then redesigned by Jon Van Kleek in 1935. A
slice of waterside history, Dyker Beach continues
to offer a challenging and enjoyable course to
this day, making it the ideal place for friendly
competition on the course!
BEST ICE SKATING RINK
AVIATOR SPORTS AND EVENTS CENTER
3159 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn
(718) 758-7500 - www.aviatorsports.com
Aviator Sports and Events Center has been
Brooklyn’s premier family entertainment
destination since 2006. While it’s great for entire
families and offers a great amount of activities,
its ice skating rink is the borough’s best. Aviator
is the home to two NHL-sized indoor ice rinks
—the only facility to boast this incredible feature.
We are the only indoor ice skating rink in NYC
open year-round where you can skate any day
rain or shine! Public ice skating is available 365
days a year.
BEST MARTIAL ARTS
CHAMPIONS MARTIAL ARTS
362 7th Ave, Brooklyn
(718) 788-5425 - www.parkslopetkd.com
Champions Martial Arts has been recognized to
be one of the top Taekwondo organizations. Their
proven network of highly skilled masters and
instructors help us provide the best instruction
for students. Their strength in unity help to
provide not only the best instruction but work
together to do great community work including
holding events for St. Judes Childrens Hospital
in which they raised over $100,000. All schools
are individually owned and operated. Champions
Martial Arts locations unify in Taekwondo
to participate in tournaments nationally and
internationally. Champions Martial Arts
participates in demonstrations in the tri-state
area providing a fun fi lled demonstration with
fl ying kicks, fl ashing nunchakus, bos, kamas.
You can expect to see board breaking, balloon
popping, brick and cement power breaks along
with fl ashy fi re breaks as well. The team has
performed for most major league sports teams as
well as many large organizations.
BEST PARK
PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN
(718) 965-8951
Prospect Park is a world unto itself: a 585- acre
oasis of scenic beauty for relaxation and recreation.
Aviator Sports and Events Center
would like to thank you for voting!
Located in historic Floyd Bennett Field for over ten years Aviator Sports and Events Center has become the
hub for athletes of all ages and party goers in Brooklyn. Indoors, the 175,000 sq. ft. facility includes instruc
tional sports, sports leagues, recreational activities, events spaces for parties and groups of all sizes, as well as-
a sports performance center, gymnastics center, 2 NHL sized ice rinks, 20,000 sq. ft field house, a full-service
sports restaurant, snack bar and catering services for everything from birthday parties to weddings. The
outdoor facilities include two multisport outdoor turf fields, 2 pools, an outdoor bar and event spaces.
2020 B ES TOFBK.COM
BEST CHILDREN’S GYM
BEST ICE SKATING RINK
58 DIME BEST OF BROOKLYN 2020 • WINNERS GUIDE • BESTOFBK.COM
We hope this section inspires and informs your
visit. From baseball to bird watching, and skating
to nature programs, there are thousands of ways to
enjoy Prospect Park.
BEST POOL HALL
HALL OF FAME BILLIARDS
505 Ovington Ave, Brooklyn
(718) 921-2694
Rack’ em up! If you’re looking for a night with
some friendly competition, Hall of Fame Billiards
is the place to grab a cue and go head to head on
the pool tables. Hall of Fame Billiards has stood
the test of time as one of the oldest pool halls
in the city. Their customers know that they can
come in and enjoy a night playing billiards and
ping pong without breaking the bank for time
at the tables. Plus, you might just run into Jean
Balukas, who got her start playing pool during
her childhood while her father ran this very spot!
So grab a couple of friends and head down for a
game any night of the week!
BEST SOCCER CLUB (TIE)
BROOKLYN ITALIANS YOUTH SOCCER
CLUB
5725 18th Ave, Brooklyn
(718) 232-9435 - www.brooklynitalians.org
The Brooklyn Italians Soccer Club was
established in 1949, becoming one of the
earliest teams formed in the New York City area
competing in local leagues in the area against
rival social clubs. Today, the club has 800 youth
players that play in local leagues, tournaments
and cups, winning many trophies. The club’s
first team has many players who grew up
playing in the youth system. It is the host of
two major U.S. tournaments, the Christopher
Columbus Cup and the New York City Indoor
Classic. The youth sector competes in the New
York Club Soccer League, and its teams travel
yearly to the Dallas Cup, Vincenzo Romano
Torneo in Rome, and many other tournaments.
BEST SOCCER CLUB (TIE)
SPORTING CLUB GJØA
850 62nd St, Brooklyn
(718) 745-9436 - www.scgjoa.com
For over 100 years, Sporting Club Gjøa has
trained some of the city’s best soccer players, and
has provided a fun, educational atmosphere for
young players. The oldest youth soccer club in
the borough, Sporting Club Gjøa has over 400
players between the ages of fi ve and 18 who play
in travel and premier leagues, where they’ve
gained a strong reputation. Open to both boys
and girls, the club fosters a sense of community
and engagement, teaching students the value
of teamwork, practice, and perseverance. The
club is a non-profi t and is open to all children,
regardless of fi nancial need.
BEST SPORTING GOODS
STORE
LEGENDS SPORTING GOODS
8224 5th Ave, Brooklyn
(718) 680-8957
Legend’s is a Brooklyn fi xture. If you need any
type of sporting equipment, they’ve got it. Want
some memorabilia, sports jerseys, retro or
current? They have it. The store lives up to its
name as it offers custom uniforms for leagues
as well as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Get your
gear here.
BEST SURF SHOP
AEGIR BOARDWORKS
99 Water St, Brooklyn
(347) 987-3825 - www.aegirboardworks.com
Set in a converted warehouse, this summer
surf shop & winter snowboard/ski shop also
offers repairs. You might not immediately think
of surfi ng when you think of New York, but
from Rockaway beach down the island, there’s
a chance to catch some waves in the Atlantic
Ocean. Aegir Boardworks helps you fi nd your
footing in the water and gives you the best quality
and deals on surf gear. If you’re more of a winter
sports fan, they can fi nd you what you need to
head to the slopes for some snowboarding or
skiing when the weather gets a little bit colder.
It’s a unique place in Brooklyn, serving unique
customers who all share the same interesting
passions for enjoying the weather in the summer
and winter.
BEST YOUTH LEAGUE
PPYRC-PROSPECT PARK YOUTH
RUNNING CLUB
Park Slope, Brooklyn - www.ppyrc.com
This inclusive track and fi eld program
nurtures child athletes of all abilities, helping
them achieve their fi tness goals and navigate
the joys and hurdles of competition. The
league’s six volunteer coaches train children
between the ages of six and 13 on a variety
of fi tness techniques, emphasizing not only
the physical aspect of track and fi eld, but also
the psychological one. By imparting a strong
understanding of proper distance training
methods, injury prevention, rest and recovery,
and mental preparation, the non-profi t
league gives the young athletes a tremendous
opportunity to succeed in cross country, track
& fi eld, and road racing, while allowing its 150
participants to experience the rewards of being a
part of a dynamic team.
SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
AVIATOR SPORTS AND EVENTS CENTER
Floyd Bennett Field
3159 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11234
718-758-7500 • www.aviatorsports.com
@AviatorSports
/www.aviatorsports.com
/www.parkslopetkd.com
/www.brooklynitalians.org
/www.scgjoa.com
/www.aegirboardworks.com
/www.ppyrc.com
/www.aviatorsports.com
/www.aviatorsports.com
/www.aviatorsports.com
/www.parkslopetkd.com
/TOFBK.COM
/BESTOFBK.COM
/www.brooklynitalians.org
/www.scgjoa.com
/www.aegirboardworks.com
/www.ppyrc.com
