As one of the most influential voices in social media, Baratunde Thurston has what publishers call a major platform to promote his new book, How to Be Black. In it, Thurston takes apart the idea of “post-racial” America, explains the crucial role of the Black Friend and examines race through a personal, and seriously funny, lens. We talked to him over the phone, and he told us how much he loves Brooklyn, meat, whiskey and, yes, Twitter. Read More »

Chicago, according to Carl Sandburg, at least, is “hog butcher to the world.” Manhattan has its Meatpacking District, although now “Meat Market District” is perhaps a more appropriate name. But while Brooklyn has neither a poetic allegory nor a similar neighborhood moniker, it does have plenty of recession-friendly choices to sate your meatiest desires. One sticking point for the budget-conscious carnivore is conscience-worthy meat. Read More »

By the 1830s, Brooklyn Heights ha d already become one of New York’s elite enclaves, studded with lavish townhouses and easily accessible to Manhattan (first by the steam-powered Fulton Ferry, introduced in 1814, then by subway), but cut off from the average New Yorker. Today, the neighborhood remains a world apart, guarding its Victorian sensibility, multimillion-dollar brownstones and serene streets from the rest of the city. In the early 20th century, however, the neighborhood experienced a decline that persisted until after World War II. Back then, Brooklyn Heights had a tawdry air, its derelict grandeur attracting some of the 20th century’s most notable writers to its shores. Read More »

Brooklyn has more than its fair share of chocolatey goodness. From the Mast Brothers‘ bean-to-bar operation in Williamsburg to JoMart‘s classic confections made in Marine Park since 1946, everything from super-dark, tea-infused vegan bars to milk chocolate-covered marshmallow puffs are made right here. We’ve put together a cheat sheet of Brooklyn-made chocolate recommendations for almost any Valentine. And, if chocolate just doesn’t float your boat, check out our cheese picks from Eastern District for a different sort of butterfat romance. Read More »