Williamsburg

Williamsburg has come a long way. If you grew up here in the 80’s and even early 90’s, it was a bad part of town.
Completely different now. There are TONS of restaurants, bars, night life, shopping etc.
You could probably spend at least a week just exploring Williamsburg.
What helped this area develop was it’s proximity to Manhatten. Great area to live, if you can afford it. The prices are starting to reflect the proximity to the city.

«What’s the big deal?» some ask.
The fact remains it’s a community. Is it different? Yes. Are the people different? Yes. Guess what? They may be looking at the other communities thinking the same thing.
Do they hate on the other communities? No. The Yuppies, Jews, Hipsters and Ricans go along their daily business minding their own business, dressing as they please, eating as they please and doing as they please. The communities are clean, artful and upcoming. Good food and drinks in some of the better restaurants and bars are found here.
Bottom line is, its a community where individuals find their kind and make a niche for themselves too. So get a grip on yourself, enjoy what it has to offer then go along your merry way!

If you are young and wild wanting to be in a cool area, this is the one spot to be in, if you can afford it. Williamsburg has become the new City, it is too commercialized, many streets are full of parking meters now, and the city is putting those rent city bikes all over. It’s great for having fun, activities, and eating. Lots of great restaurants.
Some of the downside: As I said, is expensive and you can get bigger apartments in other areas for less money. The noise is toooooooo noisy almost all over. Me and other residents experienced so much noise from the cars, the new heavy traffic all over the streets and the night time and weekend crowds of people walking all over from place to place. So, if you are trying to raise a family is mmm, no so great due to all the noise. It took me 40 minutes to drive from Bushwick av. to Lorimer st. like really? if you are going to drive your child to school in the area, good luck with that. Morning and evening traffic is really heavy in the hood.
I will say, most of the people are really nice in the area, I get the hood feeling where everyone is helpful and know each other. However, use common sense, specially the ladies. If you do go out at night clubbing or for whatever, use caution and if is too late, like after 12AM pay a taxi, do not walk around alone in the hood, Sexual assaults happen sometimes. Sometimes, not so good things happen in the area and it doesn’t hit the news.
So the area is cool, great for fun and activites, as I said, but the noise had lowered the quality of living in some ways.

We visited the Hasidic Jewish area to see what their culture was like. It was very interesting and educational (we interested a local) and they had good food to eat. However, some of the people weren’t nice, and there wasn’t too much to see otherwise. Definitely interesting to visit once.

Predictably polarizing reviews, but a solid option for overpriced but tasty and somewhat innovative eats if you choose wisely.

The the only suburb in the USA, in fact in the whole of NYC, which is owned by & named after all the Williams. Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Blake, Faulkner, Shatner (not again), Waldorf, H Macy, Prince William, Robin Williams, Robbie Williams, sisters Vanessa, Venus, & Serena, Will-​I-​Am from the Black-​Eyed Peas, even Willem Dafoe, all share it. No, there’s no rule about the spelling of the Williams that can own it, but thank you for pointing that out.
I come to Williamsburg several times a year. Over 50 times in my life, most recently about 3 months ago. I have friends here, and with so much to eat and do, I can’t help but call it one of my favourite areas in NYC. But then, everyone and their dog loves Williamsburg. And I suppose that might be the only negative: it’s too popular. It’s too successful. It’s too «hip.» But so be it.
Now back to the story. So one day, all of those Williams had an orgy. Many «rose» both literally & figuratively from the dead to participate. Will-​I-​Am screamed & shouted. Serena Williams won the orgy. Not even close. She destroyed all of the competition, yelling «You Got Served!»
The footage was on YouTube but it’s since been deleted. Waldorf was so disgusted that he left, and founded «Astoria» and named it after himself. William H opened a store in Manhattan (Macy’s), whereas Prince William dropped the «William», moved to Minneapolis, and wrote a song called «When Doves Cry» about how Serena and Venus fight a lot. The remaining Williamses were «Brokelynites». So they opened a burger shack, which also sold white powder that would give people the shakes if they stopped taking it (hence «Shake Shack»). They sold «Williamsburgers.»
Now you know the burb history. Please spread the word because Wiki keeps deleting my edits. Nobody will know the truth unless you tell them. And so. Yes. Thank you.
But seriously. Williamsburg is one of the most expensive, and definitely the «coolest» neighborhood in Brooklyn. It sort-​of invented Hipsterism. Certainly Portland, Seattle, and California will argue that they had a hand in that, but WB (to its friends) may just be the Hipster capital of the world. That’s not to say that the area doesn’t have anything interesting. In fact, it has very little that isn’t interesting.
It’s a beautiful, tightly-​woven, hodge-​podge amalgamation of international eateries, cool places, awesome hidden spaces, and spectacular views of Womanhattan across the water. The crown jewel is the Williamsburg Bridge, which will whisk you up into the air and drop you right in the heart of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Chinatown, Little Italy, and Canal Street. One of the Great American Bridges, connecting two of the great «cities within cities», Mhtn & Bklyn. My bridge review:
When I review a suburb of NYC (or anywhere), I like to list the best eats. My Unilocal list is not quite complete yet, will be in 2 weeks. Here is the list. It also includes Bed-​Stuy & Greenpoint, rather than strictly Williamsburg.
Some of the foods you must try here are:
— Nam Nam — greatest Bahn Mi ever
— Caracas Arepa Bar — Surena Arepa is god’s gift to human’s mouths, great shakes
— Dun-​Well Donuts — vegan donuts taste better than any non-​vegan donut
— Moe Dough’s — technically in Greenpoint but so damn good
— Dough — more amazing donuts
— Baker’s Dozen — again Greenpoint but best bagels in Brooklyn
— Best Pizza — best slice in W’burg, 2^nd in Bklyn (after Luigi’s)
— Café Mogador — amazing Moroccan
— Bahia — awesome salvadoran
— Pyza — Greenpoint, Polish
— Oasis — very cheap falafel
Certain people won’t appreciate Williamsburg. If you’re a potato farmer, try Williamspud instead. If you collect cute tiny dogs, Williamspug is a better fit for you. If you’re trying to get incriminating files off your computer, head instead to Williamspurge. And if you’re Belgian, you’ll prefer Williamsbrugge.
If you’re a male resident of Greenwich Village (and anything like me) you’re better off in Williamsbuggered or Williamsbung, depending on which William you’re talking about. And if you were lucky enough to be in the all-​star orgy mentioned earlier, then look on top shelf of any Family Video store, sandwiched (pardon the pun) between the «One Night In Paris» and the «Pammy & Tommy Lee» videos. The name of the video you feature in is «Williamsbang.»
And remember. When we get up in the club (I mean the Hemingway-​inspired bar on Havemeyer with the home-​brewed pale ale). The hipster levels go up. The beard meter goes up. The price of beer goes up. When we step into the club. Hipsters watching us. Tattooed people watching us. Pierced-​face people watching us. All the people in the club. All eyes on themselves. All eyes on the mirror. All eyes on their vintage outfits. I wanna scream & shout & act unhipstery. Singing oweoweoweo. You are now, now rocking with, Will-​iams-​burg and Fox E, B*tch.

I have a love/​hate relationship with Williamsburg. I love it because there are rows and rows of both restaurants and privately-​owned shops. It’s difficult to leave here bored and/​or hungry. I hate it because there’s one way in and one way out. Okay, technically there’s 2 or 3 but the L is usually the go-​to for most people. Let’s be honest, the G is only helpful if you’re coming from Queens or another area of Brooklyn and the M is on the other side of this neighborhood. Also, the L decides to just not run from time to time leaving the people who live by Bedford stranded.
With that said, it’s a cute neighborhood. There’s a lot to see and do. Would I live here? Absolutely not. I do enjoy visiting, though.

Glorified hipster suburbia that’s becoming quickly gentrified and overpriced for the long time real residents of the area.
Walked through a part of town last weekend from the subway stop that reminded me of the underdeveloped graffiti plastered suburbs from the 80’s. Looked kind of rough around the edges, and filled with a community of Hasidics mixed in with some younger hipsters.
All their kids had this strange look about them as they stared at us from apartment balconies and along the sidewalks. Kind of like «Children of the Corn» scary kids.
We went to a beer and bacon festival at the old Pfizer Factory that is now being used to house small businesses and events. Great spot and nice to see they are using the building for something worthwhile rather than tearing it down and putting up a high-​rise.
Would I ever want to live in this part of town? Nah. Not my style. Still, it does have a certain throwback charm to it that many parts of the city had before they were overrun with the progress of modernization, chain stores, and fast food joints.

I’m one of those «millenials» who still lives with their parents. I won’t reveal my age, but I need to get my act together. I live in Queens, but I like to hang out in Williamsburg and the Village.
I seriously don’t know why the term «hipster» has a negative connotation. The hipsters who live in Williamsburg are generally in shape, have a high level of education, and are socially progressive. What’s wrong with that? I like to take a stroll on the Williamsburg Bridge since it is less congested and touristy than the Brooklyn Bridge. While I’m walking on the bridge, I see so many hot chicks jogging and riding those Citi Bikes. I wish I had the confidence to flirt with them.
Williamsburg is one of the few neighborhoods in the city where there are still mom and pop shops. There are also quite a few restaurants and bars, especially along Bedford Avenue. The area also has a myriad of yoga studios. When the weather is nice, you can head to McCarren Park, which (I think) is the boundary betweem Williamsburg and Greenpoint.
Williamsburg is about 20 minutes to Midtown Manhattan on the M train. The L also serves the area (though it seems to shut down every other weekend). In addition to hipsters, Hasidic Jews and a few Hispanics also live in the area. It’s generally safe, though you should exercise common sense.
One pet peeve is the graffiti. Some of the artwork rivals that of Picasso and Van Gogh. Other art work looks like tacky shit. Almost every block is tagged with graffiti and stickers.
You either love or hate Williamsburg. If you like attractive women with tattoos and piercings, a short commute to Manhattan, bike lanes, liberals, and a community with a sense of camaraderie then Williamsburg is for you.

Finished. Alas. But that’s what they said when I moved here in 2002 and rented a two bed on Driggs and North 7^th for $ 1500. Then we lived on Bedford and there was a terrific sense of creativity and community. This was in the time of electroclash. I had to apologize to my friends when I turned 30 and got an office job (non-​profit, but still, embarrassing with the collared shirt and belt). Talk about social suicide.
But it turns out I was right on trend with the hood. It’s a bunch of basic yahoos now. Total state school vibe. I generally don’t catch the L anymore. It’s like homecoming at penn state. It’s happening in Bushwick now and the South Side still has it. But yeah, the real money has moved East.

My encounters with Williamsburg is only if I’m passing through or to go to a night spot.
What I’ve noticed is a predominant Jewish community who appears to be extremely close knit, with a great sense of pride and family. Without a lot of information on the religion I admire what I’ve seen so far.
I’ve noticed a lot of art (I’m tryna be nice graffiti) on walls as I pass through and as that goes, street artists are pretty darn good if you ask me.
The night life here seens to be a thriving one. Restaurants, pubs, dance venues most people are sure to find a spot to suit their liking. I’ve been on a street that was literally littered with pubs from one door to the next. Gotta love it.
I like the touristy feel of Williamsburg.
The End.

Your beard says «Brooklyn hipster» but your reeboks and light wash jeans say «I drive my wife’s mini van by choice».
Really hate how predictable everything/​everyone is… Williamsburg is full of hipsters. south williamsburg is full of orthodox hasidim… east williamsburg is full of puerto ricans… north williamsburg is full of polish… somehow everybody gets along… sorta… Ha…if you really want to know what Williamsburg feels like… the following statement I saw will sums it up… a piece of graffiti i saw on a wall while I was on Williamsburg… read…“This neighborhood will turn you into an asshole.”

The hipsters land… I mean my oh my do they prissy attitudes… as a goofy person myself can’t help to laugh at some situation but here they choose indulge in it and then give u a long lecture. .like omg! Have a shot or two:)…I mean we wake up this morning thanx to the man above so chill relax have a mimosa

This review is for East Williamsburg, formerly known as Bushwick. It’s one of those «borderline» neighborhoods, renamed for the benefit of the real estate industry. It’s a long walk away from the infamous «Bedford Avenue».
I don’t know why it’s getting so expensive in East Wiliamsburg and, just a couple of blocks away on the other side of the highway, Greenpoint. This neighborhood along the creek is still one of THE MOST POLLUTED neighborhoods in New York. Dangerous plastic, the Gas Industry and yeah, this is where all of your sewage goes. The creek is full of poop. I learned all of this on an awesome walking tour
),. I came home and found out that my roommate didn’t even know that we live near the Newtown creek. It’s a Superfund site, but if nobody knows about it, I guess that they can charge whatever they like.
I’s not as pretentous as Williamsburg proper here, there are a lot of cool little Italian stores & restaurants that have been here for a long time, along with a few more ethnic places. The Chinese food here stinks.
The neighborhood is sort of diverse in a weird way. The old timers all seem to live in their own ethnic corners. The neighborhood is not yet gentrified. Little ugly condos dot many blocks, but nestled in between the rich folks, there are still old tenement buildings, brownstones, old factory buildings converted to lofts, and lots of little houses covered in aluminum siding.
I never thought that I would live in Williamsburg, and really, I don’t. It is a nice place to visit and there is a lot of artsy stuff going on. There is still a lot of culture in Williamsburg proper, like the Giglio Feast, but I don’t like self entitled people who move into a neighborhood and start demanding that it change for them. Probably it will, because you’re the ones with the money, but it won’t be as interesting a neighborhood once that happens.

Williamsburg NOW is definitely not the Williamsburg it was when I was growing up.
I think some of the changes are absolutely ridiculous, including the VERY OVERPRICED housing. But then there’s the art that decorates the sides of buildings and it puts a smile on my face.
Not to mention, there are some really good places to go hang out with your friends.

Did you ever notice how elusive that hipster is? Everyone knows them but no one really admits to being one. Strange…
Any who…
Does it surprise anyone that I sorta kinda really liked Williamsburg? In my travels to the five boroughs over the years I have only been to Brooklyn twice and never to Williamsburg. I took the 6 and then L train from Manhattan in. It was pretty easy to get too.
Stepping off the train I had weird deja vu. It reminded me of cliché Brooklyn brownstone with elements of my beloved east side back in Milwaukee with a dose of a seaside vacation spot (I don’t know why I had that sensation but there you have it-​maybe all tne little shops.)
My friend explained there is low rent slightly sketchy south Williamsburg and higher rent more hip north Williamsburg. I honestly didn’t see much difference and appeared to have walked through both sections. Then again, I’m from Milwaukee so what do I know?.
I can see why its sort of has the bad-​hipster cliches going for it, but whatever, it was cool and I enjoyed my brief afternoon visit and would visit again while in the city.

Williamsburg is a place full of hipsters, but I use to come here all the time. Now, it is more like once a month I stop through for whatever reason. I would not actually mind living here if the situation were right. I mean I could go to Outpost as many times as I want then walk home or take the train 1 or 2 stops. It would be better for my hangout schedule if I lived closer to Williamsburg but oh well. I agree, the place is a great spot to take your friends that live out of town to check out. I also like the places Unilocal introduced me to through the elite event scene. The area is definitely a big different than it was 10 or 15 years ago, with the whole starving artists themes. I get it they still exist but most Williamsburg rent is starting to become more than it cost to live in Manhattan. Outer boroughs are shining right now, taking over the spotlight of Broadway and Times Square, if you ask me.

If you live in New York and think Manhattan or Midtown represents the best that NYC has to offer, you must be one close-​minded IGNORANT idiot… wait I was that idiot 6 years ago when I first moved to the Theater District in the city! LMAO
I never ventured out that much to other boroughs (mostly Queens) during my 6 years of living in the city until about 3 years ago. One day, decided to finally check out Williamsburg and the moment I stepped out of the Bedford Ave Station, I was immediately hooked and felt like I finally found the type of neighborhood I was looking for.
Artsy, Trendy, Vintage, Street Art, Consignment, Hipsters, Nerds, PBRs, Asian/​Latin Fusion Food, Health Foods, Food Trucks, Smorgasburg, Fashionable/​Grungy looking people, Organic Food, American Spirits, Fair Trade Coffee, Riverfront Parks, Green spaces, Good Food, WHAT ELSE CAN YOU ASK FOR???
I LOVE how it’s just a station away and so easy to get to and back from the city and you don’t feel like you’re in NYC anymore since there aren’t too many skyscrapers or tall buildings (although riverside condos exist) here but hell, the city has enough of them so why the need for more?
And like someone stated, HELL YES I prefer HIPSTERS who set a trend and make the neighborhood more interesting and artsy over FUCKING hoodlums that steal/​rob/​beg and contribute NOTHING to society and need their sagging pants pulled up… hell even Obama hates that crap so grow the FUCK UP because nobody thinks your bling blings are real anyways and nobody wants to see your cheap ass smelly underwear

Haters be hatin’
In every generation, there is always someone or something to dismiss, without trying to understand. We live in close-​minded society. But I get all that, I do. People do not change easily. People do not accept outsiders easily. Or different views. Hippies, immigrants, outcasts, hipsters, yuppies. Yes, we cast, we judge, we hate.
But if you open your mind and look around, you will see that life does not stay still. It evolves. People change. Neighborhoods change. Once grimy industrial Willamsburg cleaned up, and welcomed art community, with all the perks. Amazing restaurants, galleries, artwork on the walls. Or walls as art. Old landmarks still stand, reminding us of the past. Churches, and architectural treasures. New places grow, art studios, parks, bars and condos.
Yes, it is different. But who the heck cares how people dress?
Williamsburg rocks. End of story.

I really don’t aim to be the contrarian, I’d love to join in a good bashing and fit in for a change.
But really, I like Williamsburg.
It’s probably old age.
I remember when Williamsburg was nothingness personified. It wasn’t particularly dangerous, there was just no reason to stop there. Yes Peter Luger’s was there but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only Brooklynite who passed it up figuring i could get steak in a more appealing area.
Now Williamsburg is home to The Richardson, Pete’s Candy Store, Du Mont, M Shanghai and Brooklyn Winery.
There is life there.
As for the residents, I’ll take them over the guys with pants hanging around their knees, or the fur laden plastic surgery scarred ladies any day.
What I don’t like about Williamsburg is it feels geographically more like an extension of LES or East Village than part of Brooklyn.
It’s easier to take the L into Manhattan and double back than take a bus.
Atlantic Ave is a major hub in BK but there is no way to get to Williamsburg from there.
I’m upset that i don’t get to hang there more.
If Williamsburg is too popular, you can always spend your time and money in Brownsville, Lefferts or Marine Park.
Good luck with that.