The pier you're standing on when you disembark from the taxi is the oldest ferry landing in the city. In 1642, men in rowboats served as the first ferries, fighting against the East River current to shuttle early New Yorkers back and forth between Manhattan and Brooklyn. And in 1776, this is where General George Washington evacuated his Revolutionary War troops across the river after losing the Battle of Long Island. Engravings on the floor of the pier recount the story of these times and offer inspirational quotes from our nation's first president.
SIGHTS:
Barge Music
Fulton Ferry Landing
(718) 624-4061
In 1974, violinist Olga Bloom transformed an old coffee barge into the city's most unique chamber-music venue. Performances are still offered four times a week year-round and often sell out, so call ahead. But once you're there, just sit back in one of the wood-paneled space's folding chairs and let the sounds of the music on stage (and the rhythm of the water below) carry you away.
Brooklyn Promenade
Cranberry St to Remsen St, Brooklyn Heights.
This pedestrian-only perch is spotted with benches, making it a prime spot for gazing across the water to Manhattan, people watching, or holding hands and nuzzling with your honey - but we're not going to pressure you on that last one. It also happens to be the spot you've seen in many movies showcasing one of the best views of the NYC skyline.
Brooklyn Bridge
Enter walkway at High St. Take the A, C subway to High St.
Opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first bridge to connect Brooklyn to Manhattan. At that time, the Brooklyn Bridge was the largest suspension bridge in the world. Then known as the Great East River Bridge, the architectural wonder took 16 years to build and claimed the lives of both engineers, the father and son team of John and Washington Roebling. Outfitted with a pedestrian walkway and bicycle lane, the twin-arched Gothic structure offers some of the most incredible views of New York City.
Brooklyn Bridge Achorage
Cadman Plaza West between Hicks and Old Fulton Sts, Dumbo, Brooklyn
(212) 206-6674
www.creativetime.org
Nonprofit public-arts organization Creative Time runs a summer music space and gallery in the anchorage of the bridge. It's a unique place to see a performance while getting a glimpse of the underbelly of the bridge.
d.u.m.b.o arts center
30 Washington St between Water and Plymouth Sts, Dumbo Brooklyn
(718) 694-0831
Thanks to lots of industrial spaces and cheap rent, Dumbo - like Soho, Chelsea and Williamsburg before it - has been attracting lots of creative types who are opening galleries and fostering a young, up-and-coming arts scene. At the heart of the growth is the d.u.m.b.o. arts center, which holds rotating exhibitions and organizes the Dumbo: Art Under the Bridge festival each fall to showcase the neighborhood's studios and artists.
St. Ann's Warehouse
38 Water St., Dumbo Brooklyn
(718) 254-8779
www.stannswarehouse.org
Since relocating to the Brooklyn waterfront from St. Ann's Church, the new St. Ann's Warehouse has quickly become one of the city's most desirable performance spaces, with its rare combination of cutting-edge performance, versatile space, and dramatic location. Artists such as Laurie Anderson, Al Pacino, David Bowie, The Wooster Group, and Lou Reed have helped to establish the Warehouse as a cultural destination for inventive multi-artist programs, new music and theater presentations.
EATS:
River Café
1 Water St at Old Fulton St
(718) 522-5200
This 25-year-old gem is hands down, the most romantic dining spot on the waterfront. The food is pricey but delicious, and you can even buy the Brooklyn Bridge for dessert. Well, at least a chocolate version.
Grimaldi's
19 Old Fulton St between Front and Water Sts
(718) 858-4300
When New Yorkers think of pizza, they think of Grimaldi's. It's crispy, thin crusts set the standard for coal-oven pies. The owner, Patsy Grimaldi, learned the craft from his late uncle, who owned a pizzeria in Harlem that he dubbed "Patsy's" after the family name. That Patsy's is now owned by a different company, but the original family tradition lives on here at Grimaldi's - and pizza lovers are eternally grateful.
Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
Fulton Ferry Landing
(718) 246-3963
The ice cream at this tiny new shop, housed in a historic fireboat building on the pier, is to die for. Fresh, homemade and so creamy and smooth, you'll walk out of there saying, Ben and Jerry who?
Pete's Downtown
2 Water St at Old Fulton St
(718) 858-3510
Boasting similarly amazing views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Pete's is a more affordable waterfront dining option than its neighbor the River Café. Throw back a beer as you let the immensity of the 220-year-old bridge wash over you, then dig in to a variety of pasta, meat and seafood dishes that won't break the bank.
Heights Café
84 Montague St at Hicks St, Brooklyn Heights
(718) 625-5555
Just up the street from Fulton Ferry Landing, the Heights Café is the perfect spot for a prePromenade meal. Dine on American fare and pastas, either inside the Mission-style restaurant or at one of its outdoor tables, then browse the shops on your way to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade for a stroll along the water and gorgeous views of Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge.
ABOUT:
Soaring above the pier is the Gothic magnificence of the Brooklyn Bridge. When it was completed in 1883, ferry service from the landing took a dive, but the neighborhoods surrounding the pier began to grow. Today, Fulton Landing, the industrial area directly around the pier, is making waves as a residential destination, but is more known for its excellent restaurants and its access to the Brooklyn waterfront.
To the north is Dumbo (District Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass), an emerging artsy neighborhood where galleries and restaurants are springing up as hipster artists move in. To the south are the historic brownstones of Brooklyn Heights, the Brooklyn Promenade, and the site of the future Brooklyn Bridge Park.
