROOKLYN
  7. SPECIAL CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH/KWANZAA GUIDE
  8. Brooklyn This March: What's Happening?

BROOKLYN BRIDGE

Come on! Have you hiked over the beautiful, the soulful, the iconic and much discussed Brooklyn Bridge yet? Biked it? Proposed marriage on it? What are you waiting for?

OH! ONLY IN BROOKLYN! VISITORS GUIDES

So you've heard a lot about the borough of Brooklyn and want to see it...or, you're a lifelong resident with out of town guests bursting with questions about what's happening in Brooklyn. Here are some basic places you won't want to miss, whether you're touring for a few hours or a few days.

BRUNCH

Enjoy brunch in Brooklyn, from a simple but delish pizza to one of New York's fanciest restaurants, the River Cafe. Brunch comes in many flavors: American, seafood, Middle Eastern, Latin, diner, French, Italian and more.

CYCLING & RUNNING IN BROOKLYN

Everybody's biking. And it's fun to ride around, now that we've got so many bike lanes (though never enough). Autumn's a great time to have a good ride to Coney Island, or around Prospect Park, or down to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Here's a compendium of tips, routes, bike shops and more for Brooklyn cyclists.

CALENDAR MONTH-BY-MONTH

Want to know what's happening in Brooklyn in a given month? What special events are scheduled for July 4th, or Memorial Day weekend, Thanksgiving or Christmas? Find out using this quick-links monthly calendar.

SHOPPING

Sure, you can find chain stores, and a remarkable variety of small designer shops, too, in Brooklyn. And, there's a range of vintage shopping opportunities, too.

CONEY ISLAND

Coney Island

Brooklyn is a huge borough, and you could spend weeks exploring its many diverse neighborhoods and historic landmarks. Here are some ideas to get you started.

DUMBO

The tiny neighborhood with the elephantine name, DUMBO's claim to fame is the first rule of real estate: location, location, location. The views are spectacular, not only of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan, but also of the East River, the Statue of Liberty, boats, and the famous Manhattan skyline. Explore old warehouses, cool restaurants, and in summer take the ferry.

PARK SLOPE

One of New York's most famous neighborhoods, Park Slope boasts a 19th century ambiance with a very 21st century population of professionals, writers, and of course, moms. See what all the fuss is about.

WILLIAMSBURG

Williamsburg, Brooklyn is chock-ablock with cool music venues, bars, beer halls, indie coffee shops and cafes, poetry readings, creative vibes and interesting shopping.

Brooklyn Beaches

Find out where to go, what to expect from Brooklyn's free, public Atlantic Ocean beaches.

Brooklyn Public Pools

Brooklyn may seem built-up, but there are tons of public pools. Olympic pools. Kiddie wading pools. Nice family friendly medium sized pools. Find out where they are, when they are open, and more. All free.

Special Halloween Guide

Get ready! Halloween's around the corner! Find out where to get costumes, find parades, and more.

HURRICANE SANDY RECOVERY & PREVENTING ANOTHER DISASTER

Instead of Halloween 2012, we got Frankenstorm Hurricane Sandy in Brooklyn. Find out about which neighborhoods were impacted, and how to help in the relief effort.

9/11 IN BROOKLYN

2011 marked the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York. The September 11, 2001 attacks had a profound impact on the 2.5 million residents of Brooklyn, some of whom who suffered death or loss of loved ones and acquaintances, injury, shock, PTSD, and heightened anxiety. The repercussions of 9/11 are still felt borough-wide.This event continues to be part of the fabric of Brooklyn's community and spiritual life and culture,and the tenth anniversary will resonate throughout Brooklyn.

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH/KWANZAA GUIDE

So much to do, and so much fun, this month! Find out where to see Christmas trees and Hanukkah memorahs lit, where to celebrate Kwanzaa, get the skinny on some great shopping opportunities at craft fairs and flea markets, and more. Do you know where to hear the Messiah and watch the Nutcracker, or find seasonal puppet shows for the kids? Where to join in a cute little Santa Parade? Get the scoop on the holidays in Brooklyn, whether you've lived here for a quarter century, or are visiting for a half a day.

Brooklyn This March: What's Happening?

There's always a LOT going on in Brooklyn; check this curated list of movies, events, concerts, lectures, exhibits and holidays.

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