Fort Greene

Just about all subway lines course through the heart of the leafy landmark neighborhood, which claims Brooklyn’s oldest park and most colorful crowds. It feels like a village (mixing and mingling happens on the streets). The weekly flea market is the pulse of the local DIY revolution.

EXPLORE ANOTHER NEIGHBORHOOD:

Picnic Country Store

185 Dekalb Ave 718-855-8965

Proprietors Camella Ehlke and Marlon Aitcheson provoke wholesome fun (the couple also runs the well-appointed Breathe Inn in the Catskills) with organic snacks, blankets, toys for outdoors, and fresh-made sandwiches to go.

Photo: Alyson Aliano

Brooklyn Academy of Music

651 Fulton St 718-636-4100

America’s oldest performing arts center is totally exciting and progressive (imagine that!). The creative campus includes an indie cinema, cafe, and theaters where live music, dance, film, and theater collide. A shining cultural landmark.

Photo: Peter Maus / Courtesy of BAM

Stuart & Wright

85 Lafayette Ave 718-797-0011

Look for an art deco dry-cleaning sign to gain access to this Fort Greene boutique, which carries local and indie designers with an eye for detail.

Photo: Courtesy of Stuart & Wright

Brooklyn Flea

176 Lafayette Ave

An outdoor market with the right mix of old-school vendors and new-school crafters, not to mention a great lineup of special food artisans from the Brooklyn locavore scene. Start your weekend strolling here.

Photo: Jonathan Butler / Courtesy of Brooklyn Flea

Habana Outpost

757 Fulton St 718-858-9500

The same menu as the Nolita joint (minus the wait) and twice as much space, including an outdoor garden. Good cuban eats, cheap drinks, and Brooklyn-cool events. Added bonus: It’s NYC’s first solar-powered restaurant. So go heat things up.

Photo: Courtesy of Cafe Habana