Sales & Deals
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
Dig the loft bed in the corner!
Jetsetter, the luxe hotel discount site that makes us weep for Machu Picchu hideaways and beachfront huts in Bali, features its first Brooklyn property this week, and it’s the NU Hotel at Smith and Atlantic. For four more days, you can book NU Hotel rooms on Jetsetter for $116 (normally $179 and up elsewhere). We haven’t stayed there, cause we live here, but at these prices (and solid NU Hotel reviews on TripAdvisor), we’ll suggest it to our parents / cousins / friends. Those Jetsetters love this 93-room gem because, and we quote: 
Sales & Deals
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
Photo via Flickr's William Self
Dear Cobble Hill Cinemas: We could go on and on about how we’d much rather hand over our $10 to your smiling, independently owned faces instead of shelling out $13 and some dignity at the bigger UA bully down the street; or how your concessions are priced lower so we don’t feel like we’re shopping at the last snack bar on the international space station; or how your crowds are pleasant and respectful and actually bought up all the tickets to Bridesmaids one Saturday night three weeks after its release while the newly released, far dumber Hangover 2 still had plenty of seats available. But there’s something bigger that cements our crush: it’s that old-generation, Saturday-morning-movie-with-Dad kind of charm the theater captures so well. You are located in one of the most Brooklyn stretches of Brooklyn down Court Street, with enough cozy bars, tasty food and enticing chocolatiers to justify missing the first showing. Climbing the winding staircase past movie scenes painted on the wall, it’s easy to imagine being there when all the movies were black and white and everyone wore fedoras. But mostly, we love that that the one time a bag of Trader Joe’s chocolate covered pretzels fell out of our bag as you were taking our ticket, you just smiled, laughed, and waved us through.
So, dear reader, you should buy this $15 Groupon for two tickets, popcorns and sodas today and go see for yourself. And even if you miss the Groupon, love up on some of their bargain nights: $7 seats all day Tuesdays and Thursdays and up to 5pm from Monday-Friday.
Food & Drink
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
This is the 29th in our series on the venues featured in the second Brooklyn Beer Book. This week we feature our penultimate bar by taking a trip over the Atlantic (Avenue) to visit those Brits at Chip Shop.
Photo by Flickr's Robert Alamo
THE ATLANTIC CHIP SHOP
129 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn Heights
What it is: Classic Brit, from Spotted Dick to Old Speckled Hen to Beatles/Bowie posters to the propaganda slapped on the tables and walls.
Why we love it: Something about gloomy Brits and their greasy, caloric, hoppy habits make us very happy. The beers are heavy and the room can get rowdy when a good match is on.
Food & Drink
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
This is the 24th in our series on the venues featured in the second Brooklyn Beer Book. This week we’re headed back to Cobble Hill to revisit an old favorite from Beer Book 1: Strong Place.
Photo via Strong Place FB
STRONG PLACE
270 Court St., between Butler and Douglass streets, Cobble Hill
What It Is: Cobble Hill’s newest soccer/gastro pub and microbrew bar with 24 taps that change daily, a shaded backyard and a menu built to epicurean proportions at less-than gastronomical prices.
Food & Drink
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
Consider us told. Photo via alibrady12
This picture is too perfect not to post: Announcing the seasonal opening of Gowanus Yacht Club, home to cheap pitchers, cheaper mysterious “Duff” beer, veggie dogs, good tunes, and the sun-soaked seating area that, for this reporter, most symbolizes a cool oasis adorning another gorgeous summer in Brooklyn. The small beer garden at the corner of Smith and President streets opened its gate on Friday, according to its Facebook page. Expect to see your friends at Brokelyn there en masse (or sometimes just with a good book). Thanks to @alibrady12 for doing her duty and sending us the pic! Ah summer!
Food & Drink
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
This is the seventh in our series on the venues featured in the second Brooklyn Beer Book. Let’s just allow ourselves to believe this week that the spate of warm weather is the harbinger for a glorious spring to come, which is why we’re featuring Bar Great Harry, whose wide-open doors provide just the right amount of air flow to enjoy those early spring breezes.
Open those doors and let the sun shine in
BAR GREAT HARRY
280 Smith St. between Sackett & Degraw, Carroll Gardens
What it is: Hops heaven that stands out from the preponderance of watering holes on Smith Street.
Why we love it: Knowledgeable staff helps you choose from 20 rotating drafts and 70+ bottles; two pinball machines keep your hands busy; a welcoming atmosphere for your pooch.
free stuff
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
A random Meister piano
Today on the free list: one big-ticket item that’s a steal if you’re ready to take it on. An upright Meister piano is available in Carroll Gardens. The Craigslist poster says the turn-of-the-(20th)century instrument is “very striking in a charming, antique/vintage style. It’s really lovely to look at, although it needs some work.” Yep, some work would be expected of a 100-year-old free piano. Its listed needs include random key-replacement, hing-replacement and some aesthetic surface repair. But the poster says it “could clean up nicely.” Seriously, though, if you’re in the market for a piano and willing to put in the work, the price can’t be beat. Also, be prepared for a heavy-duty moving operation. Full ad here.
Health and Beauty
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
Photo from BoCoCaLand
Deep discounts and sales are all well and good, but to really lure the shoppers in? Freebies, dear store-owners. Freebies. (And they best be good—not those calendars from the local real estate office). Case in point: the free manicures Shen Beauty is offering to its holiday shoppers this Thursday, Dec. 2. The Court St. beauty shop, writes BoCoCaLand, is offering manicures and “light fare” between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. to keep you presentable and energized while you’re perusing the shelves. There’s also a sale going on and some other holiday-themed stuff… which we’ll let you read all about here. Shen Beauty, 315 Court St. between Sackett and Degraw Sts., Carroll Gardens.
via BoCoCaLand
Outings
Bed Stuy/ Bushwick,
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
You gotta perk your ears up when an indie film fest promises “something different” from all the other indie film fests out there these days. And, of course, it’s in Brooklyn. The Zero Film Festival kicks off its annual NY week Saturday with an opening night fiesta of live music, a “DJ dance party til late,” free booze and, yes, a lineup of local and international indie films. And from there, you’ll be seeing nothing but indie for a week straight.
free stuff
Carroll Gardens/ Cobble Hill
It’s no secret that we like a good book-swap, and Cobble Hill seems to be where they’re happening of late. Saturday, Oct. 16, you can deal in Larssons, Franzens and Vargas-Llosas and do a little for your health too. The Cobble Hill Association is holding a Book Swap from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Long Island College Hospital sitting park. You bring a book (or a bunch), take your share or just pick one up for a $1 or less. All proceeds and leftover books go to LICH. And, since the hospital’s benefiting, staff members will be around to give free blood pressure screening and asthma information—both of which might be helpful, if you stumble upon too many rare gems. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Henry and Pacific Sts.
via BoCoCaLand
