ONE THING VISITORS
SHOULD KNOW
BEFORE ARRIVING?
All roads lead to Boerum Hill –
well, pretty much all subway lines
d o. I t ’s l o c a t e d n e a r t h e A , B, C , D,
F, G, N , Q , R , 2, 3, 4 a n d 5 l i n e s ,
meaning you can get to it
easily from wherever
you’re staying.BY THE BOOK
Books Are Magic is an independent
bookshop – founded by Emma Straub,
author of The Vacationers – that hosts
fascinating panels and talks. Shopping
here is special because the whole place
has so clearly been put together by
people who love books. You can’t miss it
when walking down Smith Street, with its
big ‘books are magic’ exterior mural.
booksaremagic.net
FIRE AND ICE
On freezing winter nights, I like to
meet friends in the back room at
the cocktail lounge Clover Club,
because it has a glorious fireplace.
There’s often live jazz, which
makes the vibe even cosier.
cloverclubny.comUPWARD DOG
At the Invisible Dog art centre, which occupies the
ground floor of a former factory, the focus is on
emerging and avant-garde artists. The industrial
character of the space has been retained – there’s still
an old lift shaft, and you can see original lighting
fi x t u r e s o n t h e w a l l s. W h a t I l ov e m o s t i s t h e h i d d e n
courtyard garden off to the side of the gallery: a nice
place to sit and read or enjoy a few moments of quiet.
theinvisibledog.orgBREAD HEADS
The best pastries in
the neighbourhood are sold
at a bakery on Smith Street
called Bien Cuit, which also
supplies a lot of restaurants
in Brooklyn. Come here for
incredible almond croissants,
or cranberry and ginger
danishes. They make amazing
c r u s t y b r e a d, a s w e l l. T h e
exposed brick walls, wooden
tables and sunlight pouring
through big windows make
it a lovely place to sit and
people-watch.
biencuit.comTOP STREET
State Street has rows of beautiful brownstones and charming
tree-lined pavements. The whole street has a calm, peaceful
atmosphere and is a great place for a stroll. Among the lovely
townhouses are a few cute bars and cafés: one of my favourite
new ones is About Coffee, which makes a great matcha latte.