London’s Brick Lane has replaced Camden High Street as the treasure chest for vintage jewels. Today I found the Williamsburg equivalent. Beacon’s Closet on North 11th Street is home to more vintage fashion than anyone could want. It even has the same music, similar layout and even shop assistants’ with the same facial expressions as Brick Lane’s Beyond Retro. Walking down the industrial looking road, the pink exterior welcomes shoppers into a cove covered with posters, mannequins with retro wigs and displays many bags, clothes, shoes, and sunglasses too.

What I love most about this store is that it clothes as many guys as well as dolls. The store is literary over-run with people all with their own style; very much like the art school kids of brick lane, but with a Brooklyn twist and none of the Topshop robots that London is known for.  The clothes are even colour co-ordinated to make it that much easier for us, as anyone that shops vintage knows, it can be difficult to find that perfect top in your size.

I have been searching high and low for a vintage denim shirt that not only is cheap but most importantly fits, and without even being in the store for five minutes I find a Pepe London denim shirt in my size for only $15! A pair of maroon ankle boots for $30 also had my name on them, so after finding both items in my size I had to quickly leave the store before spending too much money. A problem I am sure, many Beacon Closet shoppers have.

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There is a shopaholic deep down in all of us. It is just that some are more equipped to hold back, and save the much needed dollar. I, however, am not one of them. My days off in London Town are spent browsing my regular haunts, be it my favourite second-hand bookstore in Notting Hill, vintage fashion and jewels in Camden or Carnaby St, and Oxford St for when I feel like brainless shopping. So of course I have been screening the stores here in Williamsburg.

Bedford Ave has many a store. Many of them for clothes; vintage, boutique and franchise, oh my! Stalls are set up on the streets that sell books, jewellery and even a shoe or two. But if you walk down the road, I suggest that you turn down North 9th St and peek into Brooklyn Charm, a quaint jewellery store with a difference. When you walk in, instead of being bombarded with their own designs, you are the creator yourself. They have many different kinds of chains for bracelets and necklaces, gold, bronze and silver, with big or small links, and depending on the length they range from $6 to $10. Once you choose the one that you like, just browse around and be in awe of the many decorative objects; the typical and expected mixed with the vintage and rare. The charms and amulets and crafty ornaments are priced from a buck to $15. There are baubles for all tastes and quickly I was watching the amiable store girl make my bracelet in front of me. The process depends on your design and you can be particular in placement so the finished piece is exactly what you want.

Brooklyn Charm owner Tracie Howarth whose been making and selling jewellery for over 13 years, says she was inspired by the mix of vintage jewellery and customizing—the two passions came together for her; and she says: “I’ve come to learn that the more customized a piece of jewellery is, the happier the customer is.”

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Yesterday was a day of Music. Throughout the city sounds of bands, pianos and even opera could be heard, whatever the borough. Make Music NY celebrated the first day of summer, for the fourth year, with over 1,000 city-wide free concerts. My favourites were the guitarists playing Beatles songs in Union Square and the pop-up gigs of rock bands all along Bedford Ave. Music is a great collector of the people, so it was no surprise to see all different kinds of music lovers out and about. One point about outdoor impromptu performances is that you can never plan ahead, in terms of scheduling your performance after an assembly of fire trucks have bombarded their way through the street. Gunfight! learned this the hard way, but they did not let it dampen their musical energy.  

As well as Make Music New York, Play Me, I’m Yours was set up. An Artwork by Luke Jerram, consisting of pianos, beautifully decorated and strategically placed in many different points across the city, available to be played by the public. And what better a place to set this piece up than in New York City! Musicians flock to the five boroughs to learn, play and be discovered, so there was no doubt that when walking through McCarren Park I would hear sweet music being played.  It makes a lovely change from the eye-sore elephants that have graced London Town this summer.

Not only does Play Me, I’m Yours give people who have never played a piano the chance to do so, it is also raising awareness and promoting Sing For Hope, which is an artists’ peace corporation, defined by the needs of the community.

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