The L subway train to Williamsburg is full of hip young 20somethings making the short trip to their trendy neighborhood in Brooklyn. Once a community of Latinos and Orthodox Jews with a few Italians and Poles mixed in, the neighborhood was the childhood home of Henry James and a brewing district for major breweries like Schaefer, Rheingold and Schlitz. The hipsters arrived in the late 1990s and now bistros, art galleries and increasing real estate prices thrive.
The Feast of the Gigli
The Feast of the Gigli, or the Feast of the Lilies, is a spectacle that astounds visitors every year. Italian immigrants from the town Nola near Naples brought the feast day of their patron saint, St. Paulinus of Nola, to Brooklyn over 100 years ago. The chief event of the two-week event is the lifting of the 80-foot-tall lily statue by more than 100 men. It is laboriously carried through the streets accompanied by a band. The saint is toasted with lots of beer and Italian food.
Visit the Galleries and Dine
When both Soho and Chelsea became too pricey for artists, they headed for the large former warehouses and loft spaces of Williamsburg. Now galleries like the Boiler abound in old warehouses and storefronts. This gallery still has its two-story boiler in situ and lots of gritty show space. The neighborhood art scene leans toward the avant garde. Food in Williamsburg is ahead of the curve too and ranges from urban fusion to the tried and true. The chef's tasting menu events called Omakase at Zenkichi premiere the season's newest offerings. The sake is additive- free, brewed only with rice, water and koji.
Free Movie at McCarren Park Pool
The local park in the neighborhood is small but well-used McCarren Park. Williburgers come to the park to catch a film at the series called Summer Screen. If you come early, you will get a seat. Eats and drinks are available. At other times the park is full of Frisbee, kids in strollers and dogs; a very typical Brooklyn small park scene.
Cross the Williamsburg Bridge
Bike across the Williamsburg Bridge. It goes straight into Manhattan's Lower East Side and has pedestrian and bike lanes. New lanes were opened in 2002, making the ride much more accessible to bikers. New wide ramps were installed on both sides of the bridge. Views of the East River, Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge make the a ride worth taking every day.
Artists and Fleas Indoor Market
The neighborhood has always been known for its thrift shops, army and navy surplus stores and flea markets. Put 20 bucks in your pocket and you are sure to come home with something fairly funky. Stop by the largest Williamsburg flea market, Artists and Fleas, a weekly shop-o-rama in a large warehouse space. It not only has thrift items but the work of new designers too.
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