Excursions with fellow folklorists on their “turf” are always the most fun, in my worldview. So, as soon as a long weekend in Brooklyn with my hubby was in the works (to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary and for him to attend a music event I had no interest in) I got in touch with Kay, who has lived there for many years and knows the borough well. We arranged for her to pick me up and take me touring.

We were staying in downtown Brooklyn, and we both had only a couple of hours, so Kay concentrated on the funky and historic Red Hook neighborhood, although on the way there and back Kay narrated the wonders of several other areas we passed through. This included bustling Atlantic Avenue, historically home to Brooklyn’s Middle Eastern community, where we got caught in Saturday morning traffic.

First stop on the tour was Valentino Pier, for a view of Lady Liberty, the Manhattan skyline, the remnants of maritime commerce, and a huge cruise ship or two. We walked past Steve’s Lime Pie shop, where you can buy key lime pie on a stick dipped in chocolate. (Not what you would expect in Brooklyn, but it’s full of surprises!)

We did not indulge in key lime pie, because Kay had another delicious snack destination in mind. (Plus, I must confess that I don’t even like key lime pie!) Along the way, there were a couple of irresistible photo ops that Kay pulled the car aside for, including Ye Nautical Garage which has made it into the roster of Roadside America attractions.

Our last and tastiest stop before heading back to my humble Holiday Inn, was Mazzola’s Bakery, established in 1928. Located in Carroll Gardens, walking into this tiny, cash-only shop crammed with Italian baked goods puts your nose, eyes and taste buds on overdrive. We picked some savory treats (though not the iconic lard bread), and sweet ones to take home. Kay introduced me to a regional soft drink, Manhattan Special Coffee Soda. (Regional soft drinks are dear to many folklorists and deserve their own blog sometime!) We sat outside on one of the small tables near the street and munched happily.

All in all, I had a lovely time on the all too brief but action-packed tour, and Kay was a great guide. Here are some snaps of the experience!