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Shopping in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Shopping in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

A video tour of some of Williamsburg's best spots to shop.

Shopping in Williamsburg: A Slideshow TourLifestyle consultant and Out correspondent William Smolen takes us on a video tour of the tried-and-true spots to shop in the most boho of New York City?s burgs: Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Intrigued? There's more!

Click "Next" for contact details and more info on the stores, all an easy walk from the Bedford L-train subway stop.

And just who is William Smolen? Click here to find out how much he loves Billyburg and why he does what he does.


Moon River ChattelWhat Restoration Hardware wishes it could be

A must-stop Wild-West-meets-hipster-Brooklyn home store, the look of its offerings could easily be described as turn-of-the-century There Will Be Blood chic: one-of-a-kind tabletop items, porcelain dishes, old-timey hardware, slip-covered furniture, linen bedding, and books. Moon River Chattel sold Edison bulbs before they became ubiquitous, and they still find a way to make them look fresh and worthwhile. Across the street their warehouse sells architectural remnants from demolished buildings around the city. Pick through an ever-surprising selection of claw-foot bathtubs, full-sized taxidermy, old clocks, and other scavenged treasures.

Critic?s pick: Vintage toys that could easily belong to adopted Asian girls named Liza whose interior designer fathers are vicariously living out their fantasies...

62 Grand St., Brooklyn

718-388-1121

MoonRiverChattel.com


Miomia One-stop unisex apothecary specializing in the latest products-of-the-moment

The owner, Katie Chang, keeps up-to-date with the latest trends and products to offer in this cute little shop on Bedford Avenue. Brands like REN, Sharp's, Comme des Garçons, Odin, local gay NYC faves Malin+Goetz share shelf space with one-of-a-kind imports.

>Critic's pick: Escentric Molecule 01, the single-layer fragrance from England that responds to your body's pheromones for a completely individual and unexpected scent (nothing worse than every guy in my freshman class of 1996 all wearing Hugo: by Hugo Boss!). Layer it with your favorite cologne or wear on its own, and you'll be pleasantly surprised by the reaction you get from others. There?s a reason it has such an obsessive following around the world and miomia is one of the few places you can get it in the US.

318 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn

718- 490-5599

ShopMiomia.com


The Future PerfectUnexpected gifts and off-the-wall intelligent home design

With such smart, edgy wares and covetable objects for the home, I incorporate at least one thing from this store in each of my design projects. Their well-edited selection of wallpapers also can?t be beat (Vivenne Westwood for Cole & Son, Cavern), and the owner David Alhadeff also works to incorporate a lot of NYC-based designers into his ever-changing selection of beautiful objects. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, and they work to make design accessible without compromising its integrity.

>Critic?s pick: Little Joseph, the porcelain baby head that's actually a candle holder. As the candle wax melts, you can style the baby?s hair. Disturbing yet elegant—and that describes the store.

115 N. 6th St., Brooklyn

718-599-6278

TheFuturePerfect.com


Spoonbill & SugartownThe bookstore that put Williamsburg on the map

Spoonbill?s expert eye for art and design books, vintage art catalogs, and a focused selection of magazines makes this my favorite bookstore in the city. They frequently host authors and events and draw art/design enthusiasts from all around. Not for nothing, it?s managed to weather the Bedford Ave. gentrification and rent increases for over ten years now.

>Critic?s pick: Apartamento magazine. Published in Madrid, but written in English, think Butt for interiors, leading the new wave of voyeuristic, slightly irreverent 'uncurated' design that's in line with sites like TheSelby.com.

218 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn

718-387-7322

SpoonbillBooks.com


Sprout HomeGarden supplies and objects for an urban space

The landscape architect in me goes nuts here. It?s easy to get carried away... The scale of the plants, flowers, and objects are perfect for gardens and outdoor spaces in the city. I especially love their selection of garden tools and tabletop gifts for the home, such as Pantone mugs, air plants (they don?t need soil, so cool), and ironically kitschy garden gnomes, but (thankfully) not the requisite gnome from Amelie. The back garden is also sort-of enchanting, as it resembles a hidden oasis of everything you need to design the perfect roofspace or backyard.

>Critic's pick: hipster arts-and-crafts classes (make your own terrariums!) make DIY pottery look so ?90s.

44 Grand St., Brooklyn

718-388-4440

SproutHome.stores.yahoo.net


Mast Brothers ChocolateSmall-batch, serious deliciousness direct from Brooklyn

Specializing in exciting epicurean flavors of dark chocolate (Serrano peppers, Fleur de Sel?mmm) and rich single-country recipes all wrapped in beautifully designed hand-made packaging, Mast Bros. provides their wares to a number of great restaurants around town as well as the better coffee houses, like Stumptown at the Ace Hotel. Everything is made on-site and a tasting bar lets you sample buying that perfect dinner party gift. The knowledgeable staff truly embody the Williamsburg spirit of the "art of craftsmanship," their passion is evident in the taste, packaging and process. Head there weekends for an unbeatable, intimate factory tour.

>Critic?s pick: Almonds and sea salt dark chocolate bar—simple decadence defined.

105A N. 3rd St., Brooklyn

718-388-2625

MastBrothersChocolate.com

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