An insider’s guide to Crown Hei
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Cherry blossom season begins today at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, but flowering trees aren’t the only things in bloom.
Crown Heights’ surrounding blocks, particularly Franklin Ave., are flourishing as young families and new businesses put down roots in the traditionally Caribbean and Jewish Orthodox neighborhood. Kate Blumm moved to Crown Heights a year ago to be closer to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (900 Washington Ave., at Crown St.), where she’s been the communications director for six years. “I love the neighborhood because there’s a strong sense of community here,” she says. She also loves the gardens, naturally. “We consider ourselves a refuge from the cold city streets,” she says. The BBG is growing to accommodate its 725,000 visitors a year, from expanding its existing Visitors Center (shown; 1000 Washington Ave., at Crown St.) to the new Herb Garden, which helps supply the onsite Garden Terrace Cafe. Knowledgeable locals take advantage of free park admission on Tuesday afternoons. “It’s nice coming here after school, especially in the spring,” says Geraldo Rivera, 17, sprawling with his friends on the Cherry Esplanade, which will burst into bloom over the next couple of weeks. Regular admission is $10 adults, and $5 for seniors, students and kids. The gardens celebrate Hanami cherry blossom season this month. Guests can track which trees are in bloom at bbg.org leading up to the Sakura Matsuri Festival of Japanese culture, music and arts on April 28 and 29. Some weeping cherry trees are already flowering at the Japanese Hill-and-pond Garden. Artist Patrick Dougherty wove this wooden “Natural History” sculpture from material harvested at Staten Island’s Ocean Breeze Park in 2010. The nest-like installation stands near the Bonsai Museum, one of Blumm’s favorite gardens. “The bonzai are rotated every couple of weeks, and the plants in the gardens are always changing,” she says. “Visitors get a different experience every time they come here.” New k and ba Place) bake oven impor in New Yor gula pie wit hot spot ope Blumm (785 F where Jah M
lock Barboncino pizzeria nklin Ave., at St. Johns an pies in a wood-burning aly. “This is the best pizza umm, picking up an arumatoes for her mom. The st Oct. 6. gies Natural Juice Bar e., at St. Johns Place), akes one look at a customer and whips up a juice or smoothie to heal what ails them — like carrot, apple and ginger to fight a cold. “I feel like a local celebrity,” he laughs. “Everyone comes in here. More and more people are following a healthier lifestyle.”
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Blumm’s friend Lara Shihab-eldin, who moved to the nabe last March, recommends unique boutiques like Owl and Thistle gift shop (720 Franklin Ave., at Park Place) and The Candy Rush (shown; 733 Franklin Ave., at Sterling Place). The artisanal sweetshop run by husband and wife Kevin and Garnett Phillip specializes in nostalgic treats like rock candy and Warheads.
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Blumm is also active in the Crow Hill Community Association, which commissioned more than 30 local artists to paint the mural at Eastern Parkway and Franklin Ave. (shown). The Franklin Avenue Merchants Association also supports economic and cultural growth in the area, particularly the hub on Franklin between Eastern Pkwy. and Atlantic.
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Prenya Rajendran, 28, moved here three weeks ago. “I already know so many people just from walking down Franklin Ave.,” she says. She recommends Chavela’s Mexican restaurant (shown; 736 Franklin Ave., at Sterling Place) and the Launchpad community center’s yoga classes (721 Franklin Ave., at Park Place), which start at just $7.