Bastille Day, Smith Street Brooklyn

bastilleday Bastille Day, Smith Street Brooklyn

petanque Bastille Day, Smith Street Brooklyn

bastilledaycrowd Bastille Day, Smith Street Brooklyn

waterstation Bastille Day, Smith Street Brooklyn

bastilledayfoodanddrink Bastille Day, Smith Street Brooklyn

Bastille Day, celebrated early on Smith Street in Brooklyn, is the French National Holiday celebrated every July 14th commemorating the uprising of the French people in the late 18th century during the reign of Louis XVI. The storming of the Bastille in 1789  lead to the abolition of feudalism and the proclamation of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. As such, this holiday is celebrated by French citizens and those of French heritage worldwide. Of course, not being one to pass up a good festival, I met with some friends and commenced celebrating the French uprising. The festivities on Smith Street included Pétanque, Lillet, guillotine replicas, and lots of french accents. As I didn’t get a photo in the guillotine or try any Lillet, I’m already looking forward to next year’s celebration.

Anyone else celebrating Bastille Day this week?

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Mermaid Day, Coney Island

missconeyisland Mermaid Day, Coney Island

beerislandgirls Mermaid Day, Coney Island

coneyislandtacos Mermaid Day, Coney Island

wonderwheel Mermaid Day, Coney Island

aerial view Mermaid Day, Coney Island
Miss Coney Island, Tattooed Girls at Beer Island, Coney Island Veggie Tacos, Wonder Wheel Ticket, Aerial View  of Parade Goers on the Boardwalk

Beer Barns and Violence, Brighton Beach

 

draftbarn Beer Barns and Violence, Brighton Beach Last weekend, my boyfriend and I walked down the Brighton Beach Boardwalk towards Coney Island to meet some friends and check out the new Luna Park. Along the way, we stopped for a late lunch at Le Soleil Draft Barn, a German inspired beer garden type of restaurant right on the boardwalk and overlooking the beach. The restaurant had an extensive, three page menu of beers. I settled on some Bitburger, memories of my trip to Germany a few weeks ago flooding back. My boyfriend got a Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier which we agreed wasn’t very good. We also ordered some Calamari and potato pancakes with goat cheese, both were delicious with the calamari especially hitting that fried foods summer boardwalk spot. We took our time; talking, laughing, taking pictures and looking at the ocean waves and passerby.

That was last week though. Yesterday, as the boardwalk was filled with teenagers celebrating Brooklyn-Queens day, an unidentified gunman opened fire. Killing a 17 year old girl and injuring 4 others (including one critically) the boardwalk erupted with violence. Some speculate that the incident was gang related, however, no one is in custody.

One week earlier I was in the same spot, at the same time of day, eating right near where someone else was shot yesterday. It’s surreal. Having worked for 4 summers on that very boardwalk when I was younger, it really hits close to home. The boardwalk has always had tragic summers but most of the time they can be attributed to drownings, something that, although tragic, happens at every beach. This was different, this happened because evil people exist and because guns are way too easy to get. If you want to read more about what happened, check out Sheepshead Bites, they’ve got some good coverage of the events that transpired.

bitburgerdraft1 Beer Barns and Violence, Brighton Beach

calamari1 Beer Barns and Violence, Brighton Beach

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Brooklyn Love: Hello Weekend Football Edition

 Brooklyn Love: Hello Weekend Football Edition

The Jets may have lost, and the Giants didn’t even come close, but you can still have a fun Sunday watching Football amongst other Brooklynites, stuffing their faces with wings (or fake wings for us non-meat eaters) and drinking copious amounts of beer under the guise of being a “sports fan”.

Dram Shop
339 9th St

With multiple flat screen tv’s playing the game at different angles, a large beer selection and what is considered at least one of the best burgers in Park Slope, Dram Shop is definitely the place to watch the game. A Park Slope Sports Bar with tons of boardgames, a pool table, and ample seating, come early and score a coveted booth with direct view of the game and waitress service.

4th Down
170 N. 4th Street

A new Sports Bar in Williamsburg, 4th Down touts “drink specials & Kebabs” for SuperBowl Sunday. Unfortunately, their website and facebook fan page don’t tell us much about the viewing situation, but the one review on yelp, a solid 4 star, says it isn’t some “hipster version of a sports bar” however, with the PBR specials for Sunday night, I might have to disagree.

The Rock Shop
249 4th Ave

An “indie rock sports bar” smack dab in the middle of Park Slope (and kind of Gowanus), The Rock Shop  is hosting a free SuperBowl Party starting at 5:00 pm. With a kitchen serving wings, burgers and fries, and with 10 flat screen tv’s, this might be one of your best bets for actually seeing the game.

Brooklyn Bottle Bowl
213 North 8th Street

Brooklyn Winery and Brooklyn Brewery have teamed up to bring you the Superbowl in style. Grab 6 to 12 of your closest friends, and click here to score a private table at Brooklyn Winery for direct viewing of the game on one of their two giant screens. Party packages include Brooklyn Winery Wine, Brooklyn Brewery Beer, and private buffets of game day snacks including subs, chips, dips and more. There will also be prizes and a photobooth on hand to preserve football memories for years to come.

See you next week for our regularly scheduled weekend guide.

Throwing an event, party, or underground shenanigan in Brooklyn that you want featured on here?  Send me an email at liz@odetoawe.com.

Brooklyn Love: Hello Weekend 1/21-1/23

 Brooklyn Love: Hello Weekend 1/21 1/23

Another snowy, cold, Brooklyn Weekend is upon us, and as usual, I’m theme-ing it up for this Weekend Guide. When it’s this slushy out, all I want to do is cuddle up with something warm, someone warm and a good film. But, as this is a weekend guide to Brooklyn, I can’t just tell you guys to stay home. So, instead, venture out with your boy or girl of choice, and watch movies in the following locales. No boy or girl of choice? No problem, the following movies and venues are great places to pick up other film-o-philes.

Friday

Gabi on the Roof in July
Friday, 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm, $5 tickets available online. Click the link on “ReBar” below.
ReBar, 147 Front Street

Screened at “ReRun” the gastropub theatre located at the back of one of Dumbo’s cutest bars, Rebar, Gabi on the Roof in July is billed as “a caustically funny yet sincere portrait of young New York and the misguided hopefuls who can’t afford to live there but do anyway.” Getting great reviews from The New York Times to The Wall Street Journal, Gabi seems like an Indie film done right. Tonight is the opening, so come early for liquor and snacks, and stay late for specials guests and a Q&A session.

Saturday

Black Swan
Saturday, 9:20 pm, $12.00
BAM, 651 Fulton Street, Brooklyn

Black Swan might not specifically be a “Brooklyn” film, but it is being screened at BAM, a quintessential Brooklyn institution. If you haven’t seen the Darren Aronofsky film featuring Natalie Portman as a crazed Ballerina, make your way to BAM Saturday night. Come early, as BAMcafe has a happy hour between 6 and 8 featuring $3 beer and $5 cocktail specials in an absolutely beautiful space with a live house dj and full bar menu.

Sunday

A Simple Plan
Sunday, “Late Night” ( Call for exact times) FREE
Cafe Steinhof, 422 Seventh Avenue

Cafe Steinhof is a cute local LGBT friendly German Restaurant and Bar, with great artwork on the walls, great food on the tables, and free movies on Sunday nights. Check out “A Simple Plan” this  Sunday, feauring Billy Bob Thorton, Bill Paxton and Bridget Fonda in a crime drama where they find 4 million dollars in a crashed plane.

Brooklyn Love: Hello Weekend 1/14-1/17

 Brooklyn Love: Hello Weekend 1/14 1/17

This weekend, spend your mornings being productive, and your nights being reproductive … Huzzah! I’m kidding of course, but really, it is too cold outside to do anything but spend your mornings eating brunches and nights dancing those brunches off. Check it out!

Friday

90′s Sing-A-Long and Dance Party
Friday, 9:00 pm, FREE

Legion, 790 Metropolitan Ave @ Humboldt St – L train to Graham Ave

Celebrate the future by celebrating the past. 2011 might be upon us, but the 90′s were definitely a cooler decade. Head over to Williamsburg (or is it Bushwick?) for a fun filled night of $3 beers, 90′s music videos projected onto the walls and your favorite 90′s dance classics spinning all night long. Throw on your ripped jeans, airwalks, flannel shirts and head over for a debauchery filled drunken 90′s night.

Saturday

Brunch at The Farm on Adderley
Saturday, 10:30 am to 3:30 pm

The Farm on Adderley, 1108 Cortelyou Road

Although I haven’t had Brunch here yet, friends have told me it’s amazing, and 212 yelp reviews at a solid 4 stars confirm that. The poached eggs and grits at $8, and Fisherman’s Eggs at $9 look delicious, and fairly priced. Grab some friends and head over to discuss the 90′s dance party from the night before while nursing your hangover with delicious brunchables.

Underground Rebel Bingo
Saturday, Doors at 9:00 pm, must be there by 10:00pm,

Public Assembly 70 North 6th st.

This is not your granny’s bingo. Touted as dangerous, mental, out of control, with rules and regulations to get in and stay in, Rebel Bingo is a global phenomenon. Bingo and Dance Party enthusiasts alike, head over for an insane night of fun and a bunch of other “f” words that are too vulgar to put on here. Dress code is undercover on your way there, dangerous once inside. Adhere to the rules and have yourself a naughty, dance filled good time.

Sunday

Brunch at Char No.4
Sunday, 9:00 pm,

Char No. 4, 196 Smith St

A whiskey bar and restaurant featuring Southern home coming with a modern American flair, Char No. 4′s brunch is phenomenal. Their biscuits Benedict and homemade jam really seal the deal for a delicious filled, hangover curing good time. Round up your friends again and head over to brownstone filled Carrol Gardens for good music, good food, and Bloody Mary Whiskey drinks with a kick.

Live Band Karaoke
Sunday, 8:00 pm, $5

The Rock Shop, 249 Fourth Ave between Carroll and President Sts

Finish your food and dance filled weekend off at Brooklyn’s fairly new-ish venue and bar, The Rock Shop. Featuring live band, Bunnie England and the New Originals, come to belt out your favorite punk, post punk and rock anthems and feel like a star or a Rock God, for at least 2 to 3 minutes, depending on the length of the song. Stumble home at the end of the night, go to work in the morning, and do it all over again when the next weekend rolls around.

Throwing an event, party, or underground shenanigan in Brooklyn that you want featured on here?  Send me an email at liz@odetoawe.com.