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Welcome to Drunk Shopping! Our new feature celebrates the time-honored tradition of getting totally wasted while the sun's still shining before buying a bunch of debatably useful stuff that the sober you would be too timid or too restrained to take home. Each Friday we'll cobble together a new itinerary starting you off with a boozy Saturday or Sunday brunch before meandering through a few neighboring retailers and happy hours notable for seasonal specials, limited time availability, fantastic deals, recent openings, or new shipments.
The weekend is upon us! And this particular week brings us that most enjoyable of New York City months: May. So let's celebrate the best way we know how—by housing booze, buying stuff and getting some sun. This Drunk Shopping we're heading back to Williamsburg as the seven-years-young DIY extravaganza that is Artists & Fleas moves outside for their Saturdays of summer residency. (Don't worry if you're planning your drunk wandering for Sunday—they're in place both days at their usual N. 6th Street digs). Let's start by treating our bodies right (because we'll be destroying them soon enough). Bedford Avenue's Ella serves a scrumptious, natural comfort brunch—organic coffee, an organic breakfast sandwich, and organic home fries for around $10. Then move on because your liver is thirsty.
If you're biting the bullet and embracing that whole clog trend you might as well order custom ones, right? Head northeast one block up Bedford to Jumelle and select one of seemingly a thousand options by the Dutch clog-makers at Sven. (They're like No. 6, but so much less expensive!) You haven't had a sip yet so you're at no real risk of ordering a pink patent pair (or wondering how you ended up with a bag of clogs if you'd rather just pass). But that's about to change! Across the street is Turkey's Nest. One of Williamsburg's finest dives, the place serves frosty frozen margaritas and domestic drafts in a Styrofoam cup the size of your head for a pittance. Go large and, if you want, go on (it's unlikely anyone will stop you from leaving with it).
You're watered, and you're facing McCarren Park. Walk the runway, check out what the locals are wearing (you'll either be wearing it or constantly making fun of it in a month) and browse the Artists & Fleas stalls. Several screened tees and pieces of jewelry later, you'll be at the other end of the park and ready to head north on to Manhattan Avenue into Greenpoint. At Meserole, pop into Old Hollywood—this sliver of a shop is dedicated to all sorts of vintage, independent designer fashion, and unique bits of both high-end and lower-end jewelry (look for new arrivals from designers like Kim Lyons). It's about to open a satellite location in the oft-delayed Limelight Marketplace.
Next continue up Manhattan to Green and hang a left. At Franklin Street you'll find T.B.D. You'll also find that your Styrofoam cup is, sadly, empty. Duck in for $5 microbrews and a bathroom break. You'll want to skip the very out-of-place lounge-like interior in favor of the massive, picnic table-equipped back yard, though. But try not to dawdle, Alter is a few blocks south. Greenpoint's ground zero for usually affordable hipster-wear is actually two separate shops. The menswear space is across the street from the female collections, so split up before perusing brand new shipments of Cheap Monday and Freddie Rojas as well as marked-down footwear by Jeffrey Campbell.
Continue south on Franklin and veer right as it turns into Kent. At N. 6th Street walk away from the river and hit up Meg and Jane's Closet. Meg is brand new and home to Meghan Kinney's eponymous collection of flattering womenswear. Jane's Closet opened as a pop-up but signed on to stay; go for flirty, hyper-feminine designer duds. You're right there, as is Artists & Fleas permanent home—take a lap.
Finally, head to N. 4th Street—Kingdom is open! Browse streetwear by Brooklyn Royalty and drink more. This shop is a bar! Or this bar is a store! Or, whatever, something, we don't know—another round, please.
Enjoy! And please do share your Drunk Shopping tips, tales, and war stories in the comments!
· Custom Clogs Mean You Won't See Your Shoes Coming and Going [Racked NY]
· Artists & Fleas [Official Site]
· Old Hollywood [Official Site]
· Alter [Official Site]
· Update: Why the East Village's Meg is Expanding to Williamsburg [Racked NY]
· Jane's Closet Goes From Pop-up to Permanent in Williamsburg [Racked NY]
· Storecasting: Kingdom [Racked NY]
· Drunk Shopping [Racked NY]
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