Let’s say you’ve got one of those rare, laissez-faire afternoons and there are no snowstorms in sight. You’re determined to spend the time off the couch, away from the computer, and go somewhere other than Morningside Heights or Washington Square Park.
In the New Year, hit the reset button on your sense of adventure. Head over yonder to that artsy gentrified borough you hear a lot about but never actually experienced first hand. Ergo, for you college cats out there, we’re parlaying an old safe routine into a new shiny one. In the second of three installments, here are five affordable and easily accessible hot spots for shopping in Brooklyn.
(Say it again with us now, off the couch, away from the computer.)
Brooklyn: DUMBO
Nearest subway: F train to York Street; A/C train to High Street
Starting every April, the Brooklyn Flea return to DUMBO on Sundays. On your way pick up some hot chocolate from the original Jacques Torres and follow the cobblestones to the pop-up market for a shopping selection resembling a glam version of grandmother’s attic. On the way is the powerHouse Arena, powerHouse publishing’s highbrow bookstore and arts scene, where there’s always some hip happening afoot.
Brooklyn Flea
80 Pearl Street
Hours: Sunday, 11am-6pm
Jacques Torres 66 Water Street; 718.875.9772
Hours: Monday through Saturday, 9am-8pm; Sundays, 10am-6pm
powerHouse Arena
37 Main Street; 718.666.3049
Hours: Weekdays, 10am-7pm; Weekends 11am-7pm
Brooklyn: Williamsburg
Nearest subway: L train to Bedford Avenue
Whether you shop vintage for style or environmental concerns, Williamsburg is a must-visit for vintage shopping. You can take your pick of the trendy vintage stores, which range from the very cheap to the very expensive, or try your luck at an authentic no-frills thrift store like the Salvation Army on Bedford Avenue. Two neighboring shops on Driggs Avenue, Buffalo Exchange and Monk Vintage Thrift Shop, are great venues to begin your rummage spree.
Buffalo Exchange
504 Driggs Avenue; 718.384.6901
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11am-8pm; Sunday 12pm-7pm
Monk Vintage Thrift Shop
496 Driggs Avenue; 718.384.6665
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11am-8pm; Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday 12pm-8pm
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