At the beginning of June, we spent some time in New York City (NYC). We stayed over the bridge in Brooklyn and I have to say it was great to experience to see how the other half of New York lives. The bustlin’ borough had the pulse of Manhattan, but without the constant mayhem. Don’t get me wrong, the mayhem is all part of the fun of NYC, but this was just a different point of view. Speaking of views, we stayed in an incredible loft in Greenpoint, a vibrant industrial area, and the view from our rooftop terrace in Brooklyn was nothing short of spectacular. The NYC skyline standing strong across the river as familiar point of references such as the Empire State building and Chrysler building reminded us of what was waiting for us on the other side of the bridge.
As a Toronto native, I am used to the hustle and bustle, but I don’t think even that prepares you for the pandemonium and pace of New York. The car horns, the mobs, the line-ups, the relentless and unapologetic chaos that you experience on this small, but mighty island. It is unlike any other city in the world, but the borough of Brooklyn is where we got into an empire state of mind (cue Jay-Z song in your head). That is where we found our New York. Brooklyn is hip, Brooklyn is cool and Brooklyn doesn’t even try that hard. It is similar to Toronto in that it is peppered with eclectic and diverse neighbourhoods throughout. Williamsburg in particular is the nucleus of all that is cool and is known around the world for its indie music, hipster culure and arts community. Let me tell you, it does not disappoint, around every corner is a new trend being set, the debut of a new band, a new artist being discovered or a tortured writer in McCarren Park just dying to be heard.
If you want to roll like a local, here are some gems to check out on both sides of the bridge.
The Mighty Manhattan
Mexican Radio: in the heart of Soho, this Mexican grub has you saying Arriba! The food is wicked and the Margaritas give you a good buzz after a full day of power-shopping. http://www.mexrad.com/NYC.htm
Uniqlo: I felt like I had been dropped in the centre of Tokyo, this crazy, yet casual retail outlet had me questioning my fashion sense. What did I do? I bought a Care Bear t-shirt, but don’t worry they have just about every cartoon character from your childhood you can think of. Check it out. http://www.uniqlo.com/us/
The Met: I ventured to The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) to check out the Alexander McQueen show, which required a three-hour line up, so I bought the book instead and checked out the rest of the museum. It is huge and houses everything from Monet to Warhol, as well as an array of ancient artifacts and special exhibits like the McQueen show and unique shows like the history of guitars. It is simply spectacular and located near Central Park along Fifth Avenue, which of course should also be on your list. http://www.metmuseum.org/
Shake Shack: Yet another thing you might have to line up for, but apparently worth the wait. After a stroll through Central Park we wandered to the Madison Square Park location at lunch time (big mistake). Apparently it is worth the wait and the line-up goes fast! I wish I had known that at the time, but if you are craving a burger and fries this is a Manhattan oasis, so I hear. http://www.shakeshack.com/
Pianos: One of the best bars we went to. An eclectic crowd, a chilled-out front lounge playing retro beats when we walked in, an indie band called Imaginary Weapons playing in the back room and a dance club upstairs. Not to mention we saw Donald Glover for all you 30 Rock and Community fans, he was just hanging out having beers, as comedy writers do in New York. http://pianosnyc.com/
The Brooklyn Bounce
Brooklyn Bowl: this is one of the coolest bowling alleys on the planet. They brew their own beer, have amazing live acts such as Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, a well-know dub/roots/reggae outfit who were providing the riddim that night and the lanes were open for pin-tastic good times. http://www.brooklynbowl.com/
Saint Vitus: We stumbled upon this dark and mysterious bar near the loft we were staying at. The tunes were dark and underground and the people were surprisingly lovely. It was one of the best nights we had. Who said Goths were anti-social? If you’re in the hood, come over to the dark side. http://www.saintvitusbar.com/
Papacitos: Ok, I know more Mexican food, but there is lots of it in New York. This place was so awesome. Good food, cheap drinks and tattooed and ultra-cool staff. Check out the patio in the back where the tequila is flowing and so is the attitude (in a good way). http://papacitosbrooklyn.blogspot.com/
Beacon’s Closet: I was walking around Williamsburg on what seemed like the hottest day in hell. I stumbled upon a sanctuary, a vintage/trinket/novelty store with air conditioning where I bought the coolest bracelet and a personal fan in the shape of an ice cream cone, boy did that come in handy that day. If you dig vintage, this is a must. http://www.beaconscloset.com/
Daddy’s: Ok, so I read this book called Stuff Hipsters Hate and it really gave me the inside scoop on the hipsters of Brooklyn. Throughout the book they refer to a bar called Daddy’s, so it was a must on our list. We went on a Monday night and it was full of characters, hot dogs were the only thing on the menu and they had a Pac-Man game table, which of course we sat at, I played one game and failed miserably. It is a great dive bar for a bar-hopping excursion. http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/listings/bars/neighborhood/graham/daddys
Habitat: This was around the corner from the loft we were staying at. The food was awesome and so was the beer list. If you are looking for good eats and an unconventional dining experience, this is the spot. http://thehabitatbrooklyn.com/
Carmine’s Original Pizza: I did save the best until last. If you are in Brooklyn, particularly the Greenpoint area, you have to go to Carmine’s Original Pizza. They have the best pizza ever! I always thought the hype about New York pizza was an urban legend, until now, we went there three times. Don’t expect any frills, but expect little slices of heaven. Apparently, the homemade lasagna and ravioli is to die for as well. http://www.yelp.com/biz/carmines-original-pizza-brooklyn
