Exploring the Borough Hall Greenmarket

First, a personal disclosure: Wandering the Borough Hall Greenmarket this October helped me fall in love with Brooklyn and was one of the many reasons I decided to live in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. It was a crisp fall day and the market was alive with friendly people and fresh produce. Looking in one direction, I saw the beautiful Cadman Plaza Park, full of fall color, and a glimpse of the Brooklyn Bridge. Looking in the other direction allowed for a perfect view of Borough Hall, a building fittingly on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Borough Hall Greenmarket is in a position to capture the best of Brooklyn, nestled between the busy downtown and the historic Brooklyn Heights neighborhood (former home to Walt Whitman and Truman Capote), resulting in a combination of commerce, community, and picturesque views. The Borough Hall Farmers’ Market recently celebrated its 25^th year this past summer with an anniversary party, complete with pizza-making demonstrations, a photo exhibit, and an appearance by Slow Food. In fact, Slow Food’s national headquarters are located just down the street from the Borough Hall Greenmarket.

The Borough Hall Greenmarket is open year-round on Tuesdays and Saturdays. From April through December, it is also open on Thursdays. Though the farmer representation is reduced during our current winter months, it is still worth a visit, as Wilklow Orchards consistently sells amazing fruits and vegetables. Not Just Rugelach is also a year-round stand: their bread and pastries are both delicious and creative. The spring, summer, and fall months bring a complete selection of vendors: fish from American Seafood, fruit, flowers, and plants from Phillips Farms, and dairy from Ardith Mae Farm (to name just a few).

To experience a quintessential Brooklyn Heights morning: first, get off at the Borough Hall stop and browse the farmers’ market to get ideas for later. Then, wander through Cadman Plaza Park down to the Brooklyn Bridge. You could grab lunch at Grimaldi’s or head back up the hill for pizza at Fascati’s or fresh organic food at Siggy’s. After lunch, spend some time at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade for stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan. Finally, walk back to the Greenmarket to pick up the produce and products you had seen earlier.