Barrhead Travel Destination of the Week!

If it's not happening in Brooklyn ... it isn't happening!

Brooklyn is America’s fourth largest city (as well as being one of New York City’s five boroughs) and it is a best bet for tourists who want hip and historic, authentic and diverse experiences and who enjoy character and characters!

Experience Brooklyn

Festivals & Concerts:

Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (April) New York City's "rite of spring," offers over 50 events and performances celebrating Japanese culture and the blossoming of BBG's 220 cherry trees

39th Annual International African Arts Festival, (July), Thousands of festival goers gather each day to enjoy live music, dance, spoken word performances, African marketplace, showcase performances, fashion, and hair shows.

Outdoor Concert Series (June- August) from Celebrate Brooklyn in Park Slope to the Northside Festival in Williamsburg, the Village Voice Siren Festival and Seaside Summer Concerts in Coney Island, Jelly’s pool party concerts on the waterfront in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival in DUMBO, or the Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series in central Brooklyn, Brooklyn is the summer home of star studded entertainment from the classics to emerging artists.

West Indian American Day Carnival (September) Carnival lovers and revelers from across the United States, and abroad will converge in Brooklyn, New York in celebration of the West Indian Carnival Festival to enjoy masks, concerts and an incredible parade. Biz Bash lists this in the top 5 biggest parades and events in NYC- and bigger is better with all the big, beautiful costumed fun!

Atlantic Antic (September) New York City’s classic and largest street festival.
Food Networks New York City Food and Wine Festival (October) The Burger Bash, hosted by Rachel Ray is in Brooklyn.

Meet the cultural creators!

Bklyn Designs (May) multi day showcase for New York City’s finest, new, home furnishing designers.

NYPF (May) The New York Photo Festival delivers a dynamic, high-quality event celebrating both contemporary photography and the creative, inspirational talents of the people who produce this work.

Brooklyn Book Festival (September) This hip, smart and diverse literary event is the largest one in Northeastern America and features over 200 national and international authors presented in conversation, panels, or workshops on five stages and in four halls. Free - with a huge literary marketplace.

smART Brooklyn Gallery Hop (November) featuring free tours and bus loops to over 70 galleries in four major art districts that exhibit emerging and established artists


Come to CONEY ISLAND – More OOHS! New AHS!

America’s favorite playground offers the famous boardwalk, beach and amusements (including the landmarked Wonder Wheel and Cyclone) minor league baseball with the New York Mets farm team, the Brooklyn Cyclones, the New York Aquarium and Friday night firework shows. Don’t miss the annual Mermaid Parade (June) where glitter is clothes or the Polar Bear Day (new years day) where the bold brave a winter dip in the ocean. New this summer in Coney Island:

LUNA PARK Opened on Memorial Day weekend 2010 and named after an iconic piece of Coney’s history, the new Luna Park represents the largest investment in amusements in Coney Island in decades. The park’s inaugural season will introduce New Yorkers and tourists from around the world to 19 new rides, including the world debut of “Air Race.” The new Luna Park has been designed to reflect the spirit and personality of today’s Coney Island, while capturing the original look and feel of its namesake. With no entrance fee, Luna Park will be fully accessible to those who prefer games to rides, or to those simply taking a stroll down the Boardwalk. Brought to you by ZAMPERLA International.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents The Coney Island IlluscinationSM, (June- September, 2010) a fantasy-filled world where thrills, wonderment and unbelievable magic intersect with the outlandish fun of the circus. Illuscinator, and host of this all new Gold edition, David DaVinci along with performers from all over the world invite Children of All Ages to join them on a mystifying adventure where they will witness eye-popping illusions and thrilling circus acts all at The Greatest Show On Earth® in an air-conditioned tent on Surf Avenue and West 21st Street.

Guides & Packages

Brooklyn is proud to announce that many of our cultural institutions and attractions are now marketed in discount, multi-day passes packaged, through double-decker tour packages with Twin America (Grayline - Citysights)– www.newyorksightseeing.com and with the expertise and fun of unique tour guides:

A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours– www.asliceofbrooklyn.com
Beyond Times Square Receptive Operator – www.btsq.com
Big Onion Walking Tours – www.bigonion.com
Chassidic Discovery/Jewish Hassidic Walking Tour – www.jewishtours.com
Food on Foot Tours – www.foodonfoottours.com
Gotham Sidewalks – www.gothamsidewalks.com
Hush Tours – www.hushhiphoptours.com
Inside Out Tours – www.insideouttours.com
Levy’s Unique New York – www.levysuniqueny.com
New York Visions Brooklyn Tour – www.harlemspirituals.com
New York Water Taxi - www.newyorkwatertaxi.com

Additionally, Brooklyn is part of major destination passes through:

New York Pass: Discover the New York Pass offering free entry to over 50 attractions including 10 famous Brooklyn sites such as Juniors Restaurant, New York Aquarium and the Heart of Brooklyn cultural members! Receive a 140 page guidebook, enjoy line skipping privileges, receive over $650 worth of entrance fees as well as benefit from many special offers on theatre tickets, entry to special exhibitions, audio tours and discounts on shopping plus much more!

Smart Destination’s Explorer Pass: Explore top Brooklyn and New York City sights, museums and tours with the Explorer Pass - pick from 40 attractions – including Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Chassidic Discovery Walking Tour and many more! With savings up to 40%!

Shop Brooklyn

Dine In Brooklyn Restaurant Week (March/April) over 200 restaurants offer fine dining deals with a prix fix menu that features signature dishes.
Boutique Brooklyn Fashion Nights (August) boutiques in fashion districts entice with trunk shows, guest designers and discounts on selected nights presented by Brooklyn Tourism.

Brooklyn flea markets (spring & summer) these fleas offer tourists unique shopping opportunities to find art, vintage and designer fashion, crafts and more (ask for a list)
www.ishopBrooklyn.com for all the news on all the shopping districts in Brooklyn.

Visit Brooklyn Homes & Gardens

HOUSE TOURS (spring/summer) Brooklyn neighborhood Associations present open houses in a variety of neighborhoods from brownstones to Victorian mansions. Ticketed admissions from $10- $25 gets you INSIDE some of the most beautiful homes in Brooklyn in Fort Greene, Park Slope, downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Midwood, Bedford –Stuyvesant and more neighborhoods. (FYI: in the 2010 New York magazine top ten neighborhoods in NYC –Brooklyn is home to six!)

Sleep in Brooklyn

Whether you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, Water Taxi here, drive or subway to Brooklyn there’s so much to do you will want to sleep over! (and plan time for day trips to Manhattan) Brooklyn Tourism has a portfolio of hotels (four star to budget) and a unique array of bed and breakfast/inns in brownstone and Victorian neighborhoods. Brooklyn Tourism has an active hotels committee that collaborates to offer small and mid size conferences and conventions help planning unique experiences and matching tour operators to rooms.
New this summer- Sheraton Brooklyn (opened June 2010) downtown, Fairfield Inn (opening July, 2010) Park Slope, and two new Comfort Inns in Sunset Park and Atlantic Avenue in Prospect Heights. Also – check out www.VictorianBB.net, to be introduced to a network of beautiful Brooklyn bed and breakfast homes.


BROOKLYN ANNUAL EVENTS At A Glance

see www.visitbrooklyn.org for dates and details
or call 718-802-3820

JANUARY
Coney Island Polar Bears New Year’s Day Dip • Three Kings Parade

FEBRUARY
Chinese New Year Celebration

MARCH
Dine in Brooklyn – Restaurant Week (Mar-Apr) • Brooklyn Irish-American Parade

APRIL
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival

MAY
Brooklyn Designs • Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition Pier Art Show • BayBest/Blessing of the Fleet • DanceAfrica at BAM • Historic House & Garden Tours (May-Jun) • Veterans Memorial Day Parade

JUNE
BrooklynBest Festival • Brooklyn International Film Festival • Boricua Festival/Salsa at the Waterfront • Celebrate Brooklyn Performing Arts Festival (Jun-Aug) • LGBT Pride Week • NYC Native American Heritage Celebration • Mermaid Parade • Russian Heritage Week

JULY
International African Arts Festival • Giglio Festival • Bastille Day • Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series (Jul-Aug) • Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival • Seaside Summer Concert Series (Jul-Aug) • Siren Music Festival

AUGUST
Brighton Jubilee • Battle Week at the Old Stone House • Brooklyn Puerto Rican Parade • Brooklyn Dominican Parade • Puerto Rican State Parade and Festival of NY

SEPTEMBER
Brooklyn Book Festival • Atlantic Antic Street Festival • West Indian American Day Carnival & Parade • Great Irish Fair • Brooklyn Botanic Garden Chile Pepper Festival (Sep/Oct) • DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival • Flatbush Frolic • Puerto Rican State Festival of NY • Ragamuffin Parade

OCTOBER
Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade • Brooklyn Academy of Music: Next Wave Festival • Prospect Park Halloween Walk • Halloween Parade

NOVEMBER
Winter Festival at Prospect Park

DECEMBER
Holiday Lighting Displays

Brooklyn- Believe the HYPE!

To book your next trip to Brooklyn today, or for any of your travel needs, be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Phone one of our expert consultants now on 0871 226 8689 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/usa to book now!