One of the greatest achievements of New York City power broker and infrastructure builder Robert Moses, the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway transformed Brooklyn in the mid-20th century. It created pathways for cars, cut off the industrial waterfront from brownstone Brooklyn — cementing, literally, class inequalities in the landscape — and set the stage for the landmarking of Brooklyn Heights. Some 70 percent of the Brooklyn portion was completed by 1954, including the cantilevered section crowned by…

This post originally appeared on Brownstoner. The 1970s were a highly recognizable era for Brooklyn, from the graffiti’d stoops to the local dress, the comparative lack of tall buildings and the ubiquity of mom and pop shops. …

This post originally appeared on Brownstoner, in collaboration with Instagrammer Young Gotham. Almost every city and town built in the 19th century has its “Gold Coast” — that street or enclave where the wealthiest people in town built their magnificent homes. …

McCarren Park Pool in 1937. Photo via NYC Parks Brownstoner takes on Brooklyn history in Nabe Names, a series of briefs on the origins and surprising stories of neighborhood nomenclature. Williamsburg has quite the reputation as Brooklyn’s definitive hipster hub. In truth, though, the area is as diverse as anywhere…

The Mower’s Saturday/Sunday Flea Market in Woodstock, N.Y. Photo via The Mower’s Flea Market blog Bargain hunters and kitsch collectors will rejoice at the return of spring, when flea markets sprout from the ground like flowers. Escape the city for a weekend of wandering stalls and stands filled with all…

From agonizing over whether to keep the vintage bathroom tile or gut an otherwise perfect house that has termites, renovations are no easy feat for the mind or the wallet. Sometimes you end up with a better brownstone, and sometimes you just end up with a great story. Here are…

The Aesthetic Movement was one of the most important social movements of the late 19th century, yet most people are not aware of it at all. …

Sure, Manhattan has Wall Street and the Stock Exchange. But did you know that the bank card — the bulkier predecessor to the ubiquitous credit card — was born in Brooklyn?

Photo at left by Gage Skidmore via Wikipedia; photo at right by Kate Leonova for PropertyShark Golden Globes-winning actress and Brooklyn resident Michelle Williams is transforming her heart-breakingly lovely Prospect Park South dream house, renovating it to even further perfection. Plans include restoring the house’s original clapboard siding and streamlining…