let's move to williamsburg!

I think our favourite New York City neighbourhood would have to be Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It was lightly snowing when we stepped onto Bedford Ave and from that point we were smitten with this young, creative, eclectic and friendly district. Williamsburg is a haven for artists (it has definitely become a new art district in New York City), students, young families and New Yorkers who like to be a little removed from the hectic pace of Manhattan and seem to really enjoy organic food. We wandered along Bedford Ave, Wythe Ave and laced our way from North 3rd to North 11th street.


Jason found bliss at Ear Wax Records – walking away with a tidy bundle of vinyl including fantastic recommendations from the lovely staff who knew exactly what to give him once they spotted what he was into.

He picked up some Daptone Label records (which included Sugarman Three, The Mighy Imperials and of course Sharon Jones), Jimmy Castor Bunch, a compilation called Fallin Off the Reel and The Baby Huey Story by Baby Huey.


We stumbled upon so many great stores with vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, books, clothes, weird knick-knacks…..and everyone we spoke to was relaxed and chatty. Williamsburg was a bit of relief from Manhattan - where we felt invisible.

We had a great lunch at Relish, a retro diner that we overheard is frequented by performance artist Reggie Watts (who performed his vocal sampling gymnastics/comedy at the Brisbane Powerhouse in 2009). Spoonbill & Sugartown Books which is part of a really interesting arcade, is an indie bookstore a bit like Avid Reader with a great back catalogue and strange but interesting additional offerings including a Tits and Totes 2010 Calendar (just let your imagination take care of the details).
Locals assured us the place for coffee was Blackbird – a cosy café where we sipped some mean hot chocolates while listening to something that sounded like Animal Collective.














North 3rd street was a little treasure trove – we loved the second hand bookstore, Book Thug Nation which has regular events and some pretty bizarre masks guarding the shelves, across the road is a Mexican chocolate company (you can smell the goodness from down the street) and a great vintage shop next door.


I started daydreaming out loud that we should move (somehow?) to Williamsburg but then Jason gently reminded me of how little tolerance I have for a New York Winter and so we came home happily to the warm summery bosom of Brisbane.