Rolling, Williamsburg-Style

You may be in Brooklyn once you cross the Williamsburg Bridge from Clinton and Delancey to South 4th and Bedford, but this isn't kid-obsessed Park Slope, at least when it comes to the transport. Yesterday I happened past this Mini Cooper with its Austin Powers roof and one of the most hilarious personalized plates I've seen: "Diet SUV." Oh yeah, baby.

Calling all Renegade Crafters

McCarren Park in Williamsburg is a live manifestation of Etsy.com this weekend. If you missed the first day (today), you've still got all of tomorrow to catch up on some crafty finds.

Here, some items that made me smile.

1. Onesies by neighborhood. Babes who hail from the Jersey Shore, don't need to wait until they can walk to get ripped.

While Williamsburg tots get instant hipster mustache-cred. Go to www.handsomehoward.com for more info.

2. I have a serious soft spot for homemade dolls, especially when they come in all the same colors as real little girls.


4. Inknjoy's animated bracelets are so cute, I vote for an armful of friends who all look like they'd get on well with Daria.

Chocolate Secret

If you're as obsessed with Mast Brother's chocolate as I am -- especially the dark chocolate with almonds, sea salt and olive oil -- you'll be glad to know that you can get a slab for just $7 direct from the factory. Two blocks away, at the Bedford Cheese Shop on Bedford Avenue, they retail for $8. And at Wholefoods and Dean & Deluca you'll pay a whopping $9.

Mast Brother's Chocolate Factory
105 North 3rd Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211-3927, United States
(718) 388-2625

Funky Chairs

I stumbled on a literal treasure chest of reupholstered furniture in Williamsburg this afternoon. Funkiture by Caitlin Conlow has beautiful second hand and antique chairs covered in Congolese fabric, starting at around $100. Also on offer, an apple green Art Deco writing desk, peacock feathers for $2.95 each, and fabulous striped scatter cushions.

Funkiture
94 South 1st Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
347.400.3172

Shag-adelic Shopping

On a corner on Roebling Street in Williamsburg you'll find a quirky erotica store called Shag Brooklyn. No, it's not owned by Austin Powers (as far as we know), but it is our new number one place to purchase "French Titties" -- glittering nipple caps usually worn by Burlesque dancers. Shag also has a large and equally titillating selection of adult toys and a fabulous collection of funny, sexy $4 cards. Take a look at it all at www.weloveshag.com or head to 108 Roebling Street.

Just Swell

Williamsburg may seem like an odd location for a surf shop, but when you think of all the headquarters for other subcultures (like Earwax which is packed with young folk obsessed with vinyls), it starts to make sense.
So...if you're looking for a long board or a pair of cute board shorts, some surfer-art photography or DVDs of the best places to catch waves, Mollusk Surf Shop is the spot. Plus it offers excellent people watching. Just don't think you'll be able to grab your board and a tin of sex wax and hit the water.


210 Kent Avenue
Brooklyn
New York 11211
718) 218-7456