via Grubstreet

Monday evening the fiance and I braved the rain for a much anticipated night cap at Greenpoint’s newest bar, Beloved.  I had already read a number of great reviews and am happy to report that every word was true.

We stepped into Beloved and found a couple seats at the end of bar.  The crowd was a little sparse around 9pm but started filling up as the next couple of hours passed.  The bar is beautiful – well designed and offering ample seating as well as a yard in the back.  The environment was comfortable and laid back and the bartender genuinely nice and personable.

I ordered that evening’s drink special – not sure what it was called but it consisted of a honey syrup, lime juice, and bourbon shaken together with blueberries.  It was, in my humble opinion, perfect.  The drink was not overly sweet, balanced by the lime juice and the smokey bourbon.  I also appreciated the perfectly ripe blueberries that garnished the drink as well as the very reasonable $8 price tag.  The fiance ordered the Allsorts Inc, consisting of tequila, mezcal, and an assortment of ingredients that we had to ask the bartender about, like Falernum.  The result was a delicious multilayered drink that had “a lot going on (but in a good way)” that the fiance thoroughly enjoyed.

All cocktails on the menu are $10.  All draft beers are $6 and cans of Tecate are an easy $3.  Beloved is located at 674 Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint, close to the intersection of Manhattan and Norman Ave.

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Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day, which as you all know, commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland something you won’t remember by 3 p.m. If you’re looking to stay local, here are some north Brooklyn Irish bars, some of which will be having specials.

Of course, if you’re really into the holiday, you may be better off leaving the area for, say, Bay Ridge or something. This isn’t Paczki Day, after all.

Williamsburg:

Banter, 132 Havemeyer St. (at S. 1st) 20 oz. pints and, starting at 10pm, DJ Dolanite

Gordon Bennett, 109 S. 6th St.

Iona, 180 Grand St. Happy Hour prices until 7pm, screening Ireland v. England rugby game

Mug’s Ale House, 125 Bedford Ave. (at N. 10th)

Spike Hill, 184 Bedford Ave. “A whole day of nonstop Irish partying” with music (Pitchblak Brass Band, The Fuego Quintet) and dancing (a “surprise” DJ). Also corned beef and cabbage, plus free giveaways.

Greenpoint:

Connie O’s Pub, 158 Norman Ave.

Palace Café, 206 Nassau Ave. (at Russell)

Shayz Lounge, 130 Franklin St. (between Kent and Java) Live traditional Irish music

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The Super Bowl is hours away and you need a place to watch it. Luckily for you, The Greenpoint Gazette published a list of 18 bars in Williamsburg and Greenpoint that will be airing the game. I cut that list in half, narrowing it down to my top picks of which bars and specials sound best. Descriptions by the Gazette.

- Full Circle Bar (318 Grand Street, 347-725-4588): Giving out free Bon Chon Bowl wings, showing the game on three 40+ inch HD TV’s, and selling 24 ounces of Genesee Beer for $10.

- Huckleberry Bar (588 Grand Street, 718-218-8555): Serving up chili nachos ($7) and chili dogs ($4), $15 buckets of Budweiser and Bud Light (5 beers in each), and projecting the game onto the wall.

- Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Avenue, 347-529-6696): Showing the game on a 12-foot projection screen in the main room and on two 48-inch screens in the front bar, providing free snacks, and offering a food menu complete with pizza, wings, and party food. Reserve a party package and get seated before everyone else. The packages are First Down (12 beers, 1 pizza and a reserved table for $45), Field Goal (24 beers, 2 pizzas, plate of wings and a reserved table for $85), and Touchdown (48 beers, 4 pizzas, plate of wings and a reserved table for $150).

(more…)

c/o New York Shitty

Eater is running a column called “A Beer At…” where Robert Simonson ventures the city’s “more anonymous watering holes” aka some of the shittiest bars the five boroughs have to offer. The bar of the week is Greenpoint’s own Connie O’s.

Simonson writes, “There are two taps at Connie O’s. One says Coors. One says Coors Light. They both draw Coors Light. ‘I know it says Coors, but it’s always Coors Light,’ said the blonde woman behind the bar with the careworn face. If you want something else, there’s Bud Light in bottles. If you want something other than that, go find another bar. ‘$1.50,’ said the woman. $1.50? I looked at my watch. 9 PM. Not happy hour. I laid down two soft, crumbled dollars and got two quarters back. Hell, Coors Light ain’t worth much, but it’s worth that. The woman retreated to her high, cushioned chair under the television. ‘You want to watch something else,’ she asked her two customers, an unsmiling, unmoving woman wearing a pony tail and a blank stare, and a sweatshirt-wearing retiree who had spread a bunch of dollars on the bar to make sure the mugs of Coors Light never stopped coming. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree ceremony was suggested.”

The description of Connie O’s and it’s loyal patrons could not be more spot-on. Also, I’m pretty positive that “unsmiling, unmoving woman wearing a pony tail,” is my friend’s landlord. Read the rest of the article here.

Image c/o DBAEastVillage's Facebook Page

Ray Deter, owner of D.B.A., was taken off life support and died on Sunday night. Deter was riding his bike when he was fatally struck by a car at the intersection of Canal Street and West Broadway. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

We send deepest condolences to Deter’s family, friends and all who miss him dearly. D.B.A. – a bar famous for its huge beer selection – has locations in Williamsburg, the East Village and New Orleans, Louisiana. Many are expressing their sympathy and memories on D.B.A.’s Facebook page. Go there to share your own thoughts as well as find links to the several obituaries in Deter’s honor pouring out from the media and community.

c/o The New York Times/ Brian Park

A new bar brought to you from the owners of Five Leaves called “Nights and Weekends” adjacent to McCarren Park is now officially open for business. Nights and Weekends features a selection of liquor that’s very rum heavy (think Island beverages along the lines of frozen pisco sours, Red Stripe beer, Malbec wines from Argentina and Chilean Carmeneres), and a menu inspired by Cuba and the West Indies. We hear that the waffles slathered with spiced rum butter are a must order.

If you’re thinking the themed menu might be a bit much, remember that Nights and Weekends isn’t a cheesy themed bar, “We were careful not to skew too tiki,” says Dan Sabo, one of the bartenders. “This isn’t a Hawaiian shirt sort of list. Instead, it’s cocktails for pirates and desperadoes.”

Check out the full listing here: http://www.freewilliamsburg.com/listings/nights-and-weekends

It’s a new year and there are tons of recently opened spots for food and alcohol consumption. Below is a list of places to try in 2011.

Tuffet, a “cheese/meat/bar”  owned by a Market Table alum, opened on New Years Eve. Now that we’ve got our hangovers (& desire to eat nothing but wheatgrass and bean sprouts) mostly out of our systems, we’ll be looking forward to a visit to this intimate space, which features 15 rotating cheeses, cured and cooked meats, and a bar with wine on tap (!) 286 Graham Avenue, near Grand.

Walking into Cubana Social makes you immediately feel like you’ve been transported to 1950′s Cuba. The former cigar factory on N 6th Street has been transformed into a beautiful social club with high ceilings, brick columns, and a long counter that runs throughout the space. The food which is “traditional Cuban with a modern twist” nicely compliments the reasonably priced cocktails which run from $8-$10. Live jazz and salsa music is also slated to be part of the Cuban dining experience.  70 N. 6th Street, near Wythe Ave.

Feeling punchy? The Drink might cure what ails you. Metromix has a full report on this “vaguely nautical” watering hole, which focuses its ambitions squarely on ridding the spiked communal beverage of its association with prom disasters and pukey frat parties. Forget to leave room for the Holy Spirit with either a hot or cold cup of the stuff ($5) or really get the party started with an entire bowl ($43).  228 Manhattan Ave, between Grand and Maujer.

The musically themed bar LP & Harmony offers cheap drinks, a well-stocked jukebox, and open mic nights. It’s a strange mix between a sports bar with huge flat screen televisions showing the latest games, and a DIY music venue with local musicians singing in the background, and we’re not sure how we feel about it yet. There’s also a small dance floor with a DJ that begins every night after 10PM. In the summer, patrons will be able to drink the backyard garden which is always a plus. 683 Grand Street near Manhattan Avenue.

The Garden Spot Cafe is Greenpoint’s newest diner/coffee shop serving inexpensive staples that are necessary after a night out. We’ve been told the giant list of breakfast burritos is worth a try. 195 Franklin Street, near Green Street.

Calexico has finally come to Brooklyn, and we couldn’t be happier. The 65-seat eatery features new menu items such as fish tacos, grilled corn, and the 645 burger which is “a blend of brisket, chuck and short rib on a ciabatta bun with their signature chipotle “crack” sauce”. There’s a full bar that serves a variety of beer and cocktails, and a garden will be open in the warmer months. 645 Manhattan Avenue, near Moore Street.

It’s that time of the week for your recent bar/restaurant openings round-up. Featured this week: Amazing Mexican food, A Brooklyn-based winery, Upscale tapas, A Japanese noodle shop, and a fancy Bushwick cocktail bar.

Haab: Our favorite new Mexican joint which serves fresh California inspired dishes in addition to a pretty excellent brunch.

Brooklyn Winery: Make your own wine or stop by the cute cafe for vino and snacks from Radish.

Cadaques: Upscale tapas, tasty sangria and cocktails.

Samurai Mama: Japanese noodle shop from owners of Bozu.

The Narrows: Swanky cocktail lounge in Bushwick.

It’s that time of the week for your recent bar/restaurant openings round-up. Featured this week: Hummus in Bushwick, a new bar in the space of a former casket factory, a quaint coffee shop on Union Avenue, and a bagel shop with more spreads than you can imagine.

Yummus Hummus: Tasty homemade hummus, pita, salads, and falafel in a cozy Bushwick eatery.

Pine Box Rock Shop: Awesome Bushwick bar in a former casket factory that offers a variety of beers, trivia, and live music.

West Cafe: Coffee shop on Union Avenue serving pastries from Balthazar and coffee from The Brooklyn Roasting Company. Planning to serve wine, beer, and small dishes once their liquor license is approved.

Bagelteria: New bagel shop with 3849830840 spreads. Just kidding-not that many, but a lot to choose from.

Just the typical 6-year-old’s birthday party. Plenty of videogames, a cook-out and lots of drinking. Typical, right?

Tomorrow Barcade celebrates its six year anniversary. That’s six years of a myriad of craft beers, constantly canning high-score boards and countless good times for all. Doors will open at 3 pm that day, so spend a fun, fall afternoon sipping on some brews and reminiscing about (or helping each other piece together) nights you’ve had there over the yea