Becharmed by Brooklyn

It seems like Brooklyn is bursting at the seams with talent these days.  Every turn I take brings new information about a designer, artist, blogger or restaurant from the Borough being featured on the information highway.  It only made sense for someone on the cutting edge of all things cool {said very tongue and cheek in case you didn’t get it} to plan a getaway with my best gal pal and go check it out with a little eco-friendly excursion. You’ll see we were quickly becharmed by Brooklyn. Starting with a quick trip to Coney Island we found it hadn’t changed much since our previous grammar school visits.  The boardwalk was just starting to wake up on this gorgeous morning, and it was a visual treat for the senses.

The graphics on these walls in particular caught our eyes. It was a perfect start to the day, walking the boardwalk and taking in the ocean breeze.

Next up, we checked into the Nu Hotel, an eco-conscious, stylish and affordable spot in a great Boerum Hill location.

The loft inspired rooms feature recycled materials, organic bedding, cork floors and some pretty mean original artwork.
The central Smith and Atlantic Avenue location allowed for an afternoon of walking, window shopping and exploring; the street was literally lined with upscale boutiques that would give Madison Ave. windows a run for their money.  Sharp, well edited vintage collections rubbed elbows with taxidermy and African imports selling fragrance oils for every mood imaginable.  It was such an interesting mix of clothing, antiques, second hand furniture,  green hardware stores, cafes and gift shops. Most were serving up an olde world neighborhood vibe in a fresh new eco-savy way.

A few of my favorites were grdn (above) -offering a dizzying array of succulents, and a killer area for indoor tablescapes, Layla–filled with textiles and bedding representing the best of craftsmanship from India along with an exquisite collection of Indian and Indian inspired jewelry and City Foundry-chockablock filled with what felt like an indoor Brimfield Antique Markets’ worth of 20th century discoveries.  Lunch was at the Bedouin Tent on a lovely outdoor back patio.  Walking by the smiling bakers in the front pulling out the fresh baked pita, I knew this place wouldn’t disappoint.

After hours of pounding the pavement, the cushy beds felt great and the Gilchrest and Soams eco baths products in the hotel were a smart change from the usual.

That night we took a short cab ride to ici.  Can’t beat a French country kitchen with the philosophy that the best food is naturally grown.  Their ecologically sound menus change with the seasons according to what’s fresh, and the back patio was perfect for a warm evening.

The next morning we walked to the Brooklyn Flea and got a taste of 100’s of vendors offering up vintage and repurposed furniture and clothing along with a tightly curated selection of wonderful local artisans and designers.  Let’s just say we didn’t go home empty handed!

And as you can tell, we barely scratched the surface of one of Brooklyn’s many neighborhoods-as we left, we both looked at each other and said we couldn’t wait to get back.

This post is part of a Travel Photos Monday link-up. Come over and take a peek for a great group of visual travel inspirations.