"I live in Brooklyn. By choice. Those ignorant of its allures are entitled to wonder why." - Truman Capote, A House on the Heights

Brooklyn, the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, also occupies the entirety of Kings County. An independent city until its consolidation into New York in 1898, Brooklyn still maintains its air of independence and has a distinct character that sets it apart from the rest of New York City. As immigrants have flocked to borough over the years, their various cultures have fused together to create a unique Brooklyn flavor and, many would say, a distinctive Brooklyn accent. Expressions such as "Fugheddaboudit" and "Oy vey!" are quintessentially Brooklyn, and now even adorn the various traffic signs posted along the borough line. Embracing its diverse culture, Brooklyn now proudly proclaims to be "Home to Everyone from Everywhere."