On a mission for some unusual fun in New York City? For an oddball day of fun, check out these quirky things to do in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
OddFellows Ice Cream
Address: 175 Kent Avenue
Like many Williamsburg establishments, OddFellows Ice Cream is focused on artisanal eats. Their small-batch homemade ice cream is crafted with hormone-free New York ingredients. What makes this a quirky stop isn’t necessarily the sustainable process by which it’s made, but the flavors: Tobacco Leaf-Smoked Chili Huckleberry, Chorizo Caramel Swirl, Beet Pistachio Honey Goat Cheese, and Grapefruit Jalapeno Sorbet, Strawberry Tomato Sorbet, Manchengo Pineapple with Thyme, Sesame Kumquat Pumpernickel, Miso Butterscotch Cherry and more. Those adventurous enough to try these unusual flavors are often pleasantly surprised by the tastiness of the innovative combinations.
City Reliquary
Address: 370 Metropolitan Avenue
New York City is full of prestigious museums housing important collections that showcase the city’s history. While the City Reliquary certainly features meaningful pieces of Big Apple heritage, it’s not the types of things you’d find at the New York Historical Society or the Museum of the City of New York. First there are innovative rotating exhibits like “Keep Your Eye On The Donut” — which looks at highlights in NYC’s donut history — and “Over Spilt Milk,” a showcase of pivotal milk moments and artifacts and stories of farmer struggles.
In the permanent collection, view pieces like L-train paint fragments, a “very old shovel,” horse bones, a decaying birthday cake, geological core samples, Statue of Liberty memorabilia, vintage signs, a burlesque booth, and other oddities and bits of “junk” that tell the story of New York City. Make sure to check their event calendar as there’s always something going on at this atypical establishment.
The Brick
Address: 579 Metropolitan Avenue
The Brick is not your usual theater. Featuring experimental shows, fringe-style performance and nerd humor, it’s home to the annual Clown Festival and Comic Book Theater Festival. Check their schedule to see what quirky events are on the calendar for when you’re in town, as there’s sure to be something you’ve never experienced.
Brooklyn Bowl
Address: 61 Wythe Avenue
The Brooklyn Bowl is where locals head when they want to see live up-and-coming musical talent for cheap; however, one can also experience the joy that is buzzed bowling. Drink Brooklyn-sourced beers and international wines and spirits while enjoying 16 lanes, concerts projected on big screens over the pins, a DJ on Saturday nights and a social atmosphere.
The Meat Hook
Address: 100 Frost Street
At The Meat Hook they don’t just sell sustainable farm-raised meats, they teach you how to cut them through a variety of butcher and cooking courses held in conjunction with the Brooklyn Kitchen. Some butcher classes offered include Knife Skills, Whole Fish Butchering, Pig Butchering and Knife Sharpening. If you’re more interested in the cooking side of things, some options include Thai Street Food, Advanced Cake Decorating, A Taste of Spain, Homemade Pizza with Roberta’s, Empanda and Handpie Making and the Art of Braising.
The Moon Show at Union Pool
Address: 484 Union Avenue
Sometimes this offbeat and hysterical variety show moves to other locations, but typically The Moon Show calls Union Pool home every third Tuesday at 8pm ($5). Expect everything from standup comedy to atypical dance ensembles to Lego animations to story pirates and much more.
Baked in Brooklyn
Address: 242 Wythe Avenue
Get in touch with your inner artist at Baked in Brooklyn, where you can choose from a variety of pottery and housewares (starting at $5), pay a studio fee of $9 and spend as long as you’d like painting and designing. They also host clay, painting and mosaic-making classes for children and adults. Bring a bottle of wine to enhance the fun and get your creative juices flowing.
Rockethub at Spike Hill
Address: 186 Bedford Avenue
Spike Hill hosts one of Brooklyn‘s most innovative open mic nights: The Rockethub Takeoff Tuesday. Every Tuesday from 6pm to midnight you’ll hear comedians, poetry, spoken word, live music and have the opportunity to shred on one of their beautiful Gibson guitars. Best of all, there’s no cover to enjoy this quirky night of fun.
Artists & Fleas
Address: 70 N. 7th street
This weekend artist, designer and vintage market sells eclectic goods and period clothing, with an endless supply of one-of-a-kind pieces, gawk-worthy fashions and unusual products. At Artists & Fleas you can purchase everything from whimsical women’s clothing to gold-gilded leaf necklaces to teeth grills to rings screaming c*nt to snarky handmade pouches and much, much more. Even if you’re not interested in shopping, it’s worth stopping in for an atypical browse.
Brooklyn Oenology
Address: 209 Wythe Avenue
Brooklyn Oenology is more than just a boutique winery, it’s a place to truly enjoy a taste of New York through artisanal eats, beers, wine, spirits and artwork. While wineries in the city aren’t unheard of — although they’re definitely not common — what makes Brooklyn Oenology different is the variety of local tastings you can enjoy all under one roof, from Long Island whites to Port Chester gin to Walton Absinthe to Coney Island beer. I recommend opting for one of their delicious pairings, like whiskey, pickles and beef jerky or wine with chocolate and charcuterie.
The Burger Guru
Address: 98 Berry Street
At The Burger Guru, carnivores can satiate their cravings with exotic meat burgers like Canadian bison, domestic organic ostrich, Texas antelope, house-blend spicy lamb or premium lump crab, to name a few patty options. All their meats are sustainably farmed for a healthy and filling meal.
Enhance the experience with one of their signature topping mixtures, like the “Williamsburger” with bourbon-sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions and roasted red peppers or the “Jalapeno Bacon Crisp” featuring domestic baby Swiss, green leaf lettuce, plum tomatoes and cream-cheese stuffed jalapenos wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon. Make sure to save room for an organic chocolate chip shake or banana brioche bread pudding.
Bedford Avenue
Address: Bedford Avenue
They didn’t make the website Halloween or Williasmburg for nothing! When all else fails in your quest for quirky Williamsburg, order a coffee made from ethically-sourced beans and sit outside for some people watching. The subculture fashions, thought-provoking tattoos and avant-garde hairdos are unlike anything you’ll find ANYWHERE else.
The post Ostrich Burgers, Chorizo Ice Cream And Rotting Cakes: Travel Guide To Quirky Williamsburg, Brooklyn appeared first on Jessie on a Journey.
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
