There are certainly better guides to this neighborhood, however this is my brief summary. Follow the links and I am sure you will be able to discover even more great stuff.
This is a part of Brooklyn which was populated by artists, then by hipsters and now is home to all who can afford the real estate. The industrial waterfront area was re-zoned by the city to allow for residential development during the Bloomberg era. The resulting changes brought an influx of affluent new residents who were drawn to the area for its arts, music and food scene.
The arts scene is still active, but the days of artists squatting in abandoned buildings is over. I happen to love all the great street art you encounter as you walk the streets. There is an installation by Mr. Brainwash which was done recently, but features a lot of the historic icons.
Probably the most iconic historic landmark is The Williamsburg Bridge with its own list of fun facts. The Domino Sugar Factory is no longer in use and thanks in large part to the Municipal Art Society it will not be demolished in favor of a shiny new tower. Before the groundbreaking on the new construction, it did house a provocative art installation.
At one point, The McCarren Park Pool was home to a great music scene. After the pool was renovated, the concerts moved to the waterfront. I am pretty sure The Northside Festival is now an annual event. A few of the classic venues have closed, but you can still get live music at The Music Hall of Williamsburg, St. Mazie and the Brooklyn outpost of The Knitting Factory. For guitarists, check out Southside Guitars. All musicians should enjoy browsing at Main Drag. And if you love vinyl, head on over to Earwax Records.
We have now come to my favorite topics - food and dive bars.
Let's start with food and my favorite go-to spots right off the Bedford Ave stop on the L Train. Only have $5 in your pocket? You're all good for falafel at Oasis. It is Brooklyn so you know there will be good pizza. And with the influence of the hipsters, you can find locally-sourced Mexican. There used to be a great Vietnamese sandwich shop, but I am afraid it closed. My love of great food and back-garden-dining is definitely satisfied at Acqua Santa.
Ah, dive bars. Maybe all these are not technically dives, but they are not swanky. Get your drink on! My friends live very close to this place and it always proves to be just as expected. Apparently, this is where the Pickleback was invented. And there is always The Turkey's Nest offering as much class as its name implies.
Back to food. Williamsburg has a rich heritage of Italian and Polish immigrants. If you are craving old school Italian, Bamonte's should be on your list. And if you just want a good slice, Best Pizza can hook you up. All the Italian heritage comes together annually at The Giglio Fest. If you have had your fill of pasta, you should try Kasia's or for Polish fare.
And no trip to Williamsburg would be complete without a stop at Brooklyn Bowl, Brooklyn Brewery or Brooklyn Winery.