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Jacqueline Sheppard

Park Slope’s New Businesses — Week of August 28th

August 28, 2015 By Jacqueline Sheppard Leave a Comment Filed Under: New Wave Tagged With: cereal, new business, new wave, pizza, sneaker, streetwear

CerealBar

Kith Brooklyn
233 Flatbush Avenue

This week, Kith opened up its revamped Brooklyn flagship store and it looks like a streetwear boutique from the future. The bright white interior and perfectly arranged sneaker displays lets people know that they are a high-end streetwear boutique. Founder Ronnie Fieg separates his Brooklyn store from the pack with his latest addition — a cereal bar.
Kith Treats gives customers a choice between twenty-four different cereal brands (e.g. Fruity Pebbles, Rice Krispies, and Cocoa Puffs), twenty-five different toppings (e.g. Oreos, coconut flakes, Marshmallow Charms), and five different types of milk (chocolate, hemp, almond, skim, and whole). All cereal purchases come with a straw-spoon (so you can slurp up the milk after you’re done) and is served in a shoe box. In honor of the US Open, cereals are currently being served in Andre Agassi shoe boxes. With every cereal bought, customer’s get a Proof-of-Purchase ticket. Collect five, and you’ll get a special gift — a Kith-branded tennis ball (while supplies last).

 

Courtesy of Artichoke Basille's Pizza
Courtesy of Artichoke Basille’s Pizza

Artichoke Basille’s Pizza
59 5th Avenue | (347) 763 – 1975

While several pizza places have opened up by Barclays Center recently, new contenders are willing to face the stiff competition. Enter Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, a mini-chain that has locations in Manhattan and Queens — and, as of recently, Brooklyn. Located between St. Marks and Bergen Street, Artichoke’s is less of a restaurant and more of a stand. The decision was likely based on the ease of picking up a slice on the way to (or returning from) Barclays. Its big name and reputation for its famous artichoke slice will be one of its distinguishing features from the rest of the pizza pack in North Slope.

Filed Under: New Wave Tagged With: cereal, new business, new wave, pizza, sneaker, streetwear

PotterCon 2015 Brings Out Harry Potter’s Biggest Fans in Brooklyn

August 19, 2015 By Jacqueline Sheppard Leave a Comment Filed Under: Online Exclusive Tagged With: bell house, convention, harry potter, JK Rowling, pottercon

When Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone came to the US in 1998, the intended audience was children. As the books series progressed, readers grew older with the eponymous boy wizard. Nine years later, people lined up for hours to get the seventh and final installment of his adventures. Even though the final book was released in 2007, Harry Potter mania has yet to die down. Judging the excitement from J.K. Rowling’s announcement that she’s working on a new film in the Potter universe (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) and a play (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, scheduled to debut in London’s West End in 2016), fans of Harry Potter are as dedicated as ever.

Why wouldn’t they be? The same little kids who first read Harry Potter when they were eleven years old are now twenty-eight. They’re old enough to have families of their own, but in the case of PotterCon, they’re old enough to drink.

Even though attendees had to be 21 or over to enter, this little fan managed to sneak in.
Even though attendees had to be 21 or over to enter, this little fan managed to sneak in.

 

On the first of August, witches and wizards of drinking age lined up around the Bell House to get into the hottest Harry Potter day-drinking event in all of New York. Even if the humidity got to them, these die-hard Potterheads were willing to wait in the heat with their Hogwarts robes. Nothing can get in the way of a good time and mingling with fellow fans.

Once the fans made it inside the (air-conditioned!) Bell House, they were greeted with several opportunities to spend their money (Galleons not accepted as legitimate currency — a limitation of the Muggle world). Brooklyn-based and eco-friendly Jordan Dene sold Harry Potter-themed apparel, which included shirts, aprons, and underwear. Trust In Sam had Hogwarts-themed jewellery for sale. The drinks that the Bell House offered, specifically the specialty cocktails, garnered the most attention. Fans could buy the hot sauce-laden Firewhiskey, the fruity Phoenix Tears, and — an all-time favorite at the Three Broomsticks Pub — Butterbeer, a very sweet drink which was tempered by the vodka.

 

Moaning Myrtle brought her toilet with her. I guess she couldn't leave the girls' bathroom without it.
Moaning Myrtle brought her toilet with her. I guess she couldn’t leave the girls’ bathroom without it.

 

For every drink bought, attendees would earn house points for their preferred Hogwarts house: Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Gryffindor. Naturally, people were eager to help their house win, but the House Cup was far from the only competition at PotterCon. The costume competition featured competitors who showed off their dedication and originality by bringing their favorite characters to life.

One of the biggest events of the night, however, was the Trivia Contest, hosted by last year’s winning team, The Remembralls. Every team was determined to prove themselves the most knowledgeable of Harry Potter lore, but ultimately, only one team reigned as champion: the Hinkypunk Rockers. The winners, Elizabeth Neveu, Melanie Iglesias, Christine Hung, Nina Guttapalle, and Priya Srinivasan were ecstatic as they were presented with their prize: a Harry Potter edition of Trivial Pursuit. After all, not only did they win the contest, but they now have bragging rights as the biggest Harry Potter fans in all of Brooklyn. When asked about her elation of answering the winning question for her team, Neveu replied, “I feel like Viktor Krum, Oliver Wood, Cedric Diggory, and both Weasley twins asked me to the Yule Ball!”

Luna Lovegood, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Winky the House Elf pose for a picture.
Luna Lovegood, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Winky the House Elf pose for a picture.

 

Filed Under: Online Exclusive Tagged With: bell house, convention, harry potter, JK Rowling, pottercon

Park Slope’s New Businesses – Week of August 7th

August 7, 2015 By Jacqueline Sheppard Leave a Comment Filed Under: New Wave Tagged With: bar, bavarian, beer garden, drinks, new wave, southern

Photo courtesy of the official Iron Station website
Photo courtesy of the official Iron Station website

Iron Station

683 5th Avenue | (347) 223 – 4229 | Ironstationbk.com
Perhaps it’s due to the Yankee way of life here in New York, but it’s hard to find good Southern food here! Luckily, the owners of Iron Station are from South Carolina, and their bar feels reminiscent of their home state. In addition to plentiful beer selections and colorful cocktails like the Mother of Pearl (which features peach-infused gin and lime) and the Iron Station Old Fashion (which blends orange and vanilla with rye whiskey), the Iron Station serves appetizers as well. You can get Southern classics like pulled pork sliders, cornbread, and pigs in a blanket. In fact, I’m not normally a fan of deviled eggs, but the Iron Station’s are delicious with the bacon bits sprinkled on top. While they may not serve entrees, you can buy multiple appetizers. So, fill up on food and drink! The kitchen is open until the bar closes.

Photo courtesy of the official Brooklyn Bavarian Biergarten Facebook
Photo courtesy of the official Brooklyn Bavarian Biergarten Facebook

Brooklyn Bavarian Biergarten

263 Prospect Avenue | (718) 788-0400 | Brooklynbavarianbiergarten.com

If you’ve walked past the Grand Prospect Hall, you’ve probably noticed that it looks a little different these days. The historic building uses its splendor to host a beer garden – ah, sorry, ‘biergarten.’ This is an establishment that takes its German ties very seriously.

As expected, the decor is phenomenal. When you’re seated at your table, you feel like you’ve left Brooklyn and escaped to a tropical resort. Gorgeous trees, small waterways, and the lighting make the place feel like a cozy place to go on a date. Speaking of which, there’s no need to purchase a pitcher for two. A single liter of beer will be large enough!

The place opened a few weeks ago, so it’s still finding its footing. It’s always good to be patient and enjoy the atmosphere of Grand Prospect Hall. It will likely become more organized within a few more weeks once the construction is finished and the servers are more accustomed to layout.

Filed Under: New Wave Tagged With: bar, bavarian, beer garden, drinks, new wave, southern

Park Slope’s New Businesses – Week of July 24th

July 24, 2015 By Jacqueline Sheppard Filed Under: New Wave Tagged With: new business, new wave, pasta, pizza, wine

These two businesses live right next door to each other. Go visit one and then pop over to the other!

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Hugo & Sons

367 7th Avenue | (718) 499 – 0020 | hugoandsons.com

The perfect word to describe this restaurant is quaint. From the bright red booths to the old-fashioned tile, the overall aesthetic is straight from the 1950’s. The food, however, is fresh and delicious. The menu is mostly Italian classics, but there are a few French-inspired items as well. The gnocchi is a delight — and not too heavy! For those with a sweet tooth, be sure to try their desserts as well. Their strawberry shortcake is a favorite. If you’re not the type who has time to enjoy a sit-down restaurant but loves pizza, then it would be good for you to know that anything from the pizzeria is available when you place an order on Postmates. In conclusion, a cute, sweet, and vintage-feeling restaurant to take the family to dinner (or brunch, if you’re come on Saturdays and Sundays.)

FullBodyBigNose

Big Nose Full Body

389 7th Avenue | bignosefullbody.com | (718) 369 – 4030 | wine@bignosefullbody.com

This isn’t necessarily a new business, but it’s in a new location, so we’ll count it. Big Nose Full Body has moved to Seventh Avenue (and are across the street from Hugo & Sons). BNFB is a wine shop that is run by genuine wine enthusiasts who are eager to help their customers. The wine selection is extremely organized. There’s even the option to purchase wine chilled or at room temperature if you desire. If you follow their website, you can get updates on wine tastings held at the store, find out the favorites in selection each month, and order wine online.

Filed Under: New Wave Tagged With: new business, new wave, pasta, pizza, wine

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