First published 1991
Ellen Freudenheim explores Brooklyn neighborhood by neighborhood in this compact travel guide. A husband and wife writing team relocated from Manhattan to Park Slope in 1984 seeking cheaper rent. They found Brooklyn far more appealing than expected but struggled to locate information about different areas. This slim volume covers territories from Coney Island to Williamsburg, documenting ethnic eateries, historic landmarks, family activities, shopping districts, and local festivals. The book appeared during an era when Manhattan residents feared crossing into Brooklyn, before internet restaurant reviews existed, and when GPS navigation belonged to science fiction. Freudenheim produced the first commercial Brooklyn guidebook published in five decades. The work launched a trilogy of Brooklyn guides from St. Martin's Press that would chronicle the borough's transformation over subsequent years.
Genres: history, travel, non-fiction
Vibes: cozy, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water
Setting: Brooklyn (New York, N.Y.), New York (N.Y.)
Period: 1980s
293 pages · Paperback · St Martins Pr