A summer without tourists may sound ideal to locals, but certainly not for hotels and restaurants. The hospitality industry in particular has been hit hard by the forced closures and limited operating restrictions during COVID-19, and North Brooklyn hotels are getting creative with ways to attract and distract locals during the pandemic. Looking for a staycation within walking distance? Check out what the hotels in the neighborhood are up to:
The upscale ambiance of Le Crocodile‘s outdoor patio has lured in diners to feast since the Wythe Hotel’s restaurant reopened earlier this month, and the hotel cheekily lists a hotel room (market price) below the peach melba and flourless chocolate cake on the dessert menu. A ‘Come for Dinner, Stay the Night’ package allows Le Crocodile guests can book a room at the hotel at an exclusive rate. Those eager to extend their stay for three or more nights are also treated to a complimentary movie screening of their choice in the hotel’s screening room, popcorn included. Those who need to focus on projects or just work outside of the house for a while can also book private office space (a converted hotel room, re-furnished for productivity), which starts at $200 for 10 hours, and includes an outdoor terrace.
The garden at Le Crocodile, the French restaurant attached to The Wythe Hotel
The Box House Hotel’s expansive rooftop space usually reserved for weddings and private events has re-launched for the summer as Top of the Box, an outdoor bar with skyline views. The 10,000 square foot rooftop offer socially distant seating, plus a full cocktail menu and light bites. Reservations are available via Resy. A QR code menu offers completely contactless ordering. During the day, YO BK hosts yoga and pilates classes atop the roof, and the bar functions as a healthy juice bar. Continue reading →
♫ The Lot Radio 4th of July Block Party @ The Lot Radio (17 Nassau Avenue), 12pm, FREE, More Info ♫ YES 4th of July Extravaganza @ The House of YES (2 Wyckoff Ave.), 2pm, FREE before 5 with RSVP, $10 After RSVP ♫ Good Roof at Dobbin St with Nancy Whang (DJ set) & Love Tempo @ Dobbin St. (64 Dobbin St.), 5pm, $30 at the door, More Info. ♫ Fireworks at The Box House Hotel Rooftop! @ Box House Hotel (77 Box St.), 6pm, $125-150 ticket includes a drink, The first public event at the Box House Hotel, Greenpointers readers get $10 off tickets with the code “GREENPOINTERS,” Buy Tix
THURSDAY 7/5
* Sex Trivia @ Starr Bar (214 Starr St.) 6pm, FREE, more info ♫ High Cost, Roseblood, MVA @ St. Vitus (1120 Manhattan Avenue), 7pm, $10, Buy Tix ^ LAAB Launch ft. Ronald Wimberly @ Desert Island (540 Metropolitan Ave.), 7pm, FREE, a new periodical art magazine about identity, aesthetics and representation, more info ☺ Hot Goss W/ On The DL @ Muchmore’s (2 Havemeyer St.), 7:30pm, FREE, improv, More Info
It’s no secret that NYC burgers have become a bit of a luxury item. Foodie culture and “chef-driven” menus have made $20+ burgers the rule rather than the exception. But there’s no need to despair; the budget-conscious among us can still find some awesome burger-related deals if we know where to look. Fortunately for us North Brooklynites, our neighborhood’s got plenty of specials that include both the burger and its natural partner: a cold, crisp beer. Behold, the Top Burger And Beer Deals of Greenpoint (and sure, North Williamsburg too):
Although we still miss Franklin Street’s dearly-departed Cassette, we have to say: Threes Brewing is killing it at the pop-up game. Their open-ended residency in the space, Threes at Franklin + Kent, is the ideal spot to meet up with friends and grab a bite and a high-quality brew, and while they started their run with a snack-only food menu, they’ve since expanded into sandwich and burger territory. Their partnership with Purslane Catering lets them serve up substantial dishes that pair beautifully with their draft offerings, and they’ve built some very appealing deals into the menu. Our personal favorite has to be the Burgers + Beer Special ($12), available Monday-Friday from 5-7pm. You’ll get a grilled beef burger with Fontina cheese and caramelized onions on a Sullivan Street Bakery brioche bun, plus a side of smashed potatoes and an 11 oz pour of a Threes draft beer. Because it’s a pop-up, we know that Threes At Franklin + Kent may one day vanish as magically and suddenly as it appeared…but with a happy hour situation like that, we’re keeping our fingers and toes crossed for a long stay.Continue reading →
Living room area in one of the rooms at Franklin Guesthouse. All photos: Julia Moak.
Greenpoint’s not the sleepy neighborhood it was ten years ago, but you’ll still get a good night’s rest at Franklin Guesthouse.
“We try to make the rooms like a home—apartment-style—and really give you a lot of amenities you don’t get in other hotels,” said Dana Schneider, vice-president of Franklin Guesthouse (214 Franklin Street) and its sister boutiques, The Box House and Henry Norman Hotels. Continue reading →
Your first approach to the Box House Hotel, which holds the Brooklyn Lantern restaurant, is a bit confused. Box Street in North Greenpoint is so quiet that you wonder if you’re on the right street.
Soon enough, you stumble on a sixties-style taxi parked casually outside, as if the owner had gone inside for a martini and a smoke. This is just part of the intrigue of this spot on the northern fringe of Greenpoint.
As I entered, I was expecting a sparse North Brooklyn chic—dimly-lit Edison bulbs, reclaimed wood, perhaps a tasteful, unobtrusive abstract piece hanging from the wall. What I got instead intrigued me—if this was the décor, I was eager to try Brooklyn Lantern.
THURSDAY 7/5
