Smorgasburg is here!

Smorgasburg, which as you may be able to tell from the name originated in Williamsburg, has been slowly making it's way towards us.  They had expanded to DUMBO and starting this weekend, October 6th, they'll be at Pier 5!  You'll have about a month and a half to take advantage of this deliciousness every Sunday between 11am and 6pm.  The great part about this location, something  that the others lacked, is a lot of seating.  They have dozens of long benches at Pier 5, as you can see below, with shade and beautiful views!

Last Minute Holiday Shopping!

Okay, it's crunch time and you need to find a creative and awesome gift for the stragglers on your list.  What do you do?  Well, the first step is head to Red Hook and see if you can't find something in one of the many wonderful boutiques up and down Van Brunt.  Grab some lunch and a sweet snack while you're there.  If after that you still have to finish off that list you may want to consider going to one of these holiday fairs this weekend. 


Brooklyn Craft Central Market at Littlefield, 633 Degraw Street Dec 22nd &23rd  11am-5pm

Brooklyn Night Bazaar, 45 North 5th St. in Williamsburg.  Dec 21st & 22nd  6pm-midnight

Brooklyn Flea, Skylight One Hanson space at the former Williamsburg Savings Bank, near Atlantic Terminal and Brooklyn Academy of Music. Not a holiday fair but has extended hours for the holidays.  Dec 22nd and 23rd 10am- 6pm.

Brooklyn Flea Expands.

 

It's been happening since June 21st but if you haven't checked this out already you should.  Why? because it's delicious and cool.  Both figuratively and literally.  Holding this "Flea Food Under the Archway" ensures both shade and a breeze from the waterfront along with the long list of awesome food vendors.  More info about the vendors and times are below.

All summer long you'll enjoy noshing on Asia Dog (Mel and Steve!), Brooklyn Oyster Party (po' boys and raw bar!), Landhaus (pork meatballs, brats!), and Mile End (smoked meat!)

Find Flea Food Under the Archway on Thursdays 11:30am-8pm, and Fridays 11:30am-4pm, through August. The Archway runs under the Manhattan Bridge between Anchorage Place and Adams Street.

Morris Hubbard at Brooklyn Flea.

Today is set to be the hottest day of the summer and this weekend doesn't seem like it'll be letting up. You'll be sweating and schvitzing through Sunday if you ask us. Do you know what you might need to help you out? Why Sweat Rags and Schvitzing Clothes of course! And you're in luck because the Brooklyn-based lifestyle brand, Morris Hubbard, will be at Brooklyn Flea this Sunday selling just that. According to their press release this is the first summer these rags and clothes will be introduced and "they can be carried, worn in the pocket, around the neck, head or tucked in a tote bag for every day use or in a clutch for special events like those lovely outdoor August weddings". They have a very vintage feel but don't worry, your brow will be the first to be wiped with these adorable clothes. Check out their facebook page to see more pictures or learn more about the brand!

The Co-Op on Atlantic

The Co-Op on Atlantic joined the neighborhood's coffee shop collection about three months ago. Since I moved a few blocks away in February, I hadn't noticed the new space until recently. The location, a gorgeous antique space at 139 Atlantic Avenue (btwn. Henry and Clinton) had been vacant for a long while so I when I saw the sandwich board out front I immediately went inside to check it out.

The Co-Op is unique, it's not just a coffee shop, the space serves as a facility that is being developed as a resource for all kinds of vendors. Everything in the space is for sale (except the espresso machine) and includes vintage furniture (which also doubles as cafe furniture), armoires filled with clothes, and shelves stocked with flower teas and locally produced groceries like McClure’s Pickles and Early Bird granola.

The coffee comes to us from Crop to Cup, quality family farmed coffee (Uganda-grown, Brooklyn-roasted beans) which until now, had only been sold at the Brooklyn Flea. It's a pretty amazing organization who maintains that "one pound of Crop to Cup coffee provides a 20% increase in farmer wages and a 55% increase in overall community benefit." If you check out their website you can learn more about this progressive organization.

The scrumptious baked goods are all baked in-house from scratch and are branded "Bread Meats Bread." Some yummy selections include gruyere croissants and strawberry-rhubarb muffins. They also make savory sandwiches for lunchtime and offer combos like the "Sunrise Combo" for $4, a bagel with cream cheese and a medium coffee, and for the summer months the "Park Combo" for $10, an organic sandwich and iced coffee. And for dessert you can also pick up a mini cupcake from the famous Kumquat Cupcakery.

It will also be a delivery spot for people who sign up for Basis’ Good Food To You drop-off program, a weekly service that delivers locally sourced fruit, produce, meat, and dairy. Their website states that they deliver "100% traceable food directly from family farms to your home or office at prices that are often lower than commodity fare at the supermarket."

There's also talk about community dinners and classes to be held in the space as well. As it is only a few months old, I look forward to the future of the Co-Op. I think we have a lot to look forward to. Pretty cool stuff. I'm sold.