Welcome to Brooklyn Beat — your twice-weekly dose of events, stories, and secrets from across the borough. From block parties to Borough Hall, we bring you the rhythm of Brooklyn life.
📰 THE BOROUGH HALL BRIEF
City Council Clashes Over Open Streets Funding
The debate over which neighborhoods get to keep their weekend pedestrian plazas is heating up. We break down what the proposed budget means for your block party plans this summer.
🌆 SPOTLIGHT STREETS: RED HOOK
Beyond the IKEA Ferry: Red Hook's Quiet Comeback
This waterfront enclave is buzzing with a new kind of energy, from artisanal bakeries in old warehouses to community-led initiatives. We talked to locals about the balance between new development and preserving the neighborhood's gritty, isolated charm.
🍴 BODEGA GOLD
The $5 Breakfast of Champions at Franklin Ave's Fine Fare
This week's gold medal goes to the bacon, egg, and cheese on a toasted roll at the counter of this Crown Heights staple. Pro tip: ask for the homemade hot sauce. You're welcome.
🎶 STAGE & SOUND
👀 Insider Pick: Secret Jazz in a Bed-Stuy Brownstone
A monthly jazz session held in a living room (address revealed upon ticket purchase) is the authentic, under-the-radar experience you've been craving. This Friday only. →
🎉 THE LINEUP
Your curated picks for the next few days:
Sat & Sun: Dumbo Street Art Festival. Watch murals go up in real time.
Thurs: Bushwick Film Club open air screening of Do the Right Thing in Maria Hernandez Park.
All Weekend: Smorgasburg is back. Skip the long lines and head straight to the new Filipino BBQ stand.
📜 NEIGHBORHOOD SHOUT-OUTS
✨ Crown Heights Corner Deli's Epic Pickle Bar
Tired of sad, lonely pickles? This unassuming deli on Washington Ave has a DIY pickle bar with everything from classic cukes to spicy green beans. A true game-changer for your sandwich.
💬 OVERHEARD ON THE Q
Guy on his phone, yelling: "I'm not lost lost, I'm just... geographically curious. Anyway, which way is the Lorimer stop?"
Seen: Someone expertly applying a full face of makeup between DeKalb and Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn talent.
That’s the Beat. Stay tuned, Brooklyn.