It happens every year. There's at least one moment where you are walking outside when a gust of arctic wind slaps you in the face and you tell yourself this is the last winter you're ever going to be cold. Well, the threats of moving to a warmer climate were empty and the two ton winter jacket lined with sea lions isn't enough. It's going to happen again. The solution is simple-be outside less. However, New Yorkers are accustomed to being out and about, seeing new things and interacting with the world. So how, oh how, can you maximize inside time with your active nature? The answer is Bergen Street. On the east side of 5th Ave all the way to Flatbush is a condensed group of businesses that are as diverse as they are passionately executed. Some are part of an area run by the Pintchik brothers and they've approved businesses based on their desire to build a shopping plaza that is diverse. Whether you're hungry, looking for a way to enjoy snow or trying to look like a fashionable mom-to-be, Bergen's a great place to check-out when the region freezes over.

A Conversation Starter

Bergen Bagels can be great at the front end of your day trip or the back end. On the front end, it's a great place to grab a bagel that overflows with cream cheese and a coffee to sit, relax and gear up for the rest of your Bergen street experience. On the back end, it can be a great place to pick up the biggest muffin you've ever seen in your life. The muffins are so big that it's the perfect conversation piece to pull out of your bag to remedy any awkward silences. Yes, they're that big. Relax, have a bagel and prepare yourself for mammoth muffins at 473 Bergen St. (718) 789-7600.

You Can Melt In the Winter

Melt is the furthest point from the other places closer to Flatbush (I'm tempted to refer to this area where Bergen meets Flatbush as Berbush. I'm also tempted not to). However, it's certainly worth the extra few steps if for nothing else than their pork sliders at brunch. These tasty, savory and perfect personification of what a unique brunch item is, act as little energy pills that get you happy, satisfied and ready to take on the day. Melt is at 440 Bergen St. (Just east of 5th Ave). (718) 230-5925 www.meltnyc.com

You Mean Some People Actually Like Snow?!

One of the best ways to survive the winter is to give into it. Too many times I'll complain about how it's too cold, as I tighten my scarf and shove my frozen bare hands into the pockets of the wool blazer I've decided to wear as a winter coat. The people who actually enjoy winter aren't the people who avoid it, they're the people who gear up and use the natural elements to their advantage. Ride Brooklyn isn't just a bike store, they also carry snowboarding gear to keep you enjoying the elements instead of battling them. Even if you don't snowboard, it helps your perspective by being around people who actually track the radar hoping for snow. Ride on into Ride Brooklyn at 468 Bergen St. (347) 599-1340. www.ridebrooklynny.com

Words of Wisdom From Warren

Warren Zevon once told David Letterman that the way to get through life was to, "Enjoy every sandwich." Well, that's easy if you're eating those sandwiches at City Sub. Whether it's the meat sliced paper thin when you order or the toasted bread that melts in your mouth (they close the shop when they run out of bread for the day), City Sub nails it. Their no-frill philosophy really showcases their ability to put together a great, balanced sandwich. Ask anyone who's been there to describe their experience and their eyes will light up, as if you have a sandwich in your back pocket you want to give to someone. Heaven in the form of a sandwich is at 450 Bergen St. (718) 398-2592

Better Than the Beverage

One good thing about winter is that we don't spend all of the season bundled and braving the elements. For the moments when you've got to show off what's under all the gore-tex and lama fur, Private Stock has got your hip and casual gear covered. Named after the malt liquor, Private Stock has clothing, shoes and accessories that are pieced together in a cohesive, "chill with your friends and go to a party if you feel like it," collection. It's like the best parts of urban casual with a west coast pop-punk tint. Grab a pair of mid-top vans, a hoodie and some other clothes for the times you're just being cool and not cold. Private Stock is at 458 Bergen St. (718) 230-0055

Wait... What I Eat Matters?

No matter what order you hit up these places, Organic Heights is a good mid-day spot to recharge. The owner, Mark, is a firm believer that processed foods and refined sweeteners create or exasperate imbalances in our bodies which make us tired, prone to sickness, irritable or all the other stuff we wish we could change. Well, at Organic Heights, you can. Part apothecary, part cafe, Organic Heights has delicious vegetarian and vegan food items and a lot of nutritional and supplement know-how to keep you running at optimal levels. Stop by to grab some Cat's Claw (an immune booster) a delicious tempeh chili or just some nutritional information on how to keep balanced. Organic Heights is at 460 Bergen St. (718) 622-4303. www.organicheights.com

Hand Picked Class

If you're looking for something special to wear as you go out on the town in the evening, Eponymy is an excellent place to look. They carry vintage clothing and other one of a kind antique pieces that are elegant with a capital "E". Andrea Miller has been around antique collectors her whole life and has an especially well attuned eye for special pieces that will impress. Sorry, fellas, you're going to have to go hang out at Bark while the girls do some shopping because Eponymy only carries women's styles. Find that special something to wear from another era at 466 Bergen St. (718) 789-0301. www.shopeponymy.com

Winter-Beating Solutions - Erotic Edition

When it's cold outside, sometimes all you want to do is stay at home and enjoy the person/or thing that makes you feel good. Thankfully, Babeland has all your erotic tools to put together your warm house of satisfaction (I am currently picturing the most interesting tool belt anyone has ever seen). The people at Babeland want you to be comfortable in their store and have focused as much on the layout, lighting and aesthetic as they have on the customer service. Babeland is not about seedy secrets as much as it's about a general enjoyment. Find all your tools for maximum enjoyment at 462 Bergen St. (718) 638-3820. www.babeland.com

You're Never Too Stuffed For One

If you're looking for balance in the form of meat to bun, stop by Bark for some hot dogs and their signature Bark Red Ale, made by Sixpoint. 474 Bergen St. (718) 789-1939. www.barkhotdogs.com

A Reason To Work

We all have those days where we're doing something we don't want to do at work (weekly progress reports, anyone?) and we ask ourselves, "why do this?" Unfortunately, the answer often turns to money. However, BKLYN Larder can be your new motivation. Think of an hour of work as a variety of incredible cheeses or your pantry full of their sustainably produced grocery items. Try the locally produced McClure's pickles, the wide variety of olive oils or even their own sauces and gelato. It's all as beautiful to look at as it is tasty to eat. They also have prepared food and tasting demos - previous demos included Plowshares Coffee and Mazi Piri Piri hot sauce. It's the new age general food store of a forgotten time and it's just a few steps off Bergen at 228 Flatbush Ave. (718) 783-1250 www.bklynlarder.com

This Year's Hottest Accessory - A Baby Bump

If you were to actually take advantage of all the wonderful food options on Bergen in one day, you'd be epically stuffed. Whether you're stomach's sticking out from eating too much or you're an expecting mother, Bump is your place to outfit yourself without compromising your style. Bump preaches to give up wine, coffee and sushi, but not fashion. Co-Founders Hannah Macdonald and SaSaDi Odunsi want to rid maternity wear from its stretch pants and moo-moos perception and show that women can remain fashionable for all of life's different styles (work, casual, special occasion and even those intimate, "how babies get there in the first place" times). Let the world know you're not going to stop being you just because your preparing to be a mother by hitting up Bump at 464 Bergen St. (718) 638-1960. www.bumpbrooklyn.com

Cause Carrying A Baby In A Milk Crate Will Get You Nasty Looks Around Here

If you're about to have a bump, just had a bump or simply want to be around all things baby, check out Lulu's for Baby on 5th Ave (just a few feet north of Bergen). Brigitte, the owner of Lulu's for Baby, has been around toys for a while - she is also the owner of Lulu's Cuts and Toys (a toy store and hair cutting establishment) since 2001. She noticed that while there were businesses that catered to under one-year-olds or "baby demographic", they were all clothing stores. Lulu's for Baby carries necessary parent gear (Moby/Ergo carriers, strollers, etc.) and toys, toys, toys. When talking about how today's "Moms-to-be" are so informed because of the Internet, Brigitte says, "they still need to take their stroller for a test drive before they feel comfortable with their purchase." Check out their vintage reissued Fischer Price toys and their online store with registry (coming soon). Lulu's for Baby is at 44 5th Ave Brooklyn NY 11217 (718) 399-2540. www.lulusforbaby.com

I'm Waiting For The John McCain Comic Book To Come Out

In many ways, Bergen Street Comics is the Babeland for nerds. Ok, that's not fair, and if I hadn't recently had a conversation with my mother about why Star Wars is more important than science, I might actually be able to make fun of someone. The truth is that Bergen Street Comics isn't your typical comic book store. It's the comic book store built to look like an art gallery, recognizing that the stereotype of nerdy, stay in the basement, comic book readers no longer applies. There's everything from your classics to newer books, such as Scott Pilgrim, and even a Barack Obama biography comic book for those looking for something a bit more political. Get your comic on at 470 Bergen St. (718) 230-5600. www.bergenstreetcomics.com

Leave Your Pole and Ice Auger At Home

When you think of fish and winter, you probably think of some grizzled sap sitting on a little stool in the middle of a frozen pond, hovering over a hole in the ice. Mmm... sounds delicious and sensible. Fish and Sip is a great place to rethink fish and winter. Their warm and casual dining room is the perfect place to enjoy their inexpensive varieties of fish. You can get grouper, ahi tuna, salmon, cajun talapia, trout sea bass, red snapper and flounder from $8 - $13 with your choice of two big portioned sides. You'll be stuffed, but even so, you should try to find a way to fit in one of their incredible deserts. Their baked goods are made on premise and they are worth a trip to Fish and Sip alone. Swim downstream on Bergen or upstream on Flatbush to grab a flounder and some amazing chocolate cake. 216 Flatbush Ave (Additional Entrance on Bergen). (718) 636-2256

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