A while ago, The New York Times printed an article about a young couple torn apart by the East River, billions of Subway stops, and the majority of bustling Manhattan. To put it simply: He lives in Manhattan, she lives in Brooklyn. This article, published in the Times’ Real Estate section, boldly referred to this pairing as a long-distance relationship.

But is it? As the crow flies, her apartment in Sunset Park, Brooklyn is a bit over 14 miles from his home in Hamilton Heights (Harlem), New York. Anywhere else in the country, this would constitute a 15 or 20 minute drive, however New York is not anywhere else in the country. The Subway trek requires 75 grueling minutes, as well as two transfers. And that’s, um, when the trains are running correctly.

Still, the aforementioned city between the aforementioned lovebirds isn’t exactly dead space — if I were a member of this “long-distance” couple, I’d arrange more of our meetings for the following approximate halfway points: the Union Square, the Village, SoHo, or Borough Hall. If only Romeo and Juliet had had it this easy.

It doesn’t matter if you call it a sub, grinder, hero, hoagie, Italian sandwich, po’ boy, wedge, zep, torpedo or roll, it’s all the same thing: a delicious mixture of meat, veggies and cheese between two pieces of bread. Personally, I have lived in a lot of places in my lifetime, and I have to say that New York has by far the best subs ever. This is especially true if you go to a deli that really knows what they are doing and has fresh and quality ingredients. Who knows — these subs could end up being your new favorite lunch.

Let’s explore some of the most famous sub-serving delis in and around the Brooklyn area:

First off is Mill’s Basin Deli on Avenue T. This place has one of the best pastrami sandwiches you are ever going to eat. Each sandwich is also served with the deli’s delicious signature coleslaw. Pastrami is not something that anyone can just whip up. You have to have a nice quality cut of peppered brisket to really enjoy this!

Next on the list is Defonte’s Sandwich Shop, with locations on 3rd Avenue and Columbia Street. One of the specialties here is a Chicken Parm hero, which is pretty much a standard at Italian delis everywhere. The thing about this sandwich is that it has to be cooked just right in order to stay crispy and hot. And at Defonte’s they do just that. The chicken is tender and moist, the cheese is really nice and melted, and the bread is always fresh! Another thing that I really like here are the stuffed cherry peppers, which are known for being spicy but delicious.

Next on the list is the ever popular Lioni on 15th Avenue. This place has somewhere around 300 to 400 varieties of hero’s on the menu and each one is made to order. These are not only good quality and flavorful sandwiches, but just looking at the menu is sure to give you a few chuckles. For example, they have a lot of sandwiches named after famous people like The Joe Montana, The Mario Andretti, and The Joe Pesci.

I’m a big foodie when it comes to eating out or getting specific kinds of foods, in this case bakery items. Not just any place is going to do it for me. I often find that the more established a bakery is or the longer it’s been around, the better choice and quality you are going to have.

Some of the main bakeries in Brooklyn you can check out are Monteleone’s on Court St. (which has the best cannolis ever) and B & W Bakery (known for its signature crumb cake).

You can also find various ethnic bakeries as well. I have a lot of Greek in me, so if I can find a place that has good baklava I will be a customer forever! You can also check out Rimini Bakery on Bay Parkway for Italian items, Nordic Delicacies on 3rd Ave. for Scandinavian, Sahadi’s on Atlantic Avenue for Middle Eastern, and Leske’s on 5th Ave. in Bay Ridge for Norwegian. It really depends on what you want and how far you are willing to search for your favorite dessert!

If you just moved to the Brooklyn area you may be wondering about some activities or hobbies you can get into. Frankly, I think Brooklyn is one of those great cities where just about anyone can find something that interests them.

If you are young person or young couple into trends, you might enjoy trying new restaurants like Applewood, Al Di LA or Franny’s. These are some of the newer and “hip” restaurants in the community that get praise all the time for the food, atmosphere and social scene.

On the other hand, maybe you are into the bar or the club scene. If so, like most other metropolitan areas Brooklyn offers quite a few options to choose from such as Building on Bond, Clover Club, Floyd, NY or Last Exit, which is a fantastic mix between a comfortable downtown bar and a trendy lounge.

For children, Brooklyn has tons of great cultural activities and performing arts opportunities. Consider the New York Aquarium, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Prospect Park Zoo, The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Lefferts Historic House, and of course Coney Island. At this last stop, your family can enjoy games, rides, food, and the popular Coney Island Museum.

Since October 2008, Spacecraft–located on the Southside of Williamsburg—has been Brooklyn’s coolest crafting hub for kids, newbies, and advanced crafters of all ages. This super-cool craft supply store and gift shop features walk-in projects where you pay for the materials and make your own craft in store, daily and weekly workshops, and sign-up courses.

Spacecraft even offers private instruction for things like sewing, knitting, and any other area you’re interested in learning about. In addition to the store, gift shop, and classes, they have an amazing backyard that is used for hosting parties, barbeques and outdoor crafting workshops like tie-dying.

They host many free crafting events that are a great way to get out and meet some fellow Brooklynites while making some one-of-a-kind crafts. For the crafter who appreciates a frosty adult beverage now and again, Craft on Draught is something you must check out. Just bring 10-15 dollars and your old sewing scraps or other projects you’ve been meaning to work on, and they provide beer and a fun environment to socialize and make stuff!

Spacecraft is located at 355 Bedford Ave. in Brooklyn.

Hours are M-F 10-6 & Sat. & Sun. 11-7

spacecraftbrooklyn.com

Do you love browsing for unique items such as costume jewelry, armoires, dishes, and mirrors? If so, you sound like an antiquer to me. But don’t run off to the country for some quaint antique shop just yet — whether you’re looking for a piece of jewelry or a piece of furniture, you can find what you need right in the city!

Before you begin your search, however, it’s important to remember the difference between antique and thrift stores. Although there are exceptions, most thrift shops tend to be stocked with items people simply didn’t want. This means that the quality is suspect, and the “history” behind each item is likely nothing special (unless you consider a vintage IKEA purchase a find). Antique stores, however, typically have higher standards on the items they’ll accept, making it easier for you to find high quality pieces.

In Brooklyn, we recommend City Foundry on Atlantic Avenue as one of the best antique and vintage stores in the area, featuring everything from furniture and appliances to light fixtures and decorative accents. Prices are a little steep here, but these items are certainly worth the added expense.

Additionally, a pair of stores called Brownstone Treasures and Yesterday’s News (both on Court Street) are known for their wide selection of affordable antiques, from Victorian era furniture to pulp fiction paperbacks and costume jewelry.

Last, period lovers will enjoy the Antique Room on Atlantic Avenue, which stocks 19th-century furniture, mirrors, lamps, and more.

It’s no wonder Brooklyn is loaded with history, given the borough’s population of over 2.5 million people, which features residents of all cultures and backgrounds.

Originally called “Breuckelen,” Brooklyn was settled by the Dutch West India Company in 1646, making it the state of New York’s first municipality. Brooklyn later absorbed some of the neighboring Dutch villages, including Boswijk (Bushwick), Nieuw Utrecht (New Utrecht), and Nieuw Amersfoort (Flatlands).

Even today, Brooklyn residents and visitors alike are privy to dozens of fantastic historical landmarks, including the Green-Wood Cemetery in Greenwood Heights, a resting place for many famous people, including Leonard Bernstein. Another great landmark is the Lefferts Historic House in Prospect Park, a museum capturing the life of Brooklyn in the 1820s. Alternatively, fans of architecture—or just tall things—might enjoy a trip to the Williamsburgh Savings Bank in Fort Greene. Standing at 512 feet, this bank is one of the tallest buildings in Brooklyn, featuring one of the tallest clock towers in the world.

Of course, no trip to Brooklyn is complete without a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge was constructed in 1883, and has since become an integral aspect of the New York City’s skyline.

If you travel as much as I do, then you probably like to stay in nice hotels and bed and breakfasts. I actually really like one or the other depending on where I am staying and what is available, in this case B&BS in the Brooklyn area. Brooklyn as a whole is a really nice place to visit and they have some really nice bed and breakfasts as well. These places are usually going to have all the comforts of home, but they also have the services of a hotel like serving meals, maid services and room service. One of the places you might be interested in checking out is Bed & Breakfast On The Park. This has been noted as receiving many awards such as Best Big City B&B by the New York Times, The Best Place For A Romantic Dinner and the Most Romantic B&B in Brooklyn.

It was established in 1985 and has since then become one of the most popular places to stay and its no wonder with its atmosphere, service, value and the quality of food! Next on the list is Dekoven Suites which is actually one giant Victorian home and includes master bedrooms, air conditioning, hot tub, and a private entrance. You can also stay here as well for business reasons because they have all the comforts of your office too! One of my more favorite options simply because of the Modern feel to it is the Lefferts Manor Bed & Breakfast.

The rooms are quaint with a mix of periodical furniture, oak flooring, and a grand center staircase! They also cater to different tastes such as Low Fat meals and Vegetarians as well. Anther modern apartment option would be that of 287 Hoyt Street which is situated in a quiet Italian neighborhood in Carroll Gardens which is also situated next to a beautiful church, its steps away from grocery stores, gourmet food shops, cafes, restaurants and the subway as well!