FOR: Reliably affordable prices on fruits & veggies, fresh juice/smoothies, and eye-catching sidewalk bounties of overflowing fresh produce, Mr. Mango is a destination off the B38 that is so visually appealing you may be spontaneously tempted to hop off the bus while eyeing it out the window. Stop by on your way to picnic at Fort Greene park or if you want to munch on some of the crispest green grapes in Brooklyn while you mosey towards BAM and Downtown Brooklyn.
As a member of the “Mr. Produce” family, like Williamsburg’s “Mr. Pina” or Cobble Hill's “Mr. Beet” (I like to imagine that they are all brothers, or somewhat related) fresh, reasonable in-season produce and fresh juice/smoothies.
FOR: A friend’s birthday is coming up, your mom is in town, or you have thirty minutes to kill before meeting a friend at Walter’s across the street. Poke into (one of two locations) of a locally owned, thoughtfully curated boutique. Sujuk and Sole has a charming eclectic mix of home goods, second hand and vintage (check out their sidewalk sale rack for consistent gems!), and other small business goodies. It’s the type of place you may walk past, do a double take, and then just “pop in” before realizing you’ve been browsing their handcrafted face oil collection for far too long.
FOR: When you want a leisurely sidewalk cafe moment that feels like you could be somewhere in Europe and not less than two blocks from a Starbucks. Also for killing two birds with one stone: stop by before work for a coffee and pastry (warning: if you are anything like me, you may spend an embarrassing amount of time trying to pick from their wide array of baked goods) and then grab a sandwich to go for lunch later when you want to bottle that European sidewalk cafe feeling at your office desk.
Menu highlights: pulled pork sandwich, nicoise salad, and any of the baked goods. I recently overheard someone in line say they have lived in Bed-Stuy their entire life, and have been coming every weekend since birth. It’s a family-owned neighborhood staple for a
FOR: Sprawling grassy lawns to sunbathe, play cards, or picnic; scenic and somewhat private park benches to publicly cry while calling your mom, and enjoying what (I personally believe) to be one of the prominent reasons to live in NYC: witnessing, and then soaking up the pure, eclectic, communal joy of people and dogs enthusiastically engaging in recreation, leisure, and communion in public green space.
Plus: Herbert Von King’s amphitheater is one of the locations of NYC’s free summer park free programming, which has an exciting calendar lineup worth bookmarking.
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FOR: A gloomy day (in terms of weather or mood, both options are valid), an early on but not thatearlyon in the dating game sake and soba date, and any time you want to cozy up to a small two top or solo dine at the bar with a book. Compact, cozy, and a literal single step off the B38, Samurai Pap serves’ up consistently excellent ramen with a variety of options (vegan! spicy!) as well as bento boxes and rice bowls. Some menu highlights include their spicy, peanut Dan Dan Ramen and their Yuzu Sangria cocktail.
FOR: When you’re sick of paying $7 for an underwhelming latte at a trendy boutique coffee shop but you work remotely and dear god- need to leave your apartment every once in a while. With free wifi, outlets, and peace & quiet, the Dekalb Branch of Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) is an especially appealing WFH alternative with spacious reading rooms and high ceilings, in a historically-landmarked limestone and brick building designed by famous Brooklyn architect William Tubby. Hop on the B38, check out a book or two, and then grab a citi bike (docks located directly outside) and head to Maria Hernandez Park a few blocks away to dig into your new read for a low-cost day of leisure in the neighborhood.
FOR: Some of the best Birria in Brooklyn, a comforting warm embrace of generational cooking and you kind of just want chips, guac, and a horchata because…that sounds so fucking good? Everything about Nene’s just feels good for the soul: the bright, primary colors, buzzy flow of consistent regulars eager to order, and the small market in the back with a robust selection of Mexican snacks, candy, and treats worth perusing while you wait. While the entire menu has fan-favorites, note the Nopales (cactus) tacos and rotating variety of agua frescas as specific highlights.
FOR: Feel-good retail therapy, a guaranteed method to uplift even the dreariest rainy afternoons. Walk a few blocks off the B38 in Ridgewood and shop Topo’s used, new, and discounted collection of books, magazines, and more. Striking the perfect balance between eclectically cluttered and intentionally curated, Topos has it all: come to get a shiny new hardcover fiction novel for a friend’s birthday, and stay for the excellent one dollar paperback selection and stacks of vintage magazines. Topos is more than just a bookstore, but serves as a neighborhood arts hub, regularly hosting events from local author talks to mutual aid programming that connects to the larger network of Brooklyn’s creative community. Stay updated with their instagram to not miss out on their next event.
