Williamsburg

Character: Running along the waterfront area of Brooklyn just east of 14th street in Manhattan is Williamsburg. Once an inexpensive artists area, full of illegal lofts and warehouse spaces, Williamsburg has become the artist/hipster mecca - and much more expensive than its former "starving artist" residents could possibly afford.

Home of many art galleries and artist studios, Williamsburg has a truly creative vibe. The main drag of Bedford Avenue is buzzing at all hours with fashionable artsy folk, mostly in their 20s-30s with the occasional artsy family.

Many boutiques sell one-of-a-kind artist's wares, and the bars and clubs provide a variety of genres and events at a much cheaper cost than those in Manhattan. The restaurants are great, ranging from Polish fare from neighboring Greenpoint, to vegetarian friendly to asian, with many outdoor cafés as they have the space for it.

The area is somewhat gritty, being largely converted from crude warehouses - don't expect a lot of trees or vegetation. Some love it and rarely leave the area to socialize, finding everything they need in the area, while others finding the constant buzz and fashion show to be too much pressure. The recent popularization of the area has attracted the “yuppy” crowd who are beginning to trickle in.