My martini at the Hoxton Hotel, after 11 hours of hard yards in Manhattan.
We stayed at a hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, called The Hoxton. It was very comfortable, but very curated and “hipstered”. And while I enjoyed staying in Williamsburg, the same might be said for the neighbourhood more generally. It has undergone a great transformation in the past 20 years, undoubtedly for the better. But to me, at least, Williamsburg carried a bit too much self awareness, and was trying too hard to be hip.
Having said this, we enjoyed being out of the hustle of Manhattan in the evenings, with low buildings and light traffic. We also had delicious meals both nights. Check out Marlow & Sons for fantastic farm to table fare in a relaxed atmosphere. Leuca in the William Vale Hotel also was very nice (non-traditional Italian). The best part of a new hotel, in my opinion, is having a drink and watching the world go by; the Hoxton made a good martini. I also enjoyed some night photography to and from our suppers. There were many more photo opportunities than are reflected here, but I was too busy trying to look hip (unsuccessfully, no doubt).
I am a sucker for hard contrasts, and night lights plus metal seems to work well. For me, there’s something nicely ominous about B&W night photography. And in this particular photo, the subject itself seems quite ominous. Where do these stairs lead, and do I really want to know?!
Alice on a Williamsburg street corner after supper, preparing to take a better photo than mine.