There’s a place where Bajan and bubbys’ bakeries thrive side by side, where history lives on in 19th-century mansions and beer caverns, and where one of the city’s most colorful parades kicks off every Labor Day. Home to New York City’s largest West Indian population and a strong community of Orthodox Jews, cultures collide at every corner here in Crown Heights..
Here are six ways to soak up this vibrant slice of Brooklyn.
1. Get your caffeine buzz on at Little Zelda’s Cafe. You have a lot to do (and eat) today. (728 Franklin Avenue)
2. Catch a tour of the lagering cave of the old Nassau Brewing Company (briefly called Budweiser Brewing Co.) on March 1, during New York City Beer Week. If you can’t make the tour, you can at least get close by scoping out 1024 Dean St.
3. If you’re in the mood for something smaller than neighboring Prospect Park, take a stroll through the lovely Brower Park, home to free summer concerts. (St. Mark’s Avenue, Park Place bet. Brooklyn Ave. and Kingston Ave., nycgovparks.org)
4. Bring your (inner) child to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Across the street from the park, the museum is a spectacular place for interactive learning about neighborhood nature, the many cultures of Brooklyn (think: lantern-making at the Stationary Store for the Chinese New Year), and more. (Admission: $9, 145 Brooklyn Avenue at St. Marks Avenue, brooklynkids.org)
5. Chow down on some soul food in one of the neighborhood’s many Caribbean cafes, like Gloria’s Caribbean Cuisine. Keep your eyes peeled for monthly dinners by the roving Crow Hill Supper Club. (Gloria’s Caribbean Cuisine: 764 Nostrand Avenue; Glenda’s Roti Shop: 854 St. John’s Place).
6. Wash it all down with fresh juice at the Jamaican-owned Punch Line, a drink inside or out at neighborhood favorite Franklin Park, or a beer at the forthcoming Berg’n, the latest project by the guys behind Smorgasburg and Brooklyn Flea. (Punch Line: 701 Nostrand Avenue; Franklin Park: 618 St. John’s Place, franklinparkbrooklyn.com; Berg’n: 899 Bergen Street, bergn.com)
Directions: Take the 2, 3, 4, or 5 to Franklin Ave.
Photos: PaulSteinJC, Premshree Pillai, Franklin Park
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram