Williamsburg Bridge
I'm not sure exactly when I became a bridge person, but it would seem from my recent need to walk over them (or beneath them, or near them) that that is what I have become. It started with the Brooklyn Bridge (blame Sophie's Choice?), which I still maintain is my favorite and the most magical. I've walked it three times during the day and twice at night. Then I walked the Manhattan, which is grittier, less crowded and all-around more terrifying than the Brooklyn.
On Sunday, I decided to finish off the trio of Manhattan-Brooklyn bridges by walking the Williamsburg. If we're comparing, I would say that the Williamsburg falls somewhere in the middle of the two others (geographically it's north). It has the grit and rumble of the Manhattan — graffiti covered walkways, a subway train running down the middle — but is a much more pleasant walk. It has separate pathways for bikes and pedestrians, which is something the Brooklyn is sorely lacking. This makes for a much more leisurely stroll, although the views of Manhattan are to be had mostly from the bike (north) side of the bridge.
It was almost unbearably hot when I first started out, but once I was over the actual water it was shady and breezy. Maybe because it was so hot, or maybe hipsters are lazy on Sunday, but it wasn't crowded at all (and not in a rapey-way like the Manhattan).
It also felt like a longer walk than the other two, a fact confirmed when I looked up the total lengths of each bridge (1.38 mi vs. the 1.13 mi Brooklyn, and 1.29 mi Manhattan).
Once in Williamsburg, I decided to stick to the waterfront for a while and visited both Grand Ferry and East River State parks. Grand Ferry was a nice little surprise, and a great shady spot to cool off by the river.
I have only been to Williamsburg a few times, and I've never really explored much of the neighborhood. I'm not nearly cool enough to even think of trying to fit in there, but I was surprised at how not annoying and actually authentic the waterfront area felt. Apparently there are huge plans to redo the Domino Sugar Refinery complex into something new and expensive-looking, but for now the old factory is still just sitting there looking cool and abandoned.
Better views can be had from the East River State park, but there was hardly any shade so I didn't linger too long after snapping some photos (because I don't have enough photos of every angle of the NY skyline).
I then headed in the direction of the Bedford Ave L, stopping at McCarren Park (meh) and a few hipstery (how many times can I use that word!) shops. I wasn't starving, but I saw a Meatball Shop and had heard good things, so I stopped in and ordered their signature "naked balls (photographic proof below that that is their actual name, also $7.62 for dinner is pretty awesome for New York).
I chose chicken because they were the only gluten-free option (I didn't touch that bread, I swear), and they were incredible. I don't know that I've ever ordered meatballs at a restaurant before, and I've certainly never eaten a meal consisting of just that, but I highly recommend giving them a try.
There are a few more locations around the city, and I need to go back and try their ice cream sandwiches, but I wasn't at all hungry after the meatballs.
It also seems worth nothing that the Bedford Ave L station has been the coolest (temperature-wise) subway station I've been in since it decided to be a thousand million degrees outside. It actually felt air-conditioned, which I have no way of knowing (or caring) if that's true, but if that's what being a hipster (3!) feels like, then sign me up.