HOME Travel Guide Common Sense Travel
decorative font style

Polaroid of the Week: Discovering Gregos' Iconic Face Art in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Polaroid of the Week: Discovering Gregos Iconic Face Art in Williamsburg, BrooklynMy final week in New York (for now) arrived, so I stepped away from my laptop to embrace the city's summer spirit. I reconnected with friends through cycling rides, sunset picnics, bustling food markets, and rooftop al fresco dinners. This year, I finally kayaked the East River—a bucket-list item from the past two summers. It exceeded expectations, reinforcing my need for more water adventures (my last was in Austin this May).

In Williamsburg, I hunted fresh graffiti and murals—a favorite pursuit from New York to Bangkok or Buenos Aires. The highlight: spotting a Gregos face, precisely one month after Berlin. His July Facebook post about plastering his 3D self-portrait 74 times across NYC had me hooked, though it took nearly a month to find one (likely my only sighting). I've encountered his expressive faces in Berlin and London, and now seek one in L.A., my current base.

This French street artist began his signature 'face art' in Paris, expanding across France and internationally to Japan, Malta, Brazil, and Greece. Faces vary—smiling, tongue-out, somber—in bold colors. Some are simply adhered, others integrate with the wall for one-of-a-kind pieces. Explore the list of over 1,000 global locations—one might be near you! Share your finds on my Facebook page 😊.

For a deeper dive into my August highlights, check my monthly roundup: Life Lately & Upcoming Travels: August 2016 Edition.

Tourist Attraction
  • Polaroid of the Week: Why Bogotá Surprised Me with Its Vibrant Culture and Street Art

    After over a month on Colombias hot, humid coastline, arriving in high-altitude Bogotá was a refreshing shock. Coming from Santa Marta, the cooler mountain air felt invigorating. Id heard mixed reviews—many travelers spend just a few days here due to past concerns about safety—yet I quickly discovered its hidden gems. Teaming up with a local expert who knew the best salsa bars and vegetarian spots helped ease my initial unease.I shed my preconceptions fast. After nearly a week, I was hooked. A f

  • Polaroid of the Week: Exploring Austin, Texas – TravelCon and Top City Highlights

    Last week, I returned to one of my favorite U.S. cities: Austin. This marked my second visit this year, following a delightful long weekend in February that offered a welcome escape from the East Coast winter. The primary draw was the inaugural TravelCon, a standout conference featuring 80 speakers and 600 attendees. It exceeded expectations, and Ill be attending the next one in Boston in June 2019. To fully immerse myself, I scheduled three days before and after the event to revisit beloved foo

  • Polaroid of the Week: Captivating Street Art in Silver Lake, Los Angeles

    Though my tight work schedule in Los Angeles prevented me from ticking off my entire to-do list, I revisited favorites like Santa Monica, Venice, and West Hollywood. One neighborhood I was determined to explore before leaving was Silver Lake. Often called the Brooklyn of LA or more precisely the Williamsburg of LA, Silver Lake topped Forbes inaugural list of Americas Best Hipster Neighborhoods. CNN Money also ranked it in the top ten best big-city neighborhoods in the U.S. Naturally, I had to s