Archive for ‘fun stuff’

Superbowl in Brooklyn (Go Giants)

By , 3 February, 2012, No Comment

With a classic northeast face-off coming to a head this Sunday, you may be looking for a place to watch the game in BoCoCa–or just somewhere to order amazing food. Here’s a few tips in case you don’t have an, AHEM, game-plan.

Brooklyn Based gives a great Borough-wide guide to Sunday’s festivities:

The Bell House will be showing the game on its big screen, with color commentary in the form of a live feed of Super Bowl-related tweets from the funny folks at Witstream, plus drink specials and hot food from Urban Rustic. If you’re heading to North Brooklyn, you can catch every play (and commercial) in movie theater-quality and surround sound at Williamsburg’s Nitehawk Cinema. Brooklyn Bowl will be throwing its annual Super Bowl bash, with plenty of Blue Ribbon fried chicken to go around, Brooklyn Winery will be offering a 92” screen, hanger steak-chili, and buckets of Brooklyn Brewery beer, and The Knitting Factory will have a 12-foot projection screen running with free snacks and the option to reserve special party packages. Finally, if you just aren’t into football, you can while away the evening watching classic sports-themed sci-fi flicks at The Way Station’s Too Nerdy for the Super Bowl event.

Buttermilk Channel (524 Court St.)-Need a last minute game day take-out order? Pick-up some of Buttermilk Channel’s famous fried chicken (Half Chicken) $13. Other accompaniments include Baby Back Ribs, Fingerling Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Bread & Butter Pickles and Dill Pickles. To order, call 718 852 8490 or drop by in person to.

BARK & SIXPOINT’s 1st ANNUAL TAILGATE PARTY-Price:$75 per person; Pre-Game Starts at 5:30pm. For reservations, call 718-789-1939 or email events@barkhotdogs.com. And if you’re staying home to watch the game, check out the special SUPER BOWL CATERING MENU HERE for a full arsenal of game day fare.
Schedule: 5:30pm: Pre-Game Snacks
Chips and Cipolinni Onion-Sour Cream Dip
Sixpoint Beers and Pop
Super Bowl Squares Raffle Sign Up (Sixpoint and Bark prizes given at end of game)
6:30pm: Kick-off
Hot Dogs, Sausages, Wings, and Jalapeño-Cheddar Croquettes
Still more non-stop pours of Sixpoint, and some surprises
Halftime: Epic Sky-box Buffet
Choucroute Garnie, Shells and Cheese, Bark Nachos, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw
Second Half: The Endless Nosh
More free flowing Sixpoint Ales
Hot Dogs, Sausages, Wings, and Jalapeño-Cheddar Croquettes

Brazen Head (228 Atlantic Ave)-Think $1-off cask beers and free chili (beef and veggie)–plus with other snacks after 6pm. The game will be showing on four screens.

Vinegar Hill House (72 Hudson Ave)-Hike it over to Vinegar Hill for classics like wings, artichoke dip, seven-layer dip and three kinds of pizza.

Carroll Garden’s Patch also did a great round-up. Here are a few of their picks:

Angry Wade’s (224 Smith St.)-On Super Bowl Sunday Angry Wade’s features an all-you-can-eat menu with barbecue turkey, pulled pork, roast beef sandwiches and bratwursts from Wisconsin. The cost: $50 for men and $35 for women. Wade’s opens at noon, and til 3 p.m., well drinks and drafts are $1 off.

Floyd (131 Atlantic Ave.)-British soccer games are shown at Floyd every weekend but on Sunday the Super Bowl will be screened too. Floyd is known for its cheap and diverse beers, and they open around 11 a.m.

Cody’s Bar and Grill (154 Court St.)-Cody’s is Steeler territory through and through. It’s also one of the neighborhood’s classic sports bars. No fuss, no specials, just a good old fashioned bar with lots of TV’s. There will be food too, we just don’t know what’s in store, yet. Cody’s opens at noon.

Downtown Bar and Grill-(160 Court St.)-Downtown is another classic sports bar, but with some classier touches– mussels, anyone? Get there early. Downtown opens at noon.

PJ Hanley’s Tavern (449 Court St.)-PJ’s is called the oldest bar in Brooklyn by the management and the location has been a pub since 1874. Opening at 11:30 a.m., PJ’s will have beer bucket and pitcher specials.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens Boogies It Up

By , 26 January, 2012, 2 Comments

It may be a while until the spring flowers push through the (almost) frozen ground, but the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens wants you to party with the posies. Its Lush Boogaloo & Latin Soul Dancy Party is an evening celebrating the Garden’s collection of over 6000 tropical orchids–but with the added fun of booze and tunes. The event takes place Friday, 10 Feb, from 8pm to midnight at the Palm House and features live music from boogaloo band, Spanglish Fly. Not only will you take in the beauty of these gorgeous flowers, there will also be an open bar and all kinds of Latin eats–like our favorite icy treats, Mexican fruit paletas by La Newyorkina. Also expect classic 45s spun by WFMU’s Mr. Fine Wine and DJ Turmix, a behind the scenes tour with orchid curator Dave Horak, and posing for leaf portraits with graphic novelist Aaron Birk. Tickets are $65 each and you can buy them here. Just remember ladies, tropical orchids can equal bad hair weather, so plan accordingly.

Prospect Park’s Winter Jam is Coming Up Fast

By , 24 January, 2012, No Comment

I don’t know if we’re expecting any more snow just yet, but Prospect Park isn’t waiting to hold its annual Winter Jam. Taking place Saturday, 4 February, from 11am to 4pm, the event is a free annual winter sports festival presented by the NYC Parks Department, Prospect Park Alliance, and the Olympic Regional Development Authority (whom will be blowing fresh snow for the festivities–just in case). Here’s some venues you can expect inside the Long Meadow by the Picnic House:
The Lake Placid Snow Field: snowman-making and sledding are encouraged!
Cross-Country Skiing
Snowshoeing provided by REI
Prospect Park Jam: Open Ski & Snowboard Competition
Learn to Ski & Snowboard with Mountain Creek
Zagat Warming Lounge
Pride of New York Winter Market
NY State Ski Resort Info Booths
Best of all, equipment is provided at no cost–or you can bring your own and enjoy the terrain.

Happy New Year Brooklyn

By , 31 December, 2011, No Comment

Hi Bococaland. Sorry, been having a little too much holiday cheer (which will cost me countless hours at the gym next month), but wanted to check in before the end of 2011 and wish you all a happy, healthy new year. A few things going down tonight if you’re still undecided on plans, so wanted to give you a small smattering of ideas. And of course, the fact that you don’t have to don scarves, gloves and hats (or spend an hour wrapping your children in appropriate layers) to leave the house may inspire you to head out as well. See you in 2012, and thanks for coming back to check us out.

Bar Bruno (520 Henry St.), a newcomer to the scene, promises a little fun with your food–Mexico City-style. Wash down the salty, professionally-charred Shishito peppers and duck taquitos with a $6 Tecate and Maker’s shot special (until 10pm, then you should probably switch to one of the well-chosen Micheladas). Come early with the family and let the children play with the goodie bags provided by the establishment while they choose from the large kids menu.

Bark Hot Dogs (474 Bergen St.) will be serving specials until 9:30pm on New Year’s Eve and a soak up brunch the next day.
NEW YEARS EVE:
The Resolution Special
$2 Salt & Pepper Fries
$3 Classic Dogs
$4 Sixpoint Ales
$5 Bark Burgers
$12 Half Bottles of Blanc de Blanc or Rose Sparkling Wine from Gruet
NEW YEARS DAY:
THE HANGOVER BREAKFAST SPECIAL
$8 Any Egg Sandwich + Hash Browns + Coffee, Tea, or Juice
Also…
$6 Mimosas (Gruet Sparkling Wine and Fresh Squezed OJ)
$12 Half Bottles of Blanc de Blanc or Rose Sparkling Wine from Gruet

In addition to a $49 three-course dinner, Provence en Boite (263 Smith St.) is offering a Galette des Rois on New Year’s day–a classic French pastry filled with an almond cream. It comes with a crown in case you’re on the fence.

Bocca Lupo (391 Henry St.) is doing a four course prix fixe dinner with prosecco toast. Though they are taking ressies at newyears@boccalupo-brooklyn.com, they welcome walk-ins and promise to accommodate anyone who turns up. A DJ will be spinning so expect to stay late.

Char No. 4 (196 Smith St.) promises a bourbon and whiskey-soaked night with an $85 four-course meal, with entrees including venison, beef two-ways, and lobster. Brunch starts at 10am on Sunday and Monday morning, though January 2 patrons will receive a gratis chipotle bourbon bloody mary or mimosa.

And, I’m gonna throw this in because a friend owns the place, and maybe you’ll be shopping sales at Bergdorf’s and need a place to put down the bags. New joint Amali (115 East 60th St.) promises to change your well-worn image of the upper east side. In fact, with inviting decor and design (all the wood is re-purposed from New York City buildings) and a menu offering farm-to-table Mediterranean cuisine using locally-sourced ingredients (I’m still dreaming of the crostini with buffalo ricotta, fresh red chilies and olive oil), it’s kind of a Colonie for the shopping set. Tonight you can get a $75 prix fixe meal which will take you on a trip through Italy, Greece and France with luxe offerings like truffles, foie gras, oysters and cavier.

Community Chanukah Party for the Family

By , 15 December, 2011, No Comment

Chanukah and Christmas hit head on this year, but the Festival of Lights begins next Tuesday for its eight day stint–so why not start it out right by hitting The Big Gigantic Chanukah Celebration Starring Uncle Moishy? Really, it’s just a nice party at Borough Hall with Borough Prez Marty Markowitz. Come at 5pm for the Menorah Lighting, then stay for latkes, dreidle spinning, doughnuts and presents for all children who attend. “Uncle Moishy and the Mitzvah Men” will play a concert at 6pm–we hear it’s not to be missed.

Legos Take the Movies On for Holiday Gifting

By , 12 December, 2011, No Comment

Recently, the Lego folks have been in touch, hawking their movie-based play sets for the holidays. And after taking a look, I gotta admit, they look pretty nifty. I’ll start with Pirates of the Caribean-Black Pearl ($99), which coincides with the release of all four flicks. Your 9 to 12 aged kids can put the 805 piece ship together, then model the mini Davy Jones and Johnny Depp lookalive Captain Jack Sparrow on-board wherever they prefer. Next, I’m loving the DUPLO Brand Cars 2, Big Bentley ($39.99), which is the perfect first Lego kit for the toddler set. As well as building the famed clocktower from the film, it also comes with a Lighting McQueen, Finn McMissile, and of course, our fave redneck Mater. Lastly, we head over to everyone’s favorite wizard–who’s had a pretty big year. Harry Potter- Battle for Hogwarts ($49.99) is meant for years 7 and up, and comes with 7 minifigures: Harry Potter, Neville Longbottom, Professor Sprout, Professor Lupin, Gregory Goyle, Death Eater, and Dementor.

Free Holiday Makeovers in Cobble Hill

By , 9 December, 2011, No Comment

Going to par-tay it up this season? Make some time tomorrow, 10 December, to head to Cobble Hill’s Shen Beauty (315 Court St.) for FREE makeovers from in-house makeup artists Josh and Judy. In addition to giving you a new look, they’ll also help you clear out your make-up bag from those oh-so-2000 products you may still have hanging around. Holiday palates are available from $25–perfect for pampering yourself or to give as a gift. Champagne will be poured as a little preview of holiday cheer so come on by and partake of the beauty and the boozin’.

Brooklyn Heights Tree Lighting and Caroling

By , 8 December, 2011, 2 Comments

DUH, UPDATE: This is taking place Wednesday, 14 December. I know, I know, you haven’t taken your hat and gloves out of storage and Christmas trees are currently being erected and lighted. But maybe by next week the temperature will have dropped significantly enough to make the 62nd tree lighting ceremony at Montague St. and the Promenade feel like the real thing. The festivities begin at 5:30pm and carolers will take to the streets to drum up good cheer directly after. All are welcome to join (nobody has to know you’re lip-synching).

Mini Max Holiday Party (Wine, Books, Discounts)

By , 2 December, 2011, No Comment

Tonight, Mini Max Toys & Cuts (152 Atlantic Ave.) in Brooklyn Heights will be holding a Wine and Books Holiday Party from 6pm to 8pm. Come with the kids if they’re up for it and meet Brooklyn children’s authors Jennifer Nails (author of Next to Mexico) and Judy Palaferro (author of Color Bears and Horace’s Big Hat). You can pick up signed copies of these kid’s tomes, grab a drink or two, and get 20 percent off all purchases. Also for the little ones, free balloon creations from the Ballooniac–always a hit. And remember, if you’re searching for the perfect holiday gifts, stop by PS 29′s Eat Pie and Shop on Sunday from 11am to 4pm.

PS 29 Wants YOU to Eat Pie and Shop for the Holidays

By , 23 November, 2011, 1 Comment

Come for the pie, stay for the shopping

Sure, there’s other holiday shopping events in the hood. But none come with the same bold promise of pie. That’s why the PS 29 Eat Pie and Shop event has always been one of my faves (even before my son started attending). So mark your calendars now, because it’s coming up on 4 December from 11am to 4pm at the Cobble Hill school (Henry St. between Kane and Baltic).
As mentioned, all types of pie will be available throughout the day–including fruit, creamy, savory and nut. And to make things more exciting, there will also be a pie competition with a panel of judges consisting of celebs like Gail Simmons, an editor at Food & Wine magazine and judge on Bravo fave “Top Chef,” and Danielle Kyrillos, from “Top Chef: Just Desserts,” as well as local restauranteurs like Marc Anthony Bynum, chef at the new MooBurger (fast turning into one of our faves) and Jeff Lederman, of Strong Place, Bocca Lupo and Nectar. The winner will receive a gift package from Food & Wine and bragging rights for the year. Judging will take place at 1pm.
In addition, as a special culinary treat, Danny Meyer’s Shake Shack will also be in attendance, doling out its signature frozen custard (the new storefront will open in Downtown Brooklyn by end of year), and Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain will be serving its ‘Grumble Grumble’ grilled cheese sandwiches.
Of course, after all that pigging out you simply must do some shopping, so stay for the gift fair overflowing with local artisans, craftspeople and merchants. Kids will be lured away from your efforts with holiday craft workshops hosted by art teachers from Children’s Museum of the Arts and face painting by Mini Max Toys & Cuts. And lastly, if you need the perfect shot for your holiday cards, professional photographers will be on hand for family photo shoots. Proceeds will go to PS 29, but this is the perfect event for anyyone with a sweet tooth and a gift list.

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