Is that a "Red Wine of Any Season" or a Strawberry Mimosa? Try it and see.
There are people out there who love wine. They are connoisseurs. They own books about wine pairings. They swear by the expensive bottles, and they are planning trips to Napa Valley as you read this. Oenophiles, or “people who love wine,” would be disturbed by the idea of drinking cheap wine (let alone adding mixers to it), but here at Brokelyn we are not so precious. And so we present five festive summery concoctions that will make your Two Buck Chuck taste like it cost at least four bucks. Read the rest of this entry »
If you’re a Bloody Mary lover, nothing offends your delicate Sunday morning sensibilities like a bad mix — and oh the myriad ways they err. Too much Worcestershire, too sweet, no heat, to the point that a poorly executed Bloody is more the norm than a good one. The locally-based McClure’s pickle purveyors solve that persistent woe with a Bloody Mary mix that’s as close to spicy-salty-tart tomatoey bliss as we’ve ever tasted. The secret mix: pickle brine and fresh-pressed cucumber juice. Oh. God. It’s. So. Good. $10 or thereabouts at BK Larder, Stinky, Greene Grape, Market, the BK FLea and more.
There are book readings with famous authors, and there are book readings with famous authors… and booze. Tonight’s the latter. Lemony Snicket, er, Daniel Handler, of a whole bunch of Unfortunate Events will be at WORD tonight at 7, reading from Bernard DeVoto’s The Hour: A Cocktail Manifesto. Handler wrote a new intro to the 1950s guide to proper drinking, and he’ll be offering some “cocktail therapy” tonight, including his advice on the right drink for every gripe. But it won’t be just words—gin martinis from The Richardson will be flowing. Read the rest of this entry »
This is the fourth in our series on the venues featured in the Brooklyn Beer Book. Today’s spotlighted establishment is The Bell House, the Gowanus bar and music venue best known for live music, comedy shows and other events events including the Connect 4 championship featured in a fancy video produced by Rob Blatt and hosted by Brokelyn’s very own Beth Hoyt (left). Check it out after the jump.
BELL HOUSE
www.thebellhouseny.com
149 7th St. between Second and Third Avenues, Gowanus, 718-643-6510
What it is: In the back, a great venue for rock shows and comedy fests, in the front room, comfy couches and 12 taps.
Why we love it: It’s that rare event space that even feels inviting when there’s nothing going on.
Who to bring: An old friend you haven’t seen in eight years—or a new friend you want to see more of.
What to order: Dub pies and Kentucky beer cheese. When you’re done with your beer, trade up to a cocktail.
Bell House fun fact #1: Whoever wrote the drink descriptions is a genius. The bourbon-and-ginger-ale Tighten Up cocktail is “Like a wedding vow whispered only to you under a willow tree … by a stranger … holding a Louisville Slugger.”
Bell House fun fact #2: The world’s largest Connect 4 board was officially documented at this bar. Watch the video here. Read the rest of this entry »
Miriam at the Brazen helps hide our cheapness. Photos by Eric Reichbaum.
Here’s something we learned in our conversations with bartenders during these long winter nights: The holiday season, with all its clove-spiced sweetness, is the best time of year to get away with serving cheap booze to your guests. How cheap? Think off-brand honorifics belonging to rums (Admiral Nelson, U.S. Beverage Corps, ret.) or bourbons (Kentucky Gentleman, from the 35th happiest state!).
So let’s say you have some family or coworkers dropping by and need to pass yourself off as slightly less impoverished than you really are. Follow this advice from a few of our favorite bartenders—Francesca and Jessica at Park Slope’s High Dive, and Miriam at the Brazen Head—on how to pass off the cheapest booze in the store. Read the rest of this entry »
Mullane's photo by Anna Jacobson.
You walk in a bar some nights with more gainfully-employed friends, and the first thing you do is open your wallet to count the bills. All the while, of course, you consult the price list and try to calculate that perfect (maximum) drunkenness/dollar ratio. Best to head off the math problem altogether by going to one of the many bars around the borough that offer beer-and-shot bargains. Here, a few of our favorite value-meal combos. Read the rest of this entry »
‘Tis the season, to drink and eat. This nifty gifty can help you do both, deliciously, for only $11. Brooklyn-based company Royal Rose makes some pretty incredible infused simple syrups. With flavors ranging from Cardamon-Clove and Three Chiles to Rose and Lemon-Lavendar, your gift can make anyone a master mixologist in no time. Or just encourage them to make you more drinks. A bonus cocktail recipe from Royal Rose Syrups below!
$11, online and at various BK shops. Read the rest of this entry »
Is that a "Red Wine of Any Season" or a Strawberry Mimosa? Try it and see.
There are people out there who love wine. They are connoisseurs. They own books about wine pairings. They swear by the expensive bottles, and they are planning trips to Napa Valley as you read this. Oenophiles, or “people who love wine,” would be disturbed by the idea of drinking cheap wine (let alone adding mixers to it), but here at Brokelyn we are not so precious. And so we present five festive summery concoctions that will make your Two Buck Chuck taste like it cost at least four bucks. Read the rest of this entry »
If you’re a Bloody Mary lover, nothing offends your delicate Sunday morning sensibilities like a bad mix — and oh the myriad ways they err. Too much Worcestershire, too sweet, no heat, to the point that a poorly executed Bloody is more the norm than a good one. The locally-based McClure’s pickle purveyors solve that persistent woe with a Bloody Mary mix that’s as close to spicy-salty-tart tomatoey bliss as we’ve ever tasted. The secret mix: pickle brine and fresh-pressed cucumber juice. Oh. God. It’s. So. Good. $10 or thereabouts at BK Larder, Stinky, Greene Grape, Market, the BK FLea and more.
There are book readings with famous authors, and there are book readings with famous authors… and booze. Tonight’s the latter. Lemony Snicket, er, Daniel Handler, of a whole bunch of Unfortunate Events will be at WORD tonight at 7, reading from Bernard DeVoto’s The Hour: A Cocktail Manifesto. Handler wrote a new intro to the 1950s guide to proper drinking, and he’ll be offering some “cocktail therapy” tonight, including his advice on the right drink for every gripe. But it won’t be just words—gin martinis from The Richardson will be flowing. Read the rest of this entry »
This is the fourth in our series on the venues featured in the Brooklyn Beer Book. Today’s spotlighted establishment is The Bell House, the Gowanus bar and music venue best known for live music, comedy shows and other events events including the Connect 4 championship featured in a fancy video produced by Rob Blatt and hosted by Brokelyn’s very own Beth Hoyt (left). Check it out after the jump.
BELL HOUSE
www.thebellhouseny.com
149 7th St. between Second and Third Avenues, Gowanus, 718-643-6510
What it is: In the back, a great venue for rock shows and comedy fests, in the front room, comfy couches and 12 taps.
Why we love it: It’s that rare event space that even feels inviting when there’s nothing going on.
Who to bring: An old friend you haven’t seen in eight years—or a new friend you want to see more of.
What to order: Dub pies and Kentucky beer cheese. When you’re done with your beer, trade up to a cocktail.
Bell House fun fact #1: Whoever wrote the drink descriptions is a genius. The bourbon-and-ginger-ale Tighten Up cocktail is “Like a wedding vow whispered only to you under a willow tree … by a stranger … holding a Louisville Slugger.”
Bell House fun fact #2: The world’s largest Connect 4 board was officially documented at this bar. Watch the video here. Read the rest of this entry »
Miriam at the Brazen helps hide our cheapness. Photos by Eric Reichbaum.
Here’s something we learned in our conversations with bartenders during these long winter nights: The holiday season, with all its clove-spiced sweetness, is the best time of year to get away with serving cheap booze to your guests. How cheap? Think off-brand honorifics belonging to rums (Admiral Nelson, U.S. Beverage Corps, ret.) or bourbons (Kentucky Gentleman, from the 35th happiest state!).
So let’s say you have some family or coworkers dropping by and need to pass yourself off as slightly less impoverished than you really are. Follow this advice from a few of our favorite bartenders—Francesca and Jessica at Park Slope’s High Dive, and Miriam at the Brazen Head—on how to pass off the cheapest booze in the store. Read the rest of this entry »
Mullane's photo by Anna Jacobson.
You walk in a bar some nights with more gainfully-employed friends, and the first thing you do is open your wallet to count the bills. All the while, of course, you consult the price list and try to calculate that perfect (maximum) drunkenness/dollar ratio. Best to head off the math problem altogether by going to one of the many bars around the borough that offer beer-and-shot bargains. Here, a few of our favorite value-meal combos. Read the rest of this entry »
