This cultural institutions guide takes you around Prospect Park, Brooklyn Botanic Garden and a handful of nearby museums for a culture-filled tour of two neighborhoods
Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights and Crown Heights neighborhoods pack in numerous cultural and natural attractions. The most notable of these—the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park, Brooklyn Public Library and Brooklyn Children’s Museum—are among the City’s best of their kind and are destinations in themselves. Together, they make a cultural scene.
To get the most out of your next visit, stick around the neighborhoods (particularly along Eastern Parkway) and discover nearby businesses worthy of exploring in tandem with the attractions. In our guide to each sight, we’ve recommended a favorite shop or restaurant that complements the cultural destination. Read on to mix-and-match your borough itinerary.
Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Photo: Julienne Schaer
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Entrances: 150 Eastern Pkwy., 455 Flatbush Ave., 990 Washington Ave., Prospect Heights and Crown Heights
Throughout the year, Brooklyn Botanic Garden attracts visitors to its spectacular gardens and plant collections. One of the most popular draws is the cherry blossoms, which typically bloom from late March or early April through mid-May. This stunning display, a gift from the Japanese government after World War I, is a main attraction in the spring for horticulture enthusiasts. In addition to the garden’s collections (check this guide for monthly highlights and a bloom calendar), BBG hosts various programs and activities for families, education practitioners and adults, such as workshops on floral design and watercolor painting.
While in the neighborhood, book at table at LaLou, a laid-back, stylish French restaurant specializing in natural, biodynamic and small-production wines, with over 500 on the menu. The list is curated by local restaurateurs and sommeliers Joe Campanale (Fausto) and Dave Foss.
Brooklyn Museum. Photo: Victor Llorente
Brooklyn Museum
200 Eastern Pkwy., Prospect Heights
With a collection of about 500,000 objects housed over five floors of galleries, Brooklyn Museum has plenty to merit an entire day’s exploration and still have you returning for more—and that’s not even to mention its array of rotating displays. Collections showcase art from around the world as well as contemporary American art and photography. While checking out the cherry blossoms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden this spring, be sure to visit Hiroshige’s 100 Famous Views of Edo (featuring Takashi Murakami), an exhibition that opens April 5 and runs through early August. This collection of prints, inspired by Utagawa Hiroshige and created by Murakami, depicts 19th-century Tokyo and hasn’t been available for public viewing in more than two decades.
Nearby, explore A.Mano Brooklyn, a home decor and gift shop that sells ceramics, jewelry and the like from an array of local Brooklyn artists, many of whom are women. Its founder, Katherine Wells, is an art history major who brings a community of diverse creatives together in her shop.
Prospect Park. Photo: Scott Rossi
Prospect Park
Multiple park entrances, bordering Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Prospect Park South, Windsor Terrace and Park Slope
As the second-largest public green space in Brooklyn (behind Marine Park), Prospect Park’s 526 acres attracts around 8 to 10 million visitors per year. That’s not hard to believe considering the number of activities on offer. Besides the popular 90-acre Long Meadow, a beautiful expanse of unbroken green, there’s barbecue areas, nature centers, ball fields, hiking trails, a vast greenmarket, a zoo and some historic sites—just to name a few of its attractions. No wonder Prospect Park is designated as a New York City scenic landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
If you’re planning on picnicking in the park, swing by BKLYN Larder in Prospect Heights. This gourmet deli stocks locally sourced, small-batch cheeses and meats alongside house-made prepared sandwiches and specialty grocery items from a variety of brands, including many beloved Brooklyn producers.
Brooklyn Public Library. Photo: Scott Rossi
Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library
10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights
Visiting Central Library—Brooklyn’s flagship branch—begins with taking in its architecture. The exterior was designed to resemble an open book and features a 50-foot-high entrance decorated with 15 bronze sculptures of American literature icons. Bibliophiles will appreciate the library’s vast collections of books and materials in more than 30 languages, with subjects including art and music; society, sciences and technology; and youth. Central Library also hosts BPL Presents, which offers cultural programming throughout the year. Events include author talks, live musical performances and exhibits—featuring subjects like street photography and pop culture, like last year’s Jay-Z retrospective.
When you’re done visiting, be sure to check out Unnameable Books nearby. This popular, independent bookstore sells (and buys) new and used books covering a wide range of genres, including poetry, Black studies and queer literature. Bonus: the shop hosts free events most evenings.
Brooklyn Children's Museum. Photo: Lucia Vazquez
Brooklyn Children’s Museum
145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights
Brooklyn Children’s Museum, founded in 1899, was the first museum dedicated to children in the US. Equal parts educational and entertaining, the museum’s exhibits and programs focus on visual arts, music, natural science and world cultures. Nature’s Engineers, for example, is a permanent exhibit where children participate in hands-on learning activities that combine STEM fields with nature while getting to see fossils, bird’s nests, live animals and the like.
After a full day at the museum, head over to Chavela’s, a family-friendly Mexican restaurant favored by locals. The menu at this Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant (that is, recommended for its combination of quality and value) is the creation of Mexico City native Arturo Leonar and features traditional dishes (tacos, mole, pozole), lots of vegetarian items and specialty cocktails.
