In recent years, a lot of hipsters, alternative types, creatives and young professionals have moved into the area, giving it a very random and exciting vibe. As I mentioned in my New York Food Guide, there is a real push in New York towards locally sourced and produced food, and that is very evident in Brooklyn, with a lot of the stuff coming from here. Along with food, there are also lots of independent clothing stores and all kinds of other stores. There is something new and interesting to explore on almost every street including.
Heading north, you can go east into Bedford-Stuyvesant, which is another area that is gentrifying – as Williamsburg becomes too expensive, the gentrification spreads to previously untouched areas.
