Bburg: Not Just for [American] Hipsters Anymore
If you thought the main populations of Williamsburg were Polish-American and hipster, you’re wrong. New Western Europeans have invaded the neighborhood — that’s right, it’s been “Europeanized” — and some businesses cater to the distinctive nationalities now maintaining a presence there. “The French stake out the terrace of Fabian’s Cafe, the Brits convene at the…
If you thought the main populations of Williamsburg were Polish-American and hipster, you’re wrong. New Western Europeans have invaded the neighborhood — that’s right, it’s been “Europeanized” — and some businesses cater to the distinctive nationalities now maintaining a presence there. “The French stake out the terrace of Fabian’s Cafe, the Brits convene at the Spike Hill Bar & Grill to watch Manchester United soccer matches, and the Swedish parents meet at one another’s apartments for a coffee-and-buns break called ‘fika,'” writes the NY Times. The weak dollar surely helped encourage the demographic shift, but if in some parts of the city Europeans were purchasing second homes, in Williamsburg they’re actually settling in for the long haul. “Other neighborhoods that have been reshaped by the condo boom of recent years have also seen influxes of foreign buyers investing their yen, pounds and euros in real estate. But the trend has been most visible in Williamsburg, where the newcomers are establishing deeper roots and are not simply looking for weekend pieds-Ã -terre or investment properties.” Why Bburg? Cheaper, and more like home — easy to find European specialties like HobNobs or find a spot to watch Football… the European kind. “They say they like its cafes, its more muted displays of wealth (well, more muted than Manhattan’s) and an artistic vibe that reminds some of the Marais neighborhood in Paris, or Brighton, England.”
Old Europe and New Brooklyn in Williamsburg [NY Times]
Photo by galvarez51.
As I stated above, I have many friends moving from Brownstone Brooklyn to Williamsburg (all within the same age group as your friends) – so I’m not sure what point you are trying to make.
Never been a big fan of Beacon’s Closet (all their employees have attitudes, Williamsburg, Park Slope, Wicker Park/Bucktown in Chicago et all)
Big fan of the A.P.C. surplus store all the way over on Grand near the water.
I’m sure I could even recommend a bar you could tolerate and perhaps a restaurant if you gave me some guidelines!
I think your new year’s resolution should be to go to williamsburg at least once in 2009 with an open mind – you might enjoy yourself! 😉
This craiglist missed connection sums up Williamsburg pretty well…it’s actually hilarious.
***
You are the Prototype – m4w – 24 (7th & Bedford)
Me: Skinny jeans with patterned slip-ons. Shaggy brown hair, crusty mustache, over-sized headphones, a black and white plaid cloth scarf and an attitude.
You: Skinny jeans with black boots just past your ankles, brown straight hair with bangs, over-sized 80’s style glasses, bright red lip-stick, american apparel type blouse, over-sized headphones (around your neck).
I saw you loitering on bedford. You had headphones but you weren’t listening to any music. You never smiled, and I thought to myself, “wow, this is a girl like no other.â€
Then I looked to my left and saw 20 more of you. Then 70 or so bumped my shoulders on the street cause they weren’t paying attention to where they were going. Then 300 more poured out of the Music Hall. Just when I started to feel sad, I noticed about 2,000 of me standing around and then I thought, we’re both so totally and hopelessly unoriginal and fake we’d be perfect for one another.
Email me, we can pretend to talk about music we know absolutely nothing about then get drunk off of OE cause, you know, it’s fun to be white and pretend like you know shit about the ghetto. I know you’re out there, I’ll be waiting breathlessly by my MacBook Pro and Midi Keyboard for your email. In fact, I think I’ll go compose a wordless, electronic ballad while I wait. peace, chicken
I do LOVE the Beacon’s Closet in Williamsburg and have found many nice items of clothing there.
The people there are awful, however. Nasty and rude.
The few remaining friends I have in Williamsburg (I used to have many more, but they’ve all since left) are approaching their late 20’s and early 30’s and would describe Williamsburg just as I have above.
Not one of them wants to be there anymore. I’m currently helping 2 find places elsewhere in Brooklyn since they know I keep up with real estate, etc.
This is why Brooklyn is great – there are many different neighborhoods with different flavor, and we can all enjoy what each has to offer. If you can honestly write off a whole neighborhood and say there is nothing for you there to enjoy, then my response to you is you haven’t experienced it in it’s entirety.
i don’t understand why people are so territorial
and full of hatred when it comes to neighborhoods
everyone has there different tastes when it comes to home
i have lived in williamsburg for 14 years and i love it
yes it has changed over the years but thats been a good thing
there is less crime now, and the restaurants are great
the parks, the farmers markets, and proximity to nyc
best of all it feels like a small town
i walk down the street and i know many people
there is a feeling of community here
most of my friends live here within a few blocks
and i have to say they are a very diverse group
and not a hipster among them that everyone rants about
i love other neighborhoods in the city too
people should get off their competitive neighborhood soap boxes
i know we are all proud of where we come from
but why get so negative
why not feel good about being part of a great borough in a great city!!! and enjoy this place!!!!
I am constantly overhearing people speaking French in Williamsburg and Bushwick and marveled that tourists would travel so far out in Brooklyn. I have also been wondering for years who buys the condos around the park — other than parents of NYU students. This article seems to have solved both mysteries. Williamsburg is no longer a quiet village of musicians and creative directors, but it does have wonderful restaurants. I wouldn’t want to live there, but I love to visit.
“A sign of someone who’s really into himself. Very much like every person I’ve met who lives in Williamsburg.”
I don’t know where to start – should i feel insulted?
Williamsburg was cool more than 12 years ago. When it was still a ‘gritty’ neighborhood with struggling artists, some squatting in buildings with out running water. They’d get together at the local coffee shop and talk about art and how they’re going to try to sell their work, so they can have dinner for the next month. I used to hang out there with an artist friend of mine. Now I won’t go into the neighborhood because it’s become to superficial.
Soho got destroyed a long time ago with the commercialization and now Willimasburg with the invasion of posers. Hip it ain’t.
11217:
Every time I read your posts, whether they involve your idealized vision of Park Slope or your dystopian rants against Williamsburg, I just can’t help but think what it must be like for someone to live in this fantastical world of imaginary extremes.
You despise almost everyone you’ve ever met in Williamsburg? That is just crazy talk. Seriously, how can you NOT have friends there?
I was just at a party with some London friends this past weekend. They are always a blast. They love Williamsburg because it is NOT like Europe. Park Slope, for all its beauty, is very much an odd European museum that is all too familiar to the people of the old continent.
It’s fine if you love Park Slope, but sheesh – calm down about Williamsburg already!