Starting off my weekend with an intense spinning class at Soul Cycle? That’s pretty standard. Starting off my weekend biking over the Williamsburg Bridge to Brooklyn with my friend Tom for the day? Those are words I never believed would come out of this Southern Belle’s lip-venomed lips. But they officially did just a few weekends back!
Luckily Tom had an extra bike and helmet for me to wear, and I geared up in a cute Lulu Lemon outfit and went for it. Facing blisteringly cold and strong winds, swerving taxi drivers, and pedestrians we finally made it to the bridge. No going back now. I kept telling myself, “just pedal harder,” and trust me it was worth the extra push. Once you reach the decline of the Williamsburg Bridge with fresh air racing onto your face, I can guarantee that you will have a smile as wide as I had at my Syracuse University graduation.
Williamsburg is such a quiet and artistic neighborhood filled of boutiques, delicious foods, and hip people. When you walk into the various shops there, you are overwhelmed with a different vibe from the people who work inside. There is such a desire in their eyes to sell products they are truly passionate about, which usually isn’t the same feeling you get in larger cities with salespeople working on commission.
I had such a lovely time spending the day there, biking around, and grabbing some food that made me feel close to home. Here are my top picks to check out if you feel inspired to go on a bike ride to the other side!
I love finding little shops filled with interesting antique-like pieces. This store, which has been opened for over 15 years, continues to satisfy their customers with historic trinkets from various auctions as well as customized products made in their workshop directly across the street.
Now I usually just stick to Hanky Panky or Cosabella when it comes to lingerie, but this shop definitely helps you bring out your inner ‘fox’ (the name of this place is quite suiting). The boutique is filled of various lingerie brands and products, but my favorite pieces were their luxurious nightgowns. I indulged and got a beautiful gown by Christine Vancouver – the texture was so delicate and fabulous I couldn’t resist!
When you walk into this cheese shop, you are immediately filled with an aroma that will literally take your breath away. Obviously known for their amazing cheese collection, this shop also allows you to pick up various meats, olive oils, etc. in one stop. I personally love getting their extraordinary creamy cheeses to use as appetizers for dinner parties (most recently for a girls dinner I hosted), and trust me it is worth it to hop on the L line and subway it straight to this place! Luckily, they are opening a new location in the city in the near future…phew!
Being a Stumptown Coffee regular on 29th Street, I was always curious where the Mast Brother’s chocolates sitting on their counter were made. It turns out just a few short blocks from the Bedford Cheese Shop is where all of the magic is created. Perfect for a hostess gift or a personal indulgence, the eclectic chocolate selections will satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth. There are a variety of flavors, including Stumptown Coffee’s coffee beans thrown into the chocolate mixture, but my favorite is the dark chocolate with sea salt and almonds. If you crunch them into small pieces and put them onto a plate before your next dinner party, they accent the cheese appetizers from Bedford Cheese Shop just perfectly. Yum…!
5. Fette Sau
Being a Southern girl, I am a huge critic of BBQ. Huge. In particular for pulled pork. My friend, Tom, suggested this joint as an early dinner and honestly I was a bit hesitant walking down the narrow stoned alley. Well, at least until the smell of fresh pork belly, baked beans, and pure barbecue smoke drifted my way. We went right before 5pm and there was already a line of locals and loyal customers from the surrounding area waiting with anticipation. The wait was well worth it, and I would go back to this place in a heartbeat.
Hated it!
This was the ideal spot to end our day in Brooklyn. Full bellies. Satisfied. Complemented nicely with a gorgeous sunset while heading back into the city.
I cannot wait to purchase a retro bike for the summer (maybe like this one!)…the thought of biking down the Hudson river to the High Line, and grabbing dinner at Pearl Oyster Bar on Cornelia Street on a warm night sounds so fabulous!
One Comment