Williamsburg is the neighborhood notorious for its extreme Hasidic community, a sea of black and white that can intimidate the uninitiated. But there is another group of residents who have taken over the neighborhood, bringing with them a change that makes Brooklyn the new destination for the twenty-somethings of New York, and now you. These individuals can be easily found on a Sunday morning trip to the area and these hipsters make your trip an enjoyable one. Spot them with plaid shirts, high socks and brogues, grungy dresses and unwashed hair abound.
Misconstrued as a destination far from the city, the trip to Williamsburg is actually quite short, and easily accessible for any Stern College for Women student. Simply take the 6 train downtown to Union Square and transfer over to the L train. Four stops, and BAM, you have entered the foreign land known as Brooklyn.
For the proper experience, begin your day at the Brooklyn Flea. The outdoor market’s location on the waterfront makes the New York skyline the perfect background for your properly filtered Instagram images; while the variety of vendors makes even the jaded enjoy their day. Items for purchase range from antique mirrors and postcards to army anoraks, brass key necklaces to Beatles records, and my personal favorite – old-school prom dresses. Other highlights include Gefilteria, a kosher vendor which sells OU certified homemade gefilte fish, and Osborn, a company that makes shoes in bright ethnic-inspired fabrics that rival any pair of Toms shoes.
If you’ve already made it all the way out to the area, the next step in your journey to hipsterdom is a stop by the multitudes of vintage clothing stores in the area. While on your way, make sure to keep a look out for the fabulous graffiti that runs along the city’s walls. One of the best locations (if you can handle the sheer amount of clothing the store packs in its 5,000 square foot space) is Beacon’s Closet. Located a mere four blocks from the flea market, peruse rack after rack after rack of rare finds. For a more mainstream experience, hit up Crossroads, a consignment shop on 7th Street that sells trendy apparel in bright patterns and colors for the upcoming summer season.
For a kosher snack break, there’s a local Sixteen Handles right next door that on warm days has a line that reaches out the door. If you’re looking for a Starbucks, instead trade your usual for a taste of the local independent coffee houses. The best of the best is Blue Bottle Coffee over on Berry Street, given top ratings by sites such as Yelp, Google Reviews and Urbanspoon as well as the New York Times.
If you’ve managed to pass the day away, there’s plenty of exciting nightlife in Williamsburg. Famous musical groups such as MIKA or the Shins frequent the location and many blocks host a variety of bars to appeal to even the pickiest of your friends. If you can’t get in, settle for a walk outside while the sounds of alternative music and the strum of guitars drift though the air around you. Take a good look and who knows, you might just make the transition from being a Manhattan city girl to Brooklyn hipster.