Burg Wants Cinema and Pharmacy—Not Galleries, Clubs

I was walking around the burg the other day and it just has so much more soul and creativity than brownstone brooklyn.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 10:36 AM

10:36

Please by all means...stay there then.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 10:39 AM

10:36 you can't recognize soul and creativity even if it hits you with a brick. Burg is for posers and wannabes.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 10:40 AM

i can't stand williamsburg.

i have 4 friends who have left in the past year alone.

all to prospect heights, clinton hill and park slope.

the burg was cool 10 years ago.

it's absurd now to pay those prices to live in, what looks like a 1980's beirut.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 10:44 AM

So they want cinema and pharmacy? Isn't that the very "gentrification" they claim to distaste? I wonder whether these youngster simply do not possess any sense of self-awareness or are just downright hypocritical.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 10:45 AM

i agree, 10:50. VERY telling indeed. as if the fashion freaks wasn't enough already...

i wonder what the case would be if you asked how many of those in brownstone brooklyn wish they were in manhattan.

my guess is a LOT lower.

i wouldn't move to manhattan if you PAID ME.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 10:54 AM

I'm a pharmacist ....looking for a place to open up. Sounds like a good idea to open in the area. I'll have to look into it :)

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 11:00 AM

movie theaters and pharmacies are gentrification?

hmmmmmmmmm

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 11:20 AM

I sometimes wonder why many of you living here stay if you find so much of this city objectionable.
Whether you live in Manhattan and dismiss the 'outer boros' as beneath you or live in Brooklyn and wouldn't live in Manhattan if you paid me or hate on Park Slope or Williamsburg or whatever.
Are you trying to build up your own sense of self-worth?
I may enjoy where I live but I don't go around thinking other neighborhoods or boroughs are beneath me. It is the sum of its parts that make NYC great - not a couple of neighborhoods or 1 boro.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 11:24 AM

tell that to the first commenter, 11:24 who started this thread out on a horrible note...

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 11:35 AM

10:50 10:54,

"a survey of 200 people roaming the streets of Williamsburg "

ROAMING the streets of Williamsburg. Which means about 80% tourists ... not the people who actually live there. RIF.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 11:35 AM

You Park Slopeer have to admit, there is something about the Burg. It even has it's own "Spotlight on Williamsburg" section in the Times Real Estate section.

It may not be your cup of tea, but give it it's due. I enojoying going out for a bite out there, as I do going out for a bite on 5th.

Don't hate on it cuz it's gets attention.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 11:55 AM

i hate it cause it's ugly and filled with posers.

and i live in greenpoint.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 12:08 PM

I think it's funny that so many people answered that they DON'T like warehouses and manufacturing! Isn't that what is supposedly cool about WB? That it isn't full of brownstones and apt buildings and has more industrial architecture that has been converted? People are clueless and have no sense of history.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 12:09 PM

I like the burg....but it seems to be missing something compared to 5th. I can't put my finger on it. Different vibe.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 12:10 PM

Brownstone Brooklyn...especially Park Slope, is more like Europe...Paris, Barcelona, Rome....with the outdoor cafes, the Park, lots of kids, good restaurants, etc.

Williamsburg is more like a flourishing Detroit or Cleveland.

So yeah...they have different vibes.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 12:25 PM

The great thing about BK is that there is someplace for everybody. The Williamsburgh crowd on this platform look a little too grungy for my tastes and the Park Slope crowd is a little to obnoxious for me. I've found my niche which I am sure wouldn't be to the liking of these Billyburghers. Although we do have many transplants from Park Slope.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 12:47 PM

Kings Pharmacy is the best drug store on the planet, however, agree that the waterfront will need more day to day stores.

i love love williamsburg - the food, the fun, the good looking people, the quick commute.

will never leave.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 12:52 PM

hope you don't plan on having kids, 12:52.

they don't know how many heads they'll have yet with you living over a huge oil slick and all.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 12:54 PM

Did anyone else see that article in the NYTimes last week about those two male models who trashed "bedford" and moved to Greenpoint?

Now THEY were good looking.

I don't call boys who weigh 120 lbs and haven't washed their hair in a week "good looking"

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 12:56 PM

11:35, read more carefully plz. ROFL

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 1:15 PM

the williamsburg scene is different. many like it. if it's not for you, so what?

it does not negate how great it is to many.

even if you discount the galleries, stores, restaurants, etc... there are many who are only looking to buy a condo in either LIC or williamsburg because of proximity to Manhattan.

lots and lots of people are not looking at the market like a brownstone inhabitant because either they like new apartments with lots of great amenities, or, they simply do not want the commute - especially people working in north midtown.

and, there are lots of people who feel comfortable in williamsburg from a "social" point of view and could never stomach the conservative/anti-fashion/geeky/corporate types that's found in droves in much of brownstone brooklyn.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 1:33 PM

Girls, girls, you're BOTH pretty!

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 1:39 PM

"could never stomach the conservative/anti-fashion/geeky/corporate types that's found in droves in much of brownstone brooklyn" That just revealed exactly what the burg residents are: Posers. These wannabes define themselves by what they are not, instead of who they are.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 1:55 PM

agree with you 1:55. that's exactly what wburg "culture" is about. they all define themselves by wither what they are not, or by whatever else is around them.

NO ONE is original.

funny also that as a rule, Park Slope is probably the most liberal neighborhood in NYC. it's one of the things it oftentimes gets sh*t for. being SO liberal.

and last i checked, geek chic was the hottest look there is in 2008.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 2:03 PM

1:55 - no, not poseurs. more like very successful creative people and entrepreneurs. let me give you some examples - fellow condo owners who have own clothing/accessory lines and own 2 bars and are artists. or musicians or designers or anyone involved heavily in the fashion or editorial or photography businesses. - they just never going to feel comfortable around brownstone brooklyn types. or anyone in a corporate job period. or academics or lawyers or drab overweight underachievers who shop at the PS food coop. (ugh) i've lived in several brooklyn neighborhoods and i am not comfortable hanging out with the moms that were in my baby groups in PS years ago. people are different - that's it! it's just easier when you fit in with your neighbors.

so... if williamsburg is not for you, imagine that it is for people opposite or different than you.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 2:44 PM

12:56,

those two male models bashed wburg for the same reason so many others do - they were priced out and feel the need to justify their decision.

but anyway, that's just human nature.

for some reason people have no qualms about bashing a preference someone has for a particular neighborhood.

if you like country music and hate R&B, do you actively go bashing R&B every chance you get?

fortunately everyone is different, has different tastes, goals, lifestyles, etc. why is this so difficult to comprehend? how insecure can you be that you need to project all your negativity on others?

it would be interesting to do a psychological study on all you negative bitter people. i just can't relate, but i'd like to better understand.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 2:48 PM

Yup, all I see is white people on the bedford ave. platform. Now THAT'S what you call gentrification.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 4:17 PM

white and under 25!

my how DIVERSE!!!!

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 4:36 PM

The guy with the pony tail, backpack, scruffy beard, and hat hanging down his back is Williamsburg personified.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 4:39 PM

I lived in williamsburg from 90-94. yes back in the dark ages. It was crappy then, still looks crappy just a lot more people and a lot more expensive. I suppose the hipsters that moved in in 02 are complaining about gentrification and the poseurs that moved into the burg in 05. You hipsters were wearing diapers when I lived there. Makes me laugh.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 4:53 PM

I love the hate all the Brownstoners have for Williamsburg.
I wouldn't expect you to get it, being you're all so OLD!!

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 7:01 PM

Williamsburg was not named one of the top 10 neighborhoods in the country (like Park Slope).

Don't think it'll be on the list anytime soon, either...

And no, I don't live in Park Slope...I live in Ft. Greene...

My dislike of Wburg has a lot to do with the fact that I really do like trees.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 7:01 PM

why would anyone want to live in williamsburg. this is NYC the most diverse city in the world. gee let's live in a completely white and obnoxious neighborhood.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 7:27 PM

williamsburg..."Your own slice of Boston here in New York City"

williamsburg falls
williamsburgville
williamsburgland
williamsburg rock
williamsburg 'r us

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 7:44 PM

I used to live in Williamsburg and reluctantly moved in with my girlfriend in Park Slope two years ago.

I really thought I was going to dislike it, but honestly...I like it so much more than I ever thought I would...I'd almost say I love it now.

I rarely have an interest in going back to Williamsburg anymore. It's kinda like a transitional area where you move right out of college and then move on when you grow up and realize that there is more to life than trying to fit in.

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 10:46 PM

7:44- your exactly right. williamsburg is boston in NYC. an area with no diversity at all

Posted by: guest at May 9, 2008 11:03 PM

give us a break here joker man

Posted by: guest at May 10, 2008 12:33 AM

11:37- NO your wrong. When I lived in williamsburg back in 95-97 there was a huge hispanic population. Nice try but not anymore. Greenpoint is NOT Williamsburg smart one. Nice try once again. You are completely delusional if you think Williamsburg is :incredibly diverse". It is also NOT a working class population. It's almost all yuppies. It is white as a ghost.

Posted by: guest at May 10, 2008 1:19 AM

williamsburg is a snoozefest

it seems pretty played out to me. i don't really hear about anyone under 24 interested in moving there these days.

the place has become like what walt disney would have created for a set of a "city" in disneyland...you know to make it look ugly and "gritty"

Posted by: guest at May 10, 2008 10:26 PM

Boropark is where all the cool kids are.

Posted by: guest at May 11, 2008 10:04 AM

Gravesends, Baby, Gravesend!

Posted by: guest at May 11, 2008 5:15 PM

HAHAHAHAHA...

I don't want gentrification, but I want clothing stores and gourmet markets. But really, I don't want gentrification! But a cinema would also be nice as long as it plays obscure indie directors and old Godard movies and has a Cremaster film festival every year and wasn't that Miranda July film just so great? But really, I hate those gentrifiers! And no way do we need any more bars because we already have plenty and I hate warehouses, except of course if they can be converted into cool beerhalls and maybe an arthouse cinema and maybe some more stores where I can supplement my collection of vintage and American Apparel hoodies (because I am also a FASHION FREAK) and oh wait I already said that about the cinema.

But dude, I HATE gentrifiers. They are so lame and push out the local culture like that polish diner on Bedford. Aren't pierogis so good when you wake up with a hangover and you can't be bothered to even go all the way to Marlow for a cappuccino and one of those wicked cheese scones - they're only $6!

But yeah, I think gentrification is lame. Don't you?

Posted by: guest at May 13, 2008 10:35 PM