Fancy bars and restaurants with all sorts of sexy food and drink (Tørst, Beloved, Nights and Weekends) are all over Greenpoint these days, but let’s face it – sometimes you just want get hammered on a budget, pay homage to the neighborhood’s longtime establishments, or just check out something different and new (or old). Greenpoint definitely has no shortage of dive bars, but where to begin?
This weekend I hung out in some of these dives (a.k.a. “old man” bars) in the neighborhood and got to know them and their clientele a little better. I scoped out the drink specials, watched Jeopardy with the regulars, and relaxed in some sweet backyards. And now I present to you, along with my little rating system, some of the neighborhood’s best kept secrets:
Irene’s Pub (623 Manhattan Ave)
Irene's Pub
Despite being so centrally located, Irene’s is somewhat of a mystery. Perhaps most Greenpointers are unfamiliar with the bar’s philosophy:”it’s happy hour all the time,” which I verified as TRUTH. Irene’s prices are actually equivalent to happy hour deals, all the time – we’re talking $2 drafts and dirt-cheap mixed drinks. I repeat: all day and night long. Continue reading →
The biker and pedestrian have wings...Right Of Way Speed Sign (Image: Daily News)
After traffic tragedy after tragedy after tragedy in North Brooklyn, we all agree that something has to be done (aside from ticketing jaywalkers) about speeding – (especially on McGuinness Blvd) to prevent future traffic related deaths.
Politicians spend time writing press releases and DOT – whose “top priority is safety” – drag their feet through bureaucratic muck, while street safety activists Right of Way, take care of business. Apparently their mothers also told them, “if you need to get the job done, sometimes you have to do it yourself.” Continue reading →
One of our readers recently used the acronym ‘OSOM’ (pronounced a bit like awesome) to describe the area on “the Other Side Of McGuinness.” Now that another restaurant has opened up over there, hot on the heels of Raizes, it seems a particularly apt time to start bringing OSOM into the everyday Greenpoint lexicon.
Lucky Luna (167 Nassau Ave) had its soft opening on Thursday night. The restaurant aims to bring together the best of Mexican and Taiwanese street food and serve up good-quality versions in a casual restaurant setting. Continue reading →
Blizzard number two this winter season and we had a Greenpointers field day turned mission to check out the new Philly cheesesteak joint called Delilah’s Steaks, literally a narrow triangular outpost on a stretch of McGuinness Blvd deep in Greenpoint.
Technically not on “the other side,” the address is 55 McGuinness Blvd So. at Engert Ave – out there. It had us thinking up ridiculous neighborhood hybrid names, like SoMc? Or NoBQE? Continue reading →
Greenpointers, along with Pancakes & Whiskey and Buzzchips, is putting on a show at Cameo Gallery this Saturday 1/18. There are four great bands on the bill: Adios Ghost, Youngman Grand, Folding Legs, and Canon Logic. All week long, we’re featuring one of the bands to get you even more excited to come party with us this weekend. Youngman Grand is in the spotlight today.
The yellow Wasco car on a McGuiness rooftop has long been a Greenpoint landmark. But during the last two years the space below, previously used as an auto supply and motor works, has undergone an incredible transformation. Just before Christmas it was unveiled as Raizes Churrascaria (139 Nassau Ave), a Portuguese grill run by Lucia Corba.
Whether drunk, skint, in a hurry or just plain hungry, the $3 falafel sandwich from Oasis next to the Bedford L is without doubt one of the best value dinners in the area. And, as of last week, they have a new outpost…in Greenpoint!
Perched on a corner of McGuinness, Oasis of Greenpoint (230, Calyer St) is not in the most beguiling of locations but, when I called in on Sunday afternoon, the place tried hard to live up to its name. The sun was streaming through the huge glass windows and a very happy flow of customers came through, many exclaiming that they were fans of the Williamsburg branch and how delighted they were that one had opened in our hood. Continue reading →
Press Release via Joe Lentol’s Office: Assemblyman Lentol Responds to Latest Tragedy on McGuinness Boulevard
Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol (D-North Brooklyn) responded today to the tragic death of a young woman Sunday night at the intersection of Nassau Avenue and McGuinness Boulevard.
“Another heartbreaking accident at this deadly intersection calls for swift action in the New Year under the new mayoral administration to install red light cameras, speed cameras, and new traffic calming measures,” said the Assemblyman. Continue reading →
It is with extreme sadness that we report that 32 year old Nicole Detweiler was killed last night on McGuinness Blvd and Nassau Ave in Greenpoint after being struck by two vehicles, a BMW and a box truck. The driver of the truck was arrested for driving without a license.
Our hearts are with Nicole’s family and friends at this terrible time. Continue reading →
This isn’t a joke. Crossing McGuinness Blvd. can often be a near death experience and for some deadly. A speed survey confirmed that speeding cars are out of control with over 66% of cars going over the speed limit with accidents averaging at over one per month involving mostly cars and pedestrians. According to the DOT report:
From 2005 to 2009 there were 57 crashes on McGuinness involving pedestrians or bicyclists … Of those, 44 crashes involved pedestrians, with one resulting in death. The remaining 13 crashes, involving cyclists, resulted in three fatalities.
Still, McGuinness is a very anti-pedestrian street. The very location of the roadway, flanked by the LIE and BQE, leaves drivers in highway speed mentality and the lights don’t give pedestrians much time to cross.
Even though safety measures are being created, as pedestrians we need to look out for ourselves and carefully cross the street.
I hung out on McGuinness Blvd at Driggs Ave with a stop watch at about 10am on a Friday morning, when there is a decent amount of foot and car traffic, then went again at 10pm the same night.
How much time do you really have to safely cross McGuinness Blvd?
GREEN LIGHT: During the day, cars on McGuinness have about 1 min. 5 sec. to pass before it turns red, and about 1 min at night.
Meanwhile…
RED HAND: Pedestrians, wait over 1 minute.
I know it’s obvious, but we are all guilty of running against the light. Don’t be an idiot! It’s better to be late than dead. When you see that red hand, don’t risk it – even if there is no traffic.
TOTAL TIME TO CROSS FOR PEDESTRIANS= *45 sec. in am, 55 sec. in pm *includes white hand signal plus countdown
WHITE HAND: Lasts 20 sec. before countdown signal begins in am, 30 sec. in pm
25 SECOND WARNING: At a normal pace, you can make it safely across the two lanes without having to wait on the dangerous divider.
17 SECOND WARNING: At a fast paced walk, you can make it safely across.
9 SECOND WARNING: At a fast jog you can make it across, but don’t risk it.
What if you trip?
RED HAND BLINKING: 3 sec. DO NOT CROSS
The most appalling moment I ever witnessed in Greenpoint was a man who ran to make the light while pushing a stroller in front of him.
DON’T WAIT ON DIVIDER
If a car skips the curb you are dead meat. Don’t risk it.
WAIT ON THE SIDEWALK, NOT IN THE STREET
Impatiently standing on the street is just as dangerous as waiting on the divider. Stay on the sidewalk as far from the edge of the curb as possible. In the event of a crash be as far away from McGuinnes Blvd. as possible.
This article was created with pedestrian safety in mind, but I hope drivers who read this realize that they pedestrians, too. As drivers, if we keep that in mind, and as pedestrians if we safely follow street crossing guidelines, McGuinness Blvd. can be a much safer place for everyone.
How about we rip up the pavement and replace it with sod and turn McGuinness Blvd. into a pedestrian walking mall, with a lane for bikes and emergency vehicles?
