Gateway to a New Year and
Renewed NYC Neighborhoods 

The Renaissance of Brooklyn's "Columbia Street Corridor"
The New Year is a great opportunity to discover new surroundings and diversions. While you may already be familiar with the South Brooklyn neighborhoods of Red Hook, Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill, have you visited the fast-developing tract that is situated at the nexus of these communities along the water - The Columbia Street Waterfront District? The District, also nicknamed the "Columbia Street Corridor," features incredible views of the Manhattan skyline. And, it's home to a slew of unique and hip new restaurants, cafes, bars and boutiques, mixed in alongside century-old establishments run by second and third family generations.

Stroll the Old World Italian area and see the bakery where Nicolas Cage kneaded bread in the film "Moonstruck," now a full-service café and sandwich shop called Naidre's. Or, dine at Brooklyn's oldest Foccaceria, Ferdinando's, where scenes from Martin Scorscese's film "The Departed" with Leonardo DiCaprio were shot (even though the film is set in Boston). Open since 1904, Ferdinando's serves Sicilian specialties such as stuffed sun-dried tomatoes and chickpea Panelle that are tough to find anywhere else. 

The photograph above is a view of the Manhattan skyline from Alma and the one's to the left are of Ferdinando's Foccaceria, Sugarlounge, Kotobuki Bistro and General Nightmare Antiques.

 

Growing Restaurant Row, Artist Studios and Boutiques
A sampling of the area's other restaurants include Zagat-rated French bistro Bouillabaisse and Alma, tasty and traditional Mexican fare whose year-round rooftop dining offers a view of Manhattan that rivals most any other Brooklyn restaurant's. Watch our video above for a snapshot of Alma's breathtaking rooftop scene!

Also, check out Kotobuki Bistro for Japanese and Thai cuisine; Let Them Eat Pie for the "culturally iconic" New Zealand and Australian meat pie; Mazzat Mediterranean Kitchen and Tapas; and Pit Stop Café, a wine bar and restaurant with a Formula One racing theme. Other bars include Lido, Jalopy with an intimate live music stage; and Sugarlounge for Caribbean-inspired drinks and tapas.

Artists and boutiques line the street, as well. Browse the Brooklyn Collective, featuring clothing, jewelry, accessories, photography, paintings, sculpture and industrial design on exhibit (and for sale); General Nightmare Antiques for furniture and decorative items from the 20s to the 70s; and Clayworks on Columbia Pottery Gallery. Also, peruse vintage and kitschy boutiques like Bobkat Vintage and Union Max.

Getting to Columbia Street: The neighborhood is bordered by the waterfront to the west; the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) trench to the east; Atlantic Avenue to the north; and Hamilton Avenue to the south. By Subway: Take the F or G train to Caroll St. and walk west 5 blocks to Columbia St.

So, join us (and Dino Martin) as we explore the Columbia Street Corridor via video (above).