Brownstone Looks Without the Guilt

We all do it. We're walking down the sidewalk at night and someone's interior lights happen to be on and their curtains are helpfully parted: We peek. It's, quite honestly, one of the reason I enjoy walking the Brooklyn brownstone neighborhoods at night. The chance to see how those who own their own  brownstones live is irresistible. And this weekend for the Carroll Gardens and Cobble Hill house tour, it's also slightly less surreptitious. From the New York Times:

CARROLL GARDENS AND COBBLE HILL, BROOKLYN, MAY 6 A tour of seven homes, from 1 to 4 p.m., will start at the John Rankin house, an 11,000-square-foot Greek Revival mansion built in 1840, at 440 Clinton Street (Carroll Street). The Rankin house, which has much of its original interior details, 16 fireplaces and a collection of horse carriages, is now a funeral home. ... No children under 12. Tickets, to benefit P.S. 29, $20. More information: (718) 757-8062; by email to PS29Tour@gmail.com and ps29brooklyn.org.