{"id":30343,"date":"2021-07-25T01:52:20","date_gmt":"2021-07-25T01:52:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/?p=30343"},"modified":"2024-02-26T17:50:57","modified_gmt":"2024-02-26T17:50:57","slug":"travel-guide-to-bushwick-brooklyn-top-things-to-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/travel-guide-to-bushwick-brooklyn-top-things-to-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel Guide to Bushwick, Brooklyn: Top Things to Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As with other sections of Brooklyn, Bushwick has undergone many changes from its industrial setting to becoming the eclectic and artsy New York neighborhood it\u2019s known as today. You can tell when you look at the former warehouses and garages now holding shops and restaurants, their exteriors becoming canvases for street art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this travel guide to Bushwick, I\u2019ll share where to to find murals, enjoy a meal or a drink, shop for local finds or spend a night out. You can do it all in this artsy Brooklyn neighborhood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, how Bushwick became part of New York<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Photo by Nelson Ndongala<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With its name derived from the Dutch word, \u201cboswijck,\u201d which means \u201clittle town in the words,\u201d Bushwick is located in northern Brooklyn. It\u2019s adjacent to the Brooklyn neighborhoods of East Williamsburg and Bed-Stuy and the Queens neighborhood of Rosewood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First inhabited by the indigenous Canarsie, Dutch settlers acquired the land through a deed from the Dutch West India Company, and chartered by Governor Peter Stuyvesant in 1660, making it one of six towns in Dutch-owned Brooklyn. Later, the incoming British claimed Bushwick as part of their Kings County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the American Revolutionary War, Bushwick was annexed to the city of Brooklyn in 1855, which later changed to a borough, consolidation into the City of Greater New York in 1898.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bushwick we know today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Bushwick
Photo by Michele Herrmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bushwick used to be farmland, but it evolved into a manufacturing hub in the 19th century. Years later, these industrial buildings would become an urban canvas for street art or repurposed for restaurants, studios, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A wave of German immigrants in the 1840s would apply their knowledge of brewing to their new homeland and develop Bushwick\u2019s brewing industry. It would form a brewery block known as \u201cBrewers Row.\u201d Today, an office building of the Ulmer Brewery complex still stands at 31 Belvidere Street between Beaver Street and Broadway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the financial success of homeowners would have Bushwick thriving into the 20th century, by the 1970s, Bushwick became a rough neighborhood as factories closed up shop. It was also hit hard during the 1977 Blackout. However, by the early 2000s, it turned around, welcoming new businesses, residents, and, yes, tourists like you who can see why this area has become so popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Immigrants, including those of Irish, Italian and Jamacian heritage, plus many African American would later relocate to Bushwick, too. Today, the neighborhood has a prominent Latino community plus young urban professionals and artists who all call it home. Looking for a multicultural destination while visiting New York? You\u2019ll love Bushwick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bushwick\u2019s murals and arts scene<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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“Boy on Bicycle” mural in Bushwick \/ Photo by Michele Herrmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Walking around Bushwick feels as though you\u2019re in an outdoor gallery. Street murals grace the walls of businesses located in former garages and warehouses, plus shutters, pavement, fences, and more. Along with taking in the look and design of the mural, you can also spot the name of the artist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, \u201cBoy on a Bike,\u201d which depicts a young man with a red hat and yellow T-shirt, was retouched by artist Chris Stain<\/a> in 2019. \u201cTill Death Do Us Part\u201d by artist DFace<\/a> is a popular one. It shows male and female skeleton heads facing each other and is said to be inspired by the graphics of the American pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See a few of our favorite Bushwick murals<\/a> in our Google Web Story!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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NYC Bus Tour of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

$69<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tLearn More\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n

Tip: <\/strong>Street murals are especially easy to find along Wyckoff Avenue and Troutman and Star streets, between Irving and Cypress avenues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great resource for learning more about street art is Arts in Bushwick<\/a>, a virtual platform for promoting Bushwick and Brooklyn native artists of color. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Bushwick Collective<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Bushwick
Photo by Michele Herrmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Founded by Bushwick resident Joe Ficalora, to honor his late parents and bring artistry to the neighborhood as a revival, the Bushwick Collective <\/a>collaborates with artists from Brooklyn and around the world to create murals throughout Bushwick. It also puts on an annual block party in June that draws locals and art-loving travelers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The area around the Bushwick Collective, which is located along Troutman Street, is adorned with a good bulk of street art plus many eateries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

House of Yes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With nightlife, the House of Yes<\/a> is an avante-garde performance center and dance club that celebrates creativity and inclusiveness through events and classes. Upon attending their all-night dance parties, you might feel as though you\u2019re walked into a whimsical wonderland. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From burlesque performers to aerialists and dance parties, scheduled acts at House of Yes can be mesmerizing to watch or listen to. Among many other entertainers, their space has welcomed guest and resident performers like DJs David Morales and Eli Escobar and risqu\u00e9 cabaret entertainer Susanne Bartsch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to eat in Bushwick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Inside Sea Wolf in Bushwick, Brooklyn \/ Photo by Michele Herrmann<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bushwick\u2019s dining scene shows a mix of cuisines representing different cultures and catering to different tastes. There are so many options. Here are a few of my favorites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n