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" Every month ELLE DECOR&amp;#039;s travel story inspires our editors and readers to travel to faraway places, from Bali to Rome to Mexico City. But this month, Editor at Large Ingrid Abramovitch tackled a destination that&amp;#039;s only a subway ride away from our Manhattan office: Brooklyn, New York. Home to some of the city&amp;#039;s most innovative restaurants, stunning parks, and several ED staffers. In addition to our must-see guide in the magazine, we put together a list of the places we enjoy on a regular basis. We hope you will, too. Click here to see ELLE DECOR staffers&amp;#039; favorite things to see   1 --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; ... --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt;  What To See  Tom Fruin&amp;#039;s new installation at the Wythe Hotel; photo courtesy of Tom Fruin and Wythe Hotel &amp;quot;There will be two bright additions to the Brooklyn waterfront this May, both courtesy of local artist Tom Fruin. Williamsburg&amp;#039;s Wythe Hotel, which opens May 1, will announce its presence with the artist&amp;#039;s 50-foot-tall marquee, HOTEL. The oversize letters, installed vertically along the fa\u00E7ade, are hand-welded from a colorful mix of salvaged signage; by night, they&amp;#039;ll glow in red neon. And in late May, Fruin&amp;#039;s Watertower\u2014a full-scale homage to the urban rooftop fixture\u2014will take its place atop a DUMBO building for the next year. The luminous steel-and-Plexiglas structure is the latest in his Icon series, which reinterprets a classic architectural form; a simple garden shed inspired the 2010 Copenhagen installation,Kolonihavehus. The DUMBO work will be illuminated from within each night, lending a bit of sparkle to the less-talked-about side of the river.&amp;quot;\u2014Laura Regensdorf, Associate Features Editor &amp;quot;Landscape designer Michael Van Valkenburgh is presiding over the transformation of the once-decrepit Brooklyn waterfront into Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of the city&amp;#039;s most magical parks. I love the salt marsh, bike path, and amazing views of Manhattan. My kids adore the Pier 6 playground with its Tarzan-worthy Swing Valley and massive sandbox.&amp;quot;\u2014Ingrid Abramovitch, Editor at Large &amp;quot;Cobble Hill Park is a lovely, peaceful, small park where you can sit on a shaded bench and watch dogs and kids in the middle of one of Brooklyn&amp;#039;s prettiest neighborhoods. It&amp;#039;s only been a park since the mid-1960s and the current design was done in 1989\u2014though it looks at least 100 years older.&amp;quot;\u2014Margaret Farley, Copy Chief &amp;quot;Architecture fanatics shouldn&amp;#039;t miss the Brooklyn Public Library in Prospect Heights\u2014a gorgeous Art Deco extravaganza. Nearby, Montgomery Place, between Prospect Park West and 8th Avenue has a pristine selection of townhouses designed by C. P. H. Gilbert.&amp;quot;\u2014Fabio Morelli, Art Assistant &amp;quot;I don&amp;#039;t have a backyard but Greenspace @ President, the small community garden on my corner, is the next best thing. I&amp;#039;ve used their bistro tables for hosting small brunches, game nights, or just weeknights with my laptop. And on the days where I&amp;#039;m looking for more space\u2014or simply to be in awe of my surroundings, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is the obvious choice. Everyone knows the grounds are stunning, but the indoor climate-themed plant pavilions deserve recognition, too. Where else in the borough can you be transported to the jungle?&amp;quot;\u2014Amy Preiser, ELLEDECOR.com Editor Click here to see ELLE DECOR staffers&amp;#039; favorite things to do Back  --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; 2 --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; ... --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  Next What To Do  View from the East River Ferry, photo courtesy of East River Ferry   &amp;quot;The ferry ride from Manhattan to Williamsburg is a floating charm\u2014and one of the most calming escapes in the big city. The wind whips, the water glistens and smells of the sea, and the landscape changes dramatically every few yards\u2014from gleaming skyscrapers and derelict industrial yards to majestic bridges and verdant parks.&amp;quot;\u2014Vicky Lowry, Executive Editor &amp;quot;Barbes, in Park Slope, has live music every night\u2014I&amp;#039;ve gone many times and have never been disappointed. Nearby, The Bell House in Gowanus hosts incredible performances, theme parties, and obscure (in the best way) films. Plus, the bar is spacious and has a great selection of drinks. Or, try the Down House in Brighton Beach for excellent DJs and live music, with old Europe-inspired decor.\u2014Marina Drukman, Art Director &amp;quot;My favorite Saturday night combo is catching a movie at the quaint Cobble Hill Cinema then heading across the street for a burger and PB&amp;amp;amp;J shake at Moo Burger.&amp;quot;\u2014Alexis Anselmi, Assistant to the Editor in Chief Click here to see ELLE DECOR staffers&amp;#039; favorite places to eat   --&amp;amp;gt;   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; 3 --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; ... --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; Where To Eat  Frozen yogurt sandwiches at Culture, photography by Rebecca Ashley Photography  &amp;quot;Brooklyn, like everywhere else in 2012, is overrun by frozen yogurt shops, but none of them can hold a candle to Culture in Park Slope, where the yogurt\u2014fresh and frozen\u2014is made fresh in the back. While it&amp;#039;s delicious on it&amp;#039;s own, anyone with a sweet tooth will love the yogurt as a filling in their take on the ice cream sandwich. And just try resisting one of the rotating pie-themed toppings, made from owner and pastry chef Jenny Ammirati&amp;#039;s recipes.&amp;quot;\u2014Amy Preiser, ELLEDECOR.com Editor &amp;quot;My summer weekend routine usually involves a trip to the Brooklyn Flea\u2014not to peruse the vintage typewriters, handcrafted soaps, beer making kits, and other miscellany, but to have lunch at the Milk Truck, which has a menu that consists largely of variations on the grilled cheese sandwich. The &amp;#039;All Day Breakfast Sandwich&amp;#039; is pretty close to perfection: It&amp;#039;s made with tangy Gruyere, sweet caramelized onions, and a fried egg, all pressed between two big, thick slices of crunchy rye bread. I find that it&amp;#039;s best followed up with a slice of chocolate cream pie\u2014with a pretzel and dulce de leche crust!\u2014from nearby vendor Rachel&amp;#039;s Pies.&amp;quot;\u2014Peter Terzian, Features Editor &amp;quot;As a Los Angeles transplant, I am always looking for Mexican food gems in the city. And you can&amp;#039;t beat Williamsburg&amp;#039;s La Superior&amp;#039;s great street-style food.&amp;quot;\u2014Heather Rabkin, Assistant Editor &amp;quot;I love the relatively new St. Anselm (718-384-5054) in Williamsburg. The butcher&amp;#039;s steak is to die for and they have a pretty extensive wine list\u2014always a plus.&amp;quot;\u2014Julia Duquette. Photo Editor &amp;quot;Liman, a Turkish restaurant on Sheepshead Bay, is not well-known outside the Russian community but is worth discovering for their delicious food\u2014especially the octopus salad and St. Peter&amp;#039;s fish.&amp;quot;\u2014Marina Drukman, Art Director Click here to see more of ELLE DECOR staffers&amp;#039; favorite places to eat   --&amp;amp;gt;   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; 4 --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; ... --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; Where To Eat (More)  Fort Reno Provisions, photo courtesy of Fort Reno  &amp;quot;My favorite Brooklyn activity is eating, and I have a place for everything: Romans for brunch, Fort Reno Provisions for barbeque, Maison Premiere for fruits de mer, Littleneck for clam rolls, and Al di La for steak. If I&amp;#039;m staying in and cooking, I hit Fleischer&amp;#039;s for amazing meats and BKLYN Larder for cheese.&amp;quot;\u2014Mieke ten Have, Associate Style Editor &amp;quot;I love the bright flavors at Kiwiana in Park Slope. Chef Mark Simmons, a former Top Chef contestant, serves contemporary cuisine with twists from his native New Zealand, and the menu is always changing. Nearby, Juventino always has great food and a warm atmosphere. They serve Contemporary American cuisine in a former gourmet store with beadboard paneling, farm tables, and a back garden.&amp;quot;\u2014Alyssa Wolfe, Associate Editor &amp;quot;The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory in Brooklyn Heights is my favorite spot\u2014they have the best ice cream I&amp;#039;ve ever tasted, and it&amp;#039;s especially refreshing after a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.&amp;quot;\u2014Alexandra Brawley, Contributing Photo Assistant &amp;quot;Tanoreen is a gourmet Middle Eastern restaurant in Bay Ridge with so much more than kebabs and falafel. Try the incredible baba ganoush, fattoush salad, and lamb fetta\u2014plus their Brussels sprouts side dish, which my mother-in-law and I routinely fight over. Over at L&amp;amp;amp;B Spumoni Gardens in Bensonhurst, the spumoni, ices, and pizza (especially the Sicilian) all make me wish I weren&amp;#039;t on a low-carb diet. It&amp;#039;s a noisy, fun mix of in-the-know hipsters, tourists, locals, and foodie pilgrims from all over the city. Or if you&amp;#039;re looking for seafood, try Petite Crevette (718-855-2632) in Carroll Gardens West. Neil Ganic is arguably one of the best seafood chefs in Brooklyn\u2014I&amp;#039;ve never had a bad meal from him.&amp;quot;\u2014Margaret Farley, Copy Chief &amp;quot;Everyone loves a decent neighborhood restaurant, but some are worth a commute. Lucky for me, there are two such places on either side of Atlantic Avenue, between Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill. (A wait at one? Head to the other.) Hibino is quiet but serves stellar Japanese food, with a daily selection of obanzai, or Kyoto-style small plates. The sushi is top-notch (but not top-dollar), the tofu is homemade, and the seaweed salad mixes several intriguing varieties. Nearby, Colonie takes a farm-to-table approach in a rustic-industrial setting. There&amp;#039;s always a delicious soup (up now: Salsify, with tahini, meyer lemon, and crispy eggplant). And the hanger steak with roasted garlic aioli prompted a vegetarian friend to convert.&amp;quot;\u2014Laura Regensdorf, Associate Features Editor Click here to see ELLE DECOR staffers&amp;#039; favorite places to shop   --&amp;amp;gt;   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; ... --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; 5 --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; Where To Shop  Bird in Williamsburg and Park Slope, photos courtesy of Bird  &amp;quot;Bird has locations in Williamsburg, Park Slope, and Cobble Hill, and each one is fantastic! Great selection of pretty dresses, jewelry and shoes. And it doesn&amp;#039;t hurt that the entire staff is so cute and nice. And I love Erie Basin in Red Hook. They&amp;#039;ve got a really great array of very beautiful, hand-picked antique jewelry and art. It&amp;#039;s where my finance bought my Victorian-era engagement ring!&amp;quot;\u2014Julia Duquette. Photo Editor &amp;quot;Beacon&amp;#039;s Closet in Park Slope is great for interesting finds. I especially love their selection of men&amp;#039;s pants. Nearby, The Community Bookstore has a helpful, knowledgeable staff and holds great readings.&amp;quot;\u2014Fabio Morelli, Art Assistant &amp;quot;Re-Pop sells a well-edited\u2014but not too pricey\u2014selection of Midcentury furniture and accessories out of their Brooklyn Navy Yard and Williamsburg stores. And they just opened a larger new store in Williamsburg.&amp;quot;\u2014Margaret Farley, Copy Chief &amp;quot;Technically, Butter by Eva Gentry is a secondhand store, but you&amp;#039;d never know it from the neatly color-coded racks of designer clothes and accessories or the helpful and devastatingly chic staff. What does give it away? The price tags. $150 for almost-new Marni flats, $250 for a Moschino party dress, Prada boots (not a single scuff!) for $190. Stocked with the closet overflow of fashionable Brooklynites and curated by the nearby sister boutique, Eva Gentry, it&amp;#039;s a must for any serious shopper.&amp;quot;\u2014Amy Preiser, ELLEDECOR.com Editor Click here to see our favorite bloggers&amp;#039; picks   --&amp;amp;gt;   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; ... --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; 6 --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt;  --&amp;amp;gt; Looking for More? We asked a handful of our favorite Brooklyn bloggers for their picks  The exterior of Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store, photo courtesy of Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store  &amp;quot;Scalino (718-840-5738) in Park Slope is the very definition of that little restaurant only the locals frequent \u2013 this unassuming place serves up a small menu of authentic and tasty Italian cuisine. At least one of the two brothers who own the place is always there to welcome you with a smile. Or try Lioni&amp;#039;s, the institution known for its handmade mozzarella and never-ending list of sandwiches. It might as well be a time machine into the Brooklyn of another era\u2014without a hipster in sight. Visit FIND, a gigantic warehouse store located on the banks of the less than atmospheric Gowanus canal, for a wonderful selection of beautiful furniture presented in lovely displays. The owners are happy to chat about their stock and give suggestions on which pieces work well together. Or if you&amp;#039;re in the market for a vintage dentist chair or druggist cabinet, City Foundry, with its collection of industrial chic pieces, is the place to look. And if you want an experience unlike any other, head over to Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company, where you can actually buy a can of gravity and an invisibility cloak. I&amp;#039;m not kidding. Their storefront is just as cool as their clever packaging but the best part is the store&amp;#039;s own secret identity: Dave Eggers&amp;#039;s 826 non-profit lives in the back room and offers free after-school tutoring and clever workshops for kids.&amp;quot;\u2014Stefanie Schiada, Brooklynlimestone.com &amp;quot;Sardinians Andrea Mocci and his wife Giovanna Fadda opened River Deli (718-254-9200) three years ago in what used to be a corner deli. I love the expanse of the corner windows and the simple cafe decor; green and white tile floor, Schoolhouse Electric lights, and a vintage map of Sardinia on the wall. Or try Iris Caf\u00E9\u2014another neighborhood spot with simple organic food in a storefront with a pressed-tile ceiling. For shopping, I am a complete devotee of Alayne Patrick&amp;#039;s shop Layla. Patrick travels to India two to three times a year to stock her shop with her custom-made one-of-a-kind finds. And at Mc&amp;amp;amp;co, Corinne Gilbert and Dan McCarthy offer a carefully curated selection of furniture, lighting, and accessories for the home. I always find things I have never seen anywhere else.&amp;quot;\u2014Francesca Connolly, Remodelista.com Editor &amp;quot;The Adirondack chairs and wood siding in Black Mountain Wine House may temporarily transport you to northern New England, but yes, this is Brooklyn, and at its finest no less. Inside, a minuscule kitchen churns out complements to the varied and affordable wine list\u2014think charcuterie and cheese, not to mention a killer truffle-gruyere mac and cheese and a rotating list of daily specials like chicken cordon bleu. A fire roars in the background, and just as bottle number three appears table-side, you realize you&amp;#039;ve somehow lost track of time.&amp;quot;\u2014Sarah Firshein, Curbed.com Editor &amp;quot;Franny&amp;#039;s is hands down my favorite Italian restaurant in New York. They don&amp;#039;t take reservations, and you will always wait for a table, but trust me, it&amp;#039;s worth it. Thin crispy pizzas, homemade pastas\u2014this place even makes kale taste delicious! Nearby, Zito&amp;#039;s Sandwich Shoppe is like an old-school Italian sandwich shop for Brooklyn hipsters. The sandwiches are all gigantic and delicious, there are some fantastic side dishes, and best of all there is a gorgeous back patio and free wifi. Also check out Blue Apron\u2014a total gem of a fine foods store. They have amazing and varied cheeses and olives, fantastic salami, delicious little desserts and even English candy bars (my favorite is the chunky Kit Kat). This is my go-to spot whenever I have friends coming over, or if I want to grab some delicious food for a picnic in Prospect Park.\u2014Erica Reitman, DesignBlahg.com  --&amp;amp;gt;   --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; ... --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; --&amp;amp;gt; 7  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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