Brooklyn Heights – Culture

The best things in life, and in Brooklyn Heights, are free. Stroll among the former carriage houses of Grace Court Alley; explore Plymouth Church, founded by abolitionist Henry Ward Beecher and a former stop on the Underground Railroad; walk or bike over the East River via the Brooklyn Bridge; and of course, discover the multitude of things to see and do at the neighborhood’s numerous parks.

 

 

Brooklyn Bridge Park

 

Running the length of Brooklyn Heights and into Dumbo along the East River, Brooklyn Bridge Park offers everything from pickleball and basketball to bouldering and kayaking. There are walking and running paths, lawns for picnicking, playgrounds, and two dog runs. The century-old Jane’s Carousel is a favorite of little ones, and Empire Stores (technically in the Dumbo section of the park) features shopping and restaurants in former warehouses dating back to the 19th century. During the warmer months, the park also hosts fairs, movie nights, live performances, and other events.

 

 

New York Transit Museum

 

Most New Yorkers take the city’s public transportation for granted. The New York Transit Museum shines a light on how amazing our transit system really is, with exhibits showcasing engineering innovations, vintage subway and el cars you can walk through, scale models, replica buses and trolleys kids can pretend to drive, and archival photographs and signage. Appropriately enough, the museum is housed in a decommissioned subway station.

 

 

Bargemusic

 

A barge moored in the East River might seem an unlikely place to hear chamber music. Then again, one could argue that the intimacy of a small boat is in keeping with the small spaces chamber music was originally composed for—and the views of Manhattan across the river certainly add to the experience. Bargemusic holds more than 200 concerts each year, featuring classic works and new compositions alike.

 

 

Brooklyn Heights Promenade

 

This serene, bike-free walkway offers perhaps the most spectacular views of Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge, along with plenty of benches from which to enjoy them. Should you tire of gazing out over the East River, you can turn your head and admire some of the borough’s most majestic brownstones.