Tonya Harding taking out Nancy Kerrigan’s knee with a crowbar in 1994. Kerri Strug, nailing that one foot landing dismount off the vault in ’96 in Atlanta. Jackie Joyner-Kersees’ speed, and nails! These are just a few of my most vivid memories of watching the Olympics as a youth, before I knew anything about the rampant corruption and doping scandals on an international scale.
The Olympics are not just for kids. As an adult, you can sit back and get drunk and be entertained, and impressed, while thankful you’re not the one putting your body through that kind of physical, or chemical strain. The 2016 Rio Olympics are upon us, and here are five places you can passively partake of the games while actively drinking beers in Brooklyn, from Friday night’s opening ceremonies through the final day of competition on August 21:
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Woodwork
583 Vanderbilt Ave.
Prospect Heights
Fans of futbol and rhythmic gymnastics (I guess they are both graceful?) should hit up this Prospect Heights sports stalwart, where apparently those are the only two Olympic events they’ll be showing. Futbol coverage already kicked off yesterday, while rhythmic gymnasts won’t bound across our screens until August 19. Woodwork will air the opening ceremony Friday night. Enjoy Monday through Friday happy hour deals of $2 off drafts and $4 well drinks, or the “fuckit bucket” of five bottles of beer for the price of four any day of the week.
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Syndicated
40 Bogart St.
Bushwick
The movie theater/bar/restaurant will show Olympics coverage at the bar from Friday’s opening ceremonies on, paired with a beer and shot combo of Avua Cachaca Prata and a half pint of Firestone Walker Pivo Hoppy Pils for $10, or $8 during happy hour (Monday-Friday, 5-8pm). Also tonight at Syndicated, you can follow up the opening ceremonies (or skip them entirely) by watching an ode to one of the best winter Olympic sports, Cool Runnings, on the big screen, ($3), showing at 6:15, 8:30, and 10:30pm.
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Kent Ale House
51 Kent Ave
Williamsburg
With 13 flat screens, 24 craft beers on taps and a menu of bar food staples such as wings, burgers and fries, this pub along the Williamsburg waterfront has got your viewing, eating and imbibing needs covered. Happy hour is from 3-7pm daily. While they’re partial to soccer here, they will be showing the gamut of the 2016 Olympic games. Check their Facebook page for up to date details and early opening times.
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Hunter’s
213 Smith St.
Boerum Hill
If you’d like to simulate the Rio experience, at least, in your belly, for the full run of the Olympics Hunter’s is hosting a pop-up Brazilian restaurant along with showings of the games on big screens and a projector. Helmed by Chef Bruno Vargas, the menu consists of pretty traditional Brazilian cuisine—except that the feijoada is vegetarian—with typical snacks like pao de quejo and farofa. Oh, and to drink, caipirinhas of course, along with red and white wine, Brahma beer, and whisky lemonade. Make a reservation here.
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Keg & Lantern
97 Nassau Ave.
Greenpoint
From the opening ceremony on, the Greenpoint bar and brewery will be airing the games on inside and out in the backyard, where they have a flatscreen and shaded picnic tables. In addition to daily happy hour deals of $5 drafts from 11am-7pm, for each day of the week there’s a different food and drink special, from Monday and Wednesday half-priced wing nights and Tuesday’s burger and a keg brew for $14.
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Brooklyn Museum
Biergarten, Steinberg Family Sculpture Center
Thursday, August 18
8-10pm
Free
As part of their ongoing series of free Thursday nights, the Brooklyn Museum will be hosting a free Olympics watch party on August 18 from 8-10pm at their biergarten in the Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden, which is normally only open on first Saturdays. It will also include pop-up talks that relate to their current exhibit on the photography of sports, which you shouldn’t wait until the 18th to check out. According to the Olympics schedule, looks like track and field, taekwondo, and volleyball will be airing at that time. Cash bar.
Let us know in the comments if there are any Olympics watch parties or bar specials in Brooklyn that we missed!