Brooklyn, I'm Trying https://www.brooklynimtrying.com an urban lifestyle + travel blog by liz norment. Fri, 03 May 2019 16:28:02 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://i0.wp.com/www.brooklynimtrying.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/cropped-bk.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Brooklyn, I'm Trying https://www.brooklynimtrying.com 32 32 109043934 Where to Celebrate the Kentucky Derby in Brooklyn https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/where-to-celebrate-the-kentucky-derby-in-brooklyn/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=where-to-celebrate-the-kentucky-derby-in-brooklyn https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/where-to-celebrate-the-kentucky-derby-in-brooklyn/#respond Thu, 02 May 2019 22:55:22 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=5233 It’s derby day, baby. my second favorite holiday (to Beaujolais day, of course) and such a beautiful culture of celebration. bourbon, hats, dancing, pastels, betting, horses, short men finally having their moment; all of the best things in life. I’ve outlined]]>

It’s derby day, baby. my second favorite holiday (to Beaujolais day, of course) and such a beautiful culture of celebration. bourbon, hats, dancing, pastels, betting, horses, short men finally having their moment; all of the best things in life. I’ve outlined everything you need to know, from a tried-and-true julep recipe AND all the words to my Old Kentucky Home, a few of my theories about betting, and of course, all of the best events in the borough.

 

Let me talk derby to you.

 

This is how you julep.

Ah the mint julep. Nearly synonymous with the derby, and the best way to get in the spirit. My tried and true recipe is below, to tie one on and tip your hat and practice saying, with a Southern drawl that drips off your tongue like molasses, “I do declare that this is the finest julep I’ve had all season!”
 
Ingredients
Kentucky bourbon
Simple syrup
Mint leaves
Crushed ice
Thirst for mischief
 
Ok this is where things get complicated so please pay attention. Muddle the mint and simple syrup together until they seem aromatic and friendly with each other. Add ice. Pour in bourbon. Sip, swallow. Sip sip, swallow. Now start over from the beginning.
 

 
 

My Old Kentucky Home

It’s imperative to sing this song, not only as the horses promenade to the gate, but as many other times as possible on derby day, if this seems weird to you, please call my mother; she’ll explain it to you, in so many words.
 
The lyrics are below. Get acquainted.
 

The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,
Tis summer, the people are gay;
The corn-top’s ripe and the meadow’s in the bloom
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor
All merry, all happy and bright;
By ‘n by hard times comes a knocking at the door
Then my old Kentucky home, Good-night!
 
Weep no more my lady.
Weep no more my lady.
Oh! Weep no more today!
We will sing one song
For my old Kentucky home
For the old Kentucky home, far away.
 

 

Where to Celebrate

The greatest two minutes in sports requires you to put in a lot of pre- and post-work celebrating. I’ve listed the best parties in Brooklyn to watch, sip, bet, and feel alive and good reveling in this charming southern holiday. Choose your poison below, however you want it. All bets are off Brooklyn. And your hats are on.

 
Or maybe if all your bets are on, your hat is off. And everything else too.

Anyway, come on let’s go.
 

 

 

A Party for the Bourbon Enthusiast

The Moonlight Mile in Greenpoint

It’s rather fitting that Brooklyn’s best bourbon bar would be throwing one hell of a Derby Day party. The race will be on the big screen and if you don’t win your bets, there’s still a chance that you can win some great raffle prizes or take home the award for best hat. Or you know, just take a few shots of bourbon and feel like a winner. The bar opens at 2pm. Info here. 200 Franklin St.

For those who take this very, very seriously.

brooklyn derby

The Brooklyn Derby in Greenwood Park, Park Slope

These guys love the Derby even more than me, and they’ve dedicated so much time, energy, joy and love into creating Brooklyn Derby, a culture and brand that arguably is only relevant for 2 minutes every year. But they don’t care. You know why? They understand that that Derby feeling doesn’t have to stay in the first Saturday in May. This Saturday they turn Greenwood Park into Churchill Downs for a day full of live music, dancing, hat parades, juleps, and all of the joy and magic of the Derby. Tickets, $95 are available here. 555 7th ave.

Your Best Bet

Parklife’s Annual Derby Party, in Gowanus

It might be the 145th annual Kentucky Derby, but it’s only the second time the race has ever been broadcasted, celebrated, and inebriated at Parklife. Good traditions are made even better when you can say, “I was there way back when…” so go so you can be smug about it, say, 10 years down the road. They’re going to have all the screens, all the contests, all the mintiness, and all of the reasons to place your bets here. Oh yeah and a photo booth, in case you forget you were ever there. Which, you know, happens. RSVP here now. 2-7pm, 636 Degraw St.

The Classic

Derby Party at Threes Brewing in Gowanus

These guys do it the biggest, the longest, and the hardest every year. Live music, southern food, southern charm, hat contests, lawn games, square dancing, and a massive bar for you to spend your winnings at freely, and all of the syrupy juleps your heart desires. Trust me, go here. Entry is free so arrive early. Infohere. The bar opens at 1pm. 333 Douglass St.

]]> https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/where-to-celebrate-the-kentucky-derby-in-brooklyn/feed/ 0 5233 The Official Brooklyn Guide to the Kentucky Derby https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/the-official-brooklyn-guide-to-the-kentucky-derby/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-official-brooklyn-guide-to-the-kentucky-derby https://www.brooklynimtrying.com/the-official-brooklyn-guide-to-the-kentucky-derby/#respond Fri, 05 May 2017 20:35:28 +0000 http://www.brooklynimtrying.com/?p=3155 it’s derby day, baby. my second favorite holiday (to beaujolais day, of course) and such a beautiful culture of celebration. bourbon, hats, dancing, pastels, betting, horses. jockeys. all of the best things in life. i’ve outlined everything you need to]]>

it’s derby day, baby. my second favorite holiday (to beaujolais day, of course) and such a beautiful culture of celebration. bourbon, hats, dancing, pastels, betting, horses. jockeys. all of the best things in life. i’ve outlined everything you need to know, from a tried-and-true julep recipe AND all the words to my old kentucky home, a few of my theories about betting, and of course, all of the best events in the borough.

let me talk derby to you.

 

this is how you julep.

Ah the mint julep. Nearly synonymous with the derby, and the best way to get in the spirit. My tried and true recipe id below, to tie one on and tip your hat and practice saying, “I do declare that this is the finest juleps I’ve had all season!”
Ingredients
Kentucky bourbon
Simple syrup
Mint leaves
Crushed ice
Thirst for mischief
Ok this is where things get complicated so please pay attention. Muddle the mint and simple syrup together until they seem aromatic and friendly with each other. add ice. Pour in bourbon. Sip, swallow. Sip sip, swallow. start over from the beginning.

 

My Old Kentucky Home

It’s imperative to sing this song, not only as the horses promenade to the gate, but as many other times as possible on derby day, if this seems weird to you, please call my mother. The words are below. Get acquainted.
The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,
Tis summer, the people are gay;
The corn-top’s ripe and the meadow’s in the bloom
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor
All merry, all happy and bright;
By ‘n by hard times comes a knocking at the door
Then my old Kentucky home, Good-night!

Weep no more my lady.
Weep no more my lady.
Oh! Weep no more today!
We will sing one song
For my old Kentucky home
For the old Kentucky home, far away.

Where to Celebrate

The fastest two minutes in sports requires you to put in a lot of pre- and post-work celebrating. I’ve listed the best parties in Brooklyn to watch. Sip, bet, and feel alive and good reveling in this charming southern holiday, even north of the mason Dixon line!
The Bell House, Gowanus. 
The bell house is doing it oh-so-right for the derby this year. Live music all day by baby soda jazz band. Food and drink specials, tvs everywhere, live horses, hats on hats, hop on pop, julep jalopies. It’s $10 and it’s at one of the best venues in Brooklyn and their derby party is legendary so ask yourself, does it matter what I say here? (of course it doesn’t). All info and tickets here. See you there puppies.
Pete’s Candy Store, Williamsburg. 
I love everything that pete’s does. That might sound like an exaggeration but it’s not. I love every fucking thing they do. This perfect celebration for the derby is no exception. In anticipation of the big race, they’ll have a funky 1970s electronic horse racing game of for a little betting practice, a ladies hat show, one hell of a bluegrass blue plate special and, you know. The horse race. The event is free, 3-7pm, 709 lorimer st.  Hats off to ya, Pete’s.
Brooklyn Derby, Park Slope. 
Brooklyn derby, a brainchild of three friends, one of whom from louisville and wanted to bring the regalia and revelry of the world’s greatest sporting event to the borough. 14 years later, here we are with truly the best party in town. Ticket prices include four hours of makers mark mint juleps, mumm’s champagne, beer and wine, southern snacks, live music, a dyi hat station AND a fucking souvenir glass. So that every time you reach in the cabinet and grat it, you can say. “Oh yeah! That!” Tickets start at $60 available here. 555 7th ave. 

 

Northern Territory, Greenpoint. 
Derby on a rooftop with juleps, corn hole, hat and attire contests with some damn good prizes. Watch the race on the big screen and the other 240 minutes of this party filling your eyes with one of the best skyline views in town. Plus there’s a GIF photo booth and I don’t know what that is, but I know it’s good. Event is free, all info here. 12 Franklin st.

 

 

Moonlight Mile, Greenpoint
Where should one go for the derby? How about your favorite neighborhood haunt that is strictlyna bourbon bar? Moonlight mile goes the extra mile this Saturday to bring you extra magic and charming mint juleps on special, a lady’s hat competition and the bug race on the big screen. Party is free, save your money for those bets. 2pm-2am. 200 Franklin st. 
Humboldt & Jackson, Williamsburg.
This charming little spit in Williamsburg is throwing a fancy derby party with the illest Brooklyn vibes. Best dressed contest and free flowing juleps by four roses, post up here for the e party is free with rsvp right here, 434 humboldt st. 
Berg’n in Clinton Hill.
Everyone’s favorite Clinton hill bar will be showing the big race on the big screen, accompanied by (you guessed it!) mint juleps. What you won’t find anywhere else this derby day? The neighborhood charm embodied by this Brooklyn mainstay. Event is free, tables first come, first get on ’em. (not unlike the slogan at that brothel in bed stuy) (highly innappropriate but i do all the analytics here, and most of you don’t make it down here in the trenches.) (if you do, things get nasty.) Noon-11pm, #ibeonitalldayandibeonitallnight all info here. 899 Bergen st. 

 

get derby, brooklyn. as i know only you can.

<3L.

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