Welcome to Brooklyn Beat — your twice-weekly dose of events, stories, and secrets from across the borough.
Hey Brooklyn,
Ever feel like the real magic of this borough happens just out of frame? It’s not in the headlines, but in the rhythm of a domino game on a stoop, the secret menu item at your local bodega, or the pop-up gallery that’s only there for the weekend. We’re here to bring you that rhythm. Let’s get into it.
🐾 Bodega Cat of the Week
This week’s reigning royalty is Miso, the petite but mighty tortoiseshell from Sunny’s Deli on Driggs Ave in Greenpoint. She can usually be found napping atop the paper towel display, expertly judging your snack choices. Stop in for a coffee, say hello, and maybe grab a lottery ticket—she’s apparently good luck.
🎤 Voices of the Borough: Sal of Sal’s Famous Pizza
We sat down with Salvatore “Sal” Martino, whose unassuming slice shop on a Bed-Stuy corner has been a neighborhood institution for 40 years. “It’s not about the ‘gram, it’s about the slice,” he says, flour dusting his apron. “I’ve seen kids grow up and bring their kids in. That’s the real special sauce.” He shared stories of the neighborhood’s changes, but one thing remains: his secret-recipe dough, unchanged since 1984. Stop by for a classic cheese and a side of history.
🎶 Stage & Sound: A Secret Jazz Night You Need to Know About
Forget the overpriced clubs. The real vibe is at “The Backroom,” a whispered-about jazz series held every other Thursday in the basement of a used bookstore in Prospect Lefferts Gardens. The location is only revealed to those who RSVP. The next one is this Thursday, featuring a phenomenal quartet led by a local music teacher by day, saxophone legend by night. It’s BYOB, cash-only, and absolutely electric.
📍 Location revealed upon RSVP (DM @PLGJazzCollective on IG)
🕖 Thursday, 8 PM | $10 suggested donation
🍻 Sip & Snack: Where to Go Now
Tired of the same old spots? The Gilded Page, a new moody cocktail bar hidden behind a bookshelf in a working printing press in Gowanus, is your next move. Think inventive cocktails named after novels and literary puns (“A Tale of Two Martinis,” anyone?). The vibe is speakeasy meets Brooklyn industrial. Perfect for a date night or impressing your coolest friend.
📅 The Weekend Beat: Your Plan for Fri - Sun
🍩 Friday: The Doughboy Doughnut Festival returns to Domino Park. Sample wild creations from a dozen local bakeries (Everything Bagel doughnut, we see you).
🛍️ Saturday: The Grand Street Artists & Makers Market is on. Think less junk, more unique ceramics, vintage threads, and prints from local artists.
🎭 Sunday: Laugh it off at "Comedy in the Courtyard" at a secret Cobble Hill location. An lineup of killer local comedians, all for a $5 donation.
That’s the Beat. Stay tuned, Brooklyn.
P.S. We want to hear from you! What’s the best hidden gem in your neighborhood? Reply to this email and let us know.