36 Hours in Park Slope

Holiday shopping is an exhilarating, stressful, budget-breaking, generosity inspiring whirlwind. Some start planning what to put under the tree the eve of Thanksgiving while others wait until the shops close right before Santa boards his sleigh. Shopping in a group or solo is a highly personal choice—do you want to be influenced by friends’ purchases or weighed down by their shopping bags? Luckily, Holiday Shopping doesn’t have to be quite so painful, and can actually be a little bit fun, with the wide variety of boutiques, specialty shops, and artisans who call Park Slope home.  Plan your shopping strategically, enjoy the neighborhood, and don’t forget to get a little something for yourself.

Here’s your ultimate, most efficient Park Slope Holiday shopping strategy.

Holiday Meal Planning

Planning a holiday meal can be one of the most stressful parts of the season! But with tasty, local goods you can pick up everything you need and impress your guests with all of the delicacies Park Slope has to offer.

Pick up over fifteen varieties of oysters at Grand Central Oyster Bar Market (254 Fifth Ave). If shucking isn’t your thing, you can choose from gourmet pre-prepared seafood like clams orgenato and clam chowder.  Pick up a loaf of fresh bread and supplement with artisanal oils and olives to nosh on from O Live Brooklyn (140 Fifth Ave). Grab a charcuterie platter from Russo’s Italian Deli (312 Fifth Ave) and don’t forget a ball of their signature mozzarella.

Produce can be gathered from Mr. Lime Fruit & Vegetables (313 7th Ave), but anything you forget or don’t catch on the first run can be delivered by online farmers market Good Eggs. Stop into Cousin John’s Bakery (70 Seventh Ave) to pick up some sweets for dessert, and be sure to serve them with a dark blend from Gorilla Coffee (97 Fifth Ave). For some more classic French pastries, pick up croissants from Graine de Paris (272 Flatbush) and prepare a little breakfast bag for dinner guests to take home.

Decorating & Gift Wrap

Artist & Craftsman Supply (307 Second St) should be your one-stop shop for all your holiday decorations, gift-wrap, and cards.  If you want to try your hand at making gifts—knitting a scarf or painting a portrait—this is the place to get inspired! And perhaps get some much-needed advice on how much glitter to use on handmade cards.

Presents

Finding the right present is easily the hardest, if not the most rewarding, part of holiday shopping! You could spend months preparing and planning, but plenty of Park Slope shops will help you shop efficiently for what is sure to be the perfect gift.

For the culinary lover, get a special tea blend from Teaus (85 Fifth Ave) or grab some decadent sweets from The Chocolate Room (86 Fifth Ave).

For the fashionista, pick up a snazzy vintage item at the new location of Eleven Consignment Boutique (70 Fifth Ave). Think Louis Vuitton bags, Hermes scarves, and plenty of cool jewelry. Petrune (233 Fifth Ave) is also a great spot for luxury vintage finds. For fans of trendy, new styles, boutique Blok Hill (103 Seventh Ave) stocks plenty of fashionable women’s wear. Stop into Teddy (202 Fifth Ave) for a more intimate, lingerie-style gift. Male sartorialists will enjoy a gift from The Gentleman’s Shop (458 Bergen Street), which also has a fine selection of women’s apparel.

For the reader, stop into PowerHouse on 8th (1111 Eighth Ave) for a wide selection of kids books as well as adult literature and cookbooks.

For the person who has it all, stop into The Modern Chemist (191 Fourth Ave) for pampering supplies like bubble bath, aftershave, or scented candles.

For the creative kid, take her to the new location of The Painted Pot (200 Seventh Ave), where she can decorate her own creation and take home her artwork.

Booze

A holiday without booze is barely a holiday at all.  Stock your wine cabinet and be a good guest by picking up a few bottles from Slope Cellars (736 Seventh Ave), Red White & Bubbly (211 Fifth Ave), Sterling Grapes and Grains (115 Fifth Ave), or Sip Fine Wine (67 Fifth Ave). Cheers!

Park Slope is often cited as being one of the best neighborhoods in all of New York City, and it is not hard to find out why. Beyond Prospect Park and the other stalwart points of interest, there is a lot to experience in the Slope, and it seems like almost every day there are new restaurants, boutiques, and fun activities to keep up with. If you only had thirty-six hours and wanted to get a first-hand look at some of the unique things that make Park Slope such a gem, what would you do? If you don’t know where to start, let me take you on a little guided tour.

Start your first morning off with a nice boost of caffeine at Konditori, a Swedish espresso bar that boasts a warm, Nordic atmosphere with modern Brooklyn flair. In addition to strong coffee (which may come with some Viking-inspired foam art), they also serve traditional Swedish pastries and classic coffee house sandwiches.

Once you’re properly caffeinated head over to Fifth Avenue where you’ll find one of Park Slope’s best kept secrets: the dozens of amazing vintage clothing boutiques. Williamsburg and the Lower East Side get the lion’s share of credit for great shopping, but Park Slope definitely has a horse in that race with stores like Almost New and Eponymy. If you’re traveling with kids, or if you’re one at heart, you will want to also check out the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company. This kitschy store sells superhero paraphernalia—particle guns, deflector bracelets&ellip; the usual—and offers an all-inclusive superhero shopping experience with friendly staff and fun activities like a cape-testing wind tunnel. The storefront supports 826NYC, a nonprofit that provides children with tutoring services, so you’ll be shopping for a good cause.

After shopping it will be time for lunch. An easy crowd pleaser on Fifth Avenue is Dizzy’s, which offers delicious high-quality diner food. The biscuits and gravy are amazing, but if you want something a little lighter, go for Teo’s Italian Eggs. If you are visiting from out of town, it will probably be time to check into your hotel. Hopefully you are staying at Hotel Le Bleu, Park Slope’s premier boutique hotel. The rooms are thoughtfully designed, feature views of Manhattan, and are very reasonably priced, especially considering the amenities and features.

There’s no shortage of nightlife in Park Slope, but if you are looking for something a little out of the ordinary you can treat yourself to a grown-up game night. Start at Brooklyn Game Lab, which is a children’s after-school program and summer camp by day, but offers curated adult game events by night. If you are looking for something a little more throw back, you can hit up Fifth Avenue Bingo Hall, a no-frills, old school-style bingo hall where people come prepared to draw blood. There are rumblings that bingo could become the next big Brooklyn fad, so why not stay ahead of the curve?

For the second part of the evening, head on over to one of Park Slope’s newest institutions, Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club. Before heading in, grab a bite to eat at one of the many food carts parked outside. Once inside, treat yourself to a few drinks and a game of shuffleboard, and enjoy the subtle tropical ambiance. If you’re still in the competitive spirit, Union Hall, a Park Slope staple, is open until 4:00 a.m. This cozy bar features indoor bocce ball courts and always exudes a fun, raucous atmosphere.

Depending on how many games of shuffleboard and bocce you played the night before, the next morning you may be in the mood for a hearty brunch. Fortunately, you can’t shake a pair of hangover sunglasses without hitting a brunch spot. Applewood, a delicious eatery specializing in New England-style cuisine, is a solid choice. Any one of their seasonal omelets or grass-fed steak and eggs will do your body good!

With some grub in your stomach, stroll up to P.S. 321, which hosts one of Brooklyn’s best flea markets on Saturday and Sunday. Unlike the more “bougie” flea markets in the borough, the P.S. 321 Flea attracts a more eclectic collection of booths. Even if you are not looking to make any big purchases you’ll have a blast sifting through tables of old records, beguiling coffee mugs, and dusty tchotchkes.

Next stop is Old Stone House, one of Park Slope’s oldest historic sites. This reconstructed 1699 Dutch farmhouse hosts events year round and is open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday as a historic interpretive center focusing on the Battle of Brooklyn. If you are in the mood for a little more cultural exploration, head across the Slope to The Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture. Housed in a historic mansion right on the edge of Prospect Park, the BSEC hosts practitioners of the Ethics Movement, a non-religious (although not necessarily not religious) organization whose members strive to live ethical lives without bowing to the constraints of society, culture, and tradition. Programs include seminars and meetings on philosophical subjects, as well as other events such as music, dances, and even stand-up comedy. There are even events for kids! Whether or not you are interested in attending, the building and grounds themselves are definitely worth checking out.

When your day is done stop by Sidecar for a late lunch of oysters or gumbo and cocktail, and give your feet a rest. In just thirty-six hours you will have walked all over the Slope, eaten at some of its best restaurants, enjoyed some of its unique amenities, and imbibed at some of its most exciting bars. Of course, thirty-six hours is not enough to see and do everything. If you already live in New York City, then you know Park Slope is just a hop, skip, and a jump away (or just outside your front door!). If you are visiting from out of town, then you just have dozens of excuses to visit again.