Fun Fact: Brooklyn is the Fifth Largest City in the US!

This episode, Sam comes close to my home sweet home—she visits the next borough over: Brooklyn!

How sweet it is!

Sam apparently lives in Brooklyn as well.

Friday afternoon: Sam hits Coney Island. I’m going to do the Cyclone one of these days. No matter how rickety and old and ready to collapse it is. Sam goes to visit Nathan’s to have her first Nathan’s hot dog. Really? After my grandmother’s funeral, my great-aunt stopped at Nathan’s to have a “dawg” in her honor. And yes, that is actually how we say it. It’s not gangsta or imitating Randy Jackson. It’s just how New Yorkers talk. Sam then visits an old fashion freak show. She gets to admire a real handle-bar mustache. He responds he always wanted to tie a woman to the railroad tracks. Awesome. He puts a nail in his nose and…eww…I can’t watch. I can’t. He’s followed by a snake dancer (no, not Britney) and a sword swallower. Madame Electra is called to the stage. Turns out—it’s Sam. He puts Sam in an electric chair. And of course everyone wants her to get zapped. Sam is able to light up a light bulb and ignite a torch. Sam worries about her hair around open flames. She takes a bow as the crowd goes wild.

Coming up: She offends a Brooklynite. Quick! Troll the East River!

Saturday morning: Sam heads down under the Manhattan Bridge to DUMBO, a place for the bohemians. She meets Tom, an artist who makes art from trash. And ladies and gentlemen, the reason I dislike modern art immensely. Sam helps him collect trash from the streets. Not so hard in New York, honestly. Sam finds a hat and Tom says they always do photoshoots in DUMBO because of the view of the city. Sam decides to go get a pizza from Grimaldi’s. I’ve heard some very good things about this parlor. Right now, I’ll stick to my pizza places in Staten Island. After all, we’re where all the Brooklynites come anyway! Especially since Grimaldi’s comes with an hour’s wait. Sam makes nice with some girls who have a picnic basket—and sanitary wipes. Sam says she never uses a fork and knife on pizza. Don’t get one in Italy, then, as they don’t eat pizza with their hands. She and Tom enjoy their pizza and beer.

Coming up: Sam shares some of her secrets.

Saturday afternoon: Sam goes shopping in Park Slope. She goes to Flight 001 for travel goods. She shows some of the great products—including a book for you to point things you want to people in other countries. I think I need to hit that store before my next major trip. She then goes to Cobble Hill for desserts! At One Girl--Where the cookies are named after girls! Two little girls ask for lemon cookies and are adorable. Sam talks about the property costs in Brooklyn as she walks around Brooklyn Heights, the swanky neighborhood. And I’ll tell you—it is. Sam points out Arthur Miller’s brownstone, the house Truman Capote wrote “In Cold Blood” and “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Sam then goes to her favorite bar with her friends. They talk about alternate side of the street parking. Guess what Staten Island doesn’t have? Alternate side of the street parking. It’s heavenly.

Coming up: Dog park! And Sam’s boyfriend? Really? We get to see what he looks like?

Sunday morning: Sam goes to her favorite park, Prospect Park. Which includes hours that dog owners can let their dogs run free. Sam talks to someone who runs a doggie day care as she yells for them. Sam helps leash some of the dogs.

Sunday afternoon: Sam and husband Kevin go on a dinner date at The River Cafe. They are on Fulton Street, facing Fulton Street. He’s the Brooklynite, born and raised. He seems great. And as they end with dessert, my DVR stopped recording.

C’est la vie!

Many people forget that New York City is made up of more than just Manhattan. The other four boroughs have a lot to offer, if you know where to look and how to find it. Often, it takes meeting a native to know how to do that. And believe it or not, so get off Manhattan and visit the outer boroughs!