Elisa & Seamus
Things To Do
Prospect Park
Brooklyn's backyard and one of our favorite places. We had a memorable early date here and return to it often. The park was designed by Olmsted and Vaux a few years after Manhattan's Central Park and has a mix of community fields, woodland and meadow environments, and amazing people-watching. Take a stroll or a picnic and you will not be disappointed. Some of our favorite spots include the Lefrac Lakeside center, the Boathouse, or the bandshell.
Sunset Park
Sunset Park is a hidden treasure within walking distance to the venue. Tucked away in the neighborhood that bares its name, this park is famous for its breathtaking vista. From the park’s highest point you can see the Statue of Liberty, vibrant Brooklyn neighborhoods, and Staten Island and New Jersey. Turning your gaze inward there is an equally diverse terrain: a swimming pool, green fields, pedestrian walkways, a sand volleyball court, a recreation center, and a living memorial commemorating September 11th.
Ditmas Park
We have lived nearby for six years and love this slice of Brooklyn. Ditmas Park is a lovely, walkable, historic subsection within the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. It is notable for several blocks of preserved Victorian multi-family homes. There is also a retail and restaurant corridor along Cortelyou Rd that is our go-to for coffee, date nights, and entertaining guests. It's hard to go wrong along this strip but our favorites include Connecticut Muffin (try the Vanilla Hazelnut coffee and an egg & cheese on an everything croissant), Mimi's Hummus, Jalsa (Indian food), Castello Plan, Lea, Sweet Lea, Cafe Madeline (brunch) and Sycamore bar.
Judy's
If you're looking for a coffee or nosh before or after the festivities we highly recommend this bar close to our venue in Sunset Park.
NYC Ferry
A great budget-friendly way to see the city. For a quick trip, explore nearby Red Hook. (Make sure to get a chocolate covered key lime pie at Steve's Authentic!) If you have more time, explore Astoria. (We recommend checking out the Noguchi Museum.) Or combine both! The Red Hook Tavern is one of the best burgers anywhere, but a reservation ahead of time is required.
Walk the Manhattan Bridge
Not the Brooklyn Bridge, the other one! For better views and photos of the Brooklyn Bridge, check out the Manhattan Bridge. Pro tip: go around sunset. When you arrive on the Brooklyn side head a few blocks over to the DUMBO neighborhood for more photo ops, food options, and Evil Twin Brewery.
Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk
A favorite in the summer. Fun fact: it's down the road from our apartment! We can often be found on a weekend afternoon taking a long walk down to the water.
The Green-Wood Cemetery
Green-Wood is historic and picturesque with the highest elevation and viewpoint in the borough. Many of the sculpted monuments and gravestones inside are intriguing works of art. You can visit the gravesites of Leonard Bernstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and other historical figures.
Books Are Magic
One of our favorite bookstores in Brooklyn. Owned by author Emma Straub, located near the hotel blocks.
The Center for Fiction
Another favored bookstore of ours with a great selection of fiction (obvi), but also poetry, essays, and a quality sales section.
Dekalb Market Hall
This is a dependable mall and market located close to our hotel blocks. Within the mall are several food vendors offering all types of cuisine, an outpost of McNally Jackson bookstore, a Trader Joe's, and an Alamo Drafthouse movie theater (one of our favorite spots to catch flicks in Brooklyn).
Shelsky's Of Brooklyn Appetizing and Delicatessen
No trip to NYC is complete without enjoying a bagel (or two or more). This famous Brooklyn establishment is located near the hotel blocks.
Buttermilk Channel
Excellent brunch option for comfort food near the hotels.
Frankies 457 Spuntino
Classic and very tasty Italian dishes near the hotels.
Leyenda
Head here for amazing Latin food and some of the best cocktails in the city. It's on the small side so reservations are a good idea.
Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain
Stop by and pay homage to the soda fountains of a century ago. The ice cream is great and, for the adventurous, it is the best place to sample an Egg Cream: a unique seltzer drink native to NYC.
L&B Spumoni Gardens
This Brooklyn institution is a favorite of ours and a great dinner stop after exploring Coney Island. Their specialty is thick Sicilian pizza that, while not a full deep-dish, even Chicagoans will appreciate.
Black Mountain Wine House
An excellent and popular winebar.
Livingston Manor
One of the groom's favorite bars in Brooklyn and practically around the corner from the hotels.
TALEA Beer Co.
The outpost of a favored brewery located between the venue and hotels. This women-owned brewery is well-known for its sours, but has a full selection of great draft brews and more.
Yard Bar
Great outdoor spot for groups. Retro campers repurposed with tables for light bites and brews.