Depending how long you’ve lived in North Brooklyn, you may have heard tale of the legendary bar Kokie’s, which, about 20 years ago sat on the corner of Berry and North 3rd Street. In a true twist of hipster irony, the name Kokie’s really said it all—for $20 you could actually buy small baggies of cocaine out of a closet tucked away at the back of the bar. A longtime Williamsburg resident who wishes to remain anonymous says, “I heard about Kokie’s from friends. They filled me in on the protocol and a few times I was asked to tag along. I was kinda young and pretty intimidated by the place. So, I declined, preferring to rely on the bravery of friends. By the time I finally got up the nerve, it was gone.” The bar closed in 2001 after being raided by the cops, and then turned into a short-lived bar called Antique Lounge, and then the space became The Levee (212 Berry Street). Our anonymous source says, “A frito pie doesn’t compare to Kokie’s special. I heard a rumor that Luxx on Grand [where Trash Bar used to be and where Overthrow boxing gym is now] sorta picked up Kokie’s mantle. But that’s all heresay.” Continue reading →
t.b.d. Brooklyn’s iconic “Greetings From Greenpoint” mural and frequent wedding photo backdrop, by artists Vincent Sacco and Aubrey Roemer. Photo via Vincent Sacco
Cue the sad trombone music. Beloved Franklin Street watering hole, t.b.d.(224 Franklin Street) will shutter its doors this Sunday, March 4th. Pour one out for the bar, and of course their epic backyard featuring Greenpoint’s most Instagrammable wall, that—because Greenpointers are trend setters—was painted well before the dawn of Instagram. The bar will have discounted drink prices on wine, beer, and liquor. We’ll see you there for a fond farewell. Doors open at 4 pm. Continue reading →
WHAT: Sip & Stretch—yoga + booze, led by Nico Klimek WHEN: Sunday, February 25th, 1pm-2pm WHERE: T.B.D. | 224 Franklin Street Tickets are $25, covers yoga and 2 drinks and includes tip! (Drink options: beer, house liquor, house wine, mimosa, bloody mary)
Jeremy Wilson, Bar Manager at Ramona with the Painting the Daybreaks cocktail
Need a new signature drink as your summer of frosé becomes a very distant memory? Ramona’s bar manager Jeremy Wilson takes this tricky life decision off your plate in this week’s installment of our winter survival guide. Check out our previous winter guide interviews here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
Greenpointers: Is there a favorite cocktail that you have on the menu that you could recommend if you want to feel more uplifted in the winter months?
Jeremy Wilson: We usually come up with a couple of hot drinks for the winter. We have the hot toddy that we always do called Elsa’s Toddy, named after our sister bar. Especially when it’s snowing, people come in and ask for it. It’s rye whiskey, lemon juice, maple syrup that’s cut with water, fresh mint, hot water and angostura bitters on top. It’s pretty clean and refreshing and just makes you feel better.
GP: What are some other drinks that you’d recommend at this time of year?
JW: The other drink would be the Black Book which is bourbon, honey, lemon, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and jalapeño. The cinnamon really comes out in the forefront and the jalapeño lingers at the end. A lot of people think it tastes like Christmas. We also have a cocktail called Painting the Daybreaks which is for the relief fund for Puerto Rico and it’s coconut, tequila, cinnamon, cassis, orange rind, lime juice, and coconut La Croix on top. It’s a very big, loud drink and it’s really good. When you use cinnamon, coconut and tequila with other ingredients, you can make a pretty great holiday cocktail.Continue reading →
Steffanie Ostrowski, Floor Manager of Word Brooklyn.
What types of books are your fellow Greenpointers curling up with this winter? More winter survival tips are coming your way this week, this time we get some solid literary recommendations from Word Bookstore’s Brooklyn floor manager Steffanie Ostrowski.
BOOKS: WORD BROOKLYN| 126 Franklin Street Steffanie Ostrowski, Floor Manager
Greenpointers: What types of books are currently the most popular at the Greenpoint store?
Steffanie Ostrowski: I think that in general, everyone is looking for a lot of social science books so that they can learn about things that are going on today. Also, there’s the escapism of fiction so that they don’t have to deal with the world, so people are getting the new fiction that’s coming out. When Pete Souza’s Obama book came out, that was our big ticket item. Now it’s out of stock everywhere because everyone just wanted to remember.Continue reading →
None of the Vikings fans crowded into the bar will ever forget Sunday January 14th on Manhattan Avenue, and the football miracle that happened that day. Lake Street (706 Manhattan Ave) is a Minnesota bar, and home to local Vikings fans who take over the place every Sunday clad in purple uniforms. The Vikings were losing in the playoffs and were ten seconds away from a season ending loss. Looks of pain and anguish were visible around the room as their quarterback threw up the ball in one last desperate attempt to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The ball flew up and a Minnesota receiver caught it. Then, miraculously the defender behind him missed a tackle allowing the Viking player to run half the field and score what was one of the most dramatic and unexpected touchdowns in football history. In a flash, local Vikings fans moods shifted from sorrow to rapture, exploding in wild ecstasy and unbridled joy. Continue reading →
Looking for something to spice up your week that checks all the boxes for “excitement”, “fun” and “feel good”? Every month, The Brothers Buoy host an after-hours bingo night at neighborhood staple, Humboldt and Jackson(434 Humboldt Street). The night is like most bingo nights, with prizes, drink specials, great music and fast flying daubers. What makes this event special is that each month, the Brothers find different organizations to donate all of the profits to. In their first 5 months of running the game, they have raised almost $6,000 for various charities, including Drive Change and Team Rubicon.
This Wednesday December 13th at 8pm, they are hosting a holiday edition Ugly Sweater Bingo. They’ve partnered with Salute American Vodka, an American brand who’s mission is to help aid military veterans after they return home from service. The event is FREE, and one bingo card will set you back $2.50.
The ladies of The Habitat, Nicole Orlando and Ashley Engmann
Greenpointers, you’ve been a major tight-knit community. You poured in, drank, and reveled in the last days at the Habitat and shared your touching stories with us about our beloved watering hole. And now, two amazing ladies behind the Habitat need your help.
Nicole Orlando and Ashley Engmann were some of your favorite friendly faces (besides the Johns, of course) at the Habitat. Nicole poured your fave beers at the front and managed the bar, while Ashley was the chef behind your favorite dishes (those wings!). When the Habitat was nearing the end of its tenure, Nicole and Ashley were planning a new life full of hope: they would relocate to Puerto Rico for new opportunities. Then, Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and now their dreams are on hold. Continue reading →
As you have probably heard by now, beloved Manhattan Avenue bar The Habitat will be closing its doors one last time on Saturday, September 16th. And even though their blessed wings are gone for good (their kitchen is closed due to a gas issue in the building), there’s still a chance to pay your last respects this week. On Sunday (9/10) at 2pm they’re hosting a flea market selling paintings and screenprints from past events (the ice cream paintings included!), plus household goods and ceramics from AmeliaBK. Quiz Night is Tuesday the 12th at 8pm, and the bar blowout farewell party is Saturday September 16th from 2pm until they run out of booze. Continue reading →
Spaghetti and Mama’s Meatballs. Photo by Molly Tavoletti.
Echoes of the Cozy Royale catering hall can still be heard in the warm dining room in the back of the bar at Humboldt & Jackson (434 Humboldt Street). The Royale’s former owner, Joanne Perrotta, had turned down many other offers when she was looking to retire. For years, families and neighbors gathered for dinners there, and Perrotta wished to pass on that sense of community along with the space. Perrotta cared more about who was going to take the place over rather than what it was going to be.
The first time I set foot in Humboldt & Jackson was the very day it opened. I followed the renovation of the Cozy Royale into this place, a newly-titled “American Tasting Room,” step-by-step on my daily walk to the Graham Avenue L train and was thrilled to have a prospective place to call my own—my Cheers, if you will. I would cement my status by getting in right at the beginning. Over the three years since their opening I realized that the feeling of ownership and comfort that I felt is exactly what Bill Reed, the bar’s charismatic owner, wants for all his guests.Continue reading →
