New York Like A Native

Specialties

Offering energetic/​eclectic private tours of Brooklyn, years of expertise, and personal service…

Walking tours (and vehicle tours) since 2000 of numerous Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Park Slope, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Williamsburg, Greenpoint, Coney Island, Ditmas Park, Sunset Park, Bedford-​Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, E. Williamsburg/​Bushwick, Bay Ridge, Bensonhurst, and more.

We can stop to eat, snack, and discover.

We can also visit Long Island City in Queens and the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

All tours are led by company founder Norman O., a veteran guide who continues to explore Brooklyn as a guide and journalist. Member: Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

History

Established in 2000.

New York Like A Native began with one tour in 2000, and has steadily added new tours based on requests from clients, as well as the founder’s own exploration.

Founder Norman O. decided to specialize in Brooklyn before it got particularly «hot,» and aims to provide enlightening, enjoyable tours that help decode Brooklyn for locals, students, and visitors, while covering more ground than the typical tour.

New York Like A Native is a member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and founder Norman O. is a member of the Guides Association of New York City.

He received an «exemplary» score on the city’s licensing exam, but considers his time exploring Brooklyn over the last 22 years – and writing about it – even more of a credential.

Meet the Business Owner

Norman O.

Business Owner

Norman is a licensed New York City tour guide, with a long career as a journalist. He holds degrees in political science and law, but considers an architecture class he took in college – and his exploration of cities around the world – as pointing to his eventual career as a tour guide.

Norman still works in journalism, contributing to national and local publications, focusing on Brooklyn.

All of Norman’s New York City/​Brooklyn learning came on his own. He has walked a good part of the borough, reviewed books on Brooklyn, and otherwise absorbed Brooklyn-​iana. People regularly ask him for directions, even when he’s out of town.

He’s enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge of Brooklyn, debunking myths about the borough, avoiding too many generalizations about Brooklyn, and discovering new things around the corner.

New York Like A Native also recommends

Jacques Torres Chocolate

396

reviews

Chocolatiers & Shops

,

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

Norman O. says,

«A chocolate chunk cookie or a Wicked Hot Chocolate = a great pick-​me-​up.»

Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory

669

reviews

Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt

Norman O. says,

«Classic ice cream flavors in a great setting. There can be long lines.»

By Brooklyn

35

reviews

Cards & Stationery

,

Gift Shops

Norman O. says,

«If you want a made-​in-​Brooklyn gift to bring home, this is the place.»

East River Ferry

71

reviews

Transportation

Norman O. says,

«Quickly skip from Brooklyn Bridge Park/​/​DUMBO to Williamsburg or further to Greenpoint. You also can start/​end in Manhattan.»

Juliana’s Pizza

864

reviews

Pizza

,

American (Traditional)

Norman O. says,

«Coal oven + great ingredients = terrific pizza. No slices. There’s only one bathroom, so maybe a line.»