More famous in name than Manhattan, this massive borough stretches from the festive Coney Island to the elegant Brooklyn Heights. Wherever Brooklynites hail from, they are a proud lot. Proud of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Proud of the Bridge that bears the name Brooklyn. Proud of their Museum of Art and Children's Museum. Proud of Williamsburg and Park Slope, two neighborhoods seized from poverty. Proud of Peter Luger and Planet Thailand. Some are even proud of the accent.

Like Manhattan, Brooklyn comprises many varied neighborhoods, each with its own defining characteristics. Park Slope is known for its beautiful brownstones, family atmosphere, Prospect Park (designed by Olmstead of Central Park fame) and fantastic restaurants; Williamsburg is known for its Hipster culture, burgeoning gallery scene, unusual boutiques and rapidly populating restaurant and bar scene. And these are just two of the many charming neighborhoods in Brooklyn.

Coney Island

If you go to New York and you spend a bit more time, Coney Island is an absolute must on a Sunday (preferably a sunny one, but this is no must).  Take the metro out of Manhattan (several lines as Q/F/B) and head out for Brooklyn.  On the way, about 40 minutes, you'll see a completely different side of New York.  Get off at the Coney Island terminus station and there the fun starts. 
If you go over in the morning, you can start with a visit to the New York Aquarium.  At noon head over to the wooden walkway that takes you by several typical US food stands.  Burgers baked on charcoal, a variety of sweets, ... a feast for the young.  And not only the food, the attractions are the classics, where you can spend a day of fun only looking at everything.  Do visit the Side show also known as the freak show.  For only a few dollars meet some amazing people and their bizzare abilities.  Not for the faint of heart!!

Entertainers

Many well-known entertainers trace their roots back to Brooklyn.  Just to name a few:

Barbra Streisand, Woody Allen, Adam Arkin, Pat Benatar, Scott Baio, Joseph Bologna, Andrew Dice Clay, Vic Damone, Dom DeLuise. Richard Dreyfus, Mel Brooks.  There are many more.  Some of the bios you search may just say New York City, which Brooklyn is one of the boroughs, but there are many that are listed as NYC when they were actually born and raised in Brooklyn.