BOOM!
all the new pizza spots to try this month and creative spaces to get your eyes on
This week we’re sharing our updated Williamsburg Neighborhood Guide, featuring all the coolest new spots to grab a bite, highlighting gallery shows and poetry readings, and introducing you to our cool new friend: Hyun Jung Lee.
Baby Sips
There was a point in time, around when we first started this newsletter, when it seemed like a new bar opened in the Lower East Side every day. So, frankly, it’s been a while since we’ve been excited by a new spot in that neighborhood. The dry spell ends with Baby Sips, a self-described, “working class wine bar,” which opened just over a month ago. With only a handful of seats, inventive small plates, and a wine list FULL of natural wines, this is sure to become downtown’s wine bar of the summer. Open Wednesdays–Sundays at 176 Rivington St from 3p-close…including July 4th!
Lucky Charlie
This week, Brooklyn-born pizza maker, Chef Nino Coniglio, opened his newest spot – Lucky Charlie in Bushwick. The classic interior is inspired by the New York pizzerias of the 1920’s and features a selection of pizzas, a seasonally rotating menu of pastas and mains, and a large selection of Sicilian wines. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 5p-4a (yes, that says 4 AM!)
Ops East Village
This week, one of our longtime Bushwick favorites, Ops, opened their second spot in the East Village. The new location will expand its sourdough pizza and natural wine program to add “tavernettas” – their take on the Midwestern bar pie. As ever, Ops will also feature a handful of baked pasta, salads, and large plates. Right on the corner of 2nd ave and E 11th St, Ops’ second home makes complete and total sense.
For a lot of people, New Yorkers included, Williamsburg is what comes to mind whenever someone says, "Brooklyn." The sprawling neighborhood may have commercialized a bit from its hipster awakening in the early 2000's, but there are still tons of exciting independent businesses dotting the blocks – including new ones opening up every day.
We've updated our exhaustive Williamsburg hit list, from bakeries and cafes to the best nightlife and places to stay – all with a focus on cool, local, and unique spots that you MUST check out in the neighborhood. With nearly no other neighborhood having as many new openings are Williamsburg, it was about time we put together our latest and greatest.
This summer, the Brooklyn Public Library will host the first-ever U.S. exhibition dedicated to Tove Jansson - the Finnish artist, writer, and creator of the Moomins. The Door Is Always Open opened earlier this week at the library’s central branch on Grand Army Plaza and will extend across the borough through satellite programming all summer. Step into Jansson’s universe through immersive installations, archival materials, multilingual editions of her books, and public programming, now until September 30th!
John Zinonos Poetry Reading
Next Wednesday, photographer and poet John Zinonos will be reading excerpts from his first book, almost too wonderful, at Charles Moffett Gallery in Tribeca. The reading will take place within the gallery’s current exhibition, Smoking Mirror, by Esteban Ramón. Free and open to all, the reading will, in the artists words, “offer intimate, poetic vignettes that convey both fragility and a sense of impending chaos.” The reading will take place between 6:30 - 8:30p with RSVPs kindly made to hannah@charlesmoffett.com
Ever wished someone would just plan a fun day trip for you? That’s exactly what we do.
At Guess Where Trips, we create curated, one-day road trip itineraries with a twist: the destinations are a surprise until you go. No guesswork, no hours of research. Just an exciting day full of unexpected discoveries!
Here’s how it works:
Take the quiz to be matched with your perfect road trip based on your preferences & location.
We send you a beautifully designed package filled with sealed envelopes.
Each envelope reveals a new surprise stop as your day unfolds. Think waterfalls, hikes, quirky shops, local eats, photo ops, and more.
All trips are designed to start from New York City and take place over one day (typically 6–10 hours roundtrip). Each mystery trip is normally $65 per car, but they’re 50% OFF until July 6th (Code: USA50)
Use code "COOLSTUFF20" for 20% off trips in July & August
Interested in promoting your service or small business in a Coolstuff Classifieds feature? Send us an email to: hello@coolstuff.nyc
Hellbender x Una Pizza Napoletana
Chef Anthony Mangieri and his acclaimed Una Pizza Napoletana are continuing their Una Night Only collaboration series, with cool friend Yara Herrera of Hellbender next Thursday July 10th. We are super excited about the idea of blending Hellbender’s Mexican-American culinary style with Una’s Neapolitan pies…YUM! Una Night Only has brought together some amazing chefs from around the country to collaborate on specialty pizzas with Una for one night only. Walk-ins are available so stop by Una anytime throughout the night to snag a table!
A portion of the sales of each specialty pizza is donated to Refettorio Harlem, the non-profit organization that rescues otherwise imperfect food from waste, transforming surplus ingredients into nourishing meals served to food-insecure and socially isolated communities.
Lyseé x Corima
For one night only, Northern Mexican restaurant Corima will host Lyseé for a collaborative dessert-focused tasting menu (with a few savory bites along the way.) Happening on July 8th, Chef Eunji Lee of Lyseé will join Chef Fidel Caballero and Pastry Chef Erick Rocha of Corima to create a totally unique menu of 5-courses plus an optional beverage pairing. Tickets are already going fast and can be purchased here on Resy ($145.)
Meet Hyun, a New York-based brand designer currently working at 2x4. She has taken a conceptual and experimental approach to design with projects ranging from corporate identity systems to large-scale exhibition branding. Previously, Hyun has worked at some of the city’s most interesting design studios like Order Design, XXIX, Gretel, and Decade. We caught up with her to hear how she pushes to explore the boundaries of branding through her work.
How did your career as a brand designer begin?
My journey into brand design began with a fascination for exhibitions and spatial experiences that made a lasting impact—both visually and emotionally. I was drawn to the way visual design could craft immersive environments that linger in people’s minds long after. That interest naturally expanded into branding, which I came to see as a broader, layered language taking shape across print, screen, and space.
Through various design experiences, I learned that effective branding translates complex ideas into meaningful, cohesive systems. Over time, I’ve developed into a designer who values visual presence, cultural relevance, empathy for tone, and adaptability—approaching form, color, typography, and medium with thoughtful intention.
Tell us about your role at 2x4.
My work at 2x4 spans brand identity, exhibition design, immersive events, and culture-focused projects—often combining physical and digital elements to create holistic experiences. I’ve contributed to projects such as Prada Mode, iGuzzini Brand Refresh, and Miu Miu Tales & Tellers, and have worked with other clients including Snug Harbor, Hyundai, and Instagram.
Whether collaborating with a global brand or a local institution, I focus on shaping design systems where concept and execution align with clarity and intention. Being part of a studio that encourages bold experimentation, cultural insight, and a commitment to craftsmanship has truly inspired the way I approach my creative work.
What’s your favorite part about the New York design community?
What I love about New York’s design community is how diverse and alive it feels—there’s always something new to see, hear, or learn, even just walking down the street. There’s a unique energy in how people here collaborate, share ideas, and push creative boundaries. What sets it apart is how design continuously engages with everyday life, people, culture, and aesthetics, fostering constant evolution. Being surrounded by so many talented, driven, and generous individuals has deeply shaped how I think, work, and grow.
How does your previous work at design studios like Order, XXIX, Gretel, and Decade inform your work today at 2x4?
Working across different studios exposed me to a range of design cultures, creative processes, and ways of thinking. I’ve been part of teams with focuses ranging from branding and print to digital, and had the opportunity to collaborate with people across disciplines, each bringing unique perspectives.
That range of experience helped me stay adaptable, open-minded, and multidisciplinary in my practice. It pushed me to expand my limits and continuously grow. These experiences shaped how I approach branding, and they continue to inform how I listen, build ideas, and express them through design at 2x4.
Do you have a favorite branding project you've worked on?
Two projects I really enjoyed working on with the 2x4 team are the iGuzzini Brand Refresh and Miu Miu Tales & Tellers. These experiences expanded my understanding of branding—showing me how a visual system can reflect identity, evoke emotion, and connect people with a brand across different contexts and media. I especially appreciated creating thoughtful design steps that deepen the relationship between people and a brand. With iGuzzini, we reimagined the brand’s visual language by developing a cohesive system that includes typography, color strategy, and photographic art direction—creating an identity that’s both future-forward and honors its legacy. For Miu Miu Tales & Tellers, we crafted a graphic language that reflected the exhibition’s thematic content across physical collateral, digital elements, and the exhibition space. What I value most about these projects is the chance to craft visual systems that reflect the brand’s story and purpose, creating meaningful connections and cultural resonance with the audience. Moving forward, I’m also hoping to collaborate more with local New York businesses—bringing the same care and creativity to help them tell their stories in ways that are authentic, memorable, and true to the New York community.