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Unique question about Brooklyn: What are some "non-tourist" things a tourist could do?

Here's what I mean: I want the only noticeable thing about me to be my slight Kentucky accent. I don't want to straggle along the sidewalk, taking pictures of everything I see and looking at my map every 10 feet. In other words, I want to get a true feel of Brooklyn and its architecture, neighborhoods, attitudes, cuisine, cultures, etc. Where are some cheap but cool art museums (can be traditional, European, contemporary, neighborhood art, anything)? How about live music joints (for any genre)? Other nightlife? Laid-back restaurants and cafes? Anything else you want to chime in? I want the best memories of Brooklyn to be the ones I can remember fondly, not take pictures of. Thank you!

Public Comments

1. Bay Ridge Brooklyn has some of the best Italian restaurants in the US. Brooklyn has it's own china town, and I have had some of the very best most authentic Chinese food there. PLENTY of bars within walking distance of each other to do a worthy pub crawl. Wander around Park Slope if you're interested in seeing the Hasidim community in action (but be prepared to be treated rudely). Brooklyn Museum is worth a stroll.
2. A couple of things I can remember (born there but been a long time since I lived there). Downtown Brooklyn has a nice main library and city hall. across the borough you should visit Coney Island. Do it in the daylight. I always like walking in Prospect Park. I can remember fishing at the lake there. You could also walk along the river by the Verrazano Bridge. It is the gateway to NY Harbour and lots of ships passing through. Sheepshead Bay is a nice area. You could catch a boat out fishing and there are great seafood and Italian restaurants. Bensonhurst is an Italian neighborhood with lots of great food. That should be a good starting point. Oh, and try as many small pizza shops as you can. NY Pizza Rocks! Have fun.
3. If you go to Williamsburg, you will fit right in. It's VERY artsy, lots of "hip" bars and restaurants, live music, and less than half of the people who live there are New York natives. Take the L train to Bedford Ave, which is the center of it all. Don't walk too far South. Once you cross Grand St, it gets a little sketchy. Don't miss Coney Island. Take the N or Q to the last stop. Eat at Nathan's, or any of the other food stands around the boardwalk. Shoot the freak. Maybe catch a minor league baseball game. GO ON THE WONDERWHEEL AND THE CYCLONE!!!! Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is always a treat, and it's not all tourists.
4. In addition to the other answers you can go and view all of the beautiful brownstones in neighborhoods such as Ft. Greene and Bedford-Stuyvesant. There are housing tours you can find out about as well. Though much maligned for years, Bedford-Stuyvesant is coming back as a vibrant community. Today, the Atlantic Antic street fair is going on Atlantic Avenue from the BQE to Flatbush Avenue, sample shops, food, and look at all of the great Antique shops. You can also check out the bars and restaurants in Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights, and Ft. Greene. Williamsburgh while getting all the hype as the "cool" place to go, is becoming like Greenwich Village in Manhattan -- too much going on there.