One of these, please. In pastel.

With less than a week until Brokelyn’s Pre-gift/Re-gift Holiday Party (Tuesday, Dec. 21, at Hot Bird), it’s time to seriously think about what you’ll be contributing to the gifting pool. First off, remember what the night is: only a primo opportunity to soak up generous drink specials (select $4 draught beers and $1 off all liquor), mingle with your favorite Brokelyn babes and beaus, purge your stash of unwanted (but quality!) gifts from holidays past and pick up some new stuff more to your liking. To facilitate things, we’ve compiled a handy list of pre-gifting/re-gifting dos and donts so you don’t end up re-gifting your pre-gift re-gift findings a third time around. (more…)

You must have one of these to pull from

Ok, we know: Who isn’t throwing a holiday party sometime in the next two weeks? But the real question is: Who is throwing one with the express purpose of vastly improving your last-minute gift-giving potential? That would be us. Join Brokelyn on Tuesday, Dec. 21, for the first ever Pre-gift/Re-gift Holiday Party. There’ll be music, drink specials (select $4 draught beers and $1 off all liquor), holiday cheer—all the usual seasonal stuff. But also, like most everything else Brokelyn-related, this get-together’s coming with some built-in brokester practicality: a last-minute chance to dump gifts you don’t want, pick up some you do and finally purge that growing pile of untouchables from Secret Santas past. (more…)

This is the latest in our series on the venues featured in the Brokelyn Beer Book. Strong Place, Cobble Hill’s late-bloomer of the Beer Book bunch, is open for business (as of July 26). Two dozen tap beers and one savory menu await.

STRONG PLACE
270 Court St. at Kane St., Cobble Hill

What it is: A gastro-pub featuring 24 tap beers, new American fare and a raw bar.
Why we love it: From the chef and owner of Bocca Lupo. If it’s any bit as tasty, atmospheric, and dependable, we’ll soon be hooked. Also, expect an amazing back yard (which should open in September).
Who to bring: Your future in-laws, foodie dates.
What to order: Crispy Duck Leg Confit, Grilled Lamb Burger with Feta, Fried Ipswich Clams Oysters.
Strong Place fun fact: For many years, the space was a bookstore called Shakespeare’s Sister.

This is the latest is our series on the venues featured in the Brokelyn Beer Book. Brooklyn Bowl needs little introduction, but the Willliamsburg fixture turns one this week, so raise your glass in a happy birthday salute.

BROOKLYN BOWL
www.brooklynbowl.com
61 Wythe Ave. between N. 11th and N. 12th Sts., Williamsburg, 718-963-3369 (more…)

Photo by Ultraclay!

This is the latest in our series on the venues featured in the Brokelyn Beer Book. The Charleston in Williamsburg is a Brokester’s dream: a pizza comes with every beer.

THE CHARLESTON
174 Bedford Ave. between N. 7th and N. 8th Sts., Williamsburg, 718-782-8717

What it is: About as rough and tumble as a bar with gorgeous handmade tables and black-shuttered windows overlooking Bedford Avenue can be.
Why we love it: It’s the cheap-o haven that doesn’t feel like a cheap-o haven. Drinks come with a whole personal pizza.
Who to bring: People watchers, those friends who love to try to eat until they puke, a friendly partner to facilitate sharing a table with strangers on a weekend night.
What to order: Beer and pizza. Period. Make sure there’s parmesan and red pepper at hand.
Charleston fun fact: It’s one of the longest-standing bars in Williamsburg.

This is the latest in our series on the venues featured in Brokelyn Beer Book. With the Northside Festival taking over Williamsburg and Greenpoint this weekend, catch a drink by the piano at Manhattan Inn and get in the mood.

MANHATTAN INN
632 Manhattan Ave. between Nassau Ave. and Bedford Ave., North Williamsburg/Greenpoint, 718-383-0885 (more…)

This is the latest in our series on the venues featured in the Brokelyn Beer Book. With its prodigious on-tap and bottled selection, Bar Great Harry in Carroll Gardens is about the beer, plain and simple.

BAR GREAT HARRY
www.bargreatharry.com
280 Smith St. between Sackett & Degraw, Carroll Gardens, 718-222-1103

What it is: Hops heaven
Why we love it: 20 constantly rotating craft taps, one rotating hand-pump cask and 30+ bottles
Who to bring: Beer snobs who know a Sly Fox from a Flying Dog.
What to order: We couldn’t presume to decide for you, but the dub pies are cooked fresh per order.
Bar Great Harry fun fact: Every other Tuesday is Brewery Night, with $4 beers from the brewery of the day.

Hey, remember zines? They were those awesome tactile little portable blogs you carried around before your first AOL account, with all the handmade charm of cut-and-paste formatting in the pre-Wordpress era. They were a cultural barometer of a neighborhood, record shop or book store. And they could be again. Our good friends at The Sackett are paying homage to the glory days of zines with their own publication, The Tekcas. If you’re like us, and still have that soft-spot for the printed word, you won’t want to miss Thursday’s launch party at the cozy Park Slope bar. (more…)

This is the latest in our series on the venues featured in the Brokelyn Beer Book. With its retro-class, drinks and eclectic menu, Greenpoint’s Black Rabbit is the place to prove to anyone that you know your Brooklyn bars.

BLACK RABBIT
blackrabbitbar.com
91 Greenpoint Ave., Greenpoint, 718-349-1595 (more…)