Autumn has crept in and I can’t help but feel a little sad that day trips to the Rockaways have gone away, cafes have stowed away their outdoor seating and battened down the window hatches (except for Five Leaves because… well I don’t really know why). The only way to fight this sadness is to replace these feelings with happy moments, happy feelings and most importantly, happy hours.
By embarking on a food-focused Greenpoint happy hour crawl I discovered my preferred method to get a little taste and a lot of feel out of a few places in one night. Here are some of my favorite omnivorous dishes in the hood during the typically alcohol-focused creation known as ‘happy hour.’
A fish counter with a penchant for service, this white-tiled silvery-scaled spot on Nassau Avenue offers oysters for $2, beer and cider for $5, wine and cava for $6, and a catch of the day menu a la carte. And it makes me want to remind you that one dollar oyster promotions are completely unsustainable. Places that are still offering this deal regularly are likely getting oysters from ecocidal farms; we could all do our part by not expecting and seeking dollar oysters.
In New York City, selecting the ‘drink of the summer’ is a hallowed warm-weather tradition, as inevitable as busted subway air-conditioning, blaring ice-cream-truck jingles, and promising yourself that this year, without a doubt, you’ll bike from Brooklyn to the Rockaways (and then…ya know…NOT doing that).
For this year’s Summer Sipper Supreme (ugh, sorry), the Cocktail Powers That Be went with an old-school classic, beloved by Italian grandmothers far and wide: The Aperol Spritz. The ingredients are simple: Aperol (an Italian aperitif made from bitter orange and herbs), ice cubes, some bubbly, and a citrus peel. From there, the bartender has the freedom to get weird, and Greenpoint’s best spritz-maestros take full advantage. Here are five of Greenpoint’s finest Aperol (and Aperol-adjacent) spritzes, just in time for those last drunken days of summer. Continue reading →
original artwork by Massimo Mongiardo (@Massimomongiardo)
To paraphrase American anthropologist Margaret Mead, never underestimate the power of a few thoughtful, committed citizens to change the world.
This post was originally inspired by my excitement for a cool culinary collaboration taking place in the community tomorrow night. Then I learned from Joint Venture that all proceeds from the event would be donated to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), designated especially for the defense of immigrant rights, and my excitement turned to heartened pride.
Like a good meal shared with good company—as Tuesday’s event looks to be—philanthropy warms my heart. Quite simply, its very meaning is rooted in the “love of mankind.” On Tuesday night, Providence, Rhode Island restaurant North and food and cultural project Joint Venture will team up with Greenpoint’s own Alameda (195 Franklin Street) to share a meal that by design celebrates working together and embodies the spirit of philanthropy. The event, which will be held at Alameda from 6-11pm, is led by North’s James Mark (formerly of David Chang’s Michelin-starred Momofuku Ko), Alameda’s Nick Padilla (previously at world renowned Momofuku Ssam Bar) and Joint Venture’s Danny Newberg (also formerly of Momofuku Ko, and most recently Estela), who have remained friends over the years despite their divergent paths since their time in the Momofuku kitchens. The seafood and vegetable-focused à la carte menu will feature yellow tail fluke crudo, grilled squid with crispy rice, whole black bass with ginger scallion sauce, and a fried salt fish sandwich. All fish is being brought directly from Rhode Island by Mark, and vegetarian and vegan options will also be available. No reservations will be taken for the event, so walk on in!
No stranger to collaborative endeavors in his role as head and founder of Joint Venture, Newberg emphasized the importance of the charitable component of this particular event. He notes the excitement about the three of them cooking together again being dampened by the events of the last couple weeks. As Mark described, “they have us a little shook.” But rather than cancel the dinner, the trio is determined to leverage the occasion for a broader impact. In a recent Instagram post promoting the event, Mark affirmed, “This country gave my family a chance a generation ago. I’m sure as hell going to do what I can to protect the next one.”
Indeed, these times call for camaraderie and community action. Please join me, Alameda, North, and Joint Venture for a coming together of friends new and old over delicious food and drink in support of the ACLU and love of mankind.
North + Joint Venture + Alameda | 195 Franklin Street Tuesday 1.31 / 6-11pm / à la carte / walk-ins only fish forward menu: all seafood fresh from Pt. Judith, RI All proceeds will go to ACLU
Though it pains me as a proud Brooklynite, the Greenpoint is a variation on the famous cocktail the Manhattan. The drink, created by Michael McIlory at NYC’s legendary Milk and Honey, gets it name because the Chartreuse that is its main ingredient creates a green hue.
So, what goes into a Greenpoint? The drink consists of two ounces of rye whiskey and a half ounce of yellow Chartreuse. Then add another half ounce of sweet vermouth. The last two ingredients are pinches of angostura bitters and orange bitters. Take all the ingredients and put them in a mixing glass with ice. Next, stir and strain it into a cocktail glass. Finally, top it off with a lemon twist garnish. Continue reading →
There are few pleasures in life greater than rounding off the working day with a well- earned beverage at your favorite bar. And when that beverage costs next to nothing, the pleasure is even greater, which is why happy hour is pretty much always the best time of day.
We’ve rounded up a list of practically every happy hour in Greenpoint for you to work through at your leisure. From $2.50 wine at Boulevard Tavern to ‘bottomless champagne’ at Le Gamin, we reckon we’ve got everyone covered!
Key to happiness: ☺ – Extra Happy Value ★ – Food Deals ♥ – Editor’s Picks
Achilles Heel 180 West Street (At Green St.) Weekdays 4pm-7pm – $5 drafts – $8 glass of wine – $9 cocktail (seasonal classics) – $12 for 6 oysters
★♥ Alameda 195 Franklin Street (at Green St.) Weekdays & Sundays 5pm-7pm – $5 prosecco/cortada margarita/draught beer – $7 tequila shot and 1/2 pint of beer – $11 Boquerone & tomato toast with a vermouth & club soda – $12 Burger and 1/2 pint of beer
★♥Adelina’s 159 Greenpoint Avenue (between Leonard St. and Manhattan Ave.) Weekdays 5pm-7pm – $5 craft beer pints – $8 quartinos of organic sangiovese, pinot grigio & prosecco – Glass of organic sangiovese, pinot grigio or prosecco with olive bowl: $9 – Glass of organic sangiovese, pinot grigio or prosecco with cheese plate: $17 – Craft beer pint & “The Original” pizza fritta: $15
Beloved 674 Manhattan Avenue (between Norman Ave. and Nassau Ave.) Daily 5pm-8pm – $8 house cocktails (+ daily cocktail special is $8 all night) Continue reading →
With Spring teasing us with her dainty ankle of approaching warmth, it’s easy to feel torn between our winter hobbit ways and the urge to run topless into summer’s heat. What do we wear, what do we eat, and most importantly, what do we drink during this time of transition? Between the seasons of warming whiskey and cooling margaritas, it’s wine that is the most versatile of beverages. And no better way to indulge this changing of seasons than with the cheapest and most transitional way to drink: happy hour! Welcome the spring with a crisp Rosé or hold on to winter with that full-bodied red by drinking early and affordably at some of Greenpoint’s best bars and restaurants. We’ve gathered a few of the neighborhood’s top five wine happy hours, offering 2 for 1 glasses, great food and wine combos, and even a $4 vino to get you through the change and into those short shorts. Continue reading →
Black Rabbit's bar menu will see you through into the early hours
2015 hit the ground running and already the year has been busy, the days have been long, and sometimes it gets late before we’ve even entertained the thought of dinner, by which time most locals chefs are hanging up their aprons and going home.
However, lucky for us, there’s a few kitchens who fuel their stoves on midnight oil. After a bit of hungry late-night research, we’ve brought together a roundup of Greenpoint joints where you can still get fed in the wee-hours.
Black Rabbit This cozy fireside favorite serves up the likes of frito pie and mini cheeseburgers until 1am Friday & Saturday (10pm all other nights)
Bar Matchless Tuck into a steak sandwich, some bacon mac’n’cheese and hell, why not some key lime pie as well….you’ve got time, the kitchen stays open ’til 3am every night. Continue reading →
Last Saturday saw swarms of hungry foodies pounding the pavements as the Bon Appétit Grub Crawl landed in Greenpoint. I’m not usually a huge fan of group tours but made an exception for this one because it involved so many amazing local bars and restaurants. And I’m mighty glad I did. The day was phenomenal, with such an incredible array of food and drink that it just went to confirm what most of us already know: Greenpoint is so hot right now!
Here’s what we learned as we did the rounds of the the five fantastic venues taking part: Continue reading →
“Do you always look for the longest day of the year and then miss it?” asked The Great Gatsby’s Daisy. Well there’ll be no missing it this year, not if you choose to mark the day by partaking in Bon Appétit’s Greenpoint Grub Crawl which, betwixt the hours of 11.30am-5pm, will take punters on a tour of some of the most exciting foody hotspots in the area.
And, for a very limited time, there’s a ‘buy one get one free’ deal on tickets when you use the code BAGCGO at checkout. Continue reading →
There’s plenty happening in Greenpoint’s food and drink scene right now. Here’s a few things you should know about:
NOW OPEN: Greenpoint Cheese + Meat Greenpoint Cheese + Meat softly opened their doors last week. We will have full coverage of all their tasty wares soon but in the meantime you should pop in and check out their delicious meats and cheeses for yourself (not to mention the fresh loaves from Bakeri)! The store is at 192 Driggs Ave and is currently open from 12-7pm Tuesday-Sunday (though these times are likely to change in the coming weeks…we will keep you updated). Continue reading →
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