Lavender Lake
383 Carroll Street (between Bond & Nevins)
Gowanus
(347) 799-2154

What it is: Destination drinking spot on the shore of namesake Gowanus Canal with seasonal menu and local brews on tap.

Why we love it: Besides well-priced drafts and crafted cocktails, the multi-level yard is an outdoor drinking utopia, even in the depths of winter. Standing around the crackling fire pit with a tasty beer in hand, enjoying the company of friends old and new, that high water mark on the outdoor wall (almost 6 feet high) really makes you appreciate the heart and hard work that went into recovery after Sandy. (more…)

The Owl Farm
297 9th Street (b/t 4th and 5th Aves)
Park Slope
(718) 499-4988

What it is: A friendly, spacious neighborhood bar that happens to have an impressive rotation of delicious alternatives to the standard drafts. No snobbery served here.

Why we love it: The tunes are always a killer blend of nostalgic, classic, and Pitchfork approved. Every Wednesday they host a Vinyl Club night where you can bring your old LPs and get in the rotation. The Owl Farm is owned by the same cats that run Bar Great Harry and Mission Dolores, so expect a familiar relaxed vibe, cheap drinks, antique pinball machines, and sick happy hour deals. Also, WORKING FIREPLACE. (more…)

Mission Dolores
249 4th Ave (between Carroll and President)
Park Slope
(347) 457-5606

What it is: A railroad-style, tri-furcated space with a courtyard smack in the middle of the place. Reclaimed everything with a wall emblazoned with the mugshots of San Francisco’s most wanted circa 1941. Constant rotation of 20 drafts and one cask* of mostly American and many local brews.

Why we love it: They bought us all Bulliet shots when Obama and the good guys beat that turd Romney and the legitimate rape right on election night. But also, because it’s a generally awesome place to hang with cool people, there’s an always interesting list of unusual beers on tap, dogs to distract you from the boring people you’re with and it’s in stumbling proximity to tacos. (more…)

Double Windsor
210 Prospect Park West
South Slope
(347) 725-3479

What it is: New-Brooklyn’s local bar alternative to Windsor Terrace stalwart Farrell’s across the street.

Why we love it: Two walls of the bar are windows, so the Brooklyn passing by on the street outside is part of the flow and vibe inside. It’s very meta. There’s something literary and scholarly about the buzz of conversation along communal tables and horseshoe bar. Also, burgers. Yum.   (more…)

Name that Brooklyn bar. Photo courtesy of F#%king Up Everything.

For purposes of this review, I am breaking Brokelyn’s number one, OK, only editorial rule: no using the term “hipster.” This transgression is required by the fact that new off Broadway musical, F#%king Up Everything, describes itself in press materials as a “Brooklyn hipster musical.” I know… When I received the press release for the show I cringed at the the flagrant use of that word and was curious to see how many ridiculous Brooklyn clichés could possibly be packed into song and dance numbers. The answer is a lot. But that didn’t stop me from loving it. Which is basically how I feel about Brooklyn.

F#%ing Up Everything premiered last night Elektra Theater in Times Square. I was skeptical, but I didn’t hate it. In fact, I smiled and laughed along with the rest of the audience through almost the entire show with very little eye rolling. If you can’t enjoy a lighthearted musical that doesn’t take itself too seriously, uses lots of dirty sex puns and includes campy indie-rock songs about bongs, areolas, jizzing your Superman undies and pooping yourself, well then you’re just dead inside. (more…)

Brooklyn Buschenschank
320 Court Street (at Sackett)
Carroll Gardens
(718) 237-0325

What it is: German-inspired Italian beer hall with prime bar food (fondue, wurst, brick oven pizza), fireplace, romantic basement venue with live music, and, of course, das boot.

Why we love it: The fireplace and communal tables fulfill our medival drinking fantasies while the open windows during springtime brunch soften our hedonistic guzzling habits. (more…)

Give back some holiday spirit this weekend. Photo by Mosman Library

If you are not traveling, shopping or having a DIY gifting party, there are a bunch of ways to help out New Yorkers in need of coats, toys, food and holiday cheer. Here are a few:  (more…)

Free Milk cookies tomorrow. Bring your own milk.

In much, much more comforting news, you can get some free cookies tomorrow, just for showing up and beng alive. If you’re out and about in Williamsburg or Fort Greene and want to eat something life-affirming, Christina Tosi and her mom will be driving the Momofuku Milk Bar truck around, handing out free cookies. After a few stops in the early part of the day in Manhattan, the sweetsmobile will roll across the Williamsburg Bridge around 3:30 for a stop at Bedford Ave & North 7th followed by Fort Greene Park around 4:50. Follow @AmericanExpress for live updates on the truck’s location throughout the day.

Maybe leave the puppet at home while bartending Wyatt. Photo via 92YTribeca on Flickr.

The holidays are always over indulgent, but this year it’s a double whammy of festiveness with constant “drinking+eating+shopping for Sandy relief” events on top of all the normal yuletide excess. It’s a marathon not a sprint people. Here’s another one for your calendar next week: On Tuesday, Dec. 18, Pork Slope is hosting a Sandy fundraiser featuring Brooklyn’s own (now former) Daily Show correspondent and host of Night Train Wyatt Cenac behind the bar and resident celebri-DJ ?uestlove manning tunes.

(more…)

Good tips and you get to sit outside. via Flickr user cha_petitjean

Man, not being broke is EXPENSIVE! If you are in the class of people who can afford to utilize services such as nannies/babysitters, dog walkers, house cleaners, hair stylists, personal trainers, doormen, building supers, personal assistants, delivery services, etc., prepare to shell out a bunch of extra dough in end-of-year tips.

According to DNAInfo, some Park Slope families will tip their domestic service providers up to $1,500 this holiday season. This is relevant to you, the hungry brokester, because there may well be opportunity here. (more…)