For the better part of the last century, Manhattan was the place to be. The creative center of the world, the borough was culturally (and perhaps emotionally) landlocked. Manhattanites used to balk at the idea of venturing beyond the island's 10-mile radius.
Brooklyn used to have all the cool-factor of New Jersey. To put the local sentiment into perspective, the term "bridge and tunnel crowd" was a label given to outer borough folks who tried to infiltrate Manhattan's exclusive club.
Today things are different. The perfect storm of economics, housing politics, and gentrification has shifted the cultural paradigm. Manhattan is out, Brooklyn is in.
While it may surprise you to discover that America's creative class now resides across the East River, Brooklyn is the new home of what's hip. Predictably, sometimes Brooklynites' adherence to trends has earned them "hipster" labels. Encompassing nearly 100 square miles with 2.5 million residents, it can be difficult to know where to start. And there are some strong opinions of the best places to visit in Brooklyn.
Luckily for you - we are part-time investigative journalists. We bleached our hair and grew mustaches to dive deep undercover within the hipster ranks. After our extensive reporting, we've compiled a list of local musts, offering you insight into Brooklyn's up-and-coming culture.
Coffee Uplifts People (Bedstuy)
Coffee is the Brooklynite/Hipster life fuel. They need it to survive, and it doesn't get cooler than Coffee Uplifts People. Founder Angela Yee (previously the host of hip-hop morning radio show The Breakfast Club) started the cafe to help diversify the coffee industry and give back to Black and minority communities.
Offering classic cups and specialty roasts including Honey Berry Mocha Java and brunch bites like Turkey Cheese Croissants, it's the perfect spot to savor a cup of joe. The coffee shop sits in Bedford-Stuyvesant (famously the birthplace of American rapper Notorious B.I.G.).
The Living Gallery (Bushwick)
The Living Gallery is a DIY artists' space that typifies the scene. Hosting an endless rotation of exhibitions, performances, anything really - the venue is a culmination of all that's good about Hipster culture. A personal favorite is their Drunk Drawing Wednesdays, a BYOB event in which you supply the booze, and they'll supply the art tools. A more cultural alternative to your Hump Day!
They've been around for years, but they haven't lost their edge. The space is well-known in the neighborhood because of its ever-changing mural. Every three months they enlist a local artist to redesign the gallery's exterior. Their events are almost always free, and the crowd is always dressed well and friendly. A must for anyone trying to understand what Brooklyn is all about.
The Cardi Lisa (Williamsburg)
Somewhat of an internet sensation (probably because it earned its famous subject's approval via Instagram), the Cardi Lisa is a local must. The walls of Brooklyn are covered in street art, but few are as memorable as the Cardi Lisa.
Funny, relevant, and just pretty darn cool, the wall-size mural is a modern revision of Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" but with New York rapper Cardi B's face superimposed on the classic figure. It stands next to a famous portrait of Biggie and is a several-foot high testament to the neighborhood's boundless creativity.
Wonderville (Bushwick)
Hipsters, like most 20-somethings, love to drink. But a simple, straightforward bar is too obvious for them. Enter Wonderville - a bar arcade featuring one-of-a-kind games designed by Brooklyn locals. Inhabiting the building that used to be legendary punk rock venue Secret Project Robot (a pivotal player in the late aughts American rock resurgence that gave us the Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs), this bar-cade has peak hipster vibes. They have a deadly house margarita and a spacious backyard patio. So grab a drink and pick a game, you're in for a good time!
Book Row (Bushwick)
Located within the Broadway Flea - a series of metal sheds that house different stores under the J train railway; a Mad Max take on a flea market - Book Row is a helplessly trendy bookstore. Despite most copies being used, the collection is surprisingly expansive, covering all kinds of genres ranging from nonfiction to current best sellers. Barnes & Nobles is too obvious for Hipster locals, Book Row is classic Bushwick.
For more things to do in and around Brooklyn and New York, check out our Things to Do hub.
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