The Williamsburg Bridge - Brooklyn Side

Words Adam Blakey
Photo Winona Ruth

There are three islands that make up the five boroughs of New York, and countless bridges connecting them. Some, like The Brooklyn Bridge, are as well-know as the Statue of Liberty, while others most native New Yorkers can’t even name. For most young people who move to New York to immerse themselves in the art and music culture, Brooklyn offers a city out of the city feel, and their connection to Manhattan is the Williamsburg. The bridge goes from Broadway in Williamsburg, well known for its hipster inhabitants and Jewish and Puerto Rican communities, to Delancey Street on the Lower East Side (LES) of Manhattan, home to The Hotel Rivington, Max Fish, Pianos, Mercury Lounge, and other over-frequented musical venues, bars and boutiques. The first time you cross the bridge can be terrifying, but the feeling of seeing the East River and most of Manhattan and Brooklyn - you never forget it. The sign as you drive into Brooklyn says “Welcome to Brooklyn “Oy Vey!”.