Category Archives: Walking around Brooklyn

Day One Hundred and Fifteen: Visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Rose Night in June June 14th, 2018 (Visited again for the event June 12th, 2024, June 11th, 2025 and June 5th, 2026)

June 21, 2018Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Brooklyn, Exploring Brooklyn Block by Block, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring New York City Parks, Exploring NYC Parks, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan Experiences, Pizzeria's and Italian Restaurants for the budget-minded, Sandwich and Deli's for the budget minded, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New York City, Walking around Brooklyn, Walking around Manhattan, Walking Downtown Brooklyn, Walking in BrooklynAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, Author Justin Watral, Author Justin Watrel, BergenCountyCaregiver.com, Brooklyn, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Botanical Garden, diningonashoestringinnyc, Exploring Brooklyn, Exploring Brooklyn Block by Block, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, exploring New York by Foot, Exploring New York City, Exploring the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, Little Shop on Main Street, littleshoponmainstreet.com, MywalkinManhattan.com, NYC Parks, Rose Night Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Visiting the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walk Manhattan, Walking Brooklyn, Walking in Manhattan, Walking Manhattan, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watreljwatrel

Every year the Brooklyn Botanic Garden opens its doors to the membership for the Annual Rose Night in June. This is when the roses are at their peak of bloom and members and their friends and family come to enjoy a private evening.

The Cranford Rose Garden

The crowds at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens in the Spring of 2024

I have to admit that the weather has played a big role in the way flowers have bloomed this year. Plants have either opened too early or too late. The crocuses opened about three weeks too early and they sat in snow. The tulips opened on time and then were hit with three days of 80 degree weather, which just burnt them out. The daffodils had a good but quick season due to the hot and cold weather. Daffodil Hill and the dogwood trees in the garden were spectacular. What vibrant colors and what a beautiful display that night.

Daffodil Hill when it was in full bloom in April

Rose Night was tough. Normally it is a week earlier as most roses come out on the first week of June but for some reason, they moved it to the second week and a lot of the roses had already lost their petals. The weather had been a big factor as it rained so much in late May and early June.

The beautiful wildflowers in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Still, many of the roses were still coming out and the gardens were awash in colors. So many types of roses were blooming that they almost time themselves. The gardens were full of colors of red, pink, yellow and even green. The overhead trellises were lined in whites, yellows and pinks. Some had aromatic smells while other smelled line a plain flower.

The colorful flowers in the Rose Garden

The crowds were large the night of Rose Night in 2024

It was nice to walk along the paths and spot the names of the roses. Everything is marked so you get to see when the flowers were grafted and developed. Things are timed so intricately in the garden so they all bloom in certain intervals. Some of the beds were beyond peak while others were just bursting out after a long winter’s nap. You will walk in amazement down the paths to see so much.

Rose Garden at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden

It was a beautiful sunny Spring evening and the garden was packed with families picnicking on the lawns all over the gardens, having dinner at the Magnolia Cafe near the middle of the gardens where a special menu was laid out. Others like me were listening to music in the area by the gift shop or ordering Rose Sangria from the bar which was made with infused rose petals (and is delicious).

The Rose Garden Terrace

The crowds were large in the gardens

The musicians were playing show tunes and the gardens hired a wonderful singer for the night. She was doing all the old Cole Porter songs while I was listening to her and the band. It was nice to just relax with a drink and listen to the band with the other members. Some take it really seriously and dress to the hilt in blazers and hats. I sometimes feel a little under-dressed for the occasion.

I took a long walk around the gardens. A lot is being renovated with the new watershed system that the gardens are setting up which will be opened later this Summer. All the daffodils, dogwoods and tulips are long gone making way for summer flowers to enter the beds. There will be a lot more to see later in the season.

The Rose Garden Plaque

The beautiful display of roses in June 2024

There will be other members nights of picnicking on the lawns and movies to see and walking tours to show it all off.

The Cherry Blossom Lawn in the summer months

The crowds in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden in 2024

The fountain in the back the Cherry Blossom Lawn

The fountain in the back of the Cherry Blossom Lawn

The fountain in full bloom on Rose Night

The back entrance of the Cranford Rose Garden

The entrance to the back of the Cranford Rose Garden in June 2024

This is the reason why being a member of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens is so important if you live in the New York area. There are loads of wonderful events to get involved with on a monthly basis.

The pathways in the Rose Garden

For dinner in 2024, I discovered Gino’s Pizza down Flatbush Avenue at 831 Flatbush Avenue and it is a pizzeria whose food is excellent. I have come across this pizzeria on a long walk I did down Flatbush Avenue on the way to Brooklyn College. I have eaten here several times and the food is wonderful.

Gino’s Pizza at 831 Flatbush Avenue

https://www.myginospizzeria.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60827-d4439520-Reviews-Gino_s_Pizzeria-Brooklyn_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com”

https://wordpress.com/post/diningonashoestringinnyc.wordpress.com/5220

They make their own tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes, garlic and olive oil and you can taste the flavor in the sauce. I had a Chicken Parmesan Sandwich. Talk about an amazing sandwich.

Not only was it loaded with fresh chicken cutlets but topped with several handfuls of melted mozzarella cheese. The sandwich was a gooey delight and the perfect dinner. They have nice outside seating and I like watching the characters walk by.

In both 2018 and in 2024, Rose Night was a real treat. The weather was sunny and warm with no humidity, the music was wonderful and the Rose Garden was out of bloom at this point (the seasons seem to be two weeks early every year so that roses had already hit their peak) but still enough roses that the gardens were beautiful to look at. It was a relaxing and enjoyable evening.

Please read my blog on Rose Night 2019:

https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/9062

Rose Night June 11th, 2025:

I returned to Rose Night again in June 2025 and it was another wonderful evening at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. It was a sunny and warm night and I got there before the 6:00pm start time and it was nice when the gardens were quiet. I got to take lots of pictures and then walk around the gardens before the Jazz band started the night’s entertainment.

Arriving at the gardens before the start time

The Crawford Rose Gardens that evening.

Admiring the beautiful roses

Walking through the Rose Gardens and admiring the roses

The beautiful Rose Archways

The roses in bloom that evening

Members walking along the Rose beds that evening

Walking along the pathways in the Crawford Rose Gardens

I admired all the gorgeous roses that night

The roses with such vibrant colors

All different colors were in bloom

The colors of the other flowers in the gardens

The back part of the Crawford Gardens

The statuary in the back part of the gardens

Visiting the Brooklyn Botanic Garden before Rose Night in 2026:

I got an email from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden saying that the Cranford Rose Garden was at its peak of blooming and that I should see it while it was at its prime. I was busy at work and was able to travel down to down to the gardens a few days later. Talk about perfect timing as the petals just started to fall.

The Cranford Rose Garden at peak is one of the most beautiful sites. The colors and the fragrances are just amazing. I could not attend “Rose Night” in 2026 because of a prior commitment plus it would be a gloomy night with the threat of rain. So I went the Friday afternoon for the event the next Wednesday.

The Cranford Rose Garden in bloom

The Cranford Rose Garden is amazing from every angle and the views from the top of the hill overlooking the garden shows the extensive amounts of roses planted and the array of colors.

The beds of roses of all colors and species

The entrance to the Cranford Rose Garden is full of an array of different types of colorful flowers

The beautiful and diverse flowers in the Cranford Rose Garden

The beauty of flowers up close

All sorts of roses line the trellis borders of the Rose Garden

What I love about walking around is that you can see the diversity of the roses. The garden is planted with different species so they bloom at different times giving the beds an array of colors at different times. Along the beds and trellis everything bloomed so vibrantly.

The beautiful orange roses that lined the trellis

The colorful trellis pathways

The reds and pinks in full bloom

Roses lining the lamppost

Admiring the beds of roses at the Cranford Rose Garden

Purple reins supreme

Walking through the trellis pathways of red

The beauty of the trellis

The back part of the garden

The back terrace of the Cranford Rose Garden

The elegant statuary of the rose garden and the sun dial

The back Terrace area

The back of the Cranford Rose Garden is lined with all sorts of flowering plants having a rainbow of colors.

Walking through the terrace gardens

The beautiful roses in the back of the garden

The roses in the back of the Cranford Gardens

Walking out the back of the gardens

The back path of the Cranford Rose Garden

The fountain in the back of the Cranford Garden

Visiting the Cranford Rose Garden when it flowering is one of the most interesting collection of colors and scents. This is why I try to time my visits around the blooming of the flowers.

Places to visit:

The Brooklyn Botanical Garden

990 Washington Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11225

(718) 623-7200

http://www.bbg.org

Open: Mondays: (Closed)/Tuesday-Friday: 8:00am-6:00pm/Saturday & Sunday: 10:00am-6:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60827-d103900-Reviews-Brooklyn_Botanic_Garden-Brooklyn_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/2785

Places to Eat:

Gino’s Pizzeria

831 Flatbush Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11226

(718) 287-8800

https://www.ginosbrooklyn.com

Open: Sunday-Saturday 11:00am-9:00pm

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60827-d2484193-Reviews-Gino_s_Pizzeria-Brooklyn_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/diningonashoestringinnyc.wordpress.com/5220

The Japanese Gardens on a summer evening

The Water Shed Gardens on a Summer evening

The Children’s Garden on Rose Night

The colorful flowers on Rose Night

The fountain in the Rose Garden

The video of the fountain in the Rose Garden

The members enjoying the music

The group New Orleans Renaissance played for us that evening

The group performing that night

The video of the band playing

It was an amazing night and a lot of fun. I could tell that everyone had a good time .

It was another great Rose Night at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden!

Day Eighty-Two: Going from Q to Q. Taking the subway from the beginning of the Q on 96th Street to Stillwell Avenue Coney Island August 9th, 2017 (Again June 2024)

August 16, 2017"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Candy and Ice Cream stores for the budget minded, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Brooklyn, Exploring Brooklyn Block by Block, Exploring Coney Island, Brooklyn, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring NYC Parks, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the New York City Subway System, Exploring The Upper East Side of Manhattan, Historic New York City neighborhoods, Hot Dog, Hamburger & Fries for the budget minded., Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan Experiences, Pizzeria's and Italian Restaurants for the budget-minded, Sandwich and Deli's for the budget minded, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New York City, Walking around Brooklyn, Walking around ManhattanAddthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, Author Justin Watral, BergenCountyCaregiver, Coney Island, Coney Island Amusements, Coney Island Beach, Coney Island Museum, Cyclone Rollercoaster, Deno's Wonderwheel Park, diningonashoestringinnyc, Exploring Brooklyn, Exploring Coney Island, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring NYC Subways, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Upper East Side, Justin Watral, Justin Watrel, LittleShoponMainStreet, Louise Ciminieri Totonno's, Luna Park, MywalkinManhattan.com, Nathan's Coney Island, New York Aquarium, Totonno's Pizza, VisitingaMuseum.com, Walking in Brooklyn, Walking in Coney Island, Warren George Watrel, Warren Watrel, Wonder Wheeljwatrel

I had finished the Manhattan Valley neighborhood earlier in the day when the Soup Kitchen was full and they did not need me. So, I walked the lower part of the neighborhood to finish it off and then walked across Central Park to the beginning of the new subway stop for the Q subway train at 96th Street and Second Avenue. As I had written on Day Sixty-Six on my walk, this subway line is really nice and take time to look at the artwork at the stops at 96th, 72nd and 63rd Streets.

The 96th Street stop my starting point

If you are going to take the Q to Coney Island leave yourself plenty of time because it is over an hour to get from one end of the Q to the other. It was a beautiful warm clear sunny day around 84 degrees and a perfect day to go to the shore.

The 96th Street artwork in the terminal

I love the Q train! I love the new section of the subway with its interesting art and the fact that it is so clean. That and the fact they the E subway has the newest cars to stretch out in. It makes it a pleasure for the long trips.

The artwork on the 96th Street station

You get some of the best views of the city from the subway once you cross over into Brooklyn. You get a great view of lower Manhattan when exiting from underground plus you get to see the old parts of Brooklyn with views of the ‘Brownstone’ neighborhoods. There’s another area that keeps changing with gentrification.

The subway ends at the Stillwell subway stop. This rebuilt stop was the first part in the renovation of the island to make it a more 24-hour resort. Most of the other plans have been scrapped or were never enacted. To be honest with all of you, the amusement area of Coney Island is still dumpy and has not been much since the Luna Park fire of 1946 and the Dreamland fire of 1911. They keep trying though.

The changes on Surf Avenue keep happening every month

Even when I went to Coney Island as a kid in the 70’s, it was rundown then. Please don’t get me wrong, Coney Island can be a lot of fun and you can have a great day out here but don’t get too lofty of expectations of what it is like (See reviews on TripAdvisor). Don’t venture too far from Nathan’s after dark and follow the crowd back to the Stillwell subway station after dark if you stay for the films on the beach or the fireworks.

The Coney Island Museum Bar is a great place to relax when you get to Coney Island.

I have been down for the Mermaid Parade in the Spring several years ago and will be going to the Sandcastle Building contest next week. There is a lot going on during the summer and it is good to check out these activities. The Hot Dog Eating Contest at Nathan’s draws thousands to the island to watch their hero’s devour hot dogs at record speed.

Still the I love to explore the changes to the island and walked around Surf and Neptune Avenues after I got there. I wanted to see if Totonno’s Pizza was open that day so I walked for two blocks Neptune Avenue and I will tell you that though the area is changing it still is not a great neighborhood.

Totonno’s is in the middle of a commercial area with a series of garages and car repairs at 1524 Neptune Avenue. The worst part was that it closed for the day. The restaurant is only opened from Wednesday to Sunday so it’s for another time. I did get to see the back part of the island and found where the original Coney Island Creek was located. This is where the original Sea Lion Park and Luna Park were located back in the early part of the century.

Totonno’s Pizza at 1524 Neptune Avenue

https://www.totonnosconeyisland.com/e

I changed my plans around and walked the length of Surf Avenue and started my walk around the amusement area which runs from the Aquarium at West 8th Street to about West 16th Street. Even with the rebuilding of Luna Park on the footprint of the old Astroland, Surf Avenue needs a major makeover. The chain restaurants have added a little life to it but still some of the blocks are a series of rundown buildings and old-time amusements.

The Coney Island Boardwalk

I stopped by the Coney Island Museum at 1208 Surf Avenue and the museum part was closed for the day but the side show part was open but I had missed the show. I walked around some of the open exhibitions on the outside and it is interesting to see some of the artifacts from the old amusement days.

Coney Island Museum at 1208 Surf Avenue

https://www.coneyisland.com/programs/coney-island-museum

My next stop was the famous Cyclone Roller Coaster on West 10th Street (see review on TripAdvisor). This is the most amazing and exciting ride on the island and one of the things you should see while you are in New York City. It is $10.00 to ride the coaster but it is well worth it! That first hill you go down is so mind-blowing. You feel as if the cars are going to fly into the sea. It rolls up and down those hills back and forth facing the buildings across the street and the sea. Of all the amusement parks I have been to there is nothing like the Cyclone.

Cyclone Rollercoaster at 801 Reiglemann Boardwalk

https://lunaparknyc.com/rides/coney-island-cyclone/

I walked into the Luna Park area and saw the improvements that have been added to the park. The problem with Luna Park is that it’s mostly kiddie rides and not much for adults with the exception of the Log Flume Ride. Luna Park was rebuilt on the old Astroland which had closed by in 2008 and is trying to capture the old magic of the island with upgrades on rides and concessions. It even recreated the original entrance of Luna Park across the street from the old park. Still, it will take a lot more work on the park and more added rides in the future. I give them so much credit for revitalizing the park with a new look.

The entrance to the new Luna Park in Coney Island

https://lunaparknyc.com/

I walked after that to Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, 1025 Regielmann Boardwalk, which I had not been on for about seven years and the famous Spook-a-Rama, which I had not ridden since I was about eight. The Wonder Wheel was built back in the 20’s and with a height of 150 feet, has great views of the ocean and of the island. Both rides were $8.00 and were well worth it for the day.

When riding the Wonder Wheel, make sure to get one of the cars that slide. Not only do you get the view but you get the excitement of sliding around. When you reach the top of the Wonder Wheel, it has the most breathtaking view of the boardwalk area, the beach and ocean and a view of the whole island. The breeze is so refreshing up there and you feel like the world is your own. Talk about seeing the world go by.

Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park at 1025 Regielmann Boardwalk

https://www.denoswonderwheel.com/

After the Wonder Wheel, I walked over to Spook-a-Rama, also $8.00, which I first rode when I was eight and it has not changed that much since then. It does have a few thrills that do pop out at you that will have you jumping. There have been a few updates on it with video displays but for the most part I remember it being much scarier as a kid. I will let you know though the first couple of things popping out at you will still have you jumping out of your seat but still it’s not the Haunted Mansion at Disney Parks.

Spook-a-Rama at Deno’s Wonderwheel Park

The entrance of the Spook-a-Rama

I had enough time to go to the New York Aquarium located at West 8th Street, just past the Cyclone. During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, most of the Aquarium was seriously damaged and most of the park is still under construction. The Coral Exhibition is still interesting especially with the destruction of the wreaths around the world and the Sea Lion demonstration is a lot of fun. The Sea Lions are such hams and seem to love the crowds. What I thought was interesting is that both of them were born in New York City at the Bronx Zoo, so they have only known humans. Still, they look like they are having fun. They seem to love waving to the audience and the crowds love them back.

New York Aquarium at West 8th Street

https://nyaquarium.com/

Disco Dancing on the Boardwalk

While I was walking on the Boardwalk, I caught this group of people dancing to the BeeGees. The 1970’s have never really ended.

My last stop of the evening was dinner at Nathan’s at 1310 Surf Avenue. This hot dog chain was founded in 1916 and is still in their original location. They have the best hot dogs and their French fries are some of the best in the industry. When you go you have to have the original hot dog with mustard, the regular fries (which is a large order anywhere else) and their famous Orange-aid. It is the best meal.

Nathan’s Coney Island at 1310 Surf Avenue

https://nathansfamous.com/

The sign welcoming you to Nathan’s

On a hot sunny day, it is nice to sit out on the tables right next to the restaurant. There is something about the sea breezes, the salt air and hot dogs and fries that make a phenomenal combination. It is a meal that is part of the beach experience and that was worth the trip alone.

My favorite meal at Nathan’s: A Hot Dog, French Fries and an icy Coke

Before it got too late, I was back on the Q Train back to Manhattan. I’m sorry but sensible people still get out of Coney Island before it gets dark. Even though the subway station on Stillwell and Surf Avenues is very safe and there is a police station there, it’s better to leave before dusk. I don’t care how many artists have moved into the area.

The subway ride took just over an hour to get back to Manhattan but it was still light out when I left the shore area and got my last glimpse of the ocean pass by. There is nothing like watching the sun reflect on the beach. The best was that we passed lower Manhattan before we went under the tunnel and watched the skyline brightened by the lights in the office towers. If you want to see an amazing site, it is when the city lights come on and the skyline is ablaze. It is like a picture postcard and impressive. When people think of New York City, this is what they imagine.

Coney Island Beach

When I finally got back to 96th Street, I had some time to look at the artwork again and stretch around the station. I still love to see museum quality art in a subway. Then it was off back on the Q back to midtown.

For the price of a round-trip ticket on the subway, it is fantastic voyage around the city on the new Q. Artwork, amusements, skyline views and the beach. What more could you want?

From Q to Q Beginning to End from 96th Street to Stillwell Avenue