Street Photography in Japan

Japan Is a Great Place for Photographers and Street Photography in Particular Is Super Exciting

Almost everyone enjoys taking photographs. In Japan, I would venture to say that EVERYONE enjoys taking photographs! Whether it be the camera embedded in modern smartphones or high end digital SLRs, cameras have become an integral part of our lives. And so has photography. My dad was an avid photographer and had a Pentax film camera that became the first camera I used when I was just 6 years old. Times have changed since then, and I have grown older as well! And technology also has come a long long way. Digital cameras are now everywhere and with the advent of the smartphone era, most of us carry around a pretty sophisticated camera with us at all times. And this is excellent in the context of street photography. "Street photography" is all about capturing the sights and moods and moments of people and places that are all around us when we are on the move. The idea is to just walk around the streets of the city and take photographs of everyday people doing everyday things, or if you are really lucky, unusual people doing unusual things!

Unlike many other countries, Japan is pretty liberal when it comes to taking photos on the streets. I have been walking the streets of Tokyo for several years now and so far, I have not run into any trouble with the cops or anyone else. But I did see a news report recently, where a 40 year old Japanese man was arrested for taking a photograph of a lady sitting next to him on the train. While the debate rages on about whether he was at fault or not, my view is that the arrested photographer crossed a line of basic decency when he took the photograph of the lady without her permission. It doesn't matter that he was not trying to take an "inappropriate" photograph, but the right thing to do is to ask for permission first. In an open street, taking casual shots where people will obviously be part of the frame is usually fine, but in a restricted space like a train, clicking a lady without her permission would be a strict no no anywhere in the world.

Tokyo is a street photographer's paradise! From the old back lanes of Asakusa to the high end ultra modern streets of the Marunouchi district, there's never a dull moment for the shutterbug. But street photography is also very challenging because you can never anticipate the perfect moment. The scene is always so dynamic that you have to keep your eyes wide open, look out for the slightest indicators and be really quick with your camera.

Helpful Pointers.

Here are a few pointers that should be helpful if you are looking to get started with street photography.

1. It makes sense to look at a map (Google Maps is just great) of the area you are planning to visit. Street photography involves a lot of walking, so depending on your health, fitness and patience, you need to determine a feasible route that you will follow. This route is just a guide. So feel free to deviate into that small back lane that suddenly catches your attention. But having a route is definitely advisable.

2. Stay away from trouble or doing anything that will get you into trouble. Japan, while quite liberal, also has stringent laws about violation of privacy and public indecency or causing any kind of nuisance. As mentioned earlier, while it would generally be fine to take a casual shot of people on the streets, moving up close and taking "inappropriate" shots of women or children is just not acceptable. When in doubt, just drop the idea and move on. Being a pervert will not do you any good. Sometimes, you may come across a situation where someone you have just clicked or are about to click objects to it and asks you to stop. If you have not clicked already, just smile, say sorry and move on. If you have already clicked and the person confronts you, it is advisable to say sorry and delete the photograph in the person's presence and resolve the matter amicably. If it gets out of hand and the cops get involved. Well, then, the situation could get complicated and a lot would depend on how effectively you can communicate with everyone and hopefully get out of trouble without any legal ramifications. Be aware that the laws in Japan are often open to interpretation and who ends up on the winning side often depends on nationality (foreigners find it tougher) and the ability to communicate fluently and convincingly in Japanese.

3. Some of the best street shots are of people captured in expressive and emotional moments. Look out for the mavericks and the young trendsetters! Tokyo is full of fun people. The young crowds of Harajuku, Shinjuku and Shibuya offer ample opportunities for photographers and based on my personal experience, they enjoy being photographed! And while you are at it, watch out for the eyes. No matter what the faces and dresses say, the eyes speak volumes and convey emotions that can often be the difference between a good photograph and a stunning photograph.

4. Visit places that are a mix of old and new. And Tokyo has many such places. Again, Asakusa, Shinjuku, Shibuya and many other parts of the city bring together the best of both worlds. From the old stores selling everything from kimonos to Japanese handicraft, to the high end shopping streets of Ginza and Harajuku.Tokyo has it all.

5. Look for the details... hunt for those interesting plays of light and shadow. Street photography isn't always about wide shots of countless people on the street. Some of the most stunning street shots are those that are able to isolate a moment from the hustle and bustle of the surroundings and light plays a huge role in that.

6. When not shooting people, look for interesting shops, wall graffiti, sign boards, old houses, interesting transportation (like street cars or trams or hand pulled rickshaws).

7. As far as the technical aspects of street photography is concerned, it depends on what you are shooting with. If it's your smartphone camera, you basically just point and shoot. Following rules like the "Rule of Thirds" or playing around with angles and elevations can give you great results. If you have a proper DSLR, then you have a much broader set of options. Personally, I love shooting with a medium wide lens (24 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm) or a standard 18 - 200 mm zoom lens, which gives me the flexibility of taking wider shots or zooming into a closer area if I wish to. A f1.8 or faster lens will give you excellent depth of field variations and will help you to achieve a wonderful effect called "Bokeh", especially if you have glittering lights in the background of your subject. Since your subject would often be in motion, setting a higher ISO (800 or higher, but not going beyond 1600) helps to freeze the motion and get really sharp and in focus shots without any blurring. Be careful to not go beyond ISO 1600, as you may end up with substantial "noise" in your photos which may ruin an otherwise fabulous frame. Also practice moving fast. As I mentioned earlier, street photography is challenging because if you are not ready, you may miss a wonderful shot. So the trick is to always be ready, not fiddle around too much with your camera settings and be prepared to click one or multiple shots of the same scene (taking multiple shots gives you a better chance to later select your favourite frame... the advantage of digital photography is that you can just delete the shots you don't like at no extra expense, as in the case of film).

Get out, click away, and have fun!

These are just simple ideas. I do not claim to be an expert or a professional by any stretch of the imagination. My only intention behind writing this article is to share with you what I have learnt from my experience as a street photographer and with the hope that they will, at the very least, encourage you to get out on to the streets and start taking photographs. For me, photography has been more than just fun; it has also been therapeutic! I dream of exploring more places all around the world and over a period of time, creating an archive of some of my best work for the world to see and cherish.

So get out there, and happy clicking!
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Budapest, an Unforgettable Experience for Many International Travelers

Hungary was a socialist state, run by the Socialist Workers' Party under influence of the Soviet Union; it regained its independence on October 23, 1989, and is now a member of the European Union. Currently, Budapest, the capital of Hungary, is a very modern city, but there are hundreds of buildings that capture the architectural grandeur and majesty of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Tourist Attractions

With population of over 2 million, Budapest is a city having a lot to showcase for visitors, especially the museums, churches, theatres, parks, and the famous mineral hot springs and baths. Gone are the remnants of the Soviet occupation; today, Budapest is the mirror image of any European city with the best shopping, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and diverse cultural activities. Some of the most important tourist attractions include the famous bridges that traverse the Danube; some of these include the Megyeri Bridge, the Elizabeth Bridge, the Margaret Bridge, Liberty Bridge and the Chain Bridge, which is one of the most photographed bridges in Europe. To make the most of your trip, choose the right accommodation during your stay. For instance, the 3-star rated Tulip Inn Budapest Millennium is a good choice and is centrally located.

Excellent Cuisine Outlets

Hungary has always been famous for its paprika and the paprika-flavored goulash, but there is a whole range of food styles that is available in Budapest including French, Chinese, Magyar, Italian, etc. Restaurants specializing in East European food include the Muzeum and Tigris; international cuisine is available at the Klassz wine restaurant and Italian cuisine - at the Hemingway; healthy vegetarian cuisine is available at Eden, and their menu includes vegetarian platters, stews and ragout which contain no fat, preservatives or sugar.

Monuments and Museums

For visitors keen on gourmet food, they can dine at the Onyx, which is a Michelin starred specialty restaurant catering to modern Hungarian cuisine and bistros and brassieres like Gerloczy serve up light meals and assorted cheeses. Places to see around Budapest include the Jewish Quarter, the Parliament Building, Castle District, Memento Park, Holocaust Memorial Center, the Buda Hills, Margaret Island, the various museums, the Royal Palace, etc.

Shopping Privileges

There are many pawn shops and second-hand shops selling china, antiques, trinkets, textiles, etc., like the Bav, while arts and crafts are on display at Herend Village Pottery with a variety of items of home furnishings and decoration which are for sale. The best period to visit Budapest is usually between May and September when the weather is perfect for traveling and with excellent transport facilities, visiting places would be easy.

Golden Tulip has the excellent 3-star rated Tulip Inn Budapest Millennium which offers spacious rooms with all kinds of facilities; monuments and churches are within a 5-minute metro ride to the city centre.

Soak in Seattle at 500 Feet

Dining in a rotating restaurant is quite the experience, especially when it includes the Seattle skyline, complete with great views of downtown, Elliott Bay, Mount Rainier and the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges. Seated 500 feet above the ground, the Skycity Restaurant is a punch of the Pacific Northwest.

With reservations highly suggested, Skycity is open for lunch Monday - Friday, dinner each night of the week and offers a special brunch on Saturday and Sunday only. Although the menu mandates a minimum food and beverage charge, Skycity is a family friendly environment complete with a complimentary trip to the observation deck.

Built as a symbol of the Space Age over 50 years ago, the Space Needle is quite an interesting icon that everyone should visit at least once. A recent visit met all of my expectations. I wasn't surprised by the minimum charge and thought visiting the restaurant made sense for lunch, given the $25 minimum. A trip to the observation deck alone is nearly $20.

As I soaked in the views, I decided to start with the Clam and Corn Chowder and it was nothing but divine. The complimentary olive bread was an ideal added element and turned out to be an ideal addition to dip in the soup.

Following my starter, I had my heart set on the Dungeness Crab and Oregon Shrimp Salad complete with avocado, tomatoes and sliced eggs. I certainly wasn't prepared for the size of this dish. To ensure I took advantage of my visit my husband ordered up the Wild King Salmon sandwich and a friend selected the Dungeness Crab Mac and Cheese, which allowed me to taste all 3!

A bite of the Mac and Cheese was just enough to explore their menu offerings. I wouldn't find myself ordering this as an entrée as it turned out to be just too cheesy for me. The salad was heavy on crab and shrimp; they didn't hold back. You certainly get to explore the city's seafood selection with this one. The salmon sandwich turned out to be just as tasty as the waiter recommended. With a heavy portion of salmon, followed up with a couple strips of peppered bacon on focaccia bread, I would absolutely suggest this entrée.

With a 2-hour time allowance with our reservation we had plenty of time to relax, enjoy the views and each other's company. Good-sized entrée portions, following my starter provided to be too much; I had no room to explore the dessert menu. An extensive wine list and craft beers are also available to accompany your meal. A great way to try one of Seattle's many local offerings.

Dance Like Fools

Awaodori

Awaodori is a dance that is performed in summer festivals throughout Japan, but originating in Tokushima Prefecture in the southwestern island of Shikoku. Shikoku is one of the four main islands of Japan, but the one that is often forgotten, because it does not have a major city like Fukuoka or Nagasaki in Kyushu, or Sapporo in Hokkaido. The biggest city in Shikoku is in Kagawa Prefecture, Takamatsu, the 41st most populous city in Japan. Tokushima City is the 3rd of 3 cities in Shikoku in the list of the top 100 and at 86 is not very high on that list.

Yet, despite its lack of population, Tokushima is the source of one of Japan's major festival traditions. In fact, the name Awaodori itself is based on the feudal period name for Tokushima, Awa. Odori, meaning dance, completes the name, which is what the dance is called throughout Japan.

The Awaodori, though the dancer's wear costumes that are not unlike those worn throughout Japan's many festivals and is danced to music played on common shamisen lutes, taiko drums, shinobue flutes, and kane bells, is extremely distinctive. Not only the dance itself, but the distinctive songs (chants, really) are enticing, charming, and fun. What the dancers are chanting (there are some minor variations), however, is quite wonderful:

Odoru ahou ni The dancers are fools

Miru ahou The watchers are fools

Onaji ahou nara Both are fools so

Odorana son, son Just dance (or miss out)

Koenji Awaodori

The Koenji Awaodori is one of several that are held in Tokyo and one of many held throughout Japan. It has been celebrated now for 58 years, so the Koenji Awaodori has a tradition that makes it a huge event in its own right. In fact, with around 1.2 million revelers enjoying the celebration each year, it rivals some of Tokyo's biggest annual events. The crowds, for the most part, remain on the sidelines. However, as the dance troupes march through the many town squares, many of the watchers heed the calls of the dancers and join in the reverie, becoming fools together.

Koenji is in the Tokyo Ward of Suginami. With a population of more than half a million people, it is one of Tokyo's most populous. Still, it is very unlikely that the Koenji area itself has more than, say, one-tenth of Suginami's total population. Yet, with more than 500,000 people visiting during each day of the Awaodori, it is amazing that there is any room at all to watch the dance. However, it is even more amazing that Tokushima's own event attracts around 1.3 million tourists each year, allowing it to remain the oldest and largest. For a city with less than 300,000 residents, this is no small feat.

The men and women who perform in awaodori make a series of similar steps, drawing triangles in the air with their hands, but with different postures. The women tend to be more upright, while the men crouch low to the ground and gyrate more. Some of the men dance in wild gyrations, reminding me of whirling dervishes of Persian origins.

Beauty and Power

The things that make the Awaodori the most attractive are its beauty and power. The beauty is quite obvious. The costumes, the elegant dance, and the young women are gorgeous.

The power in the music, the rhythms, twirling hands, and constant gyrations in the summer heat make the temperature rise. Great food and fine drink make the night glorious. I always hope that it would never end.

One of the best dance troupes I saw this year was Bikkuri-ren. Bikkuri, which means surprise, was a huge surprise. Their athletic moves in sync, were a joy to watch. Each of the groups of dancers within the troupe - the kids, young women, young men, frenzied and comedic dancers, and the musicians and drummers - in turn, made the crowds gasp from their performance.

With more than 150 dance troupes and 12,000 dancers, performing in eight different parade routes, I could only see a fraction of the performances. But the great food, raw power, mesmerizing music, and, ultimately, the awesome beauty will draw me back again next year.

Jarman International provides all Japan relocation services, tips on how to enjoy "Deep" travel in Japan, cutting edge office design and consultation, Japan property investment information, boutique accommodation and serviced apartments in Roppongi Tokyo, healing and rejuvenation at a unique Japanese day spa, business matching and Japanese technology information and Smart City/Social Innovation related networking opportunities. Looking into Japan? Jarman International is ready to assist.

Suggested Plan for Going to Leh Ladakh With Kids

Nature is our best teacher and for a child, nothing engages their imagination like nature in its elementary form Mountains, snow, flowers, trees, rivers, clouds, rain, rainbows, lakes, fresh air and wide open spaces can you imagine the questions that will come your way when they experience some of these phenomenon's and want to know more about how these mountains came about or how rainbows are formed.

Especially for children of this generation who are hooked to television, technology and malls and they barely get an opportunity to look outside of the shell, this will be an experience that will open up their eyes to a whole new beautiful world outside.

Children at different ages have curiosity levels that are insatiable.. and nature feeds this curiosity wouldn't it be amazing to take them to a place where they can have loads and loads of fun alongside new experiences that will be imbibed in their memory. Leh Ladakh is surely one such destination, it is nature in all its glory - open spaces and magnificent beauty can make an adult feel childlike excitement, so you can imagine how a child would feel.

We understand that for parents, their kids enjoyment is first and foremost and so we came up with this plan to have a well-spaced vacation giving enough time for everyone to acclimatize and giving the flexibility to accommodate things the children feel like doing making this a fun filled holiday for the entire family. The journey should be very well spaced out to so as to give you 4 nights in Leh town, a charming small town that has stunning views as you look around. You can see the army base camps amidst the majestic Himalayan range. The town houses some really comfortable hotels. You can relax on the initial day and venture around in the town, try some of the local cuisine like noodle soup and momos. Kids will surely enjoy this food very sumptuous and not high on spices.

There is a very interesting place called the Hall of Fame that houses a lot of history on Ladakh and sections dedicated to the Indian Army and the battles waged. One of the rooms is dedicated to Siachen Glacier and has samples of the clothing and equipment used by the army in that extreme weather. It also houses weapons used by the army in various wars. Kids a certain age will find this interesting and will also give them a understanding of what the Indian Army is all about. There are a lot of beautiful monasteries to visit, Leh being the abode of Buddhism and other places like Shanti Stupa, Leh Palace, Stok village and Magnetic hill to name a few.

You can then head to Hunder, a village in the midst of Nubra Valley. Picture perfect is probably the words to describe this place.. It's a desert amidst high altitude and the village is situated in the oasis. It's amazing how this small oasis in the midst of barren land has soil so fertile to grow fruits and vegetables. Mysteries of nature.

The biggest attraction here is a unique two humped camel ride in the desert, its awesome fun. A day trip to Turtuk ( the last frontier ) will take you to a remote village on the Indo-Pak border, this village is inhabited by people of the Balti tribe. This village became a part of the Indian territory after the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The stay at this camp in Hunder will be a very unique experience especially for the kids, luxury but giving you a feel of camping amidst nature. Kids these days don't have an opportunity for such adventure activities. The place is very well spaced out and has fruit trees where you can pluck apples and apricots off the tree ( August and September ) and eat how exciting!! There is a huge vegetable garden, it's real nice to see how a lot of vegetables we buy off shelves in super markets are grown and are in their natural element. Kids can play badminton or any other games, go on nature walks, bonfire. It's the perfect place to integrate them with nature.

After spending 3 days at the camp at Hunder you can then head out to see one of the most appealing elements of nature, water in its most beautiful and colorful form, " The one and only Pangong Lake". This is a saline lake at 14K feet above sea level and spans across 125KM. Baffling to imagine how that can be a lake. The waters of the lake have a unique quality to hold the color of the surroundings and sky the water looks silver in the mornings, green by mid-day when the sun is up in the sky, blue by evening as the sun is heading off the horizon, and grey on a gloomy day. You might see rainbows here if you get lucky and it is the most stunning sight ever. Nature has so many unexplained facets, Pangong is surely one of them. Kids will love the experience of this lake, they can cycle around the shores of the lake or for those who like to read a cozy spot by the lake and you can forget the world around. Ladakh will grow on you with each passing day leaving a lasting impression on the family as a whole. Kids for sure will learn to love and respect nature and that's just the beginning for they will embrace it and learn off it.

Kumamon Sets a High Bar for Other Yuru Kyara Regional Mascots

Yuru Kyara Might Revive Localities for Smart City and Social Innovation

Kumamon from Kumamoto Prefecture might be a benchmark for how to bring the genki back to regional areas battling the power drain that comes with ultra-ageing and decreasing populations. I visited the Kumamoto Prefecture Tokyo Representative Office in Nagatacho the other day and "upbeat" is the best way to describe the air in that office.

Red-cheeked and "Metabo" pudgy, utterly "Kawaii" Kumamon jumps out from the entrance display window and faces just as bright and smiling look up at us from busied desks and active computer screens as we enter the office proper.

My Nikkei BP colleague and I were there to discuss Social Innovation/Smart City Week with the Kumamoto Prefecture heads and what we did not expect was that Kumamon and other Yurukyara mascots for localities across Japan emerged as one answer to the search for innovative solutions on how to revitalize, bolster local pride and attract new residents for otherwise lagging economies outside the mega-metropolis cities like Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sendai, Hakodate and Fukuoka.

I remember back in the 70s when my hometown, Hawaii, began a campaign to build pride and attract visitors. Titled "I love you Hawaii" everybody had shirts and bumper stickers, buttons and key chains. Despite being a "haole" and usually treated as an outsider in the beautiful tropical paradise, even I swelled with pride for the Islands as though they were mine and my roots were firmly grounded in the rich history of the land. Now that I'm somewhat grown up, I realize this sense of pride and unity or feeling of being included and integral is a vital part of a robust society.

Just take a look at Kumamon.

Kumamon is a boy born on March 12. He is ageless since no-one can pin down his birth year. He is very curious and sometimes can be a bit of a rascal. His favorite thing to do is the Kumamoto Taiso (exercise).

He dons the Kumamoto Castle and Bear image color black and his innocent, slightly silly expression sets him apart from the other, more official looking characters of other prefectures. In the Kumamoto dialect "mono" or "thing" is pronounced "Mon" so "Kuma-mon" would literally mean "I'm a Bear!".

You can buy a whole bunch of Kuma-mon goods but the most popular one is called a Hakata Ningyo.

First of all, the prefecture unified behind the concept. With strong leadership, each and every prefectural official came on board and worked to distribute business cards in the shape of Kumamon. It took months of effort but thanks to on-the-ground contact with people, a little Kumamon card passed between individuals, clustered to become a boom of popularity around an easily recognizable and well-accepted symbol.

Once you have established your entry point with a welcoming, locatable signpost, people will come. Kumamoto Prefecture's mascot Kumamon functions like the beautiful Cabin Attendant standing at the airplane entrance ready to point you to your seat, the perfectly couture hostess awaiting to show you to your table or the smartly dressed bell-boy ready to take your luggage.

Imagine prefectures or cities as a Ryokan or Japanese Inn and Kumamon and other characters serve as the Okami or the lady of the Inn who welcomes you, decides the ambience of your experience and makes sure you start off with a feeling of true Japanese-style Omotenashi.

The Smart City event in Yokohama focuses on technical, structural and systematic innovation in the Social and Smart realm but Kumamon and other Yurukyara mascots across Japan may point to an aspect of social innovation that strikes the chord of joy and fun for all. From the tiniest to most elderly citizen, finding a rallying point and identity in a cute, friendly, fluffy mascot like Kumamon cannot be a bad thing. Don't take the Yurukyaras lightly, they just might be a way to push us further down the road towards peaceful living and genuine community.

Jarman International provides all Japan relocation services, tips on how to enjoy "Deep" travel in Japan, cutting edge office design and consultation, Japan property investment information, boutique accommodation and serviced apartments in Roppongi Tokyo, healing and rejuvenation at a unique Japanese day spa, business matching and Japanese technology information and Smart City/Social Innovation related networking opportunities. Looking into Japan? Jarman International is ready to assist.

12 Ways To Have A Wacky Day In Williamsburg, Brooklyn

On a mission for some unusual fun in New York City? For an oddball day of fun, check out these quirky things to do in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

OddFellows Ice Cream
Address: 175 Kent Avenue

Like many Williamsburg establishments, OddFellows Ice Cream is focused on artisanal eats. Their small-batch homemade ice cream is crafted with hormone-free New York ingredients. What makes this a quirky stop isn't necessarily the sustainable process by which it's made, but the flavors: Tobacco Leaf-Smoked Chili Huckleberry, Chorizo Caramel Swirl, Beet Pistachio Honey Goat Cheese, and Grapefruit Jalapeno Sorbet, Strawberry Tomato Sorbet, Manchengo Pineapple with Thyme, Sesame Kumquat Pumpernickel, Miso Butterscotch Cherry and more. Those adventurous enough to try these unusual flavors are often pleasantly surprised by the tastiness of the innovative combinations.

City Reliquary
Address: 370 Metropolitan Avenue

New York City is full of prestigious museums housing important collections that showcase the city's history. While the City Reliquary certainly features meaningful pieces of Big Apple heritage, it's not the types of things you'd find at the New York Historical Society or the Museum of the City of New York. First there are innovative rotating exhibits like "Keep Your Eye On The Donut" -- which looks at highlights in NYC's donut history -- and "Over Spilt Milk," a showcase of pivotal milk moments and artifacts and stories of farmer struggles. In the permanent collection, view pieces like L-train paint fragments, a "very old shovel," horse bones, a decaying birthday cake, geological core samples, Statue of Liberty memorabilia, vintage signs, a burlesque booth, and other oddities and bits of "junk" that tell the story of New York City. Make sure to check their event calendar as there's always something going on at this atypical establishment.

The Brick
Address: 579 Metropolitan Avenue

The Brick is not your usual theater. Featuring experimental shows, fringe-style performance and nerd humor, it's home to the annual Clown Festival and Comic Book Theater Festival. Check their schedule to see what quirky events are on the calendar for when you're in town, as there's sure to be something you've never experienced.

Brooklyn Bowl
Address: 61 Wythe Avenue

The Brooklyn Bowl is where locals head when they want to see live up-and-coming musical talent for cheap; however, one can also experience the joy that is buzzed bowling. Drink Brooklyn-sourced beers and international wines and spirits while enjoying 16 lanes, concerts projected on big screens over the pins, a DJ on Saturday nights and a social atmosphere.

The Meat Hook
Address: 100 Frost Street

At The Meat Hook they don't just sell sustainable farm-raised meats, they teach you how to cut them through a variety of butcher and cooking courses held in conjunction with the Brooklyn Kitchen. Some butcher classes offered include Knife Skills, Whole Fish Butchering, Pig Butchering and Knife Sharpening. If you're more interested in the cooking side of things, some options include Thai Street Food, Advanced Cake Decorating, A Taste of Spain, Homemade Pizza with Roberta's, Empanada and Handpie Making and the Art of Braising.

The Moon Show at Union Pool
Address: 484 Union Avenue

Sometimes this offbeat and hysterical variety show moves to other locations, but typically The Moon Show calls Union Pool home every third Tuesday at 8pm ($5). Expect everything from standup comedy to atypical dance ensembles to Lego animations to story pirates and much more.

Baked in Brooklyn
Address: 242 Wythe Avenue

Get in touch with your inner artist at Baked in Brooklyn, where you can choose from a variety of pottery and housewares (starting at $5), pay a studio fee of $9 and spend as long as you'd like painting and designing. They also host clay, painting and mosaic-making classes for children and adults. Bring a bottle of wine to enhance the fun and get your creative juices flowing.

Rockethub at Spike Hill
Address: 186 Bedford Avenue

Spike Hill hosts one of Brooklyn's most innovative open mic nights: Rockethub Takeoff Tuesday. Every Tuesday from 6pm to midnight you'll hear comedians, poetry, spoken word, live music and have the opportunity to shred on one of their beautiful Gibson guitars. Best of all, there's no cover to enjoy this quirky night of fun.

Artists & Fleas
Address: 70 N. 7th street

This weekend artist, designer and vintage market sells eclectic goods and period clothing, with an endless supply of one-of-a-kind pieces, gawk-worthy fashions and unusual products. At Artists & Fleas you can purchase everything from whimsical women's clothing to gold-gilded leaf necklaces to teeth grills to rings screaming c*nt to snarky handmade pouches and much, much more. Even if you're not interested in shopping, it's worth stopping in for an atypical browse.

Brooklyn Oenology
Address: 209 Wythe Avenue

Brooklyn Oenology is more than just a boutique winery, it's a place to truly enjoy a taste of New York through artisanal eats, beers, wine, spirits and artwork. While wineries in the city aren't unheard of -- although they're definitely not common -- what makes Brooklyn Oenology different is the variety of local tastings you can enjoy all under one roof, from Long Island whites to Port Chester gin to Walton Absinthe to Coney Island beer. I recommend opting for one of their delicious pairings, like whiskey, pickles and beef jerky or wine with chocolate and charcuterie.

The Burger Guru
Address: 98 Berry Street

At The Burger Guru, carnivores can satiate their cravings with exotic meat burgers like Canadian bison, domestic organic ostrich, Texas antelope, house-blend spicy lamb or premium lump crab, to name a few patty options. All their meats are sustainably farmed for a healthy and filling meal. Enhance the experience with one of their signature topping mixtures, like the "Williamsburger" with bourbon-sauteed mushrooms, caramelized onions and roasted red peppers or the "Jalapeno Bacon Crisp" featuring domestic baby Swiss, green leaf lettuce, plum tomatoes and cream-cheese stuffed jalapenos wrapped in applewood-smoked bacon. Make sure to save room for an organic chocolate chip shake or banana brioche bread pudding.

Bedford Avenue
Address: Bedford Avenue

They didn't make the website Halloween or Williamsmburg for nothing! When all else fails in your quest for quirky Williamsburg, order a coffee made from ethically-sourced beans and sit outside for some people watching. The subculture fashions, thought-provoking tattoos and avant-garde hairdos are unlike anything you'll find ANYWHERE else.
Guides.

Looking for a beyond-the-guidebook NYC experience and a trip you'll never forget? New York native, photographer and travel blogger Jessica Festa of Jessie on a Journey offers custom tours, photo safaris and photo follows (where she follows your group around NYC and takes professional photos for you to keep) -- click here for details -- and Airbnb accommodation. Discount accommodation and tour packages are available (her Airbnb guests receive 15% off all services).