Transmitter Park, a leafy oasis on Labor Day or any day. Photo by Lucie Levine
Even though Labor Day began as a New York City tradition, lots of us like to get out of town over the holiday. If you were off soaking up the last days of summer outside of the lush tropical paradise that is North Brooklyn, catch up on local news here!
McCarren Park Pool | 776 Lorimer Street Pro tips: Now open through Labor Day. Get ready to mix and mingle with your neighbors of all backgrounds and ages. The semi-recently restored pool is perfect to take a dip on the hottest days of the year. It’s FREE, but there are rules. You need to bring your own lock, a towel, wear all white (if you plan to don a t-shirt or coverup) and should leave your cellphone at home. We recommend getting an ice cream bar from a park vendor post-plunge (there are no food vendors inside the pool). See what we said last year for the full lowdown on how best to prepare yo’self.
Metropolitan Swimming Pool | Bedford & Metropolitan Ave. Pro tips: Annual membership costs $150 for adults, and $25 for seniors (ages 62 and older), $25 for young adults (ages 18-24). Membership is free for under-18’s. There are designated community swim hours.
Greenpoint YMCA pool, photo via their site
Greenpoint YMCA | 99 Meserole Ave.
Pro tips: $175 for a Summer Fun Pass for pool access from now through August 31st. The fun pass also includes access to the gym and sauna/steam rooms. Seems like a good deal. Note, you should bring a bathing cap to swim.
Brooklyn Athletic Club, photo via their site
Brooklyn Athletic Club| 8 Berry Street Pro tips: This gym has private training pools, which you can book 30-minute sessions in even if you’re not a member. A pool package of 10 sessions is available for $239.
McCarren Hotel & Pool, photo via McCarren Hotel
The McCarren Hotel | 160 N 12th Street Pro tips: Leave your screaming mini-me’s at home: children are not allowed at the McCarren Hotel’s ground floor pool (unless you are a guest of the hotel). If you don’t book a room at the hotel, the lowest price access is $55 for an individual day pass (weekday per person price is $55; weekend is $65), up to $200 per person for VIP service for a group of 10 (weekend group price is $2000 for group of 10; weekday group price is $1750). FYI: “No topless tanning,” and you can only book up to 48 hours in advance, unless you’re booking a Day Bed ($150 per person weekday; $175 per person weekend; slightly cheaper if you book a daybed for 2) or package, in which case you have 2 weeks advance to book.
Pool @ The William Vale | 111 N 12th St Pro tips: Book a room (currently listed at $259) for a staycation and unrestricted access to the pool, or book a day pass. Day passes include reserved seating in a pergola, daybed or cabana, but will run you at minimum $67 per person (weekday, with 6 people), up to $90 (weekend, with 2 people). The Vale pool is a “60-foot outdoor pool with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. Snacks, light fare, and cocktails are served poolside under the direction of award-winning Chef Andrew Carmellini.”
While we all like the idea of hibernating in the winter, the beginning of Spring is just the inspiration we need to renew our commitment to fitness. But finding the right gym can be harder than it seems. Some of the more expensive gyms have state-of-the-art facilities, programs, and benefits that make them well worth the extra dough. If you want to keep it simple, though, a basic single-location membership at your nearest gym might do the trick. So how do you choose? We’ve compiled a list of local gyms so you can compare your neighborhood options at a glance.
Crunch Fitness
825 Manhattan Avenue
(718) 732-8222
Open 5am to 11pm M–F; 7am to 9pm weekends
Pricing: $9.95/month for Base membership; $19.95/month for Peak membership; $24.95/month for VIP membership One-day trial pass Become a member
Crunch is one of the most affordable gyms in the area, even with its VIP option, which includes benefits such as Hydromassage and tanning on top of all Peak perks. Choose the Peak membership option if you want access to any location, the ability to take group fitness classes, and extras such as a T-shirt and access to online streaming workout videos. The Base option is best if you want to keep things simple and stick with the equipment at the Greenpoint location. If you’re looking for more individualized fitness attention, you can always add personal training to any membership option. Continue reading →
Step inside the futuristic, BMW-0wned co-working space A/D/O that is slated to open in Jan. 2017. The 23,000 square-foot facility will have a Scandinavian-style restaurant, retail space and a public seating area; a membership will cost you $600/month.
The Bowery Presents newest venue is Brooklyn Steel, a 1,800 person capacity general admission concert venue near the intersection of Frost St, and Debevoise Ave., is set to open early next year with performances by the Pixies and PJ Harvey, amongst others.
NYC-based band Loose Buttons released “Milk & Roses,”a song inspired by lead singer Eric Nizgretsky’s breakup following a meal at the Manhattan Ave. restaurant. Continue reading →
Greenpointers Holiday Tropical Market! Summer lovin’ meets Winter cheer this Sun (12/11, 1-7PM) in the beautiful Greenpoint Loft (67 West St, 5th Fl) 60+ local makers of unique crafts and food, drinks like mojitos, mulled wine, and craft beer plus a number of FREE fun activities including massages, henna tattoos, face painting, personalized stories, nail art, tropical photo booth by the talented Colleen Blackard! RSVP
♦ Snowflake Making Party @ Enid’s (560 Manhattan Ave) 6pm, FREE, Begin to mentally prepare yourself for the Holy Shitstorm that is the holiday season at Enid’s annual snowflake cutting party. Paper and scissors provided, bring the snow-spiration, More info * Greenpoint YMCA “Spirit of Community” Service Awards Dinner and Fundraiser @ Giando on the Water (412 Kent Ave) 6:30pm, $200, It’s Greenpoint YMCA’s 110th Birthday! Celebrate by making a donation to their auction, being a sponsor or attending their event. The goal is to raise $175,000, Buy tix ♫ Warper Party @ Tender Trap (66 Greenpoint Ave) 8pm, FREE, NYC’s largest showcase of live electronic art & music. Two rooms of Omnidigital Art an Music, RSVPContinue reading →
Spring is nearly here! The birds are chirping, the days are longer, the (supposedly, for those with yards) crocuses are earnestly poking their heads topside. Finally, after months of darkness and wind chill factors, its time to pack away those Michelin Man coats and bust out the gauzy sundresses and seersucker suits of yore.
But wait! While the (alleged) crocus bulbs have been gently napping under the frozen ground, your metabolism has been as well, swaddled in Netflix Instant and sixers from the bodega. Last August’s loose summer clothes now feel like all those sausage casings from the Crif Dog habit you picked up over the winter. As you suddenly regret that ordering that pizza, you know it’s time to hit the gym again.
