An Easy-Going Saturday in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Plus, answering a question from a reader re: what to wear in winter
Once a thriving industrial waterfront district, Williamsburg has undergone a significant transformation in the past decade. The vacant warehouses and factories have since been converted into trendy art studios, endearing corner cafes, local shops, and chic restaurants, the area is a joy to explore.
I love spending time in the neighborhood (mostly because my favorite brewery is located along the waterfront), so we made plans to visit on Saturday. It’s been a while since we visited and it was nice to be back. Here’s a quick roundup of our day, enjoy!
We started the morning with coffee at Devocion
Drenched in sunlight, the Williamsburg outpost of Devocion coffee is the perfect way to kick off the day. This particular cafe churns out my favorite cappuccino in NYC, but every drink is top notch. Note: Be prepared for long lines on the weekends (the wait is worthwhile).
The baby woke up as we placed our order and you better believe we did the cliché new parent thing and snapped photos of her little hand holding coffee cups like a tiny adult. And yes, photos were promptly sent to family accompanied by cheesy captions, grandparents live for that, no?
Strolling the Williamsburg Waterfront
Properly caffinated, we made our way to the waterfront for a scenic (albeit chilly) stroll. The views of the skyline from Williamsburg are hard to beat! During our walk we came across a pop-up ice skating rink right under the bridge, I’m hoping it returns every winter because it looked like a blast. I can’t wait for the days when C. is old enough for that kind of stuff.
Brews at Other Half Brewing
Hailing from Portland, Oregon , I know my way around a good IPA. Thankfully, New Yorkers are spoiled for choice when it comes to beer. Will and I have spent many summer evenings catching up with friends at local breweries (I think we’ve tried more than 30 spots) and I can confidently say that Other Half Brewing is my favorite. I never pass on the chance to swing by for seasonal beers and award-winning staples. So good!
Ace’s Pizza for lunch
There’s a million reasons I love New York, cheif among them is having daily access to pizza. Ace’s has a soft spot in my heart, the deep dish pie is perfectly crisped at the edges and comes with a hearty serving of toppings. The best bite is a secret menu pie called Spicy Boy (every bite is perfection!).
How do I know? Well, New York’s premier pizza connesuier was leading a tour at the table next to us. I’ve never done a tour with Scott but hear good things and he seemed like a really nice guy (he was so kind to the waiter). I’d recommend the tour to any pizza nut visiting NYC.
After lunch the baby started to stir so we decided to head home. Had we not, the Brooklyn Brewery was next on our radar (home to the best non-alchoholic beer I had during my pregnancy!).
Question from a reader:
Q: I’m (finally!) visiting NYC for the holidays this year with my in-laws. We live in a mild climate and I’m nervous about the weather because we’ll be spending a lot of time outside. I’m curious, does the perfect winter coat exist? Please say yes.
A: Some context first, are you the type of person that packs a sweater for Hawaii and casually throws it on en route to the beach? If so, you’re speaking my language.
Winter is a hard season for me because I’m a total wimp when the temperatures dip. As such, my ideal winter jacket is nothing short of a down blanket with a belt strapped around the middle.
But alas, there are some unwritten rules in life, and one of those rules (surely) must be: don’t wear a blanket outside. So, I’ve resorted to conforming, and after a few years of trial and error, I wrote a guide on What to Pack for Winter in NYC (which includes a peak at the exact clothes I rely on to carry me through the season).
At the end of the day, my biggest advice is to get a coat that covers your bum to prevent the cold wind from blowing on your back. No need to purchase something new if you already have a coat you love!
Cheers!
Antonina
Definitely adding that pop-up ice rink to my list for next time I visit!