I stayed in the hipster area of Williamsburg. It was a good place for a tourist. It's easy to make fun of hipsters, but when they aren't drinking PBR, they do support some tasty restaurants. While I was in the area, I played a game in the Brooklyn Museum and some not-so-gamey stuff, too.
When staying among hipsters, keep in mind: Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is so mainstream; I walked across the Williamsburg Bridge instead (you've probably never heard of it). Along the way, I wanted to photograph a factory with neat-o covered conveyor belts, but a painted box was in the way. Then I noticed that the box was kind of neat-o, too.
(Later on, I figured out the factory was Domino sugar, which I also photographed from the boat tour.)
There was graffiti by Space Invader and others. The Journal was a small gallery associated with some local rag (or maybe it was the other way around); they were showing paintings by a few folks, including one by Tauba Auerbach. L.A. Burrito's mural outside depicted S.F.; the burrito I had there was mediocre. Zebulon was a good bar for conversation; my cousin Eric knew about it, though he's not a $&#*ing hipster. On my previous visit, 'Shreck had brought me to Spoonbill & Sugartown Books; it was still there this time. Wild Ginger had tasty veggie food. I stayed at the Hotel Le Jolie; I liked it fine; I wish I'd asked them to keep an eye out for packages.
OK, The Pratt Institute isn't exactly in Williamsburg, but in a nearby part of Brooklyn. But I visited it and I'm putting my photos onto this here same page anyhow.
The Pratt Institute has got stuff for art nerds, history-of-technology nerds, and library nerds. It's an art school, and thus has surplus art strewn about the grounds. "Pratt boasts the oldest continuously-operating, privately-owned, steam-powered electrical generating plant in the country." Its library stacks have deco shelves designed by Tiffany and glass floors. There are tours for prospective students, but well-mannered tourists can tag along.
Strangely, though it's an art school, its library carts are undecorated. I was disappointed not to get some new entries for my decorated library carts page.
The Brooklyn Library isn't in Williamsburg, either.
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