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Drinks
05/25/17 10:50am

Sips in the sunshine: Outdoor Drinks 2017

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It’s that time of year again, when you want to drink your favorite cocktail, spritzer or beer outside. Here’s a selection of some of our favorite places in Brooklyn (and a couple in Queens) for sips in the sunshine.

Coming Soon

Parklife in progress: the brand-new bar and restaurant will be open year-round with indoor seating for 20 and a 4,000-square-foot lot for outdoor eating and drinking. Photo: Parklife

Parklife
Coming soon to 636 Degraw St.
Gowanus
When Julie Kim and Scott Koshnoodi were forced to relocate their beloved Gowanus venue Littlefield because the landlord wouldn’t renew its lease, they not only found a great warehouse around the corner, they got a lot of open space to work with—4,000 square feet to be precise, directly in back of the new Littlefield. When it opens in June, Parklife will become a year-round bar and restaurant featuring Mexican food from the geniuses working the kitchen at El Atoradero in Prospect Heights. Parklife will be most pleasant, of course, in summer, seated at one of the 12 communal tables outside or on a lawn chair, sipping one of their new signature cocktails like a mezcal, jalapeno syrup and citrus blend called Summer Friends or the Fake It Till Ya Make it—a frozen spin on the classic Penicillin cocktail with blended scotch whiskey, lemon ginger honey syrup and a single-malt scotch. The anticipated opening of the new Littlefield is next week, Parklife should follow the second week of June. –Nicole Davis

Rooftops

Rooftop Reds
Brooklyn Navy Yard, Building #275
Open Wednesday through Sunday

Take a friend, or a date, to Rooftop Reds in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and your cred for knowing the most interesting places for a drink will go through the roof–pretty literally. This rooftop spot is a little walk into the Navy Yard, up a few flights of stairs, to a heavenly roof topped with grape vines, hammocks and tables for drinking wine. (That is one caveat to this experience, if you don’t like wine, there’s not a lot here for you, other than the spectacular view of the river and Manhattan.) Order a flight of rosé and then continue with a bottle of whichever one you liked the most. New this year they’ve started a reservation service–you can do it online, even just minutes before you show up, so that when you go through the security booth at the Sand and Navy St. entrance, your name will pop right up and you can enter with zero hassle. –Annaliese Griffin

The view from the Westlight. Photo: @thewilliamvale

Westlight at William Vale
111 N. 12th St. 
Williamsburg
Yes, Westlight was featured in the new season of Master of None, so you know it’s hip. But beyond that, the cocktails are large and stiff, the small plates (under the auspices of Chef Andrew Carmellini) yummy and the views incomparable. Located on top of the William Vale Hotel in Williamsburg, this spot is the tallest in the area. –Georgia Kral

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Featured
05/24/17 7:49pm

Your Ideal Week: May 25-31, Memorial Day weekend is here

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A carpet of bluebells is blooming at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Photo: BBG

Memorial Day weekend is nigh, and if you are jetting off the Hamptons, the Catskills, the Shore, or somewhere even more exotic, well, good for you, lucky duck! The rest of us will be here holding down the fort, but don’t feel too bad for us because there is–as always–a lot to do around these parts over the course of the next week. On Friday night, lace up your skates and get ready to do the hustle at Lola Star’s Dreamland Roller Disco, which is doing Saturday Night Fever-themed version of its popular skate night at the LeFrak Center in Prospect Park from 7:30-10pm. After selling out a Friday night show at King’s Theater, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have added a second night on Saturday and there are still tickets available. If you happened to catch them when they performed at Celebrate Brooklyn! a few years back, you know that it’s worth the effort.

Although we’re officially in Fleet Week and there are bound to be lots of NYC noobs out and about, in general it is always nice to capitalize upon a holiday weekend when lots of peeps are out of town to check out the touristy areas you usually avoid like the plague. Wanna finally make the trip up to the Cloisters? Or to see the Whitney Biennial or the carpet of bluebells on display as far as the eye can see in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens? Now is definitely the time to do it. And you can use the time to plan ahead for future fun like the Brooklyn Greenway Initiative’s June 24 Epic Ride or July 22 Brooklyn Bike Rave. And if you do bump into a sailor, there’s no better time than Memorial Day to express your gratitude for his or her service. 

Check out our other ideas for your entertainment and enjoyment in this final Ideal Week of May, and no matter where you are this weekend, be safe and take care of yourself. Until next week! (more…)

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Classes
05/23/17 9:38am

Summer classes for your college-bound kids: King’s College London in Brooklyn

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King’s College London, one of the top 25 universities in the world, has an impressive range of summer classes for undergraduate and high school students in London, Berlin, and India. This summer, they’re expanding their prestigious program offerings to Downtown Brooklyn.

The King’s Pre-University Summer School gives rising juniors and seniors a unique taste of the British college experience while attending classes at the Brooklyn Friends School from August 7-18.

Classes are taught by faculty who are leaders in their fields and who will introduce students to the British way of teaching and learning. There is also a special session on the British college application process.

Students choose between two exciting courses: 1) Into Space: Exploring Space through Science and Politics, and 2) International Relations: From Grassroots to Global Impact. The Into Space course will provide students with an overview of the physics and astronomy behind manned spaceflight, as well as the science needed to make leaving Earth possible. The Politics and International Relations course will focus on the core aspects of studying politics at this level, while examining political challenges when responding to current global issues.

The application deadline is June 23. Early application is encouraged as each class has limited space.

The program fee is $2000 and includes tuition and relevant academic excursions. Instruction takes place from 9am to 5pm.

Upon completion of the program, students receive an academic letter of recommendation and a certificate of attendance.

Find out more about the program and read student testimonials on the King’s College website, or contact the college by email (summer@kcl.ac.uk) or phone(+44 20 7848 1533).

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Culture
05/18/17 10:22am

Make a cherry pie for “Twin Peaks” season 3, or just because, cherries

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Before there was a shitty Warrant song called “Cherry Pie” there was Twin Peaks, but literally just by a few months, April 8, 1990 was the first air date of Twin Peaks. “Cherry Pie” was released in September of 1990. I never owned the Warrant cassette tape, but I did watch Twin Peaks. I had two jobs and was in high school, so Friday was my night off. I used to buy a six pack of beer and stay home on Fridays to watch it. Cheers was the most watched show at the time, so nothing could be as far away as Twin Peaks, geographically, thematically and visually. I still remember how freaked out I was when Bob appeared and crawled over the sofa, at the screen, at me. David Lynch’s strange dream translated so well to television.

In 2001 I lived in Portland, Oregon, a short-lived west coast experiment. Two things happened there that impressed me. I understood Twin Peaks, set and filmed in Washington State, and the film River’s Edge, set and filmed in Northern California, more deeply. The infinite importance of location, that Northwest isolation and mist, revealed itself.

I also taught myself how to make pies. Because I had time on my hands, and hell, if Twin Peaks and River’s Edge taught me anything it was that idle hands were the devil’s playthings. (more…)

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Featured
05/17/17 3:03pm

Your Ideal Week May 18-24, “Twin Peaks” is back

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At Sycamore’s 8th Annual Crawfish Boil on Saturday, you can dig into the traditional Louisiana fixins and benefit the Billion Oyster Project at the same time. Photo: Sycamore

In no way do I want to discourage you from any of the fantastic events we’ve selected for this Ideal Week. And certainly, the most astounding drama of our time is unfolding in front of our eyes in the White House in ways pretty much no one could have ever imagined. However, I do feel like I need to point out just how much excellent television is on offer right now. Like, really an insane amount of good stuff. Are you watching The Americans? How great is this new season of Master of None and how mesmerizing/terrifying is The Handmaid’s Tale?  I haven’t even had the time to watch I Love Dick or the new season Bosch on Amazon. And man, after the burn of Arrested Development 2.0 I’m trying not to get my heart set on the new Twin Peaks being the show I’ve dreamed of watching since I binged the original one August weekend in 1998, but boy am I looking forward to it.

In news that is happening here in the physical world and not on a screen or in the Black Lodge,  Littlefield is in the last day of its Kickstarter to raise money for its new space, which includes brand-new bar and restaurant, Parklife, that will be a part of our Total Gowanus Immersion this summer. They’re so close to their goal, help them reach it before midnight on Thursday. One of our favorite local institutions, the Brooklyn Historical Society, opens a new space in DUMBO this week. The first show is called Shifting Perspectives, and it’s a group show of photography depicting the Brooklyn waterfront, opening May 19 (though there is a private event at the gallery on Friday evening). Admission is free all weekend long. 

Go forth, or hang on the couch with some popcorn and cherry pie, either way, have an ideal week! (more…)

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Essay
05/15/17 9:15pm

Don’t Pass Me By: River Deli, the ultimate neighborhood restaurant

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Photo: Georgia Kral

We sat closely together at a round table, tucked into the corner of the restaurant on a blustery fall evening. I don’t recall what we talked about, but I know what we ate: burrata, all luscious, creamy and oozing out onto the accompanying pane carasau–Sardinian flatbread–basil and tomato; pappardelle intermingling with mushrooms, garlic and Parmigiano; thick-cut lasagna, its shape more rectangular than square.

I do remember when he pulled out a small box. It contained the ring we’d designed together some months earlier; my sapphire engagement ring, a symbol of our commitment, as delightful and unique as the plates we were devouring.

Yes, this is a story about love and pasta, and a romance oft rekindled at this special restaurant. It’s called River Deli.

Located on one of the most idyllic corners in New York City, the Sardinian restaurant isn’t a deli at all. It’s a trattoria styled for families and lovers, friends and acquaintances. The food is better than good and it’s extremely affordable. You won’t find anything like it in Brooklyn Heights or anywhere else in the city for that matter. (more…)

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Books
05/11/17 11:16am

Brooklyn’s best indie bookstores

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All photos by Regina Mogilevskaya

Getting a word in with Emma Straub, author and one part of the duo behind Books Are Magic, is nearly impossible while there are customers streaming through the door. And although the Cobble Hill bookstore just opened its doors a few weeks ago, throngs of overjoyed well-wishers are already filling the store in a steady flow. “We’re definitely busy from the moment we open our doors in the morning to the moment we close them at night,” she says.

When BookCourt, the neighborhood’s beloved indie bookstore, announced they were closing, Straub and her husband Michael Fusco-Straub jumped to action immediately. They acquired the Books Are Magic space in October, but Straub says it was the election that really cemented their efforts. “We realized it was so much bigger than just a bookstore,” Straub says. “We needed an open space where people could gather, where families can feel welcome, can get informed.” Thanks to Straub’s established connections with local bookstores (she worked at both BookCourt and at Word in Greenpoint), publishers, and sales reps, the couple pulled off an impressive feat in record time.

The Fusco-Straubs obviously love books and design, and their lovely welcoming space is our new favorite word lair. From the books on the shelves to the sunlit kids room in the back, every swift detail of Books Are Magic takes inspiration from the community in which it blooms. Tulips from neighborhood florists decorate the store’s nooks, while the works of local authors are displayed proudly on recycled BookCourt shelves.

“I’m starting to explore collaborations with other places in the neighborhood, too,” Straub says. “Warby Parker reached out and we’re planning a reading series in their backyard.” In addition to being full of local goodness, the shop is wonderfully spacious, with exposed beams and brick and plenty of sunlight. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel good the second you step through the arched doorway.

Books Are Magic joins an impressive collection of indie bookstores around Brooklyn. Here are a few of our favorites for reading, listening, lounging and browsing. (more…)

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Featured
05/10/17 4:43pm

Your Ideal Week: May 11-17, introducing Marlon Bundo

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This photo was the main story in the official White House email today. Really.

Oh man, now what? Will we get an independent investigation? Are the impeachment gods finally smiling down upon us or are we one step closer to totalitarianism? Has anyone been seriously looking into the NYC secession option? Why are these the choices anyway? The sudden and indecorous firing of FBI Director James Comey yesterday has prompted a new cacophony of questions and speculation, and amidst it all it seems that Trump and the gang are genuinely SHOCKED that people are skeptical about the motives precipitating the move. And decided that promoting the Instagram of Marlon Bundo, the Pence family rabbit, was the most pressing piece of White House news they could share on the official White House email this morning.

The idea that Dems would cheer Comey’s ouster, regardless of the circumstances, simply because they didn’t like the way he handled the HRC email investigation, presupposes that we all have the mentality of a six-year-old, and that we can’t think beyond an all-encompassing, never-ending pursuit of praise and-or revenge. Hmm, sounds familiar, right? Let’s just hope the more rational people in power understand how deep into utter shitshow territory we have ventured and start to pull in the reins a bit.

While we’re all obsessing about politics for the next several days (what else is new?), we’ve got a pretty nice stretch of cool but dry (and sometimes sunny) weather to close out the work week. Saturday looks like the Netflix binge day of the week, with 100% precipitation expected, so I will recommend Dear White People, which I fired through last week, or of course the new season of Master of None, which drops on Friday. And after Mother’s Day festivities on Sunday, you might want to take a trip out to Ridgewood’s outdoor oasis, Nowadays, for the Mister Sunday Season Opener. While you’re making plans in advance, grab a ticket to see one of the Night Train shows at Littlefield over the next three Mondays–Giulia Rozzi and David Cross will be guest-hosting and tickets are only $5.

In the meantime, though, check out our other ideas below for how you can live your best Ideal Week, but not before you text 50409 to send your reps a note asking them to fight for an independent investigation into Trump’s Russia ties via Resistbot. It’s really easy! Have an awesome week, everyone, and we’ll see you back here next time! (more…)

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Immersions
05/04/17 12:42pm

The Total Gowanus Immersion August 12, 2017

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Total Gowanus Immersion

Our last Gowanus Immersion circa 2015. Photo: Alison Brockhouse

On Saturday, August 12, join us for canalside Brooklyn brews, BBQ and more neighborhood treats during our Total Gowanus Immersion with Brooklyn Brewery. This is one of our favorite areas for a daylong crawl, and yours, too, judging from how quickly our Gowanus Immersions typically sell out!

Tickets, $25, on sale now, are exchanged the day of the event for a pack of WAM (walking around money), that you’ll be able to spend on a Brooklyn Brewery beer at four different bars, lunch, plus deals at local shops. You can also opt for a $15 express ticket for just the beers and the deals.

It’s the least amount of money you’ll ever spend for the most food, beer, and Saturday summer fun in NYC.

We’ll be announcing the participants soon. Get in touch if you’d like to join us, and be sure to join us on our other 2017 Immersions!

Immersions
05/04/17 11:50am

The Total Beacon Immersion July 22

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Total Beacon Immersion

Photo by @amandaromayne via Instagram.

On July 22, we’re taking a field trip to the Hudson Valley for The Total Beacon Immersion, our first Immersion with Brooklyn Brewery outside of NYC! Join us for an epic day spent exploring downtown Beacon’s pubs, boutiques and galleries, all accessible by Metro-North.

For the past seven summers Brooklyn Based and Brooklyn Brewery have lured New Yorkers away from their well-worn paths to explore new neighborhoods through its Immersion series. Each daylong event brings together a couple hundred people to experience a neighborhood’s best bars, shops, cafes, landmarks and creative spaces. Often we revisit our favorite neighborhoods. This year our series ventures to a few places we’ve never Immersed before, like Beacon, NY.

Confirmed participants to date include Draught Industries, where Immersion goers will get a free Brooklyn beer, Stock Up where you can dig into a “Big Bird” lunch special and beer, the new Beacon Hotel for Brooklyn beer special, Kaight, for 20% off all non-sale merchandise, and Utensil. More to be announced soon–and get in touch if you’d like to join us!

Tickets, $25, on sale here, are exchanged the day of the event for a pack of WAM (walking around money) redeemable for a Brooklyn Brewery beer at four different bars, lunch plus deals at local shops. You can also opt for a $15 express ticket for just the beers and the deals.

See you in Beacon this summer–and be sure to join us on our other 2017 Immersions!

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