2. Halcyon: Cool history and Brooklyn staple record shop

Located in DUMBO and paired with an art gallery and a design boutique, Halcyon has origins that speak to a Brooklyn that is very different from the one that we know today. Founder Shawn Schwartz opened the first Halcyon in 1999 with the idea of recreating the vibe of the “record salons” he would host for his friends in his nearby Cobble Hill home. There was a bar with coffee, beer, and wine paired with a cozy lounge with a rotating decor. Once called “The Beating Heart of NYC’s Underground” by Time Out New York’s 2001 Clubs edition, Halcyon has adapted to its new setting but has maintained what Schwartz set out to do: create a comfortable place for people to find cool music. Self-proclaimed, “Brooklyn’s top purveyor of underground electronic dance music vinyl records- real DJs serving real music to real people since ’99.”