His habitats Harlem, Williamsburg, Astoria/Long Island City
His profession Freelance writer or Web designer
Income $50,000
His baby’s ride Graco Quattro Tour, because he doesn’t want to appear pretentious

HIS HAUNTS

• Harlem
• Williamsburg
• Astoria/Long Island City

There’s not much to say about the Hipster Dad that hasn’t already been well documented in recent years in New York media and by the soi disant poster boy for the Hipster Dad fellowship, Neal Pollack. But here’s a recap: The Hipster Dad wants his baby to listen to the same music he does (Hot Chip, Broken Social Scene and, of course, Sonic Youth); he never wears a suit and tie (retro-inspired sneakers and vintage Levi’s are more his bag); and he doesn’t think he needs to change his lifestyle just because he has reproduced (and so his new baby becomes his best drinking buddy and live-show companion).

Basically, he’s the anti–Traditional Dad (see page 26) and proud of it. We’d say that this guy’s been done to death—aren’t there any new daddy-type phenomena out there? Geek Dads? Art Deco Dads?—but this boy-man’s numbers are only multiplying. If you need proof, just walk into any babyGap, where skulls with crossbones are just as popular on the merchandise as teddy bears, a trend that was driven by you-know-who.

But no matter, thinks Melanie Williams, owner of Pickleboots, a Brooklyn store specializing in infant bedding; she’s seen her share of new dads who want to make sure their babies don’t sleep in a crib environment that’s, God forbid, traditional. “They’re always really good-looking,” she says. “And they have great taste.”