You finally made it to Williamsburg? Now you're cool. That's just what you tell yourself. Keep that attitude. You'll fit in good here. In all seriousness it's not as bad as it's made to be. It's just so much fun making fun of hipsters. There's actually plenty of fun and interesting people. It's also a big neighborhood and has distinct areas. The south side is the home to one of the largest Hasidic communities in all the world. Lots of old synagogues to look at. There's predictably also lots of bagel places. East is the up and coming area. This includes the area around Sternberg Park. It has a more ethnic population than the north. The north side is what comes to mind when thinking of Williamsburg. A lot of oddball bars, restaurants, and shops here. Bedford stretch from Metropolitan to about 8th is the heart of the community, and where you should go if you want to experience the essence of this. So put on some flannel. Forget your razor. Live it up and let your inner douche out. read more

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This is the only section-Neighborhood of Brooklyn that has Bridge across the East River name after the Section-Neighborhood (The Williamsburg Bridge) Even the Brooklyn Version of Big Ben The building old clock Tower on Flatbush Avenue and Atlantic Avenue , used to be called " Williamsburgh Savings Bank " it even have the words still printed on the building . My mother had a account with that bank back in the 80's & 90'S , that shows you a true Brooklynite I'm not a hipster ( No offesive to the Gentrification people ....lol ) Any how Williamsburg was always knows as a Latino Neighborhood with : Dominican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, and Mexican & Bodegas-Cornerstone and etc Latino /Hispanic Countries and this neighborhood also Serve Hisadic Jews . This Neighborhood is also serve by MTA transportation: Buses : B44,B46,Q54,39, B48,B43,B60,B62 and etc Buses , And Subway lines: J,M,Z,L,G -Trains . Williamsburg is beautiful area of Brooklyn with plenty of Condos , and Restaurants and bars and high fashion companies : Chanel ,Hermes , Sandro , Brooklyn Denim , J.Crew , L Train Vintage ,and etc shops in Williamsburg and plus you Can ride the G- Train to Fulton street Mall (Downtown Brooklyn) & The RealReal store . And Plus you can catch the B46 bus to Kings Plaza Shopping mall on Flatbush Avenue & Avenue U . And Williamsburg also have Apple Eletronic store , You can also catch the B44 bus in Williamsburg to Sheepshead bay to Brooklyn Plumb beach, Williamsburg also have beautiful views of the skyline of Manhattan and also home to Brooklyn oldest steakhouse "Peter Luger" .Williamsburgh also have vintage boutiques shop like "Domsey" on 431 Broadway (My mother was long time employee there when there was under the Williamsburgh Bridge ) a very cool Vintage shop similar to L Train vintage , Any how enjoy your Williamsburgh Section of Brooklyn Experience with mccarren park (Football/Baseball field /Tennis field/ Track Field and heard there have a Drone park don't know how true is that , and Williamsburgh also close to Woodhull hospitals & Wycoff hospitals !!!! read more

Williamsburg - Near the B48 bus route ! - Local Flavor Near Me

Oh Williamsburg where have you gone? What was once a seedy waterfront business community is now Hipster and Hasidic heaven. The Hasidic community has had a foothold in the Williamsburg area for decades. Local shopping, temples, wedding halls, brownstones and apartment buildings which consumed approximately half of Williamsburg. The other half was industrial manufacturing (domino sugar) lumber yards, warehouses etc. in Recent years the construction boom has taken over, Kent Avenue was made a one way, with bike lanes and city bikes. High end grocery stores, cafes, bars and clothing stores moved in. Parking is an utter disaster, Rents are out of hand. There are a handful of fantastic restaurants and cafes however the tourist traps serving mediocre food far outweigh the great ones. read more

If you weren't here back when the Mccaren park pool was an abandoned Forrest, and back when domino park was just the factory imma need you to pack your bags and go, love the area though haha read more

Williamsburg is great! The place that has been my home since age eight has turned into the best of the best. I have seen all the changes, the good and the bad, all for the best. The deserted, scary old streets that used to be factories are now stores and restaurants. Graffiti has turned into beautiful street art. The lavish buildings and piers on North 6 have added a touch of glam to our side of the East River; just breathtaking. Now Willy B has it all. Thanks to the gentrification we offer the best at every turning corner. Anything you could want is right here at arms reach. Restaurants of all cuisines, clubs, boutiques, coffee shops, parks, schools, art galleries, etc. Nice looking people everywhere you look. The hipster stage is dying out. Not that they are a threat to anything or anyone. Getting around here is easy. Williamsburg is packed thru Bedford Ave only. Take any other street, and you can enjoy a walk without the crowd. Enjoy the best BK has to offer while you can and remember the motto "spread love, it's the Brooklyn way." read more

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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. read more

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. read more

Williamsburg - Saving the environment @ Williamsburg. - Local Flavor Near Me

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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 cliche 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. read more

Williamsburg - Local Flavor Near Me

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: http://www.yelp.com/biz/williamsburg-bridge-brooklyn When I review a suburb of NYC (or anywhere), I like to list the best eats. My Yelp 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. http://www.yelp.com/list/nyc-areas-brooklyn-williamsburg-and-greenpoint-brooklyn 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, 2nd in Bklyn (after Luigi's) - Cafe 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. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

Williamsburg: Mainly home to the early 30 hipster crowd who think their shit smells like raw organic local honey. Then again, it probably does. I've been airBNBing in Williamsburg since last week. When I first found the place, I was super excited about the healthier food options and the fancy restaurants this area is known for. Most importantly, I wanted to people watch. How often do you see people dressed in a suit and tie with neon green hair and facial piercings. Oh, I miss you Hot Topic. These are my people! The first few days, I was feeling pretty cool. I have been living in an apartment that smells like clean babies. The building has elevators, a gym, a yoga room, free wifi in the basement, laundry and a ton of parking. I even ate at a few of the restaurants and rode the L train for the first time in my life. Look at me mom, I've finally made something of myself! But after almost 2 weeks of living here, I realized that Williamsburg isn't any more special than the rest of Brooklyn. Some of the restaurants aren't that good, there's dog crap on the sidewalks, drunk people are still yelling all night long and the kids on the playgrounds are still rough around the edges. Hey Williamsburg, it's alright. No matter what anyone tells you, you're special and important just like the rest of us. read more

Finished. Alas. But that's what they said when I moved here in 2002 and rented a two bed on Driggs and North 7th 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. read more

Williamsburg - Local Flavor Near Me

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. read more

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. read more

Williamsburg - Meserole st. - Local Flavor Near Me

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I have a hate-love relationship with Williamsburg. There are some great, unique places to eat...like old timey soda shops, great burger places like Dumont where the staff is suuper friendly, Blue Bottle coffee, organic bakeries, etc. However, as a brown person, I think Williamsburg (and some parts of Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope) are the only places in New York where I've actually *felt* my race and where I am usually treated differently. It feels shamefully like lots of redneck smalltowns in the U.S., except with younger people wearing the flannel shirts. I had no pre-existing bias, and I've gone multiple times with an open mind with a white friend and she always comments on how she *usually* gets great service, and how people are weirdly rude when she comes with me, but can't understand why it's different when I come along. Among the obvious snubs: at one bar, the bartender actually started stacking up all the dirty glasses in front of my friend and I while he served other customers. At others, it's almost impossible to get seated and get service unless you look the part, which includes dress style and skin color. It often just seems like all the disaffected suburban youth who never grew up with any other culture came here and settled and won't admit their lack of integration and their (usually white) exclusiveness. At least in the South people don't claim to be liberal and inclusive. Sidewalk etiquette is also almost completely missing here. People seem to be on some sort of kamakaze walking mission, even though there's plenty of room for everyone. But maybe that's a metaphor for Williamsburg in general. read more

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. read more

I once saw this dude in Williamsburg who looked broke, sad, and depressed. Then he busted out a brand new iPhone 4 from his pocket. Hmmmm....why you frontin? http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=frontin read more

Williamsburg - Local Flavor Near Me

Simple fact: if you hate Williamsburg, then stay out of it. I'm sick of people making fun of this place like you even know what is going on. Go back to Kansas, and tell somebody who knows less. It is so 2006 of you, maybe if you lived in Williamsburg, you would not be so behind on trends. Williamsburg is the bomb. It has its own neighborhood, restaurants, bars, parties. And, it's so close to the city that I can't even nap on the train. And do I love the hipster transformation? Fuck yes, I'll take hipsters on bikes over hood boogers robbing people any day of the week, twice on Thursdays, because that's when I party. And, because I love beards. You want to go back to the nineties? I don't. Get over yourself, find another way to glorify your existence. read more

looking around at the clothing people are wearing makes me wonder if they have raided my closet circa 1984. dammit. i knew i should have kept those leggings and big, pink frame prescription glasses.... read more

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 Yelp 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. read more

The fact that you can actually review entire neighborhoods on Yelp is a shame, seriously. But now that I've found people bashing my hood I feel as though it's necessary to retort with with a 5 star review without fully justifying why. The blind hatred for this community and its inhabitants really blows me away. To start, I'm really sorry that people don't get robed as often as they used to here or that rent has dramatically increased (all you OG Williamsburg residents), and that we have not only the most celebrated but diverse collecting of culinary offerings in all of NYC or Brooklyn (jealous Manhattanites), or that you can have any kind of bar you'd like, any night of the week (Anyone from anywhere outside of NYC or Brooklyn), or that we have a waterfront (anyone inland). I could go on and on, but it seems like the second a place starts to cultivate a strong sense of community or a very positive vibe people start to hate. It really is sad. So keep on calling all of us "hipsters" because we have tattoos and share a somewhat similar sense of good/bad/eccentric/bummy/ whatever you'd like to call it sense of fashion. These generalizations just make you sound ignorant and holding these deep seeded resentments for a group of people and they place they live in really should make you think twice about the kind of person you are, or rather, have become. With that said I just want to reiterate that I love this neighborhood and can't imagine living anywhere else in the world right now. But I hope you're happy living wherever you live, and if my neighborhood doesn't suit you for whatever reason, I hope you can give it a chance with an open mind next time because there really are some fantastic things going on here. read more

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." read more

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.. read more

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. read more

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

If you need a breath of fresh air and to get away from Manhattan, you should come to Williamsburg, a trendy little area of Brooklyn with a lot of personality. Full of cool young hipsters, everyone here seems interesting and to have the appearance of an artist with an amazing life story. The atmosphere is far more relaxed than Manhattan, and it doesn't feel city-like at all, but rather like a community. There are creative and well done murals and street art everywhere, the shops are adorable, and there are so many indie coffee shops. read more

Williamsburg - Local Flavor Near Me

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All the cool people are here. All the good food is here. Come hang out. When its not humid out it smells nice here.

Eclectic neighborhood that always seems to be changing. If you want a youthful culture that defines the direction things are going in New York, this would be an ideal place to start. read more

Every generation has its share of whipping boys. Groups for the rest of us to deride as worthless cowards. Beatniks, Hippies and now, the hipsters. The term is nearly undefinable. But you know it when you see it. When you see them. The problem facing these huddled losers is the costume. A uniform chosen by these unoriginal rat-finks. Do they all really need glasses? Is the water that bad? I hope not. At least I hope that there is a fine ophthalmologist to service these characters. Pro bono? Doubtful. The hipster contingent takes any and all into their ranks. Midwestern morons and southern fools? Children of privilege masquerading as blue collar folks are welcomed to every hipster cell. Williamsburg is the nexus. The root of this madness. A mecca for lost souls. People that never felt alive, never felt comfortable in their own skin. Put on a stupid hat, thick rimmed glasses and suddenly you're a new person. You feel cool. Cool is something unattainable. Like that glorious first "high" you never get there, but desperate idiots chase it. Too bad the dragon is running a little faster than you. It doesn't matter if they went to Boston Latin or Bronx High School of Science and had relatives on the Mayflower and Speedwell, they are here and they too can grow facial hair. That's the man's move in this 'hood. To cover one's face through apathy. Not necessarily the precision a mustache requires but the non-effort needed for a beard. Even a lackluster one. If you believed what you read in the papers it would appear that hipsters invented irony. Not the case. Read up on your Dante, friends. Chaucer "too dated" for ya. Check out some Shakespeare from the library. What's that? Your parents bought you an iPad because you prefer e-book readers. Typical damage. Completely unsurprising you'd opt for the easy way out hiding your reading material from us that wanna know. Halloween is the day for costumes. For strange looks. But when it continues in November and onto the next year there is something very wrong here. Hipsters lack depth - the depth of a soul. Because to be one requires little knowledge or intellect. All you need is a credit card. Go to a store and pick up the uniform. You'll blend right in. Or will you fit in? There is no fitting in to this amoeba of self-importance. They try so hard to appear like it's all natural. I just threw together this t-shirt and shorts combination after waxing my eyebrows for 6.5 hours. Yeah, you don't care at all. You don't like the Ramones or PBR. You don't like much of anything. You're not capable of real passion - authentic love and hate. Hate and love. Those take caring about things. Really caring about life and issues and risking failure. The risk to look like a moron. Well, you do anyway. That doesn't matter. Hipster ideals are all surface. Peel back that onion and there's nothing there. They are cultivating an image that never really existed to begin with. We are human beings. We are hardwired to care, to hurt, to feel. Take the risk. It's okay to look stupid. Life is a waste when appearances all one's only concern. Who cares what most people think? Most people are morons. Where can they go from here?There isn't much else for hipsters to do. No more places for them to go. What now? They are superficial. They have a uniform. They live in the same place. They eat the same food. Talk the same way. Listen to the same music. There is only one place for them to go. To become deeply religious. Read your bible. Start believing in God. Being devout is the natural endgame of all this trendy white noise goin' on in Billyburg. It's gotta end somewhere. And some people might say 'no chance.' Why not? It's the logical conclusion to a movement that has no real ideas and as each hipster ages, settles down, repopulates the planet, priorities shift. They might stay in Brooklyn. Williamsburg even. It worked for the Hasids. Why can't it work for the neighborhood's other bearded contingent? They both wear silly hats. That's a start. They already have the dogma. The irrational beliefs. Half way there to religious extremism? You got that right. read more

If you are as old as I am then you no longer recognize Williamsburg. It's not that I liked the crime before I did not. But when the crime left so did the flavor. Now Williamsburg has been taken over by transplants who are considered to be "hipsters." My issue with them is that they are clones and conformists and have effectively stripped parts of Brooklyn of it's flavor, personality and creativity. I have to agree with Madhu R's review. Though I am white I am a non conformist and Williamsburg might as well be somewhere in the Midwest. Reviews by Eugene B , Crack Fox A ,Mr. Bob Dobalina B. and Mr. Britton B are funny but true! That is what makes them funny! "Hipsters" started moving in in the late 90's but were not that noticeable and had not changed Williamsburg yet. After 911 rents dropped all over NYC and NYC was humanized to the world. It was after 911 that Williamsburg changed dramatically and lost it's personality I believe. Now in 2011 if you know a white guy from Ohio or Indiana who is not familiar with NY and is moving here people will tell him to move to Williamsburg where all of his neighbors from the Midwest have moved. I am not against people moving here from anywhere. But what used to happen is those people appreciated NY for what it is. What Williamsburg residents have done is brought their hillbilly ways with them and done away with any Brooklyn culture. Williamsburg is now any town USA. A good example of a diverse true blue Brooklyn neighborhood is Brighton Beach Brooklyn. It still has flavor. I remember a time when if anyone was in another city or even in Manhattan and they said they were from Brooklyn (almost any neighborhood) they were to be feared. Here is a little history lesson Williamsbug is where the famous police officer Serpico is from which inspired the movie with Al Pacino. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070666/ If you look up renovation of Williamsburg on the internet the credit will be given to rezoning. I am sure that had something to do with it. But really 911 was the turning point that changed many of the NYC neighborhoods to neighborhoods that could be in any town USA. Many ethnic restaurants closed and in it's place opened "hipster" restaurants. I have been to some of those restaurants and I am not saying they are bad but they could be anywhere. If you compare it to Brighton Beach Brooklyn and how it has it's own quirky flavor you can see how Williamsburg has been stripped of it's essence and is now a joke to the rest of the country. Benjamen Bugsy Siegel and Al Capone are from Williamsburg. Here is an interesting article on the cultural changes in Williamsburg. http://nymag.com/realestate/neighborhoods/2010/65356/ I know I sound like your grandma talking about the good old days , but living in NYC and Brooklyn meant you had some edge. Now it just means you look and act exactly like your neighbors. Please watch this video. It is clear that much of Brooklyn is infected by the "hipster." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/11/stuff-white-people-like-g_n_807600.html http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/ read more

Move here a year or so ago from park slope it has a crazy mix of ppl in a small area which i like and a lot pretty spanish girls ;-) hipsters can be a lil to much at time but they are harmless the jews are really retarded in this part be careful while driving they cross the street without even looking for a car esp. at night and they wear all BLACK! You do got to be careful in some parts on Wburg so dont think just cuz you see a bunch of white ppl ya safe lol ya drunk hipster ass wil get stuck up read more

Long long time ago, in my early days in New York, I failed a relationship with someone I liked a lot and became so upset. Then the winter came and I had no clue how to survive it. It was a dark, cold, lonely, gloomy, depressing winter. Luckily, I soon found my shelter in Williamsburg. It was an art studio and I still remember the name of the artist is Michael Newberry. I went there on each Sunday by taking the L train to Morgan Ave and spent the whole afternoon there for figure drawing. It was a large space - at least 10 of us each time only occupied less than half of the studio and the rest of it was full of Michael's finished or unfinished pieces and mellow winter sunlight. Each time, I curled up in a comfy corner and drew aimlessly. Michael provided us friendly smiles, instructions sometime, as well as delicious coffee and the smell is still stored somewhere in my brain. There was also peaceful and emotional music, maybe from Bach I guess. That whole space must has been full of therapeutic energy because I found myself recovering even without noticing how, by one sketch after another, week after week... then, the winter left, Michael moved to LA, and the studio was closed. I forgot the whole thing as well. Tonight, I happened to encounter another drawing group that I instantly felt belonging to and surprisingly they provided me delicious coffee. The smell of coffee must have superimposed to the joy of drawing and triggered somewhere in my brain because I found myself missing that winter in Williamsburg so much. Yep, Williamsburg has been a name to me for the feeling of warmth, art, and happiness. It heals. read more

I work in Williamsburg. I also occasionally hang out in Williamsburg - mostly after work, I'll walk around for an hour or two to wind down. It's convenient, it's cute in spots, and people are generally pretty friendly. Well, with the exception of a certain type of transplant who makes it clear he's better than I am, but more on him in a bit. The L train, and even the G train, can get you where you need to go. Except when they suck, like when it rains or when they're filled with healthy 25 year-old men who spread their legs to take up three seats, or when someone decides it would be really cool to throw flammable garbage on the tracks. You can get all kinds of food, and sometimes it is even affordable. And once in a while, I even spot a member of the species I thought had gone extinct at least a dozen years ago: the mohawked punk. And I spotted him in January, so he was definitely not a "summer squatter." (I had Liberty Spikes and entirely too many Sham 69 records once upon a time, so this specimen is near and dear to my heart.) Considering that the place went from "working class Hispanic neighborhood" to "living Vice Magazine centerfold" in less than 20 years - and, as an Italian married to a first-generation E. European man, this is something I really don't like - Williamsburg even manages to retain some of the local businesses created by natives who cook like fucking brilliant fiends. Too bad the native Poles and Hispanics are being pushed further out on the L - they'll be in E. New York before long, and they deserve better than to lose their homes to the likes of MySpace and other predatory real estate companies. The Mexican food is goddamn amazing and 100 percent fresh. I can't speak to the artisinal this and organic that because I like my food fast, cheap, and good, but I'm told that current residents of this 'hood willingly stand in line for $15 omelettes and $35 pizzas. I guess this is good for the economy? Maybe this 'hood is 2.5 stars, maybe it's 3. It depends on my mood and tolerance of pretension on any given day. It's an extraordinarily walkable neighborhood, retains certain segments of affordability (e.g. the standing mom n' pops) and it has fewer beardos clad in tights and witty t-shirts today than when I was last here 5-6 years ago. (Here, you might accuse me of homophobia, but that'd be a mistake. I'm bi, and so is my husband.) It's not perfect, of course - downsides include less transit than other Brooklyn 'hoods and skyrocketing rents that seem ridiculous for what you get, although you can still find deals if you're a business owner. I sometimes get a wonky vibe interacting with people that I don't get in my own neighborhood, and it mostly comes from a certain group of white, post-college kids who've decided they're native New Yorkers after living in Williamsburg for all of six months. This includes that dude or dudette who will inevitably get butt-hurt over my review because s/he thinks I envy spandex outfits, late 19th century facial hair, or apartments nested inside an architecturally void, graffitied, vinyl-sided box. This assumption is a mistake on their part, since I most recently lived in a bankrupt city with sky-high crime and a 100% working-class population who worried about paying the bills like every other American. It wasn't a pose. It was the real thing, guys. I wonder why the Williamsburghians feel a need to dress like my husband does for his technician jobs? He wears flannel and a scarf because it's fucking COLD in January, and steel-toed boots because sneakers aren't safe. But I don't understand why people need to wear scarves and wool hats to their editorial assistant jobs in the ass-crack of July? This neighborhood is a'ight. If it weren't being cudgeled into "Adultolescent Disneyland" by real estate developers who possess obscene amounts of money while lacking obscene amounts of sense, I think I'd like it a lot more. Call me jealous or class-conscious if you must, but there's something offputting about a neighborhood filled with people who dress like my grandparents - the people who beat the Great Depression, fought the second World War, and generously brought you treasured institutions like "the 40-hour workweek," "overtime," and "weekends" - while sneering at anything authentically working-class. read more

people treat williamsburg like lindsay lohan. yeah there are some fucked up things (holier-than-thou hipsters/herbie, fully loaded) but there are also a lot of positive (great bars & food/mean girls). it's really the haters that keep the name in the news. read more

haters gonna hate. let a playa play.

Williamsburg makes my skin crawl. It's gross and dirty. There are a lot of great, high reviewed spots, but that doesn't change the scene. Everyone who walks around matches the grungy environment. The people look like they just rolled outta bed and purposely put dirt all over there clothes. The whole community is covered in graffitti and it just looked so run down. It has such potential too so its a shame that all the cute spots are located here. I'm not talking about the wholeWilliamsburg, but on the north side along metroplitian its a real dump! read more

This is a nice neighborhood with a ton of offerings- pretty much anyone, from any walk of life could find solace here.. Unless you're among the list of people moaning about the influx of hipsters- a term so blanketed and generic, it pretty much refers to anyone who owns a pair of chuck taylors. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz read more

The hipsters land...I mean my oh my do they have 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.....That's how your suppose to be over here already buzz and get ready to let loose a little woth some laughters read more

So many good places to eat... very chill bars to hang out, and nice retail stores around... i don't hate on the hipsters. come as they please, they don't bother me. There's dirty vietnam war veteran hippy guys in Williamsburg as well as many other neighborhoods, so get over yourself. There's actually great yoga studios around the neighborhood for very reasonable pricing. There's jewelry classes, cooking classes, sewing classes, etc etc, etc. It's also one stop away from Manhattan. There's not as many fabulous music venues here that I would love to have, however, there are still some really great ones. Day or night, you can find something to do... So if you hate it, go on to wherever you think is cooler. You're the real elitist if you think you're too cool to come to Williamsburg nowadays, so don't come. Who cares about the "hipsters"... Do your own damn thing and life will be happy! read more