Park Slope

It should come as no surprise that Prospect Park puts the “park” in Park Slope. Actually, it puts the “slope” in there, too: The area gets its name due to its location on the western slope of the expansive green space. Today, Prospect Park is a haven, its presence perhaps radiating a calmness that you can feel throughout the streets of Park Slope. At the park’s northern tip sits Grand Army Plaza, the grounds of which were a battleground of the Battle of Long Island during the Revolutionary War. At present, the public plaza is most recognizable by its triumphal arch, the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch. A memorial to the Civil War, it is topped with a crowning sculpture of a four-horsed chariot driven by the goddess of victory, recalling a similar adornment on Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate.

It may seem cliche for what people think of when they think of “Brooklyn,” but Park Slope truly is home to its share of independent bookstores, record shops, and coffee spots. A little bit predictable as well, it has a flourishing restaurant scene. The main strips of Fifth and Seventh avenues retain a lively mix of businesses, as established favorites mingle with intriguing new additions. For most of Park Slope’s history, Seventh was the sole commercial hub. Its character generally fits that of the neighborhood as a whole, with fixtures that have been serving locals for decades. Fifth has a decidedly Brooklyn-nouveau vibe, represented by local artisans and designers and a dining scene that is as diverse as Brooklyn itself. Beyond Park Slope’s borders, you can readily acquire any essentials in neighboring Prospect Heights.