John Major (2:38)

Yeah, it's fantastic. Actually, it's only been there for a week or two. And it's all about connecting the space that is Brooklyn Bridge park to both the history of that place and imagined futures. And so you can access through QR codes various elements of the exhibit as you walk through the park. And it's really a great way to explore the space, particularly with children. And there are guided tours that are available to lead you through.

Unknown Speaker 1 (3:23)

How would I, how would I sign up for a guided tour?

John Major (3:26)

I think the best way probably is just to go to the Brooklyn Bridge website, park website, which is brooklynbridge park.org and have a look on there.

Unknown Speaker 1 (3:38)

The second art exhibit you describe, you write is an immersive sculptural soundscape. What is this piece?

John Major (3:46)

Yeah, it's a fantastic piece that is sort of a series of structures, let's say that form like a bone like body and you can walk through it and around it. And immersed within the structure are eight speakers playing snippets of sound. It's created by a, an artist named Torquesy Dyson entitled Akua, which is born on Wednesday in the West African tradition that she's accessing. It's just a great way to be outdoors and a beautiful space near to the water and also just to have this museum like experience.

Unknown Speaker 1 (4:49)

We're getting texts already. This says take a friend to Food Bazaar in Red Hook. Grab some food, sit outside, great views of water, traffic and the Statue of Liberty. Another text says whale watching on the American Princess. Whales and dolphins are just offshore of the beaches of Brooklyn's and Brooklyn and Queens. Get on the boat, see the whales and dolphins off the coast of Coney island and the Rockaways. You will love it. Listeners, call in. Tell us what you like about Brooklyn. Our number is 2124-3396-9221-2433 wnyc2rul. If you're driving, please don't call us.

Alison Stewart (5:30)

Please pull over and call us.

Unknown Speaker 1 (5:31)

Please do not call us when you are driving. The second rule of thumb is this will be on transcript later today. So if you're running to write things down, don't worry about it. Check out the transcript later. We're with John Major, author of the guidebook 111 Things in Brooklyn youn Must Not Miss. He's also doing an updated version and we want your recommendations. 212-433-9692 too. Okay. Up next in Greenpoint is a bar that you suggest people check out. It's called Scrapperland.

John Major (6:04)

Yeah, this is a fairly new on the scene. It's a bar that features 39 classic pinball games as kind of the on site entertainment. And it's brought to you by the same people who did another place on Manhattan Avenue called the Sunshine Laundromat, which is a functioning Laundromat with a speakeasy bar. If you go through one of the drawing machines, you end up in a bar with about 20 pinball machines and various games. And it's just a great concept to find this unexpected place. And the new Scrapple Land also features a rooftop where you can try your hand at Corners Hole. And there is a beautiful sculpture up there by Brooklyn based artist Tom Froon, who makes these gorgeous mosaic pictures of water towers. Exactly.

Unknown Speaker 1 (7:17)

Didn't that used to be a beer bar? Wasn't a beer bar at one point?

John Major (7:21)

I think so. I think so. So they're sort of using that space and transforming it into something new. And who knows, maybe ultimately a new generation will be turned on to pinball, which I thoroughly endorse.

Unknown Speaker 1 (7:39)

This says I love going to Brighton Beach. Though many love the Rockaways, this beach will always have my heart. The water's much calmer and I think it's a beautiful long stretch of sand with so many delicious food options. Right off the subway, my favorite meal is stopping at Tashkent Supermark and picking up an Uzbek Paolo. It's a rice and meat dish so good you can't believe it. They have the most extensive hot and cold food bar I've ever seen. And anyone who goes becomes an immediate fan. Thanks for the text. All right, we are going to head out to Red Hook. You suggest Pioneer Works. Oh, this is a great space. Pioneer Works to check out an exhibit about the legacy of the ballroom community in the city.

John Major (8:21)

Yeah. This is also a fairly new arrival there, a terrific art space in Red Hook. And they have put together an exhibit that's being curated by three icons of the ballroom scene. And the one at Pioneer Works features segments of video by artist Felix Rodriguez, who began documenting balls after watching Paris and Is burning back in 1990. He felt like the audience he was watching with were laughing at inappropriate times, and it just made him want to capture what was really special about that scene. And one thing to note, aside from going there to see the exhibit, there is going to be a mini ball event on site on August 10th that may be of distinct interest to viewers.

Alison Stewart (9:32)

That is at Pioneer Works in Red Hook. My guest is John Major, author of the guidebook 111 Things to Do in Brooklyn youn Must Not Miss. Give us a call. Tell us your favorite things to do in Brooklyn. 2124-339692-21243. WNYC. After the break, we'll hear about a park that won an Olympic medal. Stay with us. You are listening to all of it on wnyc. I'm Alison Stewart. We're discussing some of the best things to do in Brooklyn over the summer. My guest is John Major, author of the guidebook 111 Things in Brooklyn youn Must Not Miss. Listeners, we want your recommendations of the best things to do in Brooklyn, especially in the summer. Give us a call, 433-969-222-2433. WNYC. Okay, I said before the break, we're going to check out a park that won an Olympic medal. Please explain.

John Major (10:39)

Yeah, very bizarrely, back in the 20s and 30s, the Olympic Committee actually gave medals for the arts in the category of the arts. And one was on design, urban design. And a architect named Charles Downing lay submitted plans that he had to renovate Marine park, which is in Sheepshead Bay and Avenue U, and lo and behold, won a silver medal. And it was the although the Berlin Games are, of course, remembered for Jesse Owens and the the rowing team that the film was made about, this actually was the first medal that was won by the US Team. So the park has recently been renovated again. There's a beautiful running track for runners and bikers. There are pickleball courts, handball courts, tennis court. It's just a great place to be. And on weekends, bits of immigrant communities who miss their cricket tend to arrive there for cricket matches. And it's really a wonderful way to experience the totality of the immigrant experience in Brooklyn and also be introduced to a game that's even slower than baseball, that Bill Bryson said a moderately active spectator could burn off more calories than a cricketer. So. And if you don't know much about the sport, it's always a reason to strike up a conversation.

Alison Stewart (12:45)

Well, next Marine park is the Salt Mars Center.

John Major (12:48)

Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 1 (12:49)

What can I do at the Salt Mars Center?

John Major (12:50)

Also a fantastic space, a beautiful visitor center that gives you an introduction to some of the ecological aspects there. There are also paths that take you through the grasses and wetlands. And over 250 breeds of birds and 50 breeds of butterflies populate that space. So it's a way to quietly retreat into nature in a space like Brooklyn, where you don't always imagine those encounters as available.

Unknown Speaker 1 (13:41)

John, let's take some calls. Nick is calling us from Brooklyn. Hey, Nick, thanks for making the time to call all of it.

Nick (13:50)

Hi, thanks so much for having me. So I go to this place in Prospect, Lefferts Gardens Nostrind, very close to the 2, 5B and Q called Bar Bayeux. And I like to go there Tuesday nights. They have live jazz most nights of the week, but Tuesday nights are really special and they have a set by people who are remarkable and world Famous. And it's just in this little hole in the wall that's really affordable and terrific. And they have a great piano and people like Ethan Iverson of the Bad plus or Ed Cherry or I saw Al Foster before he passed away play there a couple times. I mean, just incredible musicians that you wouldn't expect at this small bar in Brooklyn. And it's a beautiful scene.

Unknown Speaker 1 (14:57)

Nick, thank you so much for calling. And thanks for giving the subway lines. That's very special. Let's talk to Rachel in Manhattan. Hey, Rachel, where do you go when you're in Brooklyn?

Rachel (15:07)

Yeah, hi. I wanted to call and talk about daiso in Japan Village. If you don't know what daiso is, it's kind of like, I don't want to say a dollar store because I know they're 215 now, but it's a Japanese convenience store where you can get household goods and a ton of other cute stuff for really cheap. And it's my go to. I go get like an onigiri and then walk around. Super fun.

Unknown Speaker 1 (15:30)

Thanks, Rachel. Let's talk to Fiona from Brooklyn.

Alison Stewart (15:32)

Hey, Fiona.

Unknown Speaker 1 (15:34)

Hi.

Rachel (15:35)

Thank you for taking my call. I feel like there's so many wonderful little spots, especially in Prospect Park. But my favorite spot to go in the park is the dog beach. I'm not the best with geography, so I can't tell you exactly where that is, but if you look on a map, it is on there. But it's basically a place where dogs are allowed to go in the water and swim. And they've been doing it all summer. And it is so fun to watch.

Unknown Speaker 1 (16:01)

Love it. Thank you so much, Fiona. All right. It's summer. It's time for ice cream. Where should we go in Brooklyn?

John Major (16:10)

Yeah. And for this recommendation, I really, I turned to a friend of mine, Rahel Mazur, who wrote another book in the 111 series on places for kids and families in New York City. It's a fantastic resource and somebody who raised three small children. I wish it had existed when I was doing that. She recommends a place called Brooklyn Pharmacy, which is in Carroll Gardens that is kind of an old school ice cream center with contemporary touches set in an historic apothecary in Carroll Gardens. And you can get to egg creams and milkshakes and all the good treats that, you know you crave. And it sounds like a very beautiful place to hang out.

Unknown Speaker 1 (17:24)

That is Brooklyn Pharmacy. I'm doing a little shout out to Brown Butter Creamery and Bed Stuy. Just saying, love their ice cream. We got A call here. And this is on your list as well. The text. I said, hi, Alison. Greenwood Cemetery is a great place to visit all year round, but especially in the summer. You agree?

John Major (17:43)

Yeah, totally agree. I mean, they have some terrific special events. One is, it's already passed, but a night of celebration called Niblo's Garden. And it's a former impresario who has a tomb there along the lake. And they, for that evening, they highlight that tomb and they have circus actors surrounding the lake performing. It's just a beautiful night out for a picnic and watching the fireflies as it grows dark. Otherwise, you know, Greenwood's Cemetery began its life as sort of a first public park in the city. And it has beautiful mature trees and landscaping, and it's a gorgeous place to walk and get out your energy. And there are also guided tours that happen there on trolleys that are sometimes theme based, like around, let's say, artists and musicians with Leonard Bernstein and Louis Comfort, Tiffany John Michel Basquiat, just to name a few. But they also have themes around baseball players who are buried there, mobsters the work. So this is the place to be up close and personal with historic figures who are permanent residents of Berkeley Schwarz.

Alison Stewart (19:43)

Lots of people there. Let's talk to Ian from Staten Island. Hey, Ian, thanks for calling, all of it. You're on the air.

John Major (19:51)

Hi, how are you?

Nick (19:52)

I wanted to talk about Dekalb Market in downtown Brooklyn. I actually just went for the first time yesterday, and it's really amazing. There's a huge target. There's so many good food spots, all different cuisines. They have a cat's delicatessen, and the one in the Lower east side is always so hard to get into. And there was a really quick line there. The food was so good. They have a trader Joe's, a McNally bookstore. So many things, it's amazing.

Alison Stewart (20:17)

Thanks so much for calling in and make sure you listen tomorrow because we're going to be talking about Staten island tomorrow as well. See, I have on my list baboons. It says baboons right here.

John Major (20:28)

Yes. So this also comes from Rahel, who finds that one of her favorite oases for families is in the baboon area of the Brooklyn Zoo. A cool, air conditioned, cool area where the kids can come kind of run around, play to their heart's content, looking and imitating the baboons and laughing at funny butts and colors and shapes. And while parents and grandparents who are overheated and exhausted from all that juvenile energy can sit on a bench and recuperate for a few minutes.

Alison Stewart (21:25)

This text says get to Coney island at the end of the day at the far ends of the beach. Be there for sunset. It's unlike anywhere else in New York City. That is Michael from Brooklyn. If you do that, you can go to a Coney Island Cyclone game. I went on July 5th. It was awesome.

John Major (21:42)

Yeah, the Cyclones are away right now, but they're back at the end of July and I think I counted that they still have 18 games at home. They're always great promotions. I think August 1st is Irish night. They're having a Harry Potter event later in August. Tons of giveaways. It's a great place to spend an evening out with friends and family. I was there on Sunday. There were behind me like seven or eight kids who had gone to Cornell who were having a little miniature reunion. And it's just a great, great place to see that there's still enthusiasm for the national pastime.

Alison Stewart (22:37)

And our last 30 seconds. Anything else you want to mention?

John Major (22:41)

Well, I would just say to, you know, I'm a big fan of the New York Liberty, so I'm never gon point them out. They still have 10 home games, particularly next week on the 25th, they have a game against the Phoenix Mercury that is the celebration of pride. There's going to be an exhibit of fan pictures on the concourse and it's, it's sure to just be a wonderful evening that demonstrates all of the reasons that we love our borough.

Alison Stewart (23:21)

John Major, he was our guest walking us through all the things we can do in Brooklyn. Thanks for being with us.

John Major (23:28)

Thank you so much.

Alison Stewart (23:30)

Coming up, Robin Givhan's new book explains Virgil Abloh's rise to the top of the fashion industry. It's titled Make It Ours. She joins us to discuss. That's after the headlines.

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