ReBar photo courtesy of Simply Dazzling Events.
You’ve been there before: unable to work at home, you pop in to the local coffee shop to soak up the wifi and get yourself focused with a cup of joe. The next thing you know, you’re on your third cup, you’ve got the shakes and somehow still aren’t done working. You’ve got to take the edge off somehow, but still don’t want to go home. What’s a girl to do? Fortunately for you, Brooklyn is home to bars that offer wifi AND open early enough to get you back in balance. Happy hour, here you come! Read the rest of this entry »
The fire this time, at Black Mountain Wine House
Oh the weather outside is frightful, and the fire inside is … non-existent, unless you live in some fancy Rockefeller-filled chateau on the edge of Central Park or something. Still, we’ll have days when the mercury is doing the deep-bend limbo and all you want is to stuff your face and booty against the comforting pre-historic warmth of a roaring fire. So where do you go? The folks at Yelp have the answer in their weekly email roundup, which lists all the best bars with fireplaces in Brooklyn (according to Yelp users). Read this list — and the ensuing Yelp debate – and find out where you should go for your post-snow-play date night cuddling. Read the rest of this entry »
Do cops search Yelp for lawbreaking bars?
I noticed the other day that a bar I liked started cracking down on a little thing called “to-go cups,” in which you’ll find a little something extra that you can only legally drink on the street in Europe (and party cities). A source told me it was because of the internets. ”There’s a division of police where all that they do is look up this stuff online that’s going on and they bust people. On Yelp, people are writing everything, I mean everything, about this and that. So the cops read the reviews then go in and bust the bar owners.” Cops online, I’ve heard of, but sifting through Yelp? I put my best Nancy Drew cap on, but found that this is a hard pickle to prove. DCPI, the official NYPD mouthpiece, wouldn’t return my messages, and when I approached a bike cop, he didn’t know what I was talking about. So I waltzed myself over to my computer, typed in Yelp New York City, and had myself a little search-a-roo. And holy crap, do you guys make it easy for the coppers. Take a little Yelp review journey with me, will you? Read the rest of this entry »
The pizza-or-beer dilemma, solved
Alcohol is mankind’s fourth greatest accomplishment, behind indoor plumbing, the 1986 Mets and Ava Luna. But for all of its miraculous properties — like keeping us warm and encouraging us to recall that embarrassing childhood story — it contains no essential vitamins and minerals. Try subsisting on a liquid bread diet: you’ll end up a drunk emaciated husk like one of those starving zombies at the end of 28 Days Later. So what are you supposed to do if faced with the nightmarish choice of either drinking or filling your body with life sustaining nutrients? You consult the Brokelyn guide to beer and food specials is what. Read the rest of this entry »
The unforgettably named STD Wines & Liquors, photo by Kelly Murphy
When I mention to people that I live in Kensington, people typically think it’s in England, no matter how long they have been in NYC. The small neighborhood stretching roughly from the Prospect Park Parade Grounds to Green-Wood Cemetery may not be the best-known Brooklyn enclave, but what Kensington may lack in Brownstoner buzz it more than makes up for in amazing ethnic food. Within a few blocks you can find authentic Indian, Middle Eastern, Polish, Mexican, Thai, Russian, Greek, and Serbian eats at Brokelyn-worthy prices. Here are some of my local favorites, all within walking distance of the F or G train to Church / McDonald. Sorry there’s no fish and chips. Read the rest of this entry »
With everyone’s most and least favorite Hallmark holiday a mere 42 days away, love is practically almost in the air. As we begin to figure out how to shower our loved ones (or ourselves…for the perpetually alone like myself) with gifts and affection, Team Brokelyn is looking for suggestions for the most romantic places in our favorite borough. It can be anything from a candlelight neighborhood haunt to a special place that inspires chaste hand holding or semi-inappropriate PDA sessions; anywhere you deem perfect for a romantic day or night out. Brunch spots, spas, restaurants, theaters, music venues… let ‘em rip, No need to worry about anything budget-related either; we’ll be taking care of that. Just fire away in the comments!
Some of the night's bounty. Photos by Nichelle Stephens.
They came, they drank, they pre/re-gifted. Tuesday night, along with a fair smattering of gift-seeking Brokelynites, we made our way to Hot Bird in Prospect Heights for the much-awaited Pre-gift/Re-gift Holiday Party. We showed up stoked for drink specials and holiday cheer, and full of grand dreams of KitchenAid mixers and $100 gift cards. The cheap drinks and holiday cheer: check. As for the rest… we came pretty darn close. Read the rest of this entry »
One of these, please. In pastel.
With less than a week until Brokelyn’s Pre-gift/Re-gift Holiday Party (Tuesday, Dec. 21, at Hot Bird), it’s time to seriously think about what you’ll be contributing to the gifting pool. First off, remember what the night is: only a primo opportunity to soak up generous drink specials (select $4 draught beers and $1 off all liquor), mingle with your favorite Brokelyn babes and beaus, purge your stash of unwanted (but quality!) gifts from holidays past and pick up some new stuff more to your liking. To facilitate things, we’ve compiled a handy list of pre-gifting/re-gifting dos and donts so you don’t end up re-gifting your pre-gift re-gift findings a third time around. Read the rest of this entry »
Apparently, they haven't heard of Fox's.
So there’s this site called Xpatulator that runs cost of living comparisons of the 950 cities/regions worldwide where someone might move to from somewhere else. They just came out with a worldwide cost of living report, and there is one especially curious data point about Brooklyn.
Our borough is not only home to the Man Bun, but the world’s fifth most expensive place for clothing. It is pricier to buy clothes only in Minsk, Manhattan, Belarus (all areas) and Sao Paolo. Paris is #39. London is #82. Moscow, where they wear fur socks and underwear (don’t they?) is #21. And sorry, Giorgio, lowly Milan is way down there at #264. Read the rest of this entry »
ReBar photo courtesy of Simply Dazzling Events.
You’ve been there before: unable to work at home, you pop in to the local coffee shop to soak up the wifi and get yourself focused with a cup of joe. The next thing you know, you’re on your third cup, you’ve got the shakes and somehow still aren’t done working. You’ve got to take the edge off somehow, but still don’t want to go home. What’s a girl to do? Fortunately for you, Brooklyn is home to bars that offer wifi AND open early enough to get you back in balance. Happy hour, here you come! Read the rest of this entry »
The fire this time, at Black Mountain Wine House
Oh the weather outside is frightful, and the fire inside is … non-existent, unless you live in some fancy Rockefeller-filled chateau on the edge of Central Park or something. Still, we’ll have days when the mercury is doing the deep-bend limbo and all you want is to stuff your face and booty against the comforting pre-historic warmth of a roaring fire. So where do you go? The folks at Yelp have the answer in their weekly email roundup, which lists all the best bars with fireplaces in Brooklyn (according to Yelp users). Read this list — and the ensuing Yelp debate – and find out where you should go for your post-snow-play date night cuddling. Read the rest of this entry »
Do cops search Yelp for lawbreaking bars?
I noticed the other day that a bar I liked started cracking down on a little thing called “to-go cups,” in which you’ll find a little something extra that you can only legally drink on the street in Europe (and party cities). A source told me it was because of the internets. ”There’s a division of police where all that they do is look up this stuff online that’s going on and they bust people. On Yelp, people are writing everything, I mean everything, about this and that. So the cops read the reviews then go in and bust the bar owners.” Cops online, I’ve heard of, but sifting through Yelp? I put my best Nancy Drew cap on, but found that this is a hard pickle to prove. DCPI, the official NYPD mouthpiece, wouldn’t return my messages, and when I approached a bike cop, he didn’t know what I was talking about. So I waltzed myself over to my computer, typed in Yelp New York City, and had myself a little search-a-roo. And holy crap, do you guys make it easy for the coppers. Take a little Yelp review journey with me, will you? Read the rest of this entry »
The pizza-or-beer dilemma, solved
Alcohol is mankind’s fourth greatest accomplishment, behind indoor plumbing, the 1986 Mets and Ava Luna. But for all of its miraculous properties — like keeping us warm and encouraging us to recall that embarrassing childhood story — it contains no essential vitamins and minerals. Try subsisting on a liquid bread diet: you’ll end up a drunk emaciated husk like one of those starving zombies at the end of 28 Days Later. So what are you supposed to do if faced with the nightmarish choice of either drinking or filling your body with life sustaining nutrients? You consult the Brokelyn guide to beer and food specials is what. Read the rest of this entry »
The unforgettably named STD Wines & Liquors, photo by Kelly Murphy
When I mention to people that I live in Kensington, people typically think it’s in England, no matter how long they have been in NYC. The small neighborhood stretching roughly from the Prospect Park Parade Grounds to Green-Wood Cemetery may not be the best-known Brooklyn enclave, but what Kensington may lack in Brownstoner buzz it more than makes up for in amazing ethnic food. Within a few blocks you can find authentic Indian, Middle Eastern, Polish, Mexican, Thai, Russian, Greek, and Serbian eats at Brokelyn-worthy prices. Here are some of my local favorites, all within walking distance of the F or G train to Church / McDonald. Sorry there’s no fish and chips. Read the rest of this entry »
With everyone’s most and least favorite Hallmark holiday a mere 42 days away, love is practically almost in the air. As we begin to figure out how to shower our loved ones (or ourselves…for the perpetually alone like myself) with gifts and affection, Team Brokelyn is looking for suggestions for the most romantic places in our favorite borough. It can be anything from a candlelight neighborhood haunt to a special place that inspires chaste hand holding or semi-inappropriate PDA sessions; anywhere you deem perfect for a romantic day or night out. Brunch spots, spas, restaurants, theaters, music venues… let ‘em rip, No need to worry about anything budget-related either; we’ll be taking care of that. Just fire away in the comments!
Some of the night's bounty. Photos by Nichelle Stephens.
They came, they drank, they pre/re-gifted. Tuesday night, along with a fair smattering of gift-seeking Brokelynites, we made our way to Hot Bird in Prospect Heights for the much-awaited Pre-gift/Re-gift Holiday Party. We showed up stoked for drink specials and holiday cheer, and full of grand dreams of KitchenAid mixers and $100 gift cards. The cheap drinks and holiday cheer: check. As for the rest… we came pretty darn close. Read the rest of this entry »
One of these, please. In pastel.
With less than a week until Brokelyn’s Pre-gift/Re-gift Holiday Party (Tuesday, Dec. 21, at Hot Bird), it’s time to seriously think about what you’ll be contributing to the gifting pool. First off, remember what the night is: only a primo opportunity to soak up generous drink specials (select $4 draught beers and $1 off all liquor), mingle with your favorite Brokelyn babes and beaus, purge your stash of unwanted (but quality!) gifts from holidays past and pick up some new stuff more to your liking. To facilitate things, we’ve compiled a handy list of pre-gifting/re-gifting dos and donts so you don’t end up re-gifting your pre-gift re-gift findings a third time around. Read the rest of this entry »
