A Charming City

Although a native New Yorker, I have never had the opportunity to truly visit Brooklyn. This city, which may sometimes have a negative reputation, has produced some of the great forces of nature: Grimaldi's Pizza, Coney Island, Prospect Park, and, of course, the fantastic Jay-Z. In order to appreciate the city better, a couple of friends and I decided to leave Chicago and visit BK for a few days.

The first step in our planning for this excursion was choosing a hotel. I am a firm believer in location, location, location, so we picked the Super 8 Hotel in Park Slope, Brooklyn. We could not have been happier with the choice. The hotel is brand-new, the service was fantastic, and the room was clean and offered us every amenity that we needed. Even better, they had delicious restaurants and bars within walking distance. Picking a hotel is often the most stressful part in planning any trip, and I was honestly so glad that we got that one right!

Our other favorite experience of the trip was the restaurant Al Di La. Al di la offered fantastic, completely unexpected Italian food in a homestyle atmosphere. I ordered the squid-ink risotto, which was creamy and delicious. The only drawback to the restaurant is that they do not accept reservations. We solved that dilemma by waiting at a local bar.

New Yorkers often compare Brooklyn to Manhattan, suggesting that BK is a smaller version of the Big Apple. I think that such a comparison is a disservice to Brooklyn. Brooklyn has a grounded, gritty, and somehow more real vibe. Walking around Brooklyn, I couldn't help but fall in love with the controlled chaos that was offered. From the South American Empanada Lady to the numerous art galleries, Brooklyn is an ever-shifting kaleidoscope.