janette

A friend and I are spending 6 days in New York City in May and would like to spend a day or part of one of the days in Brooklyn. I was thinking of making a dinner reservation at the Miss Williamsburg Diner (reviews would be appreciated) and was wondering if it would be worthwhile to spend the afternoon in Williamsburg - shopping, etc. I can't seem to find much info about that area. We're 40ish women and would be interested in any type of fun shopping near that area. Prior to walking across the Bridge to Brooklyn we are planning to check out Century 21 and Loftworks. Many thanks for any suggestions you can give.

missjanna

Should probably let you know that you can't reach Williamsburg by foot from the Brooklyn Bridge, unless you really want to take a long walk! You can, however take the B61 from near the bottom of the bridge into Williamsburg.

The main shopping street in Williamsburg is Bedford Avenue, which is accessible from the L train. It's mainly an up and coming artsy area, so you will find a lot of antique clothing stores, shops selling funky jewelry and knick knacks, and lounges and plenty of ethnic restaurants. The area is still somewhat spanish from before the gentrification started, so you will find a lot of spanish restaurants along with more cafes and vegetarian places. Sorry, I've never been to the Miss Williamsburg Diner, so can't comment on it.

If you want more info, you can check out this link:
http://www.timeoutny.com/features/22...liamsburg.html

mp

You might also try to get a copy of the March Gourmet Magazine, which is all about New York and has features on Williamsburg, The Meatpacking district and other neighborhoods.

QC

You should be aware that the majority of shopping and restaurants in Williamsburg cater to the 25-year-old with a trust fund. This may be appealing, or not.

You CAN walk across the Williamsburg bridge, but this is strongly not recommended. It's somewhat secluded. Take the "L" train to Bedford Avenue.

There are a lot of good restaurants in the area. I particularly like Diner (American, 85 Broadway), which is near the world-famous Peter Luger (Steak, 178 Broadway- CASH ONLY). I also like Planet Thailand (141 North 7th Street), they have a huge menu and it's very cheap.

The Miss Williamsburg: I have eaten there several times, and have found it a little uneven. Breakfast is your best bet, it's almost always a twist on the traditional 'big breakfast'. The fries are exceptional (they give you french fries, not home fries). It's a good value for the money in the neighborhood. Be aware it's a little off the beaten path- it's in a warehouse area so don't worry you are lost as you make your way towards it. I never reserved, I just showed up at opening. There is outdoor seating, too.

janette

Thanks so much for the info. I'm thinking we should maybe spend less time in Williamsburg than we had originally planned but am still looking forward to my first visit to Brooklyn. I've fallen madly in love with NYC since my first visit in 2001 and have returned whenever I've had a chance. It will be fun to venture outside Manhattan for the first time. Thanks for the Williamsburg link missjanna - I'm going to check that out. And also thanks for the directions. Thanks MP for the Gourmet Mag info - a friend of mine subscribes so I should be able to borrow her March issue. QC - thanks to you too. The CitySearch post for the Miss Williamsburg Diner lists it as being open only for dinner - 6pm to 11pm. Is the breakfast opening a seasonal thing? Or maybe it was just an error on CitySearch's part.