New York City Brooklyn Heights And Downtown

Though it can’t quite match Williamsburg for coolness, Downtown Brooklyn nonetheless has a number of good shopping opportunities.

Halcyon, 57 Pearl St. (☎718-260-9299; www.halcyonline.com), at Water St. S A, C to High St. Once an apartment where local music-lovers gathered, Halcyon is now a hip record store with a rock-garden floor and DJs spinning while you shop. The store offers a wonderland of vinyl (from $8), T-shirts ($25), CDs (from $15), DVDs (from $20), and books (from $15). Open Tu and Th-F noon-9pm; W and Sa noon-8pm, Su noon-6pm.
Heights Books, 109 Montague St. (☎718-624-4876; www.heightsbooks.com) between Hicks and Henry St. S 2,3 to Clark St. Rare and used books stacked to the ceiling in this independent Brooklyn Heights shop. Great selection of art, design, philosophy and history books, as well as signed and first editions. Talk to the staff: they have an uncanny ability to find books in the chaotic stacks, and are willing to negotiate prices. Open M-Th, Su 10am-11pm, F-Sa 10am-midnight.
Fulton Street Mall, Fulton St. (☎718-858-5118), from Adams St. to Flatbush Ave. Info center located near Bond St. S M, R, 2, 3, 4, 5 to Borough Hall/Court St. This 7-block strip of over 200 stores is one of the country’s largest outdoor shopping malls, filled mostly with fast-food chains and discount clothing shops. Hours vary by store.