Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Williamsburg

Perfecting a Brooklyn/Manhattan bike route

mhz — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:24:00 -0800

BrooklynBikeRouteFilter: Please help me map the best route to/from Brooklyn/Manhattan by bike. I'm trying to start riding to/from work every day. My route starts at Eastern Parkway and Rogers in Brooklyn, and ends at Broadway and Astor Place in Manhattan.

Ridethecity is giving me directions which I'm not entirely comfortable with [I've never ridden on, and so want to avoid, the Williamsburg Bridge,] so I'm looking for a better route. It seems to prefer the Williamsburg Bridge over the Manhattan Bridge because of the routes in Manhattan, but NYC Bike Maps seems to have a more updated version which includes Lafayette and Chrystie Streets with bike lanes.

So once in Manhattan it seems like Chrystie>Grand>Lafayette>Astor would work.

But what about in Brooklyn? I used to ride Flatbush Avenue… I'm not crazy about that. Neither Ridethecity nor NYC Bike Maps show Washington Avenue as having a bike lane, but I'm fairly certain it does. If so, then the most direct route would seem to be Eastern Pkwy>Washington>Bergen, but then what? (I can also get onto Bergen from Bedford if I'm wrong about Washington Ave.) From Bergen Street, what's the best route to the Manhattan bridge?

As for the way back…

Ridethecity tells me to go down to Grand>Chrystie>Canal to the bridge. Is Broadway better of worse than Mercer to get down to Grand? Is there a a better route altogether?

And once I'm back in Brooklyn, what's the best route to get back to Eastern Parkway? Is it Jay>Myrtle>Washington/Bergen?

Thanks!

Cleaning service in Brooklyn?

chinese_fashion — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:53:22 -0800

Can any of you recommend a good, reliable cleaning service in Williamsburg/Brooklyn? I share an apartment with a patient, understanding, laid-back guy. He's messy, but I'm a total slob. Lately, he's been tightening up on the cleaning, spurred on by his boyfriend. And I'm having guilt about this -- but am utterly incapable of keeping up. I'm rarely home and when I am, I don't want to spend that time cleaning. I just got a large raise, and I promised to cover maid service costs ... but am not sure where to start. We both rely on our computers and cameras, and I am a little gunshy about getting my laptop jacked, etc.

Can any of you recommend either a good, reputable service that will come to Williamsburg, Brooklyn -- or an independent person? Any cost guidelines, expectations are much appreciated as well.

Thanks!

Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginny

Miko — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:32:02 -0800

A passel of museum geeks is headed to Virginia. Can you help us plan the trip? Every year or so I take a road trip with some colleagues who work in history museums. This year we'd like to visit Williamsburg, the Jamestown sites, and the Mariners Museum. We will have three days to visit everything, and we generally run a pretty tight schedule. We try to plan most things ahead.

I'm writing to ask the following questions:
a - your tips for cheap accommodations near any of those locations?
b - your tips for eateries near any of those? Bonus points for regional specialities and unique places
c - any other things in the region not to miss?
d - any contacts or meetup possibilities at or near those institutions?

Thanks for any help you can give! Our DC trip worked out really well thanks to similar hints.

Williamsburg, VA

jdl — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:19:14 -0800

I'm looking for recommendations for the Williamsburg, VA area--things to see and do (historical is fine, but also are there any non historical things to do?) and places to eat. Searching online for this only turns up endless Colonial Williamsburg information. While I would like to know what historical parts are worthwhile, I'm also wondering where the people who actually live around there go (and eat).

I'll be flying into Richmond, but staying in Williamsburg and while I'll be working while I'm there--I'll be able to check out some of the area. Hopefully including Jamestown, Norfolk, and possibly Portsmouth. Thanks for any tips.

Where is Safe, Affordable Housing in Brooklyn?

chinese_fashion — Thu, 24 May 2007 08:38:11 -0800

I need to find an apartment in New York City, quickly, moving from Adams-Morgan in DC. I am looking to live in Brooklyn somewhere, maybe along the L train or the J/M/Z. Apart from Williamsburg hipster haven, can any of you recommend areas that are some combination of affordable and safe? I'd prefer to live alone, but will consider roommates, if that helps.

Any suggestions on apartment hunting in NYC in general are much appreciated as well.

Williamsburg VA

Classic Diner — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 10:43:46 -0800

The partner and I are going to Williamsburg, VA this weekend (Oct 26-30). What is so amazing (particularly delicious) that if we miss it, we will weep over the omission.

I'm taking my parents out do dinner in Williamsburg Brooklyn! But where?

lucidreamstate — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:00:33 -0800

Folks are coming to visit from out of town and we'll be in Williamsburg, Brooklyn on Saturday night. Where should we take them for dinner? A nice place where our parents from the midwest will feel comfortable. Good food and relaxed atmostphere. I'd like to show them the neighborhood a little bit, but I don't want to subject them to non-stop "Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah" during the meal.

Where do hipsters take their parents when they come to visit? Do hipsters even have parents? Or are they born fully grown in small pods buried beneath the Sea (the Thai restaurant)?

Lux et Veritas : Can my apartment windows be blocked over?

Skygazer — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 11:34:05 -0800

Looks like the one story warehouse next door has been put up FOR SALE. Problem is that if a building goes up in its stead, two of my windows will be covered over. Do I have any rights or say in the matter? I rent an apartment on the top story of a three story tenement in East Williamsburg Brooklyn. The property line is flush with the warehouse. I do have other windows other then the two in question. The NYC Dept. Of Buildings website has nothing about what a friend has termed "air rights" or "sightline" issues. Am I screwed? After 10 years making this neighborhood a real home have the wolves of the rapacious and brutish Real Estate industry arrived at my doorstep to entomb me w/o proper natural light? Any advice would helpful. Thank you.

Williamsburg VA Vacation Ideas

quibx — Mon, 23 May 2005 10:08:55 -0800

The family and I are planning a vacation in Williamsburg VA, in August. We know all about Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, and Water Country. We need ideas for low-cost, off the beaten track, and generally neat things to do. Here are the details: We'll be in VA August 13-20. Kids are 9,7,3 and 9 months. We like History, flea markets, museums, exploring. We love the beach, festivals, carnivals, fairs; things like that. Figure we're willing to travel about an hour from Williamsburg at most. Also, any hints to cheaper admission to any of the above parks would be appreciated.