Boerum Hill – Cobble Hill – Carroll Gardens – Culture

You can while away many a day simply exploring Boerum Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Cobble Hill on foot. Each neighborhood has a picturesque historic district flaunting diverse architectural styles, and the Columbia Street Waterfront District micro-neighborhood is chock-a-block with shops, restaurants, and street art. Or course, there’s plenty more to do than stroll the streets and admire the views. Art, music, comedy, games: The area has it all.

 

Carroll Park

With a playground, basketball courts, a baseball diamond, and in the summer, a spray shower, the 1.5-acre Carroll Park has plenty to keep kids of all ages busy. There are also plenty of benches where you can sit and read in the shade of leafy trees, enjoy a picnic in the sun, or take advantage of the free Wi-Fi while people-watching.

 

 The Invisible Dog

Like the neighborhood in which it’s located, this arts center is welcoming, unpretentious, and fun. Located in a former factory, the Invisible Dog hosts not just art exhibitions and artist studios but also live performances, author talks, and pop-up markets featuring jewelry, home goods, clothing, and other items by local artisans.

 

 

Jalopy Theatre

The Jams & Jiggles Burlesque Show, bluegrass/jazz ensemble the Grant Gordy Quartet, and Soveles, an Austrian duo who sing Yiddish songs a cappella, are just a few of the shows presented recently at the Jalopy Theatre. Located in the Columbia Street Waterfront District, the theater hosts live music every night but Monday, with the free Roots n’ Ruckus show every Wednesday night. It also offers classes and workshops for adults and kids, should you want to learn how to make music of your own.

 

The Brooklyn Strategist

It’s all fun and games at this shop/café/gathering spot. In addition to a full calendar of events—chess tournaments, Magic: the Gathering drafts, Warhammer brunches—you can come by with friends, rent a table, and take advantage of Brooklyn Strategist’s 500-game library. There are also afterschool clubs and summer camps for kids as young as five.

 

EastVille Comedy Club

This 120-seat club gives you something to laugh about just about every night. Up-and-coming comedians take the stage as well as established names (Janeane Garofolo and Jeff Lawrence are regulars), and open-mic nights give you the chance to discover future luminaries. And while EastVille is a bar as well as a comedy venue, it’s one of the few with no drink minimum.