9 Unusual Things To Do in Williamsburg

Lion’s Roar Karaoke Lounge is quite literally a lounge. Husband-and-wife duo Roberto Williams and Zaida Soler Williams open up their disco-lit apartment to host rowdy groups every evening until the small hours. Bring your own booze and food and make yourself at home, but don’t take a shower in the apartment’s bathroom. “It should go without saying, but we had somebody do that once,” the Williamses say.

Tucked down a quiet stretch of North 14th Street is a classic New York dive bar – dark, loud and smelling faintly of spilled beer – that doubles as a bowling alley. Put your name down early at The Gutter (there are eight lanes, and they’re very popular). Then grab a craft brew and some food from nearby Vinnie’s Pizza (they deliver) while you wait for your turn.

Looking for an after-dinner activity that’s livelier than a quick nightcap? Velvet Brooklyn on Broadway has a schedule of events every night of the week, including stand-up comedy, jazz and free live reggae on Mondays from 8pm. What better way to kick the week off right than with uplifting Caribbean ambience?

It’s hard to miss the black Victorian trolley chugging down Bedford Avenue five nights a week. Madame Morbid’s tours expose a darker side of Brooklyn, traversing some of the borough’s oldest neighborhoods and uncovering chilling tales of murder, crime and hauntings. If possible, book during a full moon for themed snacks (moon pies), accessories (werewolf fangs) and uninhibited pack howling.

Monday evenings aren’t normally the most sociable night of the week, but you should make an exception for Reverend Vince Anderson and his Love Band. The ordained minister, who dropped out of Union Theological Seminary to pursue music, has his own unique brand of somewhat irreverent gospel that’s earned him a devoted following that’s willing to hit the dance floor at Union Pool from 10pm until late on a school night.

There’s a huge multi-story Urban Outfitters concept store in Williamsburg, and it regularly hosts interesting lifestyle classes and workshops with local companies and personalities. Past events have included CBD yoga, “floral savagery” arrangement tutorials, adaptogen happy hours, piercing sessions and panels on how to manage your money better. Check the Facebook page to see what’s coming up next.

You won’t get plush seats or table service at the Spectacle Theater, but this indie establishment has charms of its own. Established and run by a staff of cinephile volunteers, and situated in what used to be a neighborhood bodega, it screens quirky, rare and overlooked films not showing at your local AMC.

Known for DJs spinning world music – from afrobeat to dancehall and reggaeton – the atmosphere at Bembe is enough to entice even the most ardent wallflowers onto the dance floor. Order yourself a tropical cocktail and start practicing those salsa steps.