Every city has it’s hipster sector, but not all hipster sectors are created equal. New York’s Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn stands apart not only because of its density, span, and tastemaking power, but also its considerable cultural diversity. A breeding ground for bands and artists of all stripes since the 70s, Williamsburg is home to numerous theaters, cafes, art spaces and concert venues. Local and [often] imported bohemia thrives alongside multiple ethnic clusters, often inspiring snarky dismissal by other NYC residents. Clearly, if you like fun, this neighborhood is not to be missed.

Even work-obsessed, creepy recluse types like Molly and I need an occasional time out. We laughed in the face of the terrible heat wave and trekked across this colorful ‘hood with the aid of iced green tea and indoor air conditioning. So worth it!

We discovered that yarn-bombing has spread even wider than anticipated, haggled with street vendors, perused the impressive selection over at Spoonbill & Sugartown, did indecent things with tiny magnetic balls and even ventured off the main drag to chase an ice cream truck. Sadly, this ice cream chase is the one experience I didn’t document for fear of offending the angry, neck-tattooed ice cream man. He told us to hurry, spilled shake on me, and talked through his teeth. I later wished he’d been wearing clown make-up to complete the picture.

Two experiences stand out from the kaleidoscope of excitement that this day turned out to be. First, just to get it out of the way: the restroom at Verb Cafe. What made this so jarring is just how pleasant and clean the cafe itself is. It’s there that we quenched our thirst with the aforementioned mint tea, and there where we hid from the blazing rays. And yet… Their lavatory is among the top five most repugnant bathrooms I’ve ever stepped foot into. Molly warned me of this, and by the time I stumbled out to fresh air, gasping and whimpering, she was laughing at my plight.

The second point of interest was Spuyten Duyvil a tiny gourmet grocery that carries local and imported rarities. If I lived in New York this veritable treasure trove of fine wines, beers, pickled goods, fancy chocolate [and probably a whole lot more] would totally become a regular haunt. There is also a Spuyten Duyvil bar, which I didn’t visit. Next time!

Words and photos by Zoetica Ebb (featuring Molly Crabapple)