Marina Maher Communications

While Manhattan is great, I’m more of an “outer-borough girl.”  I’ve lived all over NY but am happy to call Brooklyn my “home sweet home.”  While I could go on and on about its restaurants, parks, bars and overall culture, I think what I like most are the creative people.  As our Borough President, Marty Markowitz likes to say, Brooklyn is “Home to everyone from everywhere!”  No truer words could be spoken!

Brooklyn is New York’s most populous borough, with more than 2.5 million residents, including artists, writers, musicians and budding fashionistas.  With so many inhabitants, it’s no surprise that Brooklyn has a thriving online community with thousands of bloggers who share their stories each day, making the community more intimate.  There’s even a Brooklyn BlogFest (celebrating its fifth anniversary this June) where local influencers will get together to kibitz and share their inspiration.

As a member of MMC’s Social Media Team, I feel it’s only fitting to open your eyes to some of my favorite local sites.  Be sure to check them out and plan to visit Brooklyn for something other than the Hot Dog Eating Contest…

LaurieShuls’ Brooklyn Blogroll:

•  BrokeLyn – A site for “bargain obsessives, stoop-sale sartorialists and wallet-aware foodies” living in Brooklyn.
• Brooklyn Bride – Because one day I’d like to be a bride instead of a bridesmaid.  This site is focused on the modern day wedding and is recognized as a top bridal blog in the industry (even outside of Brooklyn)!
• Brooklyn Vegan – NYC-focused music blog, believe it or not.
• Brownstoner – A Brooklyn real estate blog.  And yes, I know what you were thinking!
• Eat It:  The Brooklyn Food Blog – With all these restaurants, someone needed to get things organized!
• F’ed in Park Slope – Self-described blog about a “pretty, gentrified, know-it-all neighborhood in Brooklyn.”  Routinely makes fun of wannabe-hipsters and the Park Slope Food Coop.
• Fabulous in Park Slope – Park Slope is sometimes referred to as “stroller city,” so I had to include a site written by a stylish mom!
• Filming in Brooklyn – Did you know that many of your favorite films and TV shows have been (at least partially) filmed in Brooklyn?  My current favorite:  HBO’s Bored to Death, and yes, Zach Galfanakis (AKA, the chubby guy from The Hangover) was spotted in front of my house.
• For the Love of Brooklyn – A visually-delicious photoblog of all things Kings County. 
• Hey Brooklyn – A weekly podcast that features interviews with creative people living and working in Brooklyn (think this post will score me a spot on the site, ha)!
• Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn – Hyperlocal news for Brooklynites.  A great resource for arts & entertainment in the area (keeps me “on-trend”).

There is a great xkcd comic that says, “I’m happy to grow up.  But I won’t pretend that fun things aren’t still fun out of fear of looking silly.”  As a newcomer to NYC living – check out my previous post on life as a commuter – I’ve found the Big Apple provides many opportunities to embrace this motto.

Most recently, a flock of young-at-hearters descended upon Union Square for a pillow fight flash mob, with thousands of people participating.  And if you’re looking to grab a drink in a place more reminiscent of your childhood friend’s basement than a bar, look no further than Fat Cat in the West Village, which offers rows of ping pong and foosball tables, among other games. 

But my favorite childlike exploit in the big city so far infuses my life with a weekly dose of youthful glee – Skee-Ball.  Last month, I joined Brewskee-Ball, the first ever league of its kind, and every Monday night my team rolls at Williamsburg’s Full Circle Bar, whose parody of the Old Spice Superbowl commercial was a recent hit on YouTube.

With more than 400 teams in NYC, San Francisco, Austin, Charlotte and Wilmington, NC, Skee-Ball is quickly becoming the next great American bar sport.  It’s even caught the attention of mainstream media: NPR’s All Things Considered covered the past “skeeson” championship, ESPN.com posted a video tutorial from one Brewskee-Ball star roller, and The New York Times was rumored to be mulling about at this past Wednesday’s match.

If you can’t make it out to Brooklyn to watch an official league match, Manhattan plays host to two great Skee-Ball bars as well – Ace Bar in the East Village and Crocodile Lounge on East 14^th Street, where you can get in touch with your inner child while earning a free slice of pizza with each beer you purchase.  And, if all else fails, you can always download the iPhone app.