It's a short walk to the trendy Smith Street Restaurant Row, where The Grocery was recently awarded Zagat's highest culinary rating. Other area eating establishments run the gamut from Middle Eastern, to Italian, to Thai, to French Nouvelle reflecting the neighborhood's diversity. Patois, Mancora, Bar Tabac and Cafe LULUc are just a few area eateries. Neighborhood bars host live music regularly.

Culturally, BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), the country's oldest performing arts center, is host to regulars Pina Bausch, Martha Graham Dance Company and The Mark Morris Dance Company to name a few, as well as numerous international ballet companies and national dance troupes from Africa and Asia.

Shakespeare to Pinter are performed at the
BAM Harvey Theatre.

Literary readings by the likes of Joyce Carol Oates, Jumpa Lahiri and neighborhood writer Paul Auster are regular sell-outs at the BAM Cafe. Film works both archival and blockbuster are at the BAM Cinema.

Other Neighborhood Cinemas: Cobble Hill Cinema, UA Court Street Stadium 12,
Brooklyn Heights Cinema.

The elegant, historic, accessible Brooklyn Museum, with the country's third largest collection of Egyptian antiquities

The first cherry blossoms of spring are at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens' breath-taking
cherry tree esplanade.

Atlantic Avenue has long been a mecca
for hunters of antiques and collectibles.

SCHOOLS
In addition to dozens of neighborhood
pre-schools and dozens of public schools for Lower, Middle and High School education,
there are numerous private schools:

Lower through High School:
- St. Ann's School
- Packer Collegiate Institute
- Berkeley Carroll School
- Brooklyn Friends School
- Poly-Preparatory Academy

College:
- Long Island College
- Pratt Institute
- Brooklyn Law School
- Brooklyn College

HOSPITALS
- Long Island College Hospital
- Methodist Hospital