My boyfriend and I attended the coolest event on Saturday, the Total Franklin Street Immersion. Held in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, the event was intended to get some buzz going about the businesses on Greenpoint’s Franklin Street, and to celebrate the shops, restaurants and bars. We picked up cards that let places know to give us the special discounts – or even free stuff – and each time you got a deal, you got a box checked (first 100…I think…to have all checked got a gift bag).
I basically fell in love with all of the places we checked out, but a few stick out to me right now that you NEED to visit if you live in the area. Word Bookstore is the perfect small town independent book shop with everything a word-nerd could need – from German history to science fiction. And they often put out a table of FREE books – it wasn’t even for the event. Dalaga is a sweet, vintage-inspired boutique with an inventory that blends edgy with flirty for a perfect Brooklyn – or anywhere, really – look, and all for low prices hovering around $85.00. Junk is an amazing garage-sized warehouse spot stuffed with vintage treasures and antiques. Everything from jewels and clothes to furniture, tableware, creepy dolls and strange diaramas with taxidermy. You could spend hours in this strange little museum like spot. Black Rabbit is definitely one of my new favorite bars. It had a European-meets-a-saloon vibe, painted (appropriately) black with booths that could each be enclosed with saloon doors. The beer list was impressive with something for everyone, a pretty outdoor garden provided even more seating, and there are enough board games for everyone to take to their table for some more creative bar fun. Mrs. Kim’s was this amazing, laid back, airy, beautiful restaurant with great big windows and outdoor seating. It had a unique menu that was to die for, combining American favorites with Korean favorites – kimchi, burgers, salads, french toast – if you don’t get the pork buns, it’s your great big loss. You’ll also find Hayden-Harnett and In God We Trust when you shop Franklin Street, and The Diamond and t.b.d. are also great places to stop in for a drink along your way.
