New York, NY - Crossing Over The Williamsburg Bridge

New York, NY - A bridge worth the walk.

WILLIAMSBURG BRIDGE

This 7,308-foot suspension bridge was the longest in the world when it was completed in 1903. Only the north side walkway is open, so once you get to Brooklyn, walk down South Fourth Street and make a right on Havemeyer Street over to Broadway. Turn left into the gritty kind of business district that seems to exist everywhere elevated trains rattle overhead. Then take the first right down Marcy Avenue.

You’re headed toward Lee Avenue, the main Chasidic strip, a fascinating place to explore on a Sunday (on Saturday, businesses are closed). The signs are in Yiddish and Hebrew, and the restaurants divided into dairy and meat. Conservative dress - long sleeves, long pants - is required for men and women in some places.

That includes Gottlieb’s restaurant, on Roebling Street, which serves pastrami sandwiches and noodle and potato kugel. Your dairy alternative is the signless Cafe W, on Lee Avenue, a busy place with a salad bar, brick oven pizza and sushi. Williamsburg also has a kosher candy store, which opened last March: Chocolate Castle has Israeli brands like Klik and Elite/Megadim.

On your way back over the bridge, don’t miss the "Leaving Brooklyn - Oy Vey" sign.