While Greenpoint is still a bastion of Polish food, community, and culture, there was a time when pierogi purveyors were more ubiquitous than banks and drug stores, longtime neighborhood resident Richard Humann recalls. In the 1980s, the large population of single Polish men working for the American dollar made for a pierogi paradise, with bare-bones cafeterias selling the dumplings for cents at seemingly every street corner. The combination of gentrification and more opportunities to make money following the fall of communism led to the departure of many of the Polish men and the resultant closure of many pierogi vendors.
In 2018, there’s still cause for indecision when picking a pierogi spot in Greenpoint, even if the dumplings today are a bit pricier and a bit more infrequent. Below, a guide to the best local pierogis.
Opened by Krakow native and restaurant namesake Krystyna Dura in 1993, Christina’s is known for its no-frills food in a charming, but tacky diner-like space. The table service is speedy and the plates will reliably fill you up faster than you think. Sour cream will cost you 50 cents extra.
While the pierogi options at Karczma are limited, what they do have delivers. The waitresses are all dressed in traditional outfits or school uniforms and the restaurant itself feels from another era. The borscht bread bowl isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s worth a second trip back to experience it.
The pierogi here qualify more for their price and location than quality, although they’re certainly tasty too. In the back of Krajan, a Polish bodega of sorts, fridges sit full of soup, milk, meat and boxes of pierogi, $8.99 for 12, meat or cheese. Nab some cow caramels on your way out: a medium-sized bag filled with them will run you just $2.99.
Commonly known as some variation of “The Knights” due to the armored figures guarding its entrance and the hard to pronounce name, Krolewskie Jadlo is a neighborhood landmark. It earned this status not only through its memorable front but also its authentic atmosphere, hearty food, and warm environment.
The name and homey but chic decor make Polka Dot seem a bit out of place with the neighborhood’s food scene at first glance. A look at the prices and offerings will show you otherwise. If you’ve got room post pierogi, try the zucchini pancakes – like a lighter latka.
This cafeteria-style eatery hasn’t been updated in decades, prices included. The atmosphere alone is worth a visit. Don’t get too comfortable while you wait for your order – it’ll be called out in Polish when its ready for pickup at the counter.
Greenpoint Tattoo Co. (131 Meserole Avenue) was started by John Reardon in 2011. The shop’s interior walls are covered top to bottom with sheets of tattoo flash designs. Almost all the flash displayed is custom painted by the crew of artists who works there. So just because you choose a tattoo off the wall doesn’t mean it’s generic. If you’re just in to browse, they’ll let the books full of artists’ work and flash tell you what you need to know, or you can follow them on Instagram and browse from home. Continue reading →
The CMJ Music Marathon starts today and plays through Saturday at about two dozen venues in North Brooklyn. Here are some tips for navigating the festival, and some fancy graphs to show you the bands recommended by local blogs and publications.
With so many acts playing, you should have a guide you can travel with to help navigate CMJ. Fortunately, the festival organizers put some real thought into their smartphone app this year. It has an interactive map showing all the participating music venues, and it’s free. Clicking on a venue shows you the complete schedule of shows.
By clicking on a show name, you get a little mini-description of each band, and you can even preview songs by the band from within the app. Continue reading →
You can find dozens of different birds right here in Greenpoint if you look for them. And this week you can help area researchers by recording what you see.
The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual 4 day event that “engages bird watchers to create a real time snapshot of where birds are across the continent”.
It takes as little as 15 minutes on any day between 2/15- 2/18. Your data helps birds!
How? Just look out your window, or any location in Greenpoint, and count the number and types of birds you observe.
• Johnny Marnel, Torn Curtain, Bridges and Powerlines, Dear Lions @ Pete’s Candy Store • Skull, Occultation, RASPBERRY BULBS, Villains @ St. Vitus
WEDNESDAY 10/19
• Pressed And, Noah Wall, Megafortress & Gem Club @ The End, More Info • Avi Wisnia, BEL AIR @ Pete’s Candy Store • Dead Stars, Nordic Nomadic, THE MAIN STREET GOSPEL, WEIRD OWL @ St. Vitus • CHELSEA WOLF, Religious To Damn, Hunters, The Love Butchers @ Europa
THURSDAY 10/20
• Gun Lake, ABADABAD, RADIATION CITY, SUCKERS @ Pete’s Candy Store
Friday 10/21 • Battle Cross, TURBID NORTH, Barn Burner, Skeleton Witch, KVELERTAK @ Europa • Robin Bacior, SEA OF BEES, GABRIEL & THE HOUNDS, Patrick Bower, David Liebe Hart Band, Bird Call, Chris Riffle @ Pete’s Candy Store
Saturday 10/22 • AGENTS OF WOE Record Release @ Veronica People’s Club (105 Franklin) • Adam Arcuragi, Aficionado, TS And The Past Haunts, Alyson Greenfield, Stephanie Carlin, Seryn, Dog Soldier, Wojcik @ Matchless • Tamar Haviv, Corner Youngblood, Ceramic @ Pete’s Candy Store
CMJ.com
