Nine secrets of Bedford-Stuyvesant

The Hattie Carthan Community Garden, named after a community activist and environmentalist, was started in 2009 after the once-vacant lot/dumping ground was turned into a park. Since then over 70,000 volunteer hours have been logged to transform it into a thriving garden and community market that serves the community directly. The POC-led agricultural revitalization project aims to cultivate a healthy, holistic, and self-sufficient community grounded in the systems and cycles of the earth. 

An 1880s brownstone in the heart of Bed-Stuy, this bed-and-breakfast retains Victorian details in its parlor floor, intricate, dark woodwork and antique fireplace. Inside the elegant rooms, you’ll notice crown moldings and marble washbasins. And on Fridays and Saturdays, Sankofa Aban zooms into the jazz age, hosting live performances at which guests can hang out with the musicians. It’s an experience full of old-time glamour—folks get decked out for the multiple sets—and admission includes a fish-fry dinner.

Founded in 1972, the Billie Holiday Theatre has hosted artists like Sonia Sanchez, Ruby Dee, Debbie Allen, Wendell Pierce, John Amos, Laurence Fishburne, Samuel L. Jackson, Omari Hardwick, Stephen McKinley Henderson, John David Washington, Nelsan Ellis, Ruben Santiago Hudson, Roger Robinson, and others.

The 200-seat venue in the heart of Bed-Stuy acts as a center for world-class art centered on racial justice by showcasing unapologetic voices. It actually provides artistic and institutional residencies and educational programs, and now, after a $4.1 million renovation in 2017, it has two new studio/performance spaces with large storefront windows so people can see art-in-motion, according to its website.

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After he was let go from his job as a waiter at Esca, Ararat El-Rawi took business into his own hands by opening his own Armenian cafe on the sidewalk that pops up every weekend, according to the New York Post. The menu has included classics like Armenian tabouli, stuffed grape leaves, a steak sandwich with horseradish cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and mushrooms and baklava for dessert. You can see what's up next at the cafe by following and DMing its Instagram account @littlearmeniacafe. 

Seasons is an independently-owned plant nursery and shop that has become a neighborhood staple over the past seven years. It's a go-to for those looking to spruce up their stoops or green up their apartments. It's also just a wonderfully calm and verdant oasis to visit. Owner Deborah Young makes sure shoppers leave with exactly what they need and offers help to those new to gardening and taking care of plants. Deborah likes to say that coming to the shop is like "visiting a favorite auntie."

"It’s not sophisticated and glamorous, but its warm, cozy and everything you need is there and we get things done in a professional manner. If it isn’t there, we’ll get it for you in a timely and cost-effective way."

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During his 2013 trip to NYC, Banksy installed a piece of another building to a facade and painted two women wearing kimono and a Bonzai tree.

You know when you've stumbled onto a treasure trove of vintage goodies when there are beautiful artifacts everywhere your eye lands. Harold and Maude Vintage, while nearly bursting at the seams with clothing, accessories and decor, is a very curated shop by Mami Nagase and Ryoma Hashimoto. In 2013, they decided to open the shop after selling the items at pop-up shops in NYC. They choose their items on their journeys across the country.

Stonefruit Espresso + Kitchen is a farm-to-table concept with fresh foods, good coffee and a modern atmosphere, but step into its back room, and you'll be transported to a botanical haven. The plants surround a long wooden table, perfect for working at while you sip on your crafted coffee. Before leaving, make sure to peruse its selection of dainty succulents, leafy ferns and brightly-hued bouquets. 

A massive Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora) in front of 677 Lafayette Avenue is landmarked because it is so old. The tree, planted in 1885, was designated at the behest of local activist Hattie Carthan, who also created an education center when demolition threatened the magnolia and three adjacent brownstones. It reaches up to about 56 feet tall and its trunk's diameter is 22 inches (almost two feet).