HATS OFF TO YOU, HUMPHREY

Guys, I’ve been doing it all wrong.

And I feel comfortable admitting that whole-heartedly.

Since arriving in New York, most weekends I tend to stay within the walls of the concrete jungle. And each weekend that I do stay in the city, I tend to find myself on an uptown subway into Manhattan.

Until last weekend.

Summer showed up like an ex-boyfriend begging for forgiveness at your doorstep, at 3:00 AM. Without warning, full of promises, and when you are at your most vulnerable. I mean let’s be honest, spring ghosted us this year. And we are all ready to upgrade from winter. So we welcome summer, despite it’s unexpected and ubrupt entrance back into our lives.

I had promised myself that come summer, I would truly make an effort to explore more of my own backyard here in Brooklyn. And now I’m extremely embarrassed it’s taken me almost six months to fall head over heels in love with the borough.

More specifically, Williamsburg.

There is a reason this place is just as expensive to reside in as Manhattan.

This weekend, I checked off one of my Brooklyn bucket list items: Smorgasburg.

Essentially, this is a huge food market with over 100 vendors, perfectly located on the East River. The views and atmosphere are unparalleled. Sitting on the rocks along the river, in 85 degree weather, drinking lemonade, with the entire Manhattan skyline in front of me reminded me just how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place.

I complain too often to live somewhere as magical as New York City. Again, it’s a love hate thing.

But with Brooklyn, it’s all love.

95% of the reason behind this is because Chris Brown is played on repeat in every Starbucks, in every vehicle driving up or down my street, and through the headphones of every person on the subways. Okay, so maybe not 95% of the reason, but I must say I do feel quite in my element knowing I am surrounded by Breezy fans here in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn is special. It’s diverse. It’s charming, yet raw. It’s rough, but welcoming. It’s a conundrum in itself.

And my visit to Williamsburg this weekend completely took my breath away. With the most unique bars, sustainable practices, and natural, organic clothing and beauty stores. At least two streets were completely blocked off for flea markets. And the street art, something Brooklyn is known for, was incredible. I have a feeling I won’t be as frequent a visitor in Manhattan come these summer weekends know that I’m aware of what lies right beneath my nose. And now that I have fellow Brooklynites to join in my festivities this side of the river.

Following Smorgasburg in Williamsburg, I attended the same food market held in Prospect Park {my hood} the very next day. This time I dragged Sarah and Niki in 90 degree heat to share in my new found love of street food and lemonade.

And of course, no weekend would be complete without a visit to my favorite location in New York City: Brooklyn Bridge. I have lost count of the amount of times I have walked across this stunner. Seriously. But this was the first time I was able to catch the sunset, and it was utter perfection.

Overall, Brooklyn is where it’s at.

Forget the $20 cocktails, the blowouts and perfectly manicured fingers and toes, and chaos Manhattanites carry with them on a daily basis.  I already know I would crumble under the pressures of that lifestyle. Working in the world of finance in Manhattan is enough of a taste for me to say, ‘thanks, but no thanks’.

Dan Humphrey knew what he was talking about when it came to Brooklyn. Hats off to you, Dan.