How Sweet It Is!

Image created by jenrock

BROOKLYN pizza. BROOKLYN cheesecake. BROOKLYN bagel.

Soon followed by the “Goodfellas,” that famous, literary tree and countless other subtle references to that giant borough that was once a city all its own.

And Manhattan is supposed to comprise the part of New York City that never sleeps?

Fuggedaboutit.

If that’s the case, then while Manhattan’s been on its caffeine-induced, insomniac binge, its eastern counterpart has been responsible for creating some of the most memorable aspects of the country’s culture.

While places like Times Square, Broadway, Rockefeller Center, Fifth Avenue and the Empire State Building have reached an iconic status worldwide, the hidden gems within its larger, more densely populated neighbor, Brooklyn, continue to fascinate locals and well-informed, off-beat travelers, alike.

The Brooklyn Botanic Garden, home to a yearly Sakura Matsuri, a festival commemorating the famed Japanese cherry blossom, has long-been a favorite destination of many Brooklynites. Located in the heart of Prospect Heights, it stands – an oasis within our beloved concrete jungle. While definitely smaller than Central Park – at 52 acres – it boasts over 11,000 different types of flora and fauna. Incidentally, June is rose month and even magnolia trees are still in bloom.

But if flowers aren’t your cup of tea and you believe are best left to the sentimental types, then the sheer feat of engineering prowess of the Brooklyn Bridge is sure to marvel even the most skeptical connoisseur. With length spanning 5,989 feet and width 85, this steel gargantuan continues to impress audiences as the first mode of non-marine transportation between the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. The longest bridge in the world upon its completion in 1883, it was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1964.

For those with a poignant sense of nostalgia, yearning for a sense of cultural history, stands Coney Island. Containing the remains of one of the world’s oldest amusement parks, Coney Island is in itself a piece of Americana – a lone relic from a time in history seemingly left behind by a world ruled by speed and size. Take a stroll into a forgotten land of Side Shows and weekly boardwalk fireworks. It’s even the location of the world’s first Nathan’s Famous hot dogs.

Yummy.

Ironically, Astroland, the amusement park that stood in the neighborhood until last year, originally had a space-age theme.

But the most famous attraction at the now-defunct park still stands and is entirely operational – the Cyclone, declared a New York City landmark in 1991.

One of the oldest surviving roller coasters in the world, the Cyclone was completed on June 26, 1927, inspired by the earlier success of the Giant Racer, America’s first coaster.

While the thrills it provides are arguably tame and even soothing compared to modern coasters, the feeling of being inside this wooden antique is incomparable to any other experience on earth. Once that shaky, rickety ride begins down a track that was considered daring generations ago, the passenger almost begins to feel a sense of wonder – recognition of the past – and.. worry? Well, those tracks are incredibly old. Maybe it is daring, after all.

These three places, although incredible, do not even begin to capture the wonder, beauty and culture that are Brooklyn, NY.

In honor of the upcoming Brooklyn-Queens day, let us take a stroll through this amazing borough that often goes sans credit while delivering priceless material to the world’s media, literature and art – much of which, in some, major capacity, feature Brooklyn.