Pete’s Candy Store

Posted on August 12, 2022 by bill
Pete’s Candy Store: 709 Lorimer St. between Frost and Richardson streets in Williamsburg. www.petescandystore.com Open Mon-Thu, 5pm-2am; Fri, 4pm-2am; Sat, 1pm-2am; Sun, 3pm-2am. All shows $10 suggested donation. 
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Freak Bar

Posted on July 5, 2022 by bill

Freak Bar at Coney Island USA. 1208 Surf Ave. at W. 12th St. in Coney Island. www.coneyisland.com. Open Sun-Thu noon-6pm; Fri-Sat, noon-midnight (hours may vary, depending on the weather). 

I love the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, and I currently work the door there, so consider my objectivity with a grain of salt.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Gage & Tollner

Posted on April 13, 2022 by bill

Gage & Tollner: 372 Fulton St., between Smith Street and Red Hook Lane in Downtown Brooklyn. www.gageandtollner.com. (347) 689-3677. Open daily, 5-10 pm.

The full martini list includes vodka, gin, dirty, perfect (equal parts sweet and dry vermouth), a Gibson, and the Turf. Non-martini cocktails cost $16, but do not come with a sidecar (not even the Sidecar, which is disappointing).

I’ve visited the bar three times. The first two times, the drinks were fantastic. On my last visit, they were just okay. I suspect that the really good bartenders do not work the Wednesday afternoon shift. 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Fiona’s Bar

Posted on August 11, 2021 by bill
Fiona’s Bar. 562 Flatbush Ave. at Beekman Place in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. www.fionasbar.com. Open daily, 2 pm-2 am. 

I actually really like this bar. Everyone’s friendly, the snacks are good, and there’s a great window in the front for people watching. 
But that Peacock involves rum (a sugar-based liquor), Midori (sweet), Blue Curaçao (sweet), pineapple juice (very sweet), simple syrup (literally sugar), Triple Sec (another sweetener) and Sprite. I know that there are people who like sweet drinks (cotton candy vodka exists for a reason), but this drink is a lot for anyone who wants to avoid diabetes.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Strong Rope Brewery (Pandemic Edition)

Posted on April 17, 2021 by bill

That last line is a little bitter towards current beer trends, but I was just offered a “sour beer” that tasted like lemon juice and vinegar cut with cayenne peppers, so I’m feeling a little bitter.

For the record, the best wings and beer combo is the “Wangs” 3-piece with Hot Sauce, consumed with the Blood of the Gods Red Ale.

Strong Rope Brewery in Gowanus. 574A President St., between Third and Fourth avenues. (929) 337-8699. www.strongropebrewery.com. Open Sun-Wed, noon-9 pm; Thu-Sat, noon-10 pm. 

Strong Rope also has a new location in Red Hook, coming later this summer. It’s going to have a truly ridiculous view. 

Wangs. 671 Union St. between Fourth and Fifth avenues in Park Slope. (718) 636-6390. www.wangsbk.com. Open noon-9 pm.  

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Reserve at Amor Y Amargo (pandemic edition)

Posted on December 6, 2020 by bill

Reserve by Amor y Amargo. 95 Avenue A at East Sixth St. www.amoryamargo.com. (833) 328-4588. Tue-Sun, at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm. $100. 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Greenpoint Beer and Ale Co. (pandemic edition)

Posted on November 23, 2020 by bill

Greenpoint Beer and Ale Co. 1150 Manhattan Ave., between Ash and Box streets in Greenpoint. www.greenpointbeer.com. Open Mon-Fri; 2-10 pm; Sat-Sun, noon-10 pm.  

(Sorry if its gauche to mention another brewery’s beer in my review of this one. I just really liked the beer!)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Still Life with Potential Long Island Ice Tea

Posted on November 3, 2020 by bill

It’s another print in my Still Life series, along with the Hot Toddy, the Manhattan, and the Sidecar! The previous incarnations have been very classy drinks, but I decided to get a little trashy for this one.

Turns out drawing six bottles is a lot tougher than two or three. I spent a lot of time last week getting all those shadows and reflections in place!

I’ll add a print of this to the store when I get a chance.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur Tasting Room (pandemic edition)

Posted on October 26, 2020 by bill

Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur Tasting Room. 86 34th St. between Second and Third avenues in Sunset Park; at the north end of Industy City Courtyard 5/6. www.barrowsintense.com). Open Mon, noon-7 pm; Tue, noon-8 pm; Wed, noon–9 pm; Thu-Fri, noon–11 pm; Sat, noon–10 pm; Sun, noon–8 pm.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Standard Wormwood Distillery (pandemic edition)

Posted on October 9, 2020 by bill

Standard Wormwood Distillery Tasting Room and Bar. 68 34th St. between Second and Third avenues, enter from Industry City Courtyard 5/6. (718) 635–4368, www.standardwormwood.com. 

Open Tue-Thu, 4-8 pm; Fri-Sat, 1-10 pm; Sun, 1-8 pm. 

This comic is the first of… three? (probably three) comics covering the bars of Industry City Courtyard 5/6, which is a pretty great place to drink. It’s private land, so you can drink outside without a problem. 

Finally, Standard Wormwood opened back in February – it was one of the last stories I wrote for Brooklyn Paper. Check out that fine work of journalism here: 

Bitter and better: Wormwood distillery opens tasting room in Industry City
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment