By Jennifer Ciotta

As Henry Miller was strongly influenced by Louis Armstrong in his day, one can still find jazz music in trendy Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  Galapagos Art Space, located in an old mayonnaise factory in Williamsburg, Miller's childhood home, hosts jazz musicians and other various entertainment such as burlesque shows on Mondays and rock shows on Saturdays.  IO, a 100-year-old restaurant, opens the patio for garden dining, while live jazz streams from the backroom artists.  In between Williamsburg's nightlife, a tourist can visit 662 Driggs Avenue, which was Miller's childhood home; however, it is not open to visitors thus one can only enjoy the exterior view.

Meanwhile, a tour of Williamsburg features old warehouses turned into modern day, brightly-colored apartment buildings, commonly used as artists' lofts.  The streets are filled with "hipsters," the Generation Y's version of "yuppies."  However, "hipsters" dress in ultra-trendy clothes, turning a simple midday walk down Bedford Avenue into a fashion phenomenon.  Spray-painted murals lighten up the exteriors of buildings while amongst the pop culture hype, Hasidic Jewish families occupy sidewalks, dressed in old-fashioned attire while going to and from temple. 

In his days in Paris, Miller analyzed Hamlet, thus a trip to Central Park for the annual Shakespeare in the Park festival is necessary.  Each year over 80,000 audience members take in the free shows.  In the past, performances have included thespians such as Denzel Washington, Natalie Portman and Meryl Streep.