Williamsburg
No other neighborhood in Brooklyn evokes such strong sentiment – good or bad – as Williamsburg. You either love the buzz of Brooklyn's hippest 'hood, or you stay as far away from the L train as possible. But there's no denying that the neighborhood is jam-packed with fun things to do on any given day. From free shows to outdoor movies, chic galleries to hip hair salons, and old-school Italian trattorias to the borough's hottest gay bar, it's options overload when it comes to hanging out in Billyburg. To keep your head from spinning, we've selected some newer places to check out, along with a few of our favorite spots.
Nearly every eatery in the neighborhood serves weekend brunch, but get out there early as the wait times can be brutal. Recently opened Cafe Argentino serves up tasty Argentinean fare, along with damn good bloody marys and sangria. Try the spinach fritatta, stuffed to the max with creme fresh and leafy greens. Another great place is Miranda, which serves a mix of Latin American and Italian flavors. The torta de poll, a chicken sandwich with cilantro avocado and fresh mozzarella, is packed with flavor, while their Pan Frances, custard soaked brioche with maple syrup macerated raisins and crisp pancetta, upped our standards for French toast.
If you don't feel like waking up early, start the day with lunch. The nautical-themed sandwich shop Saltie offers creations by the former chef of Diner. The Scuttlebutt won New York Magazine's award for the city's best vegetarian sandwich. Two pieces of focaccia stuffed with beets, radishes, hard-boiled egg, butternut squash, feta, black olives, capers, pickled onions, parsley, and spicy aïoli, they described it as a "a sprawling kitchen-sink sandwich designed for the vegetarian whose appetite yields to no one." Just down the road, the General Store in Lodge lets you create your own sandwich on a form. Choose your favorite type of bread — they have them all — and make it a meaty meal with proteins ranging from prosciutto to turkey to tempeh bacon.
It's no secret that Williamsburg is a great place for art in Brooklyn, so take some time to visit a few of the galleries. Causey Contemporary consistently puts out interesting shows of blossoming contemporary artists. On display through next Monday, July 12, 2010, "Frozen and Filtered" features the work of Brooklyn artist Sonjie Feliciano Solomon. The exhibit consists of enamel paintings, mirrored wall pieces and delicate organza sculptures, which steal the show. You should also check out Cinders Gallery, which has a new show opening this Saturday. The group exhibit, "Temple of Bloom," combines paintings, drawings, collages, murals and sculpture to create a type of a sonic-visual sanctuary as envisioned by each artist. K&K Gallery is a great place to see photography. Opened last winter, the gallery, like many of its neighbors, focuses on new and emerging photographers.
Call ahead of time if you find yourself on Bedford Avenue in need of a manicure or a new hairstyle and the lovely ladies at Hello Beautiful won't hesitate to make you over on the spot. Don't be fooled by the uber-playful decor — hot pink walls and a leopard print couch — these stylists are some of the best in town, making everyone from the local musicians to the hipsters to Jordan Sparks look good. Owner Rebecca Faye expanded her beauty business last year with Glamour Garage a tattoo/beauty parlor combo, just a few blocks away on Havemeyer Street and named best tattoo parlor of 2009 by the Village Voice. Cuts start at $50 for women (same at Hello Beautiful) and tattoos are priced at the discretion of the artist.
Once you've got a new style to flaunt, you'll be searching for cheap things to do, and Williamsburg is a hotspot for free events. This week marks the beginning of SummerScreen and the Pool Parties, two free events happening every week for the rest of the summer. This year, SummerScreen brings you favorites from your adolescence like Romeo and Juliet, Labyrinth, and Point Break. Bring a blanket, so you can sit comfortably and enjoy the hot tacos and cold beer. The Pool Parties kick off this Sunday with Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu performing Joy Divisions's Unknown Pleasures, as well as Why?, Fang Island, and Pictureplane. Get there when the gates open at 2pm, or risk a long wait and no guarantee of entry. Or, if you're completely over that scene, take a picnic to McCarren Park or the waterfront at Grand Street for an afternoon outdoors.
For a fancy dinner, Le Barricou, a quiet French bistro on Grand Street that takes us back to Paris, is one of our most favorite places. The basket of fresh bread and plate of garlic-stuffed olives that immediately find their way to your table could easily be a meal of their own, but save room. The onion gratinee soup, covered with bubbly gruyere, is the best we've ever had, and the mussels are divine. Try the Provencale style, served in a chunky white wine tomato sauce spiced with chipotle peppers and garlic. Of course, no French restaurant would be complete without a carefully selected wine list and a selection of absinthe cocktails.
If you're in the mood for Italian food, stop in at Kenny's Trattoria near Union Avenue on Withers Street. Owner Kenny Perroni formerly operated the much-loved Brick Oven Gallery, and he continues to deliver the same delicious, old-school Italian cuisine. The ravioli du jour never disappoints, and the brick oven pizzas rival the best in Brooklyn. Our favorites: the traditional margherita, and the "pizzamakers," a pie topped with fresh tomato, roasted eggplant, gaeta olives and goat cheese. Enjoy your food in the quite backyard garden.
After dinner, catch some live music at one of the 'burg's many venues. Brooklyn Bowl, which hosts the Pool Parties official after party and celebrated its one year anniversary this week, boasts an impressive 600-person performance space and books a lot of local bands along with big names like The Roots and The Verve Pipe, playing this Saturday. But Brooklyn Bowl is more than just a venue: it's a 16-lane, high-class bowling alley with plump leather couches and a full service restaurant that serves top-notch meals like French bread pizza and blackened salmon. If you actually want to bowl, old-school style, head to the Gutter for a more vintage — and cheaper — place to throw some strikes.
Over at Bruar Falls the British band Wet Dog will be playing this weekend, along with two local groups and a pop/garage band from Chicago. After their normal gallery hours, a lot of the art spaces in the area switch to performance spaces. This weekend Glasslands Gallery brings you the indie hip hop artist Ana Tijoux from Chile, with Chico Mann, Sunsplash, and Xenia Rubinos, and Cameo, hidden in the Lovin' Cup Cafe, hosts local singer/songwriter Rachel Browne, aka Field Mouse, and Rob Gentry.
If you just want to spend the night downing gin and tonics, Williamsburg has no shortage of drinking establishments. On the high end, Hotel Delmano serves up any cocktail you can imagine, while across the hood, the great dive bar Ontario opened recently. This spot is brought to us by the same folks at Lake, Buttermilk, and Boat, where most brew and whiskey shots are only five bucks a pop. If you're looking to make some new friends, hit up Metropolitan. The clientele at this spacious gay bar are ultra amicable, always inviting you to dance, share a cheap drink, or have a smoke on the backyard patio.
After you drink yourself into a stupor, stumble to Hana Food Corp at Metropolitan and Lorimer, serving delicious deli sandwiches 24-hours a day. While the hilarious sandwich names — "My Girlfriend Is a Whore" and "Monkey's Ass" just to name a few — will probably stand out the most, don't let your inebriation blind you to the fabulous ingredients like prosciutto, avocado and Cajun roast beef. Trust us, you'll feel better in the morning after a late night snack here.
(Waterfront park photo by Adam Wiseman via Flickr, Sculpture photo via Causey Contemporary, SummerScreen photo via L Magazine, Brooklyn Bowl photo via Flickr)
