It’s a new year—get out and try something new! The weather might be brisk, but here are a few things that are worth the braving the chill.
Sharpen Your Skates
Lakeside at Prospect Park
The area formerly known as Wollman Rink has received a major facelift over the past few seasons. I have been lamenting the lack of an open-air ice rink, but the renovations are proving worth the wait. The unremarkable skating rink and parking lot area have been transformed into the Lakeside Complex at Prospect Park. The activity center features two new rinks that will be open year-round for ice and roller skating. One enclosed rink will be covered by a green roof which is comprised of soil ranging from six to eighteen inches deep, allowing for shrubs and small trees to take root—adding to the park’s green landscape. In addition to skating, the area also provides three additional acres of park space, a new dock for pedal boats, and a terraced walk overlooking the water. The Parks Department promises that it will offer something for everyone all throughout the year. The new project is intended to harken back to the park’s original design, which was disrupted by the skating rink and accompanying parking lot in 1960. It will provide more openness for the borough that so appreciates its green space.
Park Slope’s “Welcome Oasis”
The Bell House – 149 Seventh Street
This past fall the Bell House celebrated its five-year anniversary. This Park Slope premiere venue offers a more indie alternative to the Barclay’s Center. They host decidedly NYC-centric events such as Trivia Nights with NY1 Anchor Pat Keirnan, Point Break Live, and NPR’s Moth Storyslam. It’s also the perfect venue to see indie bands such as Yo La Tengo, Bob Mould, and Dean Wareham. Their schedule of events is compelling and diverse, and always offers something decidedly unique. Entering the large open bar area that acts as the Bell House entry, you immediate feel welcome by the open space and the friendly staff. Particularly on a cold winter night, it offers home-grown warmth that can only be found in an independent venue. The ticket prices are so reasonable it almost seems silly not to try something new. The fact that it’s right around the corner also means you won’t have to wait on that cold subway platform during the wee hours of the night in order to get home. Check out their website thebellhouseny.com for a complete listing of upcoming shows and events.
Warm, Soothing Sounds
The National: Trouble Will Find Me (4AD)
Hailing from Ditmas Park, the Brooklyn band The National released their sixth album. If you’re unfamiliar with the band, Trouble Will Find Me is the perfect introduction to their sound. Moody and highly orchestrated music creates the ideal backdrop for Matt Berringer’s baritone lyrics of insecurity and longing. It’s contemplative music, lyrical and full of poetry. Opening track, “I Should Live in Salt,” starts quietly with a pleading that begs to be heard as more than mere background music. The song slowly builds a swell as the entire band comes together finding its full voice. Later in, “Sea Of Love,” takes this sound and mixes it with a catchy pop that becomes uplifting. Directly in the middle of the album “Graceless” picks up like a moving freight train. There are no throw away songs on the album. As a whole, Trouble Will Find Me is rich, warm and complex, like a good cup of coffee.
Crossing the Gowanus
Red Hook, Brooklyn
Our neighbors to the east were hit extremely hard by Hurricane Sandy last year, and some long-standing businesses were forced to shutter for good. The ones that were able to rebuild and reopen did so at enormous cost. It’s a true pity, because the neighborhood is ripe with personality and was really coming into its own before the storm. Although Red Hook is on the rebound, this past summer didn’t bring the traffic necessary for it to fully bounce back. It’s time to rediscover this sweet and eclectic little hamlet. Indulge your sweet tooth with a delicious confection from Baked (359 Van Brunt Street) or with a Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie (204 Van Dyke Street). Check out what’s on display at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition (499 Van Brunt Street) and then take in the unrivaled view of the Statue of Liberty from the Fairway parking lot. Warm yourself with a libation at Sunny’s Bar (253 Conover Street) and photograph yourself in front the iconic Ye Nautical Garage next door—you can’t miss it, it’s the one with the fishing tackle displayed on the outside. That short list only scratches the surface; Red Hook is filled with galleries, restaurants, and shops all in a one-of-a-kind setting. There’s so much to see and do, and it’s all within an easy walk.
Leave a Reply