last days of summer : North Williamsburg
It's a gorgeous day. The sun is out and it's hot. While I'm a bit anxious for fall, I'm always happy to spend the day shopping, strolling, splurging on good food and sipping some small batch coffee. Here's a mini guide to the north side of Williamsburg for doing just that! Special thanks to my local tour guide for showing me around this past weekend.*
Start at Toby's Estate for some coffee. If you're lucky, they'll still be serving the mint julep espresso. It's basil and mint infused simple syrup over a shot of their Bedford blend espresso, topped off with some whole milk. This drink is a pleasure to sip slowly while wandering the neighborhood. It will cool you off and give you a caffeine jolt. Don't forget to load up on water while you are there, you're gonna need the hydration!
Now take a stroll to the Williamsburg Waterfront. If it's Saturday, you can grab a bite at Smorgasburg and take a rest on the rocks by the water. Gaze out across the East River and enjoy the Manhattan skyline.
If it's Sunday, keep walking down Kent to the Williamsburg Flea Market for some antique, vintage or handmade finds. They also have street food, so you can grab a snack if you are hungry. Afterward, wander through McCarren Park for some more fresh air if it's still a nice, sunny day.
Next, retrace your steps a bit and head to Artists & Fleas for some intense shopping. Local artists and designers sell jewelry and clothing, mostly vintage or thrift, but you never really know what you'll find. I found a great brass necklace here last time and eyed a few vintage outfits that would be great on a dance floor.
If you really want to up your jewelry status, head on down to Vera Meat. I love all of her designs and appreciate the care they take in making sure you have the your favorite fine metal and the right length chain, oxidized to your liking. Each piece is magical, even surreal, like this Llama Lady Love necklace.
If you aren't so into jewelry, but maybe more into home design, A&G Merch is just a few blocks away. I found some awesome laser cut vinyl placemats for my dining table here in fun colors like lavender, tangerine and wine (I am making up these color names, who knows if they have names). I think these lace gems would also make an excellent backdrop to a Día de los Muertos dinner party--it's never too early to start planning fall festivities!
And finally, because I'm sure by now no matter how amazing the weather or how much you ate at Smorgasburg, you're now hungry and ready for a cocktail.
Head to Allswell for a well-earned meal to end the day.Sit at the bar.Eat the house bread with ricotta and don't worry about the gluten.Take off those sunglasses.Look your bartender in the eye and tell her to whip you up her favorite cocktail.
Best part about this plan is it's totally fine if you are solo! Maybe even more fun because you can shop, eat and sit at your own pace.
Happy last days of summer!
Toby's Estate
125 North 6th StreetBrooklyn, New York11249
SmorgasburgWilliamsburg
Saturdays 11am - 6pm
East River State Park (90 Kent Ave at N. 7 St.)Brooklyn, New York11249
Williamsburg Flea Market
Sundays 10am - 5pm
50 Kent AveBrooklyn, NY11249
McCarren Park
776 Lorimer StBrooklyn, NY11222
Artists & FleasWilliamsburg
Sat & Sun 10am-7pm917-488-4203
70 North 7th StreetBrooklyn, 11249
Vera MeatBrooklyn
Open 7 days a week 12 - 8 pm18-388-2400
7132 N. 5th St.Brooklyn NY11249
A&G MerchBrooklyn
Open 7 days a week 12 - 8 pm18-388-2400
111 N. 6th Street (@ Berry Street)Brooklyn, New York11249
Allswell
347-799-2743
124 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY11211
*Note, on the day I actually did all of these things, my phone was full of photos from my other travels and I thought, ah so nice to not have to take any photos. Of course, now I can't find any good photos of these things and wish I had taken my actual camera out. Or deleted the photos on my phone. Not that these are such bad photos, but mine would have been, well, mine.