New York Like a Native
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Fort Greene and Clinton Hill tour


Two contiguous neighborhoods with rich history, a historic park, varied great architecture, a notable monument, and a stunning sculpture garden.

Spike Lee's headquarters in Fort Greene, part of New York Like A Native neighborhood tourSpike Lee's HQ in Fort Greene
Fort Greene, home of some classic row houses, incorporates and borders the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), the centerpiece of a burgeoning arts district that includes a dance company, theater spaces, and a new museum.  

Fort Greene is where film director Spike Lee, a Brooklynite who has set many of his works in the borough, established his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks. We'll learn about the "Brooklyn boheme" he helped build, and see what time & gentrification have wrought.


We'll see the tallest building in the area, the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, and a flurry of new development. We visit Fort Greene Park, home of the city's definitive memorial to war losses. We'll see homages to author Richard Wright and poet Marianne Moore. And we'll stroll what some call the city's single best block.

Not far away, we'll see a magnificent Masonic Temple and French Gothic church, signs of the prosperity and clout of this early 20th century neighborhood.

We continue to Clinton Hill, home of spectacular mansions, several associated with Charles Pratt, once the richest man in Brooklyn, founder of Astral Oil Works. We'll see the block where Miranda of Sex and the City purportedly chose when she moved to "Brooklyn." 

We walk around the 
Pratt Institute, today an art school but once educating engineers and others in science. The charming campus contains a terrific sculpture garden. (T
he Pratt campus is currently closed to visitors, so we'll see it from the street,)

If time, we can continue to adjacent western Bedford-Stuyvesant, where there are some surprising juxtapositions: new residential development, a housing project, a Hasidic enclave, even a fancy donut shop.
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Distance from Midtown Manhattan: 25-35 minutes by subway

Basic tour length: 2.5 hours (see fees)

Starting place: Typically near Atlantic Terminal subway hub

Ending place: Varies, but typically near the Pratt Institute

Highlights: History, architecture, sculpture, new development, parks, arts institutions

Option before tour: Snack/meal in Park Slope or Fort Greene

Option after tour: A meal/drink/snack near Pratt

Potential tour extensions with me: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights/Park Slope (Brooklyn 202), Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park/Barclays Center


Why I like leading this tour: Trees, parks, sculpture, row-houses, and mansions--some of the loveliest blocks of the city, illuminating history.
New York Like A Native: Energetic, eclectic tours of Brooklyn & beyond. Experienced guide. Personal service.
  • Home
    • Brooklyn 101 tour >
      • Brooklyn 202 tour
  • Brooklyn tours
    • North & west of Prospect Park >
      • Fort Greene & Clinton Hill tour
      • DUMBO, Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn Heights tour
      • Park Slope tour
      • Brooklyn Bridge (and more) tour
      • Atlantic Avenue & Downtown Brooklyn
      • Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens tour
      • Red Hook tour
    • Williamsburg & north Brooklyn >
      • Williamsburg tour
      • Greenpoint tour
      • Bushwick and East Williamsburg tour
    • Central Brooklyn >
      • Bedford-Stuyvesant tour
      • Crown Heights tour
      • (Not Just) Victorian Flatbush tour
      • Green-Wood Cemetery tour
    • Coney Island and southern Brooklyn >
      • Coney Island Webinar, Virtual Tour, & Resources
      • Coney Island (& Brighton Beach) tour
      • Sunset Park tour
      • Bensonhurst tour
      • Bay Ridge tour
    • Jewish, food, and Xmas lights tours >
      • Jewish Neighborhood Tours
      • Food, dessert, ice cream tours
      • Dyker Heights Christmas Lights tour
    • Moving to Brooklyn/layover tours >
      • Moving to/Studying in/Retiring in Brooklyn
      • Airport/Cruise/Layover tours in Brooklyn
    • Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park/Barclays Center
  • Beyond Brooklyn
    • Jackson Heights tour
    • Lower East Side tour
    • Long Island City tour
    • Ridgewood tour
    • Sunnyside & LIC East
  • About your guide
  • Fees/Schedule/FAQ
    • Fees for private tours
    • Schedule
    • FAQ
    • Vehicle and custom tours
    • Tours for classes
    • Resources on Brooklyn
    • How to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
  • Contact me/Book
  • Blog