at McCarren ParkThis Saturday was the sixth year of PS 132’s Kite Festival in McCarren Park. It’s a fun-filled family day that will only be more fun once our little one is able to attend next year. Aside from the kite flying, there are food tents, crafts for making either custom fairy wings or superhero capes and entertainment – including dance routines from students.
60 Greenpoint Avenue Brooklyn, NYEven though I have heartily enjoyed the pizzas at Paulie Gee’s before, it’s taken me a while to bring this post to you about the most welcome neighborhood addition because i kept forgetting to take photos. You would too with such alluring daily specials to choose from as well as a mouth watering every day menu. We recently shared several pies including the Marianna (large chunks of garlic, almost no cheese), the Delboy (the most high end pepperoni pizza you’ll find), the tasty Spectacle (with speck and red onions) and two of the chalk board specials: The Moby Grape (which is a salty, grape tomato crowd favorite and should be added to the permanent menu) and the off the wall but surprisingly balanced Cherry Jones ( that indeed features dried bing cherries with cheeses and prosciutto).
New Jersey pizza master Paulie Gee set up, to great foodie excitement, in the old Paloma space which you’ll find barely recognizable. Where once was skylights and pale colors and airiness, now stands cozy, almost farm like woods, copper, faded tin, and dim lighting. Also noticeably different, a huge wood stove for making all those delicious pies, which Paulie overlooks himself every night I’ve been there. He takes so much care with his pizzas he even personally brought over the Moby Grape that was slightly charred to make sure we were OK with it and offered a new one if we weren’t.
On previous visits we got the decadent and gooey pear and nutella dessert pie which is worth saving room for if you can forgo gorging on the savories pies (not an easy task).
For now, they are awaiting a licence to serve wine and beer (which only makes the bill shockingly reasonable currently – since i can;t drink now anyways, this arrangement is fine with me) and doesn’t open lunches or deliver (these arrangements leave me less happy). But i expect that might change as they get settle into their role as the neighborhood’s premier spot for pizza.
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18 Bedford Avenue, Greenpoint, BrooklynI officially vote for Five Leaves coffee, which you can enjoy in the ever popular hot spot over the neighborhood’s best chicken sandwich, or at the moderately speedy to go window, as the best in Brooklyn. They get their espresso from Intelligentsia, (but use to purchase from a Seattle company, whose name I can’t currently recall, but was equally great – I ordered a pound of their beans for my dad for his birthday a couple years back).
You can expect a strong brew that is smooth rather than bitter and one of the best perks of Greenpoint mornings.
632 Manhattan AveManhattan Inn is a brand new piano and cocktail bar/restaurant with an impressive decor that evokes a rosy eyed old school New York and deserves a visit to see for yourself considering the low light offered little chance for my camera to capture it. Formerly Johnny’s Cafe, a local bar and restaurant that few of the neighborhood’s hip set would actually step in to, the new space will not continue to deter that crowd with its fancy cocktails, southern and Chinese inflected menu (they’re open for brunch, lunch and dinner) and speakeasy stylings.
We went early on a Saturday but were a bit disappointed to find the grand piano, which is the focal point of the lovely back room, was un-played – it was the only disappointment of the evening, though. The Warsaw Mermaid, made with green tea vodka, sake, creme de violette and lime juice, was pleasant (though too sweet fto consume more than one), so I switched to the Black Eyed Gibson, a tarragon infused delight with a small balsamic onion as garnish. It boasts a nice scent, a none too sweet taste and, dangerously, a clean finish with absolutely no after taste, making it very, very easy to drink. To go with our booze, we opted for the chicken liver pate which was delicious and hearty.
Gothamist and Eater have far nicer photos for you to peruse.
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30 Gem Street, GreenpointThe hours for Acme’s Fish Fridays (8am to 1pm) make it difficult to squeeze in before work, but I can assure you it’s certainly worth the effort. The factory, a fourth generation family-run business sits in the heart of industrial Greenpoint and the fish smoked there can be found in most local grocery stores, and it supplies many restaurants too.
When the factory opens to the public, great deals can be had, not only on their packaged goods, but their fresh smoked products, which I was more interested in. Samples are available and I decided to get a chunk of the cold smoked salmon which was delicious.
A grand party platter could be made with all the delectable offerings, including a large tub of caviar for $25.
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We love our local pet store, Unleashed (as you may well know) and I love even more the idea of their Dog Costume Parade taking place at McGorlick Park on Halloween! Cuteness will abound!
Pio Pio Riko is well known for their incredibly affordable half-chicken meals that, while heavy, are yummy and offer one of the few worthy delivery options here in Greenpoint, but it's when one goes off into other, less explored areas of the menu, that the Peruvian delicacies really shine.
It always freaks people out when I order beef hearts, but maybe they're less scary under the Peruvian name Antichucos. Pio Pio's are tender and yummy and even the skeptical were impressed. I'd also recommend trying the ceviche that was surprisingly fresh and subtly flavored.
As I've mentioned before, it's also a great place to throw a party and, with actual hearts on the menu, would be a perfect spot for a pre-Halloween activities meal.
While the weather still permits it, you should try to make it out to Berry Park, the new super mellow rooftop beer hall behind the automotive high school in Williamsburg.
The views of Manhattan are great and the menu of beers is impressive but be warned – a lot of these brews are quite strong. The German dunkels (dark beers) are always a favorite of mine and currently the HB Dunkel is featured on the menu. Some nights the rooftop bar itself is out of service, but the trek downstairs is not a far one. So far, it's never been overly crowded or obnoxious, which is probably the greatest feature of all.
We also got a delicious ginger syrup from Morris Kitchen that mixes well with seltzer and will be fantastic when I try it in some cocktail concoctions, sticky, yummy pecan pie from Dixie, sweet and yummy pumpkin butter from Skimkim (will have to get a bag of their flavored popcorn next time), excellent curry lentil soup from The Soup Spoon , Bing Means Pancake scallion pancakes(best to eat them right off the pan while they're still warm) and we took home some tea eggs.
Support local businesses! And take a look at all my photos at RC!
Aside from being the most Los Angeles like place in all of Brooklyn, t.b.d. distinguishes itself from other places to get boozy with it's huge picnic table dotted back yard and most importantly it's incredible grilled take on the increasingly common Bahn Mi. While it may take a while to get from the grill to your table, this hulking, slathered meal of pork, eggs, fresh veg and spicy sauces is worth the wait.
I pushed it into the restaurant category for it's stellar menu, even though the place advertises as primarily a beer garden. The food is taken pretty seriously though and its no surprise that the wonderful flavors come from a former chef at Brix Picks fave Fatty Crab.
Another welcome addition to the growing food and drink scene in Greenpoint.