[This summer a dream internship with Lucky magazine moved me from Austin, Texas, where I’ve spent all 21 years of my life, to New York City for the summer. Come along for the ride and follow me through this column as I take on all that the city has in store for me. I’ll share tips I’ve picked up along the way about everything from how to pack (stop, drop and roll people!) to dating to fitting in (or standing out) and so much more.]

Go To Brooklyn…Because All The Cool Kids Are Doing It

Coming from Austin, where hipster kids love to roam the streets on their bikes, wearing their most vintage pearl-snap button-downs and jorts and listening to the best bands are ones no one has ever heard of, I knew Brooklyn would be a little taste of home. Sure Brooklyn is hipster, but it’s also beautiful, vibrant and perfectly laid-back.

Here’s my perfect Saturday in Brooklyn:

Tip #25 – Start off at a Brooklyn Flea market.

If you’re heading out to Hipsterville on a weekend, you’re in luck! Brooklyn Flea will be in full swing in Fort Greene and Williamsburg. If sifting through vintage sunglasses and endless piles of shabby chic mason jars is your thing, head to Fort Greene flea anytime from 10 am- 5 pm but if walking through piles of old stuff makes you feel like you’re at Grandma’s, head to Smorgasboard in Williamsburg for the all-food version of the flea market. At Smorgasboard, foodies rejoice as they indulge in Rhubarb hand-shaved ice cups, Asian-fusion hot dogs and so much more.

Tip #26 – Hit up the Brooklyn Brewery…and maybe get a little drunk.

Tours at the Brooklyn Brewery are free on Saturdays and happen on the hour from 1 pm to 5 pm. Since weekends tend to be busy for the brewery, you might have to wait around if the first tour you planned on taking fills up before you get there. It’s a good thing there’s plenty to do, ahem, drink there. While you’re there be sure try my personal favorite, Brooklyn Pilsner.

Tip #27 – Smith Street is you credit card’s worst enemy but it’s adorable.

Serious shoppers are at home on Smith Street. The street is full of boutiques and shoe stores to die for, not to mention tons of restaurants with patios in the back. Robin des Bois is a great French restaurant with an adorable outdoor patio that transports you to a chic French backyard. The baked Manchego cheese is a must-have appetizer and the brunch is amazing as well. You haven’t eaten in Brooklyn until you’ve eaten outdoors.

Tip #28 – Walk the Brooklyn Bridge.

Hit the promenade on Brooklyn’s waterfront and take in the breathtaking views of Manhattan at the end of the day, while the city lights twinkle against a dimming sky. Walk the bridge back to the city and stop along the way to for great photo ops. The walk takes about 30 minutes and takes you right to City Hall park. You can also walk a few blocks over and catch the opposite view of the river and Brooklyn from Manhattan’s side at the South Street Seaport.

Get the first 24 tips for living it up in the city right here!

I have to confess that I’m a sucker for talent. I mean, who isn’t? If all these dancing/singing/acting/yadda yadda reality shows are doing so well, then the American public is certainly thirsty for some grade-A pizzazz. But while the hometown hotties on such shows are nice, what’s really effable is someone who’s taken time to hone their skills and grow into the limelight. A self-made man. And who’s a better example of that than Mos Def?

This week, he’s totally tops on my effable charts.

The Brooklyn hip-hop lyricist, born Dante Terrell Smith, first started recording music alongside his brother and sister as part of a group called Urban Thermal Dynamics. He has since broken off as a solo artist, and his 1999 album Black on Both Sides was his breakout achievement. He has also collaborated with such big names as Talib Kweli, Kanye West, and Common. And his slick, sexy, introspective side acquired a lot of recognition for his work on Russell Simmon’s Def Poetry on HBO. Confidence + smooth delivery= ultra-effability.

But that’s not all. He’s a respected actor whose Hollywood resume includes roles on The Chappelle Show, The Italian Job, and the newest Michel Gondry flick, Be Kind Rewind. Mos Def has been nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and multiple Grammys. Yeah, you could say he knows his way around the entertainment industry. Meow!

Mos Def’s newest film, Cadillac Records, opens today. How am I excited? Let me count the ways: 1) It’s a ’50s period piece (retro movies are always fun), 2) there’s sure to be a great soundtrack (it’s about a recording studio!) and 3) Mos Def plays Chuck Berry, the dynamic early rock-n-roll star. So while my man will be singing “Johnny B. Goode,” I’ll be thinking: Mos Def, be good to me tonight!

At first just an underground scene limited mostly to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, “hipster” is now a term that defines an attitude and a lifestyle that has exploded into mainstream culture. Like most cultural movements, there are definitely several aspects of the hipster look that are okay to adapt (i.e. v-neck t-shirts are flattering on many people). But the following is a list of hipster trends that — like confessing to actually being a hipster — will always be taboo.

1. Fake Eyeglasses

The ultimate in hipsterdom; the concept of non-prescription eye-ware treads that fine line between excess and minimalism that hipsters work so hard to maintain. For $50 at American Apparel, you too can insult people who actually have vision problems! Officially worse than the sunglasses-at-night trend.

2. Neon Skinny Jeans

They make your legs look fat, even if you weigh 80 pounds. And neon colors are flattering on almost no one. You may think you’re being ironic by wearing them, but save the eyesore ensembles for Halloween.

3. Runs In Your Stockings

When it comes to putting an outfit together these days, clashing is in. But one mis-match that’s just inexcusable is the clash between clothes that are not ripped…and clothes that are. That’s right, I’m talking about your stockings. Jeans are one thing, but stockings cost about $2.99 at your local drugstore for a new pair. Ripped pantyhose don’t make you look fashion conscious, but they do make it seem like you were recently unconscious.

4. The Keffiyeh

The keffiyeh is here not because it doesn’t look good, but because as a trend, it’s dangerous. The keffiyeh is a traditional Middle Eastern head garment that, by way of Yassir Arafat, became a popular symbol of Palestinian pride. Somehow it became a trademark of hipsters, too. I’m not making any statement on the Israeli-Palestinian issue here, but you should know that your scarf does. And if you just happened to toss one around your neck for aesthetic purposes and weren’t aware of the keffiyeh’s cultural history, be aware that ignorance is never attractive.

5. Greasy, Unkempt Hair

When your personal hygiene begins to suffer, it’s never a good sign. These are your glory years! At some point later in life, when you have gray hair and wrinkles (not to say gray hair and wrinkles aren’t beautiful), you’ll probably long for the days of full-bodied, youthful hair. Please take care of it while you have it. You can still rock your v-neck shirts and Ray-Bans with a proper coif, trust me.

The Real World is making its way to Brooklyn for its 21st season. In case you’re counting, this will be the third time the show has been in New York City. I know Brooklyn is its own distinct borough filled with unique charm, but when you take a subway or two right over to the previous Real World houses, it’s just too close. It’s time for the folks at MTV to branch out. Here are some suggestions for future destinations:

Minneapolis

It was heavily rumored that the Real World was heading to this upper Mid-western urban center for its 19th season. Sydney may have provided the castmates with sunny beaches and hot dudes with accents, but Minneapolis is pretty cool too. There’s a fantastic art scene, friendly locals, giant university, funky bars and the town is surrounded by gorgeous lakes. Plus, the the weather isn’t so bad in the summer.

Washington D.C.

Nothing goes better with historic buildings, sketchy elected officials and government offices than 20-somethings with ‘roid rage and girls in hooker boots. D.C. is vibrant, has a ton of cute neighborhoods and lots of things to do. Plus, it’s the most walk-able city in the nation, perfect for coming home drunk. Can you picture Real World folks as congressional pages? Tour guides? The options are endless.

Atlanta, GA

They don’t call it Hotlanta for nothing! Atlanta is rockin’ the southern charm, great food, and a handful of quality colleges. Plus it’s home to the epicenter of Southern rap, hell, most rap. It’s also boasts one of the best aquariums in the country. Stuck up young people cleaning out shark tanks? Yes please!

There are lots of other great places too. Have they considered Portland Oregon, Phoenix, Detroit?! The Brooklyn season of The Real World is probably going to be just fine, but I think it’s time for something new. There are too many untapped fun, charming, camera-friendly cities in this country and around the globe.

Where do you think the cameras should head next? Is your hometown aching for some drama? Sell your city in the comments!

It’s the final sign that the Apocalypse is here–Winehouse and Doherty

I tend to only date guys with a nice set of Moobs

Happy Bea-Day, Bea Arthur!

Jane Doe rape kits are officially on the books

Man’s Best Friend is really looking out for you

Most days, I wish I went to Harvard.

I am so over hipsters–and now N.E.R.D.

One day, I hope to be pretty like Chase Crawford

Yay, another installment of Why I’ll Never Date Spencer Pratt

How is The Real Word even relevant anymore?

• Authorities in Park Slope say that a little girl who draws on the sidewalk is to be fined for graffiti. Well, good! I needed just one more reason to think that Brooklyn is totally, totally lame. (Brooklyn Press)

• Pirates vs Zombies! Apparently, they couldn’t wait two more weeks. (Pioneer Press)

• Best/worst quote of the week: “[She was] Just holding the baby out of the window and I was like ‘Oh no … no … no.’” (Baynews9.com)

• Kinda like the story above, except reverse! I can’t help but think the little guy is adorable (and a better driver than me!). (Yahoo!)

• Parents who sign their kids up for pole dancing lessons are f*cking idiots…but, like, if you’re 9 years old and dancing on a pole while your other friends are playing T-Ball…wouldn’t you kinda know something isn’t quite right? (COED Magazine)

hip·ster1 [hip-ster] –noun Slang.

1. a particular breed of middle to upper class 20 some things that tend to inhabit surrounding neighborhoods of urban areas. The hipster generally has money, yet shuns conventional materialism. They try to appear starving, broken, and angry, yet have the comfort of living in $2000 lofts. Trust funds are a common commodity among hipsters.

The goal of the hipster is to look ironic.

The hipster handbook defines the hipster as “One who possesses tastes, social attitudes, and opinions deemed cool by the cool. (Note: it is no longer recommended that one use the term “cool”: a Hipster would instead say “deck.”)

The Hipster walks among the masses in daily life but is not a part of them and shuns or reduces to kitch anything held dear by the mainstream. A Hipster ideally possesses no more than 2% body fat.”

It becomes a difficult task to then differentiate between those who actually cannot eat, shower, or afford clothes. The hipster’s style aesthetic is influenced by the homeless. The hairstyles worn by the hipster is generally ragged, dirty, and has the appearance of a lack of care though often hours of care is put into the upkeep of said look.

In areas such as Williamsburg is generally safe to assume that anyone possessing this look is indeed a hipster.

Clutching their Ipods and sipping PBR, the hipster has taken over areas that were once affordable and turned them into a hipster oasis prompting stores such as Brooklyn Industries and American Apparel to move into these neighborhoods.

In main urban areas, like Manhattan, it becomes difficult to distinguish between “homeless” and “hipster.” Unkept hair, dirty clothes, a general disdain for life in general? Homeless or hipster? You decide!

Test your skills with these nifty photos so you don’t give spare change to someone with a trust fund. Play the game after the jump:

Click on a photo to determine “Hipster or Homeless?” Good Luck.

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I used to hide my little books of craziness around my room so that no one would find them. If anyone got even remotely close to their hidden location I would spaz like there was no tomorrow. No one could read it. No one.

The first time I pulled the old journals out after years of not seeing them— Oh. My. God. I was a freaking looney tune! Reading the entry about losing my virginity? How dramatic can you get? I mean it was dramatic, but you would have thought I was writing Wuthering Heights, or something. I wrote 14 fucking pages. And I shit you not, the guy is in jail now (that was really embarrassing to admit). I mean, I’m so much less dramatic now… seriously.

When I heard about Cringe, a monthly event held at Freddy’s Bar and Backroom in Brooklyn, NY, I couldn’t believe that people actually did this. Cringe allows anyone in the room to get up on stage in a room jam packed with people, and read your old diaries, letters, poems—anything cringe-worthy basically. The event has become so popular, it’s hard to get in the door now.

I have to give it up to the people who actually read things. I could never do it. Perhaps I haven’t moved on far enough from those angsty teen days. Perhaps the fact that I’ve been obsessing about the same guy for close to a decade now makes it all too close to home. Perhaps… I could never in a million years. I even tried to copy a piece of an old entry into this post, and I couldn’t. And I’m not even looking at you people.

Despite my own fears, I think it’s an awesome idea. To me, it’s a like a superior version of Post Secret. A clip from a reading was printed in the most recent issue of Paste, and it’s hilarious. Maybe one day I’ll gather up the nerve to sit down with a bottle of wine and good friends and share, but… until then, my secret lunacy is still my own.