What: Williamsburg Walks
When: 4th of July & July 11th, Noon-Sunset
Where: Bedford Ave to North 4th to North 9th
Why: If sunny summer days conjure up childhood memories of playing in the streets, head to Williamsburg Walks this weekend for a temporary pedestrian party on Bedford Avenue that’s fit for kids and adults of all ages. Enjoy a neighborhood free of cars and full of festivities like hula hooping, horseshoeing, hopscotch, concerts, and Polish food demonstrations.
Williamsburg Walks is a product of a public and private partnership organized by Neighbors Allied for Good Growth and the L Magazine. Chair of the Community Board 1 Transportation Committee Teresa Toro and Jason Jeffries of Blenderbox, Verb Cafe and The Bedford Cheese Shop also joined forces to help find a way for the community to honor local merchants and revel in the neighborhood’s public space. “Street fairs are about the vendors. But, with this type of street closure the desire is to promote Bedford where it’s most alive and reclaim the streets,” said Gregor Nemitz-Ziadie of Williamsburg Walks. Games like soccer, volleyball, and table tennis will be available, but visitors are welcome to bring games of their own or recline in the streets with blankets and chairs while taking in the sights of a pedestrian thoroughfare.
Each block will feature a slew of family activities and culinary and visual arts performances, in addition to a variety of booths that will offer information on community volunteerism and activism. Highlights include: Eating Local the Italian Way, A Williamsburg History Bike Tour, and musical entertainment by local artists and musicians, produced by L Magazine, which recently put on the Northside Music Festival. “This is an opportunity to show the diversity of the neighborhood. You won’t have to go far, everything will be right here within five blocks,” said Nemitz-Ziadie.
This Saturday, come on over the bridge, bring your SPF 50, and play until the sun goes down and the fireworks begin.
Cost: Free
How to get there: Take the A,C,E, or F, V to 14th street. Transfer to the Brooklyn bound L train, exit at Bedford. For full schedule information see billburg.com.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram