Carroll Gardens

Tucked into the southernmost tip of Brooklyn right before the Gowanus canal and the New York Bay, is an old Italian enclave dating back to the days of Mother Cabrini (1800’s). In a neighborhood first settled by the Irish, Italian immigrant dock workers began to fill-up the quarter of Carroll Gardens and Red Hook as well as parts of Park Slope and Gowanus. Carroll Gardens is bordered by Red Hook, Gowanus, Park Slope and Cobble Hill. Carroll Gardens is named after the extra large parcels of land in front of brownstone and sandstone row homes. These gardens usually contain fig trees, saint statues, and generally appealing landscaping with chairs outside for someone to sit and chat with their neighbors. This neighborhood is renowned for the movie Moonstruck and its representation of the long gone Cammareri Bakery. The Italian National Parish in Carroll Gardens is Sacred Heart and Saint Stephen Church. The current church was built after the first church was demolished to make way for the Brooklyn Queens Expressway. Carroll Gardens is also known for Sam’s Diner on Court Street amongst many other Italian shops throughout the neighborhood.