Do Not Judge a Borough by its Cover

If I am to describe Manhattan as a drop dead gorgeous girl who stops the traffic when she flicks her professionally blowed out hair, then Brooklyn would have to be her unassuming, quirky best friend who hides her killer body under a loose-fitting polyester sweater.

You can't help but notice the beauty of Manhattan at every turn - the glamour, the vibrant streets, the unapologetic noise 24/7, and the energy she draws from the people.

Brooklyn on the other hand, is the girl who reads article with titles such as 'Being extrovert is overrated' but couldn't be bothered to hit 'like' because she doesn't really care if you know what she thinks.  She is so comfortable with her own quality that she doesn't feel the need to prove herself.

It has been almost 4 months since we moved to New York (now that is a scary thought).  I am still in constant awe by Manhattan and how it is always 'on'.  However I can't help wanting more and more of Brooklyn because every time I set foot across the bridge I stumble across unexpected hidden gems that just makes me smile.  And with Brooklyn being 3 times larger than Manhattan - the possibilities of what you may find in the urban treasure hunt seems infinite.

Although, for me, Brooklyn got a bad press back in 2004 starting with Miranda Hobbes' massive resistance to move to the other side of the bridge.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eeOzqFlXD_Q  Not helping was my 'first contact' with Brooklyn when I went to IKEA in Red Hook - walking through wild industrial areas not knowing exactly where I was.  It was not what I would call a mind-blowing experience.  (I admit it is my own fault not catching the free IKEA water taxi from Manhattan)

It may be fate that I ended up going to Brooklyn a lot (weekly drum classes at the Brooklyn Music School in Fort Greene, and I attend the monthly drum circle at a recording studio in Gowanus) and I keep discovering pockets of awesomeness in this charming borough.

In this post I shall share with you some of my more interesting 'finds'.

Williamsburg, often described as the hipster central of New York City.  I was expecting to see schools of barista-looking dudes in skinny jeans and massive beards walking around.  I only saw a few (perhaps I went during the wrong time of the day) and the setting of the neighborhood reminds me of Glebe.  The pleasant surprise was when I walked towards East River State Park I could see beautiful water and Manhattan under the blue sky.

Looking at Manhattan skyline at
Williamsburg wharf

Gowanus has proved to be another interesting spot, with the area used to be where ships to New York Harbor came to unload their goods.  It was also where local industrial operations unloaded their untreated waste years ago.  However - this is Brooklyn's 'next big thing', with hip restaurants and shops opening up, and home to numerous artists' studios and the like.  I would not use the word 'charming' for Gowanus but I really don't think it cares what words I use.

Earning street cred among your
friends when you tell them this is
where you 'make music'
 at Battalion Studio, Gowanus

Brooklyn will reveal its beauty to you once you see past this.

This is called a 'Terrarium' and was created in
Twig's Gowanus studio. http://twigterrariums.com/
Nelson didn't really like it
but I loved the concept of a pocket universe inside
the jar (and I only have to water it once every 3 weeks)
 - in this universe Nelson has just dashed out
of the forest after a long, gruelling ride.

The cafe inside the Morbid Anatomy Museum
http://morbidanatomymuseum.org/
where regular 'weird and wonderful' exhibitions are
on display.  We attended a lecture there with the topic
of 'Placebos, Nocebos and Voodoo death'.
Ticket price of $12 comes with red wine.

Death masks at The Morbid Anatomy Museum.
Don't ask me why.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_mask

What is cooler than a bat hanging off a tree
is a bat skeleton hanging off a dead tree branch
(Morbid Anatomy Museum)

When evolution is done right. (Morbid
Anatomy Museum)

Who wants to be an unicorn when you can be the
grumpy hare with horns? (Morbid Anatomy Museum)

Last weekend we 'discovered' another otherwise traditionally unusual tourist attraction (thanks to my BFF Han): Green Wood Cemetery.  Contrary to my childhood image of the spooky, dark and scary graveyards that makes you feel too close to death, this place is anything but.  It is peaceful and tranquil.  And the tombs, mausoleums and monuments are of stunning design.  I don't like the idea of being stuck at the cemetery after dark - however this also feels like the perfect place to be getting lost at, with looping networks of roads and trails connecting the various 'zones'.  And it is massive (478 acres)!  As a final resting place, Green Wood is not too shabby at all.

The Gothic Arch entrance at Green Wood Cemetery

Monument style tomb stones
and obelisks scattered around at
Green Wood Cemetery

The burial of painter William Holbrok Beard,
whose famous painting of bears and bulls to the
market is still used to describe the stock market this day.
There is a bear sitting on top of this tomb stone. 

Soldiers' Monument on Battle Hill,
which is the highest point of Brooklyn, where
the Continental Army fought off British troops during
the 1776 Battle of Long Island.

Apparently you can see Statue of Liberty in the
distance from this point (I only saw this piece of
information afterwards).  I like the way the setting
sun paints the skyline with gold. 

Manhattan in the distance.  I was surprised
to see many residential blocks right next
to the cemetery.

Parson's Pyramid: Albert Ross Parson was a
Christian composer with an Egyptian obsession.
The sign of Osiris at the entrance of the mausoleum
is typical for Egyptian tomb.  He is also flanked by
Mary, Joseph and Jesus.  Plus a sphinx.
Triple protection - Good on ya Uncle Parson!

Something worth mentioning was that throughout the cemetery grounds, you could smell the aroma of freshly baked bread.  Very distracting!  After the cemetery closed at 5pm Nelson and I set out to find the source of the killer smell and finally located the culprit at Baked In Brooklyn.  http://bakedinbrooklynny.com/  It looks like a wholesaler bakery but walk in is also welcomed.  While we sat down on the bench taking a bite from the fresh-from-the-oven buns, with cups of hot tea in our hands and looking over Green Wood Cemetery in the dusk, I have to say, it feels good to be alive.