THE DESTINATION
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Entrances:
150 Eastern Parkway
455 Flatbush Avenue
990 Washington Avenue

THE JOURNEY
A quick 25 minutes on the 2 to Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum.

THE DETAILS
The garden’s October hours are Tuesday to Sunday, 10a to 6p. November hours are Tuesday to Sunday: 10a to 3:30p. Tickets are $22 for adults. NB: Closed Thanksgiving Day.

THE BACKGROUND
I am a member at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, but had not been to the Brooklyn version since the early ’90s, when my pals were married there. Shame on me. The Brooklyn garden is a lot smaller — 52 vs 250 acres — but it would take the better part of a day to see it all. Don’t miss the Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, the Native Flora Garden or the Conservatory with its separate climate zones. Also make sure you stroll the Celebrity Path, just for the fun of it.

PITSTOP
The garden has a grab-and-go canteen and a full-service cafe at the Conservatory. But my pal who lives on Eastern Parkway suggested Cheryl’s Global Soul, down the street towards Grand Army Plaza. Highly recommend.

PRO TIP
The Eastern Parkway entrance is right at the subway stop, but we had no idea. Instead we walked past the Brooklyn Museum and around the corner to the entrance at the visitor center on Washington. I actually think that was a great place to start, since you can hit the Japanese garden first.

SPECIAL TRIBECA TREAT
The most excellent OY/YO sculpture in front of the Brooklyn Museum has a Tribeca connection: the artist, Deborah Kass, lived at 137 West Broadway for 25 years, starting in the mid-70s, before moving to…Brooklyn.