What makes a great beach cocktail? If you ask me, it’s whatever drink finds its way into your hand while you’re sitting on the beach.

The Sneaky Spirit Social Club thinks otherwise. They have a few specific guidelines to help you rethink your beach cocktail, and three bottled beauty cocktails for sale with an exclusive for BIT readers. Read On.

From the Sneaky Spirit Social Club

A beach cocktail should start with fresh, in-season ingredients. We went to our local farmers market for a little inspiration and came back with the following:

English Cucumbers

Fresh Mint Ginger Root

A spikey little Pineapple

And PLENTY of citrus- oranges, limes, lemons.

With these as our inspiration, we thought of the best “base spirits” to accompany them. As a rule of thumb, gin and cucumber always make good friends. Rum is a great bet to make a drink taste more tropical. And when in doubt for anything else, tequila.

We paid a visit to our good friends at Duke’s Liquor Box to pick up these spirits, and came home for a little painless trial-and-error.

We juiced, strained, peeled, pressed, pureed, and paired it all with a few of our favorite Sneaky Tinctures- including a hibiscus spice tincture (made from hibiscus flowers and white peppercorn) and our new Sneaky Szechuan spice (a taste-altering tincture) before coming up with these amazing beach cocktails.

Beach Cocktails with the Sneaky Spirit Social Club

Gin Cucumber Cooler

A minty, cucumber, Szechuan combination with a little fresh lemon guaranteed to make you cooler with the first sip.

Hibiscus Margarita

A tried-and-true favorite made from dried hibiscus, fresh lime, and a little white peppercorn, and a heavy-hand of blanco tequila.

Ginger Rum Punch

Pineapple, Orange, and a bite of fresh ginger bring a brightness to the dark rum soul of this drink.

Each of these has 4.5 ounces of booze (read: that’s more than 2 drinks worth!) and we’re extending a special offer for BIT readers:

Buy 1 bottled cocktail for $12

Buy 3 for $33

Buy 10 or more for only $10 each
 
Free same-day delivery in Greenpoint and Williamsburg.

Call us from the park. Call us the night before you leave for the beach. Let us meet you on the dock before the ferry to Governor’s Island comes. Take us with you, and let’s make this summer a little more Sneaky.

I get it. We’re all standing around wondering where the hell November went and also trying to figure out how to start and finish our holiday shopping all in one day trip to Manhattan. And getting into the holiday spirit? Well, that’s something that will help smooth all of this over. Trust me. And if you don’t know how to get into it, I can help guide you. Consider me your spiritual shaman, for the moment. Read on and raise a glass to the holiday spirit, and let yourself feel present, or at least, presently tipsy, for the rest of it.  

Searching for that holiday spirit in North Brooklyn led us unsurprisingly into Duke’s Liquor Box, on Franklin Street. This un-pretentious boutique spirits and wine shop will help guide you through their shelves of mostly unexpected bottles to find something to talk about at your upcoming holiday parties, or an expressive mainstay on your liquour cart. We were inspired by a few bold bottles, and the cocktails they could become. 

These two, dreamt up by my in-house cocktailero and good-spirits sheriff Zachary. He’ll take it from here.

The Christmas/Chanukah Connection 

Winter doldrums already gnawing at your soul? Wishing you were still sunning yourself on Rockaway beach? Well, here are two cocktails sure to warm you up and keep your holiday spirits high.The first of our delicious cocktails is called the “Christmas/Chanukah Connection”. With our two base spirits being cognac and a delicious apéritive like Aperol but spicier, we add a bit of honey syrup and a combination of orange and traditional Angostura bitters. Stirred and served up with a star of anise or a flamed orange zest, this cocktail will be a perfect complement to warm you by the fire this season.

1.25 oz cognac

1.25 oz Forthave

.25 oz honey syrup

2 dashes orange bitters

2 dashes Angostura bitters

Stirred with ice. Strain into a coup glass

The Feliz Navi-Dazed

The second holiday cocktail we present here is intended to transport you back to the beach. Dubbed, “Feliz Navi-Dazed” this boozy mezcal or tequila based beverage is sure to help you endure the cold for the next few months. Combining grapefruit and lime juice, mezcal or tequila, and…. rosé (what? yes!), this beverage is a version of a citrusy Paloma but with less sugar in order to give you more room for all the sweets you can eat. It’s easy to make and is sure to be a crowd pleaser this season!

2 oz mezcal or tequila

1 oz rosé

75 oz lime juice

5 oz grapefruit juice

Shake with ice. Dirty pour into salted rocks glass

Top up with soda 

Want something a little softer? Hey, I’m not judging you. (I am judging you). Here are my favorite bottles of the season, from Duke’s and one from Spirit Animal, in Williamsburg.

Primal!! By David Bowler

A wine from an ex-rocker should have a bit of grip to it. This former member of Half-Japanese, a raucous, art punk band from Maryland circa 1975 found his next-calling making what some consider to be the epitome of raw wine. Free of bullshit, negligent of boundaries, and wholly expressive of the land, the grapes, the moment. This 100% tempranillo has a high acidity and tartness, but is almost immediately balanced with semi-sweet cherries and strawberry rhubarb. Pair it with the stronger dishes on the table, or with the stronger personalities in your friend group. 

Barrika Basque Cider

I suppose it’s very pase to discuss politics at a holiday party and certainly something you want to avoid around the family dinner table, but personally, I think it’s totally acceptable to bring up the political situations in other countries. Why? Because it doesn’t really mean anything to take sides and also it makes us all feel like our current situation is quite juvenile. Case in point, the Basque country, that culture with the prehistoric-looking alphabet that has not-so-silently been fighting for independence from Spain for nearly 70 years now. But beyond that, they’ve been making some of the world’s best cider for centuries. It will get people talking, and drinking, and trying to do some of the wild tricks they do with the same spirit over in the Iberian peninsula. Bring some Barrika to the table and make things feel better, for now, or for always. 

Forthave Aperitivo

The world of digestifs are often lost on us. The end of a meal or an event should be punctuated, time-stamped, sniffed, sipped, and swallowed. It should be put to rest. And there have been people seeking to capture the spirits of such a transition in the evening for centuries. So let’s dive into this world of digestifs. Let’s start with this locally-made spirit from Forthave. If you haven’t yet familiarized yourself with the spicy, seductive world of Amaros, let this be your first foray. This spooky little spirit from Forthave in Bed-Stuy is based on the secret recipe of four medieval thieves. These thieves were caught stealing from plague victims in Marseille, and in exchange for clemency, they revealed their secret concoction. With notes of cinnamon, eucalyptus, and honey, it’s a smooth digestif that doesn’t need to wait for food, or thankfully, another plague, to be appreciated.

Cheers, Brooklyn.

In a city as wild and unpredictable as New York, we all have a story. We all have something that brought us here, something that keeps us here, some part of us that will stay here even after we leave. In every lit window in every apartment building, there is a life and a story of that life. And I imagine, sometimes, if each of those stories were captured, bottled up, what would the labels read? Liz Norment. 1986 Vintage. Origin in Virginia, aged and matured in American concrete and plaster within apartments in Brooklyn. A subtle bouquet of dry shampoo and whiskey, this wild and unexpected red is best paired with a good time.

Although I’m not too sure how palatable a collection of bottled-up New York stories would be (my own included), I do always prefer my wine to be paired with a good story. And thus, a good storyteller.

Sitting at the seductive round bar at Spirit Animal, a new wine and spirit shop in Williamsburg, I became part of the story that brought together a seasoned sommelier, a local chef, an entrepreneurial business owner, and bottles from over 300 small farms and passionate winemakers. Within minutes of talking with Sommelier Austin Flechler, I was able to understand that the desire of the shop is to focus on the story and the journey that are so inherent to every bottle of wine. Like a message in a bottle, their truly transportive approach to wine selection will carry you to a small producer and the farm where the vines were grown, to the grapes and their sensitivity to their environment, through the vigilant aging process until finally, it’s ready to be bottled and selected. And with Austin’s help, the perfect bottle will be chosen to be popped, opened, and shared among friends in your small little part of the story of this city. 

The story of the shop started partially on a dining floor in Chelsea. Austin spent 7 years in the industry, from serving to management, into wine direction and finally earning the coveted title as a sommelier. Deciding to leave dirty plates behind, he left the city to spend some time traveling through Europe with the intention of getting to know the new winemakers of the old world. With a desire to focus on the viticulture renegades who were rejecting the financial appeal of high-volume production for natural, organic, biodynamic processes, he left with a newfound appreciation for this style of winemaking and more than a few friends in the industry.

Austin then found himself somehow guided back to New York with a lot of passion but not much of a plan. And that was when he was introduced to Chef Albert Di Meglio, an old friend in the industry, and brought into the magical space on Broadway that would become Spirit Animal. For the past 6 months, Austin and Albert have been working to fill the shop with enticing bottles from mostly natural and organic winemakers whose spirits will naturally draw people in.

The shop itself aims to curate and highlight the stories of the wines themselves. “Instead of having a row of Sancerres, we have 1 or two that we really believe in and can tell you about,” Austin explained. 

I found myself at Spirit Animal in search for some seasonal wines to make the inevitable transition from summer into the cold a little less painful. He led me through the rows, picking out a spectrum that ranged from a bright Riesling to a spicy, local digestif.

As I left with a few bottles in my Brooklyn Airlines tote, a guest came into the shop. She was looking for a Bordeaux. “Oh, I see they aren’t organized by country here?” she asked Austin. 

He explained to her that the wines were indeed organized by region. “We just don’t have signs. They’re too distracting.” He preferred instead, it seemed, to guide her over to the region she was curious about; to tell her just enough to give her a confident and genuine interest in her selection, while nudging her toward the wine he most believed in. “The winemakers pour their heart and soul into this one,” he explained. And as I left, I heard the story unfolding.

Dive into Austin’s Fall transition wine and spirit selection below.

Pere Mata Cuvada

If you know me, you know I’m a shameless hispanophile. And thus I believe that cava is truly seasonless, and absolutely shouldn’t be reserved just for special occasions or annoying brunches (fuck brunch.) Need proof? This bright, clean, and very down-to-earth cava will instantly transport you to the sun-drenched sss of Catalunya and maybe even a few of the bad decisions you made in Barcelona. Which is a place I like to be transported to quite often.

Meinklang Mulatschak

This orange wine from Austria sounds like a mouthful, but drinks like an easy-going, approachable pet nat. An elegant blend of Zweigelt and Saint Laurent grapes, it’s spunky, memorable, and best served when chilled and sipped while wearing a light sweater.

1000L Riesling

This bold little bottle will help you permanently separate that pesky “riesling” and “sweet” association in your mind. Exceptionally crisp (hello, Fall!) and bright, it will awaken your taste buds and prevent you from going into some sort of tasteless hibernation as the temperature drops. Bring this one to a party; its surprising flavor profile will instantly elevate your social status, or at least make up for whatever last-minute Halloween costume decision you’re going to make.

Succes Trepat

A winery created by two Catalan lovers inherently produces wines that drip with passion. They put their heart and soul into every bottle, and this smooth, seductive red was the one that first put them on the map. Made with 100% Trepat grapes, the varietal traditionally used in the region to make rose cava, this still yet lively wine is one you’ll easily fall in love with.

Forthave Marseille Amaro

If you haven’t yet familiarized yourself with the spicy, seductive world of Amaros, let this be your first foray. This spooky little spirit from Forthave in Bed-Stuy is based on the secret recipe of four medieval thieves. These thieves were caught stealing from plague victims in Marseille, and in exchange for clemency, they revealed their secret concoction. With notes of cinnamon, eucalyptus, and honey, it’s a smooth digestif that doesn’t need to wait for food, or thankfully, another plague, to be appreciated.

Spirit Animal is located at 20 Broadway in Williamsburg. Follow them on Instagram here and stay tuned for updates on upcoming events and classes!

Natural Wines have been getting a lot of attention recently, which has made me worried. How unnatural is the other wine that I’m drinking? Is there really anything more natural than uncorking, pouring, sniffing, breathing, toasting, sipping, smiling, and sipping again? Of course not. 

However, there is a very particular distinction about “natural” wines, and one that their winemakers and purveyors care deeply about. Natural, in the vaguest sense, means wines that are made the way they used to be, way way back before we had a keen understanding of chemistry and a need to mass produce and instead relied heavily on the nature of the land, the phases of the moon, the changes in climate, a more than a little bit of magic to produce. It means wineries that often look more like laboratories, it means processes that are part winemaking part witchcraft. The result is funky, unpredictable, hazy and unfiltered; wines that have a soul and a story to tell; wines that make you slow down and feel the magic that is still aging and transforming within the bottle, instead of being dulled by the addition of sulfites. It’s alive, and makes you feel the same. 

And my favorite new spot in Brooklyn for natural wines? Le Fanfare, in Greenpoint. 

Their new natural-forward wine program concentrates on the hazy, the unfiltered, the raw and memorable wines from Spain, France, and Italy, and it’s the best way to sip on a little magic in Brooklyn. 

These wines are so untouched, the wine collective’s purveyor still uses hotmail, a charming addition I noticed on the back of the bottles. 

I recently visited with my in-house wine tasting aficionado Zachary Eichenhorn who will help you clear up the haze and feel the bewitchment of these untouchable spirits. He’ll take it from here.

With so many wines to choose from in today’s restaurants and bars it is often difficult to make a decision on your own. However Le Fanfare gives you an easy way to narrow the field by providing a menu of natural wines to choose from. These particular wines are produced without the addition or subtraction of any elements during the winemaking process. As such each offering provides a uniquely delightful experience to complement your time at this Greenpoint staple. If you can get in on a Friday or Saturday, raise a glass to the live musicians who regale you with their tunes.

The Clar Blanco

Like a muted trumpet that still has a solo to perform, the Xarel-lo grape in this blend just yearns for stage time as the supplemental Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer provide backup. From the land that brings us so much cava, the winemaker desired to get back to Penedes’s flat wine roots, creating a hazy white that is far from lackluster. Impressively funky and drinkable, this wine is a great warm up to dinner. 

Villa Paz

This deep white feels like a Celtic, rainy day in the mystical land where it hails from, Galicia. Each sip feels steep and elevated, cleansing and hopeful. Because Le Fanfare doesn’t have percebes on the menu, reach for this wine to complement the octopus or mussels.

Plein Les Ceps

If you are partial to red wines as an accompaniment, say, to a delicious burrata appetizer, then the ‘Plein Les Ceps’ is your new, rude best friend. Literally translated, it’s “full of mushroom,” this wild, tangy, 100% Grenache dances upon and finds the deepest nooks of your palate.

Vino del Poggio

If you want to stay on the funky train, choose a bottle of this Italian Red with a charming little elephant on the front. The winemaker has always been inspired by the story of intrepid exploration where Carthinigan general Hannibal brought his entire army and 40 elephants over the Alps in an effort to take over Rome directly. He himself embodies this same renegade approach to wine exploration. A 100% Barbera wine, it’s effervescent and pungent yet painfully elegant. Not for the weak at heart, the dull of senses, or those easily intimidated by seemingly impossible mountain passes.

Cot

For our headlining act, we chose to indulge in a bottle of the Cot, a Malbec from the Loire Valley in France. Originally arriving and coming to fame in Argentina, the varietal from its home country is drier than expected with silky soft tannins. It’s light and elegant despite it’s deep, seductive ruby color. This wine pairs perfectly with Le Fanfare’s expertly cooked and cut hanger steak, cooked medium rare.

To cap the evening with a neat digestif we chose to imbibe the Amaro Montenegro, which was neither a natural nor unnatural choice. It just felt right before leaving and dancing into the night.

Our dive bars are disappearing, and unfortunately there’s a very obvious reason why. As our neighborhoods are changing to be cleaner, brighter, whiter, more hip, these dusty spots seemingly add nothing to the quality of the neighborhood. They’ll be the first to go because their very presence seems to be an afterthought. A hole in the wall, a buzzing neon light, an unenthusiastic welcome, an under-appreciated neighborhood presence. No one will lobby for them. Their own bartenders don’t care, and it’s this nonchalance is what brings us there. And perhaps worst of all, they won’t appear in your Instagram feeds because their darkness isn’t virtually inviting.

So why should you care about them?

Dive bars are humbly born out of a neighborhood need. They speak to the history and presence of the neighborhood. They have stories, they have secrets, they have something to say without a hashtag. They feel timeless. And they are all running out of time. 

Here’s your guide to embracing the best of the worst, the worst of the best, how to recognize one and how to find one in every neighborhood in Brooklyn, and unfortunately a meagerode to those we’ve lost.  Dive in. Their isn’t much time. 

How to Spot a Dive Bar

• They don’t serve food, and no part of you would want to eat food if they did serve it. Obvious exceptions include peanuts (often shellable onto the floor which is a very smart move to sop up unnoticed spills or avoid some lost delicate Upper East Side bitch from filing a lawsuit against absolutely no one in charge for almost killing herself), Zapp’s chips, bowls of dusty cheese balls.
• The bathroom mirror is completely covered in stickers. 
• The cocktail list consists of beer and shot deals with somewhat clever names.
• The jukebox is full of grungey favorites and often free.
• When you ask the bartender to settle you up, he clearly estimates about how long you’ve been there and then tallies up some vague number while offering you “one for the road” 
• You can’t remember the last time you were there.

The Best Dive Bars in North Williamsburg

Turkey’s Nest | Neighborhood Deep Dive

You’re probably most familiar with this place from their syrupy-sweet and oversized styrofoam cups of margaritas, and everyone’s uncanny ability to completely ignore the “no drinks are permitted to leave the bar” sign at the door and thus establish said margaritas as a staple of outdoor films and all other summertime activities in McCarren Park. But Turkey’s Nest is also a place to find yourself in rather than simply to exit. It’s a place to stay, a place to be, a place to… well, nest. And it has been for the past 30 years. The appeal is mostly in its staying power in a neighborhood that feels like it’s slipping from our fingers. It’s complete deference to “neighborhood demands” and, well, its overall dustiness earns it a spot as North Williamsburg’s Deep Dive. Stay with it.  94 Bedford Ave.

The Levee

All you need to know is that this place used to called Kokie’s and used to sell coke behind a curtain in the back. You don’t need to know how I know this. Now it’s the Levee and they have jenga and complimentary bowls of dusty cheese balls. Any other dust you have to bring yourself. Maybe. 212 Berry St.

Rock A Rolla

This corner bar under the BQE is covered in enough antique beer memorabilia to feel genuine, unironic, and to remind you specifically of all the beers you’ve drunk there before. Bucket seats and regal chalice glasses ironically juxtapose the sticker-covered surfaces and walls. The bartenders are warm yet distinctly don’t give a fuck. The music is always good and the overall atmosphere discourages shitty people from entering most nights. 486 Metropolitan Ave. 

Skinny Dennis

The presence of taxidermied animals is always a good sign, except for that one boar head that is always thinking about crushing you on the makeshift dancefloor. And by “dance floor” I mean the space in front of where they often have live bluegrass that inevitably tempts you our of your barstool. Please note that this place loses its divey-ness on Friday and Saturday nights. Best to go on Sunday afternoons when there are usually more dogs than douchebags and you don’t have to fight through oversized vegan fur coats to get a shot of whiskey. Or the mint bourbon iced tea, which I highly recommend having two of and then sending yourself home immediately or intentionally making bad decisions. 152 Metropolitan Ave.

The Best Dive Bars in South Williamsburg

Jack Bar

A bar noteably defined by their don’t-give-a-shit attitude. They shamelessly made t-shirts out of what arguably should have been a shameful Yelp review. “The bartender seemed wasted” yeah well, if this is a problem for you, then this probably isn’t the place for you. A few pinball machines line the walls but the appeal here is in its cheap booze, ironic charm, and tiny little street-level terrace out front. 143 Havemeyer St.

Midway

A bar for people who are halfway between admitting they have a drinking problem and a halfway house, check in here for a while. Midway is a place where people seemingly wash up, where people pretend they have a pool addiction, where you find yourself when you’ve been lost. The pool table is free, the bathrooms are made for use by 2-3 people at a time, the music is loud, the bartenders are crass. And there is nothing wrong with any of that. 272 Grans St. 

Lucky Dog

This place is basically your local dog run, with a roof over it and no sign that says “you must have a dog. This is not a petting zoo.” They not only allow dogs, but they encourage them to be there. The backyard is charming and expansive and littered with pups and they have shuffleboard and beer-and-shot deals for you and your two-legged friends. There is no food, there are no dog treats, but there is the vagrant empanada peddler who often passes through, who is also known to offer blow jobs. No, I’m not kidding. Your resistance to buying one of his empanadas will wain the more you drink, but hopefully nothing else. Stay strong. 303 Bedford Ave.

We all are familiar with the New York minute. But what about the New York hour? What happens if we multiply this notorious “minute” by 60?    

We get a formerly familiar measure of time that is hustled, frantic, fleeting, and coveted. So the way we decide to spend such hours is important. Add into that equation a plethora of top-rated restaurants and a lack of time and a culinary appetite for adventure and therein lies the ultimate omnivore’s dilemma, nearly every night.  

I’ve found that the best way to solve it is to make a buffet out of a neighborhood. Plan to embark on a food-based happy hour exhibition that allows you to sample one emblematic dish from multiple destinations so that your dinner decision can be made with more confidence. Also, it’s really fucking fun. I’ve left you some breadcrumbs first through Greenpoint. Get a little taste of it below.

Greenpoint Fish and Lobster Happy Hour | Greenpoint

A fish counter with a penchant for service, this white-tiled silvery-scaled spot on Nassau Ave offers oysters for $2, beer and cider for $5, wine and cava for $6 and a full, freshly caught menu a la carte. And it makes me want to remind you that $1 oyster promotions are completely unsustainable. Places that are still offering this deal regularly are likely getting oysters from places that are farming them in a way that destroys the delicate and necessary ecosystem. So stop expecting and seeking them. At Greenpoint Fish, their passion is seeking the most responsibly harvested seafood possible, and their specials are based upon whatever there was a surplus of at the market that day. Meaning you’ll get a briney, fresh, and salty-esque exploration of the best in season, sustainably. We got 2 of each of the 3 in abundance that night, plus a couple glasses of rose. This only set us back $11 each and set us forward to embrace the remainder of these sacred hours. Their happy hour runs Monday through Friday, 2-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 4-6pm. Find them at 114 Nassau Ave.

El Born, Greenpoint | Happy Hour

The idea for a food-based happy hour crawl was based upon a trip I took to San Sebastian, where every Thursday night they have a self-guided, walking tapas-tour, each bar in the city offering one signature dish that comes with a glass of wine. Thus it was only fitting to hit my favorite Spanish restaurant in town as part of this piece. Their happy hour tapas menu lets you choose from 10 offerings (including a personal paella) plus beer, wine, sangria or vermut for $5. Plus I heard through the fermented grapevine that they’ll be introducing a Tapas Tuesday deal that will leave you with unlimited tapas for a very limited budget. Update coming soon.  

For tonight, we chose a tortilla espanola and the croquetas del dia (each for $5) and a house-made sangria, leaving satisfied and hispanophiled for $10 (plus tip!) each. Their happy hour (and so many other nightly deals) runs Monday through Friday, 3-7pm. Find them at 651 Manhattan Ave.

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Alameda, Greenpoint | Happy Hour

Alameda is the Spanish word for an urban orchard or charming tree-lined street, and this hidden gem on Franklin feels as mystical and natural as if it was grown out of the neighborhood’s natural environment and its inhabitants needs. With an ovular bar that instinctively brings people together, an imaginative cocktail list that draws you in, plus a Monday-Friday beer and a burger deal that lets you experience the best burger (and requisite worst beer) in Greenpoint for just $12, this is a place that hardly needs incentive to keep you coming back.  

Although the burger is hard to refuse, we opted instead for the oysters with a refreshing cucumber mignonette ($2 each) and a couple of tequilas on the rocks for a total of $13 each (plus tip!). The added bonus was the poured-on-site polished concrete bar, the art-deco inspired molding, the back-lit and enticing shelves of spirits and the always personable service that was hardly reflected (thus aptly tipped upon) by the meager check. Their happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 5-7pm. Find them at 195 Franklin St.

Le Fanfare, Greenpoint | Happy Hour

The atmosphere at this Italian spot in North Greenpoint feels like it should be saved for special occasions; the long communal farm tables dotted with fresh flowers makes it nearly impossible to imagine yourself and 35 very good-looking people celebrating with endless bottles of wine and big, warm plates of pasta and salty charcuterie, seductive glances and warm toasts and enough laughter to make you not even mind that the silk dress you saved just for this occasion is now dotted with marinara sauce because you’ve never been this happy at a dinner ever in your life. Just you know, as an example. However, the service, menu, and happy hour deals will remind you that you should be coming here often and making any day feel like an occasion. Every flavor combination is exquisitely curated; never too much yet deeply satisfying, it’s delicate and pure and memorable which is just the way I imagine life on the island of Sardinia to be. Their happy hour menu gives you a taste of their best starters, which is the perfect way to wet your appetite for the homemade pastas and decadent entrees on the menu.

We couldn’t help ordering something unabashedly seafaring with the mussels and also went for the stone-ground polenta to keep us grounded in some down-home Italian comfort. For $12 each we had a wine and our selected small plate while sitting around the charming round marble bar and gazing out of their floor-to-ceiling glass entryway at snippets of life passing through our favorite area of the neighborhood. Their happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 5:30-7pm. Find them at 1103 Manhattan Ave.

Naked Dog, Greenpoint | Happy Hour

The last stop on our happy hour tour took us to a quiet corner on West Street and into one of the most authentic Italian restaurants in the area. The Naked Dog is fairly unassuming; rustic-chic interior, excessively pleasant staff, unique lighting selections and an overall feeling that makes you want to stay for a while. This feels nice. This is comfortable. This seems homey. And then the food arrives and you take your first bite and you desperately feel the need to disrupt the comfort and serenity and grab the person next to you and say, what the fuck is happening right now? They are serving some of the best dishes in Brooklyn in a completely unassuming atmosphere. And their happy hour deal lets you sample the best of these flavors for just $5 a dish. We went for the burrata, the meatballs, and the fried calamari. We opted for a happy hour cocktail each, one gin-based and one tequila-based to keep our bases covered. Our 3-plate and 2-drink special put us back $12.50 each (plus tip). Their happy hour runs Monday through Friday, 5pm-7pm. Check the hours and menus here then find them at 47 Java St.

Cocktails at Alameda

195 Franklin St.

Dinner at Le Fanfare

1103 Manhattan Ave

Threes Brewing

113 Franklin St.

Magick City

37 Box St.

Oak and Iron

147 Franklin St.

Bakeri

105 Freeman St.

BiT pick a beer from keg & lantern to match each of these personalities.

a guide to finding the perfect spanish wine for all your dope occasions.

in brooklyn our lives are often defined by contradictions. we sleep in the shadow of the world’s most infamous skyline and the flickering streetlight outside of our too-expensive shoebox apartment that we share with 3 other people in bed stuy. we wear ripped jeans and red lipstick to invite-only gallery openings on our way to a bushwick afterhours party. we chase a beer-and-a-shot with a beer-and-a-shot before a five course meal across the street. we look to elevate our lives in the most grounded way we know how. we let our reputation precede us.

The Housewarming Party in Bed Stuy. 

The Launch of [insert dope endeavor here]. 

Anna Brut Cava from Codorniu in Catalunya, $13

For 808s 212s and heartbreak. 

Petalos Bierzo, $20.

For the friend who’s leaving the city.

Quinta Milú, Ribera del Duero, $11.

 

¡salud, brooklyn!

<3L.

i’ve found your place. it’s alameda in NoGreePo and it’s where you’ll be drinkign this weekend. a fantastic list of cocktails. fancy deviled eggs. fancy devlish people. and a bar of whom’s integrity they felt so strongly about they built it inside the structure itself, backing a concrete truck in ever-so-graciously and pouring it right in. yeah, you have to see this shit. and drink this drank. and be everything that is alameda. with me, if you’d like.

what not to miss

how not to miss it