Seizing some rare down time, Victor Ozols popped into Brooklyn's Sweet Ups recently for a vodka martini. Okay, two vodka martinis. Here's the verdict:
Some bars cater to the early-evening crowd, while others don't get hopping until after midnight. Sweet Ups, a slick-looking lounge on a quiet section of Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is one of those late-night places, which is why we always make a point to get there by 9:00 p.m. As dorky as that may seem, we're not on the make or dying to interact with the hepcat hordes, so it works for us. At that hour, we're able to slide into a dark, curved banquette, order up a couple of cocktails, and appreciate the dim lighting and funky music that make this a lounge that wouldn't seem out of place in downtown L.A. - but seems to suit Brooklyn even better.
So I asked the bartender for a dry vodka martini, and he proceeded to pour me a limply-shaken concoction that was about 1/3 vermouth. It wasn't the worst drink I've ever had, but I made a point to order my second drink from the other bartender, a shaggy-haired young man who got it right by just whispering the glass with vermouth. We sipped our drinks as old Morrissey songs played on the stereo and a handful of patrons trickled in from the street, chattering about their hectic lives and chaotic relationships. We took in the scene as the red light gave everything a romantic sheen. Soon, the regulars began to take their designated bar stools, so we stepped back into the sultry summer night and made our way home.
Weekend editor Victor Ozols had one too many on Friday night. His pain is your gain as he describes the scene at Brooklyn's Sound Fix Lounge.
We started out at the Brooklyn Brewery as we have so many nights before, enjoying some fresh beers right at the source. But the brewery closes at 11:00, and we were feeling like one more, so we ambled a few dozen paces up the street to Sound Fix Lounge, a kind of record store/bar/coffee shop that seems to hit all the right notes. The place looked welcoming at first glance, with a long wooden bar, subdued lighting, and a pressed-tin ceiling - always a hallmark of a good hangout - so we staked out three barstools and settled in.
An affable barmaid greeted us and quickly served up a round of drinks which included a bottle of Brooklyn Lager, a Guinness "pub can" poured into a glass (I guess the tap was out of service), and a well-crafted Manhattan, up. As we sipped our nightcaps and discussed geopolitical affairs and the rise of China and India, I began to really appreciate the laid-back vibe and eclectic musical soundtrack of this funky everybar.
Being connected to such a well-regarded record store, the place serves as a venue for many up-and-coming bands who perform mellow acoustic sets (the neighbors are trying to sleep) before rocking out at nearby music halls. On this warm summer night in New York, however, there was no band in sight, just a handful of patrons getting comfortable at the dark tables and benches, savoring the taste of Friday night and trying to stretch it out a little bit longer. It's not especially fancy nor sceney, but Sound Fix delivers the goods when the night calls for one more.
Sure, you may think a stumble to the outer boroughs would make our speakeasy standards to slip. Think again.
Hotel Delmano is the perfect upscale cocktail spot in Brooklyn, offering delicious concoctions like the Commandant's Cocktail (pear cognac, Cointreau, lemon juice and green chartreuse) or the elderflower tequila gimlet.
Hotel Del is just as exclusive as our previously profiled Manhattan joints--replete with doorman who takes cell numbers to call you back when something opens up. Take some time to chat up the honey in line next to you, as this spot's got a unisex bathroom with a cozy communal sink that makes washing hands somehow sexy.
No this isn't your middle-school-aged sister's bedroom wall. It's Cinders Gallery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. What can we say? You know those hipsters--they thumbtack stick figures to the wall and call in ironic. And we have to admit, we find it appealing when we visit a gallery whose work reminds us of Mrs. Johnson's fifth grade classroom wall.
The gallery founders sought to "create a space to show art that felt more homey, warm and inviting than the often cold and intimidating atmosphere of galleries." The original space intended for Cinders burned down, hence the name. Today, with sprinkler system firmly in place, the gallery hosts monthly art shows as well as other events that have included live music, readings, slide shows and performance.
Sure HBO's Flight of the Conchords delivers travel tag lines like "New Zealand: It Is Not Australia", however the show, much of which is filmed on location in New York, features quite a few Williambsburg spots. For example, a tipster informed us last night's show prominently featured Fabiane's Cafe & Pastry on 5th.
While Kiwis Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement "dated" girls from this cafe, and enjoyed day old croissants from the cafe, non-fictional Willamsburg dwellers seem to appreciate Fabiane's food as well. Chocolate Creme Brulee, Tuna with capers, and most of the coffee drinks are favorites.
The service however, is less impressive:
On Saturday afternoons, you must order from the counter, and wait for a table, however long that may take. Meanwhile your dishes and lattes pile up on the counter edge ready to tip over onto your shoes. If you are able to find a table before someone else swipes it from under you, great. If not, too bad, so sad.
I wish I had known this beforehand, as I am not from the neighborhood. The girl bringing out the food from the kitchen rolled her eyes at me and then brushed past me when I asked her about a table. A civilized, mature employee would have just told me about ordering from the front, but this little baby butch punk wannabe did not.
Looks like Bret and Jemaine dodged a bullet by not getting into long term relationships with these waitresses.
If there's ever a reason to head to Brookyln for an amazing meal, it's Dressler. Located just up the block from the behemoth Williamsburg Savings Bank and cattycorner to the infamous Peter Luger's, Dressler is a soaring, beautiful space filled with cool ironwork by nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard sculptors.
The scene's not too trendy and not too laid back, just right for a date or dinner with friends. The menu's American cuisine is impressive--try the Char with Parsnip Puree or the Braised Short Rib. Don't miss out on the Horseradish Whipped Mashed Potatoes either. Wait staff are friendly and not overbearing.
The only real drawback is getting there. it's not an easy walk from that Manhattan mainstay known as the L, but if you're near a J,M,or Z, it's a snap.Dressler's a neighborhood restaurant done just right.
